Sookie ran shaking fingers through her hair, cursing herself for the rapid-fire pulse hammering away in her chest and arteries. She was sure her very pheromones emanated fear. Even though he never seemed to mean her harm, Eric's very presence always evoked this response from her. He had been very kind to her since Bill's death, but she had seen the true Eric on that day, the Eric that Godric had seen, loved and turned over a thousand years ago. She didn't think she'd ever be able to forget it.

Inky black swathed the sky on the night The War began. Really, it had begun that morning, when the Light of Day Institute performed Meet the Sun. In the latest hours of the night, just before dawn, Steve Newlin chained Godric to a crucifix. Godric, the regional sheriff and a beloved, 2000 year old vampire legend, had weakened as his skin burned away in the bright summer sun. He slowly disintegrated before the horrified, fascinated, fearful and joyful eyes of the L.O.D.I. congregation, his last words lost in fanatical screaming. That night, when his brethren could safely rouse, the killing began.

Sookie was in the basement with Hugo when they came for Godric. Dressed in their cleanest, crispest Sunday best, Gabe and Steve solemnly walked down the stairs to Godric's cell. Their faces seemed like grave masks of concentration, but she could hear and she knew. Gabe and Steve nearly vibrated from excitement. Today was their big "O", the pinnacle of all their meticulous planning. Today they would finally roast their bloodsucker. The cruelty in their thoughts twisted painfully through Sookie as images, horrific and violent even by her standards, battered against the edges of her mind. But she was prepared for violence and evil. What she was not prepared for, was to hear an all too familiar mind.

She was momentarily stunned into silence. Jason's face probably appeared solemn, if a little vacant, to anyone who didn't know him. But Sookie could see, or, more accurately, hear the turmoil inside him. Maybe it was because they shared blood, but Jason's thoughts were always exceptionally clear to her. And right now, his thoughts were utterly at odds with each other. ~All the signs keep tellin' me this is what God wants. Sarah said this is what God wants. Steve said it too. It must be the right thing… I just… somethin' don't feel right…~

The honesty and confusion in that last sentiment brought her out of her stunned trance. She opened her mouth and screamed, "JASON! JASON!"

His eyes snapped up at the sound of her voice. His eyes scanned the basement, like he wasn't exactly sure what he was hearing. "Sookie?" his voice came out as an incredulous whisper.

"JASON! JASON!! I'M IN HERE! PLEASE HELP ME, GOD, I'M IN HERE!!" Sookie's hands and feet were chained, so smashed the metal on the ground. Hugo took her lead and started screaming too, smashing his chains and thrashing about. The door knob shook violently, and frustrated fists smashed against the solid wooden door.

"SOOKIE!?!? Open the fucking door, that's my goddamn sister!" ~Oh my God, Sookie, is that you, oh please don't let it be you, why would you be in here, oh God, Sookie, why- ~ Jason's thoughts suddenly ceased. A key turned in the lock on the door. Blinding light streamed through the door. Someone unceremoniously dumped a limp body onto the floor.

"Stackhouse," a deep, disdainful voice intoned. "Such a waste." Then the door closed, enveloping them in complete darkness. The next thing she knew, the door opened again to reveal a tear-streaked and terrified Sarah Newlin.

"I'm so sorry," she whispered as she rushed to Sookie's side with a set of keys. ~Lord, please forgive me, please forgive me, Lord, I'm trying to make it right, Lord, please forgive, oh God, Jason, please be okay...~ Her fumbling fingers found the right key and she released the manacles binding the two captives. Then she crawled to Jason's side, pulling his head into her lap. Sookie found the light switch and flipped it to reveal an unconscious Jason with a bleeding cranium. The room that had held them was completely empty save the chains hanging on the walls. Chains forged from pure silver. Dull yellow paint covered the cinderblock walls. The solid oak door remained ajar, revealing a vacant hallway.

Sarah had been wearing a white sweater over a canary yellow sleeveless blouse. She pulled it off and pressed it to the bleeding patch on the back of his head. "Oh, Jason, I'm so sorry, I had no idea, oh, Lord, please don't take him," violent sobs punctuated her plaintive plea. Sookie was dumbfounded. In the midst of the madness constantly surrounding them, Jason had, of course, found a female champion. He always did.

"What the hell is going on?" Sookie immediately demanded of Sarah. Sarah's bright blue eyes looked up from a flood of tears.

"I'm so sorry," she whispered, "This was never what I meant to happen. Steve is performing Meet the Sun." She said the phrase as if that somehow explained everything. But even as Sookie prepared to ask what Meet the Sun meant, Hugo gasped. She looked at him. ~Godric,~ he thought. ~They're going to kill Godric. They can't. It'll mean-~

"War," Sookie finished out loud for him.