Chapter 1 - Rises in the West, Sets in the East
Someday, somehow
I'm gonna make it alright, but not right now
I know you're wondering when…
Nickelback - Someday
"Warm…it's just too darn warm!"
Sookie attempted to roll out of bed in the early hours of that inexcusably hot Louisiana morning, her clothes sticking to her as she disentangled herself from the long, strong and radiating arms of her soul mate. Whenever it ran close to the moon, Sam seemed to notch up the heat and, although much appreciated when first getting to bed, the warmth became uncomfortable after a few hours of snuggling. Just as Sookie thought she could feel a cool January breeze breaking across her skin, she was yanked back into the vice like hug, Sam running his nose up and down the back of her neck and nuzzling her hair. She even had to double check, she was sure he was purring softly, not that she would be surprised if he did. Hanging with Jason and his little pack for the last few moons had Sam roaming the woods around their home as a sleek and, dare she say, sexy black panther, all long whiskers and sharp claws. Sometimes, when Sookie felt restless at all the activities in her forests, she would go for a walk amongst the wilds, occasionally seeing the pack enjoying fun and games or hunting rabbits and deer. She had to admit, having so many weres on her property at full moon definitely kept the forest well maintained and the game numbers to a reasonable level. Between Alcide's werewolf pack and Jason's pack made up of Hotshot juveniles, she barely had to take a gun to the woods anymore.
"I need to get up or I'll be late for work, and my boss gets mighty fussy when I don't turn up bright and early…"
The arms around her tightened and a growl escaped Sam's lips. His rough tongue ran up the length of her neck and nibbled on her earlobe, followed by his sleep-drunk, gruff voice whispering in her ear two delicious words…
"Fuck him!"
"Well…If you insist, Mr Merlotte…"
"That I do, Mrs Merlotte, get your ass up here now…"
Sookie let out a squeal as Sam rolled her full body as if she were light as a feather to have her straddling him, a wolfish grin crossing his face as he surveyed her pert nipples breaking through the wet cloth of her nightdress. Maybe he had been hanging with Alcide more than she realised…
Within a moment and flurry of frenzied movements, Sookie felt her now nude body sinking onto her lover, warm honey eyes meeting her own and shining with adoration and respect. Sookie felt her stomach flutter as she moaned at the sensation of being slowly filled, her back arching against Sam's firm grip on her hips. It was in that moment, when he was fully submerged inside of her, their bodies entwined together in a loving embrace, that she felt an overwhelming pull, a tug so violent she shed tears of joy and love. This was her man, all of him, and she was never letting anyone or anything come between them. She moved slowly, circling her hips whilst trying to ensure every inch of him was engulfed by her, soothing her aching need. With every small circle, Sam began to push inside her, reaching her depths and hissing as he made contact with her cervix. Sookie's eyes closed and she moaned loudly, picking up the pace as his thrusts became more energetic. Sam let out a low growl as his fingers dug deeper into her supple hips, making her gasp and her eyes fly open.
"Bend over" he gruffly announced, flinging her onto all fours with the strength of the moon coursing through his veins. He dragged his fingers down her spine and entered her roughly whilst she panted wildly beneath him, his hard thrusts increasing as she bucked to meet his ardour. She was close, and he took in a deep breath to take in her musky, feminine scent. Sweat mingled with sweat as the couple braced themselves for orgasm, tightening and pulling at each other in a desperate need to find sweet release. With a final thrust, Sam pulled at the loose braid Sookie wore for bed and held her shoulder firmly in place, forcing Sookie into a cascading bliss that rippled through her body. As she came, the room became brighter as her light magic spilled from her, circling them both in its protective glow. The sated pair collapsed into an exuberant heap of arms and legs, wrapping themselves around each other and enjoying the post orgasmic freedom.
"I still gotta go to work…" Sookie whimpered as she stretched in Sam's masculine arms.
"Yeah…don't want your boss giving you trouble," Sam let out with a smirk, finally releasing her and laying with his arms behind his head.
Sookie stood, shakily at first, and shook her head playfully, hands on hips, as she looked at her husband.
"You look like the panther that's got the cream! You know you need to get up for work too, your boss will have a fit and a bad turn if you aren't there to help her open up…"
"That's what I'm sure I just did…" Sam laughed, his eyes mirthful and as he rolled himself over to her side of the bed.
"Sam Merlotte, get your beautiful butt out of this bed and come help me open the bar before we both end up spending another day in bed!" Sookie swatted his shoulder and heard another growl escape his lips.
"Move, wench, before I take you up on your offer…" Sam stood, smacking her playfully, though slightly harder than she expected, on the behind as he sauntered, naked and glorious, to the bathroom. It took Sookie a few seconds to respond, her body already lightly humming at the thought of a repeat performance.
"Hey, I didn't offer nothing…Sam you best not take long in the bathroom, I'm not going all the way downstairs to use the guest room!"
Sookie grabbed her clothes and make up bag, resigned to having to hot foot it down to the dreaded guest bathroom, knowing Sam would priss and preen just to make sure they both were 'too late to leave now'.
Making her way down the stairs, Sookie glanced quickly at the newly renovated guest room. She couldn't tell what compelled her to do such a thing, she had no need to look in there as they didn't have guests since Jason and the kids had stayed over last month for Christmas. Sookie froze and looked again at the space that held her emergency vampire cubby. The carpet covering the bottom of the faux bottomed wardrobe had moved, the doors were open, the boxes covering the secret entrance pulled back. Someone was in there…the questions buzzing around Sookie's mind was simple. 'Who the hell is in my house and why the hell are they here?'.
_.oOo._
'Cold, so very cold'.
And then darkness.
Severus felt the warmth of sunlight on his face and hands, and the brightness of the world beyond his closed eyelids was enough to tease him to consciousness. He opened his eyes warily, looking around at the white walls, floor and ceiling of his new surroundings. No longer was he in the Shrieking Shack, slumped against a wall. His hands shot to his neck and he felt the smooth skin, not a single scar. He could have sworn that overgrown worm had bitten him on the neck…several times if he could recall before losing consciousness.
"Ah, my dear boy, I was hoping to see you a lot later than now! But always a pleasure, old chap!"
Severus snapped his head around quickly to the sound of the warm, familiar voice, momentarily speechless as he met wise, mischievous, twinkling eyes looking down at him. Dumbledore held out a newly restored hand, one that looked slightly more youthful than the last time Severus had seen him.
"Albus?" Severus couldn't recognise his own voice, it was light and breathy, nothing like his usual rumbling drawl. Checking himself over as he took Dumbledore's hands, Severus noted his clothes had changed. He was back in his school uniform, his tie impeccably made as it always had been, his trousers slightly too short and his shirt slightly off the usual white, worn from years of recycling the same outfit. Severus shuddered at the reminder of his poverty and neglect, looking again at a younger Albus Dumbledore. The brightness of his surroundings was driving him to squinting, but he knew who he saw.
"Albus, am I…?" Severus gulped back his first year voice, quiet and meek, and finally, knowing his balance was renewed, let go of Dumbledore's hand. The older man smiled warmly at Severus and folded his hands behind his back in his usual stance, eyes constantly trained on Severus's movements, like a cat watching a bird dancing on the window sill.
"Well, old boy, that in itself is a difficult question to answer. You can be, if you wish to be, but I feel you still have great things to achieve, wonders to explore, and the game has only just begun". Dumbledore turned and started to walk away, to wherever away may be in terms of a room with no beginning, no end, and bright, white light. Severus looked more confused than ever, he hated feeling this way and being left in the dark, metaphorically speaking.
"I guess you will require further explanation. I'm afraid I cannot simply give it to you, but I can say you have work to do, if you want to do me one last favour…" Severus watched as Dumbledore started to fade into the nothing ahead, and began to pick up pace to reach him.
"You are not the only one here in need of help and guidance, and it is a great task to ask you to put aside your own pain and suffering to alleviate that of others. I have faith in you dear boy, always have, and faith itself is all we have against the darkness." Dumbledore turned then to face Snape once more and looked him in the eye. He looked older again, back to the Dumbledore who recently passed. Severus noted his robes had changed from a vibrant Gryffindor red and gold to a much darker Ravenclaw blue and silver. Checking himself, Severus saw that he had changed to his usual black attire, the sweeping cloak and black robes draping to the ground.
"What is this place?" Severus scowled, looking around himself once more, and seeing nothing.
"Why, you're in a place between the very fabric of existence. You are within the Veil. A place very few have ever known to return. And there are those here who require your assistance…and mine…"
The old man looked wistful, then, and somewhat sad at the turning of the world beyond the tranquillity of the Veil. Severus bit back another, less functional question, and went for the jugular, knowing there would always be something barbed to a request from the old coot.
"What do I need to do?" Severus said, scepticism dripping from his now rich, velvety growl of a voice. Dumbledore looked at him, his face growing paler and more drawn as he began to speak, fading into the light slowly until his last word, barely a whisper, marked the departure from all worlds one of the most powerful of all wizards.
"Well, this war has taken many lives, and whilst here the world outside has moved forwards, it is now the dawn of a new age. I must be pressing on, I've had quite the busy evening. Before I depart, I need you to carry on my work and find the two lost souls roaming here, send them home. You just be quick for one is fading fast as he has been here for so long awaiting his return, body and soul, the other...he will need you to bring him back with you…Find them…Save them, Severus…"
Severus felt a single tear roll down his cheek, which he quickly wiped away. 'Trust the old fool to give me no idea how I am meant to find these two men, or who I am even bloody well looking for! Knowing him, I won't enjoy what I find when I find it…', Snape thought surveying the surroundings once again. As his eyes adjusted to the bright lights, he could make out shapes in the far distance, drifting slowly to and fro. He approached the shapes, casting long shadows that travelled across the floor as if illuminated from behind, like standing in front of flood lights. As Severus grew closer still, he saw the two shaped were wrapped in a tight embrace, but their features were smoky and blurred with the light around them cutting out their shapes in a way that sent a chill through his spine. Ghosts. Was he looking for ghosts?
Severus drew closer to the figures and realised that one shadow was dappled in brightness, yet one was darker, more substantial, more solid. He seemed to be walking for hours, or maybe minutes, he could not say. He felt no pain or time or space except that he was nearing the direction in which he walked. The closer he drew, the more he made out the shapes clinging desperately to each other. Finally he drew close enough to make out distinct features, the light being blocked mainly by the heavy figure. Severus abruptly stopped in his tracks as he finally took in the two figures gripped in a loving embrace. He growled low in his throat and looked up to the ceiling of the place. 'That twisted old bastard…'.
_.oOo._
Sookie tiptoed back to her bedroom, the thought of cleaning for work soon forgotten with her latest discovery. Just when she thought everything had settled comfortably into place, with peace and quiet ruling her harmonious home, out from under the rug comes a new big bad problem to solve. Realising that, whoever it may be, they most certainly would not be awake enough to hear her moving around the home, she resolutely stepped into the master bathroom and sighed as she watched her lover, her best friend, her husband, dry himself down with a towel, his shaggy golden red mane of hair hanging just in front of his eyes. She couldn't help but gawp, even after two years of happily married life, not that she hadn't seen Sam plenty before they finally tied the knot. It had been five whole years since the dramas that the vampire community of Bon Temps had caused, five years since the final fight for Faerie, five years since she put all of that behind her and enjoyed just being a one man woman with no complications, troubles, stress or strife that resulted in her black, blue or basking in the glow of vampire blood dripped into her mouth before she died. Again. She couldn't believe how lucky her life had turned out, how much she had been through to get to this stage. Sookie Stackhouse, telepath, mad woman, fang-banger, blond, big-breasted and heartbroken was behind her and now Sookie Merlotte, confident, overwhelmingly loved, calm and collected remained in her wake. She shook her head to get back on task as Sam turned and winked at her before tying the towel around his waist.
"Enjoying the show, cher?"
"Can't complain, although I think we have an unexpected guest…"
Sookie inclined her head into the hall, and Sam instantly went on alert, following her to the spare bedroom and taking a deep sniff before wrinkling his nose and letting out a very cat-like sneeze.
"Vampire. Blergh, all I can smell is death. I can also smell blood, not just that usual metallic smell, it's something stronger than that…" Sam walked over to the cubby and held out his arm to keep Sookie from following him before flinging open the hatch.
"Oh sweet baby Jesus, Shepherd of Judea!" Sookie exclaimed as she instantly recognised the long, well-maintained blonde hair, the pale skin and broad shoulders, one of which had a strange scar that looked like it was originally a heavy gash that was slowly healing. Sookie closed her eyes and groaned. Why the hell was Eric nestled quite comfortably it seemed in her cubby, and what, after five long years, did he want?
Sookie had last seen Eric the night they parted ways, that final night where he had made his choice and gone with the Vampire Queen of Oklahoma to make her life merry hell. Eric had been an all-consuming love, a heated and dangerous affair where Sookie had even been duped into a Vampire wedding with the stormy Nord. Deep down, Sookie would always love Eric, in her own way, as she would always love the man who first broke her heart, Bill Compton. Ironically, it solidified in her mind that she and vampires could never settle together. Besides, she had found the one, her soul mate, and no doubts even entered her mind of her state of being now. That comfort didn't distract from her confusion, and Sam's look of pure disdain spoke volumes of what his mind was working on. She didn't need to be a telepath to know he was pissed. Really pissed. His anger rolled off of his in swathes, and she touched his arm lightly to try to settle his ire. Sam looked at her with blank, dark eyes, and turned abruptly to leave the room. He needed to cool off before he ripped Eric from the cubby and started beating on him. Sookie let him go, taking the opportunity to check Eric over to see if he had the forethought to at least write a note somewhere to suggest why he felt it prudent to invade her ancestral home and presume he could use her cubby space. Her magic hummed around her in frustration as she found nothing to discern his stay, and she was even more frustrated to find him completely nude within the crawl space, his clothing neatly folded at his side. She had half a mind to take it and throw it on the porch, but she knew Eric better than that. Humble was most certainly not Eric's middle name. Arrogant. Rude. Brash. Narcissistic. They probably began to cover it. She sighed and covered over the cubby, there was nothing more she could do except locate and placate her beloved.
Sookie traced Sam to the edge of the woods. He was breathing deeply, taking comfort from the damp woodlands and great outdoors. Sookie touched his arm and he flinched, but then turned and encompassed her in his arms, pulling her close to his bare chest and sticking his nose in her hair.
"Mine, my mate" he muttered, and kissed her soundly, drawing her up from the ground to meet him levelly. She threw her legs around his waist for support and murmured her concurrence, never breaking the kiss. When he finally placed her gently back on the ground, she looked into his eyes deeply, searching for her husband, willing him to resurface and let the animal slink back again. It did, but Sam still held her possessively as they retreated to the porch swing. They sat and Sookie curled up in his arms.
"I guess we aren't going to work today, huh? Shall I get Hoyt or Terry to open up shop?"
Sam simply nodded as he watched the forest with a wistful longing. If only he could go for a run, clear his head, take Sookie with him. Sookie picked up his thoughts in broken, jarred moments. His anger had given way to confusion and curiosity. He looked down at her, properly, for the first time since their discovery, and kissed her forehead. She smiled and settled back in his arms, bracing herself for the next question.
"So….Nordic elephant in the room time, what do you think he's doing in our cubby?"
Sam seemed to not hear, or not want to hear, and simply huffed before standing up and entering the house again, leaving Sookie on her own to ponder. She felt the loss keenly, like it was somehow her fault that Eric was stowed away in her home.
It cheered her to see Sam returning with two large mugs of steaming coffee, returning to the porch swing with a heavier thud than needed. He handed her a mug and smiled at him.
"I needed coffee before really getting into the who's, what's and why's."
Sookie nodded and let out the smallest of relief filled sighs. She was happy Sam had settled down now, but she knew he couldn't be pressed for more than the comfortable silence that had fallen between them. All of a sudden, Sam stood once more. He quickly walked into the house, retrieved his mobile phone, and punched a number in before holding the receiver to his ear, his arms crossed protectively across his chest. He looked at Sookie and winked before the call connected.
"Yeah hi, I'm Sam Merlotte, put me through to someone who's been there more than five minutes. I need to talk to someone about a special gift I've found in our family house. Yeah I'll wait, but don't make me wait too long, otherwise I'm jumping in my pick up and driving down to…ok thank you…"
Sookie took the time to text a couple of the day workers to open up, and a couple of staff to cover the evening shifts while her and Sam sorted this hot mess out.
"Hi. I guess you're Pam's new day guy. Well we have a situation here, is there something going on me and Sook need to know about?"
Sam nodded, barely saying anything, occasionally making basic understanding noises, for a good ten minutes. Sookie watched, fascinated, until finally he wrapped up the call and sat down heavily next to her once more.
"So, Eric is here, everyone knows he's here, because he was sent here. Apparently he was approached by an extremely dark wizard whilst touring Europe with the Queen of Oklahoma. She's dead."
Sookie took that much information before a high pitched ringing filled her ears and she found herself channelled out of Sam's speech. She heard tit-bits, like 'wizards', 'witches', 'dark magic' and a name that was repeated 'Harry Potter', but she couldn't process what she was hearing. She sat, numb and open mouthed, starring into the woods as she had found Sam doing, her brain a fuzzy, mushy mess.
Sam finally pulled her into another hug and slowly began to draw circles on her back with his large, powerful, assured hands.
"There were whispers in the were community of something going on over there, but we never knew how bad it got. And you know what weres and vamps are like with their own affairs, everything is kept so tightly under wraps. Apparently this Voldemort amassed an army and tried to recruit Oklahoma and Eric as the strongest in the US, and hoped to stretch out across the States. Eric had refused, and Freya had agreed with his counsel. The wizard cursed Freya and ended up killing her, and Eric fled with his life. He came back here, but wasn't sure if he would be followed, so he's pretty much been in hiding up til now. Cleveland, Pam's new day guy, gave me the basic run down that they are calling it the 'Second Wizarding War', and by all accounts that Voldemort guy is dead now, all thanks to this kid, this 17 year old and his two friends. Problem is, if it's all over, why the hell is he here?"
Sookie shook her head, not knowing what to say, how to respond. What on earth was going on here?
"I need a shower, or maybe a hot bath, there's nothing we can do until we get hold of Eric tonight, see what the heck it is he wants, then get back to our normal life!"
"We've had normal for five years, to be fair I don't think we can have a life without a little bit of drama for too long, baby girl."
Sookie nestled into Sam's protective embrace and closed her eyes, praying to Jesus, God and all the saints that this would all blow over and she would be able to return to normal once more.
