Dead all Round

I was running. Running in total darkness. I couldn't see, but I sure could feel the wispy tree branches whipping me as I ran on. My legs were wet and sticky and felt like Swiss cheese. I could feel a presence that terrified me, so I shrieked and screamed. I bellowed until my voice was hoarse. I couldn't feel the presence behind me. I turned around, and instead fell right into the arms of Thing One with such force I couldn't catch my breath to scream. Thing Two, jumped out of the shadows and yanked my hair back. She sank her sharp teeth into my exposed shoulder. I screamed again.

"Lover, wake up! Sookie! Sookie, please! Wake up!" called an agitated voice.

That's how I awoke in Eric's broad white arms, sobbing my poor little human heart out.

Eric was stroking my sweaty hair as I neared the hiccupping stage of crying. He was barefoot but otherwise fully dressed in his Fangtasia tee and requisite jeans. I could feel our bond like a titanium cord tethering us together. It had grown stronger as we had exchanged blood during our week-long sex marathon after… Things. It had been panic-stricken need for closeness. In other words, pure (physical) bliss. I hadn't seen Eric in a few days and the bond was like a content puppy dog now that he was near. My tears dwindled down.

"My love, I am sorry I couldn't come to you sooner. Victor brought news from the King and I could not leave," he said. His blazing blue eyes were staring into my own. I couldn't hold his gaze, so I shifted onto my side. Cowardly, I know, but it's just too overwhelming.

"They have not stopped?" Eric asked, referring to my all-too-vivid nightmares.

Well, nah. What do you think? I admonished myself for being so snippy. Eric is the only thing keeping the torn and teary Sookie Stackhouse from doing something silly. That, and purgatory is not my kind of place. I like to know exactly where I am; being stuck in limbo aint one of them. Belatedly, I realized I hadn't answered his question. Not trusting myself to speak levelly, I shook my head. Eric rolled me over and placed a hand flat across my cheek.

"Eric," I whispered after a natural silence, "Will you stay here tonight?"

I could feel him smile into my hair. Our bond was reverberating (an old Calendar word, I haven't checked it in a while), it was so powerful. I don't think it influenced me greatly in asking Eric to stay. At least, if it did, I don't care. For now.

"Of course, my Lover," was all he could get out before I pulled his beautiful golden head down to mine and kissed him for all I was worth.