This story is the 3rd installment of what has apparently become the 'Need' series. That seems so bizarre to me, considering 'Need' was written simply to satisfy my own need for Eric to have a valid reason for not coming to Sookie's aid when she was being tortured. Because of where this story started, after book 9, none of the events in subsequent books happened in the same way in this timeline. If you have not read the first 2 ('Need' and 'Beyond Need') and you want to read them, you can click on my profile for the links. If you don't want to read them, I don't think there are very many things you won't be able to work out, though there may be some things that make you go, "huh?"
As ever, I am deeply indebted to my lovely beta, Northman Maille, and her unforgiving red pen.
Chapter 1
Mina stared down at the puffy white clouds and her imagination drifted to thoughts of enormous cotton balls scattered across the brilliant blue dressing table of some giantess. The table seems to go on forever; the hypnotic monotony of watching it pass lulling her into a sort of half sleep.
Heller and Genevieve were entwined together and sleeping, sprawled across three adjoining seats in the backmost position. She should be trying to get some more sleep as well, but it wouldn't come. She rarely slept for very long on an airplane.
They were going to Spain, the first stop on a planned extended tour of Europe. No doubt there would be time for plenty of sightseeing and normal touristy sorts of things, but the primary purpose for their trip was for Eric to introduce Sookie to a series of kings, queens, and other important vampires. Some of these were among the ancients, vampires who had existed since before time was counted in years.
Mina wondered what they would look like, the old ones. Eric was more than a thousand years old and he could be a college student, as long as you didn't look too closely at his eyes. The intelligence in his eyes wasn't the kind you learned in classrooms or books. It came from long centuries of experiences and seeing things, more things than Mina could comprehend.
A moment of turbulence yanked her thoughts away from time and clouds. Her fingers dug into the cushioned armrests. She heard a gasp from Genevieve and Heller whispering reassurances to her.
It only lasted a few seconds and the flight attendant appeared immediately when it stopped. The girl smiled as if she didn't have a care in the world as she asked if she could bring something to drink. Mina relaxed her grip and ordered a glass of sweet red wine.
By the time she emptied her glass they were finally over land again. She accepted another glass and sipped it slowly until the pilot announced they were beginning their descent and would be arriving in Barcelona in 15 minutes. Mina looked at her watch. They were right on time. If everything went according to plan, there would be enough time to get to Lleida and have their rooms ready before sunset.
"If you'd like to come to the other side, you can see The Church of The Sacred Family," the flight attendant said as she collected Mina's glass. "I'm told you won't be staying in Barcelona. You really shouldn't miss the opportunity to see it, in case you don't pass through here again."
The girl gestured to seats on the opposite side of the plane, her easy smile still in place. Mina unbuckled her safety belt and crossed the aisle.
When she looked out the window, she didn't need to ask where to look. With the city spreading out around it and the Mediterranean Sea providing a beautiful blue backdrop, The Church of The Sacred Family was magnificent with its gothic spires reaching into the sky. One of their days would have to be spent coming to see this place from the ground. If the outside of the building was this breathtaking, Mina couldn't even begin to imagine what the inside must be like. She was certain Genevieve would come with her, even if Heller didn't care to join them.
XXXXXXX
Eric raised his lips from Sookie's neck only far enough to speak without being muffled by her skin. "My brain understands the direction of our travel hastened the days' passing, but the rest of me insists it has been deprived of your touch for too long."
Sookie smiled at their reflection in the bathroom mirror as he returned his attention to her neck. The quick sting of his fangs had become a sensation more welcome to her than any pleasure ever could be. She lifted her hand and placed it gently on his throat so she could feel him swallow slowly drawn mouthfuls of her blood.
After only a moment he withdrew and kissed the tiny wounds before they disappeared. "Nothing fancy tonight, we're going hiking in the mountains after you've fed."
"Hiking?" she asked, staring up at his reflection rather than turning to face him. "You promised me romance and adventure, not hiking," she pouted.
Eric laughed and patted her shoulders. "Romance, adventure, extravagance … and hiking. Wear your most expensive tennis shoes so you'll be fashionable."
So much for images of candlelight and mood music, she thought as he left her standing alone in the bathroom. Her first trip to Europe and she was going to start things off by doing something she could do before she ever left Renard Parrish. She frowned and cast a dismal look at the jewelry box on the counter. "Guess there was no point in dragging you out yet." She snatched up a brush and got rid of the tangles in her hair.
"Will you be needing any help dressing?" Mina asked from the doorway. "The Master said the two of you will be going into the mountains alone tonight."
"No, I can manage," Sookie sighed. She wanted to sound more enthusiastic than she felt, but she just couldn't hide her disappointment. "If you could just find me something to hold a ponytail, that would be great. We're going hiking. In the dark!" She flashed an unconvincing grin.
"I'm sure he knows where you're going," Mina giggled.
"No doubt!" Sookie agreed. "Hopefully no one has moved any of the sticks since his last visit, so I don't trip and stake myself on something he didn't know was there."
Mina looked suddenly worried.
"I'm sure everything will be fine," Sookie assured her with a more genuine smile. I'm just being a baby about it."
"I'll find something for your hair," Mina said softly, a touch of worry lingering in her voice. "Genevieve has your donor. Would like her brought here after you dress, or would you prefer to have her wait for you downstairs?"
"In the kitchen, I think," Sookie replied, and as Mina was about to leave, she added, "And Mina, thank you."
Mina's smile returned. She nodded and turned away.
XXXXXXX
The small bed and breakfast where they were staying offered all the modern amenities you could ask for from a hotel, despite only having accommodations for four parties. There were two suites, each consisting of a large light tight bedroom, Jacuzzi bath with a separate shower, dressing area and a comfortable sitting room with double doors leading out onto a large balcony overlooking the town. In addition to the suites, there were two good-sized regular guest rooms, which shared a common bathroom.
They had the whole place to themselves. It was booked exclusively for them for the entire week of their planned stay in Spain. Eric and Sookie in one suite, Oliver and Mina in the other, Heller and Genevieve in one of the guest rooms with the second occupied by three donors arranged for by an emissary of the Queen of Spain. The donors would be rotated every two days.
The kitchen was so big and homey, Sookie half expected to see Gran any second, walking around a corner, carrying a big bowl and speaking with a Spanish accent. Of course, nothing like that happened. She simply fed and bounded out the front door to meet Eric.
He was waiting for her outside so he could see her face when she saw the streets of Lleida for the first time. As he'd known it would be, it was well worth the wait.
"Wow," she said. Her eyes were wide as saucers as she spun in a slow circle taking in her surroundings. "We're not in Kansas any more, Toto."
"Now we're both confused," Eric replied.
Sookie snorted and smiled at him. "One of these days I'm going to make a list of classic movies you need to watch. I mean this place is amazing. It looks so old, but at the same time it looks new."
"Much of it is very old and renovated. Are you ready to go?"
"Which way?" she chirped. "I'm playing follow the leader."
"Not yet," he answered. "First we go up. And tonight the passenger must not keep her eyes closed. Pay close attention to where we are and where we go. There will be a test." He chuckled, grabbed her by the waist and propelled them into the night sky.
"Fabulous! Hiking wasn't enough. There's a geography test too. Tell me again why we didn't bring the fencing and dancing teachers?"
"Careful, with all that talking you'll get bugs in your mouth and I won't kiss you tonight," he said with a laugh.
"You're talking."
"I've had more practice avoiding insects. You see the castle complex there?"
She crossed her arms over his and nodded her head in the affirmative.
"It is called The Castle of Gardeny. The Knights Templar were there nearly nine hundred years ago. Use the castle as your starting point and watch the road as we leave. We're only going about fifty miles southwest of here, but there are several bends and turns."
"You want me to direct us back?"
"No," he answered. "I want you to be able to find your way there on your own, tomorrow night."
"Why?"
"Save your questions for when we land. You see where the road veers off there? Don't follow it. Keep to this direction."
Eric carried them much slower than was his habit, but it still only took them about thirty minutes to cover the fifty mile distance.
"This village is called La Morera de Montsant," Eric announced when he landed outside a small town at the base of a mountain range. "I'm not sure how many people are here now, but there have rarely ever been more than a thousand. Never feed here unless you have no choice, and try not to be seen."
Sookie shook free of his arm and looked up into his face. "Eric, what's going on? Why are we here?"
"As far as I know, nothing is going on at the moment, and we're here because we are on our way there." He pointed up to one of the peaks.
She followed his finger to the top of a mountain then returned her gaze to him. "And if we're going there, why did you land us here?" God she wished he wouldn't smile like that. It was far too distracting.
"Because here is where you begin when you are walking to there," he stated as if even a child should have been able to work out such a simple answer for itself.
"That isn't walking, Eric. That's mountain climbing."
Eric laughed out loud and pulled her close for a quick kiss. "How delightful, no bugs," he taunted. "And I believe the word we're searching for is hiking. You cannot fly, so we must hike to the top so you can learn the way. The moon is nearly full, so the passages should be sufficiently lit. Where the way is obvious, we can race if you'd like.
Follow the path and when you come to turns, you go left, left, left, right, left, until you reach a signpost, then take only rights until you get to the first peak. You'll know it when you get there. There is a marker."
"Why tell me all that now? Do you think I'm going mountain hiking by myself?"
"Not at all, my love. I told you there would be a test. I've told you the way, now lead me to the destination. When I was young, not as young as you, but before I had seen my first century; my Maker brought me here and showed me the wonders of Montsant. The second peak. There."
Again Sookie followed his finger and when her gaze returned to him this time, she wasn't annoyed any more. She was smiling. "Eric, you've never done this before."
"How could I? We've not been to Spain before this night." He was returning her smile, but he didn't look as if he was really certain why.
"You're making me a part of your life. Your history and tradition. Not just vampire stuff. Your personal stuff. If I was still human, I'm pretty sure I'd be crying about now."
His smile broadened and he hugged her around the shoulders, "I'm glad you're not crying. It is difficult to see by moonlight through blood tears. Come on now. Humans can get to Piló dels Senyalets, the first peak, in daylight, at a brisk walk in less than two hours. Impress me with how quickly you can do the same guided by the moon."
She only took one wrong turn and Eric let her go for nearly five minutes before setting her straight. Even so, they reached to top of Piló dels Senyalets in just under an hour. He was more than pleased with her performance and demonstrated his approval with a long deep kiss.
"If you don't watch yourself, I'll have to strip you and have my way with you," she whispered before grazing her fangs along his jaw and down his neck for a quick bite.
"If you can make it to the Clot del Cirer, at the top of Montsant, in fifteen minutes," he teased, "I'll let you."
Her fangs retracted at once. "How do I get there?"
He pointed up the path. Right at the V until you reach a sign pointing the way in.
Sookie took off like a shot. Twelve minutes later she was standing on a rocky ledge, looking down into what appeared to be a garden.
"It's like someone took an enormous ice cream scoop and scooped away a pit of rocks and crags, and filled it in with paradise," Sookie said in an almost dreamlike voice.
"The Cherry Pit," Eric responded, stepping up beside her and draping an arm around her shoulders.
"What?"
"Clot del Cirer, The Cherry Pit, we are here."
"Will you take us down? Or do I have to do that too?"
"The path is there," Eric said with a chuckle as he pointed, "but you have done more than enough climbing for one evening." He dropped an arm to her waist, whisked them downward and landed them softly on the grass below.
"Oh Eric! There's a waterfall!" Now Sookie was pointing.
"Precisely where last I saw it," he said mockingly.
"How long ago was that?"
"Over four hundred years."
Sookie stopped staring at the waterfall and turned back to Eric, her face clearly displaying her confusion. "You never brought Pam here?"
"Never," he replied without hesitation. "We went directly from England to the Americas. I have spoken to her of this place, but she has never seen it."
"Eric," she said, coming back to him, "Have you ever shown anyone this place?"
"I have shown you, my love. Now if you will allow me to show you a particular feature in the wall, I believe we will then be free to move on to the matter of stripping I seem to recall being discussed earlier." You didn't need any artificial light to see either his grin or his bulging zipper.
"I think it's your turn to lead," Sookie said with a smirk.
He led them across the grassy field to the wall opposite the small waterfall to where there were several holes, all about six inches in diameter, almost in a straight line across.
"Reach into the third hole. It will angle upward. There is a protruding rock you will probably only be able to reach with your fingertips."
Sookie reached into the hole and when she began to move her hand up, a huge spider ran up her arm. She shrieked, jerked her arm out and shook the spider off.
Eric almost fell over laughing.
"What the hell, Eric! It could have bitten me!"
He let out another loud guffaw. "I bite you several times a night and my fangs are much more dangerous than the spider's. As are yours, dearest."
"But … but …"
"But it startled you. I understand," he said soothingly. "You are a vampire and I assure you, I have never heard of any vampire dying or even exhibiting adverse symptoms as the result of a spider bite. If you were to eat it, you would likely retch it up again. Apart from that, it can have no physical effect on you." He placed a hand under her right elbow and lifted her arm back toward the hole. "Find the latch. I am anticipating entertainments more alluring than spiders."
That brought her focus back to where he wanted it to be. She reached back into the hole and just as he'd said, when she stretched as far as she could, she felt one rock protruding out from the others.
"I think I have it," she said.
"Push it until it is flush with the rocks around it. You should be able to do it, even with only your fingertips."
Sookie pushed. Her fingers slipped several times, but she got it in less than a minute. The second the latch rock made it to the right position, there was a slow scraping sound of stone grating against stone. Sookie jumped back and looked in the direction of the sound, but she saw nothing different or moving. She looked to Eric.
"Almost there. Put your hands here." He took her hands in his and placed them on the wall. "Push."
"You sound like a Lamaze coach," she snapped.
"I know that one," he said with a grin she couldn't see with her back to him.
She was about to ask him to prove it when the wall moved. It scraped inward about a foot, just enough for them to squeeze through.
Eric took a lighter out of his pocket and felt along the inner wall, a few seconds later he lit a torch. Having lit the first, he quickly went around the room and lit five others.
It was one large room, at least twenty-five feet square, carved right out of the mountain. There was a stone table in the center with a bench on each side, and there were two niches six or seven feet wide carved into each wall.
"Beds?" Sookie asked, nodding toward the niches in one wall.
"They have been used as storage shelves and as very uncomfortable beds," he answered. "When your options are to risk rising uncomfortably or perish, it is a relatively easy decision to make."
"So this is like a secret, vampire, hotel, hiding place?"
"Sort of, partially anyway," Eric replied with a chuckle. "Its primary purpose was to serve as a vault for currency being exchanged between vampires and the Templar Knights."
"I thought the Templar Knights were soldiers and guardians?" Sookie questioned.
"True. They were also among the first bankers who made large loans to Kings and principalities. Making such loans required access to extremely large sums of money. As it happens there are a good many vampires who have relieved centuries of wealthy humans of their valuables. It was a natural alliance."
Sookie looked wide-eyed around the room again. "So this room used to be stuffed with money?"
"Money, jewels, treasures of every description. Many things have broken their travels here, and in other places like this throughout the world."
"Do any of them still have money in them?"
"I doubt it. There is no need since The Great Revelation. We can take our money to the bank, like anyone else."
"So why are we here?"
"Because I have not been in Europe since I was in England with Pam. Not everyone here is as they seem and not everyone we meet will be a friend." Eric gestured to the table. "Please, sit."
Sookie sat on a stone bench. Eric did not. Sookie gave him her full attention as he paced and continued speaking.
"If at any time we should become separated and you are threatened or in danger, I want you to do your best to come to this place. If you can make it here, you can keep yourself safe for months if need be."
"Months! Eric, what are you expecting to happen? Has someone threatened us?"
Eric stopped pacing and knelt in front of her, taking her hands in his and looking her directly in the eye. "I'm not expecting anything. There have been no threats against us. I merely want us to be as prepared as we can be for any possibility. It is always good to have a safe place to hide if necessary, and in all of Europe, this is the safest place for us. This is why we came to Spain first. So I could bring you here."
"Why here and not one of the other vaults?"
"Because this is our family vault. My maker, Ocella, built it. No others know its location."
Eric remained silent as Sookie adjusted to this new onslaught of information.
After a moment she took another look around the room, more slowly this time. When she had taken it all in, she turned to Eric and said, "Your maker is so rich he needed a room this size just to hold his money? I grew up with people who live in places that would fit in this room."
Eric smiled indulgently. Here was the greatest difference between them. For all his perpetual appearance of youth, she actually was young. There was so much for which she simply had no frame of reference. "You must understand, when this vault was built, only the Chinese used paper money. Ocella's wealth was in coins, bars, jewels and things made from precious metals, jewels and fabrics. A million dollars in diamonds might be easily kept, but a million dollars in silks and tapestries requires much more storage space than a few stacks of hundred dollar bills."
"Oh," she said, in something of a disappointed tone. "I never thought about fabric or rugs being in a vault."
"Trade goods of every conceivable description have seen the inside of these walls." He scooped her up in his arms and spun around several times. "As has enough gold and jeweled treasure to make a shipload of pirates blush."
He put her down and steadied her. "Now you have seen it and as you see, it is suitable for nothing but a place to hide in an emergency. So, shall we go back out and enjoy the pleasures of the Clot del Cirer?"
Sookie looked up and gave him a mischievous grin. "I can think of several pleasures I'd like to enjoy."
"Can you indeed, Queen Sookie?" With an arm at her back, he walked them to the exit.
"You lock up," she quipped and ran through the door.
Sookie was standing on a large, flat rock and facing the water as Eric approached her silently from behind.
"All of the fires safely out?" she asked, sensing rather than hearing his presence.
"Not all," he whispered, encircling her in his arms and pressing his body against hers until not even air could pass between them.
"I hope your fire never goes out," she said softly, putting her arms over his and squeezing back.
"Never," he echoed and bent to deliver a trail of eager kisses to her shoulder and neck. His fangs were fully extended, but he did not strike.
Her head lolled to the side and she released a contented sigh as his attentions continued and intensified, his lips lingering but seconds beneath her chin before he shifted her to face him in his arms and claimed her mouth with his.
Sookie didn't squander any time. They had both waited long enough. As she hungrily returned his kisses, she simultaneously went to work removing their clothes. Once they were naked, she wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist.
He walked them into the pond fed by water pouring over the rock wall surrounding this idyllic mountaintop oasis. He didn't stop until they were in a tiny alcove hidden behind the cascade.
She let go with one hand, allowing it to graze down the length of his torso. It then slipped between her legs to guide his erection. Her moan as she received him broke their kiss. She was ravenous for him. She thrust herself against him repeatedly, reveling in gratifying pleasure his body offered.
"Shh, slow down," he said after a moment, emphasizing his point by holding her hips to his in a viselike grip.
She felt like an infant left to dangle in a swing, waiting for a grownup to notice and give her a push. She bared her fangs at him as a low guttural sound made its way up from deep within her and gave voice to her impatience. The fangy smile she got in response was pure lust, greed and violence all rolled into one. He leaned forward and she prepared for the rapture of his bite.
Instead, his head came to rest between her breasts. "Lean back," he growled and shoved her backward with a flick of his neck.
For a disoriented second she thought he'd tossed her into the water, but no, his hands still held her tightly in place. The thin sheets of cascading water were falling between them now, gently falling against her breasts and rolling down her body toward where they were joined.
Then came the push she'd been waiting for.
Though Eric wasn't actually thrusting into her. He was standing still and moving her away with his hands, then seizing her and slamming her body back to his, driving himself deeper into her with each reunion. The tickling sensation of the water splashing alternately over her nipples and her clit as he moved her under the spray brought her quickly to a powerful climax. Her body gave its self over to waves of uncontrollable spasms, her weak attempts to wrench herself away futile against his superior strength, as he pounded his way to his own unrestrained release.
When he finished, he gathered her in his arms, stepped out of the pool and placed her tenderly on the grass. He stretched out beside her and offered her his wrist. "You are without rival, my lover," he said, kissing her brow as she drew unsteady sips of him.
"Better than an energy bar," she said, licking her lips and returning his wrist. She nestled into his embrace and stared up into the heavens. She absently caressed his arm and said, "Thank you for bringing me here. I've never seen a more perfect place. I wish we could stay just like this."
"I suspect your wishes would change with the dawn," he replied into her hair.
"True," she sighed. "I'm sure it's beautiful in the daylight, but not beautiful enough to burn for." She ducked from under his arm and sat up. "You gonna make me hike back down?"
He smiled and kissed her hand. "I believe you have hiked sufficiently for one evening, my lady." They were dressed and in the air in less than a minute.
Eric brought them back to Earth within sight of Pacífic Refugi, the bed and breakfast they'd taken over. He hadn't laughed when Sookie asked why someplace near the Atlantic Ocean would be named Pacífic anything. He simply smiled and patiently explained the inn name translated to peaceful haven, in the Catalan language. By the end of the conversation Sookie decided Catalan was a very pretty language that sounded like Spanish, without quite so many o's.
"Will you remember your way there?" he asked.
"I always remember where we've had sex," she said, tilting her face up so he could see her smile. "Especially when it was barn-burning, diary worthy sex."
The interest in his eyes was suddenly in more than her sense of direction. "Diary worthy? I was not aware you kept a diary."
"If you knew everything about me, you'd get bored and throw me away," she teased.
"Never," he answered. He reached for her, but she giggled and dodged his hand. "Now about this diary. Have I merited mention in its pages?"
"I seem to remember writing your name a time or two."
"It sounds fascinating. I might like to read this diary. Perhaps we could have it published. I can see it stacked in bookshop windows now … Diary Of A Vampire Minx."
Sookie laughed happily as he pulled her back to his side and they arrived at the front steps of their temporary residence. Eric loved few things more than making a grand entrance and she was his favorite accessory.
"I guess you'll be casting the movie before sunrise," she said with a smirk.
"Brilliant idea, my love! Of course the red carpet for the premiere will have to be at night. The paparazzi will just have to work out the lighting."
Sookie loved moments like this. He was enjoying this much more than he should. He might be centuries old and dangerous beyond imagination, but somewhere, buried down inside him, there was still a little boy, longing for nothing more than a playmate and to be the center of attention.
He opened the door and made a gallant gesture inviting her to enter first. He swept in close on her heels.
"Would that all nights were as beautiful as this one," he announced with a flourish as they came into the common room.
Heller and Genevieve were the only audience to receive him, but it didn't diminish his presence. In a room of four or four thousand he was impossible to miss or ignore.
Genevieve greeted them with a smile, but kept her seat. Heller was up instantly. He went and retrieved an envelope bearing a formal wax seal from a side table and offered it to Eric. "A messenger from the vampire Queen of Spain delivered this an hour ago."
Eric took the envelope and examined the seal before breaking it in half. "Clearly Her Majesty is well informed about the comings and goings of visitors to her realm," he said as he removed a note card and tossed the parchment envelope aside, allowing it to flutter to the floor. Seconds later he passed the card to Sookie.
"It seems our plans for tomorrow evening have changed, my love. Bring out your best jewels. There will be no hiking. We are invited to a reception at the palace in Zaragoza."