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Oo00oO
A week had passed by since Ocella's final death. Eric took it well, or perhaps it seemed that way because he was busy trying to keep Victor Madden at bay. No overt moves had been made, not since Pam and I were attacked on the roadside. However, as Eric and Pam constantly kept reminding me, that meant nothing. Madden could just be biding his time. A watch had been placed outside my house, and I spent almost every night with Eric.
Dermot and Claude both decided to stay with me, something that both annoyed and gladdened me. Claude wasn't that annoying anymore, and Dermot was wonderful when he wasn't feeling depressed. All the time he spent under Niall's spell seemed to have confused him, and he was still trying to come to terms with himself.
I think all three of us were still reeling. I had been having nightmares since the night Ocella was staked, and Claude seemed to still be mourning Claudine. The nightmares were worrying Eric, despite my constant assurances they'd go away. Honestly though, I was worried myself, and Eric probably felt that through the bond. The nightmares were about my uncle Bartlett, and what had happened with Bill in the trunk, neither of which I wanted to discuss with Eric. Pam and Eric, on the other hand, seemed to think it had something to do with how eager I was to kill Ocella and still was about to killing Victor. Both of them told me separately, that it wasn't like me and Pam spouted off about how Dear Abby said that emotional trauma can cause a person to behave differently from their usual manner.
All of that was probably the reason why Dermot sat down to talk to me this afternoon.
Oo00oO
I was just finishing lunch when Dermot came into the kitchen and sat across from me.
"Sookie, I need to get away from here for a while. I've spent so much time under my father's spell that I'm having trouble being myself again." He just came out and said it without preamble.
"Where will you go? How long will you be gone?" I wasn't his keeper. He was my great uncle and could take care of himself.
"India. I've always loved the country, even though my family preferred the Western world. I have contacts, property, and friends there. Moreover, India has a way of teaching you things you never could imagine about yourself. She helps you discover yourself." He had a dreamy look in his eye. Then he suddenly looked right at me. "I want you to accompany me."
I stared at him. "What? I've got work to do; I can't just leave Sam hanging. Eric is here, and we've finally settled down into some sort of relationship."
"Sookie, instead of thinking about them and their reactions, think about yourself. You've been exhausted and skittish. Something is bothering you. Just as Fintan watched your family from afar, so did I, although for different reasons. You've been behaving very differently from the norm. I think the trip might be helpful, to both of us." He held up his hand as I started to protest. "Think it over. I'll be leaving in three days. If you do decide to accompany me, don't worry about the visa, accommodations, or plane tickets. As I said, I own property there and I'll be taking a private plane. The visa is easily taken care of. All you have to do is say '"yes"'."
As soon as he finished his speech, he left the room.
Oo00oO
I was still a bit stunned and reeling from what he had proposed. This wasn't good, as I was supposed to be working. Sam looked at me from across the bar and asked me what the matter was.
" One of my relatives invited me to join him on a vacation to India," I replied.
"Just the two of you?" Sam asked. I nodded. "Why?" At my inquiring look he elaborated. "Why you?"
"He thinks it'll help me. Something about self-discovery. Maybe he just wants to get to know me." At that moment a customer called for my attention so I went over to the table.
When I finished giving Sam the new order, I started to turn around. He caught my arm and stopped me. "I think you should go. Don't worry about work. I can manage without you, and you can work extra hours when you come back. Lord knows you returned to work too soon after the Fairy War." He left my arm and started filling the orders without giving me a chance to reply.
Oo00oO
I left Sam's office after my shift, picking my things and heading for the parking lot. I took the employee's exit out back and was half way across the parking lot when I heard Terry Bellefleur call me. I waited for him to catch up and he did.
"Thank Jesus, I thought I missed ya." He paused to catch his breath.
"Is something wrong Terry?" I liked Terry. He was a bit damaged after his experiences. Terry had fought in the Vietnam War and had been taken as a P.O.W. His mind was one I tried to stay out of because of his demons.
"I overheard your talk with Sam. I didn't mean to. Ya'll were just next to me and I couldn't help it." He looked a bit nervous.
"That's alright! You're a friend Terry. Now just spit out whatever you want to say." I could read his mind, but I'm a bit afraid sometimes of what I'll find there.
"I think you should go, too. Not because you'll be away from that vampire of yours. I'm not Sam." He gave a small smile. I was a bit stunned, though. I usually don't think about Terry all that much, and I was a little surprised by just how aware he was of his surroundings. "I think you should go because you've been off, Sookie. I've seen the same behavior from my old comrades in the army and from myself. Now I know I'm the last person to talk to about this, but I remember Asia. It's a real nice place when there aren't any enemy soldiers about. Go."
Then Terry walked off, leaving me standing there alone.
Just how messed up was I acting that Terry Bellefleur noticed it and gave me advice?