AUTHOR'S NOTE-this is the first of three stories in a story arc that will deal with intense drama, heartbreak, pain and the path back to normalcy. Please read and review as I wanted to try something different Thanks! Part one of a three story arc

GOD OF THE SEA-PART ONE

Chapter 1

Nighttime at the beach was typically a night where drunken teenagers from the town would gather, lighting up and getting lit. But it was thanks to the efforts of several vamps that glamoured them all way that the beach was theirs and theirs alone for the night and any person who happened to trespass on their little party would simply be sent off one their way-after one of the vamps had a little nip and did some glamouring. Though Sookie had frowned upon the humans being snacked on, it was agreed that it would be a sip or two. And the people would be left with a wad of cash in their pocket that they wouldn't recall where it came from but yet would more than make up for their forgotten encounter with fangs.

There were a few tents set up and many beach chairs, the weather balmy and warm and the moon shone brightly. It was the end of summer, September a mere week away. Things had been calm over the past few months and all in Sookie's family had been thriving and prospering. Though they had invited their family and friends, many had been forced to send their regrets and other than Sookie, Eric, Pam, Willa and Lafayette, there was only James, Hoyt and Jessica who had been able to attend. Still, they were enjoying the party, though the beach was one of Pam's less favored spots. That being said, she was willing to go along with whatever her maker wanted and this was what he wanted. And what Sookie wanted and she supposed a night at the beach wasn't going to do any harm.

"This isn't as crappy as I thought it would be." Pam mused as Jess took to setting some music up on a table laden with blood and some human snacks. Not that they needed a ton, as so few who could eat food had been able to come. "But I ain't getting near that water. Smells like dead fish and god knows what's in there." true, this was nothing like the Atlantic ocean and not as nice. But it was clean enough and was a decent enough beach. One they had all been to before, during the dark days of the Lilith incident. The sand was clean and still warm even at this time of night and the fact that Pam was at least willing to walk around barefoot in the sand, well, it was certainly a red letter day.

Lafayette and James had taken over the music, doing a little impromptu karaoke as Jess and Hoyt started dancing, hand and hand, acting like a couple of teenagers. Everyone was having a blast and after a couple hours, she found herself out on the pier, looking out over the water that looked black at night and yet she knew in the daytime it was a brilliant blue. There was a slight ripple in the water that signified something in the water but these waters were known for all kinds of fish. Smiling as she saw her friends and family relaxing and even starting a beach volleyball game, she sat on the pier and tossed her shoes back to the shore. Considering she had thrown them nearly a hundred feet away but to how so much had changed. breathing in the warm air, she swore she felt something tickling at her toes and chalked it up to the wildlife beneath the smooth surface of the water. She felt his presence and didn't need to look as he got closer and she was somewhat surprised to see him out of his typical attire and instead was in a pair of dark blue swim trunks. They were somewhat out of view form the beach as there was a thick breaker wall that was recently installed. Partial view was enough to make certain that she could see her friends and they her, though no one was doing any watching, besides their volleyball game and/or drinking and eating.

"Even though we didn't have as many as we hoped would be here….it's a fun evening. Peaceful….relaxing….everyone seems happy. Even Pam Isn't hating this venue as much as I thought she would." Sookie said as her Viking sat beside her on the pier, looking relaxed.

"She has always been excellent at fooling people and it seems she ahs fooled you for a change. She truly hates this place. But she is putting up a brave face for us, I know….."

"I suppose I knew that already and maybe in another life, she would have made a good actress…..but I do appreciate her efforts in putting this together. She is holding her annoyance in with thickly concealed indifference. And for her that is pretty good." Sookie said and they laughed before she made mention of his lack of attire. Not that she minded but all this time together and this was the first time she had seen him in swim wear. Then again, the other times they had been swimming, they had been alone and in more private settings.

And it was as if he himself was able to read her mind and smirked that smirk of his. "I figured it would be a little awkward to not be clothed amongst our friends here and I was hoping perhaps you were in the mood for a little swim?" he asked almost hopefully.

"No…I'm good right here for now and I didn't bring anything to swim in anyway-and no don't even think about trying to get me to skinny dip….you need to behave yourself in front of the guests. I know what look…." she swatted at him playfully and with a look that dared her to come after him, he slid into the water and nimbly made his way through the water, surfacing nearly two hundred feet from shore. She grinned at his antics, that he was clearly a impressive swimmer was nothing compared to how impressive overall he was. And when she saw him vanish under the waves and as acute as her own senses were, nothing could prepare her for a arm grabbing her from behind and puling her backwards into the water and as annoyed as she was, there was always something about him that made that anger and annoyance vanish. And for a moment, she laughed as she felt hands tickling her. But then suddenly the hands were gone and she decided to join into what she thought was a game. But she suddenly found herself ejected from the water, not roughly but the hands that had touched here were not his and she found herself face to face with a stunning and yet deadly looking woman. A pouch being held out to her, open enough for Sookie to see the polished gemstones within.

Chapter 2

"Who are you?" Sookie asked, her voice shaky as she noted two other faces under the water, faces that were focused on dragging something large deeper under the water, until they vanished, leaving her alone with the blonde woman, who, with a gesture of a hand, made a gesture and there on shore, where the others were starting to take note of the encounter, each and every one of the partygoers fell to the sand, out cold.

"They are not harmed, and in fact, I should say I didn't come here with any ill will or intent." the woman said, her blue eyes shining imploringly. There was a steelyness and a determination in her eyes and yet Sookie also saw a desperate woman, acting out of said desperation. But still, she had managed to snatch someone dear to her right in front of here and certainly this was not going to sit well with Sookie. "I brought you recompense for your troubles." the woman in the water nodded to the pouch of gemstones within.

Sookie took the pouch and opened it, the colors of the stones pretty to be sure but with a frown, she overturned it, the stones sinking fast in the water, to which the woman sighed. "If you think you can appease me with treasures after taking the person that means the most to me….if you really think you can buy me off for my "troubles."….you have no idea who you're dealing with."

The woman sighed. "The truth is I know perfectly well who I am dealing with and that he is the only one that can do what we need him to do…to keep our people safe. And plentiful." she said, giving a soulful look to the increasingly stunned Sookie who burst out laughing, albeit it was a cold laugh. "You say you know who we are…you are aware of what he is, right? If you are getting at what I think you are, you're barking up the wrong tree. Are you aware of the term "shooting blanks?" she paused. "Why not come out of the water and lets see what we are dealing with 'cause I can already tell y'all ain't human."

The woman smiled and shrugged. "I could use some land time, anyway." and with that, there came a shimmer to the water, a glow as she shot out of the water, leaping over the head of Sookie, who got a brief glance at a emerald green tail, though not as Disney as she would have imagined. There were barbs that she saw retracting and contracting, the woman clearly wanting her to see that she was no mere me creature. And as she landed, the tail turned into a long skirt and she had two legs, sans shoes, of course. "My name is Camellia. Camie, if you so choose. Princess of the sea and for a long time, we were hidden away. But we have been forced to emerge to try repopulating our kind…..some one who could help defend us should the need arise. Though we are a peaceful people, no one has yet been able to do what was needed. Never had anyone quite on par to what I need, what I want. And studying magic and history of beings in the above world…..I came across you and your beloved. And I am well aware of what he is unable to do now in regards to children….though I am well aware of the fluke that resulted in the two of you having one of your own…but I have my ways of making things happen and I am confident that I can make him compatible enough to make things work how I hope them to. Our people are dying out and I can't allow us to die out, for we protect the waters, the oceans…..And yet we are killed by closed minded people who happen across us…." Camellia trailed off, tears starting in her eyes. But the other woman was having none of it.

"Look, I am sorry your people are having troubles….believe me, I have faced my fair share too. But taking him to perform what kind of experiments on him…." it was such a troubling idea to her that she couldn't finish her sentence."

"Ironically enough, the side effects will be that he becomes enamored with me instead…..and I take no pleasure in any of this, I can assure you. But you and I both know there is no way he would have come willingly and….if I could take the pain I have caused I would but-"

"You can. By returning him. Or I can just go after him myself."

The me creature looked abashed and couldn't look her in the eye. "I would prefer no violence but I have ordered him to be guarded until its done. The change, I mean. the magic, if interrupted could very well kill him and neither of us wants that, I think we both agree there."

She certainly didn't like the sound of this and by now, the partygoers on shore had awoken and were racing towards Sookie and the strange woman with her. "This isn't over." Sookie snapped at the woman who only smiled sadly, knowing this was the truth. Vanishing under the waves, she vanished and left a shaken and upset Sookie crying in the arms of Pam, of all people, who had been the first to reach her and seeing who was missing, looked stoic and yet she too was stricken with fear and worry.

TO BE CONTINUED