Eric's P.O.V
It was a quiet night at Fangtasia; I was bored sitting on my throne so I went to my office to do some bar related work. I had finished dealing with the shit Appuis had left behind and I was free for the first time in my vampire existence, I didn't have to worry about my maker dropping in or calling me. If I was being honest, the idea of Appuis visiting had plagued me for some time since I met Sookie. My emotions were all over the place which was very strange for me and I knew Appuis would feel the difference and he was always one to satisfy his curiosity. I was worried of what he would do at the discovery of Sookie; he was a selfish vampire and didn't like to share his children with anyone.
Since my makers passing I have been feeling free and relieved but my maker taught me all I know of being a vampire, he made me cruel and hard enough to withstand the nature of the vampire world, he beat the humanity out of me and if not for him I would have died a thousand years ago as an old man. It is true I hated my maker and even in the moments of his final death when I felt the pain of his passing I was happy but my maker made me who I am and for that I owe him my life as do all children to their makers.
I have avoided sookie since that night, I fear if we are together and she feels my conflicting emotions she will want to know what's wrong or worst blame herself for her thoughts of killing Appius. Truth be told even when I was going to stop her I was hoping she would complete the task. As his child I was unable to stop myself from trying to protect him but even as I called to her to stop my love for her increased as I felt her determination to free me and for that I will always be grateful to my lover.
After coming to the conclusion that I would see my lover tonight to thank her properly, I was about to leave my office when Pam wandered in without knocking as she has taken to doing recently.
"Eric I have some interesting news" Pam said simply while she seemed to be evaluating me, which was not uncommon for Pam.
"what is it Pam? I am going to see sookie this evening" I asked slipping into my leather jacket that I know my lover enjoys and pulling my hair from the restraint I had kept it in all night.
"Good, it's about time" she said with an eye roll "But I have received an interesting report from one of our New Orleans spy's apparently two men who and I quote 'were north man's clones' flew over New Orleans apparently heading in this direction"
"fuck" I spat, I should have expected this, my brothers would have felt Appius's death and come looking for me since we had not been allowed together for 300 years, our only communication has been though phone or bond and even then we had to be cautious in fear of Appius feeling us, but now they are free to come and see me. Shit.
"they are you brothers I assume" Pam asked her eyes gleaming excitedly, she had heard of my brothers but never met them as also part of Appius's paranoia.
"Yes and I must get to sookie immediately before they do" I raced around my desk to stand in front of her.
"Please tell me sookie knows of their existence" My silence was her answer "Shit Eric this could do irreparable damage to your already unsteady relationship" Pam hissed, she had grown a fondness for Sookie and viewed her has a sister, which i found useful since it was important for the two most important people in my life to get a long but also I found it worrisome as Pam now as taken to agreeing with Sookie over me.
"Not now Pam I must go" I sped from Fangtasia and launched into the air, hoping I could reach Sookie's with enough time to tell her of my brothers before they arrive.
They had realised my changing feelings awhile ago and called to check in and find out why I was feeling so deeply. Out of the three of us I was the most prone to give in to my vampire nature. Leif and Vena still held on to parts of their humanity while I chose to disengage from it centuries ago. I have missed my brothers greatly, we were very close even in our human lives and only grew closer through Appius's abuse, since the only creatures in the world that we could count on were each other but our close bond is what led to our separation. Appius became suspicious of the time we spent together and on top of the hatred he could feel we had for him, he believed we were plotting to end him so he ordered us to separate. We were never allowed in the same state. He sent Vena and I to America but kept Leif with him for several more centuries due to Leif being his favourite. We argued with him begging him not to separate us but it was useless Appius's will was final. That was three hundred years ago, so we had already been apart from Appius for centuries but stayed together. Appius's obsession with Leif made him take him back but I believe he was released again 100 years ago not long before Appius made Alexei.
I find myself conflicted once more, I love my brothers and look forward to seeing them again but I do not want them to risk what I have with Sookie, she is far too important for that.
I sped towards her house and opened my bonds to Sookie and my brothers to find them all close together and sookie was scared. 'shit' I thought knowing I will be to late but hopefully not late enough that she is told by them instead of me, the last thing she needs is to hear from them a story I should have told her a year ago.
I sped into the house to see my lover holding Vena down with a stake to his chest as Leif watched, his eyes dancing with amusement. I of course knew they would not hurt her and that Vena could move her at anytime, I was more worried with Sookie's emotional state, she can be unpredictable when overly emotional.
"lover why are you trying to stake my brother?" I asked gently, kneeling beside her, her eyes glowed with that fire I loved and it was a huge turn on to see her wield that stake. I was saddened that I missed her with the shot gun lying in the living room.
"he attacked me" she said her grip on the stake tightening before her gaze switched rapidly to mine and she looked worried "Wait so they are really your brothers?" I couldn't help the smile that came over me as I nodded. She was so worried that attacking my brother would offend me, it was cute.
Suddenly what she had said sinked in and my gaze switched from her to Vena. "You attacked my bonded" I hissed unable to keep my fangs from falling. If she has so much as bruised I will punish him for the next hundred years.
I glared down at him menacingly but of course Vena being the dick head that he is, had to poke the lion with a smart arse comment that enraged me and embarrassed Sookie; so much that she leapt from sitting on him and stood closer to me. Which I was grateful for, I could feel Vena's lust vibrating though the bond and I glared down at him daring him to make a move.
Sookie tuned to me with an apologetic expression that I couldn't help but find adorable "I'm sorry Eric if I had known they were your brothers I never would have..." I cut her off with a kiss that was far too short of my liking. I didn't want her to be sorry, she was protecting herself, I was actually proud besides Vena has deserved to get his arse kicked regularly for centuries now and I was extremely satisfied to know it was my bonded that didn't take his shit. I told her as much and pulled her into my arms where she belonged forever but unfortunately we had other things we had to deal with, mainly my brother's appearance.
I could hear Vena making gagging noises, honestly the guy is an a thousand years old vampire and he acts like a ten year old human. I couldn't fight the eye roll as part of an annoying habit i picked up from Pam, and glared at my younger brother who behaved centuries younger then he really is.
"Oh where are my manners, would any of you like a true blood?" My lover said as the perfect hostess. I looked over at Leif who seemed fascinated by Sookie's behaviours. Leif has spent his existence observing the human race but it seems Sookie baffles him. At that thought a wave of pride ran through my body.
Vena made another uncalled for smart arse comment that had me wanting to cause him physical pain but my lover, as one who always gives as good as she gets, fired back at him. I smirked at Vena's speechlessness; he was not used to women talking back. Vampires who look like we do; always get what we want but as my brothers will learn quickly, Sookie will not be a doormat and I couldn't be prouder that she is my mate.
"I would very much enjoy a true blood if you are still offering" Leif smiled politely not many know that while Vena and I are the more openly aggressive of the three of us it is Leif you must watch since he spends so much time observing humans he knows how to behave to get his way. I was pleased that Leif was eating something, he looked very pale and I wondered how long it had been since he last fed, from his completion it would have to have been at least 3 weeks since he had eaten anything fresh, which worried me. I looked at Vena in question but he just shook his head slightly with a sullen expression before changing the topic of interest.
"I like her she has fire, which is rare these days" Vena had always missed the fire and attitude women took with him when he was human, we all had a liking for women with spirit, unfortunately that is incredibly hard to find when you are a vampire and can glamour anyone into anything, knowing you always have the upper hand can get dull.
"She's mine Vena, touch her and I will remove your head" I said still observing Leif. I had said the same thing a million times to him in the past, especially when he heard of Pam. Pam and him had spoken several times over the phone and Pam had a rather sizable crush on Vena but I knew Vena too well to allow him to use and abuse Pam. What he does with his pets and humans is his business but he will not hurt my child.
"Greetings brother it is nice to see you so well" Leif said stepping forward and hugging me. Vampires don't usually make physical contact with others but I have an exception for my brothers, we greet each other the way we did as humans. Some habits die hard. Leif pulled back but kept his hands on my shoulders looking at me levelly "Is she the one?" he asked, it was a very loaded question. He was asking several questions in one. He was asking whether she was the reason Appius was dead and wether she was the reason for my change in mood but the answer for both were the same and I nodded my head to confirm his suspicions. He smiled widely and hugged me again.
Sookie walked in with a tray of true bloods and walked right past us and into the living room. We followed her silently and sat on the couch where she gestured. I was somewhat caught off guard by her laughing and from the confusion in the bond I could tell my brothers were as well. She tried to settle herself but when I lifted an eyebrow she laughed harder. When she had settled she apologized but still stifled a small smile. I could see Leif smiling out of the corner of my eye.
I took an unnecessary breath, this was the part I was least looking forward to "So I guess you have some questions and I am willing to answer them" I said somewhat reluctantly and looked back to my brothers since this wasn't only my story. They both nodded and I turned back to her as she asked me how. I explained our situation truthfully for the first time since I made Pam, I tended to lie about our situation and say we were all made around the same time period from the same area which is why we look so similar. Telling anyone that we are truly of blood is a large weakness that can be exploited but sookie is my other large weakness so I know she will never exploit the information.
She stayed silent for a while but I knew there was still something she wanted to know and I had a good idea of what it was. She wanted to know why she didn't know of them before now. I couldn't tell her the truth she would think I do not trust her, the truth was I had became so accustom to keeping them secret it never occurred to me to tell her of them. I knew I couldn't say that so I gave her a diplomatic answer that she didn't take any better. I felt annoyance and anger through the bond and waited for her yelling but she didn't, instead she just walked away and told us to leave. When she called me sheriff i couldn't help but wince.
"Fuck" I mumbled clenching my fists at my sides. When sookie yelled and screamed I could settle her and fix it quickly but when she was too angry to even yell that's when I knew I was in serious trouble "Come" I said rising from the couch and locking the front door before we left through the back.
"She is an interesting human" Leif said as we walked across her yard.
"Yes" I said simply, I knew they had questions but I was in no mood to deal with them. So I just launched into the air knowing they would follow me, I didn't have time to deal with them right now, and I have to figure out how to get sookie to forgive me.
Dawn was approaching fast so I took them straight to my house and set them up with coffins for the day before retreating to my resting place and destroying two cabinets before dropping on my bed to think. My brother's have the worst timing in the world.
