Sookie might have awoken this morning with nothing planned. But now she has so many plans, and so much to do. She starts by making a list so that in her excitement she won't forget a thing. First things first she's going to get her husband back if it's the last thing she does. In fact most of the items on her todo list are all in support of this one goal.
The first person on her to contact list is the tiny doctor Ludwig. And not having her number, she contacts Pam who has taken over her makers title of Sheriff of area-five. She leaves a voicemail on the bars main-line, and practically vibrates out of her body waiting for sunset and Pam to get back to her with the first piece of her quest. Sookie and Pam haven't spoken since Eric left town and she hasn't seen any vampires other than Bill since Karen's year of guard duty expired. Sookie spent the first year on autopilot and unknowingly dating Sam. Bill kept his distance seemingly content to watch from afar for the most part.
After Karen left and Sam went back to living in his trailer, Bill renewed his efforts to woo her — without success. Sookie's heart was just too damaged first by Bill's duplicity, and then Eric's nonchalance. And after Sam lost interest Sookie vowed to close-off-her-heart, and focus on other aspects of her life instead. This was when she truly started to work on her gift and her yard, since she loves to spend time outside basking in the sun.
It's during indulging her favourite pastime, laying out in the sun, when her irritation with her own melancholic introspection soon turns to glee as she practices her new found talents. She first notices that the wind responds to her whims. When she's too warm a soft breeze wafts across her skin cooling her perfectly. Focusing she pulls the moisture out of the muggy air, and it coalesces into a ball of water. Playfully she throws it up into a harmless shower of rainy mist, which combines with the bright sunshine creating a rainbow above her home.
It isn't long before she locates the defunct faery-wards that fell when Fintan died. She quickly enlivens them, in-fact making them stronger. She weaves love and power tying them to the land, and into the history and love that the house contains. Generations of Stackhouses have lived on this land, and by-way-of the previous-wards the land is ripe and ready to rise to its purpose. It's now warded so that none who aren't expressly invited can enter. Even going so far as to make it so that those with a verbal invitation who's intentions are negative, are unable to step foot within the barrier. Sookie has learnt her lesson: sometimes her judgement can be a little off.
She continues to play with the wind and air, whipping it into a mini storm, and then compressing it around herself buffeting it so that she rises from the earth in a controlled ascent. Laughing to herself, "I just need a broom," she chuckles as she floats around high above her property. As she descends she decides to extend the wards to prevent anyone on the other side from "seeing" in any way magical goings-on that may occur within, along with sounds. Sookie has had it up to here with people spying on her "for her own good".
She's back inside preparing her evening meal when full dark finally arrives. Sookie notices (not for the first time) that Bill immediately emerges from his home and begins to probe the new barrier surrounding Sookie's property. Her new wards make it seem like no one is home. Since Bill is unable to smell nor hear Sookie, as he was able to from the same place just the night before. It's not long before he gives up and goes on his way for the evening.
When Pam finally returns Sookie's call, Sookie is careful to not reveal too much when she requests Ludwig's number. Pam is cold in her demeanour and wants to spend the least amount of time on the task as possible. Making it easier for Sookie's intentions to remain private.
Sookie doesn't wait to call the number and yet she's frustrated by having to leave another message with yet another voicemail machine. Her message is vague and urgent sounding enough that she does not wait long before Ludwig finally arrives. By simply popping into her home like she owns the place. Sookie's message asking the doctor to visit her, acts as her invitation within the wards.
Ludwig gives her a soul-deep look and grins like a shark. Sookie smiles demurely in return and Ludwig is quick to give her assurances. She explains that while it is visibly apparent to her that she is now full fae, her scent remains unchanged and to the untrained eye she easily passes as human. As a type of fae herself Ludwig is able to assess Sookie's new state of being and offer advice and guidance.
Ludwig examines Sookie and confirms that all is well and perfect with her now fully mature fae-form. She is able to further aid Sookie's discovery of her talents and together they discover that she is able to not only mask and change her scent, but also her physical appearance. Sookie is also able to read-undetected Ludwig's thoughts. Her thought patterns are similar to other faery minds she has encountered; they hum and appear bubbly or gaseous in her minds-eye. Ludwig quickly protects her own mind from intrusion. And unless Sookie forces her way through she is unable to do more than ascertain her breed, mood, and location.
Next item on the list: Sookie calls Mr. C for legal advice. This number Sookie is able to locate on her own, she noticed an entry for the daemon lawyer in her Grans old phonebook while she was gathering her things for donation shorty after her death. Her call is answered by a female receptionist whom once ascertaining her name, assures Sookie that Mr. Cataliades would be in touch shortly.
A few hours after Ludwig popped off to tend to other patients, Desmond Cataliades himself pops in for their meeting. Of course his supe method of travel is speed running, not faery popping. Sookie offers sweet tea and cheesy puffs. And she's secretly delighted when the orange residue gets on his fingers. Sookie is glad to also see Diantha who quickly takes up a guard position during the visit. For the first time Sookie is able to smell a brimstone like smell and the previously static only thought impression just needs a little tweak to get the signal to become clear.
Mr. C is quick to let Sookie know how thrilled he is that she is ready to take on the mantle of her true birthright. He tells her he had wanted to be able to use this avenue during Eric's contract negotiations, but the Viking had expressly forbidden him. Eric was concerned that revealing who Sookie really was would bring more attention to Sookie. Leaving her vulnerable after he was forced out-of-the-state, with no way to protect her during her previously assumed-to-be-short human-lifespan.
Over sweet tea and cheesy puffs Mr. C tells Sookie about Eric's concerns, and how devastated he was after the culviel-dor was used to save Sam's life. How Eric believing that Sookie no longer wished to be with him, gave up a further one-hundred years of freedom, in an attempt to ensure she remained unmolested by vampire interference. Sookie feels torn between grief and relief that her misguided mistake with the culviel-dor could be rectified now that she has come into her birthright.
Having been prepared and contracted by Niall before he left for the realm. Mr. C brought all the paperwork that needed to be filed with the supernatural council to register Sookie as the rightful heir to the Faery throne. He also presents Sookie with a letter from Niall, magically sealed under the Brigant seal. As well as financial papers granting her sole ownership to all of the Brigant earthly assets, which are plentiful and varied.
Sookie takes note of the fine paper and how the stylized sunspot solar-flare seal fluoresced with the magic infused within it. When Sookie opens the letter from Niall a beautiful signet-ring tumbles out into her palm. She can feel the love and hope that was transferred into the letter during the writing, and the ring has a beautiful gold sun emblem. The band has intricate Celtic knots and in the centre is a five-carrot yellow diamond surrounded by solar flares. It fits perfectly on her right hand, as if it has been there all along.
Dearest Sookie,
It is my greatest pleasure to present to you, upon your thirty-fifth year name day, your birthright. It is with great sadness that I cannot be there in person to witness what I am positive is your majestic true-self. Mr. Cataliades has been tasked to be a sponsor, and legal confidant to you in my absence. Please know that we both have every confidence in you and your ability to represent Faery within the supernatural council.
I apologize again for not being present to help you with your transition. If you are ever in need of my council, this paper is spelled to another in my 's a simple charm for you to alter my message to one of your own. Simply give the paper a shake, write your thoughts, re-address the letter, and then seal it with your signet-ring.
It is my fondest wish that you will soon visit Faery, however it would be best for you to remain on Earth during the conflict. Please know that you are in our thoughts, and it's with a glad heart that I wish you luck in your future endeavours.
Sincerely,
Prince Niall Brigant
Sookie thanks Desmond for his patience while she read the letter and when Sookie summons a pen to hand, to sign the documents, Mr. C smiles a toothy paternal smile in response. Sookie is at first hesitant when she notices that her name on the documents is Princess Susana Brigant. She relents after being assured that this is in fact her true name, while Sookie Stackhouse is merely an alias. It still takes quite a few hours to sign and seal all of the documents.
Once the formalities are complete Sookie asks that Mr. Cataliades also start the process to annul the marriage that Appius sold Eric into, since he was in fact married to Princess Sookie Brigant prior to the contract being signed between his maker and Queen Freyda of Oklahoma. Their marriage should have prevented Oklahoma and Appius from registering the contract with the council. However it seems that the marriage paperwork might have been waylaid on its way to New Orleans, since it wasn't sent to the proper authorities until after Victor's death. And that delay meant that while their marriage paperwork predated the contract, Appius's contract was filed and subsequently enforced.
It's past midnight and the end of her thirty-fifth name day when Mr. C, and Diantha take off back to New Orleans. Leaving Sookie once again home alone with only her thoughts, regrets, and plans to keep her company. It's those plans that keep the regrets at bay, and Sookie's previously self sacrificing and juvenile tendencies under wraps. It's with a heavy heart that Sookie ascends the stairs to her room and lets herself worry another day.
Sookie wakes with the sun's rays again assaulting her eyes, but this morning she's able to mute the rays and drift off for another hour until her alarm blares loud and insistent. Not having enough time to relax, Sookie rushes through her morning routine while she gets ready for work. She still casts her awareness out and about, while she takes as much time as she is able with her morning cup of coffee. Her uniform seems a little ill fitting now with her new shape, but there isn't much she can do about that since she's already running late.
It's a bumpy road leading into town. The road crew hasn't been out this way yet to fill in the potholes. It's just long enough of a drive to get the radio turned up loud enough to block out the wind whipping in through the open windows. The early summer air is clean and warm, and the breeze feels nice on her freshly tanned skin. Sookie's singing along at the top of her lungs to random top forty songs when she pulls into the back parking lot of Merlottes just before her shift starts. It takes her a minute to get all the windows up, the passenger one has been sticking lately. Sookie exits her little yellow Gremlin and pats her faithfully on her bonnet as she makes her way inside.
The stench of garbage and old fry oil permeates the parking lot air. It hits her that her sense of smell is yet another sense that has increased in potency. She almost doesn't want to continue inside. But she isn't one to shirk responsibilities, and until further notice she has a job to do. Mentally putting on her big-girl-pants as she strides through the back door and stashes her purse in Sam's desk drawer, before heading out into the bar her apron wrapped around her waist.
After last night's meeting with Mr. C Sookie wonders how much longer she will remain working at Merlottes. Even if it has been such a large part of her life since she became an adult. If she stays in Bon Temps, LA, then Merlottes is the easiest way to interact with the general population. Sookie practices using her telepathy while also taking orders and interacting with patrons. She doesn't need to worry that people will wonder, since they already do.
Sookie's shift is almost over and she's already getting used to being in public with her new found senses. She's discovering that she can shield and focus on just one or multiple senses at will, it's really quite fascinating. And the newest sense, the one humming in the background, quiet and still while the sun's high-in-the-sky is the sense that Sookie is most interested in investigating.
Sam isn't on shift when Sookie starts, and when he does arrive during the slow period between late afternoon and the dinner rush. Sookie realizes that she forgot to fully mask herself to resemble Sookie pre-birthday slash fae maturity. Sam is instantly attracted to and unable to focus on anything else but her. Until she quickly masks herself. Sam shakes his head to clear the fog and gives her a sharp nod towards his office before stalking off, expecting her to follow.
Sookie sighs and follows, resigned to the upcoming uncomfortable confrontation. She isn't disappointed as Sam physically mauls and scents her person as soon as she enters the office. Sookie growls and forces Sam back, "What the hell, Sam," Sookie cries out outraged. Sam doesn't know what changed, but he can tell something did. "Sookie your scent has changed, in fact you smell like you used to before Northman left?" Sam questions arms crossed and thoughts judging her sanity. "That's what all that was about? You smelled Eric?" Sookie asks eyebrow raised. "Out in the bar before you smelled sweet like candy, but now it's tinged with that blood suckers stench." Sam rages posturing. "Sam I've told you before, if you can't keep your hate to yourself then I won't be able to work here no more." Sookie warns reminding Sam of their previous truce.
She can tell that Sam isn't going to back down this time. She has to make a decision. Cut ties now or wait for Sam to come around. Yesterday she might have made another decision, but today Sam is very low on her get Eric back goal and master list of things to do. Just as Sam is winding up for a rebuttal and Sookie can just tell she won't like the words anymore than the thoughts. She takes control and starts to remove herself from Sam's mind. All she leaves of herself is a rote answer to any question asked about her; Sookie doesn't work here anymore.
She takes her purse, removes her apron and leaves through the back door. A lone tear falls and she brushes it away in anger. She's kicking herself for basically erasing one of her only friendships. It isn't until she's got her windows back down and her little gremlin started that she realizes there is a silver lining to leaving work early. She's free early enough to visit Eric.
Her mood brightened, she turns the volume up and raises her voice and sings with uninhibited abandon. Her little yellow gremlin, bumps and coughs the engine making that knocking sound again as she slows to turn onto her driveway. She relaxes as she feels the magic of her wards as she enters her property.
Sookie pops into Eric's coffin for a quick visit, but returns before sunset. Her next item of business is reconnecting with Pam and those still loyal in area-five. She dresses and alters her appearance and smell until she is unnoticeable in that she looks and smells like any other fangbanger. Her brunette hair is short and her pleather bandage dress is skin tight to her much slimmer body. She pops to Shreveport since her little yellow gremlin is quite memorable, and might just be on it's last legs. As she waits patiently inline with the vermin, she uses her time probing thoughts and getting the lay-of-the-land. It's been awhile since she last ventured into the Disneyland for Vampires that Pam has managed to keep trendy in her masters absence.
They have another new bartender and she briefly wonders if her curse will wind up speeding up this ones final death as well, as had happened to the bars previous bartenders. This new one is male, blond, and cocky and he has the movie star good looks and a smitten loyal following to prove it. Finally she's granted entry. She visits the bar to get a drink, gin and tonic of course. Glad that the line wasn't much longer, her heels are higher than she is used to wearing. She perches on a stool for a while to rest her feet. And after watching the show a minute or two, she can admit to herself that the bartender who introduces himself as Matthew is quite easy on the eyes. Though he has nothing on her Viking, who's stature and presence draw others to him like a moth to a flame.
Sookie is in luck and Pam is in the bar and seems to be taking meetings as they come. Sookie quickly finds a spot in the corner of the dance floor where she can keep an eye on the bar without gaining too much attention.
It's not long until Sookie notices some interesting thoughts coming from one of the men eyeing Pam as she sits on Eric's throne. When she left home she wasn't sure how she was going to approach Pam, but now if this just don't beat all. Her relief at having a plan aside. She's more than a little disgusted and upset with the thoughts of the stringy haired, slight man, Ray-Ray, who's thoughts are full of vivid and bloody memories of Indira. A vampiress she knows to be a resident of area-five, and loyal to Eric.
Once she's sure that Ray-Ray is alone in the bar. He the scout. She makes her way into the ladies room to do a quick change into something a bit more presentable for a meeting with a Sheriff. Meanwhile Sookie takes control of the drainer's mind and has him walk into the back hallway and kneel at the office door his head an inch away with his arms clasped behind his head.
Pam finally notices her when she gets within a few feet of the throne, Sookie remains at a respectful distance. "May I have an audience with the Sheriff, please?" Sookie asks her accent slightly different than normal. Pam raises one eyebrow, waits a moment then slowly rises and gestures towards the back hallway. Pam has Sookie precede her, so of course Pam being Pam she's distracted by Sookie's ass and so is a little upset to come upon Ray-Ray kneeling at her door.
"Don't mind him none, Sheriff." Sookie drawls a sweet smile on her face. Pam is immediately on guard and is moments away from making the rash decision to throw both humans out into the back parking lot, the hell with them both. "Pam, relax! It's me, Sookie, now let us into the office please." Sookie whispers her hands up in front of her face. Pam is so dumbfounded that she does just that. Watching with open curiosity as the kneeling human rises and trails behind them only to return to his kneeling position facing the closed door once inside the office.
"You don't call you don't write, and now you're here on my door step with what, a gift? You shouldn't have, Sookie, he's not my type." Pam retorts, lounging in the office chair behind the desk. The office furniture is a little large, Pam still hadn't replaced a thing. Sookie takes a moment to take in the office, before taking a seat in one of the guest chairs, and lowering her glamoured appearance.
Pam shoots to her feet in shock. "I was only about eighty percent sure that you were, well you, until just now." Pam admits sheepishly, as she retakes her seat. Sookie just smiles back at her once-upon-a-time friend. "It's good to see you as well Pam." Sookie drawls. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit, this evening my dear Sookie?" Pam questions, her raised eyebrow the only part betraying her disinterested posture and tone.
"Well my issues are two fold this evening Pam, first and foremost when was the last time you saw Indira?" Sookie opens with the more pressing issue. Pam balks, but answers truthfully. "She checked in the other week, but I haven't seen her since. Why do you ask?"
"Truthfully I came here tonight to reconnect with you. And to my horror I find this deviant is casing the place, planning to abduct my friend and that he has already done unspeakable things to another." Sookie reveals nodding toward the still kneeling Ray-Ray at the door. "And I'm sure you have quite the plan to rectify this situation." Pam drawls, unable to hide her smirk. "Why yes, I do. How did, you know?" Sookie answers with her own one eyebrow raise.
"Oh Sookie it's been so boring without you, these past few years." Pam replies as she rises to her feet. "But lets leave this to an underling just this once. We have much to catch up on you and I." Pam proposes and sends a quick text to Maxwell Lee. Sookie nods in agreement and quickly masks herself again to resemble her pre-birthday self. It doesn't take Maxwell long to arrive and Pam offers no introduction, she simply waves in Sookie's direction for her to take the floor.
"This here is Ray-Ray and his drainer panel-van is parked in the Toys-R-Us parking lot. He's here alone tonight, but he's part of a three man team. You can find his confederates, and Indira, at the blue house at the end of Brooks Road." Sookie calmly relays the pertinent information. Maxwells eyes widen slightly, then he nods his head and takes Ray-Ray with him as he exits the door.
"Now that that's dealt with and we're alone. There is something that I want to try." Sookie says, and closes the gap between them. Sookie takes a hold of Pams arm, "hold on tight." She says, and pops them both into her living room. "Whoa!" Pam cries out, upon finding herself instantaneously relocated. "Yeah, it's pretty wild huh!?" Sookie cries over her shoulder as she heads into the kitchen to fetch some drinks.
Pam is still standing a little stiffly in the living room when Sookie returns. "Pam please sit, you're making me nervous." Sookie pleads gesturing towards the comfortable armchair reserved for guests. As soon as she takes her seat Sookie begins her planned speech. "I guess I should start with an apology for how my behaviour made everything more difficult and complicated with Eric and the contract." Sookie states after placing the warmed true blood on the table in front of Pam. "In my defence my naive human brain just couldn't comprehend the situation. And I was so sure that Eric would eventually get bored with me that I acted out, using anger to cover my hurt and insecure young heart." Sookie admits her hands clasped tightly together in her lap.
"Foolish human, I'm not the one you need to be telling this too." Pam snarks, as she sits primly completely ignoring her blood. Sookie's pride rears its ugly head. "I'm not really human anymore Pam," Sookie snarks back as she truly drops her glamour and reveals her true-self pointed ears and all. Including how she's luminous, sparkly and glowy, and even slightly taller. "Whoa" Pam starts, her eyes wide, fangs down, and her hands up as if in defence. "And that's without adding the scent to really drive the point home. Not Human Pam." Sookie drawls her appearance returning to quote-un-quote normal, as she lounges back with confidence.
"Yes I can see that faery. And with that, out of the way. What is the true reason that you deigned to grace my bar with your luscious presence this evening?" Pam snarks getting down to business and trying to cover up her still tense reaction to being so close to a faery. "That's simple Pam, we are going to get Eric back. And that bitch is going to pay for the way she has been treating my husband." Sookie answers with a cocky smile, her hands rubbing together in anticipation.
Back to Main story page – The 8 senses of Sookie Stackhouse
Chapter 1 – Happy Birthday to me!
Chapter 3 – Cold War
