CHAPTER 2

My mind is whirling as I prepare to go to bed as the dawn fast approaches. Pam has now left for her own home, before she left she had just stood and stared at me and then smiled, I felt a little concerned wondering what she was doing until she spoke.

"You are going to make a fine vampire, I am proud to call you my sister".

I smile at her the words boosting my confidence and opinion of myself, "Thank you Pam, I appreciate that" I say, "You are the best sister I could ever wish for too," I add.

Pam simply nods at us both and then without another word she is gone. I find it interesting to note that now I am also vampire when I see another vampire moves with excessive speed it no longer seems to appear that fast.

I turn to Eric who is looking indulgently at me, I know that look, I walk towards him and he takes me in his arms, and kisses me, I lick his fangs and he growls deeply, the next thing I realise we are both naked and rolling around on the huge bed in our hidden daytime resting area.

"Eric" I gasp, as I feel myself coming to completion and then I feel him thrust deeply and then freeze.

"Sookie" he calls out loudly and then he lets out a loud hiss and grips me tightly to him. "This is best" he murmurs as I feel him emptying himself inside me.

As I feel the dawn now fast approaching I feel Eric slowly slide out of me, then he kisses me and lying at my side he pulls me close once more and takes me in his arms and we settle into the bed. We always sleep in each others arms, I feel his love and contentment flowing through the bond and into me and as it does so my body starts getting heavy and it is becoming an effort to speak, to move, to think, I feel daytime consume me and I am gone.

It seems only moments later, when I open my eyes, I am alone, and Eric is sitting beside me smiling, he is waiting with my blood. I grasp it and drink it greedily, he refills my cup three more times and I feel ready to take on the world.

I get dressed, as I am doing so I notice my skin is getting paler, I have always loved the sun and sunbathing was one of my favourite pastimes, but not now obviously, Eric notices me staring at my arms.

"Is everything alright my lover?" he asks gently.

I nod, "yes I was just noticing my skin is getting paler" I say quietly.

Eric smiles "You so loved the sun didn't you?" he says carefully, I get an odd emotion through the bond which he quickly slams shut, this makes me pay attention and I quickly realise Eric is feeling vulnerable, he is worried I am regretting my decision to become a vampire, so I turn towards him and look at him closely and I flood the bond with my love for him.

"But I love you more" I say firmly, the bond re-opens with a surge of love and relief from him as he pulls me to him and crushes me in his arms; he leads me to the bed and inevitably he shows me how much he loves me.

As we lie there afterwards, I want to ask something, I turn to Eric who is lost in his own thoughts and trailing his finger over my stomach, "Can I ask you something?"

He looks up and smiles at me, "Anything my lover" he says.

"That thing you did, that vampire voodoo thing, which made it so I can talk to Pam clearly in my head, why can't you do that so I can have that with you?" I ask as I look pleadingly into his face.

His finger stops moving and he pulls me close, "As much as I would love to grant you that, I can't, I can only create a mind link between my progeny, but not between us, it's just not possible to do this I know this because Ocella tried to create one between us and it didn't work, that is how I knew how to perform the ritual, in time we will be able to communicate with the mind alone no matter where we are, not through thoughts exactly but we will learn to anticipate the other, but you are still a baby and this skill hasn't developed yet, but we could practice and hopefully bring on the gift sooner, you are maturing quicker than most babies you have grasped our life so well I am very proud of you, also, I want to try and establish my ability to read your thoughts, as this could prove to be very useful and at present it is a very intermittent skill" he touches my face.

I look at him hard and think as hard as I can I love you so much.

"I love you too" he says absently, and then he freezes and stares at me, moving quickly he grabs my shoulders, "Sookie do that again".

You are my lover, my husband, my maker and my everything.

Eric repeats what I was thinking, excitement is rising on his face, and his fangs start to drop.

"Sookie my love, this is amazing, I feel your emotions so clearly, in your mind not just through the blood bond, and I cannot believe it" he says.

I think for a moment and realisation hits me, "when we… you know, have sex you always nip me and drink from me and I did the same to you" I say.

Eric nods and smiles, "I know you did, and it felt good" he says.

"Yeah, do you think us drinking from each other has strengthened your link with me and helped?" I ask.

I watch as he considers this and nods, "It is the only possible explanation, as this gift takes years to establish and yet you are not even a week old, and it appears to have enhanced my fledgling ability to hear your thoughts, I am privileged to have you as my wife, this will be so useful for us I will be able to be in contact with you when you are not near me, it is so much better than just with the blood bond".

"Do you have that link with Pam?" I ask.

"I do" he replies.

"Figures" I say, I have often thought they seemed to know what each other were thinking and now I know they do.

Eric smiles again, "I won't be listening in on you all the time, the link will only be open when we need it to be, "he runs his hand down my arm, "What do you wish to do tonight?" he asks.

I think carefully before I answer, "Eric can we go to Bon Temps?" I ask.

"If you wish, I will have to be with you, and I think Pam should also accompany us" he pauses "I believe you will soon be ready to commence hunting training, I will teach you to feed from humans without their knowledge" I nod in agreement, I knew that this would eventually be the case as I wasn't naive enough to believe I could survive on synthetic blood alone or the fresh blood Eric has been providing me with. I watch as Eric calls for Pam, and a few moments later she arrives at the house.

"Pam, we are going to Bon Temps tonight" Eric says calmly and Pam just looks at me and then nods.

As we make the journey to Bon Temps I am feeling sort of anxious about it this, I'm not sure how people are going to react, most people know about my decision to be turned, I told my friends and well, you can't keep a secret in Bon Temps. Eric is driving and I realise I don't notice the speed of his driving any more either, I'm not sure if that is due to me being lost in my worry about how tonight is going to pan out or simply because I am a vampire now and it is similar to my realisation that I don't notice when we move at vampire speed.

We arrive at my old home and Eric pulls into the driveway, I look at my old family home, a light is on inside, so I know that Amelia is here, and I move towards it. I open the door and walk in, as it is my house I don't need an invitation and Pam and Eric follow me in, Eric pauses and puts his hand on my shoulder, and I am getting warning through the bond, Pam is on alert and I am concerned because I can smell something very strange, I look at Eric.

"I can smell something odd," I say, and Eric nods in agreement.

"Oh screw this" I say suddenly, "AMELIA" I shout.

"Sookie!" I hear in reply, and then running down the stairs.

Amelia appears along with an even stronger smell, she stops and beams at me, "How are you?" she asks and I notice she is looking at me warily.

"I'm good, how are you?" I ask.

"Oh can't complain, I have been practicing some new spells, I guess you can smell some of the residue now you are a vampire" she says.

I grin and nod, something feels off though, without further preamble I jump into her mind, Amelia has always been a very clear broadcaster and with my new vamp senses it's almost as if she is shouting and it makes me thankful of my new improved gift with the on/off switch.

I discover that Bill has been hanging around, and making a nuisance of himself asking about me and trying to find out if I have been to see her, she hasn't let him in, but he has been irritating her with the frequency of his visits and constant questioning, and she has also been getting visits from the Shreveport Were's asking about me.

"So have you had any visitors since I moved out?" I almost cringe, at my lack of tact there, oh real subtle Sookie! I think to myself. I glance at Pam who is trying to hide her grin and I quickly get a glimpse of her thoughts and she is thinking much the same thing.

Amelia doesn't notice but looks relieved, "I have, I have been wondering whether or not to call you, Bill has been hanging around, he just stands outside and looks up at the house, and when he sees me it is like the Spanish inquisition, have you seen Sookie? Have you been to visit Sookie? Has Sookie come here? What are you doing? Are you going to stay on here?" she shakes her head sadly, "I won't let him in and that seems to be upsetting him, but it's almost like he is obsessed and needs to be here, and then I keep getting visits from Alcide, he comes and patrols the grounds, I didn't ask him to, and I just assumed you had asked him to keep an eye on things, he always knocks and identifies himself then he asks about you, asks if you have been here and then he goes, it's all a bit weird really".

This sets alarm bells ringing as I haven't asked Alcide to do anything, I glance at Eric and then I pull my cell phone from my pocket and call Alcide.

"Hey Alcide" I say as he answers.

"Sookie" I hear the rumbling deep voice, "What can I do for you?" he asks.

"Erm, I was wondering why you have been coming to Bon Temps asking after me, when you know I live with Eric now?"

There is a deathly silence, "I haven't been coming to Bon Temps Sookie," he says eventually.

"Ok, in which case I am going to put you on to Amelia and she is going to tell you something" I hand my phone to Amelia and she explains quickly what has been happening.

Eric and Pam are listening carefully, in the end Amelia hangs up and hands the phone back to me; she looks a little shaken, but pulls herself together.

"I have wards on the house, and nobody is getting in here" she says almost as if she is trying to convince herself that she is safe.

I nod and I realise something strange is going on here, why would someone want to impersonate Alcide?

"Should we speak to Sam?" I ask Eric, "Do you think it is some kind of shifter or something different?"

Eric shrugs, "I don't know, perhaps a word with the shifter wouldn't hurt, it certainly sounds like a shifter of some description or maybe even a fairy, as they can alter their appearance, will you be alright going to the bar?" he asks.

I nod, and assure him I will be fine, as I know he is concerned I will freak and go into bloodlust when I smell all the humans.

I bid goodnight to Amelia and we all head to Merlotte's. As we enter the bar, silence falls and everyone stares, it is quite full, all people I have grown up with and known all my life, I move closer to Eric and slip my hand into his, he responds and grips my hand tightly and then I feel Pam move closer to me. Eric is sending me love and calm through the bond and I realise he thinks I am struggling to control myself, but I am just surprised by the reaction we got. We walk towards the bar, and everyone is still staring at us.

We find a table and Holly quickly comes over "Hi what can I get y'all?" she says brightly.

"Three Trueblood please" I say smiling up at her. I am determined not to show myself up, I used to work here so I couldn't do that to Sam.

Sam is at the bar and he is fastidiously ignoring us, that hurts, he was my best friend, was being the operative word now. I stand suddenly and grabbing Eric's hand I move towards the bar Eric has no option but to follow as I am gripping his hand as if my life depends on it.

"Sam" I say quietly.

He looks up at me, "Yes Sookie" he says sharply.

I am a little shocked at his tone and once again I feel hurt by his reaction, I am certain Eric can sense my emotions as I think I hear him growl so I quickly pull myself together, and get to the point of my visit here tonight.

"Sam, do you know if there are any other shifters in town at the moment?" I ask.

He shakes his head, "Not as far as I know" he says, "Why?"

Eric quickly explains what has been happening and Sam looks concerned, "Someone is impersonating Alcide, but why would they do that?"

"That is what we want to know" I say, I look closely at Sam, and I can't resist having a look in his head, his thoughts are clear to me now, not the indistinct snarly mess I used to encounter with twoey's, it is clear he doesn't know anything about the strange person hanging around the house, but what upsets me most are the thoughts I catch afterwards, he doesn't want me here, he is unhappy that I am now a vampire and he can't understand why I did it.

I gulp, I don't need to but its a reaction to what I am feeling, I feel hurt, Sam was my friend and now… Eric picks up on my mood and he looks at me with concern in his eyes.

"Let's sit down," I say quietly, and I move away from the bar.

We move back to the table where Pam is waiting, "What is it?" Eric asks as soon as we have sat down.

I shake my head, I feel tears welling, shit I don't want to cry, the last thing I need is blood tricking down my cheeks.

I drink my Trueblood, and Eric grips my hand, I feel Pam move close to me, and I know from our three way bond they are trying to comfort me and it does, a little.

"Sookie?" A voice pulls me from my thoughts, and my pity party and I turn and am face to face with my brother, he is standing with Calvin Norris and they are both staring openly.

"Hi Jason" I say brightly, "how are you?"

"I'm good, how are you, are you enjoying your new life?" he asks stiffly.

I was until tonight I think to myself, but to Jason I nod and say "yes I am," with much more confidence than I am feeling.

It is clear he has no idea what to say to me, and after a slightly awkward silence he eventually speaks again.

"Well it was good to see you sis" he says awkwardly as he moves away.

I look at Calvin who nods and follows Jason. I look directly at Eric and think as firmly as I can I want to go home, Eric immediately reaches into his pocket for his wallet and stands and I turn to Pam and think the same thing to her, Pam grips my hand and nods.

"Goodbye Sam," I call as Eric pulls some notes out to pay for the drinks and I don't fail to notice that he ignores me, I feel Eric's irritation at the snub and he takes a step towards the bar, but I put my hand on his arm to stop him.

Holly comes and clears our table and she smiles warmly and sincerely at me, "It was great to see you again Sookie" she says kindly and more importantly, sincerely, and her words make me feel better, I think as hard as I can to Eric who is riffling in his wallet, Give her a good tip please.

Eric smiles at me and nods, as Holly gathers up the money she is surprised at the tip and beams at us. I watch as Eric politely thanks her and we all leave once again being silently followed out the door by everyone's eyes. When we get out to the car, I can't hold back any longer and a big red tear trickles down my cheek.

Eric holds me tightly, "That was horrible" I say quietly, "They all hate me, even my own brother, Holly was the only exception," I add.

I feel anger bubbling up in Eric and after a moment he releases me, gets out of the car and walks back into the bar.

Shit, what is he going to do? I jump out of the car but I hesitate, Pam has already gone after Eric, I am left alone, I look around the car park, and I decide to follow Eric and Pam. As I walk into the bar, I see Eric holding Jason in a less than friendly manner, and Calvin is looking increasingly agitated. I am beside him in seconds, and I touch his arm.

"Sookie, I'm sorry sis, I am just having problems coming to terms with the fact my little sister is a vamp now" Jason looks contrite, I wonder if he has been glamoured I look into his brain, no he hasn't Eric has just spoken to him and made him realise what an idiot he is being and my love for the big Viking grows more by the second, he see Sam watching, an inscrutable look on his face I think for a second and then I walk over to him.

"Please don't hate me Sam" I say quietly to him.

He looks at me, and his eyes widen with surprise, "I don't hate you Sookie, I just can't understand why you did it" he says sadly.

"Because I love Eric" I say simply.

"Did he force you?" he begins but stops when I shake my head.

"No, he didn't, I chose to become a vampire of my own free will and I asked him to be my maker, and I did it because I love him so much I don't want him to watch me grow old and die, I want to be with him forever".

Watch as Sam considers that and then relaxes, and he does look genuinely remorseful now, "I can accept that" he says, "I'm sorry cher, listen I will keep my ears and eyes open about the Alcide doppelganger see if I can find out anything for you ok?"

I relax and grin at Sam, "Thank you" I say, Eric has appeared at my side, I smile at him "Sam is going to see if he can find out anything about the Alcide impersonator" I say.

Eric nods, he glares at Sam and then turns to me "Shall we go my lover" he says.

I smile and slide off my seat "Bye Sam" I say.

"Bye Sookie, you take care – you hear?" he says, he turns to Eric and Pam and nods.

They return his nod and for the second time we leave the bar.

Back in Shreveport I am digesting the events of tonight, I have to say I was a little taken aback by the reaction of people, people I had known all my life, they were afraid of me. Then there is the question of who is impersonating Alcide and more importantly, why?

I am lying in Eric's arms he has been so loving tonight, he hasn't said a word about anything that happened at Merlotte's but he is making me feel like a queen, his queen. Pam has gone and it's just the two of us, I feel the need to talk, Eric senses this and looks at me.

"I was a little taken a back by the reaction of people tonight, was that normal?" I ask.

"Yes" Eric says quietly, "As your maker I should have prepared you for that reaction, and I didn't, that was a mistake. I didn't expect it to quite so extreme considering the fact it was a small town where they all knew you, and to mention the fact they have a resident vampire in the town. There is a lot to be said for the old ways, when we were banished from our villages".

I feel anger rising "You know, what got to me most was that they were afraid of me, but they had known me all their lives, they knew me, they knew what sort of person I am, as if I would have attacked any of them!"

Eric beams at me, and I feel extreme pride through the bond, what did I say? "What?" I ask.

He touches my face and I feel the now familiar overwhelming sensation of love also flowing through the bond.

"Sookie, what you have just said has demonstrated a cast iron will, which for a vampire so young – don't forget you are less than a week old, is unheard of, your hunger should have been such, that it would have made no difference who those humans were, if you wanted to feed you would have fed, but you have shown that you are prepared to be selective, that my love will keep you alive".

I am surprised, but I think back at Fangtasia I didn't know any of the people there and all I could think of was that they were food, but I knew these people and that hunger and compulsion just wasn't there.

"What hurt me most was Sam's reaction, but he was my best friend, I saved his life for god's sake" I stop suddenly with this line of conversation, acknowledging it is still a sore point with Eric, he had wanted me to use the Cluviel Dor to get him out of the marriage with the Queen of Oklahoma, and in the end he had been saved by a coup in her court when she was overthrown and betrayed by her own people, I still have a sneaking suspicion that Eric had been behind that somehow, but he has never said anything and I will never ask. It just seems very interesting not to mention convenient that he is on first name terms with the new King.

I am brought back from my thoughts, when Eric speaks again and I look up at him. "The shifter has strong feeling for you, he always has," he says curtly.

I pull back and search his face, "You are not jealous of him are you?" I ask quietly, "Because I love you".

Eric smiles, "No, I am not jealous, I was when you were human and refused to be turned, as he always could have a chance with you, and when you used the Cluviel Dor on him, then I was beside myself, but now you have proved to me that you are mine and only mine, I will speak with the shifter and demand he treats you with the respect you deserve, not only as my wife but as the woman who saved his pathetic life".

"Eric, please don't, he seemed to accept it after I explained to him " I ask.

"I will, as there was no reason for you to have to explain yourself and your decisions to him, he was supposed to be your friend so he should've simply accepted it without question… as I accepted you using the fairy charm to save him" he says stubbornly.

Eventually! I think to myself and Eric frowns.

"I still accepted it" he says stiffly and I realise he heard my thoughts.

"Ok, but don't glamour him" I ask squeezing his hand "Please" I add.

"Oh I won't glamour him" he replies ominously, I shiver, but surprisingly I feel happy about whatever Eric will do.

"Eric, am I keeping you away from your work as sheriff?" Eric looks at me and hesitates before he answers.

"Yes, but you are more important at the moment, it is true a baby vampire takes a lot of time and attention, which is why it is rare for someone of my standing to sire a new vampire but you are more than proving yourself as an exceptional vampire, Pam is handling my work and is more than capable, I have called Karin as well, she is helping out in the bar".

"Oh" I say surprised, wondering why I haven't seen her.

"Karin is, shall we say, in a little bit of bother and is having to keep a low profile at present, she is acting as bar security, she is in the background" he says.

I nod and I don't ask any further questions.

Despite my talk with Eric I am still feeling restless, I want to know about the fake Were, and I wonder who it is and what they are playing at. I pace around the lounge and then go into the kitchen and warm up some Trueblood, Eric watches me but doesn't say anything, I take it outside and pace around the garden in the moonlight. I am suddenly aware of a rustling noise in the bushes, I look down and see a glowing swirling mist, I stare at it, and I am so transfixed that I don't notice Eric coming up behind me.

"What are you looking at?" he asks. I turn in surprise to see him there and I point at the strange mist.

"Can't you see it?" I ask, as I continue to point. Eric peers down and suddenly there is a bright flash and an envelope appears on the ground, I pick it up and see it has my name on it, I recognise the handwriting.

"It's from Niall" I exclaim and run inside to open my letter.

My darling granddaughter

Word has reached me that the vampire has turned you and you are now his wife. As your kin I offer you my heartfelt congratulations.

However, I must warn you that the balance of the faery has been upset by your transformation to a vampire, and despite my sealing the portals a rogue fairy assassin has made it through into your world. I warn you, you will not see Jabberjak as a fairy as he impersonates people, he can take on their form and he is incredibly dangerous. Please be careful.

Niall

I am sitting, completely shocked at what I have just read.

"Well that accounts for and totally explains our Alcide look-alike then, and we were correct to suspect the Fae" I say as I hold out the letter to Eric, he pulls me close and takes the letter from me and reads it.

"If he is a fairy won't we be able to detect his fairy scent?" I ask.

Eric shakes his head, "not when he is in disguise" he says, "I have come across Jabberjak before he is a wily old fairy and totally insane, they must really be upset about you becoming a vampire to have risked sending him into this realm".

"Will I be able to discover if it is an impostor if I look into his mind?" I ask.

"I don't know, it is possible you may pick up something" he says thoughtfully.

Eric takes me back into the house and delves into a drawer full of weapons of various shapes and sizes, he pulls out a handmade dagger and he hands it to me.

"It is made of iron, keep it with you at all times," he says.

I nod, fairies and iron don't mix, and this will be my only chance if I am cornered. "Will it work if he is in disguise?" I ask.

Eric nods confidently, "His body may look different but he is still Fae and iron will kill him".

I am scared, I may be a vampire now but I am feeling out of my depth, I will have to warn Amelia as well, I dig out my cell phone and call her, forgetting it is so late, a slightly groggy voice which doesn't sound like her answers the phone.

"Hello," she says.

"Amelia?" I say anxiously.

There is a deathly silence and this alerts me and I am immediately on my guard, "Amelia?" I repeat and there is still no answer, this is not Amelia she would've spoken by now, my mind is racing and I take control and I know how to find out if I am talking to Amelia or not.

"Are you awake, it's me Tricia, I'm sorry to call so late," I say apologetically.

Eric's eyes narrow and now he is also immediately on alert.

"Oh hi Tricia," comes the voice down the phone, which now sounds exactly like Amelia, I close my eyes this is obviously Jabberjak, but if that is the case where is Amelia and how has he managed to get into the house past her wards?

"Hi, look I'm sorry to bother you so late but I left my wallet at your place earlier can I come over now and pick it up, as I will need it tomorrow?" I wait.

There is another brief pause before the being, who I am now certain is Jabberjak speaks again, "Sure Tricia, no problem,"

"Thanks" I say and hang up.

I look at Eric "Jabberjak, I'm pretty sure of it" I say.

"Explain" Eric states and I quickly go through the call from beginning to end.

Eric nods, he grasps my hand and calls for Pam and Karin, they are here in moments, he quickly outlines the story, Karin is looking at me with interest, and Eric watches her reaction to me.

"Ready" he commands and we nod as we all leave heading back to Bon Temps.

I feel overwhelmed by feelings I can't control, I leap out of the car before it has stopped, I fully open my mind as I open the door almost immediately I sense the fairy, then I see him as he walks towards me looking like Amelia, I listen to his thoughts he is expecting someone called Tricia, but he realises who I am, but he plays along so, so do I.

"Hi Amelia good to see you, and barge in on you so late, but I can hardly come in the daytime!"

He is clearing his mind and he thinks this is just a coincidence that I should appear now and he is pleased, he thinks he will be able to kill me and be gone before Tricia arrives. Poor deluded fairy.

I walk up to him as though I am going to give him a hug, I am not afraid though as I have the advantage here I know who I am dealing with, he doesn't. I feel Eric, Karin and Pam circling around outside, waiting. With my new vampire speed, I don't hesitate and I grab the iron knife and plunge it into the fairy before he even has time to react, the shock, surprise and horror registers on his face before he falls to the floor and turns to dust. Eric, Pam and Karin are beside me staring at the pile of fairy dust.

"Did I do ok?" I ask looking at Eric.

Pam and Karin are looking at me oddly, "What?" I ask.

I listen into their minds as they are still not speaking, and I realise that they just completely astounded by what they have just witnessed, we are disturbed by the real Amelia who comes wandering in looking dazed, immediately Karin bears her fangs and is on alert.

"Karin, stop," Eric commands and she quietens and I watch her fangs retract.

"What's going on?" Amelia asks as she takes in the three vampires, not to mention the pile of fairy dust on the floor.

I point at the dusk, "Our fake Alcide, was a homicidal fairy, and this time he was impersonating you".

Amelia looks horrified, "how did he get in, I have wards?" she asks.

I shrug, Eric steps forward, "He is Fae, Sookie is...was Fae, he possibly impersonated Sookie to get in past your wards".

The remains of the fairy is brushed away and Amelia leaps forward and hugs me tightly, I hear her blood coursing through her veins, but I have no compulsion to feed, Eric and Pam are watching me carefully, ready to pounce should I lose control, but it doesn't happen.

oooOOOooo

The journey back to Shreveport a short while later is silent and eventually, I can't stand it anymore.

"Did I do something wrong?" I ask generally, and to nobody in particular, hoping someone will answer.

"No lover you did everything right," Eric says.

"So, why am I feeling like I am in trouble?" I ask I don't mention I can sense Karin and Pam's apprehension at being near me.

Pam leans towards me, "Sookie, do you realise what you did tonight?"

"I killed a fairy, what's the big deal, I have done it before?" I ask.

Pam smiles indulgently and pats my arm "Sookie, that particular fairy is over 2 million years old, he was one of the first supernatural creatures to walk the earth, he was more powerful than the rest of the Faery put together, you did a good thing as having Jabberjak wandering around this realm like a loose cannon was not the smartest move on the part of the Faery, he could and would've drawn more attention to the Fae than if the entire Faery had descended on this realm, he was dangerous, and yet you took him out as if he was a human, he made Lachlan and Neave look like amateurs, like innocent children with his killing skills".

"Oh" I say, and I shiver at the memory of the two homicidal fairies who had captured and tortured me.

"You have no idea do you? You are destined to be one of the most powerful vampire ever with your gift, you will be unstoppable, which will make you a target, Felipe for one, he will want to control you".

Realisation dawns on me, oh shit, I have just broadcast the fact I am different to most vamps.

Back at home, Eric commands Karin not to reveal my gift and establishes a mind link between us. As Karin and Pam go to leave, Karin turns to me, and gives me an appraising look.

"Sister, you will never know how glad I am to be on your side" and with that they are gone.

I look at Eric, "I screwed up tonight didn't I?" I say.

He pulls me into his arms, "No my darling, you were magnificent, but you did make it very difficult for people to believe you have lost your gift".

He touches my cheek, "You are incredible, I am honoured to have sired you, you are capable of so much, when you reach maturity you will be totally unstoppable, and at this rate you will reach maturity way before your time, I have to say, I too am glad you are on my side".

I take a quick look into his mind and am startled as I read his thoughts directly, Sookie is extraordinary, and I love her so much.

I grip his arm, he stares at me "Thank you and I love you too" I say to him, he realises I have listened to his thoughts, he grips me to him.

"Oh Sookie we are going to make such a team" he says, he pulls me to him Jag alsakar dig min lila fru he says directly into my brain, he has been teaching me his original human language he has just said I love you my little wife in Swedish, I look I look at him and think hard remembering the words he has been teaching me.

Jag Alsakar dig min man och min here, I hope I thought it right, I look at him "did I get that right? I ask verbally.

"Did you say I love you my husband and my master?" he asks, I nod with a smile, "Then yes, you got it perfectly right" with that he slides on top of me and after nudging my legs apart with his knee he whispers in my ear.

"Let us show each other just how much we love each other" he says.

oooOOOooo

The next evening as Eric and I walk into Fangtasia I feel a shift in the atmosphere, we continue into Eric's office and almost immediately Thalia arrives with two bottles of Trueblood, this is unusual in itself, normally the human waitresses do the serving, I watch as she hands Eric the bottle and bows, he nods back at her and I nearly drop through the floor as she does the same to me, I glance at Eric unsure of what to do.

"Accept the Trueblood my darling and bow back," he says. I do as he says and Thalia leaves without a word.

"What was all that about?" I ask.

"We killed the oldest, strongest most feared fairy in the history of the world, not to mention the most vicious and homicidal, she was showing us her respect for that," he says.

"We?" I say.

"Ah yes, I need to speak with you about that" he says.

He beckons me closer I sit on his lap and he wraps his arms around me, I feel him getting aroused, and I grin.

"Sookie" he says, I look at him and he looks into my eyes, I realise he is going to tell me something important mind to mind, so its obviously something sensitive I nod and open my mind to him.

Sookie my darling, we have to protect you and your gift, and you made that task more difficult with your actions last night, so the official version of what happened is, that you went to visit your witch friend, accompanied by myself and Pam, but by a fluke of timing Jabberjak was there, as he was looking for you, he grabbed Pam, and I attacked, you attacked and you pulled a knife from the kitchen drawer which happened to be made of iron and you stabbed him, and managed to kill him, it was all blind luck.

I nod carefully, I understand why this has been done, and it is believable, as I think back numerous times to when I have killed with nothing more than blind luck.

"That's my girl" Eric says he pulls me close and whispers in my ear "We know the truth and that is all that matters".

I smile, I can't help thinking of the irony that vampires do not do the touchy feely thing and yet Eric can't keep his hands off me. We decide to head out into the bar, I scan the area, and my attention is drawn to a young woman on a bar stool wearing a long coat she looks shifty and anxious, I grip Eric's hand, and whisper in his ear.

"That woman, I think she is a drainer, I have seen them before in Merlotte's and she looks to be your stereotypical one".

I spoke verbally so all the other vamps in the room would be alerted and as one they all look at the woman and then at me and nod, yep mission accomplished.

I pop into the woman head and sure enough she is, I have to be careful, I can't show that I know for sure. I move into a booth and Eric joins me, the woman can't take her eyes off him, she has obviously done her homework, as it is definitely Eric she wants, the older the vampire the better the money for the blood as the older the vampire the more potent the blood.

She is afraid though, as she wasn't anticipating as many vampires here as there are. Pam comes to sit with us, is she? She silently asks me looking into my eyes.

Yes I respond.

Out loud she whispers "Don't worry Sookie".

The other vampires look pityingly at me. I watch as Eric steps out of the booth and walks up to the bar, he surveys the room, he is inches from the woman, and then he walks over to his tacky throne and sits in it.

I realise he is using himself as bait and he has made himself deliberately vulnerable, by separating himself from the other vampires in the room, I can see his reasoning, he is away from the other vamps and hoping she will approach him. It works and I watch as she slides off her seat and sits on a table next to him. Fang bangers start circling Eric as they always do when he sits on his throne and I roll my eyes at them.

All the vamps are slowly moving closer to Eric as well. The next thing all hell breaks loose as the woman jumps up and fires a gun in the air, this has all the humans scattering and running for the nearest exit, hampering the vampires in the room from reaching Eric, in the commotion the drainer takes advantage of this and she wraps a silver chain around Eric's neck.

All the vamps are staring, fangs out, and circling the chair, as the silver burns into Eric, I feel his pain and I am pissed, really pissed, my anger is uncontrollable and whilst all the other vamps are afraid to approach as the woman has also wrapped herself in the silver chain. I don't hesitate, I use my new strength and speed, I leap out of the booth and I blind side her, I rip the chain from Eric's neck and strangle her with it.

"Get your hands off my husband you bitch," I snarl as I snap her neck.

The bloodlust rises in me and I drain her, when I am done I throw the body to the ground, and wipe my mouth. I look around to see all the other vamps staring in astonishment, I glance at my hands and see they are almost melting and from the severe burns from the silver chain but I don't feel the pain, I realise the blood I have just drunk is helping the healing process, I rush to Eric's side, and touch his sore neck he winces, I kiss him and he looks at me and smiles.

"He needs blood to heal," I shout, my words pull the vamps out of their astonishment and they rush help.

Moments later after Eric has healed, thanks to a young pretty fang banger, who was only too willing to help. He examines my hands carefully and seeing they have all but healed, he kisses them.

"You are amazing" he whispers to me.

I look around to all the vampires staring at me, thinking modesty is the best course of action I put my head down.

"I'm sorry ", I pause "I couldn't help myself".

All the vamps roar with laughter, including Thalia which is a pretty scary sight and one never before been seen.

Pam approaches me, "Do not be sorry my sister your bravery saved our master, that is the highest honour you could give him".

The other vamps nod. "Your devotion to Eric is astounding you put aside your own pain to save him," the awed voice is coming from Thalia, I've impressed her, and that makes me feel really good.

The remains of the drainer are removed and the area cleaned, an hour later and it's as if nothing has ever happened. The police have been called - most probably by a human and statements are taken, the woman fired a gun trying to kill humans and then tried to drain a vamp she was obviously unhinged and everything that was done was done in self defence, the fact I drained her has been glossed over, the police are satisfied with the explanation especially as several humans corroborate it. Plus she was a known drainer and the police had been searching for her for a while.

The rest of the evening passes without incident, I feel the hunger rising a few times, but only once does Pam have to physically hold on to me to avoid me draining another human. Eric is beside me now fully healed and staring into my eyes. I feel his love pounding into me, I touch his cheek.

"Let's go home" I whisper.

The wicked grin that crosses his face is unmistakable I don't have to read his mind to tell what he wants to do to me.

He pulls me out of the booth, "We are leaving" he announces and at vampire speed we are in the parking lot. "Hold on" he says and leaps into the air, I am riding on his back clinging to him as we shoot through the night sky.

The feeling is exhilarating, within moments we are home, in bed and he is inside me, our passion for each other is unleashed and raw.

We lie on the bed in each others arms, "Eric what about your car?" I ask suddenly.

"Pam will bring it and then stay in the guest room" he says.

"I did do the right thing tonight didn't I? I wasn't planning on draining her, it just sort of happened" I ask.

"You did everything perfectly, your only weakness was your devotion to me, you showed it and if that gets to Felipe he will try and think of some way to use it against you".

I think for a moment, "But they all think I don't have my gift any more so why would he care?" I ask.

"Vampire politics, he knows we killed Victor, even though he was secretly pleased we did, but there are things about Felipe which are ruthless, the way he has control over three states proves that, but you never show weakness to any vampires ever, it will be exploited and used against you and if he gets word of what you did tonight, and believe me he will, he will store that information to use against you at some point".

"I'm sorry Eric, I keep screwing up" I say.

"Do not apologise my darling you are learning faster than any vampire before you ever, with luck it will be put down to your inexperience and the bloodlust taking over you, and nothing more will be said or done, but you need to be prepared that it may not".

I nod solemnly "I am learning a lot" I mutter. "Basically, don't trust anyone".

"That is correct my darling, how do you think I have survived so long?"

"Do you trust me Eric?" I ask and I delve into his head to listen to see if he is going to answer honestly.

"My darling I trust you more than I trust myself, there are only two others I trust besides you and they are Pam and Karin and they have to obey me".

"I have to obey you too" I say.

"Yes my darling but I feel from you something deeper which makes me realise I don't have to give you a makers command, I know you will be there beside me without me having to even ask, you proved that tonight, did any other vampire come to my aid? No because they were too afraid of the silver and the burns they would've gotten, which is sensible and understandable, but you just dived in there with a reckless disregard for your own safety... and you did it for me".

"Would you do the same for me?" I ask, I hesitate wondering if I want to know the answer and then look into his mind, I feel honesty and sincerity pouring from him.

"Undoubtedly" he says without hesitating staring into my eyes, I smile and kiss him.

Eric rolls on top of me and kisses me back soundly.