Chapter 2 Hide and Seek
"Who would think to look for me in Po-dunk, Louisiana," Sarah smiled to herself as she kept to the U.S. highways and off the Interstate. "Why no one, of course." Her Yogi had done a series of CD's. She was deep cleansing herself across the state line.
Jason Stackhouse...woof! He had been fun and nice and the sex with him had been the best she had ever had! There were one or two things she could teach him now and what time she spent with him would be bliss.
She knew where he kept the spare key. If he were not at home, she would just let herself in and sleep. What a nice surprise she would be when he did come home, she giggled. And no matter who he was with, he'd show that skank the door and he would find nirvana in her body.
"Aun-n-n-n-ntie-e-e-e," Lafayette said in a whisper. "Would you just look at that mo fo'n sky."
For once, Lettie Mae had nothing to say as they pulled up and parked in front of the Thornton family homestead.
"The," Lattie Mae's teeth started chattering, "those pinks and purples in those clouds sure are nice," she finally managed to get out.
Lafayette shook his head. "M-m-m-m, just really nice. It is that puke greens, hoverin' there above the tree lines that has got me worrieds. We is gonna be seekin' shelter around heres before so very long.
Here is how this is gonna' go. We will salt the yard...all of it...then we will pour a ring around it then we can step and stay a bit. We are not lookin' in those nasty-assed front windows. Don't cares, don't cares, not one fuck-in bit 'bout the good times and the bad ones you had inside those walls.
And we is keepin' eyes," as he pointed to his eyes with two fingers and then out to the horizon, "on that. Whatever that is buildin' up out there, I am not likin' it one ant's itty-bitty tiny penis worth.
It is unnatural here, Auntie. When the Thorntons moved out, feels like somethin' else moved in."
"Okay," she nodded. "Sprinkle the salt, thank you Jesus and let's look for Tara."
Lafayette took one last look at the house. A good look. His people had been good folks. The women wise and strong in the way of the magics. They had to be...there was always some spirit looking to speak or take up fucking residence in a body.
The two windows under the front porch caught the sun and the lost and forlorn beams lit up the windows for one second so that it looked like evil was staring back at him and snarlin' and frothing at the mouth. "Mo fo'n crazied assed fucker," he said staring back. "You just stay put, in the name of Jesus, you keep your crazy ass in that house."
The two front windows rattled and the light disappeared. Now just two, blank, soulless eyes stared back at him. "You think your shit can scare me?" he chuckled. "Come on, come on, if that is what yous thinks. I ams walkin' in faith and taking our Tara."
The windows rattled, again. "Oh-h-h-h," Lafayette snapped his fingers. "That's what this is abouts? You thinks I am scared of your 'tudes. Think again, mo fo. I has done be feasted upon by the Sheriff of Area Five and my lover's sick-fuck abuelo.
Salt is all laid, Auntie," Lafayette gave the house the finger. "Let's get this started."
"She was diggin' everywhere, my Tara was," Lettie Mae stood in the yard with her shovel, looking around. "Just anywhere, do you think?"
"Anywhere," Lafayette nodded. "Let's do this. I'm not comin' back this way and dark is comin'. Pick a spot."
Sticking his shovel into the ground carefully, he turned over a scoop of dirt. He could see something glistening as a ray of sunlight bounced around inside of it.
"What the fuck?" he said kneeling down to brush away the dirt.
"You find somethin'?" Lettie Mae called over. "Me too. Looks like...like...oh lordy," she said pulling it out of the ground.
"What is this hidin' here? Jim Beam?" Lafayette said standing up.
"Jack Daniels," Lattie Mae said brushing the dirt off the bottle.
Lafayette stood staring at his Aunt, shook his head, and then took a step and turned over another shovel.
"Two in this one," his eyes went back to the woman who was now sitting on the ground, sobbing. "What happened here, Auntie?" he asked. "Just what the fuck..." he growled.
"Left Tara here from time to time with Momma and Daddy. She was just a baby. I'd come home still high on a bender. Leave a bottle sittin' wherever I happened to pass out. When I'd come to, they'd be gone. Daddy," she was bawling, "Daddy must have buried them out here."
"That's a good story," Lafayette was looking at this woman with new eyes, "but that is not the complete story. What then? Tell me woman, or I'm leavin' your sorry ass out here."
"I'm a alcoholic Lafayette," she sobbed. "I needed me a drink. And I knew," her voice was getting angrier, "I knew Daddy had hid my leftovers. And I needed them...I needed them bad.
I was screaming when I told him if he did not produce my liquor, I was taking Tara and leavin'. Leavin' them for good. That they would never see her or me, again. That I would raise my daughter to be just like me," she sneered.
"And my baby girl, she took to runnin' just as fast as she could and she was diggin' here in the yard. Lookin' everywhere and diggin' and diggin' and cryin' 'Please don't let her take me. Grandpa, please don't let that woman take me. I don't want to go with her. Please...'
I slapped my daddy as hard as I could. He stood between me and Tara when I went to slap her for wantin' to stay with them and not me. Instead I picked her up, put her in the car and we left. I never did come back this way, again."
"Storm movin' in,'" Lafayette said in a quiet voice. "Air feels heavy. Gonna' be a bad one." Looking around the yard, his voice with an edge to it said, "Just how many do you think are buried out here?"
"I..." she hesitated, "I don't know. But I need to know. I thought I was crazy," she laughed in glee. "I thought I was bat shit crazy the way those bottles would disappear. I have got to know Lafayette," she smiled at him as she started digging. "I have got to know."
"I'm done here Auntie," he said with a shake of his head. "And you need to be."
"No, Lafayette, no. This is part of my healin'. I am just getting' started."
"Storm is gonna start, Auntie," he walked toward her.
"No," she said raising the shovel and pointing it at him. "No," as she thrust the sharp edge at him.
"Fine then," he said walking off and going to the car. "Come on sundown," he pleaded to the wind that was picking up. "Come on, come on." Before he made the car, thunder rumbled in the distance and lightning plaid tag across the sky when the clouds opened up.
Once in the car he took out his phone and made the call to the preacher. "Yes, sir, got her here. Since you are her husband, gonna' need you to sign the paper work. James will be risin' shortly. If you would be so kind as to offer him a ride if you are comin' this way. 'Cause she is gonna take more than you and me to transport. It has taken' hold of her and looks like to me it is not lettin' go. It is pourin' here Uncle and she is still out there diggin' in the wind and the rain."
Sarah made Bon Temps before the storm broke. "Good one," she said smiling at the sky. "Let the rain and the wind blow the bad away so that the good can stay." Taking another deep breath she pulled up in front of Jason's. "Truck's not here," she smiled. "I'm going to sleep and be at my best when he arrives. I do so love thunderstorms! This will be good sleeping!"
It was nice that Amber liked nice things. She had taken a pair of sheets, some lovely towels and bath products. "I supplied her with the money for those nice things," she smiled. "I am a good sister. We love each other and do not mind sharing."
Taking out the key, she let herself in and looked around. Not seeing anything out of the ordinary, she went into the bedroom and looked in his closet. "No female things. Good. But would you look at these uniforms. Seems like he is now a member of the Bon Temps Police force. Good for him. I know he partly owes that to me and the fine training program I ran him through. Makes the good, better," she smiled as she stripped the mattress, added the 2,000 count cotton sheets and blanket and fell asleep in a bed that was just right
Eric and Pam were standing under the porch.
"You've been invited in, correct?" Pam said as they were scouting around?
"Yes, one evening when Sookie needed to drop something off. I carried it in for her."
"An interesting but little known fact. Jess was out here one evenin' and little miss Dallas uninvited her ass and Jess said out the door she went."
"Not possible," Eric replied, "unless her name is on the deed."
Pam snickered. "You think dumb-ass had a bunch of papers by FotS shoved at him. Without reading them, he signed over his house when he joined their little organization?"
"Has to be something along those terms. He gets to live there and pay the taxes until his death then it becomes property of FotS. Some type of until at death do we take ownership.
Oh," Eric sighed heavily, "looks like I am going to have to crush her voice box the very first thing."
They both smiled at each other as the rain howled through the trees. "She won't hear a thing," Pam smiled. "She's been driving and is sound asleep. Listen to her heartbeat. Poor tired thing," she snickered.
"I am going to glamour her. We'll be in Sookie's shed until you show up with the van."
"Eric..." she began.
"It's close. Sookie will have no reason to be in the shed tonight. I'll say hello if she's home and if not, I'll still be there until you show up with the van."
Pam sadly shook her head. "It's the natural tan, isn't it?" she asked him. "That smell of sunshine and lightly browned skin and the faint smell of cocoa butter and coconut oil."
Eric wiggled his eyebrows.
"See you in a few," Pam rolled her eyes at him and was gone.
"Time to shake and bake," Eric drawled in his best Louisiana accent as he picked the lock. Into the house he went, vamp speed. "Nice towels," he grinned as he hit the bathroom and dried off. Smiling, he was standing over her body, his hand clinching her mouth shut when he bit down.
Her eyes opened wide in surprise then horror. Her worst fear...the nightmare was happening! Was she only dreaming?
"Hello sweetheart," she heard the soft voice with the slight accent.
A silent scream reverberated through her!
"We are leaving. I have gathered a few of your things. Obviously a woman was here, but there are so many in Jason's life. Who is to say just which one it is?"
At vamp speed, they were gone.
The storm was howling at its worst! Eric was pleased! This was beyond any of his expectations. He would not kill her, but he would have a little fun. "We are here in the middle of just about geographic fucking nowhere. We are going to play hide and seek. I am going to let you run. And scream. And scream really loudly. And when terror eats at you until all you can do is curl up in a ball and scream and piss and shit your pants...then sob...and plead...well..." he laughed. "I'll be there to enjoy your ripened blood. Best believe it is going to hurt. You have been a bad, bad girl, Sarah Newlin. And because you are now the antidote for the HepV, I will not kill you, but I am going to come close. On several occasions. So you hide now...go on, run along. I am going to count to one hundred, then I am going to seek."
Pam was going to need about an hour and a bit. That was all the fun he was going to allow himself. If he did not have her at Sookie's, Pam was going to be the other side of pissed! And she did have a way of making his life miserable. Best to let the game, begin. Setting her down, Eric whispered to her above the storm. "Run and hide, Sarah. Or I'll just drain you now.
One, two, three, three and a half..." Eric was counting the rain drops. "Eighty-five. Ninety...one hundred," he grinned. "Well drat, I may have left out a few numbers."
It was just like he had promised! Running through the storm the wind had blown her screams back down her throat! No matter where she went, he was there, laughing at her! His eyes glowing in the dark, flashing along with the lightning! His fangs at times, inches from her eye!
When she tripped over the tree stump from exhaustion, she just screamed...and screamed...and screamed! She lay in her own excrement, the fear devouring her! There was no place to hide that he did not see her!
She was being dragged through the woods! Her body absorbing the shocks of the tree roots, rocks, and other things that tore at her skin! She could hear the roar of the water up ahead. Another scream left her and then the water poured into her mouth as she was pulled out of the raging river by her hair. Then she was dunked, again and her hair was the only thing that saved her from being washed down stream.
"I think that takes care of the shit," she heard the smile in his voice. "Now someplace warm and dry."
Was she flying through the air? The fear was everything? She no longer knew anything...
Opening the door to Sookie's shed, Eric tossed her inside. Kneeling down beside her, his voice was very serious. "I can see that we have lost he vamp contacts someplace along the way. Good. Now Sarah," he raised her face to his, his eyes capturing hers. "You will sit right here, quietly. Not move, not one sound. Am I understood?"
"Not move, not one sound," she nodded in agreement.
"And just because I don't trust you and because it gives me great pleasure, I am going to tie you with this nylon rope that is in here. Around your hands in back of you. Around your legs and feet. And look, a hangman's nose around you neck...just incase you fall over, you'll choke before I get out here."
"Yes," she nodded in agreement.
"In goes the rag for cleaning the tools," he smiled as he shoved it into her mouth.
Closing the door, his eyes focused on the old farmhouse that was now in front of him. He could visit with Sookie until Pam arrived. As he approached the house he could feel her sorrow. Her heart was heavy and she was crying...!
Feeling that old familiar lurch inside of him, he went up the steps and knocked. He could hear her footsteps as they approached and then she was looking at him through the window. When she opened the door and stepped back, he stepped in.
"Sookie," he shook his head and held her in his arms as she cried. "Tell me..."
"Oh fuck Eric, I'm HepV positive. I gave it to Bill and because of my fairy blood, it is moving through him at a tremendous rate of speed. You can watch the veins go down his arms.
Can I never take my own advice?" Her voice was sad and weary. "I told myself that I was not feedin' any more vampires...but we got into a fight with a bunch of Heppers. My arm got cut and when one exploded, I was covered in their blood. Bill was hurt in the fightin' and I allowed him to fed so he could heal. Only..." she sobbed, "only I gave him the gift of the true death.
And I have come to realize that is what I am. Poison. To anything and everyone. If you know me or pass me in the street you are going to die and it is going to be my fault. You see me comin' you should run and hide.
I love you Eric. And this is what happens to those I care about. So I thank you," tears ran down her face, "for stoppin' by, but you need to just go and never come back. If I hastened your death," her tears started in earnest, "there would be no comin' back from that for me."
Picking her up, he carried her over to the fireplace and sat down with her wrapped in his arms. "I loved sitting here next to you," he smiled at her. "The fire, me so clueless but knowing that I cared for you with all that I was."
"I'm bad luck Eric. Death. The Grim Reaper with a tan. And without a job. I am HepV positive and if you come in contact with me and I am bleeding, your vampire is dead.
My friends and lovers die. Because of me. I am fucking cursed.
See, it is all about me..." she sadly shook her head. "That was just rude. How are you feelin? Can I get you somethin?" she asked.
"Kiss me," he grinned.
"Eric," she put her hand on his chest. "What? You want to die, right here. No," she said wiping at the tears. "No."
"Sookie," he chided her. "We both know it cannot be transmitted through saliva. Or bodily fluids. Just through blood. And if I was to die without kissing you Sookie Stackhouse," he grinned at her, "that would be a fucking curse."
Lying in front of the fire, she settled with her head on his arm. "You are soaking wet," she said as she finally got a good look at him.
"Been out in the woods," he replied as he kissed her lightly on the lips.
"Oh-h-h and mm-m-m-m," she sighed as she let her body ride on the waves of his lips and hands. "What were you doin' out in the woods?"
The kiss deepened until she was breathless!
"I was chasing down the cure for HepV," he replied as he pushed the hair behind her ears.
"Do what?" she said sitting up.
Eric raised his eyebrows in response and nodded yes.
"You have the cure?" she asked, her voice soft.
"Yes," he replied.
"Can we take some to Bill?"
"Yes," he replied.
"Can we do it now?"
"Yes," he nodded.
"Eric, I want you to know how much I appreciate this. It's just that I feel so..."
"Responsible, Sookie?" Eric's eyes sought out hers. "You did Bill a good deed and unknowingly," he stressed, "poisoned him."
"Yes," she sighed. "But the fact remains, I am the one responsible."
"Well then, let us take Bill the cure and then you will not be responsible."
"Yes," she nodded. "I'll call and let them know we are on our way."
"I'll go get it," Eric nodded. "I'll be right back."
Hearing the front door open, Sookie put down her phone. "Bill said he and Jess are on their way over..." she began when she saw Eric walk through the door with Sarah.
"Not funny Eric," she said, her teeth bared. "I'll get my shotgun."
"I know lover. I was not at all amused when I found out I could not kill her. She drank the antidote before she fled the tank farm. We are two vamps to the good, cured. Her sister Amber and myself. Oh," they both turned when they heard the knock. "And Bill will make three."
"Sarah Newlin," Bill's voice was angry as he stepped in. "Looks like she has been dragged through the woods, already. Eric this is not funny..."
"No one here is laughing Bill," he replied as he lifted his shirt.
Bill was looking at Eric's body. "Gone," he sighed. "They are gone."
"Drink," Eric replied. "Then she belongs to the True Bood Corp. The cure will be going out to the masses."
With a trembling hand, Bill reached for the most precious thing that was now going to be a part of him forever. This was the cure! And her blood tasted like none other as he felt it flow into him and could feel the disease beginning to fade to nothingness. The only thing left was a horrible memory.
"Thank you Eric," he smiled as he licked his lips and stepped away. "I feel much better."
"Is, is there a cure for Sookie?" Jessica asked.
"At this time," Eric responded, "we are not willing to risk that. Sookie's health is fine."
"Yes, but," Jessica smiled. "But she cannot...not..." she looked at her maker. He was happy to be healed. His eyes looked woefully at Sookie. And she thought maybe she saw fear there. "But with Bill cured he and Sookie..." she smiled. "You cared so much for each other..." her smile got bigger. "You could be..."
"Jessica," Bill took his child's hand. "Sookie is a carrier. And Eric is right. She is human with a touch of fae. You saw what the HepV did to me. We do not know what the antidote would do to her. It could wipe her completely and leave her without an immune system at all.
And she is HepV positive," he stressed, again. "She really should wear a Medi-Alert necklace notifying any EMT's or vampires she comes in contact with that she can bring the true death."
"Goodnight Sookie," Bill said with a small smile and a bow of his head. "Thank you," he smiled, beaming at Eric. "We'll be gone."
As the front door closed Sookie closed her eyes. "He's right, you know. I should have tattooed on my forehead, HepV positive."
"Lover," Eric wrapped his arms around her. "This is a joyous occasion. Bill will stop skulking in your woods, knocking at your door, wanting to drink your blood...
Oh Sookie," he said in his best Bill's Sothern ease, "you smell delicious."
"Stop it Eric," she smiled and elbowed him in the ribs. "You should be terrified of me as well."
"Sookie, it is passed through the blood. We can kiss, we can," he licked his lips, "do things of the very pleasurable persuasion, but I cannot drink your blood. That is true. This sounds like a human relationship to me. At one time, I was the expert on human male/female relationships," he laughed.
"As in you screwed everything that would stand still long enough?"
"Well," he chuckled, "there was the one time she was wrapped around my waist and we were headed for the ocean..."
"Stop it," she elbowed him again. "What happens when the blood lust takes you? And I am the only thing around?"
"Sookie, I am a thousand years old and I have remarkable control. This was passed to me by my thousand-year-old maker. The same holds true for Pam and Willa.
I am not adverse to drinking True Bloods, or bagged blood or sipping politely from the wrist of a human. All of these things are doable.
Bill's maker Lorena, remember her," his eyes held hers. "Bill is the way he is because of her. No control. Jessica is the same. I knew Willa would be fine without me there to guide her. Was it wrong of me to leave her, yes...and I regret that...but she is strong in will because I am strong in will because Godric was strong in will."
"But what if I want to bite you," she arched her eyebrow at him.
"Lover, I am yours. Do so as you please. But first, I hear Pamela. Second, our antidote needs to get to Dallas. Sounds like the storm is starting to break up. We will get her to Shreveport and then out to where she can do the most good."
"You really don't mind," she said, placing her hand on his cheek. "About the not drinkin'?"
"Sookie, I have waited a lifetime of a thousand years. I have fed and fucked my way around the world more than once. More than twice. Besides," he smiled at her. "I have had the antidote. The watered down version from Amber and the antidote from the source. Like humans, now that I am exposed, my blood should begin to build its own defense system."
"But..." she hesitated. "But...your blood does not...is not..."
"What I'm dead...and my blood is not capable of such an act? Because I'm dead? Yet oddly, the infected blood caused this reaction. Just like in humans. So something must hold true. We shall just proceed slowly and carefully. But you are mine, Sookie Stackhouse, just as I am yours."
They both heard the knock.
"I have to go, lover. I'll try and be back before sunrise. But I might end up back in Dallas. I'll call. Now, no more worries. And if a vamp comes to your door, just tell them you are HepV positive. And if that does not scare them off, just tell them that..."
"I belong to Eric Northman," she kissed him lightly.
"Yes," his smile got bigger. "I was going to say that you had a shotgun with silver slugs, but I like that...you belong to me."
It took the reverend and Lafayette both to hold Lettie Mae so James could glamour her.
"How much do you want her to forget?" James asked.
Lafayette looked over at this good, good, man who had loved a woman who was so good at lying to herself she had convinced this man to believe her.
"Best place for her Uncle," Lafayette held his eyes. "Is with her sister. It is a bit on the pricy side but they take good care of my Miss Thang.
We'll take Auntie to the hospital in Monroe for now and let them do the evaluation. And initial work ups. But this is some fucked up shit that needs to be dealts with, not swept under the carpets or out into the fields or buried in the front fuckin' yard. This is so deep seated I am justs nots for real sures we can be hidin' this with glamour. I think it will seeks her out 'cause vampire fuckery cannot goes to the heart of this. We is not be playin' hide and seek with this. Tara Mae is still floatin' out there somewhere. Hidin'...times for her La La to seeks her out."