I own nothing but my imagination, the wonderful world of Sookie belongs to Charlaine Harris

Spoiler for all current Sookie books (through book 9)

Chapter 3

Eric let out an intense and violent growl then lunged toward Quinn.

"NO! STOP!" I screamed

Quinn thought "Sorry Babe" and started to shift.

I did the only thing I could think of, I ran outside. Forgetting my fears I ran as fast as I could to stop Eric and Quinn from killing each other. Eric had already thrown Quinn into the big oak in my front yard, making it crack in two. Quinn was about to attack Eric when I jumped in between them. Of course I knew how dangerous it was. They were both very skilled and completely engrossed in their battle. "If you love me then you will stop, NOW!" I said. Quinn stopped and looked directly at me. I knew he was able to understand in his tiger form so I took this as his acknowledgment of my request, well demand.

I was about to turn to my right to see if Eric was listening when I was pulled from behind and out of the way. Pam was holding me back while Eric continued his attack. I kicked and screamed and clawed, of course to Pam it probably felt like I was tickling her. Unfortunately Quinn was taking my request seriously and stopped fighting back. I could feel Eric's joy and smugness. That just made me angrier. How could he feel that way when he was killing someone I cared for? How could he think I would be ok with that?

I took down my guard so Eric could hear me. I have only tried to project my thoughts a couple of times and they were always to another telepath, Barry. I let Eric feel all of the anger and pain and disgust I was feeling towards him. My thoughts were strangled and heated. Pam let go of me and backed away. I could hear her clearly she was thinking "oh no."

Eric turned to glare at me and growled "Sookie he broke my law, you can't expect me to let him live. Once he is gone we will not have to worry about his futile attempts to win you back." He looked terrifying, but I couldn't back down.

"Futile? If you kill him I will never speak to you again. He isn't even fighting back. Quinn respects me enough to go against his instincts, to die." I wasn't being held back anymore so I slowly started to walk towards them.

"Someone's coming." Pam whispered.

Everyone stopped and looked down the driveway. Sure enough there were headlights. It was Amelia. Only she wasn't alone, Octavia and Louis were with her as well. They couldn't see what was happening yet and their thoughts told me they were simply coming to check on me and visit for a little while. We continued to stare. I realized no one else knew who was coming. They were all very formidable witches and could stop this. Eric is afraid of witches, and that's putting it lightly. The car finally came to a stop and judging by Amelia's thoughts, all three knew exactly what was going on.

Eric hissed and tried to grab Quinn, I assume so he could kill him while we were preoccupied. Thankfully my friends were faster with their spell work. Eric froze mid attack; his hands were about two inches from Quinn's neck. I couldn't understand the blips of thought, they were in a language long forgotten, but I could feel his intense rage. It was horrible it made me want to kill something. I started screaming and fell to the ground, my legs and arms flailing. I barely noticed what was happening around me. Someone very warm, Quinn maybe, was trying to comfort me. Then in an instant it felt like my heart was breaking and I felt nothing.

I lay there breathing heavily trying to find my composure. "Don't touch her, she is mine." I heard Eric's menacing voice say. Looking up I saw that he was still frozen in place. I wondered why I couldn't feel him.

"I don't care she needs to get inside and away from this. I'm sure she's still weak." Quinn replied.

I didn't have the energy to protest when Quinn picked me up and brought me in the house. I pointed to the couch; he sat me down gently then leaned down and kissed my forehead. "Babe don't worry we got everything under control, you stay here. I'll be right back."

With my witch friends out there I knew I could relax a little. After all I could listen through Amelia; she's a very clear broadcaster. They were trying to decide if letting Eric go would be a good idea. Pam was still standing to the side; she looked like she was in shock. Now I'm paraphrasing here, people don't think in complete sentences most of the time. Quinn thought leaving Eric like that would be a good idea and just for good measure Pam too. Then Louis asked Amelia a question that earned him a growl from Eric and Pam.

"Is Sookie happy with this bond? I know a way to break the bond if that would be better. I mean it's pretty clear this isn't an ideal bonding."

Did I want the bond broken? Yes I did. I was tricked into it in the first place. Being bonded to Eric was comforting at times, he could always find me, know when I was in danger. Staying bonded because he could rescue me would be pathetic. What was even more pathetic is that I needed to be rescued all the time. I wondered why I couldn't feel him. It's like the bond vanished during my breakdown outside. I had to go back out there to see for myself and ask Eric some questions.

I made my way to the gathering outside; amazingly I wasn't afraid of being in the yard. Amelia, Octavia and Louis were in a semi circle around Eric and Quinn was standing by Pam. I went up to Eric "Why can't I feel you right now?"

Looking at the ground he said "I blocked the bond, I couldn't stand to see you reacting to my feelings that way. I was stuck so it was the only way to help."

"hmmm." was my brilliant reply. "Do you love me Eric?" with that question I heard several gasps. Ignoring the others thoughts I waited.

"I...I....don't know." I raised my eyebrows at Eric's ingenious reply. "Lover I wanted our bond, I have wanted you since I first laid eyes on you in your little white dress."

"Why did you want me Eric? Because you wanted what you couldn't have? Because I was valuable to you or because you were genuinely interested in me?"

He sighed and said "All of the above. Do you love me Sookie?"

"I don't know Eric; it might be the bond that makes me feel this way. I thought I could have loved you when you were cursed, but now that I think about it I had already had your blood twice. I want to know if I could love you without it."

"I don't know if it can be broken, you have had more blood than is recommended." He looked smug.

"Well we can try." I replied sternly. "Eric you can't keep me locked up. I want to see my friends."

"What? I let you see your friends, that dog is here every day. Besides you haven't been up to seeing anyone recently."

"Sam is here every day, but not because you gave him permission. This, what just happened" I waved my hands around for effect "is not ok."

"But you are mine; he has no business seeing you!"

"I am NOT. I belong to myself. I have put up with you calling me that because I know it's just the way you are, but I am not some collectable item. I am a person, a human." I said exasperated. I turned to Louis "I want it gone. I don't know what you have to do, but the sooner you do it the better. I want to know how I really feel." I turned my attention back to Eric. "Eric, I'm sorry, but I have to know. If what I really feel is love then we can go from there."

"How long will it take for you to get everything you need?" Quinn asked the witches.

Octavia spoke first "A few days maybe, I can't be sure. We may have to go back to New Orleans for some supplies and we need at least one other witch."

"Are all of you going to go then?" I asked

"I'll stay here; I planned on staying a while anyway." Amelia answered.

I walked towards Quinn and Pam. "Pam you make sure Eric doesn't do anything stupid. I don't care what he says, you hear me?" She nodded. "And you." I said poking Quinn in the chest with my index finger "What were you thinking? You knew Eric would be mad. You could have waited until I called you again and then we could have figured out a meeting place during the day."

"Babe I just had to see you. I have been worried and when I heard your voice..." He looked apologetic and his thoughts told me he was telling the truth.

I didn't know what to say, it was obvious he still loved me. "Alright I want everyone to leave. No actually I want the vampires and Quinn to leave. You three" I waved my hang towards the witches, "you stay."

"Sookie let me stay please." Eric looked truly heartbroken.

"Sorry, but I'm too upset right now. They can take care of me tonight and Sam will be here in the morning. I need to relax and eat dinner. I'm going to be sore when my pain killer wears off. Just go, please." I tried to be polite to him, but I don't know if I succeeded.

"Can you free me now?" Eric asked.

"I suppose, though this was quite fun." Octavia smiled. Then just like that Eric was able to move. He ran over to me and kissed me, the kiss held every emotion he was feeling. He reopened the bond so I could feel what he was feeling. He was feeling sad, determined and love, yes he was really feeling love for me. I heard someone clear their throat and Eric pulled away.

"I'm sorry." Eric said as he placed his hand on my cheek and gazed into my eyes. I couldn't lie; I really loved him I just had to love him on my terms not some messed up vampire way.

"I know." I said and walked into my house.

I could feel Quinn behind me. He was feeling anxious and hopeful. "Sorry Quinn but you need to leave too."

"I am, I just wanted to say goodbye." He wrapped his huge warm arms around me and kissed my hair. "I'll see you later Babe."

Amelia came in next and told me Octavia and Louis decided to go back home tonight to get everything in order for the unbonding. "The effects of Eric's blood won't go away, just the bond. You might still know when he's close because you have had so much of his blood and he's a very old and strong vampire."

"I figured as much." I knew no matter what the effects wouldn't leave. I drank it, it's in my body, and it's a part of me now. "Oh I need to eat my dinner Pam brought me." I was about to get up and get it when Amelia put her hand on my shoulder and gave me a stern look. She reheated the General Tao Chicken and brought it to me along with some sweet tea. It tasted wonderful.

"So you wanna watch a movie or something?"

"Sure go ahead and pick one out. I'm going to go to my room and get my pain killers so I can have them when I need them." I said.

We had a nice night, neither of us talked about what had happened or what was going to happen. It was nice being with her again, being with a girl who wasn't a vampire was nice too. I went to bed and fell asleep instantly. I didn't dream for the first time in three weeks.