EPOV
Carrying Sookie though the employee's entrance I see Bill standing at the end of the hall with his cell phone pressed discretely in his palm. I could not quite make out who or what he was texting but he was sending a message to someone and I did not like it. My safety as well as Sookie's depended on those closest to me staying loyal.
Sookie mumbled my name in her unconscious state, clinging to the front of my shirt; this gave me an idea. Walking into my office I quietly kick the door shut behind me. I kneel in front of the couch, cradling her in my arms like a child. She looks so sweet and radiant, the glow that surrounds her is quite bright and she feels like my personal sun. Leaning my head over I bury my face in her hair and breathe deeply. Images of summers' long ago streak through my brain. Flowers, sunshine, laundry flapping in the sun drenched afternoons all merge together from the single scent lingering in her hair.
An opposite sense causes me to sigh, burring my face deeper within her smell, trying to block the sounds from my ears. I hear the screams of desperation from the basement. No human would ever be able to notice the noises especially over the thumping of the bass coming from the bar. Yet, I know every Vampire within a mile radius can hear and most likely smell what is going on in my personal torture rooms. Begrudgingly I pull my face from Sookies' hair and gently lay her on the couch. Her hand clutches my shirt tighter as I lay her down and in the process one of the pearl buttons unsnaps. I wonder what she would do if she had my shirt for herself. Slipping my arm one at a time from the fabric, I release the tension as the shirt lies within her palm. Sighing she buries her face in the material and rolls on her side facing the back of the couch. It is taking all my strength and resolve not to climb on the sofa with her just for a few minutes. When we come together again I want her to be fully awake and realize what she is doing.
Standing I walk over to the desk to find what I was looking for when Sookie called back the second time. There are several numbers I need one of them is Niall Brigant's number which is written on the inside flap of an old match book in my desk. The match book is so old and dirty, it looks I threw it in there decades ago; which is more or less what I did. The other number is on the back of a card for a cleaning service I have used quite often. I locate the cleaning service card first and dial the number quickly.
"Vampire this better be good." The voice answers in a brisk tone and irritated demeanor which meant I got a hold of the woman I needed.
"Good to hear your voice, Doctor. I have a few questions about a bonding with a pregnant woman." I study Sookie laying with her back to me; even with the distance in between us I feel an unusual pull towards her.
"Why the hell are you gonna do that? If you want babies' blood this isn't the way to go about it!" She snarls at me through the phone.
"I have heard of backhanded complements but that sounds like backhanded optimism."
"Who are you going to bond with? That may be a better place to start with." Dr. Ludwig was grunting in between every word.
"Sookie Stackhouse, the telepath."
"Yeah, I remember her. Is she willing?"
"She is." I am confident when I approach her about our bonding she will be excited.
"This isn't something to be done by force boy!" She roared at me.
"I am calling for a medical opinion. Will she need any supplements before it's done? I think she will not want any harm to come to the baby." I grimace thinking of who the father is, and I would have liked nothing better than harm to come to the baby at that moment. "I am not asking for myself but for Sookie."
"God, you are stupid even for a Vampire! Don't give her anything with iron in it. She is Fae you moron, or didn't you get the memo? The iron supplements will either kill her or abort the baby, who knows. If she is tired and you are bonding anyway; give her some of your blood."
"Thanks Amy." This woman really pisses me off more often than most, if she was not so useful I would have killed her long ago.
"It's Dr. Ludwig to you." What the fuck? Why is everyone over the phone ripping me a new asshole today?
"As far as the bonding itself, Dr. Ludwig, I have never heard of another couple doing it. What can you tell me about the process?" I am trying to use my super polite tone without having my fangs descend.
"If you want to logistics of bonding with a pregnant woman; I can give you all the information I know about it. You have some paper to write what I tell you?"
"Yes," I grab a blank notebook from the lower right hand drawer of my desk with lightning speed; instantaneously locate a pen to take notes.
"Are you ready? It may be difficult for you to get it all down. " She pauses as I acknowledge whatever she is about to say will be life changing. "I know nothing. Don't bother me again unless it is a life or death emergency asshole." The phone went dead.
Sitting back in my chair I stare into the receiver. My fangs descend with an audible click, blood lust rages through me. The bitch hung up on me. In disbelief, I sit the phone on the desk. I have such strong urges to call her back, but patience prevails. Again with being hung up on. In this instant I hate the fact Vampires are out of the closet; it seems that the blood bags, even if they are other super naturals, believe Vampires are their equals. Maybe if I would hunt more often then…
No, I must stay focused on the tasks of the evening. My second call has to be made now. There is no time to spare. There are few Vampires who I would trust with the knowledge of my bonding; the Ancient Pythoness would have been one of the only I would normally trust with what I am about to do. She would have been my choice for my witness at the bonding ceremony but since she is half a world away, I will have to turn to the next best thing. The only other vampire I know of that has the age to go with her wisdom is Destiny, she lives in the Bayou with nothing but her gators, many believe she is a crazy old Vamp. Yet, I know this to be a false description of her.
Once again I am rummaging in my desk for some obscure and long forgotten number. Thinking to myself that the misconceptions of humans are too funny, they had an odd belief Vampires have total recall. Some may have that ability but like with them, Vampires can and do forget things. Almost always they are useless things like numbers. Those were never my strong suit when I was human and it would just go to figure they would not be something I retained easily now.
The phone number is on the back of a long forgotten check from the early part of the last century. Worn yellowed paper, which could almost crumble in between my fingers if I wasn't so cautious, holds the telephone number from when switch boards were last used. I wonder if the number could be the same after close to 75 years since I last contacted the Vampire. Dialing the number, I watch Sookie's breathing in her slow rhythmic pattern.
"Hello?" The voice sounded rather puzzed when picking up the phone, like she had not done it ever or in a really long time.
"Destiny, this is Eric. Eric Northman, Sheriff of area 5." I pause and hear her suck in her breath even though we have no need to breathe. It must have been a shock for her to hear my voice after close to a century lapse of communication. "I have a question that you may hold the answer to."
"Eric, it is surprising to say the least." Her voice has an angelic quality to it. Although, I had been on the lethal end of her fangs during a battle many centuries ago. "Good evening Sheriff, it has been a long time. How may I serve you?"
I felt a little smug knowing she had to bow to my wishes due to the impending coo; I did not doubt she already knew about the Yeniche visiting. The man was after all a friend to her as he was her maker's assistant. My blood lust left me the longer I hear her voice at the other end of the phone.
"I am going to bond with a pregnant woman, who has fae blood." I added qualitatively. "Do you know of any repercussions that may occur when doing this?"
"She is willing I presume." Her words were clipped and left little compromise in her meaning.
Confidently I answered, "I am quite certain she will be."
"Her cooperation is vital, as is having the consent of her eldest male relation. This is very important, Sheriff. If it is done in betrayal for any reason it may not bode well for." She paused for a second in almost an attempt to suppression an unnamed emotion. "But if she is willing everything will go smoothly. Will the biological father mind his loss of the woman?"
"Truthfully the shifter can go to hell for all I care. I may send him there after everything is said and done anyhow. Depending slightly on my soon to be bonded's feelings." I vehemently replied.
"Oh, the father is a shifter?" She did not bother for me to respond. "That changes something's. Hmm, where to begin. First, she will sleep for a long period of time after the bonding is completed. During that sleep period the children in question will change to your children."
"What?" I snapped at her.
"Vampire's can change the offspring of Shifters to their own. The blood of the child will be replaced with yours and will ultimately become a Vampire hybrid or Vae for short."
"Why have I never heard of this before?"
"It is old magic and the fae have kept it from general knowledge for a long time. I only found out about it because of my maker's connections." I could hear the fabric of her clothes shift against her skin as she shrugged. "It would not work with just any human. It has to be a fae hybrid. The pure fae cannot mask their scent for the bonding and the vampire lost control time and again killed the fae. Long ago it was common to do this but after the fae war, most of the hybrids were killed. This is why the sky and water fairies have been fighting for years. Niall did not talk to you about it?"
"No, Niall does not want me to have much contact with my lover." Stopping short, I think back on the conversation. I never mentioned Niall was the grandfather to Sookie. I feel my fangs descend of their own accord as my blood heats up for battle. "How did you know about Niall?"
"We have been in contact for several years about Sookie." Her voice is pleasant almost cheerful.
"You know my intended?" I was shocked she was in contact with Niall but she was a very well connected Vampire if not a bit of a loner.
"Truth be told she is a descendant of sorts to me. Her lineage can be traced back to my sister, as you found out; I had no living children." Darkly she told me.
Destiny had lived a long time prior to be turned, the sad fact was she had very little to live for in the human world. She had lived with the Yenchi when she was alive; they were the ones who served her up to her maker. I was in court when the woman was brought in. She was in rags and sorely abused. It was surprising she survived the transformation process.
"I am entrusting you with my blood Eric." Her voice was low but neither sad nor menacing.
It was a gentle way for her to give me her blessing, not many Vampires ever received a blessing from another Vampire. Destiny was truly a diamond in the ruff. She was a young Vampire in comparison to me but one that I greatly respected. The respect stemmed, not only for her current blessing but because of her stance on the current relations between the supernatural communities as a whole. I firmly believe if anything ever happened to the Ancient Pythoness, Destiny would replace the old Vampire.
"I thank you; I will do all in my power protecting her from outside and inner harm." I said more heartfelt than I had said in centuries.
"Call me once the bonding is to happen. I would enjoy being your witness at the ceremony." She laughed heartily. "I could use some time away from my Bayou. Is there anything else, Sheriff?"
She reverted back to formalities; I am humbled by her show of respect. "No, that will be all my thanks again. I will call you with the details as soon as I am certain when it will occur. Although we will be traveling to Vermont on the morrow, you are welcome to join us."
"So you are going to make this legal in both human and vampire eyes. Very wise, very wise indeed. I am at your command. I will join you in Shreveport at dusk tomorrow."
She gave me her cell phone number, telling me with humor in her voice she could not get rid of her land line because of old acquaints would never be able to find her elsewise. We make small talk for a few more minutes and as we were about to hang up she reminded me to call Niall. I am swarmed with difficult emotions to process.
Elation that there is a possibility after centuries of no longer having any of my blood descendants left on earth, I may have a child once more. Fear Sookie may reject me and dash my hopes of a child. Pride is the strongest, the knowledge I could over power the shifter's biology to make the child my own.
Picking up the match book, I run my thumb across the worn cover. Flipping open the pack I see the faded scrawl of Niall. His eloquent hand writing seems to be beckoning me. Once again I dial the phone and settle in for an interesting conversation.