PART THREE

Chapter 5

She was held by two of the armed and beefy blonde men and dared not try to struggle. With her powers stifled, she was trying to think her way out of this one and she knew that she had but one possible ally in all of this and even then, she had her concerns about putting any trust in Elsa. Now, here she stood standing before Eric, looking as she knew he had when he was originally here within the walls of this castle. Leather and metal he was clad in and as attractive as she still found him, her fear was overriding any other feelings she was having. She searched his face for any signs of recognition but only found cold blue eyes looking at her, like she was a meal. and for all she knew, that was what she was about to be.

His parents looked at her with almost sad and sorry expressions. And there was a madness in their gazes that told Sookie there was certainly dark magic in them working within them somehow. That these were not quite the parents he had known and grown up with. And those briefly sympathetic looks turned determined, hard, as they spoke to their son in their native language and with a rough grab of her arm, he started leading her away to the cheers of the men and the women in the room. It was hard for her to avoid the lecherous looks she got and she supposed it was only because she was in his possession that none dared touch her. At least that, she thought bitterly, was the same. He was, however not being terrible gentle with her and as they reached the end of a hallway, followed closely by guards, who slapped him on the back with encouragement as they left them out in the hallway, he taking her into his room with her. It was elegantly decorated with furs on the cold stone of the floor, still more sconces with torches and a massive fireplace roaring. There was a lock she heard be put in place as she was let go and though she suspected she would be bruised in the morning, she didn't know if she would still be alive. The room was warm and she had already noted the lack of windows in the castle. She turned to face him and looked him up and down once more, taking in the sight of him. Rustic though the clothes seemed, the leather and rudimentary chain mail she knew was just for show for the most part, him being what he was. This whole situation was so weird and she knew there was some recognition there, she felt it, but until she could figure out how to get that thing off him, she knew she was in some deep trouble. She hoped that perhaps, she could talk some sense into him, to get him to see, to fight his way out of the madness if she couldn't rid him of that cursed drown and rid him of that fog that he was in the midst of.

"Do you recognize me at all, know how you got here?" she had to ask as he went to start taking her dress from her body, pulling it back from his grip, knowing things were perhaps worse than she thought. And they were pretty bad already. "Things are not right, you need to listen to me…..there is dark magic going on here and its keeping the truth from you, your parents brought you here to not just try to make you a family again but to deliver on the wishes and the hopes that were had for you. You need to take that crown off before bad things happen, you were-are-expected to lead your people to kill and turn people, to try to take things over here and then move on until….." she paused and shook her head, tears fighting in her eyes. "You may love a fight and a good battle but I know you, you're not some warmonger, someone dedicated on world domination. That was what Russell hoped for you and your people. But you need to listen to me. Take that thing off and see the truth. Please." and with a desperate motion, she went to try to remove it herself but instead found herself slung aside, landing on the bed as if she were nothing. She had done it before, calling on the inner power, the strength she had had. And for some reason, she was finding it hard to do so this time. It was either because the magic in the bands on her wrists were that much stronger or….she suspected it was because she was entirely too terrified with what she knew had to be on his mind, what with him trying to undress her. There came a hesitation at that moment as her eyes met his and he withdrew his hands for a moment.

"Something feels off. I don't recall leaving here and yet this is all new to me still…." he paced back and forth as he ordered her to explain what had happened up to this point. He gave her a look like he didn't believe her…not entirely and he once again started towards her…this time there was a look about him that seemed reluctant to even touch her. That somehow, he was struggling to fight this off himself. "I want to…remove it but I can't….perhaps you are telling the truth about what has happened…." he closed his eyes and asked her to remove it. But as she was about to do so, something snapped and the rougher version once more emerged, pushing her away. "I'll save you for later….after making a stop in the town a couple miles down the mountain." he went to what seemed to be a closet of sorts and had thrown on a thick for cape and strapped a sword to his belt and he certainly gave off that fierce facade even more so. Everything happened fast the next few minutes, she finding herself in a dungeon like cell and she watched as he strode off to do terrible things. It was clear she herself was not going to enough, that for certain, that crown needed to go. And as the flurry of activity soon left the building, she soon found a harried looking Elsa enter the room just as she herself was determined to follow them

"You can not go out after them one word form him and you…." Elsa trailed off.

"I can't let them start this, it I am going to save him and all affected by this magic…..you don't suppose you can undo it, do you?"

Her face paled as Elsa shook her head. "That was another one of the caveats of my limited power…no reversing any of it. I was told this soon after I was turned and given the magic against my will. This whole thing is insane, I know and confusing but….what matters now as ending this before innocents are hurt or worse, turned. Because I know what Edgington had hoped. That like a plague, our kind would spread and cause chaos through this continent. And then, the rest would follow and it is a nightmare scenario."

"Yeah, I got that." replied the waitress as she looked t her current clothing. "I need something warmer to wear. Cold may not bother you all but even with my magic, I am not immune to frostbite."

Chapter 6

Outfitted with some thick weather resistant leather pants and a long sleeved tunic, she had three layers of furs draping her and thick boots upon her and she was almost unrecognizable as she left Elsa's room, the girl having been kind enough to share her clothes with her. Entering the common area of the castle, the crowds had thinned, leaving only the woman and a handful of men remaining behind to keep an eye on things. Managing to slip by unnoticed, the two left the warmth of the castle, emerging in what had to be a courtyard of sorts, there was a barn to the right, where sheep could be heard, some goats and some other typical barnyard animals. "Not really used for eating, unless we are desperate enough for animal blood." Elsa explained as they hurried past the barn. But we get leather, wool, that stuff that is always needed. And yet, there is a few trunks of modern clothes stashed in the castle. Rarely ever worn but….everyone, like I said, seems to prefer the old ways…..for the most part." she said as they passed a man carrying a modern day style pistol and heading past them without a second glance.

They came to the gate that left the complex and they gazed around at the high walls that kept the village safe from intruders and there were two well armed sentries at the gate. "I wish I had my magic….I have got to try to bust these off….I have done it before and I have got to try….." she was getting panicky as they approached the two guarding the door and with a quick glance up on the wall, she noted the towers where yet more were keeping a watchful eye on things. Though dark out, it was thanks to torches and battery powered lanterns that she was able to at least keep from stumbling in her awkward, unfamiliar attire. Elsa had claimed these clothes to be warmer than the modern ones that were available and Sookie had to admit, she had never felt warmer or drier in the elements like she did now.

"We are keeping the gates closed until they return." said one of the guards, wielding a axe and displaying several knives in his belt. the other one nodded his agreement. Still focusing on trying to make a quick break for it, Sookie felt the bands on her wrist start to give. That she was as powerful as she was was unnerving and yet, at this point, a godsend. But it wasn't enough and knowing what she was trying to do, Elsa had to try something and reached over to touch the bands on her wrists as the guards watched the scene play out, looking quite bemused. And it was with a crackling sound that Elsa surprised herself, her dark magic somehow obeying her command, the bands crumbling with the aid of Sookie's own returning magic. And in a flash, Sookie got them out of there, vanishing before they could be detained.

"You…look a little beat." Sookie said as she caught Elsa, who had stumbled into the snow, seeming weak, drained.

"I honestly didn't think I would be able to do that….it took a lot out of me and….well, I can't say I will miss this magic when it is spent but…..I am glad I was able to do something to make up for the terrible situation I pulled you into…..when this is over, I hope you can be happy with him, I know I barely know him but I have studied your lives for some time and know the hell you've both suffered. And as for our parents….maybe your power can help them be what they once were. I don't know much about faerie magic and somehow, I resist the urge to-"

"Bite me? Everyone else has it seems." Sookie mused with a eye roll. "But yeah, I find it strange that one has tried devouring me, because I know I am like a drug to you all…."

Something appeared affixed to a tree at that moment and removing it, Sookie read the hastily written note. A small smile appeared on her face. "Looks like we have a fairy grandfather watching over us….my grandfather used his magic to conceal me from anyone detecting anything strange about me…..he says he is prepared to come help if we need it but that we have everything we need between the two of us. That he wishes us well….." Sookie folded the note and put it in a furry pocket and sighed. "Well, that is a good thing to know, we aren't as alone as we may think-" she was stopped by a light that lit up the sky and the two knew they had a limited amount of time to stop the horde approaching the unsuspecting town. Using her magic, Sookie took Elsa and in a flash, they appeared a few hundred feet in front of the two hundred that had so willingly accompanied their new king to plunder, raze and cause chaos in the village.

"What is the meaning of this?" Eric asked, narrowing his eyes at the two woman that had appeared out of nowhere. "You were supposed to remain back home." the two women noted the presence of his parents flanking him, looking confused with a hint of annoyance. This was not what they had planned on, what their former master had wanted for them all. There wasn't time for delays. And one by one, the former king and his wife walked up to the two women and it was at that moment there came a realization, a voice in Sookies mind. Her grandfather.

Their minds have been lost to madness, madness not even my power can undo. Though there remains some goodness in them, they are a threat to you and your future. Do what needs to be done, I will remain watching over you….. he trailed off, and it was then something happened that surprised everyone involved, as the new ruler of the band of vamps started angrily to his sister and Sookie, going to attack but his parents created a wall between them, stopping him from running them through with his sword but in exchange, the slicing motion got the better of the both of them.

Crying out with anguish, Sookie knelt beside the couple, both bleeding out but she saw too the marks on their necks vanishing, their eyes losing that slight manic look that had denoted the influence of something sinister. "Hang on, I can…..give you my blood, heal you up fast…"

"No…..even with the mark gone, our time with Edgington and his friend with the dark magic….they had a failsafe to destroy us should we fail and here we are, having failed. Nothing can save us, we are beyond repair. But with our sacrifice, out being able to fight the haze of darkness, the best thing you can do is let us go while there is a chance. In this moment of lucidity, let us save you so you can do what is necessary. Save him and his sister from this mess….." Astrid cupped Sookie face and kissed her cheek. "Take care of him, please and when he comes around, make certain he knows that I the end, we were at peace, that we went down in the name of protecting those we love."

The wounds were bleeding out fast and furious, unlike any wound she had ever seen. "We failed and as punishment, he had the magic put on us make us unable to be saved." Ulfrik explained, looking at Sookie and his daughter, who took his hands in hers, tears in her eyes. "don't let us die in vain. Save him from this madness….." and one by one, the royals melted as all vamps did, leaving mere puddles of gore in their wake. And the next thing she knew, Sookie felt a hand pulling her by the hair, dragging her forward and heard the cries of Elsa not far from her.

TO BE CONTINUED