I woke up feeling refreshed and energetic. I bounded down the stairs and outside where I found Asha gazing at the sky "you can chose what we do today. Magic, knowledge or combat" she said as I approached "magic" I said instantly and she laughed softly "yes I thought you would pick that" she patted the ground next to her and said "today we will focus on your telepathy, you will look through my oldest memory's and try to find and show me one I have forgotten" I nodded and put my hands on her temple. I entered her mind and felt her push me in the right direction. I imagined myself in a vault with labeled boxes. I quickly found a box labeled 'prophecy' it was gathering dust in the corner so I opened it.
I was sucked in and found myself in a throne room. It was bright and beautiful with every color of the rainbow brought together tastefully. A man and woman sat on thrones looking down at a boy with black hair and blue eyes and a girl with blond hair and grey eyes, they looked around the age of five and I realized with slight shock that the girl was Asha.
They sat holding hands and facing each other "the clock will ring its final toll" the boy began "on this races last hour" Asha completed "only two will survive to carry on the legacy" the boy said "but they will not bear children of this race, they will create the new world and the people to live in it" Asha completed again and the King and Queen grasped each other. "they will be forced to suffer greatly and lose everything time and time again, they will not even have each other to rely on" they spoke together "the girl will take the fall for the boy time and time again, lovers forever caught in the sweet agony of love and lost. They will shape the future and heal wounds made by the past. Night and Day, Sun and Moon, one light one dark." the two children collapsed and where carried out quickly.
I pulled out of Asha's mind quickly and she stared at me gratefully "thank you for returning that to me, I now know that nothing could have saved my people" she smiled at me and I grinned back. "now you can retrieve memory's you can also destroy them, it is the same process only backwards" I nodded and she moved on to knowledge.
She taught me strategy by playing chess and gave me a book on roman history to teach me the art of war. Then in combat I was shown just how unfit I really was. I collapsed into bed every night for an hours sleep which was all I needed. Our days where spent as a mix of work and play. I grew close to Asha and I learned much about her. She taught me horse riding, swordplay, archery, strategy, poker, chess, how to throw weapons, how to break shields in minds to name but a few. I was happy and occupied but a hole was in my heart and it seemed to grow every day.
I woke up one morning and I knew something was different, Asha was leaning on the porch steps when I went downstairs rather than the grass as usual. "morning!" I sang as I hugged her "good morning little one" she said with a tinge of sadness "it is time for you to leave me" she shoved her hands in her pockets and looked away, my mouth dropped I felt as though someone had punched me in the stomach "why? did I do something wrong?" I asked feeling bewildered and she chuckled "no you have done nothing wrong, it is time for you to return to your loved ones. It has been ten years here but only a year there" I felt joy and relief at her words, I hugged her and dashed upstairs to pack.
When my bag was ready I pulled it downstairs and Asha hugged me tightly "I have an apartment in Louisiana that you can use" she handed me and envelope and I grinned at her, I knew only to well at this stage that when Asha gave a gift it really was nonrefundable "also I made some investments for you that paid off nicely so this is yours" she handed me a black amex card and I stared at her feeling thrown off balance before I could recover or protest she silenced me with a "I only invested the money you would have made from being a barmaid for the time you where here, please I consider it to be yours and honestly I can create what I need from nothing and over the years I have made quite the fortune from stock and businesses. To me that is nothing just peace of mind and assurance that you will be well looked after" I hugged her and she slipped a necklace on my neck "this will connect us, if you should ever need to return here for safety say the words 'fuzzy bunny' and you along with whomever needs to hide will be brought here. I am connected to you so if I am able to I will come to your aid if you need it" I felt awed at how kind she was to me "why are you so nice to me?" I asked wonderingly and she grinned "you are fierce, loyal, brave, smart, beautiful, funny and the first friend I have had in over a thousand years" she smiled softly at me and I kissed her cheek "I will see you again, this is not goodbye my friend" I promised and she broke out into a wide grin "I shall hold you to that, goodbye for now"
I found myself inside a large penthouse that was decorated in a softly feminine way that reflected my tastes. I laughed quietly to myself and muttered "her apartment my ass, she probably planned this out months ago". I settled down at a desk and read her letter to me. It read:
to my dearest Sookie,
while I am reluctant to let you go I refuse to try and interfere with your destiny or your love. I understand how reluctant you are to speak with him, truly I do but you need to discuss it in order to move on. This weight you carry around hangs around your shoulders and drags you down, I know this from experience and I can tell you assuredly that it is better to grab happiness and love when it is there. This time do not let him dominate the relationship you must have equality or it will fail, show him you and he will fall for you or let him go either way you need to talk with him.
forever yours
Asha
I glared at her elegantly scripted writing before sighing and relenting. I was going to see Eric.
Hope you like the chapter, lots of Eric coming up. Any reviews or comments are very welcome. I want to say that I know Asha is not a character in the story but I really like her and I hope you do as well. Do I see a possible Derek appearance in the future? Haha :)
