These characters belong to Charlaine Harris and Jeaniene Frost.
Thanks to our beautiful beta, the lovely FarDareisMai2, for always helping to make this story better. The three of us consider ourselves
blessed to have one of the most talented writers we know working with us each week.
A huge thanks to our readers and reviewers as well. We are thoroughly enjoying the feedback we're getting!
Sookie POV
I was sitting in St. Louis Cathedral during early morning Mass, thinking about my busy day ahead. I didn't get up before noon on most days, so I could spend as much time with Eric during the night and still get some rest. But I had really wanted to go to Mass that morning, so I skimped on my sleep.
I was one busy woman, even busier than when I was working my butt off waiting tables at Merlotte's. I was the only human consort to a vampire king in North America, and we were in a city that held many social events and obligations. I was on the board of several charitable committees and organizations for the rebuilding of New Orleans, as well as active in groups trying to improve the public school system.
On top of all that, it was the Sunday before Mardi Gras and there was plenty on the day's agenda. There was a brunch after Mass, and most city officials and notables were expected to attend, including me. I was riding in the "Peace, Love, Vampires" float during the Mid City parade. It was during the day, so ironically, no real vampires would be riding with me. That night was also the Bacchus parade and ball at the Convention Center, and to pile even more on top of a day that would be far busier than most, it was Valentine's Day, and Eric wanted us to have a romantic midnight dinner at Antoine's in the Quarter.
So, why was I sitting in Mass at that hour of the morning listening to a priest drone on about personal responsibility and sobriety? Because, I needed to find some time for myself in my crazy new life. I needed a spiritual outlet, and I found it during Mass. I hadn't been raised Catholic, but I felt a connection to the Catholic traditions of the city. New Orleans' Catholicism had ritual elements which I found comforting as well. Attending church enabled me to give thanks for my many blessings; at the top of my list was the thwarted hit on Eric during the Dracula Night Party.
When Mass finally ended, my Were bodyguard, Peter, and I left the Cathedral and turned to walk down Pirate's Alley behind the church. Our limousine was waiting on Royal Street, to take me to a jazz brunch at Commander's Palace with various Mardi Gras krewe officials, city council members, the Mayor, and his wife. I smiled to myself as I thought how convenient for Eric that he was a vampire and was unable to make today's brunch.
We walked down the narrow, cobble-stoned alley, which was lined with shops to the left, all closed on a Sunday morning. To our right was the courtyard behind the Cathedral, with a large statue of Jesus in the middle. The statue looked like a football referee signaling a miraculous touchdown with his arms, so locals called him Touchdown Jesus. He was especially beautiful and a bit eerie at night, when the lights came on and illuminated his shadow against the back of the Cathedral.
Suddenly, four men in dark uniforms appeared before us, blocking our way. Peter got in front of me, grabbing the gun in his holster.
"Sookie Northman?" one of the men asked.
"Yes, who are you and what do you want?"
"You are under arrest for aiding and abetting a vampire in the illegal use of magic."
"What?"
"You must come with us."
"Are you kidding me? I'm not going anywhere with you." Peter stood in front of me, his gun pointed at the men as he alerted our security team through his headset.
"I'm afraid you are." Another man was suddenly behind me, gripping me by my shoulders. I looked past the other men in front of Peter and saw two of our security team running from Royal Street towards us.
Before I could say another word, I felt a whooshing sensation, and everything was flying away from me. Peter, our men, Pirate's Alley, all began to fade from view. The last thing I saw was Touchdown Jesus, his arms out-stretched towards the sky and maybe me, as I was propelled into the air.
Bones POV
I should have paid attention to the surge of power I felt when I opened the door that morning. If my head wasn't full of thoughts of Kitten and our wedding that night, the rings I needed to pick up, and the phone calls I needed to make, things might have turned out differently.
I intended to marry her right long before I asked her, and now we were finally going to do it. I smiled thinking about our weeks at the cave, those days I fell in love with her. From the start, our time together was not easy, and so often something got in the way. First, she left me for four of the longest years of my existence. Searching for her was the only thing that kept me from going bloody mad. Our vampire binding shortly after we reunited occurred under less than ideal circumstances, and I knew she wondered if I had married her that night just to save her from Ian, and not because I loved her. Afterward, we were too busy dealing with Patra and then Gregor, to get married. Although my Kitten was a vampire now, she still deserved a real, traditional wedding. And it was the day. I had waited too bloody long as it was.
The plan to marry in New Orleans came to me a few nights before at Eric and Sookie's Dracula Night Party. Kitten, as always, was so beautiful, the dress was perfect, and when I watched her during the skirmish with the hit men it reminded me of our first days together. I knew right then it was time to resolve our lack of traditional nuptials. I wanted her to be mine in every way, forever.
On my way out, I checked on Kitten and she was sleeping—she usually got up sometime in the afternoon. I watched for a few minutes in the darkened room, and smiled as I remembered the intensity of the previous night's bedroom pleasures. I was the maker of many, but she was my finest creation. I bent down, inhaling her scent and then softly kissed her lips before I headed to the door.
I was not expecting the law guardians waiting at my doorstep.
When I opened the door and stepped out, the four dark haired male Law Guardians circled around me like an invisible cell. I stood still, keeping my own power under control, at least until I knew what was going on. I'd be downright daft to fight these mega-masters—they were some of the oldest and most powerful vampires in existence. It made no sense to brass off vampire law enforcers.
"Well then, I expect I'm in some sort of trouble?" I asked, breaking the charged silence.
"You will come with us." The four Law Guardians unleashed their power for a moment, giving me a taste of what they could do to me if I did not comply. I immediately thought of Kitten, and what they would do to her if she were to get involved.
"What's the charge?"
"The charge is unauthorized use of magic."
"Right then. And when did this alleged unauthorized magic occur?"
"You committed the crime the night you gave the human, Sookie Northman, the ability to read vampire minds."
"How is it I'm convicted already?" I tried to stall for time before they took me away.
"There will be a tribunal. No more talking."
They mentioned Sookie – I wondered how they would bring her into this, as a witness, or more? Reckoned I would find out soon enough. I was certain Eric Northman would not fancy his wife arrested, or even called as a witness. Blimey, how did everything go south so fast? I had started out the day with thoughts of weddings and then I was in dire straits.
There was nothing else to do but go with them. I hoped Kitten would know to get in touch with Mencheres. As the Law Guardians directed me to a waiting car, I looked back toward the house, remembering my beautiful Kitten as she slept in our bed, and wondered how she would feed without me.
*cue cheesy sound effects*
Dun, dun, dun!
Looks like Bones and Sookie never considered the Magic she received from Bones in Heroes & Hitmen
would come back to bite them in the ass, did they?
