Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or stories from The Southern Vampire series. I can only hope that Ms. Harris doesn't mind me taking them for a stroll.

Chapter 4 Leap of Faith

I slammed my car door and drove away, still fuming and shaken. Intellectually, I knew that Remy was in a really tough position. I couldn't imagine many supes who could easily handle all the information I had given him, and Remy had lived a simple, normal, human life that in no way prepared him for what his wife's blood gave to his son. Hadn't I even debated the ethics of bringing a child into the world with my genetic nightmares? But still…I was furious that he would even contemplate leaving his son, no matter what the reason.

I just didn't know what to do, about any of this, I needed help, but who could I ask for advice? I hadn't told anyone about Hunter's abilities, so there was no one I could really turn to for help. In my angry mood, I laughed cynically; Eric was right, I really was a pathetic human. No one could help us, if they would even try.

If I told Eric about Hunter's abilities, there was nothing he could do to keep Hunter safe, I had learned that the hard way. Of course, I thought bitterly, Eric probably wouldn't make the effort to help me, now that he had bigger and better plans, but whether he would help me or not didn't matter anyway.

I used to think that Eric was all powerful and able to protect me, but the more I learned about vampire politics and power structure, the more I understood that Eric was just a middle manager who had to do what his superiors told him to do or face the violent repercussions. I wouldn't put him or us in that position, not with vampires and fae aware of Hunter and I. No, there was no true form of protection from such forces. I shuddered at the memory of being magically knocked unconscious as Neave and Lochlan abducted me under the nose of a witch and a vampire.

If they wanted you, they got you. If they could find you. Fintan had shown that it was possible to hide when he kept my family hidden for all those years. Maybe I could hide Hunter until he was old enough to make his own decisions. I would have to be the one to take him, Remy was useless at this point and no one would expect it of me, so I should be able to slip away without notice. I shook my head, I'm an idiot…I'd need a witness protection plan to get away without anyone finding me. I could contact the FBI agents, Sarah Weiss had been a believer and might be willing to help us, but I would have to 'out' myself formally to the FBI. Not something I was interested in doing…

At that moment, my cell phone rang for the second time today. I groaned, this could only be more bad news. I was in a careless mood, so I didn't slow as I looked at the number on the little screen. I didn't recognize it so I answered cautiously, already nervous and jumpy from my thoughts about fleeing.

"Hello?" I asked.

"Miss Stackhouse, Desmond Cataliades," a rich, deep voice came over the line.

I was relieved, and tried to offer the last bit of courtesy I had left in me, "Hello Mr. Cataliades, how are you and Diantha doing?" Even I could tell my voice was forced and brittle.

"We are both out of the area, however, I have been meaning to contact you for a few days now."

"Mr. Cataliades, I wanted thank you for sending the Leeds to help me, they kept a really bad situation from getting much worse." I said sincerely, remembering how awful the other night could have been.

"My pleasure dear, I owe you for a number of debts. I was happy to intervene on your behalf."

A light bulb went off in my mind and my heart began to pound. Mr. Cataliades was a supernatural lawyer. He could probably make anything happen, he might be able to help us. Oh my God, was I really thinking about this? I guess I was, but I was afraid to officially crack open the door of fleeing, knowing that there would be very angry, ugly and dangerous possibilities that lingered behind the door marked "Sookie's secret escape hatch." However, I knew intellectually, if not in my heart, that this was my best choice, I had to take the chance. I had followed my heart for too long and ended up with nothing but a broken heart, body and spirit, again and again.

I steeled myself, "Mr. Cataliades, I have a number of questions to ask you, do you have time to talk right now?"

"Yes dear," he said without reservation.

"Um, is there anyone around you who might be listening? What I have to say is private and I need to keep it between us." I was feeling very paranoid, and my experiences told me that I had good reason.

"I am alone and my phone is secure. I would know if your phone was compromised as well. This sounds serious Miss. Stackhouse."

"It is, to me." I said.

"Continue then, my dear."

I needed to get a few more concerns covered before I told him anything else.

"Mr. Cataliades, if I asked you for help and advice, would everything that we discussed be kept between us?"

"All the services I perform are kept completely confidential. I have many high profile clients throughout the supernatural world with, as you can imagine, very large secrets."

"There isn't anyone, vampire, fae or other who could force you to divulge information?" I asked.

It sounded as though he almost sniggered at this question, it was a strange sound to come from such a large man. "Miss Stackhouse, I realize you have only spent a small amount of time with demons, but be assured that vampires and fae could never make a demon tell them anything."

I was relieved and more than a little astonished that he was stronger than vampires and fae.

I took a deep breath, "OK. I want you to bill me directly for any time you take with me, I don't want it on the King's time." I needed to make sure there was no way for Felipe to trace us to one another.

"That won't be necessary, I am still indebted to you for saving my and Diantha's lives, for aiding my queen and for helping me to find out who killed Gladiola. I will be only too happy to provide you with any assistance you require…" He left the end of the sentence open as though he were encouraging me to speak my mind.

I took another deep breath, not sure how to do this, so I just jumped in.

"Do you have any experience in helping people change their identity and go into hiding?" I said, my words rushing together.

"Ah, my dear," he said sounding like a weary and concerned grandfather, "this is the reason I was calling you. I was disappointed that Mr. Northman has not been more forthcoming with you, but I see that he finally told you about his Maker's plans for him to marry Oklahoma." WHAT? "You are astute to realize that his marriage will leave you at great risk of being claimed by any number of other vampires."

I was absolutely shocked and tears of anger and grief began to gather in my eyes. This was Eric's maker's plan, not his? A hundred questions flashed through my mind, but I didn't have time to think about it because Mr. Cataliades continued, "I have heard that a number of prominent, and for you Miss. Stackhouse, very undesirable vampires have already begun making steps to claim you as soon as Mr. Northman declares his intent to marry. This is why Mr. Northman's insistent requests to his king that he be released from his Maker's marriage contract have been and will continue to be denied. So, my Dear, I am sorry to tell you that you will soon be without Mr. Northman's considerable protection, and thus in great peril."

I gasped for breath. Eric had been trying to get out of the marriage. He didn't want to leave me. This knowledge hurt even more than hearing that he was marrying someone else. At least then I could fall back on anger and blame to cover the pain of my loss. This is why he didn't tell me, he was still hoping that he could get out of it, but according to Mr. Cataliades, Felipe would not allow it…because of me. Felipe wanted me, so he would make Eric honor his Maker's wishes.

I was dizzy with the information but I didn't want to admit my ignorance in the fear that it would make Mr. Cataliades reluctant to tell me more, so I said quietly, "Yes, that is part of my motivation to leave," it certainly was now.

This small piece of information explained a lot about what had been going on lately. Appius had come to Louisiana to discuss "unwelcome business" with Eric as well as to help Alexei. It was at this point that Eric began using the word "wife" with me more frequently and was more irritable with me when I made light of our marriage. I was beginning to understand what had been going on during the days of silence that followed Appius' arrival. Maybe Appius was unaware that Eric had married, but once he met me, I was sure that he wanted Eric to be free from his human. Or maybe the contract for Eric to marry the Queen of Oklahoma was already completed by that time. At least I figured it was a Queen, although given Appius' preference for men…who knew?

So because of Eric's maker, I, and by extension and other circumstances, Hunter was in serious danger, so whatever the cost, Hunter and I had to get out of here.

"Do you know how I can do this?" I asked, much more invested in my developing plan.

"Yes, but you don't have much time, so this must be done with haste. There is a deadline on the marriage contract and Mr. Northman has to commit by the end of the week or be held in breach of contract. This means that his protection of you will be ended and you will be, as they say, 'up for grabs' to the strongest vampire."

Shit, I thought and my mind began to scramble for ideas and came up empty.

Thankfully he continued, "I have helped many people disappear quickly and permanently over my years and I can help you to do the same, if it is truly what you want." His voice was serious and firm, letting me know that there was no going back once I made this decision.

I swallowed my fear. There was no other option for me. The strongest and most brutal vampires out there were circling me like vultures over fresh meat. Even if I ran to someone I thought I could trust, like maybe Stan, Russell or even Bart, we would probably have to be bonded for others to leave me alone. I couldn't accept that. If I did that, I would just be giving away my freedom rather than having it stolen from me. On top of that, Hunter was at risk from vampires and fae.

Fate's timing was impeccable, we both had to run for our lives and our freedom. "Yes, I need to do this as soon as possible." As I said this, I felt a chill run though my body, starting at my head and running down through to my fingers and toes.

I had made my choice. I wasn't going to turn back now.