A/N: This story just wouldn't go the way I'd originally planned, thus the delay while I duked it out in my mind. There are unexpected twists in this chapter that even surprised me. It felt good, though, in the end. Expanded to five chapters with all the additions. sam
Chapter 4
Sookie said nothing to Bill. She couldn't. She just folded in on herself in the car, behind her new mental curtains, and hid. Sookie reasoned they had just enough time to get to the hotel and check on Jessica and Hoyt (who should both be asleep by now) before Bill had no choice but to sleep in their own light tight room. At under one hundred fifty years as a vampire, his ability to stay awake when the sun was up was very limited, so there wouldn't be enough time to talk about everything that had happened. As a result, Sookie paced back and forth through the dawn by herself, unable to process the transformations Godric had wrought. Bill slept the sleep of the dead while her own and Godric's parting words at the nest echoed in her mind ...
"What?! Godric, no! You just can't leave! Not now! Not after turning me into some kind of mind reading Jiminy Cricket for vampires! And I'm not Eric's!" Sookie verged into full blown panic now. She paced back and forth, frantically wringing her hands, looking for a way out. Her grandmother had always chosen to call mind reading a gift, but Gran was alone in that perception. Everyone else, including her parents and brother, had treated Sookie like a freak her whole life.
She flung herself back down beside Godric, tears welling in her eyes, and begged, "Please take it back, Godric. I don't belong in vampire politics, I don't want to be changed further from human, I don't want to be able to read vampire thoughts. Please!"
"Sookie," Godric's voice was a soothing miracle, "I see far. All will be well ... eventually. I know you were born to this destiny. Trust me." ...
A brief knock at the door interrupted her anxious reverie and Sookie started.
Jason, she thought, relieved, it must be Jason.
She ran to the door and flung it open without bothering with a robe. Eric nonchalantly leaned a hand on the molding over the door, pressed the side of his face against his inner elbow, and looked down the length of Sookie's diaphanous nightgown appreciatively.
"Mm, tasty," he murmured teasingly.
"Oh, Eric," Sookie said distractedly, for once not affected by his sheer animal magnetism, "I thought you were Jason."
"No, I'm definitely not your brother," Eric said with a raised brow, taking a second leisurely look.
She whirled around self consciously and whipped on a robe while Eric laughed.
"Eric, what are you doing here? For that matter, what are you doing up?" asked Sookie in exasperation. She instinctively dropped an inner curtain and then she knew. Her face pokered up immediately to hide that she'd read Eric's thoughts.
"Couldn't sleep. Isn't that what humans say?" Eric mocked both of them as he pointedly watched her pace agitatedly back and forth, "I am over a millennium old. I can stay up much later into the day than young vampires. In any case, I see you couldn't sleep either. Perhaps you'll join me in the wet area to talk."
Sookie knew that Eric had deliberately waited until Bill was asleep before knocking on the door. He was worried about Godric, and there was very little that Eric wouldn't do, including enlisting her aid once again, even in daylight, to help him. Since Eric wanted to talk about the very thing that was keeping Sookie awake, she simply nodded at him without the resistance he obviously expected. She waved Eric to sit in the suite's salon and quietly padded barefoot into the bedroom to change into the bikini she'd optimistically brought.
She may as well use the hotel's popular relaxation spot now because it was a sure bet she wouldn't with Bill. They had to go to Godric's nest again the next night, and then their whole party, including Jason, was headed back to Bon Temps the following morning, Bill and Jessica safely enclosed in coffins. Sookie saw that Bill still slept like the dead in their bed, but she pulled the sheet a little higher over his shoulders and smoothed his hair. Then, sighing, she covered back up in the hotel's robe, slid her feet into flip flops, and joined Eric.
Silently, each engrossed in his own thoughts, the pair made their way down to Hotel Carmilla's "wet area". It was an indoor, light tight conservatory complete with hot tub grotto, pool, and small waterfall. There were a few human companions there when Sookie and Eric arrived, but at his silent command they instantly left, recognizing the rank of a vampire awake in the day.
Sookie scowled, "You don't have to be so high handed all the time, Eric. They wouldn't have bothered us."
Eric shrugged, "I prefer seclusion."
Without further preamble, Eric stripped to a pair of black shorts and slid into the hot tub. As his only concession to the rising sun, he leaned back on a neck rest and closed his eyes.
Sookie cast a doubtful look at the Viking lolling in the water before she decided to go ahead, cast off her robe, and join him. She almost moaned as she sank luxuriously into the hot, foaming water, but bit it back, glancing a little nervously at Eric again. It seemed so weird to be here with him like this. Godric had somehow become a common concern binding them together and Sookie had never expected that.
"I believe Godric actually planned to let those savages tie him outside at dawn," Eric began abruptly, his eyes opening just enough to see her, "It's completely unconscionable, but there it is. Did he say anything to you at the nest about this?" Suddenly, without moving very much at all, Eric's demeanor became quite menacing as he came to his point.
"Eric ...," Sookie hesitated, unsure what to say.
"You are still working for me, Sookie Stackhouse, and Bill Compton lives in my area, at my volition. I want to know everything Godric said to you – now." Eric had apparently decided a heavier hand was needed with her.
"Eric, I like and respect Godric very much. You don't have to threaten me to get me to help him." This time, irritated with him, Sookie didn't hesitate. "I think Godric still plans to meet the dawn soon, with or without the Fellowship of the Sun. I tried, believe me, I tried, right up to the last minute, to talk him out of it last night. I don't know what else anyone can do ... even you."
Eric studied her silently and Sookie didn't have to use her new ability to know that he was assessing what she'd said. Sookie chose her own neck rest, closed her eyes, and drifted, the adrenaline of the last three days crashing and exhaustion replacing it. They were once again silent, each trying to think of a way to help Godric and prevent his tragic loss.
Finally, Sookie relaxed so much she thought she would sleep if she went back to bed, so she climbed out of the tub.
"Sookie," Eric murmured, "If you find a way to change Godric's mind, I will owe you a favor – a big favor. Find a way."
"Eric ..." Sookie shook her head a little, knowing she wouldn't be able to help, "I'll ... try."
ooooo
Bill ushered Sookie, Jessica, and Hoyt into Godric's enclave, grimly determined to do his duty and then leave as early as possible in spite of Jessica and Sookie's excitement at being invited to a vampire-human party. He tried not to be irritated at how young all three of his companions were, as they oohed and aahed at everything.
"Jessica, Sookie, they have Tru Blood and mixed drinks at the bar. May I get you something?" Hoyt cheerfully offered.
"A bottle of B negative for me, Hoyt. Thank you," Jessica smiled and stroked his arm, happy with him.
"Just a Coke for me, Hoyt," Sookie added, "Thanks."
"Vampire Bill?"
"Nothing, thanks," Bill growled gruffly, shifting uneasily.
Bill watched Hoyt make his way easily through the crowd and was annoyed all over again. Hoyt treated Jessica with exactly the same courtesy as he treated Sookie. The boy just didn't understand that Jessica was new vampire. He had no caution at all.
"Bill." Sookie's low tone made a statement of his name, telling him to calm down. She didn't dare say more when they were within hearing of every vampire in the nest, as well as Eric. She watched Bill shrug in response, but some of his grouchiness faded, and he moved forward to speak with Isabel as soon as she looked up and waved him over.
Sookie took Jessica and Hoyt around the room after that, introducing them to some of the vampires and humans she'd formerly met. Once again speculative eyes followed Sookie, curiously studying her, and then her companions. Both Sookie and Hoyt were very unusual in their calm, respectful, yet not obsequious, manner with vampires. Jessica also raised more than a few eyebrows with her obvious, rather sweet relationship in which Hoyt, the human, was the dominant partner.
Finally, Gran's well trained good manners demanded that Sookie take the others to pay their respects to Godric. Sookie daringly opened her mind to his and quietly asked for an audience. Godric, I have a young couple with me who are anxious to meet you. May we approach?
I suppose I should get some benefit out of my new mind bend, she thought wryly behind closed mental curtains afterward.
Without making an outward sign Godric invited them over. Of course, mind reader, you are always welcome to me. Sookie could tell her inner discomfort was amusing Godric again. It is what you are, after all, is it not?
Godric, best not to speak too much about that, even in our heads. For a two thousand year old vampire you still have a lot of naivety. How did that happen? Sookie protested a little sharply. He took her situation far too lightly.
"Godric, this is Jessica, Bill's progeny, and our friend, Hoyt." Once again Godric's thoughts were quiet and his vast peace beckoned to Sookie. It was all she could do not to fall in as she introduced the young couple. "Jessica, Hoyt, this is Godric, Eric's maker, and sheriff of this territory."
"And new friend to young Sookie," Godric added, his eyebrow quirking at her. Sookie swayed a little on the edge of his enormous inner tranquility. Then she sharply drew herself back and glared at Godric. Darn, how seductive could one vampire be? He chuckled in her mind, his peridot flecked brown eyes sparkling.
"Pleased to meetcha," Jessica and Hoyt chorused in unison, smiling shyly at Godric, as would any young couple in the South with good manners.
"You are welcome in the nest," Godric's face showed nothing, but Sookie was aware that he was mildly amused by Jessica and Hoyt.
We're all just providing you a laugh a minute, aren't we? Sookie thought grumpily. Godric's mind rippled and she caught a glimpse of his appalling, endless, long term loneliness and ennui. She gasped, horrified, and then said shamefacedly, Sorry, I'm still trying to adjust, and it's making me grumpy.
I understand, even Godric's mental voice was soft and elegantly refined. It was all Sookie could do not to hang her head, after she'd been so rude.
"Thank you," the young couple chorused again, causing Jessica to giggle, and grin up at Hoyt. This time a ghost of a smile crossed Godric's chiseled lips. He actually liked them, although he once again quashed his smile and presented a facade of complete indifference. Sookie supposed that Godric had learned that style of governance over decades of dealing with the hundreds of all varieties of vampires in his territory.
Sookie carefully listened to Godric's thoughts and inner convictions as the couple chattered to him. As far as she could tell Eric's hopes to avert Godric's demise were doomed. Godric fully intended to meet the next sun up. Sadly, this party was his last goodbye to his nest.
It's such a waste, Sookie thought as she scrambled for any idea that could save Godric from himself.
"Mr. Compton," Godric nodded in acknowledgment to Bill as he joined them, "Your progeny is delightful and I can see she shares your good taste in humans."
Bill, as usual, very controlling with Jessica, had rushed nervously over to join them before she or Hoyt made a mistake with the most powerful vampire he'd ever met. He also didn't like to see Sookie with Godric, instinctively recognizing and resenting their odd fascination with each other.
Before Bill could answer Godric politely, and then firmly steer his group away from the sheriff, a dark haired human making a disturbance near the front door drew everyone's attention, vampire and human alike.
BOMB! screamed into Sookie's head from everywhere at once, stunning her mentally and freezing her physically.
"Down!" Godric shouted the command.
In a lightening burst of speed, he slammed Jessica, Hoyt, Isabel, Jason, and six human companions to the ground before the homemade bomb exploded into a firestorm of wood and metal shrapnel. Bill dove over Sookie, forcing her to the ground, and covering her. With Sookie's mental guards completely down, she heard the ferocious, crazy, hate filled thoughts of the human crowd rushing to surround the bombed out building. They were what was left of the Fellowship of the Sun and they fully intended to follow up the bombing by trying to kill any survivors. Their automatic guns were loaded with regular ammunition, but their rifles and handguns had wooden bullets.
"They're outside!" Sookie screamed, unsure if anyone would hear her over all the other screams in the blast area, "The Fellowship! They have guns!"
Snarling, Bill sprang to his feet, nearly berserk with blood lust from all the ravaged bodies in the room. He whirled, ready to charge the attackers. Gunfire, as devastating as the bomb, riddled the building. Bill caught three wooden bullets in the chest and staggered back.
"Bill! No!" Sookie screamed to him in the split second before he burst, his blood spurting all over her, even as he smiled sadly and died again. Sookie screamed again, and Bill's blood filled her mouth. She convulsively swallowed and swallowed again, as she had once before when Longshadow had burst over her. Her hair, clothes, and skin were soaked in blood.
Jessica screamed and screamed again, as if her soul was being ripped from her this time instead of just her life. She senselessly snarled and bit at Godric, who held her firmly pressed to the floor. Jessica would attack and try to kill anything that moved in this feral state, even Hoyt.
Mindlessly, Sookie staggered up, intent on going to her, only to be slammed back down into the bloody pool of her former lover by Eric. His head bowed over Sookie's and for a moment their eyes met. The horrible, chaotic world subsided into the warm, shimmering mist that was Eric's inner nature. Sookie slid more deeply into Eric, unexpectedly finding genuine solace and comfort from her grief. She closed her eyes and pressed her face into his throat as the next blast of automatic weapon fire completed the destruction of Godric's home. Sookie felt Eric's body jerk three times as bullets hit.
"Eric!" Sookie moaned.
"They're silver, not wood, and they missed my heart, min älskling," Eric said grimly, cocking his ear to listen to the screams of the humans outside being torn asunder by every able bodied vampire of the nest except Isabel, who helped the wounded, fangs out, but otherwise totally in control of herself.
Eric rolled to his back taking Sookie with him, both of them bathed in Bill's blood.
"Sookie, the bullets, suck them out," Eric ordered weakly.
"Ew, Eric, no," Sookie said and then looked up when Jessica screamed frantically again, reminding her that Bill was lost, "I have to go to her and Jason could be hurt."
"Silver..." Eric collapsed back on the floor, unconscious.
"Oh! Drat! Eric, you son of a ..." Sookie trailed off as she leaned over to suck the first silver bullet from Eric's throat. She couldn't lose anyone else today. She just couldn't. At first she tasted a mixture of Bill, her heart contracted, and Eric and then it was all Eric, hot and exciting. She spat out the first bullet and started on the second one in his chest drinking more of Eric's hot, thousand year old blood.
Between Bill, Godric, Eric and Longshadow, it will be a miracle if all this blood doesn't convert me, Sookie thought numbly.
She hesitated over the last bullet in Eric's chest, but his large hand cupped her head and guided it down until her lips touched the wound. She glanced up at him and met his eyes as she sucked the bullet out. His blood flowed down her throat and his need for more pounded at her. She spat the bullet out and froze as Eric licked her face clean, linking them through not only Godric's and his own blood, but Bill's too. Sookie drowned helplessly in Eric's intensity, aroused in spite of everything.
"No!" she heard Hoyt shout, "You can't! Please save her!"
Sookie landed back in Dallas with a thump. She pushed off of Eric, glaring at him, and stumbled over the rubble to where Godric held Jessica.
"Sookie," Godric said calmly, "I must slay her. Without her sire to control her ravenous, animalistic impulses she'll go on a killing spree that won't stop until one of us takes her down. Better to do it now before anyone else is hurt."
"Jessica," Sookie whispered, looking into the crazed, vacant eyes of the girl who'd lost her first life because of her. Like it or not, Jessica was all that was left of Bill. Sookie had to save Jessica's second undead life if she could.
"No, Godric! Let me. I can bring her back. Please, let me try!" Sookie pleaded, her heart breaking for Bill again, ignoring the other vampires who muttered they should kill the young one now and why was Godric talking about it to the blond human anyway?
Godric, I can reach her mind to mind. You know I can. Please.
Godric and all the humans and vampires gathered around stared at Sookie with expressions ranging from disbelief to skepticism to annoyance.
Please.
"All right, Sookie, I will hold her. You save her," Godric raised both eyebrows in quiet expectation.
Boy and howdy, Sookie thought, what have I done now?!