Chapter 7

Come Back To Me Lover

Eric's POV

Many years ago I had attempted a relationship with a human. It was something that not even Pam had been aware of. It had started as just a fling, I was extremely attracted to her physically, she had been 17 years old and gloriously beautiful. She was, however, extremely stupid and that made it so easy for me to bend her to my will without even having to glamor her. I would have discarded her rather quickly if it hadn't been for her abusive father. Although I felt no real emotion as far as love for her, seeing her bruised and bloodied one too many times, her perfect skin marred by her fathers hands, had brought out a protective and possessive side of me. It was as close to real emotion as I had gotten in 900 years and I had found it disconcerting and wonderful all at the same time. I had been angry when her father finally succeeded in killing her in a drunken rage. My anger wasn't a vengeful one, it was anger from being denied a reliable and compatible sexual partner. I had killed both her father and mother for sheer sport. After Emmaline died, I became numb to all emotion and set about becoming who I am today. Or at least who I was until Sookie came into my world and turned everything upside down.

We were finally at our destination and I picked her frail form up into my arms and carried her inside the Queens manor. I could feel every vertebrae in her back through the blanket she was wrapped in. If something wasn't done soon, she would not survive.

Andre met us at the Queens Court doorway. New, thicker doors had replaced the one's I had kicked down not so long ago. I could still smell death in the air here, Bill's scent was also unmistakably still here as well. The huge double doors opened and the Queen stepped out into the hall with a piece of paper in her hands.

"Andre, we will need these things post haste, time is of the essence!" She handed the list to her servant and he bowed deeply and was gone in a flash. She walked over to where I stood holding Sookie and peered down into her face.

"I see the medicine worked well. Was she peaceful the entire ride?"

"She was until the hand print appeared." I turned Sookie's face to the side to make the slap visible to her. She grimaced and motioned for me to follow.

"Bring her into my private chambers. Make sure Pam and the weretiger are close behind. We will need their strength."

"What about the things you sent Andre after? Won't we need them?"

"Merely busy work for him, we needed him out while we prepared. I will explain as we work and you must trust me when I tell you that you musn't lose your temper once you know the truth. There is but one way for us to defeat this evil and you must obey my every command."

"Did Andre have something to do with what's going on with Sookie? Did he do this to her?"

"Yes." She put a warning hand on my shoulder to keep me from going after him. "We need him, or his body rather, if we are to rid Sookie of the thing that haunts her from the inside. Killing him now would surely doom her. You must believe me when I tell you this, I have no need to protect Andre, he has betrayed me as well and it stings much more because he has been my companion for so long."

I heard Pam and Quinn coming up behind me and Sophie-Ann turned to proceed down the long hallway. I stared at Sookie's drawn and wan face. Even in sleep, her expression was tortured. I didn't know what Andre had done or why, but I was sure of one thing. Vengeance would be long and painful for him. There would be no swift justice for what he had put my beloved through. Anyone who stood in my way or opposed me would get more of the same.

We entered Sophie-Ann's chambers and she motioned for me to lay Sookie on the bed. I noted immediately that there were straps at each corner. I looked questioningly at the Queen.

"It is necessary that she be restrained, not only for her own protection but for ours as well. The spirit that has gained control of your bonded is one of the most heinous, atrocious and malicious that you could imagine. Her evil is so great that it has kept her spirit in limbo for many lifetimes just to find it's way back to me. Her sole purpose is revenge for my rejection of her, she does not care whom she harms or destroys. Once we secure Sookie, I will explain everything from the beginning.

An hour later, having made sure Sookie was safely tied down and having been told about Bathory and her legacy of murder and torture, I was horrified to realize that was who was inside of my lover. Was Sookie aware at all inside of there? Was she being tortured internally? I was mad with worry and doubt about whether we could fix what was broken.

Pam was the first to break the stunned silence.

"So, what is the plan, my Queen? I'm sure you already have an idea about what we need to do. How are we to punish the traitor?"

"Elizabeth Bathory will be his punishment and he will be hers as well."

She told us of her plan, making sure that we were far away from where we held Sookie in bonds. It wouldn't bode well for us if the demon were at all aware and able to listen in. I made sure to close the bond between Sookie and I as well. If we could make all the pieces fall into place it just might work. I prayed to my Gods of Old that my beloved would be well.

"I still don't get how this ancient bitch was able to find Sookie. I mean, yeah, Sookie drank her blood but it wasn't like she was a vamp when she died."

Quinn had brought up an interesting point.

"She had been the recipient of some of my blood by that time. However, I was to find out from my first exchange with her that she was part Phouka. While she did not inherit the ability to shift her form into that of an animal, she did get the gift of fascination and the obstinate disposition required to will herself into a spiritual state of suspension. Phouka's are very dangerous Fae indeed and Sookie's own Fae ancestry was the catalyst that brought them together. It accounts for the many extraordianry talents she has gained since her turning. Phouka and Fairy combined with Dracul, that allows her to walk in the sun, Phouka gave her the ability to project emotion and she was already im possession of the rest. The turning merely brought out what lay dormant from years of repressing them."

"So Sookie's Fae blood was like a beacon once she had ingested Bathory's blood. And I guess that Andre knew this and was counting on it. But why? By your account, he hated the woman." I couldn't fathom why he would want to resurrect someone so vile.

"Yes, he did. I fear that his motivation was to keep Sookie out of contention to ascend to the throne in my stead. Andre is not willing to give up his status as my second." Her head turned towards the door, she had heard something that had missed my ears. "He is home. Quinn, Pam, wait by the door, it will take all of us to hold him once he enters."