NINA PIERCE

CHAPTER SIX

After travelling the night we took Bill we all arrive at the vampire trials. This place is very, very uncomfortable. Longshadow would've liked it. We've been here for only a short while and I've already seen a man get his fang ripped out! And then it was thrown into the crowd! And to think Sookie wanted to come, these people would skin her pretty little face to the bone, then kill her.

"You fed on a human that belonged to another. Three months of starving until your fangs grow back will teach you better manners," the judge presiding the trial says. This man is going to be judging Bill, Bill's going to die.

Eric can feel my anxiety rising and sends me a relaxing, calming chill.

"Brothers and sisters of the tribunal, is this fair? Is this just?" the judge asks the crowd. They all cheer, these vampires are sick. "Now remove the other one, from the root," the judge asks the lady extracting his fangs. The lady starts pulling at the mans fangs and Bill takes a little step back in disgust.

"I can't watch this," I say before turning away, only to have Eric spin me back around to watch.

"You have to Nina, it's an insult not to watch," Eric informs me holding me in place as this mans fang is ripped out.

"Sentence, passed and executed. The trial is concluded, best of luck," the judge says to the fangless vampire. "Moving on. That's interesting," the judge says alarmed, "Eric Northman, Sheriff of Area 5."

Eric then steps forward. "Magister," Eric addresses the judge.

"Well then. Bring me your murderer," the judge demands. Some stranger comes and grabs Bill, pushing him forward.

I go to follow put Pam pulls me back. "Don't be stupid. Stay here," she hisses.

The Magister then begins questioning Bill and Bill tells his tale of events.

"Longshadow was chocking the girl and would've killed her," Bill tries to reason.

"So you murdered a higher life form for the sake of your pet!" The Magister spits in disgust.

"Sookie's not a pet," I grumble quietly to Pam only to have her shoosh me.

"You broke an ancient and fundamental law. You decreased our numbers in a critical time in our history. That's very bad, very very very bad," the Magister scolds.

"Magister, Longshadow broke the law first," Bill tries to argue. "She was mine and he knew it, he would've killed her and fed from her."

"A low human!" The Magister rebuts. "Irrelevant. Happens every day."

"He was stealing from Eric," Bill informs the Magister. The Magister seems interested by this and raises his eyebrows.

"Sheriff?" He asks.

"Yes Magister, it's true," Eric confirms. "Longshadow was a thief and a liar. He was hurting my business."

"Business fraud. That is a serious offence," the Magister says, seeming disinterested.

"And it was the human who exposed Longshadow," Bill says. Bad mistake Bill, what if he asks how! "Would you tell him Eric?"

"The only reason the girl was there was because I called her," Eric says trying to avoid the fact that Sookie exposed her because she can read minds.

"To protect your wealth," Bill adds for good measure.

"To protect my wealth, yes," Eric assures the Magister. "Magister she is... valuable."

"Human's exist to serve us that is their only value," this Magister is so simple minded, we were all humans once.

"There are those among us who think differently," Bill snarls back irritating the Magister.

"Do you question my authority!" He asks enraged. "I am the Magister, I was trained in the inquisition and I am the adjudicator for every vampire territory in North America! As the humans say, the humans you love more than your own kind 'Back your shit down!' " At this Bill is furious and begins snarling.

"Bill," Eric warns trying to calm him down.

"Well you haven't bored me. That works in your favour. And you seem to be obedient to your sheriff," the Magister asks.

"For the most part," Eric confirms. Why can't you just say 'yes fully?' "When it matters, yes he is."

"Usual sentence is 5 years in a coffin chained with silver, during which time your body will waste to leather and stinks, you'll probably go insane. However I'm feeling a bit... creative," the Magister smirks.

We wait a bit and a pink car reverses into the courtyard we are in.

"You have no nests. You seem to prefer to consort with humans. Seem to have lost all sense of our priorities. William Compton, you owe us a life." As the Magister says this I know immediately what he means. Bill will have to turn someone. I don't think Bill's ever done this before. I search the Magisters mind for confirmation and it's true. Bill will turn someone tonight.

"Oh Bill," I breath. Bill looks incredibly panicked. Before I can blink the trunk of the car is opened and a young girl around my age is pulled out. She is terrified and runs around screaming and falling over. The fang extractor vampire grabs her and throws her to the floor. Again I run forward to help this poor girl, I get past Pam but not Eric.

"Nina! Don't! As your maker I command you not to help her," he growls in my ear as I begin to cry blood tears.

The girl is terrified and bruised.

"No," Bill states.

"Oh precious Jesus, God, save me, save me! Make it all a dream," the girl prays crying.

"Put me in the coffin Magister," Bill asks. "I will go willingly."

"Please, it was the first time I ever snuck out. I just wanted to go to Ashley's party. I only ever get to go to youth choir and prayer group. Take me home, I won't say a word to mama and daddy or anybody, please, please, just please help me," she begs distraught.

"There's no help for you child," the Magister cruelly laughs. "Meet your maker," the Magister points to Bill and she crawls over to him.

"Please don't let them kill me, please I don't want to die."

"If you want to torture anyone, torture me!" Bill yells.

"Torture? This? I don't think so," the Magister remarks bemused. "I can show you torture if you like?"

"No, no, I was wrong to speak," Bill stutters.

"Quit stalling," the Magister demands. "What you see in this cow Mr Compton, is merely a response to stimuli. Humans are quite... primitive. Incapable of feeling pain as we do but, you know that. Louisa," he indicates to the fang extractor and she walks forwards and drags the girl to Bill. "According to our records you've never been a maker before, is that right?"

"Yes," Bill confirms.

"But you know the procedure?"

"Yes," Bill admits.

"Then proceed," the Magister smirks. The poor girl is lying there praying. Bill gives the girl his hand and gently pulls her up.

"Are you a Christian?" she asks.

"I was."

"I'm a good girl. Jesus will take me home to heaven."

"What's your name?" Bill asks.

"Jessica."

"Look at me Jessica," Bill begins to glamour her. "You're safe now, look in my eyes. Everything will be fine."

"I hate to interrupt but glamour is not permitted," the Magister snarks.

"She's just a girl!" Bill yells

"You're boring me shut up!" the Magister snaps back. "And do as you're told."

Bill resigns and turns back to the girl. She begins to freak out and moves back "no," she pleads. "No no no! Let go of me! No! Stop it! Stop no!" she yells squirming and screaming.

"Forgive me," Bill begs before plunging his fangs into her neck as she screams in pain.


The poor girl is now dead, drained of her life. I'm with Pam holding the dead girls hand as Bill digs a hole to put her in. Pam pulls the young girls dress up and peaks under. "Would you leave her alone," Bill beats me to it.

"It's your own fault," Pam reasons. "You and you're insane affections for the stupid cow."

"Just go away," Bill snaps.

"I wouldn't have to be here if the Magister could trust you," Pam counters.

"I fulfilled the conditions of my sentence. I murdered this girl. This innocent girl."

"It was no murder," Pam scoffs. "you drained her off blood and gave her yours."

"Shut up Pam," I snap.

"I've proven my loyalty," Bill adds.

"Yes, but you're romantic, sentimental. You might do something to keep the little blood bag from joining our ranks. I'll follow my orders. I won't let you stake her before she goes to ground."

"I'm not going to stake her," Bill says. "I'm going to set her free."

"You've already set her free," Pam smirks. "The same as Eric freed Nina and me."

"I didn't exactly need freeing," I whisper.

"Everyone she's ever known will recoil from her. Everything she's ever loved has been stolen from her."

"Oh please, there's no comparison. You've given that temporary lump of pathetic flesh..."

"Jessica!" Bill snarls.

"The ultimate gift. You're a maker. You're a hero," Pam tells him.

"I find myself doubting whether you were ever truly human," Bill questions.

"Thank you," Pam shrugs as she pushes Jessica into the ground.

"Damn you!" Bill yells as I jump up and shove her.

"Once she's planted in the Earth the transformation will begin," Pam informs Bill.

"I know."

"I'll tuck you in," Pam offers. "Tomorrow night, you're little girl, will rise a vampire." Pam then proceeds to cover the hole with dirt.

After the hole is covered she turns to me. "Don't ever push me again Nina, let's go find a place to rest before dawn." I am so mad at her I don't respond and instead gingerly follow behind her.

Opinions guys?