Chapter 7

Aleiki and Syllis

Sookie slowly opened her eyes, the back of her head was throbbing and it was dark, but she could feel someone beside her. She felt their hand brush through her hair gently and she felt her skin tingle.

"Eric?" She croaked, attempting to sit up.

"Yes Sookie." She heard him say through the darkness.

"What...what's going on?" She mumbled, her eyes beginning to adjust to the darkness, they were inside a cage...only a few meters squared.

"That I do not know. All I know is that we have been taken." Eric responded, she felt afraid and found herself drawing close to Eric. "There is a hunt for Godric."

"Where is he? Surely he will come to our rescue, he will know we are n trouble." Sookie said.

"We have been taken by someone much older then Godric, one of the handful of vampires that actually exceed Godric in age. They are fearsome creatures; most very old vampires have not dealt with become civilized at all." Eric explained to her.

"Well, what are we going to do?" Sookie asked.

"I'll do my best to protect you." Eric informed her. That comforted Sookie a little but if this vampire was as powerful and old as Eric said it was he probably didn't stand much of a chance against it.

"What do they want with Godric?" Sookie asked softly.

"The vampire who has us is Aleiki. He has wanted vengeance on Godric for a long time, as I told you in Dallas...Godric destroyed many vampires in jealousy because of me...and the first one I told you about was Julietta. She was the single vampire Aleiki ever created in his many years of existence. Godric destroyed her, and as a vampire, Aleiki is a strong believer in the "an eye for an eye" brand of justice. When Godric was Sheriff...it made it near impossible for Aleiki to get at him, what with so much protection, however, now Godric has removed himself from all positions of authority it would be the perfect time for Aleiki to act out his revenge." Eric spoke softly, almost gently to Sookie.

"How did Aleiki get you? Wouldn't Godric have been with you at Fangtasia?" Sookie asked him.

"I felt your fear, I came to you to try and help you, but I was overpowered." Eric explained. Of course! His blood was in her, that made sense, but then, where was Bill?

"Surely Bill would have sensed my fear as well then, where is he?" She asked, looking at Eric through the gloom.

"That I do not know. I did not see him." Eric told her, and Sookie had no choice but to believe him. "I am sure however, that he will be thrilled that you are locked in a cell alone with me with only a single bed."

"What if I have to go to the bathroom?" Sookie said suddenly, feeling petrified at the thought of being forced to go in front of Eric.

"You will have to ask someone else about the protocol in that situation." Eric responded, she would have bet her life that if she could see his face, there would be a smirk on it. "As far as dungeons go, this is not half bad."

"I can't say I've seen too many dungeons, except for that disgusting chamber you kept Lafayette locked in." Sookie snapped.

"What you must understand Sookie, is it is a new concept, treating humans as equals, when it is clear, we are not equals at all. Selling vampire blood is a grave offence and one we do not tolerate. When a vampire is wronged, locking up and punished humans as reparation is how the wrongdoing has always been dealt with. It is how I was taught." Eric told Sookie who remained silent.

"I just wish I could have a break between one big ole vampire mess and another." Sookie sighed after they were silent for a few moments.

"Things have certainly become more... interesting since you showed up." Eric responded. "You know Sookie, when I say I do not view humans as equal...I didn't mean you."

Sookie stared at him through the darkness, remembering the dream she had about him back in Dallas.

"I've spent my whole life, pushing others away, keeping myself alone. A 'forbidden' sign hung around my heart. But I didn't mean you. My heart is open only to Sookie. I didn't mean you." Sookie said slowly, watching him in the dark.

"Yes." Eric responded.

"But...that was a dream." Sookie said in confusion.

"I have some ability to control what you dream...and you were right there in my presence." Eric said, she could swear he was embarrassed, but it was always almost impossible to tell with him.

"It's...it's a beautiful thing to say Eric. But, I wouldn't be dreaming about you, you wouldn't have any control over me if you hadn't wronged me in the first place." Sookie pointed out.

"And, you forget that I would not have been able to wrong you at all if I had not shielded you and taken those pieces of silver into myself to protect you." Eric responded.

Sookie had failed to consider that fact before. Eric had been willing to sacrifice himself for her. It was a meaningful act and one she had failed to ever really thank him for.

"Thank you." She said gently, leaning forward and kissing him on the cheek. "I suppose you did save me."

"You are in love with Godric?" Eric asked, surprising Sookie slightly.

"No." She replied. "He isn't like anyone I've ever met, but I suppose being over 2000 years old can make a person like that. I'm drawn to him."

"Most are." Eric admitted.

"I've always been so independent; you vampires certainly know how to confuse a girl." Sookie said, with a humorless chuckle.

"I do not believe you are confused. You know what you want. It is just painful for you to admit. You consider yourself very moral." Eric pointed out.

"That's not true at all! I love Bill, I am confused." Sookie exclaimed.

"Perhaps you do love Bill, but how does he feel about you? Are you so wrapped up in your own mind that you do not see that perhaps, he does not love you anymore? He can sense your attraction to Godric, and daresay can feel when you kiss him, I certainly can, and yet he says nothing and allows you to call on Godric still? You are taken by a vampire, your fear enough to bring me running, yet Bill is nowhere to be seen? Perhaps Mr. Compton is not as much of a victim as you think." Eric said, gazing at Sookie in the darkness, able to see her perfectly, she had a large scratch across one of her cheeks and her hair was a mess, but she did not look ugly, and for once, she did not look angry as she so often did when she gazed upon him, she just looked thoughtful.

"Well then why would he care about you and I then?" Sookie responded finally.

"He does not like me." Eric replied, before he could continue there was a sound of a door unlocking from the top of the stairs that Sookie could barely make out on the outside of the cage, she drew close to Eric, holding tightly to one of his arms, he stood up moving her just behind him.

A figure came down the stairs and stood on the outside of the cage, which Sookie realized was made entirely of silver.

"Sorry to interrupt your deep and meaningful conversation, but I thought I would give you both another opportunity to help master find Godric." The man said from the other side of the cage.

"Neither of us knows of Godric's whereabouts Syllis. You can not keep us locked in here forever." Godric snarled, suddenly the room flooded with light and Sookie saw that Syllis had switched the light on.

"Oh, we don't intend to keep you here forever." Syllis said, he had an English accent and it seemed odd coming out of him. He was tall, almost as tall as Eric but he was extremely slim and his hair reached down to almost his hips. He was definitely beautiful. "If you don't co-operate we plan to lock you in a coffin and never set you free again. At your age, you'll survive for a long time in that coffin as well. As for the girl, well, Aleiki's told me I can turn her and keep her for myself. I don't know what I'll do with her but I'm sure I can find some use." Syllis said all this with an evil smile upon his face.

Eric let out a small roar and his fangs shot down, he moved instantly, directly in front of Syllis glaring at him through the bars.

"I will not let you turn her." He snarled, "And I will not have you threatening me either."

"Well, really I can say and do whatever I want. You aren't going anywhere." Syllis smirked.

"I may be powerless against Aleiki, but you are not even a quarter of my age, and if you give me as much as half a chance, I will make you wish you'd never been turned!" Eric hissed.

"Well, you won't be getting even half a chance. The great Eric Northman, Sheriff of Area 5. The Viking! Captured because he was coming to the rescue of a human that does not even belong to him. What a pathetic way to end a great life." Syllis chuckled as Eric glared at him.

"Don't you speak to him that way! You should be ashamed of yourself! Keeping us prisoner like this, doing dirty work for someone else." Sookie piped up, Eric gave her a sharp look and she fell quiet.

"Mouthy little bitch isn't she?" Syllis said his eyes falling upon her, and looking her up and down. "She does smell delicious though doesn't she?"

"Do not smell her! Do not even look at her!" Eric ordered, returning to stand in front of Sookie.

"I'll leave you two with one more day to think about the decision you're making. We will get Godric eventually, with or without your help. Does there really need to be three deaths when all Aleiki wants is vengeance on one?" Syllis asked, looking at Eric closely. "Sleep tight human, Mr. Northman." Syllis switched the light off, flooding the cage with darkness again and he ascended the stairs closing the door and locking it firmly.

"Pathetic creature." Eric spat under his breath. "Godric will find a way to help us. I do not know what it will be but I trust in his abilities."

"I don't even know what Aleiki looks like, none of my friends in Bon Temp do either. They all saw him take me, I'm sure they are all just going out of their minds." Sookie said, feeling bad for her friends.

"Not as out of my mind as I'll be if I get locked in a box for eternity." Eric pointed out.