Aftermath

Alcide Hervaux arrived just after midday. He wasn't what I was expecting at all – I ws thinking old werewolf movies – big and shagged and maybe hunched over with claws. Actually he was really very handsome. I tried to read his thoughts. I know it's rude, but I just wanted to check if I could trust him. It was difficult to pick up anything very clear as his thoughts were such a tangle. He thought I was pretty, that was very obvious. He wasn't too happy to have to help Eric Northman, but was feeling a bit better about it now he had met me.

I made us both some lunch and filled him in on the background. I was pretty sure he knew the risks better than I did but luckily that macho instinct that kicks in when a guy wants to impress a girl meant he couldn't really back out.

He seemed to hit it off with Jason and Hoyt when they arrived. Both he and my brother drove big trucks so at least they had that in common.

The first part of the plan went really smoothly. We found the shack, and Alcide confirmed the smell of Vampire. He had pretty acute senses as he could pick up two recent scents. Jason and Hoyt made plenty of noise stumbling around, mock fighting and generally acting up. There wasn't any response, which surprised me.

I stayed by the trucks, trying to put off the evil moment, but I when I realised there was only a couple of hours before sundown I had to act. Motioning Hoyt and Jason to get in the trucks and get the engines running, Jason backed up close to the shack and got a heavy blanket out. Alcide broke down the door and we both forced our way in.

The sight and smell was something I hope I will never see again. A body was chained to a chair. It was virtually unrecognisable. Only the hint of dark hair and something about the build marked it out as Bill. The room smelt foul. It probably wasn't the first time it had been used for the purpose of torture. I had to swallow hard to stop myself from retching.

I ran over to Bill and unwound the silver from around his body. I shook him trying to wake him. I was trying to be as silent as possible. I had no idea where Lorena was and the risk of alerting her was high. Bill's face, or what little I could see of it, was contorted in agony. Finally I managed to release him. Alcide came over, picked up his body and dragged him towards the door.

We had just made it to the threshold when a cold hand reached out and encircled my upper arm. "GO, GO" I shouted at Alcide

"Well, quite the little heroine aren't we. Such a shame you don't think before you act. Didn't you think this set up was all a little…obvious" she drawled in her fake southern accent.

"Your friends won't get far, and soon I will have my revenge on Bill and on you. I shall certainly feed well tonight."

Eric's blood gave me just enough strength to wriggle out of her grip. She clearly wasn't expecting that and stepped back surprised. I knew I couldn't make it to the truck. My instincts kicked in. Lying on the ground I saw one of the fishing rods, with a speed which surprised even me, I grabbed it, broke it in half and staked her.

I know its not a very Christian sentiment, but the look on her face when she realised she was meeting her final death almost made it all worth while.

Unfortunately my moment of triumph didn't last long. Suddenly Eric was beside me

"Oh Sookie, what have you done" I could tell from his tone of voice things were not looking good, but nothing could have prepared me for what came next

"I'm sorry my dear, there is nothing I can do to protect you. You know our laws for those who kill vampires. If she had been less powerful, I could have dealt with it myself, but the Queen's sister…she will demand justice"

He actually looked upset. That probably shocked me more than anything as it was not an emotion Eric had ever displayed before.

"What will it mean?" I asked, not really wanting to hear the answer

"The Magister"

I think I must have fainted.

I was expecting a formal courtroom, perhaps in a castle, or a cave somewhere. I certainly didn't expect to find myself in a junkyard, facing a small man sitting on a battered arm-chair on top of a beaten up old car.

When I realised how many vampires surrounded me, and how intently they were staring, any humour in the situation rapidly disappeared.

"Our first case should be a short one", the small man said. I struggled to place his accent at first, then realised it was pure American gangster, like a character from The Godfather. "This human staked a vampire, a very old vampire. The only question is who gets to drain her"

It's a terrible cliché but there really are no words to describe the terror I felt at that moment. I tried to maintain my focus, and was surprised to feel strength flooding my body. I had no idea where I had summoned it from, but it enabled me to stay upright, keep my face a blank, and most importantly keep control of my bodily functions.

"If this is a court of law, do I not get the chance to defend myself." The Magister looked astounded that I had spoken. For a moment he was silent, so I took the opportunity to plough on. "The Vampire Lorena had kidnapped another vampire. She was torturing him to his final death. She would have been on trial, not me. I had to defend myself. She attacked me, and would have killed my brother and his friend as well. It was self defence your honour"

A flash of amusement crossed his face, but only very briefly before he reverted to being just plain terrifying. "Well you are a feisty little one. And you know how to stand up for yourself, rare in a human. Aren't you going to beg for mercy"

Eric cut in at that point, much to my relief. "Magister. The human is speaking the truth, she did stake Lorena in self defence. I believe you will have heard of her actions in Dallas. She saved the Vampire Godric from the Fellowship of the Sun. She has proved herself a loyal friend of our kind. This should count for something"

Damned right, I thought, but the Magister did not look impressed.

I was getting a little desperate now but continued to focus on the strength I could feel. Perhaps it was Eric's blood helping me, whatever it was I was very glad of it. The one thing I was not going to do was beg for mercy. If I was going to die it would be like Godric, bravely.

At the moment I thought of Godric, Eric looked at me strangely. Perhaps he could sense my thoughts because when he spoke it was with a fierce determination.

"Magister. You must know that this human has a rare gift, one which is very useful to us. It would be a very grave loss to our cause if she were to die"

Finally, the Magister took notice, "She is a telepath." Eric continued "She can read human minds, and some shifters. I have used her gifts myself – she is very skilled" I thought Eric was over-selling me but I hoped he knew what he was doing

He took a few minutes to think. "I have reached my decision. The human will live." Most of the vampires looked disgusted, or disappointed as their fangs ran in. Eric's expression didn't change but I had the feeling he was making an effort to keep his face blank.

"She will work for me. She will join my retinue, and perform any duties which I require from her. She will have no contact with her friends or family"

Well it was better than death, but not much. A shudder went through me at the thought of what sort of duties he might require. "This arrangement will last for ten years"

Suddenly and without warning my legs gave way. I would have hit the ground hard if Eric hadn't caught me. I was suddenly aware of a violent commotion across the yard.

"This is a travesty", screamed a high pitched voice "she was my sister, I demand justice"

"The decision is taken. Sheriff Northman, take the human to say goodbye to her family. You will bring her to me at first dark tomorrow."

Eric carried me over to his Corvette, and we began the drive back to Bon Temps. I had that feeling in the pit of my stomach that you get when something really bad happens. The whole thing had been so bizarre it seemed unreal, but unfortunately I knew I wasn't dreaming. We both sat in silence for most of the drive. Eric focussed on the road.

"Will he be very cruel?" I had been imagining all the really bad things that could happen to me. I had visions of being chained in a dungeon, like Lafayette, or shackled to a bed and being used as a sex slave. I was just getting myself more and more terrified.

"I have had very few dealings with him, but I hear that although his punishments can be cruel, he is fair. He is a very old vampire, from Sicily I believe. He has been in America a long time, and it is said that there is nothing he does not know about human or vampire law. Trials like tonight are largely for show, they scare the younger vampires and keep them in line. I think most of his dealings are rather more sophisticated. And I really don't think he wants you as a sex slave" he added, with a very unnecessary smirk

"Do you blame me Sookie" He said after a few moments silence, his expression serious once again.

"He would have had me killed, if I was normal, wouldn't he"

"Without a second thought"

"Well I guess you did your best. Ten years though, it's so long. Everyone I know will have got married, left town….died"

"Things change Sookie. You know the most important lesson my whole existence has taught me is to live in the moment. There is no pleasure in regretting the past, and no purpose in worrying about the future. In my existence I have been hunter and hunted. I have been at the point of starvation, and been surrounded by plenty. I am prepared for any eventuality, but I do not dwell on it"

For Eric it was a very intimate little speech, and I turned it over in my mind. I could see his point. I was alive, I would be facing some challenges but perhaps there could be opportunities.

"Thank you" I said in a quiet voice. A strange expression came over his face, and we spent the rest of the journey in silence.

I decided the best way to tell everyone was to get it over all at once. I made a few calls and left some texts asking everyone to come to my house. It was nearly midnight so they would know it was something important.

"You won't do anything foolish will you" Eric said as he dropped me off. "I should keep you with me, but I'm going to trust you, please don't make me regret it. You must be at Fangtasia by first dark tomorrow or I won't answer for the consequences. You would not be the only one to suffer"

"Eric I'll be there, I know there's no point in running. You don't have to give me your scary shit"

Tara, Lafayette, Jason, Hoyt and Sam were looking at me expectantly as I entered the room. There was no point in beating around the bush so I launched straight into an explanation. There were tears and screams. "There must be something we can do, you're a US citizen, can't we go to the Police" The image of Andy Bellefleur and Bud Dearborn popped into my mind and I laughed without humour.

"It won't be so bad. I'll try to keep in touch and let you know how I am. Look guys, I'm going to miss you real bad, but right now I need to get some rest, I've been through a lot you know" A big art of me wanted them to stay and spend every last minute with me, but I was struggling to keep my shields up and their thoughts of anger and despair were wearing me out.

Besides I would have arrangements to make in the morning. I needed to prepare for my new life.