Melanie:

With Sookie held up downstairs, I trekked through the rest of the house. Each room was dirty. Mud splattered all over the walls. One man was trying on one of Sookie's dresses. Another room had people fucking on the floor. I made my way into Gran's to see glass shattered all over the floor. The center of her bed had been torn apart to make some sort of - nest?

"Where you been at?" A hand landed only shoulder. "I've been looking for you."

I turned around to see Lafayette. His eyes pitch black like everyone else's. A scream escaped my throat but he laughed. With my heart pounding almost out of my chest, I tried to regain my calm. Placing my hand on his arm, I looked him in the eyes.

"Lafayette, sweetie. I'm your friend. I know you're in there somewhere. You don't want to do this."

"Prepare her for Bromios, prepare her for Eleutherios, prepare her -"

He shoved my hand off of him, causing me to gasp as I took a step back as his hand traced the front of my body.

"Take off your clothes." He demanded.

"What?" I asked. "Listen to what you're saying."

"I have thousand-year-old vampire blood in me. Now, TAKE OFF YOUR FUCKING CLOTHES!"

Jumping at his scream I pulled off my tank top and shorts, leaving myself only in my see-through lace bra and panties. I curled my arms to shield my body as he stepped closer before he leaned down to pull a white dress out of a bag.

"Now put this on."

I did as I was told, pulling on dress before he grabbed my arm and shoved me down the stairs. I could hear excited chattering coming from the living room before he pushed me inside. Sookie was already there, also in a white dress, being held back by Eggs while the other women prepped Maryann.

"Here they are! Just how you wanted." He shoved me closer to her.

Maryann gasped and turned around, a wide excited smile on her face as she lifted the veil.

"What the hell are you doing in my grandmother's wedding dress!?" I yelled but she only laughed.

"Welcome Melanie!" She smiled, "You're going to be my bridesmaid!"

"She's out of her mind. I'm supposed to be her maid of honor."

Sookie thought, as she looked over at me.

"We need to get out of here Mel."

"Eggs, let me go!" Sookie demanded.

"Don't fight it." He held her tighter. "Just let it take you."

"I've spent enough time being taken recently."

"Shush, you haven't been taken. Just borrowed." Maryann chimed happily while the women fixed her hair. "To go along with old, new, and blue over here."

"You have no right to wear that dress!" I seethed, struggling to get out of Lafayette's grip to no avail.

"I know I should've asked, but I couldn't find you two." She shrugged before looking at Sookie. "You'll never use it anyway."

"Oh go to hell!" She yelled while the zombified women gasped.

"Please don't be so negative." Maryann softened. "It's my day."

"And you're in my house. And those are our friends." I looked at everyone.

"I don't know how you did what you've done to them," Sookie stepped forward. "But I will not let this happen."

"Girls, would you mind going to check on the refreshments. I need to have a moment with my maid of honor." She turned to Lafayette. "Bring this one with you."

"No!" I screamed. "I'm not leaving her!"

Lafayette picked me up over his shoulder and walked me out as I struggled to grab onto the doorframe. "Lafayette let me go!"


Eric:

A shiver went down my spine as we played our 5th round of Yahtzee at the queen's mansion. Melanie was in trouble. I could feel it in my bones but I couldn't step away now. She would know something was up.

"How long does this game go on for?" I asked, penciling down my roll.

"We play to 5 million." She answered with a smile.

"She's way ahead." Her human said.

"It's pure luck." The queen shrugged. "Yahtzee is the most egalitarian game in the world. You could be my social, physical, or intellectual inferior, but your chances are equal to mine. It's the perfect antidote for this world where things such as superiority and inferiority do matter. Oh, uh, speaking of which, I heard about your maker. That blows." She looked at me as she shook the dice.

"Your majesty, it's very kind-"

"Yahtzee!" She interrupted. "I'm sorry, you were saying?" She looked at me.

"I was just saying thank you. Your majesty is very kind -"

"Oh yes!" She interrupted again. "Now I remember. Did you know that there's a maenad in Renard Parish?"

"Yes, that is the reason I came to see your, your majesty." I nodded, finally getting to the purpose.

"I wouldn't get involved if I were you. Stick to what you're good at. I gave William Compton a few bits of hand-me-down folklore we've accumulated over the centuries, but who knows if it's gospel or gorilla shit?" She shrugged. "You know, I think he's monogamous with his human."

"He is in love with her, yes." I nodded.

The blonde rolled her eyes but the blonde human spoke up. "He is?" She asked before the queen shot her a look and she lowered her head.

"Well, of course he would be with her. You probably are too." She eyed me up and down.

Sookie, I couldn't stand. She was loud mouthed and reckless. If she disappeared I wouldn't give it a second thought, but her sister -

"I do not love humans." I answered.

"She's not entirely human." The queen leaned forward. "Have you tasted her?"

"Sadly, no."

"Don't. Ever." She went back to rolling. "Or her younger sister. One vampire falling in love is bad enough."


Melanie:

Lafayette held my arms as the women held hands and frolicked around the tree. An enormous egg planted in one of the many openings around with flowers and meats. The whole town seemed to be invited to the 'wedding'. Each one of our neighbors and friends having the same eyes.

Taking a look around, I saw Jason. His eyes just as black as he danced around.

"Jason!" I yelled but but got no response. There was nothing I could do. It took Bill glamouring Tara to bring her back, there was no way we could glamour everyone and Bill still hadn't returned yet.

Jason walked inside only to return minutes later yanking Sookie by her arm followed by Maryann coming down with Andy holding her dress. The crowd cheered as she walked down until Bill called out to her.

"Maenad! I have your vessel!" He held Sam by his collar.

"Bill, what the fuck are you doing!?" I screamed out.

"I have your sacrifice." He continued. "I offer him in exchange for Sookie."

"NO!" Sookie yelled out. "She'll kill him!"

"She's not going to stop with me." Sam pleaded his case to everyone.

"Take her to the dead man." She instructed Jason. "She's served her purpose."

He walked her over to Bill and grabbed onto Sam.

"And Melanie!" Sookie demanded.

"No no." Maryann walked over to me and Lafayette tightened his grip. She brushed her hand down my cheek and smirked. "We'll hang on to her."

"Bill!"I moved my head from her reach. "You can't let her kill Sam!"

"Sorry. This is the only way." He shook his head, grabbing ahold of Sookie.

"Get your fucking hands off me!" Sam struggled with Jason before looking at me.

"Melanie, Sook's freaking out, but listen to me. We have a plan. Trust me."

Sam thought as they dragged him to the sculpture. I nodded my head, my heart beating quickly as I watched. Sookie struggled but Bill wouldn't let go of her.

"Get her out of here!" Sam yelled over to Bill. "I won't have her watch me die."

Maryann raised her hands as someone put a bulls head on the top of the sculpture. We watched as everyone kneeled before it.

"Hail Dionysus." They chanted following her lead. "Bacchus, Bromios, Eleftherios, Dendrites."

"All these names are yours our bullhorned god." Maryann continued. "Upon this occasion of our marriage, our offering symbolizes the birth of our God. When he was a child, the jealous titans ripped him to shreds, eating all but his heart. And this last piece was saved by his sister, Pallas Athena, who placed it into the womb of his mother so that he could be reborn. Oh great mother," She turned to face the tree. "Soon you shall have the heart, that will make your egg grow fertile, and your son, our bullhorned god, will come and stand in your place."

"Sookie."

I tried to connect with her but she was too frazzled.

"Sookie, you have to listen to me. Sook!"

It was no use. She watched Maryann like a hawk as she continued to try and pull away from Bill.

"SAM!" She screamed out at the top of her lungs. "Stop, NO!"

We watched as Maryann handed a large blade to Eggs.

"Sam! Use your gift!" She yelled.

"NO!" I screamed falling to my knees as Eggs plunged the blade into his heart. His blood curdling scream filled my ears. "SAM!"

The anger and pain inside of me harvested once again and my hands lit up, this time shining brighter as the electricity of it temporarily knocking everyone out except for Maryann and Bill who were both slightly stunned. Sookie and I ran to Sam. She cried and apologized profusely as I checked for his pulse.

"Sookie, destroy it. Destroy the tree." I said as I pulled off the cloth blocking Sam's mouth.

Sookie grabbed the egg, slamming it onto the ground before we grabbed the sculpture, both of our hands glowing as we pushed it down causing it to shatter.

Everyone came too at the sound of the tree crashing. Disappointed sounds coming from each of them before Maryann came to the front.

"How dare you spoil my offering?!" She screamed walking around us to stare at the remnants of it. "Lord Dionysus, forgive me." She prayed before turning to the crowd. "Allow me to sacrifice all of them for you!"

She started to vibrate and the sound she created made everyone cover their ears painfully as they all screamed.

"Stop it!" Sookie ran over to Tara and Jason. "You're hurting them!"

Staring at my hands again, I concentrated on getting my light back before I pointed it at her. The light hit her causing the noise to stop before she turned to me. Her eyes narrow and deadly. "You!" She pointed her finger at me as she stepped closer. "You brought this upon everyone!"

She dug her hands in the dirt before pulling out large, clawed fingers. The crowd still held their ears, kneeling down as I started to run. Sookie following closely behind me as we made our way down the path into the forest. We could hear her growling behind us as she got closer and closer.

"Bill!" Sookie cried out.

"Fuck Bill!" I yelled at her. "Run!"

She tripped behind me and the maenad stopped in front of her, ready to kill her when we heard bull-like howling approaching us. The maenad stopped, walking past both Sookie and I as a white bull came out from the trees.

"My Lord." Maryann said, breathlessly. "My husband. Oh, you've come. I am here, my love."

I lifted Sookie as the two of us held onto each other, watching as Maryann approached the Bull.

"We're together at last." She teared up as she placed her hand on it's nose."Come to me."

She stepped back, holding her arms out before the bull backed up and shoved it's horn into her, tearing through to the other side. We gasped as it pulled out and shoved it back in again. The maenad screamed as she was lifted by its strength.

"My god. I'm the one to be sacrificed?" She asked."I am the vessel? Yes!" She moaned as he shoved his horn in again. "I'm happy to die!"

The bull transitioned back into Sam, his hand taking place of the horn. As he pulled his arm out he pulled out her still beating heart surrounded by black tar-like blood.

Maryann looked at her heart in his hand before coming to a realization. "Was there no God?"

Sam crushed the heart in his hands and she collapsed, her skin melting into a dark black color as she fell.

"Sam!" I ran to him. "He killed you!"

"No," He said wrapping his arms around me. "Almost."

Sookie saw Bill coming from around the corner holding his wrist. She ran past us to hug him. "Bill!"

"Is-is she gone?" He asked as he collapsed into her arms.

"I think so." She nodded.

"Is Sam alright? He had to drink more of me than I expected."

"He's okay." I answered, watching as Sam went to see the body.

"I promised Sam that I would heal him." He looked between us. "We knew no other way of destroying her.

"Shh." Sookie shushed him. "I understand."

"I'm sorry I worried you. I so badly wished that you could hear my thoughts."

"Sam," I looked over at he came back to us, wrapping my arms around him into another hug. "You were willing to die for us."

"Bill kinda promised he wouldn't let that happen." He shrugged, throwing his hand over my shoulder. "But if things didn't work out, I guess I was ready."

OOO

Sam decided to open Merlotte's the following morning. More than happy for something familiar, Sookie and I got to work. Sookie waited the tables while I hung behind the bar helping Tara clean some glass shards and serve drinks to people. Arleene had spent the morning crying and non-stop apologizing to her kids. I heard them ask about Rene and Arlene told them he was still on his vacation.

I rolled my eyes and grabbed her hand as she came back towards the kitchen. "They already know he's dead, honey."

I let go of her arm as she stared at them wide eyed before running back into the kitchen. It wasn't my place to tell her not to lie to her kids. Hell with everything happening in this town, maybe keeping them in an ignorant bubble might be best for now.

Theories had been going around all morning about what happened last night. The mayor told everyone it was a gas leak, but others thought it was aliens or government experiments. Either way, they didn't need to know the truth. Part of me wished I could have forgotten it. Looking at the same people who had defiled my grandmother's house, killed Sam, and almost killed us wasn't easy, even if they had no control of their bodies.

I watched as a women went back to Sam's office with a bag containing a large box before I watched Sookie come out with it. She nodded her head towards the front door and the two of us walked outside.

"Who's it from?" I asked as she sat on a large tree root.

"I don't know." She shrugged, opening the box. "The woman said it was an admirer."

She unwrapped the tissue paper to pull out a beautiful purple dress before finding a note underneath. Her face lit up into a soft smile as she read it.

"It's from Bill. He wants me to wear it tonight."

I gasped as a hand landed on my shoulder, turning around to see Eggs behind us.

"I'm sorry." He smiled nervously. "I gotta talk to one of you."

"What is it?" Sookie stood. "You look like you haven't slept all night."

"I gotta know. There was blood on my hands. All that fucking blood. What did I do? WHAT DID I DO?!"

He thought as he took a seat on of the roots. I looked at Sookie, motioning my head towards him for her to read his thoughts but she wouldn't look at me. Goddamn it, for having this gift, our communication was shit.

"There's gaps…" He started, looking between us. "Where I can't remember anything. But I have to know what I did, and please. I need your help."

"Woah, Eggs." I backed away. "I don't think that's a good idea. Some things are better left unknown."

"She's right." Sookie looked at him. "It's not as easy as that."

"I had blood on my hands last night and I can't remember why. Now I know I did a lot of terrible things in my past but I paid for 'em. I thought that was all over but if it's not, I got a right to know."

"Are you sure?" Sookie asked him.

"I can't live with myself not knowing what I did." He hung his head as tears started to fall.

"Sookie." I pulled her over to me. "Don't. He's clearly unstable. You don't know what he'll do."

"He's got a right Melanie. And if you don't want to help then you can go back inside." She pulled her arm from me, walking back to him.

"Fine." I threw my arms out. "But anything happens to that man, it's on your head."

I shook my head and headed back inside. Sookie came in a few minutes behind me, worry and regret clearly written on her face. I told her not to. I told her. Without looking at me, she walked to the back.

"What's her deal?" Tara asked as she wiped the bar top.

"What ain't her deal?" I shrugged.

"Ain't that the truth." She laughed.

The night started slowing down and Sookie, as usual, left early to get ready for her date with Bill. Sam hung his face the rest of the night as he was clearly still in love with her. Tara, Arlene, and I were left to close up. A few patrons were still finishing up so I helped Lafayette clean the kitchen.

The sound of a gunshot made everyone jump. After realizing nobody inside was shot, Arlene and the crowd ran outside. Curiosity getting the best of me, I followed. Tara ran through everyone to get a good look before sinking to her knees as Arlene tried to block her view. I stepped forward to see Eggs with a gunshot wound to the head.

Goddamn it, Sookie.