Chapter 7

So… a witch, a telepath and a Kailenian crystal were en route to a fairy's apartment…

It might sound like the opening line for a funny joke, but our mission today was far from it. I sincerely hoped that Claude would be able to answer my many questions about the crystal and maybe even show me how to use it. At least once more, anyway. Given how things went last night, and depending on how things went today, I was strongly considering leaving the crystal with Claude. Permanently.

Amelia had reluctantly agreed to accompany me, not only because she is a good friend, but because this was a task I could not do alone. I needed someone who could keep me away from temptation during the car ride to Claude's. After the first few miles, she placed the boxed crystal in my trunk when I started to get jumpy and was no longer able to drive. Just sensing the nearby crystal in Amelia's purse was enough to send me over the edge.

Moving the crystal to the trunk solved my addiction problem for the time-being; however, it didn't resolve my other very big problem: Eric. I had tried to mentally push aside our awful fight so I could focus on my other immediate concerns, but I was still an emotional mess. In my head, I kept hearing Eric's bitter parting words and I became distressed that there really wasn't a future with him. Throughout the day the pain and fear in my heart were so great at times that I would sob uncontrollably, often sending my concerned roommate into worry-mode. I tried to pull myself together, though, to concentrate on driving. The last thing I needed right now was a car accident.

It was mid-afternoon and I really hoped to find Claude at home, rather than at the strip club he owned. Not that I haven't been to a male strip club before, not that I don't admire a beautiful male body as much as the next hetero woman… but the idea of seeing a family member's member was just… icky. Besides, I wasn't sure how our conversation about 'secret fairy stuff' would go. I was pretty certain that privacy and discretion would be necessary, and I doubted his club could offer us those two things.

I didn't tell Claude that we were coming over because I wasn't too sure of the welcome we would receive. He wasn't exactly brimming with excitement when he brought me my birthday present yesterday, and I suspected he knew more about the crystal than he let on. I had briefly been to Claude's once before, after Claudine's memorial service, so I knew where he lived. It was a lovely garden apartment with tasteful décor, located in the most affluent section of Shreveport—with a monthly rental price well out of my salary range. But Claude could easily afford it and he definitely enjoyed the finer things in life.

I pulled into the parking lot and asked Amelia to retrieve the crystal from the trunk. I rang Claude's doorbell, hoping he would be home and alone. When he answered the door, looking model-like, as always, in designer jeans and a tight t-shirt, I breathed a sigh of relief. He simply gestured us inside when he saw the two of us. I saw him eye the box Amelia was carrying, but he didn't say anything about it.

"Sit down in the living room, ladies, and I'll bring us some iced tea," he said to my surprise. I didn't think he knew how to be such a cordial host. And showing southern hospitality, no less.

"You don't seem too surprised to see us, Claude," I said as he headed to the kitchen. He simply nodded in agreement before he disappeared and left us to find a seat.

"Calm down, Sookie," Amelia said when we had settled on the couch. I was shaking now but I wasn't sure if it was from nerves or from sitting so near the crystal. "You already know the worst of it from Eric; maybe Claude will have some good things to say," she said comfortingly. Amelia stood and strode across the room, placing the boxed crystal on the top shelf of a built-in bookcase, before she returned to sit next to me. My shaking lessened considerably.

A few minutes later, we were all sipping sweet tea and Claude wasted no time getting to the heart of the matter.

"Niall told me to expect you at some point, that you would probably want to speak with me," he said stiffly. "I didn't think it would be so soon, though."

"So you know what his gift was? You know about the crystal?" I asked anxiously.

"Yes. Before he returned to our world, he showed me the crystal and told me of his intention to leave it with you. Not that I agreed with him," he added.

I wondered why Claude felt that way, but I decided now was not the time to go down that road.

"I had never actually seen a Kailenian crystal before-- they are quite rare in my world. But I'm familiar with its well-known powers and history, as all fairies are," he said.

"Did you try using it? Did Niall show you how?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

"I tried using it once, before Niall had it wrapped and returned to me for safekeeping. And he didn't need to show me how to use it, Sookie. Of course I would know. I'm a fairy," he said somewhat haughtily. I guess fairies are hard-wired with an innate ability to use Kailenian crystals.

"What do you know about its powers-- what can it do, Claude? Is it only for seeing the past and the future?" I asked nervously.

"You must have tried using it already since you're so upset. What exactly did you see?" he asked. I briefly told him about the visions of my future son, my time with my deceased family, and the attack-to-come on Eric.

He paused as if deciding how to proceed. "The crystal's powers are complicated, Sookie. It will only work for those with Fae blood and it works differently for full fairies than it would for you. For instance, we can't see the past or future at all—only the present, and only in certain situations," he said.

"The present? What good would that do?" Amelia chimed in.

"A lot of good, actually. Niall used the crystal to help locate Sookie and rescue her when she was kidnapped during the last Fairy War. But the crystal wasn't able to track Breandan's group until it was too late," he sighed, obviously thinking of Claudine. Amelia sighed too, obviously thinking of Tray.

"You mean the crystal Niall gave me as a gift is the same one he used to save me? It was his crystal?" I asked, astonished.

"Yes, he's had this crystal for many hundreds of years. Most of the other crystals have been lost or destroyed over time. If Niall hopes to communicate with you again, he must find another crystal back in the Faery realm. And that won't be easy," he said doubtfully.

"Whoa! What do you mean 'communicate' with me?" I asked. Through the crystal?" This just kept getting weirder and weirder.

"He wasn't sure you would even want to, Sookie, after what happened to you. The decision needs to be yours, though. Niall was insistent about that. But now that the portal between our worlds is closed, it may be impossible for you both to connect, anyway," he replied.

I didn't know how to feel about placing a long-distance 'crystal call' to the Faery world. Claude's information was raising even more questions in my mind about my great-grandfather.

"How would that work, hypothetically, of course?" I asked curiously.

"If two individuals both have crystals, they can use them to link their thoughts, telepathically. During the War of 1428, this was used to our great advantage; it helped us to defeat the vampires," Claude said proudly. He obviously knew his Fairy History.

"So Gildran was able to communicate with Niall while being held prisoner by the vampires?" I asked, surprised. I wondered if Eric had known that little tidbit. Claude seemed shocked by my knowledge and then realized how I must have come by my information.

"I suppose your boyfriend would know firsthand about that period in our past. He was the one, after all, who led the vampires to their destruction. Eric Northman is as memorable in our history as Gildran," he said a bit harshly as he smiled.

No wonder Eric had such strong feelings about the crystal. He must have felt responsible and maybe even guilty about his role in the vampires' downfall, if vampires felt guilt at all.

"Tell me more about Gildran," I said, not wanting to think any more about Eric and his feelings right now.

"It was well before my time, but legend has it that he was a favorite of Niall's. He was ambushed by the vampires and held hostage by them as they tried to use his crystal to defeat us. Gildran was 1/4 fairy and nearly 200 years old at the time he was murdered," Claude said.

"How can that be? He was mostly human," Amelia said.

"Yes, but that is one of the crystal's powers. It adds more fairy qualities to humans, such as extending life spans. It adds more attractiveness, as well. Niall thought Sookie would enjoy being more desirable to her vampire. Of course, that same quality worked to Gildran's disadvantage, since the vampires lost control and sucked him dry," he said disdainfully.

"So besides my added vampire appeal, I would live much longer if I kept the crystal?" I asked stunned.

"Yes, another benefit Niall envisioned for you and the vampire—more time together," Claude said. "You will never be immortal, though. Even full fairies eventually die."

My mind was scrambling to take it all in. Niall did care about my happiness with Eric. Then my heart skipped a beat when I thought of another possible benefit, one that might explain my first vision.

"Claude… is there anything else that the crystal can do for me? Like… for fertility?" I asked hopefully.

"I don't understand what you mean," he said blankly.

"She means, could the crystal help her conceive a baby with a vampire?" Amelia asked bluntly. "Isn't that right, Sookie?" She looked to me and I nodded.

Claude sighed. "Sorry, Sookie. That's not possible, as far as I know."

For just the briefest moment I had clung to the notion that maybe Niall had bestowed the ultimate gift to me in that crystal: the possibility for Eric to father my child. But Claude's answer set me straight. As I let the reality of that upsetting news sink in, I faced the biggest question yet, one I had been absolutely dreading.

"Claude, you must tell me something… please," I practically begged as he looked at me a little shocked.

"Will everything happen that I saw in my visions? Is it possible for me to change the future?" I held my breath as I waited for him to answer.

Claude looked at me and shook his head. "This is precisely why I told Niall that you must not have the crystal, Sookie. Humans have always hoped to change their destinies but it cannot be done. The future visions you witnessed will come to pass, although perhaps not in ways you can now realize. The vampires certainly never understood that. Even Gildran didn't understand that," he said sadly.

When did Claude become such an astute observer of human nature?

"If I can't fix things to help Eric, then I must find out what happens," I said. "I have to use the crystal again. Claude, please help me… I need to know what happens to Eric!" I said in a panic.

"Sookie," Amelia said, "why torture yourself like this? You won't be able to change anything, anyway. Right, Claude?" Amelia asked as she looked to my cousin for support.

Surprisingly, Claude seemed like he was considering my idea.

I tried my best to convince him. "Even though my vision about Eric will come true, there's more, right? More I don't understand. Just help me to see what happens after he's attacked. Then I'll stop, I promise. You can keep the crystal, Claude," I said as persuasively as I could. "I swear."

"Sookie," he said. "I know how to use the crystal-- but as a fairy, not as a human. I'm not sure I can pinpoint a specific time like that in a vision," he said, a bit embarrassed.

Amelia was getting in a huff. "This is crazy talk, Sookie. Every time you use that crystal, you get even more worked up. Don't do it!" she warned.

"But if I can just be sure that Eric survives, I won't need the crystal any more. I can be satisfied with that," I said. I looked to Claude again and could sense that he was close to giving in.

"Please…" I begged and waited for what seemed like an eternity.

"Sookie," he finally said. "I will do this with you but just once. I hope that what you see will convince you to abandon the crystal after this. Okay?" he asked and I hugged him in gratitude.

"It is not okay," Amelia said. But before she could start ranting, Claude simply told her to trust him.

He stood and retrieved the box and crystal from the bookcase and opened it for me. Seeing the beautiful sparkling stone again made me weak with desire. I reached out to grab for it but Claude stepped back.

"Wait, Sookie," he said. "I will show you how to hold it first and then I will help you find what you need to see." I didn't quite know how he was going to do that but I watched as he carefully modeled the correct way to lay the crystal in my palm. There was a specific place to press on the side of the stone before fisting. I did as he instructed and then my eyes snapped closed of their own will.

Images swirled around my head but this time there was a definite path I was following. Claude's hand rested on my shoulder and it almost seemed like he was helping 'steer' me to the correct picture. We moved deeper into the vision and I wondered if Claude was able to see what I was seeing through our connection. If so, he would have realized that this was not a vision concerning Eric being attacked. Far from it. I guess Claude needed more practice.

In this vision, it was evening and I saw myself outside in my backyard. At least it seemed like my backyard but with major improvements. I was gathering plates and leftover food from a cookout and as I glanced over I saw Jason there as well. He looked much older than I did and he was laughing with me about something. Just as in my previous visions, I couldn't hear what was being spoken. It was nice to see that in the future our relationship had been repaired.

I felt Claude's hand continue to press down on my shoulder as I watched the future unfold. A red-headed woman lightly kissed Jason and joined him at the patio table. Behind her trailed a little red-haired girl and an older blond boy, and both children were laughing as they jumped on Jason and he tickled them in return. I gasped when I realized the boy was the same one from my first vision, although maybe five years older than before. He was taller and had an athletic build, but he still had that same familiar face, my face, and now I realized, Jason's face.

Before I could decide how I felt about this new development, Eric came out of the house, looking as vibrant and sexy as ever. The present-day me was so relieved to see him alive and well, and back in my life, that I started to cry. Claude rubbed my shoulder to calm me down and I focused again on the vision, anxious to see more.

Eric carried a True Blood in one hand and a filled wine glass in the other as he sauntered over to me. He placed both items on the table and pulled me in for a kiss, which I looked like I enjoyed. Behind Eric, there followed an adorable little girl about the same age as the red-headed one. This child was brunette, with long hair pulled back in a braid. She was absolutely beautiful and it looked like she was saying something to catch Eric's attention. He released me and, with a wide grin, turned back to the girl. He picked her up and kissed her neck repeatedly until she squealed with delight in the silent movie I was watching. He hugged her close and then lifted the dainty girl onto his strong shoulders, turning to smile at future-me before the vision went dark.

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A/N: Sorry but it will be a few weeks before I can post the next chapter. RL is calling and I am leaving with my family this weekend for a long and much-needed vacation (with no computers/internet!). Hope that at least some of your burning questions have been answered and that the future is now looking brighter! VL1