DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN ANY OF THE CHARACTERS AND NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGMENT IS INTENDED. ALL CHARACTERS BELONG TO THEIR REPECTIVE OWNERS. I AM SIMPLY TAKING THE CHARACTERS OUT TO PLAY FOR MY OWN AMUSMENT.
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Chapter Nine
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Fintan and I were waiting in my office for Aedan to bring up Pam. I had taken a seat behind my desk and Fintan sat across from me. Obviously Thalia had not bothered to lend Aedan a hand, though I wouldn't have expected her to anyway. She was no where near that courteous. "You should take care not to get too close to my child. Your scent is not too strong to resist for Aedan, Thalia, and I, but take heed. Pam is young and has little experience with Fae." If the half-fairy was going to be of assistance, I couldn't let him be drained.
Fintan's expression was brimming with curiosity. "You are not what I expected you to be, Northman. I had heard tales of you."
"Oh, and what is it that they say? That I am a bloodthirsty, savage beast?" I scoffed sarcastically. I could only imagine what the fae said of vampires, let alone me. I had been around a long time and this wasn't my first dance with the fae.
"Perhaps..." Fintan strained a smile, as he ran a hand through his hair, "I just didn't expect you would care for Sookie as much as you seem to. Generally vampires are thought to be cold and unfeeling." The frankness of our conversation was unusual. The half-fairy was obviously was a bit uncomfortable with the direction it was heading.
"Vampires might not show much emotion since it is seen as weakness, but I assure you we are not without feelings. If anything, we feel more acutely so we learn early on to suppress them or risk losing our minds." I had successful quashed my own emotions for hundreds of years until I met Sookie. She awoke things in me that I thought were long dead. "I can tell you with no hesitation that I love your granddaughter and will continue to do so until my final death." Normally I would not have been so candid, but so much about him reminded me of Sookie. She was both my greatest strength and greatest weakness.
Our conversation was halted as Aedan pulled Pam through the door. Pam head lulled forward until she caught a whiff of Fintan. Her head snapped up to him and her eyes went wide before glazing over with bloodlust. Her fangs dropped and a hiss escaped her lips. Pam struggled against Aedan's grip, but Aedan, being much older and stronger, was able to keep a firm hold on her.
"Relax, Pam." I gave her a maker's command. She stopped her struggling and her shoulders slumped. "This is Fintan, Sookie's grandfather," I offered in explanation and fear shot through our bond as her bloodlust subsided. "You will not attempt to harm him in any way. Do you understand?" I wanted this to work more than just about anything. I missed my child.
Pam stared at me with regret as she nodded. "He's here to kill me then?" Hearing the pain her in voice was excruciating. There was no doubt that she betrayed me, but still I loved her.
"He's here to try to save you." It hurt to look at her so I averted my eyes to Fintan, "You may proceed." Fintan stood and walked over to stand in front of Pam. Though she stayed silent, I could feel her fear ratcheting up in anticipation of what was to come. I had not told her what was going to happen since I had no idea myself.
"Please get her on her knees. It will make this a bit easier." Fintan requested and Aedan pushed Pam gently to her knees and clutched her shoulders to keep her there. Fintan nodded at Aedan and then rested his hands upon Pam's head. A shimmering blue glow began to emanate from his hands. "Elea i'dolen Sereg'wethrin," Fintan breathed in a language I was not familiar with. Aedan's eyes went wide as the light around Pam's head began to pulse and strobe. The scent of fae filled the room and my fangs ran out, as did Aedan's, but we were able to remain in control. It was a good thing we were strong enough to resist or Fintan would have been drained before the next words left his mouth and I might not have had the opportunity to save my relationship with Pam.
Pam shrieked and I growled at the fairy, "What is happening to her?"
Fintan replied evenly, "She has been spelled. The magic is strong. It will take me a minute to dispel." Fintan closed his eyes and focused as he began to chant, his voice growing louder and louder, "Tanka harwar, Tanka tel' taurnin." The light grew brighter and brighter as he continued. Pam began to thrash and convulse as a familiar, sickly green mist spilled from her body. I had no idea how long Branna had her hands on my child, but she obviously infected Pam with her poison.
Aedan let go and took a step back from Pam, holding his hands up as if she was made of silver. His distressed eyes flashed to mine, as if he was begging me to do something, but there was nothing I could do. If Pam needed to be purged, then I would not interfere. After a several tense minutes passed, Pam collapsed, her screams cut off, and the contaminated magic left her body and swirled around Fintan's now brightly glowing form. The blue light around him sparked and popped as it consumed the green mist. When it was gone Fintan dropped to his knees, exhausted from the effort.
I moved to Pam's side and pulled her into my arms and away from the fairy. Her body was limp and non-responsive, a sight which I had seen happen too often to the women I loved. "Is she okay?" I asked Fintan as I examined Pam for damage.
"She will be fine now. Branna must have spent a bit of time on her. The magic was rooted deep, but I managed to cleanse her of it." Fintan's breathing was labored. I could see the sweat spotting his brow and he looked a bit sickly.
"Are you alright? You don't look so good." I picked up my child and handed her to Aedan. "Take her down to a cell and lock her up until we are sure the cleansing worked." Aedan left with Pam and I walked over to the fairy.
"I will be fine. I need to rest, but first, will you take me to Sookie?" I wasn't sure why he wanted to see her, but I nodded my assent and helped the fairy to his feet. It was the least I could do if he was able to give me back the child I loved and I assisted Fintan back to Sookie's room. He sat on the bed next to her, taking her hand in his. Thalia raised her eyebrows in question, the scent of fairy was weakening but still lingered and her fangs were out.
"Any change?" I asked Thalia, breaking her transfixed gaze from the delicious smelling fairy in our midst to me.
"She closed her eyes a few minutes ago, but other than that, no," Thalia huffed with irritation.
"Go help Aedan with Pam. I am sure she will need some blood," I ordered and Thalia took off, leaving me alone with the fairy. I was not ready to face Pam and the questions I was sure Aedan would have for me, so I walked over to sit opposite Fintan and joined him in watching over the woman I loved more than my own life.
"The spark is still present in her," Fintan stated, breaking the silence of the room. His expression was wary but much more relaxed. As the minutes past, he was looking a bit better than he had.
I was a bit taken aback by his comment, since Branna has told me the turning would change Sookie's magic. "Are you sure?"
"I can feel it." Fintan closed his eyes and sighed, "When Fairies come close to one another they can sense each others magic." He paused as if he was searching for the words. Fintan opened his eyes and faced me, "Since Sookie and I are family, our sparks react to one another. It's like a connection is made, soothing and peaceful." I knew a bit about how that worked. I caught the gist of it when Sookie had attempted to explain it to me in the other time line.
"You think the fae side of her has survived the turning." My words came out more astonished than I intended when I realized what he was getting at.
"I think you will have a vary unique vampire on your hands when she awakens. She was a special human and I am sure she will be a magnificent vampire."
The declaration had me near speechless, "You seem okay with all of this."
"At first I was angry that her life had been stolen after I worked so hard to keep her hidden from the supernatural world. But I realize now, that by doing so, I have deprived her of the tools that would have kept her safe. At least as a vampire it will detour most fairies from coming after her, especially in your care. I can not change the past but..."
"Why not? Branna sent me back, can't you do the same?" I interrupted, the words flowing out before I could stop them.
Fintan shook his head, "No, I am only half-fae. I have nowhere near that kind of magic and even if I did, I wouldn't risk it. The spell is forbidden and for good reason. The implications of changing the past are far reaching and completely unpredictable. I have no idea how Branna was able to summon the kind of magic needed to accomplish it in the first place. No fairy that I know of has that much power, not even Niall."
I let the conversation drop as the helpless feeling crawled back into my gullet and I sat silently thinking about all that had happened over the last couple of nights. I felt like I had no control and that was something I would have to change...pronto. Sookie would need me after she turned. She would need someone who could protect and guide her. I was determined to be all of that for her and more, if she would still have me.
After a little while the fairy stood, breaking me from my revery, "I think I am going to turn in. Are you still willing to let me stay?"
"Of course. Let me show you to your room." I suppressed a chuckle from the ridiculousness of a fairy who desperately wanted to stay in the same home with four vampires. It sounded like the beginning of a bad joke; Four vampires and a fairy stay in a house together...
I showed Fintan to a room on the second floor which had it's own key padded security at its entry, "You might want to stay inside at first dark if you plan to be here. I am not sure how Sookie will react to your scent. If she is like other newborn vampires, she will not be able to control her urge to drain you."
"I can take care of myself, but I will keep that in mind." Fintan walked into the room and I bid him a good day.
I made my way back to Sookie. I scooped up my lover and took her back downstairs to our room. Once I settled Sookie in our bed, I made my way out to the living area. There were a couple hours left before dawn and I went to get myself some blood. I knew I needed to be in tip top shape if I was going to deal with what was to come, so I grabbed four bags, two for me and one for Thalia and Aedan, and heated them up in the microwave.
Thalia was watching television in the living area. I tossed her a bag of blood and she caught it without looking up. I inquired, "Where is Aedan?"
"I don't know. It's not my day to watch him." Thalia sunk her teeth in the bag and drained it.
I went to my office and found Aedan reading. He was sitting behind my desk with his feet up on it as he leaned back in my black leather executive chair. He dropped his feet to the floor as soon as I entered. "Have you seen her yet?"
I tossed Aedan a bag of blood and he caught it. "No. I think I will wait until tomorrow night." I knew he was asking about Pam. "Is she awake?"
"Yes, she woke a few minutes after I brought her down." Aedan placed the book back down on my desk and rose to his feet. He moved over to the small couch that was sitting on the far left wall. Unlike my upstairs office, this was was decorated in a more modern fashion. I sat down behind my desk and leaned back much like Aedan was doing when I walked in.
"Did she say anything?" I was anxious to hear if the cleansing had any effects on her memory of the events. When I was cursed and it was lifted, I suffered some memory loss for a time. The memories did come back, but it took a while.
"She cried mostly." Aedan rubbed the top of his head, but since his hair was in a constant disarray it wasn't that noticeable. "It was uncomfortable, to say the least. Thalia brought her some blood and she asked us to leave her be. I didn't push her." Aedan paused but I could tell there was more he wanted to say, so I remained quiet. "Eric, I wish to stay. Not just for a visit but for awhile."
This surprised me, "Do not take this the wrong way. I welcome you with open arms, but why?" Since Aedan was released he had been a bit of a loner, at least that is what I heard from the reports. I may have released him, but I did keep tabs on him.
Aedan's face took on a serious expression, "It's been over three hundred years, Eric. I don't blame you for what happened while we were in Ocella's thrall. I never did. Neither of us had a choice in the matter. It's time to put the past behind us and leave it there. I have traveled the globe, seen so many things, experienced so many things...but I have grown tired of being alone. Now that we are out in the open with humans, I wish to settle down for a while. There is no one I trust more than you and I wish to stay...if you will have me."
"You are welcome to stay as long as you like." I had to admit, I was pleased to have a trusted ally on my side once again. Even though I knew that Pam had been spelled, it would take a while for me to forgive her completely, especially if Sookie's turning wasn't successful.
"Thank you," Aedan was sincere. "You will need my help if you are to fight this Branna. She sounds like a royal bitch and her actions make no sense."
"I had thought her true motivations were to kill Niall. They still might be, but what she wanted first and foremost was to have Sookie turned into a vampire. She sent a golem after us not twenty four hours after we met and then spelled Pam to drain her. What I don't understand is why she didn't let Pam turn Sookie. If all that she wanted was Sookie turned, why did it have to be me?"
"For that I have no answer, but who can say that they understand the motivations of the fae?" Aedan let that linger for a moment before he continued, "Would you have turned Sookie it if you had any other choice?"
"No. I would have searched for a way to get free of Branna and kept Sookie safe."
"I have to say, I never expected to come here to find you so...changed, perhaps Branna didn't either." Aedan remarked offhandedly, though I could tell it was anything but.
"Losing everything can do that...change a man."
"But you have lost everything before, this is not the first time," Aedan reminded me, but not cruelly.
"You're right. It's not. But this is different, Aedan. I love Sookie more than I ever thought that I was capable of. She makes me want to be better than I am." I was not sure how to explain it, or if I even could. "I won't give that up. I can't."
"Branna must have realized her error when she thought you would happily turn her after going through the pain of losing Sookie once before. Her plans must require Sookie to become a vampire or why else would she go through the trouble?"
I didn't get to comment on Aedan's musings because an earsplitting scream came from the other room and I felt panic shoot through me as a new bond burst open inside me. I moved without thinking towards the sound. The door to my bedroom was open and I charged in with Aedan on my heels.
I was paralyzed by what I saw. Sookie was up and standing in the center of the bedroom, nude I might add, with her hand wrapped around Thalia's neck. Thalia was dangling in the air a foot off the ground. Sookie's fangs were out and she was hissing at her in a menacing way.
"Thalia! What did you do?" I couldn't believe what I was seeing.
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