THANKS TO: VAlady, Duckbutt, Mikaelv, nordiclover, aoife7, jkazzie, Scarlet-Rose15, suzyq59, Londa1795, BiWiccanPrincess, jewelpearl

Chapter 9

It's almost dawn when I finally finish reading through the book and though there were only a few pages that reference an apple, it was enough. But what does it mean? They couldn't possibly think that- No. Although the Sanguinistas actually think "Lilith" will come back. History has taught me many things but the most important is that religious zealots are crazy.

I kiss Sookie's forehead and tummy before heading downstairs when I hear the back door open.

"Eric, I wasn't expecting to see you," Morgan smiles as she puts her keys on the counter. "I needed to get started on prep for the day. Plus I couldn't sleep."

I nod. "Erica was pretty insistent I be awake today, so we're also on high alert. Quintin said he'd bring extra wolves."

"Premonition?" she asks as she starts flitting about the kitchen.

"Perhaps, or she's going to be a very spoiled child, but we trust that she might know something we don't." I feel the second the sun tips over the horizon. It's an intense pull toward darkness, a rush of adrenaline from fear of death. But I am old enough to fight it when I'm well rested, which I am right now. I try to remember back to when I stayed with Sookie at her house, when I first returned, but we were asleep when the sun rose, so I have no idea if I felt the pull or not. I feel it now though but I also start to feel an intense warm and rushes of love and strength from the babies.

"Well the fae are the highest form of light magic and those babies seem to have it in spades, so my guess is that there is a reason, though it might not be an obvious one," she smiles. "Why do you need her mother?"

"Her mother killed at least two other vampires and I believe they are connected to Sookie's kidnapping. I need to know how and she's the only one who can tell us."

The door opens again and the aroma of lavender hits my nose which tells me it's Emma since she always wears lavender lotion. "Babe, why didn't you wake me?" she wonders as she heads over to Morgan. "I woke up alone."

"Sorry," Morgan whispers. "Couldn't sleep."

"Do either of you know much about Eris of the Greek pantheon?"

"She started the Trojan War, supposedly, of course," Morgan states. "Why?"

"With the Apple of Discord. When he was holding us, he mentioned that the apple had been thrown and we didn't chose the right side. Then the apple shows up in this book that the two victims had," I explain. "It sounds crazy, but…"

"There are those who still worship ancient deities," Emma informs me and hands me a glass of blood she warmed. I nod in appreciation. These five ladies certainly aren't squeamish around vampires, for which I am grateful. It helps Sookie that there is no tension amongst us.

"Worship is one thing, but to torture people over it? Or kill for it?" I honestly have no idea what I'm thinking or how it's all making sense but I just know we're on the right track. "Could-"

PAPPA!

I take off for upstairs in a flash when a sudden rush of fear floods my system and it only registers a second that I hear a small little voice call for me.

I charge into the room and I don't see anyone but I know there is someone here. Sookie's still asleep but she's surrounded in shield of yellow. Good babies protecting Mamma.

"If you do not reveal yourself, I cannot guarantee you will remain alive," I announce. "I will find you," I growl and pop fang as I inhale the scent of the intruder. It is not a familiar scent, nor is it human or fae. It is earthy with a hint of ammonia, almost troll in nature but not quite. "Show yourself before I hunt you," I growl.

"Meeka," a voice states from the corner and I zip over but the presence moves, almost like a teleport. "I mean no harm," it states and I rush for the dresser but it moves again.

"Then reveal yourself to a vampire king and perhaps I'll show mercy."

There's a shimmer to the air near the window as the curtain opens so he's standing in sunlight. He's about four feet tall with dark brown skin, though it's slightly green in tinge. His fingers are more claw-like than human, which makes sense since he has horns that curl up out of the top of his head like a ram. His face, beside skin color, is decidedly human, although his eyes are larger and more cat-like.

"Meeka," he repeats. "I mean no harm to you or your queen."

"Then why sneak into our home? Why not call? Or request a meeting?"

"No one must know I have come," he says softly. "There are many who seek the power the children have and many who seek to destroy it. She is trying to eliminate those threats."

"Liliana?" I ask and he nods as I feel Sookie's consciousness rousing. "Bedroom next door," I tell him. "Meet me there." I zip into what will be the babies' room and he is once again standing in the sun. "I am awake during the day. The sunlight would not protect you if I wanted you dead," I inform him.

Suddenly the drapes are closed, as if he can just wish the world to be one way and make it so.

"Yes, Liliana," he nods. "Though I'm horrified at what became of a royal fairy, I am still in her service." He works for her then? Or did and now she's found him again. "My Lady sent me to check on her daughter, to check that she is protected well."

"Apple," I state and that gets his attention. "It's something to do with an apple. With Eris?"

"Goddess of chaos, strife and discord," he nods. "My Lady's murderer was among her worshippers."

"Istvan? Religious zealot?" I ask. Crazy, yes, but- "Who else? What is the end game?"

"Chaos," he states. "They serve the Goddess and do her bidding, in hopes that-"

"In hopes that she'll rise again," I roll my eyes. "Blah blah, heard it. It's-"

"They need not hope that she rises. She has indeed risen."

~*~*~*~*~*~

Mamma!

I jerk awake with my hands up and glowing red, though I don't know why. I'm surrounded in yellow but there's no one here.

"Shh," I whisper and glow blue quickly to the babies. "It's okay, Babies. We're safe. It was just a bad dream," I explain though I really don't remember a bad dream. Perhaps one of the babies was having a bad dream?

Eric? You there?

He's not beside me so he must be awake somewhere.

We need you.

I'm next door, Lover. We have a visitor but it's alright. Relax a little bit and I'll be in soon.

"Oh, did you sense we have company?" I ask the babies but they're still glowing yellow and when I check in with them I'm shocked that there are two little voices that I can hear. I know they're not speaking or thinking like I can, but I understand it's Erica and she's upset about how someone came into the room and Aidan is telling me that the creature came close to me and started saying words in a different daddy language.

I smile softly. "Okay, calm, calm," I whisper to them and glow more blue with both hands. "Listen, I'm sure Daddy is taking care of it and I will definitely ask about the different language. Just calm down, don't disturb your brothers and sister."

Their chirping gets a little softer and it's like they are both talking at once to me and I keep trying to tell them one at a time but they obviously don't get that concept so I get snippets of what they are trying to tell me. Erica was upset that someone came in and Eric wasn't here to protect us. She wasn't sure if she should teleport us away or glow red, so she called for Pappa. That scared Addy so Aidan had to calm her because she's still too little to understand.

I reassure them both that they did what was right and that Eric will sort things out and that we will put some more magical security around the house so no one can come in again.

Eric, the babies really need you. I need you.

I teleport into the bathroom to pee and brush my hair and teeth. I wash and notice that my tummy is still glowing yellow. There is a sense of worry and doom and I don't think it's all coming from the babies; I think some of it is from Eric, which makes us all worry.

"Daddy will keep us safe," I remind them. "He always keeps us safe."

I'm overwhelmed with images of blood and silver flashing near me as they show me the attack from their point of view. My babies' pain and terror is too much and I stumble a bit and my legs give out on me. I'm barely able to teleport myself onto the bed as I fall.

PAPPA!

Eric rushes in here and I feel his arms around us all. "What is it? Sookie?"

"You may as well tell us all what's going on because we feel your worry and it's not good for any of us."

"Let's get you dressed and we'll go downstairs. Everyone should know about this; we're going to need all the help we can get."

There's something about his tone that tells me it's not going to be good, that it could put my family in danger. Again.