Chapter 8

Sookie felt like she was dreaming. One minute everything had been dark and the next she was surrounded by white fog. She ran through the vast white abyss but she could find nothing. There was no sound and no matter how much she yelled there was no reply. It seemed she was alone.

She had the vague notion that she had been afraid but now all she could feel was a warm sensation. It wasn't comforting exactly but rather reassuring. It was like she knew without a thread of doubt that she would be alright. She didn't feel happy or at peace but she felt safe. So, with nothing to do or see and no one to talk to she began to wander through the fog humming to herself.

It took an immeasurable about of time for anything to happen. It could have been hours or mere seconds, no one would ever know. At first there was nothing but the fog but then there was a warmth that hadn't been there before. It started small like the feeling you get when you rub your hands together. It grew and grew until it was a fire raging. As the heat began to grow it also became clearer. From a whole body sensation, Sookie was able to feel it sting her arm and hand. When the fire became so blistering she knew she couldn't take it anymore Sookie finally understood what it was. Her wrist. The cuff. And then she remembered.

Bolting up to a sitting position, Sookie gasped for air. Her heart was racing and she was panting as the feelings swirled and gradually began to fade. She could feel the magic of the cuff as it controlled her fears and gave her the strength she had been lacking.

"Dear one?" Turning her head she looked into the eyes of her two worried vampires. They looked so afraid and her heart twisted as she realised this could all have been avoided if she had just come clean from the start. She made the silent vow right then that she would find the strength to tell them, all of it. She would face her fears once and for all.

"You should rest, little one," Godric complained as he watched Sookie rise from the bed. She still looked pale and she was clearly still weak. Dressed in her favourite pink PJs she was the image of vulnerable innocence.

"I will but first I need a drink and I need to tell you both a few things. Can we go to the living room?" Godric and Eric shared a look of concerned resistance. "Please," she pleaded desperate to do this away from their bedroom. That was her safe haven and she didn't want any part of what they had to discuss to taint her favourite place in the world.

"Okay, Lover, as you wish," Eric rose from the bed and scooped her up in his arms bridal still. She gasped from the shock but didn't complain. That was enough to make both vampires worry even more.

Eric placed Sookie on the couch while Godric lit a fire. Within a couple of minutes Sookie was the filling of a vampire sandwich and Eric was handing her a glass of orange juice. She took a few sips before handing the glass over to Godric. Placing the glass on the table beside him, Godric turned to look deep into Sookie's eyes. They were slightly dilated and the combination with the anxiety ping ponging through the bond was not promising. They were going to have to give her the space to do this in her own time.

Sookie sighed heavily before getting up and going to look out of the patio window. Eric stood to follow her but Godric shook his head and pulled him back down on the couch. They sat looking at her back in silence, waiting.

Sookie sighed again as she pushed her palms against the cool glass. It was a clear night and the stars were shining brightly. The moon was casting a silver glow on the still water of the pool and a slight breeze was causing the trees to sway with natural grace. Such a beautiful night and yet it didn't stop the lone tear from rolling along her cheek or the shudder that wracked her body. When she finally spoke it was with a hollow voice as if she were miles away and severely broken.

"It was just supposed to be a routine inspection. It was three months after I left and my first time working with the Wiccae army. Grandfather had instructed them to start me off small. I was only supposed to be observing as they inspected the remains of a battle sight. There were twelve experienced sorcerers with me. I should have been safe." The tears were flowing freely now and her body was shaking with the sobs. It caused her words to become broken but she didn't stop. "It was a trap, of course. He was there. I found out later that he is the strongest sorcerer to ever live, aside from papa and myself. He killed them all with a single blast. It was like nothing I had ever seen before. I still had no control over my powers and was no match for him. He knocked me out with a spell," her fists clenched as she tried to stop herself from remembering. It was no use. It didn't matter how hard she tried she still could not keep from remembering that horrid place. It was what haunted her nightmares.

Darkness and the scent of smoke were the first things to seep into her consciousness once her eyes flickered open. She had awoken in alone in a cell made entirely of concrete. There were no windows or doors. The only way in or out was to teleport. There was no furniture and no light. Strapped down to the floor she had only been able to move her head from side to side. The cold had seeped into her bones making it difficult to know if it was the numbing fear, the pain or the temperature that caused her body to shudder.

"I was kept alone in a room with no way in or out. He chained me to the floor. He would spend hours in the dark talking to me as he used his powers to bring me as much pain as possible. If it hadn't been for the magic I would have died over and over but no matter what the damage he did to me he could always heal me with his magic. I…I…" her voice gave out as the crying became too much. It was all too much.

Eric stood again at the sight of his gorgeous girl falling apart but once again Godric pulled him back down. They were both suffering with her. The fear, the pain and the anger. They were so angry but Godric knew she had to do this. She had to face it and tell them on her own. It was the only way she could claim her strength back.

Eventually Sookie managed to calm her breathing enough to speak again. "I was there for two months. He tortured me for two months. I thought I was going to die. I wanted to die, begged for it. He found out that my powers are controlled by my emotions. He would delight in making me angry so I would blast my way out of the chains before making me so afraid I would lose all power for days. When my grandfather finally managed to break through the compound he took me back to the palace but by then the only power I had still working were my visions and they were just more pain. I managed to get them all to stop asking and focused on training my abilities. I wanted to make sure that I would never be that vulnerable ever again but no matter how strong or powerful I became one thought of him would steal all of it." As she made that final admission her knees gave out and she sank to the floor. This time Godric didn't hold Eric back. Sookie was caught before she hit the floor and carried back to the couch. Eric sat her sideways in his lap. Cradling her head to his chest with his arms wrapped around her tight. Godric held her feet in his lap.

"The nightmares," Godric asked. Sookie just nodded as she let all of the pent up emotions out.

"He will never have you again. We are here and we will protect you, no matter what it takes," Eric whispered in her ear.

"I just never knew such evil existed. I knew there was evil out there but I always believed everyone had some good inside them. I just couldn't believe it was possible to be so corrupted by darkness. He didn't just delight in hurting me he wanted to completely break me. He told me that he would have me carrying out his every whim when he was done…I was so scared that he would be right." She broke down into tears again and Eric just held her tighter.

"We are hiring another guard for you, someone who has had experience fighting powerful foes. Your PA will need to be someone with magical ability so they can help protect from spells. You will be safe, little one," Godric assured her. His fingers were stroking her leg in a soothing pattern.

"We are proud that you told us, lover. It took great courage to face those memories and we know you will beat him eventually. Just know we will always be here for you while you find the strength we know you possess." Eric licked away her tears and kissed her passionately.

"Thank you," she murmured against his lips.

"For what, lover?"

"Always taking care of me. I am useless without you two. I love you, so much."

"As we love you. Now, rest. We shall go get you refreshment why don't you make yourself comfortable, okay?" Godric rose as he spoke and motioned for Eric to join him in the kitchen.

Sookie curled up on her side as she watched the television. Eric had switched it on as he left the room. Nanny 911 was on and she watched hoping to push away all the turbulent emotions that were swarming her mind. It didn't help. The longer she watched the two parents struggle with the three boys the more she felt like a part of her had died. She loved her family. She loved her vampires but violence and no children were just some of the cost. Sometimes it felt like too big a price to pay. What she would give to have children of her own, to live a nice safe and happy life. A normal life.

"Mommy look," the three year old cried as he pulled his mother along to see the mud pie he had made in the backyard. It broke Sookie's heart. Would the pain of her life never end?