Chapter 9

It started at the tips of his bloodless fingers and moved onto his rigid wrists as well as the wasted muscles of his arms. Veins that had collapsed with the sludge of clotted blood surged to life again pumping the oxygen-rich fluid to decayed organ tissue. His kidneys, stomach and liver gorged on the substance until each individual cell fired back to life. The heart regenerated around the bullet remains and shredded ribcage. Shattered bones fused themselves together and the skin regained its living texture.

Sookie came to just in time to see his eyes reclaim their vivid blue color. He was kneeling in front of her.

"Eric?"

He swallowed painfully as his damaged vocal cords recovered their function. Eric opened his mouth and drew in air to his deflated lungs.

"Sss…sookie."

Amelia was all but shoved aside as the woman threw herself into Eric's waiting arms. He caught her and pulled her body to his. His hands roaming through her body with the abandon of a man granted hope after so many months of loneliness and despair. He took deep breaths wanting to experience her in every way possible. The scent and warmth of her body making him almost dizzy with pleasure.

As for Sookie she was equally moved. At last he was as if she'd last seen him alive. Tall and strong with a body flush with life. She wanted to cry with gratitude. He had been restored to her and there was no greater gift.

He lifted her up from the ground to face him. Their foreheads pressed together and her eyes fell shut with emotion. They'd were simply feeling each others presence and relishing the connection they'd had since the day they'd met long ago.

Only Amelia stood apart looking at the poignant scene with sympathy. She did not have the heart to break their spell when they seemed so happy. She kept her peace, for now. But there was something else that she had to let them know.

"I called the cops."

They were so absorbed in each other that Amelia had to repeat herself before they paid her any attention.

"They are coming and I don't know what will happen when they find the uhmm…the body."

Sookie drew from Eric's embrace a bit. Heart pounding, short of breath, she focused on slowing her breathing. Her face was serious as she forced herself back into the room, back into what had just occurred.

She didn't look at what remained of her former fiancé. He wasn't worth another look. "We just need to tell them the truth. Bill tortured him and he was the one that ordered him shot in the first place. They have to see that he brought this on himself."

Amelia nodded and tried to hide her doubt that this would be their conclusion. Compton's body was a bloody mess that bore little resemblance to anything human. The throat had been ripped apart and terrible bite marks covered the area around the clavicle. As for the head…well that was something to behold. Its gruesome appearance would have turned anyone stomach and she found herself getting a little queasy just looking at it from the corner of her eye.

Eric was having a little trouble speaking and his voice was shaky but Sookie had no trouble understanding what he was saying.

"Whatever happens I would do it again. He hurt you. He hurt us."

Sookie nodded sadly. "That he did but now everything is going to be good again. You're going to be okay and we can go home."

"I don't think that's going to be possible my love."

Guilt clamped into Amelia's gut. Of course he knew. Why wouldn't he?

Sookie's ensuing question was interrupted by the sound of heavy steps on the uncarpeted stairway.

"What the hell is going on here?" All three looked up in time to see Detective Andy Bellefleur raise his service revolver at the sight before him. The air was thick with blood and other fluids."Answer me before I start shooting!"

Eric automatically shielded his wife with his body but it was Sookie that spoke first.

"Detective Bellefleur this isn't what you think."

He wasn't having any of that. "Where is Bill Compton? This here is his property."

Amelia pointed towards the remains on the floor behind her. The lawman gasped at what he saw. Eric stepped forward.

"I'm afraid I'm the only one responsible for that."

"Eric no!" Sookie grasped his arm. She couldn't lose him again. She wouldn't.

Detective Bellefleur looked at the former zombie looking remarkably alive. He was familiar with a bit of zombie-lore and drew his own conclusions. "You've fed."

"Yes."

"Of all the zombies my department has come across from you were the only one who never attacked anyone. I've been wondering why that was so."

"I never wanted to hurt anyone until now. And I wouldn't unless I had a good reason." He replied evenly.

Sookie interrupted him. "He had a damn good reason. Bill Compton was a vile human being who destroyed our lives. He took my husband from me because he couldn't have me any other way."

"I see." Bellefleur lowered his gun and took a long look at the former zombie. "So I reckon that Mr. Compton fell."

Eric blinked. "He fell?"

"Clearly. He must have tripped on this here staircase landed on his expensive slate flooring. Apparently hardwood was too commonplace for Bill Compton. He must have cracked his head and his brains just spilled out. Yep that's what happened."

"And the bite marks?'

"What bite marks? I see no bite marks. Those are gashes from the hitting the staircase railing. It is a damned ugly sight but to be expected. I suggest that he be cremated as soon as possible. Since he has no family to speak of it's your decision Miss Sookie."

Her answer was devoid of emotion. "Burn him". Bill Compton had taken too much from her to be even a little bit sorry.

"Will do. My cousin runs a funeral parlor in Shreveport. He should have no problems taking care of Mr. Compton for you. I'll file the report with the coroner so there will no need for anyone else to see him, the body being so grisly and all that."

Detective Bellefleur turned to Eric. "Son, I am deeply sorry for what happened to you. I read the homicide report and it had hit written all over it. Me and my men couldn't touch it since it was another jurisdiction but I always figured that whoever ordered it wanted something you had."

Eric nodded. "Thank you for everything sir"

"Nothing to thank me for. I am merely doing my job protecting the good citizens of this town. Now go home I'm sure you had a rough morning."

As Sookie, Eric and Amelia headed up the stairs the detective had something else to say.

"This is very nice house that he built for himself. He really had no need to buy our family home from under us except to take pleasure in our downfall. My sister almost died of shame. Asshole."

Apparently Bill had made more than one enemy in Bon Temps.

TBC.

I know I said that this would be the final chapter but I'll end it in chapter 10 instead. Thank you so much for your comments and I am sorry this took so long but I've been a bit under the weather. There is more to come soon and a special thank you to those that have recommended this story to others. I'm glad you've enjoyed it.