Chapter 7
When the pull of the sun had dragged us to our day rest, Pam and I settled into travel coffins that I kept in the safe house. I would much rather have Sookie sleeping with
me but there was no room and I knew that she would not be comfortable trapped in my coffin with me. Instead she chose to sleep on some blankets on the hard floor next to Madelyn who was now thanks to Sookie free of blood.
When Pam and I rose the next night I found Sookie staring nervously at Madelyn's still form.
I took a moment to assess that she was still breathing and alive before turning my attention to Sookie. "What is wrong?" I asked carefully.
"She hasn't woken up yet. I think she might need more blood" Sookie said reluctantly.
I paused and assessed the red head's breathing and heart rate. Both were stronger and more regular than last night.
"Madelyn" I called as I gently shook her shoulder. "Wake up".
"Eric, I don't think she's OK" Sookie protested.
I ignored my lover's concerns and called Madelyn's name one more time and shook her a bit more forcefully.
My efforts were rewarded with a flutter of her eyelids and a moan of pain.
I really did not want to give her more of my blood. I could already feel my life force in her body and I did not want to override Godric's blood. He would understand and even have expected me to heal her but he would not be OK with me giving her more than necessary. Of that I was absolutely certain.
Sookie then called Madelyn's name and reached for her hand. With that she opened her eyes and tried to focus in on her surroundings.
"You are at Eric's safe house" Sookie explained quickly having either seen or felt the fear coming off the red head in waves. She stroked the back of her hand in reassurance and tried to calm her down.
"We have to find Godric!" she yelled more forcefully than I would have thought possible in her weakened state.
I felt the power of her emotions pour through me and had to steady myself when I felt both her despair and determination.
"Tell us what happened step by step" I instructed as I continue to stand over her.
"We were in the office reviewing new contract terms when Godric heard something outside. He went to the surveillance cameras and saw that we had guards missing".
I could feel her anxiety rising and cast a glance to Sookie who picked up on it as well.
"It's Ok, we're safe" she cooed at the distraught red head.
"It's just that before Godric could react a group of twelve vampires broke down the door and shot out silver nets at Godric".
Her voice hitched as she recalled the memory and I saw her eyes fill with tears.
"I fought off as many as I could but I couldn't get to Godric" she said as she broke down completely.
Sookie pulled her into her arms and tried to comfort her.
"I smelled the remains of dead vampires in the office" I commented as I waited for her to regain her composure.
"I killed three but I couldn't get the others" she answered as her sobs became heavier.
"You killed three vampires that were part of the Authority guard?" Pam asked in disbelief as the red head nodded.
I had to admit to being impressed. The Authority was known for extensively training their guards and for a human to take out three was unheard of.
"It wasn't enough, I couldn't stop them" I heard Madelyn whisper into Sookie's shoulder as she continued to try to calm the distraught girl.
"What would the Authority want with Godric?" I asked slowly.
"I don't have a clue. I don't even know what the Authority is. Godric said the name as he was being dragged out of the house" Madelyn choked out in broken whispers.
"What were you working on with Godric?" Pam asked.
"I don't think this it the time for questioning Pam" Sookie scolded as she tried to calm the still sobbing girl.
"We must retrieve Godric from the Authority and the sooner the better" I said softly.
"It's Ok Sookie. I want Godric back as soon a possible" Madelyn said in a small voice as she pulled herself away from Sookie.
She wiped at her eyes with the edge of the sleeve before Sookie thrust a tissue box in her lap.
I watched as she wiped her eyes and nose properly and took a deep breath. "We were working on brokering a business deal to buy a Japanese company that is in the process of developing a better tasting blood substitute for vampires. This one is supposed to actually be able to sustain vampires, for real".
I closed my eyes instantly and threw my head back in frustration. Why hadn't Godric told me? There was no doubt in my mind that was why the Authority wanted my maker.
"Fuck" I heard Pam mutter under her breath having made the connection for herself.
"What?" Sookie and Madelyn asked simultaneously.
"The Authority and most vampires in North America hold shares in the company that manufactures True Blood. If a new and improved substitute is made those shares will clearly drop in value or the company could fold all together" I answered.
"So they took Godric, left me for dead and slaughtered our guards for money?" Madelyn asked incredulously.
"There is certainly the possibility of a financial motive but I think there is more to it than that. There is a growing movement within the Authority called the Sanguinistas. They are against main streaming and want to go back to a time where vampires fed exclusively on humans. If I had to bet, they are the ones behind this because they have much more to lose than just money".
"But if there can be a good, realistic substitute wouldn't that be a good thing?" Sookie asked.
"In theory yes, but these vampires don't want a substitute and in a way they are right. There is no way to manufacture the differences between human blood that is caused by where a human lives, what they eat, the air they breath, the perfume they wear. Not to mention the rush of flavors that come from endorphins and other hormones that race through the body in anticipation or fear of a bite" I tried to explain.
"So these Sanguinistas want to be able to drink from the source only?" Madelyn clarified.
"Yes" Pam answered simply.
"So let's tell the Authority that we'll buy the company and just not follow through with developing the new blood" Madelyn stated firmly.
With that last statement the redhead tried to pull herself up but gasped in pain in mid movement. I could feel the sharp burst of pain myself and knew that I would have no choice but to give her more blood.
"Drink" I ordered as I thrust my bloodied wrist up to her mouth.
"No!" she attempted to shout as she pushed my arm away from her as she attempted to recoil.
"Madelyn, you are really hurt. You need Eric's blood to heal" Sookie said soothingly as she down beside her.
"I only take Godric's blood" she whispered as she began to shake.
"Honey, Eric already had to give you his blood last night. You need more" Sookie cooed as if she was trying to convince a small child.
"No" she muttered as she buried her head into her hands and took in Sookie's words.
"I understand your concern but it is my maker's blood that runs through my veins and he would certainly not want you to suffer" I said as I tried to convince the irrational female to accept my most generous gift.
I knelt beside her when she didn't respond and pulled up her chin so I could make eye contact with her. "Godric would expect me to heal you. His blood will override mine the moment you take more".
I was within moments of glamouring her into compliance as we didn't have more time to waste when she nodded on her own accord. I re-tore into my wrist and this time she latched on to the wound and drank until it closed.
"Thank you for healing me" she muttered but it was evident that she was still distressed from having been forced to take my blood.
I could feel her pain lessoning and I rose once more and focused my thoughts on formulating a plan.
"Why can't Godric just tell them we'll drop the development of this blood?" Madelyn asked bringing me back to her original question.
"He most certainly could but Godric's sense of self preservation is less than his sense of what he believes is right" I answered.
"What do you mean?" Sookie asked me.
"Another vampire would certainly have already struck that deal with the Authority for their own freedom. I am sure that Godric believes that this new blood product will benefit all vampire and human kind and he will not back down from his convictions".
"But what good will it be if he's dead?" Madelyn yelled in panic obviously recognizing the truth in my words.
"He knows that you live through your bond. He most certainly feels you healing and gaining strength. He will expect you to continue on with this" I answered.
"But then they'll try to kill me again!"
"They do not know that you live. The only people that know are standing in this room and Godric".
"I'm not doing anything without Godric!" she yelled even more forcefully. "We need to get him back!"
"Agreed" I answered simply. There was no way I was going to let Godric sacrifice himself. I had already come close to losing my maker once. I was not going to allow it to happen now.
"Do you have the formula for this new blood?" I asked Madelyn.
She nodded in affirmative.
"It's in a safe place?"
"The safest and there are multiple copies of it in multiple safe houses".
I nodded at this information but went back to my musings over a plan.
"What are you thinking Eric?" Pam asked.
"We are going to blow up the facility in Japan" I answered calmly.
"What!" Madelyn and Sookie yelled together.
"You have the formula, all that will be lost is the facility. I can use the demolition of the facility as leverage to get Godric back" I explained.
"Godric will not stand for that" Madelyn countered.
"Do you want to get him back or let him rot in the Authority prison" I growled inches from her face.
She did not recoil but glared at me instead. "Make sure that there are no casualties" she warned me in defiance.
I nodded knowing that would be simply accomplished by pulling a fire alarm. I mentally took inventory of my trusted contacts in Japan and knew that I could pull together a team to destroy the facility without any lose ends.
I moved silently to a small safe I kept in this home and pulled out an untraceable cell phone. I punched in a number I knew by heart and waited for the phone to connect.
"Yes" the impatient voice on the other end of the line barked.
"I need to make an appointment to speak to the Guardian" I said as calmly as possible.
"Name" the voice ordered.
"Eric Northman".
"Hold please".
"What are you doing Eric?" Pam whispered.
I put my hand up to silence my child as I wasn't sure if I was truly on hold or not.
After an infuriatingly long wait I was rewarded with the cold voice telling me the Guardian would see me the next evening at 1 am.
"I will be there" I said politely and disconnected the call.
"What are you doing?" Pam asked worriedly but I waved her question away again as I crumbled that phone in my hand before reaching for another one.
This time I dialed a number I knew would go straight to voice mail but I left a cryptic message in clipped Japanese. I knew the language but I was not very comfortable in it. Hopefully my instructions would be understood. I then typed out text that included a series of instructions in code on yet another phone as I could not risk leaving a message with the details on voice mail. I had faith that by the time I met with the Guardian the facility in Japan would be destroyed.
With the third phone in smashed into tiny pieces I finally sat down and faced the women with a smile on my face. Before allowing them the opportunity to ask questions I launched into an explanation. "My contact in Japan will carry out my order and destroy the facility. He will ensure the fire alarm is pulled to allow the humans time to escape before the bombs go off. The building will be destroyed before I go meet with the Guardian. I will use that as a show of good faith in negotiating for Godric's release".
"What the hell is a guardian?" Madelyn asked.
"He is the head of the Authority" Pam answered for me.
"And you think he's just going to let Godric go?" Sookie questioned.
"If we are correct about their motivation then yes, they will have no need to hold Godric".
"And if we aren't right?" Pam asked with concern.
"We will cross that bridge if we come to it" I asserted.
"I don't like this Eric" Pam added.
"Are you just walking in alone?" Sookie asked echoing Pam's worry.
"Yes I am" I answered confidently.
"And if you don't come back?" Pam countered.
"We will come up with a plan B" I said slowly as I glared at my progeny willing her to back down.
"What do you want me to do?" she asked quickly.
"You will remain here with Sookie and Madelyn. I will return by sunrise".
"And if you don't?" Sookie asked.
"You will follow Pam's instructions" I said sternly. I turned to my child and was about to give her a string of orders in old Norse when I remembered that Madelyn could understand my native tongue. I sighed and reached for a piece of paper and began to pen what I wanted my progeny to do.
I moved with vampire speed as I wrote and quickly the page was torn from the book and was being thrust into Pam's hand. She scanned my instructions quickly and gave me a nod.
Satisfied that she would know what to do I shut my eyes and went into down time. Since there was no privacy in the one room safe house and my Sookie still held on to way too much modesty, I went into downtown until the sunrise took me into my day rest.
A/N Thanks for those of you who are sticking with me this week. It's been a brutal tough week but I hope to get back to writing and updating more often next week. Special thanks to the new alerts and reviews.
