One Night at Hooligans

Chapter 10

The room got surprisingly quiet.

"Okay then. Well... I need some air. Excuse me," I babbled and ran to the back part of the club, exiting through the employee's entrance. Once outside I went over to Eric's car and rested against the rear bumper. I stood there shaking and trying to regain my composure.

"Child," said my great-grandfather. "You shouldn't be out here alone like this. Not now."

I jerked and whirled around. "I just couldn't stay in there for one more second! Was he serious with this end of the world crap? I mean, come on," I said.

He looked me in the eyes and said, "Child, I know that this is difficult for you. Your heritage and your ability make you unique and have thrust you into a part of this world that most others rarely see. What Northman said has been foretold. This could indeed be the time of the final battle. That you have become involved in the scheme of things is... most unfortunate."

"Unfortunate? That isn't what I'd call it. I'd call it a frickin' mess! Why does this keep happening to me?"

"I asked Mr. Northman to give you some time to heal, and he disregarded my wishes."

That did it. I put my hands on my hips, pushed away from Eric's car, and let him have it, "Now you listen to me. Eric had nothing to do with this. I hadn't even seen or talked to him since before Halloween. He honored his promise to you. He did give me that time. The deer... Loki or whoever... saw me earlier tonight, before I hooked up with Eric. Eric had nothing to do with it. He protected me from him with nothing but a sword. He loves me! And... and... despite the fact that we have issues and that sometimes I want to strangle him... I... I love him. I really love him."

I felt Eric's presence behind me before he even got close. His arms came around me and he said, "Sookie, it is not safe for you here. Come back inside."

I knew he had heard what I had said to my great-grandfather. I could feel his love and joy over my impromptu confession, and it was effectively having a calming influence on me. Leaning back against him, I turned to look up at him when he suddenly stiffened.

I looked around and found that most of the supes at the meeting had followed us into the parking lot and were at full alert. Eric maneuvered me behind him and walked us backward alongside of the car. He opened the car door and pulled out his sword, giving it a twirl. "Niall, take her back inside."

As Pam and Bill moved closer to stand by Eric, the raven flew over us and landed nearby on the dumpster, calling loudly. Niall took my arm and starting gently pulling me toward the club door. I pulled away from him and said, "No, I'm not going anywhere. I'm not leaving him."

Gabriel stood up from where he had been examining the front end of Eric's car, turned around to me and said, "You should listen to Eric and your elder, little sister. Go inside where you will be safe."

With that comment, he pulled two rather wicked-looking knives from somewhere on his person with vamp-like speed and went to stand at Eric's side.

Gabriel leaned toward Eric and said, "So, brother. You let him mark your car?"

Eric growled, "Gabriel. This is not the time."

Pam took a whiff, snickered and said, "Oh this is rich. I can smell it from here. The shifter has urinated on your car."

"Be quiet, Pam," said Eric through his clenched teeth.

At that moment, Loki himself walked out from behind the lilac bushes at the edge of the parking lot. He was clothed this time, thank God, but he didn't appear to be the least bit intimidated by all the people surrounding me. His eyes focused directly on me.

"Ah, there you are. I followed you here to get a better look. You are as gorgeous as I remember. I can't wait to fuck you," said Loki, licking his lips.

Eric growled, and I thought he was going to lose it there for a minute, but Gabriel put a hand on his arm. "Wait. I advise caution."

I saw that some of the other vampires and weres were moving themselves into position to surround Loki. Loki looked at Alcide and Sam and said, "So good to see you, children. It has been too long since I have seen the offspring of my son, Fenrir. How do you fare?"

"By no stretch of the imagination will I ever call you father, Loki," said Sam.

Loki looked at his nails and then blew on them. "Pity," he replied, "There is so much we could learn from one another." Loki's voice turned nasty as he said, "Like... obedience. Bow to me, dog."

"Never," replied Sam. "Go fuck yourself."

Sam groaned and fell to his knees in pain as Loki flipped his hand slightly.

I broke free of Niall and ran forward to help Sam, kneeling down beside him. He was writhing on the ground now. I was furious and threw caution to the wind. I stood up and started toward Loki with my fists clenched. "You son-of-a-bitch. Leave him alone!"

Eric yelled, "Sookie, no!" He was beside me in a second, restraining me.

"Let go of me, Eric," I said as I struggled against him.

He leaned into me and hissed in my ear, "Sookie, this is not helping. Let us handle this."

I just kept yelling at Loki. "Let him go, dammit. Right now."

Loki smiled and said, "I will let the dog go when you come to me." To Eric he said, "Release her, north man. She is mine."

"You are mistaken. Sookie is my... she is under my protection."

Angered by what Loki had done to Sam, some of the weres were turning. One launched himself at Loki. Loki's hand caught the wolf by the throat in mid-jump and just held him with one hand. He flicked the wolf aside as if he were flicking the spent butt of a cigarette.

Niall had come forward to stand next to Eric and said, "And under my protection as well. Do you really want to do this, Loki. You know who I am, what I can do, and what I can bring against you. Release the shifter and retreat. Now."

A wind had started to blow, and Niall's face took on an odd glow. He was looking pretty scary. Scarier than usual. Loki started and released Sam. I broke free of Eric and went to Sam, looking back at Loki and wondering what was going to happen next.

TBC