CHAPTER TEN: TEARS AND FEARS
Sookie woke, but kept her eyes closed, trying to remember last night's dream. She couldn't, but she felt odd. Firstly, she knew she was not in her bed at home. It was dark and damp, wherever she was. And everything was tight around her. She imagined this is what it felt like to be in the womb. She pushed out with one hand, and she felt something crumble around her. Dirt? she thought. The next thing she noticed was an arm. An arm that wasn't hers.
"Good evening," said Bill. His voice was muffled though. His arm quickly moved up as he began to dig his way out of the dirt. Sookie joined him, as she felt she had a lot of energy to rid herself of. They were out quickly, and she found herself standing beside Bill's house, under a great oak tree.
"Oh, Miss Stackhouse... No matter what you wear; a dress; jeans and a t-shirt; blood, or dirt... you always look delicious." said Bill. "How do you feel?"
"Odd... And I feel a lot. I mean, I can feel... I can feel the moisture from the air, I can feel the moonlight in my hair. I can hear the mice in the grass, and the owls in the leaves. I can sense exactly where Jessica is inside the house. I... I'm a vampire, aren't I?"
"Yes." he said. She looked like she might faint, so Bill went to her and held her.
"What happened?" she asked him, looking deep into his eyes. He told her the story. She cried when he told her another vampire drained her; she cried when everyone thought she was dead; she cried when she finally began to drink. But she didn't cry because she was a vampire.
"Oh, Bill.... I'm so sorry! That must have been dreadful for you." she said, wiping the bloody tears from her face.
"You have nothing to apologise for, my love." he cooed. "If you hadn't taken my blood, then you might have to apologise. But as it is, you're here with me. Forever, if you so choose."
She looked at him, then at her feet, then back at him. "Bill..." she said, then stopped. With all of her vampire speed, she ran to him, and hugged him. "Forever just isn't long enough." she sighed into his shoulder.
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Ring, ring... Ri–
"Hello?"
"Sam! Hi." Sookie said, a smile in her voice.
"Sookie! Sookie, oh it's so good to hear from you! I was worried about you. Are you okay?"
"Sam, I need y'all to meet me in behind Merlotte's."
"Okay, what for?"
"Just, uh... keep an open mind, okay?"
"Sookie, what's wrong?"
"I'll see you soon."
Click.
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Sam was standing at the bar, watching the door, the windows, just waiting for Sookie to come. He was so anxious! He would need to go for a run later, he knew. Sam saw car headlights, and he watched them head around back. "Tara! Arlene! C'mon!" he called. Then he stuck his head into the window to the kitchen. "Terry, Lafayette, let's go."
The staff of Merlotte's all gathered in behind the bar, looking at Sookie's car. She turned it off, and hesitated. After a moment she got out of the car, and so did Bill. Everyone looked at her, checking for scars or missing limbs. She looked fine.
"Sookie..." Sam sighed, walking forward to give her a hug. She backed up a step, but he didn't seem to notice, and he embraced her. "I was so worried. You made it seem like something was wro– Sook?" Sam backed away, looking at his arms. Then he looked at Bill.
"You... What have you done?" he shouted.
"Sam? Sam, what's wrong?" asked Tara. He was too busy yelling at Bill, so she ran to Sookie. Up close, she noticed how pale she was. Is she sick? She put her hand out to feel her face. It was cold. Dead cold. Vampire cold.
Tara turned on Bill too, and the rest of them caught on.
"Is she a–?" asked Arlene. "Oh, honey!" She ran to Sookie, and stroked her hair. A tear ran down her cheek – a clear, human tear. "Oh, honey..."
"Hold on a minute," she said to Arlene, hurt. "Hold on... HOLD ON!"
Everyone turned to look at Sookie.
"Why are y'all shoutin at Bill? And why are you so sad for me? I think you need to hear Bill out... I told you to keep an open mind. There's no way you'd react like this if you knew."
Everyone turned to Bill expectantly, looks of fear and anger in their eyes.
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After the story was told, everyone looked at Bill in awe. They had all cried at some point during his story, but now they were just quiet. Amazed.
"So, you mean, you saved her?" said Terry. Bill just looked at her. He wasn't sure that turning her into a vampire was 'saving' her. Must everything torment him? she thought.
"Yes. He did." Sookie said. Everyone looked at her, then back to Bill. Tara began to cry, and ran to Bill. She slapped him across his cheek, then kissed it and hugged him instead.
"Thank you. Oh, thank you!" she cried.
Arlene ran over and hugged him, too.
Lafayette walked over to Sookie. "Oh, slut... You make one fine looking fanger. I'm glad you're okay." he gave her a hug.
"Thanks Lafayette..." she laughed. "Oh, it's good to see you. All of you."
Sam just stood there, watching the scene. Sookie walked over to him.
"You, uh... haven't said much." she said, looking first at him, then at her feet.
"I'm not really sure what to say..." he admitted. "I'm really glad you're, uh, okay..."
"I'm better than okay." she said.
"I know. I just ... this is big for me. I'm sorry." he said. He kissed her on the cheek, then went back into the bar. Terry smiled at her, then went back in after Sam.
Tara walked over. "Oh, Sook." she said, tears standing in her eyes. She gave her a huge hug, one that would have knocked her down before her transformation. "I love you, Sookie. No matter what. I'm so glad you're home, and you're safe!"
"I love you too, Tara." she said. Don't cry... They've been through enough tonight.
Just then Sam came back out with two bottles of Tru Blood, and some drinks for the staff. He handed them around, then looked at Bill.
"Cheers," he said, "to Bill. Thanks for bringing her back."
"Cheers!"