I have some really conflicted readers out there! Many are so upset with both Eric and Sookie right now! Eek! My story is an angsty mess, but I feel like the show is that way too. So I hope you all are a bit patient, because I can't clean up messes as fast as Eric can. Stay tuned and let me hear what you have to say! I love love LOVE the feedback!
Also I have a few inquiries about my title, so I will fill everyone in. Paul Coelho is one of my favorite authors and one of his quotes is about how love can either lead someone to hell or to paradise. So I thought that it was fitting for Eric and Sookie, because at times their love is a hell and other times it's a paradise (which you all are waiting for). Paradise is coming!
Enjoy!
Where Love Will Lead
Chapter 10
Sookie
Sookie shut the door and pinched her eyes closed, trying to will the tears away. She inhaled and exhaled deeply, trying to ignore the pain in her chest. She opened her eyes and straightened her spine. She was fine. She was going to be okay. She had been through worse than this hadn't she? Hadn't she?
Sookie thanked God she hadn't brought up her feelings. It would have just made him feel awkward about his decision to leave. And he had made a decision, which was to leave her and move on. He might not even come back. Sookie inhaled shakily and began heading back to the elevator. As she passed a maid she caught her errant thought that maybe Mr. Northman would bite her. Take her.
Sookie shook her head as she got on the elevator and thought to herself, None of my business. He is moving on, and so should I. Who he screws is none of my business.
Sookie got off the elevator leading to the Penthouse and found Lafayette on the couch. She smiled at him, he was napping and she walked over to the couch and shook him awake. "Sorry, I lost track of time. Is Emma asleep?"
"Um, yeah. Little girl had a rough message from Mom. She said goodbye," he said, wiping his eyes. Sookie noticed there were dried tear tracks on his own cheeks. "Cried he'self to sleep."
Sookie looked toward the bedroom where Emma was sleeping and said, "And I thought I had problems."
"Right?" he asked following her gaze.
"You need some sleep. Go on down to bed. I'll see you in the morning," she said.
Lafayette nodded. As he stood he asked, "You okay?"
She just looked at him and then down at her hands. "I will be."
He nodded and said, "That's right baby girl. I am here for you, ya know? Anytime."
"For the Angel of Death?" she asked, a small smile on her face, her eyes getting slightly misty.
Lafayette sighed and sat down, "You don't have to read my mind to know that I regret sayin' that. Sookie, I was upset over Tara. I was upset over her hatred of me and you because of what she is. What we decided for her. I took it out on you. I love you, hookuh. You know that right? I am sorry I ever said that to you."
Sookie hugged Lafayette and said, "I love you too. And I am sorry. So sorry for everything that has happened because of me."
He pulled back and said, "Forget that kind of thinkin'. We are gonna get through this. Me, you, and Jason. Ya hear?"
She nodded and said, "I am worn out. I will see you in the morning."
He nodded and stood, sashaying out of the room. "Night, hookuh."
Sookie went to her room and pulled back the covers. She climbed in and sighed as the bed cocooned around her and warmed her up. She seemed to just relax when she heard her door click open. Sookie peeked over the thick down blanket and saw a little head bob towards her and crawl into bed. She looked over to see Emma and she couldn't turn her away.
What she heard in little Emma's mind was that she was too scared to be alone. Sookie understood that all too well and closed her eyes and went to sleep shortly after she heard Emma's breathing even out.
Sookie's bladder woke her up and she looked to the sun streaming through the curtains. She looked over to find Emma gone and she listened and heard the TV out in the living room with cartoons on. Sookie got up and went to the bathroom and brushed her teeth.
She then prodded out to the main living area of the Penthouse Suite, over to where Emma was.
"Morning, Emma. How did you sleep?" she asked.
"Okay," she replied. "Can I have some breakfast?"
Sookie nodded and asked, "What would you like. I am pretty sure this hotel will make you just about anything you want."
"Pancakes! Oh with chocolate chips! And some sausage," she said.
Sookie nodded and went for the phone when Emma added, "Can I have chocolate milk too?"
"How about some juice instead, since you already got chocolate with the pancakes?" Sookie suggested.
"Okay," Emma replied as she focused on the television once more.
Sookie nodded and called down to the front desk for their breakfast order. She too ordered pancakes, sans chocolate chips. She also ordered some fruit and juice. She then hung up and called the hospital. She got a progress report on Sam, who was sore, but awake and ready to be discharged.
Sookie decided that they would eat breakfast, get dressed, and then head out to get Sam. She hung up with the hospital and called Jason and Lafayette's rooms to tell them the plan. Sookie then looked around for her and Emma's clothes, then called the front desk to see if they had been laundered.
They had and were being brought up with breakfast. Sookie thanked them and while she waited with Emma she decided she would write Eric a note.
Dear Eric,
Sam was discharged this morning, so we got dressed and headed out for home. Again, I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything you have done for me, but also what you have done for Sam, Emma, Jason, and Lafayette. I hope you get home safe and well.
Sookie
Sookie folded the note in half and set it on the coffee table for Jason or Lafayette to slip under his door on their way back down.
There was the knock on the door and she got up and opened it up to their breakfast and fresh clothes. She thanked the room service and asked, "Emma, will you eat the breakfast over at that table with me?"
She nodded and padded over to the small table and sat, reaching for her juice. Sookie handed her the pancakes and juice.
They ate for a while and Sookie asked, "Emma, do you have any grandparents? Or aunts and uncles we could call?"
Emma swallowed and said, "My Grandma Martha. I stayed with her while my… mom was in the hospital."
Sookie nodded and said, "Okay. I will give her a call? Do you know your grandma's number?"
She nodded and Sookie said, "Well you finish, honey, then we will get dressed and give her a call. Okay?"
Emma nodded and dug into her chocolate chip pancakes. Sookie gobbled up her own pancakes and fruit, until she heard a knock on the door. She got up to answer it and it was Jason and Lafayette, dressed and ready to go.
"Shoot, I didn't think you would be that fast! Emma and I are just finishin' our breakfast. We will go and get dressed and then we can get outta here," she said, chugging her juice. "Emma, we need to get dressed now. Go brush your teeth and get dressed and we will go and get Sam."
Emma nodded and ran to the room she had stayed in while Sookie put her glass down and headed to her room. "Jason, will you please take that envelope down and slip it under Eric's door while I get ready. It's a thank-you for all his help."
Jason nodded and grabbed the note off the coffee table and made for the elevator as Sookie closed the door behind her. She went to the bathroom and turned the shower on. She quickly soaped herself up and rinsed off.
She jumped out of the shower and towel dried herself off and went to the bedroom where she had set out her dress and underwear. She quickly put on her underwear set and dress, smelling the hotel's delicious detergent scent of lavender and eucalyptus.
She quickly slipped on her sandals and headed out to the living room.
Emma was waiting with Jason and Lafayette in the sitting room and they made sure they had everything before leaving.
Eric
Eric rose to the familiar feeling of Sookie being far away from him. At least she was in the human realm. He sat up and noticed a little note on the side table. He reached over and saw it was Lindsay's full name, her number, and how wonderful a time she had.
Eric smirked and put it back on the end table and got out of the bed and went to the shower. He climbed in and quickly showered, stepping out and towel drying his hair. He went out into the main room and spotted two notes on floor by his door.
One was written in an unfamiliar hand and the other in Sookie's.
Eric flipped open the unfamiliar notecard and found a note from the front desk saying his clothing was in a bag, fresh and clean. Eric walked to the door and scooped up the pile of clothes and quickly got dressed. He then read the message from Sookie, lightly fingering the swoops of her S's and E's.
Such a simple little note, but the thought behind it was not simple at all. He felt like although they were not together, they were on good terms. He had never given a shit about such a thing in his long life, but it was important to him with Sookie for some reason.
He set it aside and decided to get dressed and head back to Bon Temps. He was dressed and ready in minutes. He grabbed his cell phone and looked around the room for anything else he had brought. He walked to the door, but as he was walking out, he glimpsed Sookie's note. He regarded for a moment then grabbed it, pocketing it, and then left the room. He made his way downstairs and told the clerk at the front desk that he was leaving and that his guests were also gone.
His cell phone suddenly rang and he picked it up.
"Pamela," he said by way of greeting.
"The child's closest relative is her grandmother, a Martha Bozeman. Apparently there is a relation to former packmaster Marcus Bozeman. The trust has also been set up with your lawyer," she said in a bored voice.
"Very good. Please deliver the trust information to her and also forward her address to Sam Merlotte, Sookie and Jason Stackhouse, and just to be safe Lafayette Reynolds. I am on the way back now. Is Jessica still there with you?" he asked, curious.
"Yes. Annoying as ever," she said.
"Good. Keep her there. We are going to try something when I get back," he said, taking off and hanging the phone up.
Eric flew, stopping only once to get a TrueBlood to maintain his energy. He was drinking regularly now that he knew any moment he could be in the fight of his life. He landed in front of Ginger's a couple of hours after leaving New Orleans and checked the area. No Bill/Lilith.
He quickly made his way into the apartment building and heard Ginger shrieking before he even got off the elevator. He chuckled and crossed his arms as he felt Pam's extreme annoyance and frustration. Poor Pam had to put up with this for a few days.
He knocked on the door and Ginger was shrieking once more while Tara bellowed at her to shut up. Pam answered the door and said, "I don't care if I am staked. I am not staying her one more night with this idiot!"
Eric nodded and said, "Let's go."
She said, "Thank fucking God. Tara!"
Tara was by her side in an instant and Jess came out of one of Ginger's back bedrooms.
"Master, where are you goin' so soon?" Ginger asked between screaming fits.
"Ginger, stay here. The club won't be open for the next week. Pam and the girls may need to come back, so stay here," he said.
She nodded and said, "Is the bar flooded or somethin'?"
"No," he said, not elaborating as he left, Pam, Jess, and Tara following closely behind him.
"Did you drive your van?" he asked Pam.
She nodded and pointed to her van and said, "Pile in."
"Where is Nora?" he asked.
"She said she feels safest meeting us up later somewhere and to answer your phone," she said as she climbed in behind the driver's seat.
He nodded and scrolled through his contacts until he found Nora's. "Where to?" Pam asked.
"Compton's old house. I feel he or she will be needing a secure location and that is the most likely I can think of," he said.
Pam nodded and said, "Do you mind if I drop Tara off at Sookie's?"
Tara growled and asked, "What? Why?"
"I am your maker and you do not ask me questions," Pam snarled out, shooting her a look in the rearview mirror.
Tara crossed her arms, but Eric said, "I am curious about this request, and I am your maker. Explain child."
Pam seemed reluctant to say anything and it was then that Eric knew. Pam didn't want Tara in danger. He said, "Never mind, Tara, listen, I could use you at Sookie's anyway. We will be leaving Louisiana soon, so I think it's about time you mend fences with her and your cousin. I don't know when we will be back."
"Where are we going?" Tara asked shocked, and completely uncomfortable with this plan.
"I don't know. Europe I suppose," he said as he texted Nora to meet them at Compton's.
"Why?" she asked.
"Pam is right, you do ask too many questions," Eric murmured. "Pam, does this plan sound pleasing to you?"
"Homeland of the major designers? You must be joking. I have been in the swamps far too long," she sneered as she turned off the Bon Temps exit.
He nodded and said, "It's settled then."
"You're just going to leave Sookie in danger?" Tara asked, disdain and anger in her tone.
Eric had his hand wrapped around her neck in seconds, fangs out. "Watch your tongue, young one. You may be part of my line, but you are still expendable."
"Eric," Pam warned, her voice nervous as she watched her maker attack her progeny.
Eric calmed and released Tara. "For your information, I plan to eliminate Bill and/or Lilith before our departure. Your friends will be safe. Although I must admit that I don't understand your concern. You hate Sookie and Lafayette and you have hated Bon Temps for a lot longer than that, although that sentiment I understand."
Tara remained silent, turning to look out the window.
Jessica, who had been silent the entire ride, asked, "You're going to eliminate Bill?"
Eric looked to Jessica, who was sitting in the far back seat and said, "I don't want to Jess, please believe that. If I can avoid it, I will. If not, I have no choice. As Bill is now, he is a danger to everyone, not just our immediate group."
She nodded and she too looked out the window. It seemed he wasn't very popular tonight.
Eric received a message on his phone from Nora telling him she was in Bon Temps and waiting for them. Eric texted that they would meet her at the cemetery.
Please review and thanks for reading!