The next chapter of Forever Strong gets gruesome, so sorry. And also sorry because something happens that someone told me they didn't want to happen, but I had been planning on it from the very beginning of the story. And just it was very hard to write. So hard that I didn't even reread what I wrote because I just didn't want to. So again, sorry for the large magnitude of mistakes that I know must be there. Oh and sorry for the cliffies. I seriously don't plan it, I just get to a point where the chapter tells me its time to be ended.

On another note, there is as guest reviewer on fanfic who has continuously commented that this Sookie is a bitch. Just for the record, I find these kinds of comments really fun. However, I don't write fufu berry characters, there are plenty of other stories that provides this kind of character and if you don't like what I write, I encourage you to go read the other great stories on fanfic. Thank you for your continued support.

Eric POV

One minute I was glowering at Preston and then he pushed me away. And now I was here? I looked around; Godric's mansion? I was right inside the door, why would he send me here? I closed my eyes and tried to sense for Sookie; her mind was in a dull state, unconscious. I could feel pain radiating from her head, they had hit her. I growled roughly, I was going to skin him alive.

"Where is Susannah?" Godric's voice appeared behind me.

"That asshole took her! He is a traitor. We must get back there immediately." Once again I was unable to protect my bonded. I was failing at my job.

"And how did you get here?"

"He pushed me here? I don't really know."

"Was this part of the plan?" Godric was being extremely calm.

"There was no plan. We were just gathering information." My voice held an edge of rage.

"Eric, it's almost dawn. There is nothing we can do right now."

"Can we send the weres?"

"Do you trust anyone to share information right now?"

I fisted my hands through my hair; I could already feel the suns pull. I started to pace in front of the door, pragmatically I would need to wait and plan. And I needed to know something, anything. I closed my eyes and took a deep unnecessary breath. I could still feel her body moving against mine, the way her lips fit to mine and how her hands felt as they caressed my skin. I would never forget the hint of emotions I felt from her even if she was magically tampered with to be incapable of realizing them. I knew Godric was still staring at me, and I met his gaze as I whipped out my phone and placed it next to my ear.

I took a deep breath as I waited for him to pick up. Before his growly voice could start his ranting, "Alcide. Sookie is back and I am in need of a favor."

"Where and when?"

0-0-0-0-0-0-0

I groggily opened my eyes, it was still midday when her pain woke me up. It was a parallel to that night twelve years ago, but instead of being trapped by Victor and his minions, the sun was holding me from going to her. I felt the searing of burnt skin even though it was not mine, and my throat felt hoarse from screaming that was not my own. And then it was there in my head. A slight tickling.

Eric?

Even in my head, her voice sounded so weak.

Sookie? Where are you?

I can't tell you. Where did Preston send you?

Your traitorous beau sent me back to Godric.

There was no response for five minutes and I felt myself falling back into my day rest. Her voice was fading right before I shut my eyes.

Please listen to what Preston has to say. He is on our side.

You are being blinded by your emotions! Tell me where you are right now.

Eric I have no emotions. Listen to –

And then there was nothing. Each moment I waited I felt a drop of blood drip from my right ear until I reentered the world of the dead.

0-0-0-0-0-0

There was still an hour left before the sun fully set, but at my age, I was able to be up early. I sat on the edge of my bed, elbows planted on my thighs holding up my head that was planted in my palms. If Sookie is right and he was on our side, what purpose did Preston have? I don't know how long I could listen to him before I put his head through a wall; my fang tips were poking out of my mouth at the idea of draining him dry. If Sookie had no emotions she wouldn't really care, right?

My phone blinking shook me out of my thoughts. I had a voicemail from Alcide, I hated hearing his voice:

"Eric, I followed her scent to the wooded area near the cemetery. I can smell her faintly and something else. There is a heavy presence of an extremely sweet smell and I also get two vampers. I tried to follow the vamps smell but they just disappeared with the sweet smell. There is also a large splatter of Sookie's blood, not enough for a bone break, probably a head injury though. I'll continue to try to figure out where they went, but if you need something else let me know. I want her back just as much as you do."

I rolled my eyes; nobody wanted her back as much as I did. Vampires were working with these Fae. Something was not right here. Once again, Sookie's life was put at risk because of the actions of the Vampires. And Niall. Fucking Niall.

I tried to ignore the hole in my chest where Sookie's presence was for twelve years, and then only two days ago it had reignited. Godric had to administer a maker's command to keep me from going ballistic. I didn't know if I should weep at her reappearance or rip her apart for leaving me. Now there was a dull pulse of our recently replenished bond, and my blood was calling for me to save her. I could still get traces of her pain and torture, but right now she seemed unconscious. While it bided her some time, it did take away the opportunity to telepathically communicate with her and get more information. If I focused more, it seemed that her energy was waning. Her fading voice and lack of fight during our brief conversation earlier today was a further indication of this. I rubbed my forehead; I didn't miss worrying about her and constantly thinking she was going to die, but at least she was back. And I'd walk through liquid silver and fire before I let her get away from me again.

0-0-0-0-0-0

Godric, Pam and I were sitting at the dining table waiting for Preston to make an appearance. I needed Pam for her quick thinking and Godric for his ability to restrain me. It wouldn't be helpful if I ripped his throat out before we got any information from him.

I heard the buzzing before I saw it; there was a horsefly weeving through the room until it landed on a chair at the far end of the table.

"I can't stand these annoying creatures. Always buzzing like the vermin in my ear," Pam drawled as she stood up, preparing to kill it.

What had Sookie told me? Preston can transform himself completely.

"Wait, Pam. I think that is Preston."

She raised her eyebrow at me, "I know you hate him, but I think you could have made up a better insult than that."

I glared at her until she sat back down. As soon as she was seated and a decent distance from the fly perched on the chair, the air almost shimmered. And then Preston was there. I was immediately on him, slamming his face into the table and wrenching his arm behind his back.

"I will drain you where you stand." I growled in his ear.

"You and I both know that I could teleport away from here in a second, leaving you with no information on Susannah." I released him as he said this. "You and I both want the same thing. I'm just not afraid to trust Susannah to take care of herself to do it."

"Don't act like you know Sookie, better than I do."

"Don't act like she hasn't changed in the time frame that she has been in Faerie."

"While it's all well and fun to watch you little boys fight over your favorite toy, time is not on our side." Pam's bored tone interrupted our bickering match.

"Can you both sit down and talk this out like gentleman." I snorted at Godric's comment; I didn't consider Preston anything close to a man.

We both sat down and glowered at each other. I motioned for him to talk.

"I saw your wolf friend sniffing out the area from last night, so I can only assume that you already know that there are vampires and fae working together. And we already know that the fae are working to get a rise out of Niall, which they have already accomplished. But I couldn't understand what their purpose was for messing with this kingdom; why Godric's specifically? So I talked to the animals in the woods – "

"You are an animal whisperer too? God you are worse than Bill, at least he had his database."

Preston glared at Pam and then continued, "They saw some vampire conversing with the fae," Godric and I exchanged a glance. "The fae gave him some kind of package and then they left."

"Could you describe the vampire?" Pam asked.

Preston nodded, and suddenly Pam vamped out of the room and returned with a paper and pencil. "Tell me."

Preston closed his eyes, "Tall and lanky, sharp nose, black hair slicked back, beady eyes, and a deep scar along his neck."

I watched over Pam's shoulder as she sketched what Preston said, and the vampire started to look very familiar.

"Oh, he also had a dragon tattoo long his right arm."

"Malcolm Gralleigh." I said out loud.

Everyone turned their heads toward me.

"The Queen of Oklahoma's second?" Godric questioned.

"For fuck's sakes," Pam said.

"What significance does this hold," Preston's questioned.

"And why would we share this information with you? How do we know you are not working for them?" I had received enough information from Preston, "Your usefulness has expired and I'm not entirely sure you aren't double crossing us anyways. For someone who seems to care so much for Sookie it seems odd that you would let her get captured and tortured."I was ready to pounce on Preston.

"This is the only way we can save Claude. We needed to know where they were located, and you can trace Susannah through the bond."

"The only way? You didn't even discuss this with us! You were only called here to play nurse, so please forgive me for not having any trust in you." I steadily rose from my chair and my fangs snapped down; it had been awhile since I had gotten to drain a fairy dry.

"I love her. I would never harm her. And if I was a traitor, why would I send you back to Godric and then give you all of this information?"

My nostrils flared as he used that four letter word, "Maybe you are distracting us so we do not catch you."

"What do I need to do to prove myself to you?" Preston was completely at ease, lounging in the dining chair.

"Take me to her."

"And what will that accomplish other than setting you on a rampage to save her? I have heard how irrational you get when it comes to her."

I growled out at him, "You don't know anything about me."

"No, but Niall does."

Godric stopped me from running across the room and snapping his neck. "You keep questioning what he serves to gain from helping us, but what does he gain by betraying us. You are letting your emotions cloud your thoughts again, Eric."

"And what exactly was your plan to save, Claude?" Pam interrupted the testosterone filled stare down.

"I would trade places with him, and Susannah could teleport them both out of there." Preston said it like it was simpler than adding two plus two.

"Because you can transform into anything," I said quietly.

"Exactly."

"And how is Sookie going to get out of there? She isn't at exactly her prime strength and how are we going to make the switch?" I didn't want to trust Preston.

"Do you remember how I pushed you last night? I can do the same with Claude. And if need be you can be a distraction and get Sookie out."

"Why sacrifice yourself?"

"Because I love her and I refuse to let her stay there and be tortured. I will not let anything stop me from getting to her, not even vampires." Preston stared at me, and I knew he was alluding to how I couldn't save Sookie from Neave and Lochlan.

I looked at Godric, "I do not like this. There is no guarantee that he is telling the truth."

"I will take his blood." Pam said with her fangs on display, "Then I will know if he is lying or hiding something."

"What if he has poisoned his blood?" I asked. Why was everyone so easy to trust him?

"We can keep spouting off what ifs all night, Eric. I can see you are chomping at the bit to save her. If he has poisoned his blood then you can give me blood and I'll be fine. I am not Bill who has nobody to save him. Besides, what's life without a little risk?" Pam licked her lips and stared at Preston.

Godric had his hands clasped and was staring at a spot on the table, "Eric if the Queen of Oklahoma was not involved I would say we need to take some time to think about this. But I'm worried about what her role plays in all of this, not to mention how long your bonded will be able to survive in her presence. We both know her feelings toward Susannah. Time is not on our side, but then again maybe rushing in their fangs blazing is exactly what I want." He was silent for a minute, "A lot of this is relying on what Preston is saying, and there is only one way to truly see if he is being honest. If you agree to this plan, then I would say we need to take Pam's offer."

I can feel through the maker's bond that Pam has no objections to this and is more than excited to help. Every cell in my body is telling me not to trust Preston, but I know a large part of it has to do with his relationship with Sookie. But she told me he was on our side, and at this point we don't really have any other options. I need her back.

"Fine. We will move within the hour. If we don't get her back, it will be your head fairy."

0-0-0-0-0-0-0

Sookie POV

I had been in an out of consciousness since cutting my telepathic ties with Eric. I was too scared that they would be able to use me to find him and I couldn't risk that. The wound on my head had clotted, but the force they used to incapacitate me was having detrimental effects on my health. I couldn't see clearly and I could barely raise my head. They were keeping me in a dark shipping container so I couldn't use the sun to heal myself. I knew Claude was near, I could feel him, but he had been unconscious since I arrived, wherever this was. I tried probing at his mind, but all I got back was a dull echo of pain; I didn't know how much time he had left.

I struggled against my bonds for hours, the iron cuffs burning into my skin with each of my frantic movements. I couldn't see anything around me, but they must have had large iron blocks in the container because my light seemed to completely diminish from my body. I didn't even have the ability to send my thoughts to Eric anymore. We were in one hell of a pickle. I hoped that Preston loved me as much as he said he did, or we would never get out of here alive and I would feel like an imbecile for putting my trust in him.

I stopped moving when I heard keys jangling. I squinted my eyes as the door was opened and the dim lights hit my eyes; it was too dark outside. They knew I wouldn't be able to heal myself, they had planned for this. I tried to muster up my strength, to fight them as they came towards me, but the iron continued to dig into my flesh and all my energy was depleted.

"Oh is the tasty little cupcake awake? This will make things so much more fun." I jumped as the deep voice's cold hands touched my skin.

Cold hands. A vampire? A vampire was helping the fae. I took a deep breath, this wasn't a pickle anymore, this was deep shit. Preston where are you.

The unknown vampire put a bag over my head, unchained me, and I fell to the ground of the container. I shivered; when had they removed my clothes and left me in my underwear?

"Don't worry sweetie, Malcolm is going to take good care of you." He picked me up and threw me over his shoulder. I tried to kick at him and head butt him, but he punched me in the kidney. "Such a sweet little thing, we're going to have a fun night." Malcolm's arm was smoothing across the curves of my right side.

I shuddered as I remembered another man's hands moving across my body and another one taking my virginity under false pretenses. I wanted to throw up.

I had to shut my eyes as we opened a large warehouse. In the background I could hear the to and fro of the ocean waves as they hit a dock and the sides of boats. The constant swish of the waves was soothing and I almost slipped back into unconsciousness when I heard his voice.

"You don't need her! Let her go!" Claude's voice rang out.

I wanted to open my eyes as I felt my body being thrown against an iron pole. It sizzled into my back and I kept mouth shut to muffle my shriek. I refused to let them watch me suffer. The iron chains latched me onto the burning metal and I wanted to cry out in agony. I opened my eyes and tried to look at my torturers, but everything was dim and blurry. I could smell my burning flesh, but all I wanted was my eyes to focus. To look at Claude so I could lie and tell him that everything was going to be okay.

"Susannah, can you hear me?" Claude's voice was raspy and weak, "Why can't she open her eyes?"

A woman's voice rang out, "We poured lemon juice in her lovely blue eyes. Who knows when or if she'll ever even get her sight back? It's really quite unfortunate; I mean I'm sure these eyes are what captivate all the men to chase after her."

"You fucking bitch!" I screamed at her.

"Malcolm, get the bottle." I could hear the sharp clicking of heels on the floor approach me.

"Oh god, please don't do this to her. Stop! STOP!" Claude was wheezing.

"For the love of god. Malcolm shut him up." I tried to turn my gaze to where Claude was located, but I couldn't see him, but I could just barely see a woman standing in front of me.

Her hair was red and went far down her shoulders. She was tall and I could just barely see a long purple gown. I couldn't keep my head still as I tried to compensate for my diminished eyesight. And then there was a cool hand pushing my hair behind my ear.

"Look, there they are." They mystery woman flicked the point of my ear. "You think Eric was still want you now that you are part of the enemy species. Although you do smell absolutely delicious." I reared back as her fangs snapped down.

"Who are you," I snarled at her.

"So feisty. That's not how you talk to royalty, you of all people should know that, princess. But if you really want to bow to me, I am Freyda the Queen of Oklahoma." I froze. I had never taken the time to figure out what happened with Eric and this woman.

"What have you done to Claude," I was frustrated by the way my voice shook.

"Well we've taken great pleasure in draining his blood and selling it for a hefty price as well as playing a fun game of, oh what's the name of that human game where it buzzes when you touch the edges?"

"Operation," Malcolm's voice rang out.

"Ah yes, yes. Operation. Although, I don't think I'm very good at it because I definitely hit the incorrect spots…many times. But this is all semantics, we were just waiting for you to gift us with your presence. Your cousin is of no importance, Sookie."

"What the fuck do you want with me!" I screamed out her.

Freyda's fist hit the side of my face and I almost blacked out, but the lemon juice dripping across my chest brought me back. "Watch your mouth, I'm not sure your grandfather would appreciate such language from his precious granddaughter."

"Fuck you, bitch." This time the hit landed on my right side. My screams as my ribs snapped echoed around the warehouse.

"I thought Southern Belle's were known for their manners. No matter, I'm a great teacher." Freyda grabbed my face and tilted it up. I tried to get out of her grasp, but the lemon juice landed in my eyes and across my face. I screamed louder this time; in anger or in pain, I'm not sure.

"Oh look at that, I've made your eyes bleed like a vampire." Her tongue traced up the blood trails on my face.

"Mmm, so yummy. No matter, once your dead, Eric will come to me and we'll all get what you want." Freyda sounded like a madwoman.

"And what." Gasp. "Exactly is it" gasp. "that you want?" Gasp. I could barely breath the pain was so great.

"Well since you are going to die soon I guess I can reveal my magnificent plan to you." She did this ugly laugh and I wanted to rip her throat out and shove it up her ass. "It seems the water fae don't like Niall and I don't like you or Godric. I want to take down Godric for helping Eric get away from me and kill you because you are why Eric won't come to me. The water fae are helping me accomplish this in return I will supply them with anything they need to take Niall's head and his precious kingdom."

"And you are so sure it'll all fall into place."

"Of course, I always get what I want." She patted my cheek and then dragged her nail down my neck and across my chest. "I have a very important meeting to attend so I'm just going to leave a little note for Eric to find on your dead body. But where to put it. Ah, how about right above this scar. It's almost symbolic really. I mean how much does he really care about you to leave you to be tortured and killed. Twice."

I felt her fingernail trace over the scar from where my previous torturers had taken a bite out of my abdomen. And then suddenly, she was gouging out my skin in slow careful swoops. I was screaming so loud my voice went out and all that I could do was an agonized wheeze.

"Since you can't see anymore and I don't know when or if you'll get that back it says Love Freyda. I think Eric will appreciate the olden calligraphy I used. It's too bad you can't see it, it's quite lovely. Anyways, I'm off. I'm going to let Malcolm finish the rest." Freyda patted my cheek.

I slumped down in my chains when I could no longer hear the clacking of her heels.

"Claude," I whimpered.

"He's a little bit indisposed, Cupcake. Guess it's just you and me now."

"If you touch her one more time I will rip off each of your fingers and stuff them into every single opening I can find on your fucking body." Eric's voice was menacing. "No I might do it anyways."

There were loud crashes and the gusts of wind as the vampires fought around me. I moved my head around trying to follow the movements, but I became too weak and everything hurt.

I felt hands on me and I started to wail, "Don't fucking touch me."

"It's me, Susannah. It's Preston." His voice was trying to sooth me.

"Just don't. Don't touch me. Please go help Claude." My voice was that of a five year old scared of the monster under her bed.

"But, there isn't anything I can do." His voice trailed off.

"No! You go over to him and you fucking save him right now!" I was thrashing in the iron and it continued to seep deeper into my skin, but I refused to let Preston touch me.

"Okay. I am going, but – "

"Preston, I have her. Please just go try." Eric's voice was calm.

"My Sookie, I am too late again. I am going to touch you now." His voice was rough with anger and bloodlust, but I knew he was trying not to frighten me.

Eric gently touched my cheek, and then moved his hand down my arm until he reached the iron chains. He ripped them off like they were strands of grass on his shoes. He continued to do this until I was free and slumped down into his body. My body was shaking against his, but Eric shushed me and smoothed my hair down. He was gentle as he held me.

"Take me to Preston."

"I don't think you want to see – "Eric's voice stopped.

"Please, just, I need," A tear or a drop of blood dripped out of my eye, I couldn't tell.

He gently lifted me up and tried not to jostle me as he walked across the large room. "We are behind Preston as he works on Claude, dear heart."

"Preston give me your hand." I reached out and groaned at the pain.

"I don't think this is a good idea, Susannah." I had never heard him sound so defeated.

"Give me, your fucking hand or I will rip your arm off your body."Everybody was silent at the venom in my voice.

Finally Preston gripped my hand and I used the very last of my energy to use him to see. I startled at seeing the world from someone else's eyes. I didn't focus long though, because seeing Claude lying in front of me was enough. I could see into his stomach, and the individual bones of his right hand were too easily visible. His left leg was contorted in the most disgusting letter shape I had ever seen. I refused to linger on his mouth and the organ missing within. Or the dull look in his eyes, the look that showed me that Claude wasn't with us anymore.

And then I started to puke blood.

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