AN: Cheers up and down! Im so sorry for the gap in updates, I had this done early yesterday and couldn't log on all day, and finally got through just now. Hopefully its just a glitch with the sites updates or something. Thanks for your patience and thanks again to all the wonderful reviewers out there, you guys keep the fuel fire going behind me. Thank you. xoxox. Hope you like this chapter. =)
Ma Cherie Amore
Part 10
She dragged him through the woods at lighting quick speed. Like Hector was dragged in the sand by chariot in Troy. Eric felt nothing but pain as the ground scraped away his skin and the silver seared his bloody pink muscle tissue. The silver from the bullet was still ingested in his system, which put him in a weakened state until he finally blacked out.
When Eric woke up again, he was in what could only be described as a cellar. He saw wine bottles on the side. And some sort of storage closet. But he found that his shirt was taken off and his shoes. And he groaned again in pain feeling the silver shackles clasped around his wrists and ankles. Suddenly he heard movement coming from the stairs above, wondering if he should pretend to be asleep, but it was too late, she had seen his eyes, her movements quick, smiling Maryann replied…
"I see you're awake!"
Smirking she walked over to a small table sitting next to Eric and set down a velvet pocket case of knives.
Unraveling the black belt, she took out a sharp dagger and smiled back wickedly at Eric.
"Why have you kidnapped me?" Eric asked her challengingly. Amazingly as much as he had struggled, and how painful it was, he could still offer up a commanding voice.
Maryann took two more daggers in her hand and she went down to straddle his lap, smiling as her knees touched the floor and she looked into his eyes with a glint…
"I wanted to show you some hospitality before I turned you over to your little friends, Sheriff…"
Her lips curved up and she began to rub her pelvis over his and he growled back at her realizing what she was doing…
"If you think this turns me on, your sorely mistaken…Id find two donkeys humping more arousing than you Maenad!"
Maryann chuckled and stabbed a knife into his chest cavity and she replied as he hissed from the sting of the sharp blade…
"Yes, but it arouses me!"
She took another knife tracing the line of fine dark blond hair on his navel and she cut it open. Another hiss from Eric and then she lodged the knife into his stomach.
"If you think Ill ever pay you tribute after this, you're sorely mistaken!" Eric gasped in pain as she pulled out the first blade and shoved it back into his shoulder blades.
Eric cried out as she split open an artery. And Maryann smiled and replied…
"Yes, I know…That's why I'm going to have my fun with you now!"
Finding another enticing spot to lodge one of the blades, she stabbed him again.
--------------------------------------------
It had been a full day since she had left Eric's house and Sookie was on cloud nine. He really cared about her, she thought with a smile. Relieved when she could catch an extra shift at Merlottes tonight, Sookie was all smiles as she waited her tables.
Tara looked over at Sam from behind the bar and she muttered to him…
"You'd think she just got laid with a smile like that, but the girl is freakishly cheerful."
Sam chuckled and he replied to Tara…
"Well maybe she's finally seeing the tress for the forest…how dangerous it is to be mingling with Vampires…"
Sam was just relieved Sookie was back. He felt better when he knew he could keep an eye on her. Tara smiled knowingly back at Sam but then she saw who just walked in the door and Tara replied…
"I think you spoke too soon."
Sam looked over following Tara's gaze towards the door, seeing the lone vampire who had just walked in and he muttered under his breath…
"Son of a bitch!"
"You wanna distract him while I stake him?" Tara asked him half serious. She always felt leery when a vampire was in the bar, after all they were pretty much the walking dead, and Sam just looked back at her and shook his head…
"No just stay behind the bar." He told her. Tara clenched onto the towel she was holding in her hands as she watched Sam walk over to Bill. Unfortunately Sookie had seen him first. But they both met Bill at the same time and Sam charged in first…
"What the hell are you doing here Compton? I thought I told you that you weren't welcome here anymore?"
Bill looked at him with creased brows and shook his head as he looked back at Sookie giving her his puppy dog eyes, Bill replied…
"I came to talk to Sookie…"
"What on earth could you have to say to me?" Sookie asked in outrage. Seeing Bill here just made her remember the trouble he got her into before and Bill shook his head pleadingly…
"It's important…something I need to ask you in private!"
Sam didn't give Bill a chance to reply before he gestured to the door with his index finger…
"Out Compton, you can try your games with everyone else, but they won't work with…"
"Wait." Sookie interrupted Sam while he was on his high horse. Unfortunately her curiosity got the better of her and she put her hand on Sam's tense arm thinking at least if she talked to Bill now, maybe he wouldn't make any more trouble. If Sookie knew anything about Bill he was persistent.
"I can talk to him for 5 minutes, but no longer." Sookie replied sternly looking back at Bill.
"Sook, you can't honestly think… (Sam looked back at her exasperated that she would even consider entertaining Bills request and he added…) You don't have to do this!"
"It's okay." Sookie replied trying to calm Sam down.
Bill offered…"We can have our conversation outside if you want?"
Sam glared back at Bill and growled…
"No, you'll have it in here where I can keep an eye on you."
Bill nodded and Sookie agreed, leading him over to a table. No one spoke in that moment, no one offered him a true blood or approached their table. All eyes were on them. Sookie didn't bother reading minds in this moment, because she figured it would all be negative. And she looked back at Bill apprehensive, finally replying…
"The clock is ticking Bill so whatever this is, you might want to make it quick."
"So you and Eric are together now?" Bill began but Sookie shook her head…
"Uh uh…I'm not getting into that with you, if that's what this is about…Were done right now!" She started to slide out of the booth, but Bill stopped her with his quick hand grabbing her arm...
Bill saw Sam tense up, he was holding a pool stick in his hands, which Bill could only assume was intended as a stake for him and he swallowed, figuring he needed to get to the point right away. And he finally explained…
"I am here on behalf of the Queen of Louisiana!"
Sookie tried to hold back in a laugh, but she couldn't help it bursting out it was the most ridiculous thing shed ever heard…
"Did you just say the Queen of Louisiana?" Sookie asked him still giggling and Bill shook his head replying seriously…
"Yes, in the vampire world every sector or state has a representative, king or queen ruled by monarchy…And Louisiana just happens to have a Queen, Queen Sophie Anne!"
Sookie was still giggling and she shook her head trying to dissolve the giggles…
"I'm sorry, so what were you saying? What did you say the Queen of Louisiana wanted from me?"
Her eyes were smiling, she still wasn't taking him completely serious, but Bill continued nonetheless…
"Queen Sophie Anne has requested your services, regarding a suspected infiltration into her political party."
Sookie looked back at Bill strangely all of the sudden. At first she thought it was funny and pretty off the wall, but as it sunk in for her as to what Bill was actually saying, she realized he was quite serious, and he just said she had requested her services!
"Wait? Back up a minute! I thought that Jessica was dead and with her life, so was her word against my importance?"
Her eyes looked fearful all of the sudden, Sookie didn't like the turn this had taken and Bill explained…
"That is true, her word is no longer admissible in our justice system."
"So how did she find out about me?" Sookie asked her voice on the verge of cracking. And Bill answered…
'I told her."
"YOU WHAT????" Sookie asked tensing up all of the sudden. Wishing she were sitting closer to Bill so she could slap him. People were watching them again as Sookie stood up, but Bill stood up with her…
"Listen Sookie, I promise no harm would come to you, you would be under her protection the entire time, and they would pay you generously!"
"Get out!" Sookie answered gesturing with her finger towards the door this time. And Sam rushed over to her side, but Bill continued to plead…
"This is important Sookie, you would be doing something very important and significant with your gift!"
"You heard her!" Sam answered and he replied threateningly…"Get the fuck out of my restaurant, unless you want me to take your remains out with the trash!"
He pointed his pool stick at Bill and Bill shook his head sighing. He realized he was mistaken to think he could get to Sookie this way. And he added regretfully as he took his jacket and made to leave…
"I'm sorry to have upset you."
Sam glared back at Bill. He could see Sookie was shaken up and Sam put his arms around her as Bill strode out.
Sam looked back at Sookie and he took her hand, leading her back to his office, he didn't want her to be in front of everyone any longer, he wanted to find out what Bill wanted and to make sure she was alright, and once inside he closed the door behind Sookie gesturing for her to take a seat and Sam asked her with his hand on her arm, genuinely concerned…
"Are you okay Sookie?"
Sookie looked down at her hands for a moment, and then finally back up at Sam and she finally nodded trying to be strong…
"I'm fine…He wants me to do this favor for the Queen of Louisiana….I just wish I never had this stupid disability!"
Sam creased his brows, putting his hand over hers as he leaned in and he replied truthfully…
"Its not a disability Sook, it's a gift!"
Sookie looked up, her eyes searching Sam's for truth, but she shook her head still not having any of it.
"It's a curse!" She replied sternly…"And now Ill have to live in hiding for the rest of my life!" Sookie declared.
Sam reached up to touch her arm again, but Sookie jerked him away, standing up she demanded…
"And where the hell is Eric??? (She thought growing more upset. Wasn't he supposed to be my bodyguard? Didn't he care about me? Verbalizing the rest of her thoughts out loud..) Why isn't he here protecting me? The selfish son of a bitch!"
She began to pace the room and Sam grabbed her and turned her to him.
"Sookie, stop…you can't keep putting yourself through this for them…it's destroying you!"
She looked back at Sam, her eyes tearful, for the first time genuinely afraid and hopeless and she asked him…
"What am I supposed to do Sam? Live in hiding for the rest of my life? Live in fear that someone will try to kidnap me, or use me for their own personal gain?"
She sat down again and sobbed into her hands, she replied with voice cracking…
"This is killing me…"
Sam had no idea what to do or what to say to make things right. He was a rational man, but he didn't know how Sookie could get herself out of this mess. And he finally replied with an eerily calm voice realizing the only way she could get herself out of this would most likely be, by facing it head on and Sam replied…
"Maybe we could go to the Queen and just lay it on the line…I could go with you…"
Sookie shook her head not liking that idea at all and she didn't want to drag poor Sam into this with her, he didn't ask for any of this and she finally answered…
"No Sam…Ill think of something…I just don't want anything to do with those people right now…"
Sam nodded in an understanding way and he stepped back up to Sookie and replied more softly now…
"Then we'll protect you."
Sookie relaxed her face and looked up at him slowly with a small thankful smile.
"Thank you Sam." She replied quietly and Sam leaned in to kiss the top of her head…
"Don't worry Sook…we got your back." Sam cast her one assuring smile and he replied…
"I think its time you had your lunch break."
Sookie looked over at him and at the door and she stood up and shook her head, shaking it off, she replied…
"No I already took up enough time to qualify as a lunch and two breaks…I'm going back to work."
Sam was about to argue and Sookie put her hand up walking past him…
"And that's all folks."
Sam couldn't help but smile as he walked out behind her, making sure that Merlottes was free and clear of those blood-sucking troublemakers.
----------------------
She came into vision before he woke and Maryann asked a very sorry, weak looking Eric…
"Sleep well love?"
Eric tried not to sneer at her. Normally he would tell her what a PSYCHOPATHIC BITCH she was, but in this case, he had an idea. He was going to kill the Psychopathic Bitch, and the best way to ensure that he could track her afterwards would be to share a blood exchange. The thought of ingesting Medusas blood made him flinch in sickness, but he had to make sure he could track her and he replied weakly…
"I could use some nourishment…."
Eric looked back at her, his crystal blue eyes gazing into hers. Although he couldn't glamour her, Eric had the charm thing down to a science and he creased his brows in a pleading stare.
Smiling the Maenad fell for it hook like and sinker, and she kneeled down to him, and Eric replied touching the side of her leg…
"You have bewitched me dear Maenad…How is it that I never paid you the tribute you deserve?"
He asked with another drunken smile and she leaned in and kissed him. The woman was under his spell. Eric snared the side of his lip with his fang, allowing her to ingest some of his blood and then as she leaned to the side to offer him her neck, he drank. Eric figured the Maenad would pull away before he got to far, but that didn't mean he couldn't try to weaken her significantly and Eric drank quickly. Her blood was vile and bitter, so unlike Sookie. And he thought about his beloved Sookie for a moment, thoughts of her making him want to return to Bon Temps and make things right as he drank. Wishing he could see her sweet face right now and touch her skin. It made him yearn for her more.
"Oh Sheriff…" She replied her voice lucid and raspy…She was falling deep quickly and Eric sucked harder, blood running down his lips and chin now…
"Stop…" She plead with another moan, as he sunk his teeth in deeper and then she yelled stiffening up as she came to her senses…
"Stop (pulling back Maryann hissed) THAT'S ENOUGH!"
Touching the side of her neck she staggered back weakly and she narrowed her eyes back at him finally realizing what he was doing and she replied coolly…
"I believe its time to bring in the reinforcements."
Bashing Eric over the head with lightning speed, even quicker than a vampire, he was out cold. The next time Eric woke up, he would be facing his own Tribunal in front of the Vampire council.
---------------------------------
It had been two days since Sookie had seen Eric. At first she was furious, then sad, then worried, but she figured when he didn't return her calls that he had taken off again. It wasn't like vampires ever kept their words, or at least she didn't have any evidence to prove the contrary.
She was carrying a tub of ketchup bottles to the bar for refilling, looking tired and exhausted, like years of turmoil had worn on her Sookie picked up one half empty bottle and unscrewed the cap of another to fill one up when Sam came up to her and he replied…
"Hey Sookie, why don't you go home for the night…Ill finish closing up here!"
Sookie looked back at him and shook her head not wanting him always to take pity on her and she replied…
"No, its alright, I only have a few left."
"Go home!" Sam ordered in his non-menacing way. And Sookie flipped her eyes up, replying in surrender as she looked back at him…
"Fine, but tomorrow I'm mopping the floor!" She bargained, not wanting to get away with less work than the other waitresses had and Sam finally nodded his head in agreement, concluding…
"Good night Sook!"
"Night." Sookie answered. She went into his office and grabbed her purse and fumbled around for her car keys, when she pulled out a vial of perfume Eric had purchased for her. Very expensive perfume. She wasn't the kind of girl to wear Chanel #5 but Eric was all about showering her with gifts. He had gotten her a new red coat as well. The most beautiful coat she had ever seen. But that wasn't what she wanted right now, it wasn't what she needed. Sookie thought sadly as she put the perfume back in her purse. She needed him here with her; she needed Eric, Sookie thought with a melancholy frown.
Leaving the office, she didn't want Sam to see her sad and she forced a bright smile for him…
"See you tomorrow!"
Sookie replied with mock cheer and then she was out the door. She had her keys in her hand finding her little yellow car. She unlocked her door and was about to pull the handle open when she felt a cold hand on her shoulder.
"Sookie?"
Her reflexes told her to beat the snot out of who ever it was; using her bag as a weapon she whacked her assailant in the face. And then when she turned around to see who it was, her face creased in a rage.
"Jesus H Christ Bill!!!!" Sookie's eyes flamed back at him angrily and she pushed him away….
"Get away from me! If you don't leave now Ill scream!"
"Sookie wait!' Bill answered, and Sookie got into her car slamming the door she put her hands on her wheel and replied….
"I'm going to count to three and then your going to become my road kill, (She started up her car and began to rev on the gas) One….Two……"
"Sookie its Eric!" Bill finally answered quickly and Sookie's face fell in worry. Turning off the car she got out and grabbed Bills lapels shoving him back against a neighboring car, knowing he could crush her if he wanted with his vampire strength, but she didn't care right now and Sookie demanded fearfully…
"What about Eric? What happened to him?"
Bill sighed and he shook his head finally replying clearly annoyed by Sookie's reaction…
"He's been arrested…And taken before the Magister for a Tribunal…like I had…." Bill explained…
Sookie shook her head and swallowed. She didn't think things could get any worse, but apparently they could she looked back at Bill trying to be calm and not let her emotions take over, because if they did, she would break down and she asked him…
"What was he arrested for?"
Bill looked down at his feet and shook his head replying quietly…
"That is not important."
Sookie's anger flared back up however and she slammed him against the car demanding from him…
"WHAT WAS HE ARRESTED FOR?"
Bill clearly didn't want to say, struggling to meet Sookie's gaze he knew his plans would wash down the drain if he told her the truth, but he didn't see how he would have any other choice right now, and Bill finally replied…
"He was arrested for hiding you Sookie…And not paying the Maenad tribute…." Bill added.
Sookie let go of him and she looked down at the ground as tears began to well up in her eyes. Bill hated to see her sad and he went to her and replied…
"Listen…The Queen of Louisiana has offered you her protection, they can not harm you if you are in her custody…Things about you are likely to come out at his trial…." Bill explained.
Sookie just stared at a blurry spot on her car window. She felt numb inside. Thankful she had been able to repress her sheer terror at being put in this situation and her fear for Eric's safety, otherwise she didn't think she could make it through this.
"I can take you tonight…." Bill offered and Sookie shook her head answering in a willful voice of her own…
"Get in the car Bill!"
Bill did as he was asked and once inside Sookie looked back at him and she told him…
"Now tell me how to get to this Tribunal."
"Sookie…no you cant…You would not be welcome there." Bill replied shaking his head, fearful all of the sudden and Sookie replied starting up her engine again and backing out of her spot…
"I don't care…I'm ending this tonight and if I have to go straight into the lions den to do it, I will!"
Bill looked back at her like she was crazy and she pulled out onto the main road and Sookie looked out at the road determinedly…
"Sookie!"
"Don't Bill." She cut him off.
After a long moments pause, Bill realized it was impossible to convince her otherwise, part of him feeling jealous by Sookie's level of determination to help Eric, even though he thought with her there they both put their lives at risk, he answered begrudgingly knowing at the moment there was no other alternative…
"Take a right here at the interstate."
------------------------
"What do you have to say for yourself Mr. Northman?"
The Magister asked him from his chair on top of his hatchback.
Eric looked back at him, his hands recently uncuffed, and the burns from the silver had just began to heal, but he stood proud, not bothering to cower and hide, he would face his punishment like a true vampire and Eric finally replied…
"What the Maenad said is true, I would not pay her tribute because she does not respect our kind, and she has threatened to lessen our numbers, I don't want to encourage that kind of behavior…So if she needs to have her little temper tantrum, I told her she should take it on the road…"
The Magister looked down at Eric thoughtfully and then back at the Maenad, and Eric added, just to dig in the knife a little deeper…
"And she tried to burn down a house with myself and another vampire inside."
The Magister looked over to Maryann spitefully and Eric tried to keep his fangs in. But he felt like he was doing pretty well for himself under the circumstances.
And then magister asked him…
"And what of the girl?"
Eric looked back at the Magister, trying not to let his emotion show. Knowing he was feeling everything from fear to longing to nervousness to protectiveness for Sookie. He knew if he lied and they found out he lied, his punishment would be dire, but he couldn't in good conscience send them after Sookie, after everything shed been through, deciding to buy her a little time. Eric answered…
"The girl is just a fangbanger…We had a little fling and a blood exchange, but she has no telepathic abilities…I would know better than the Maenad…After all, we knew each other intimately…I don't think the Maenad can say the same however…"
He glared back at the Maenad challengingly.
The other vampires leered and jeered, casting out a few howls…Eric was clearly esteemed among them, and the Magister smiled to himself…after a moments pause he finally answered…
"All right, give me a fortnight to decide what your punishment will be for not disclosing the threats by the Maenad to the council…"
He was about to finish what he was saying when every hair on the back of Eric's neck rose in fear as he saw who had just entered the arena, just out of the blue, and she strode up next to him demanding to the Magister…
"HE'S INNOCENT!"
The Magister raised his eyebrows and Eric tried to meet Sookie's gaze and warn her with his eyes. They were going to kill them both if she said what he thought she was going to say. And Eric spoke lowly…
"Sookie…Don't!"
"WHO ARE YOU?" The Magister peeked curiosity was on display, fangs out as were all the vampires when they recognized a human in their midst, and Sookie met his gaze directly finally replying…
"I'm Sookie Stackhouse." She looked over at Eric and she finally explained to Eric's horror…
"I would like to offer my services to you in exchange for Eric's freedom!"
Any other time Eric would have been touched by what she was doing. She was putting herself on the line for him. If there weren't 20 other vampires here watching he'd want to ravish her on the spot, but Eric knew all to well what this meant, feeling a dreaded feeling overcome him as he dared to listen on.
"Your services?" The Magister asked her clearly amused now. Sookie didn't like the way he was smiling at her and she looked back at Eric uncomfortably, wondering what she did to gain this reaction and Sookie explained…
"The Queen has requested that I work for her, but my terms….since Eric has been taken into custody have changed, he goes free and I tell you what you want to know…If he doesn't go free, then I will help no one."
The Magister looked on still bemused, and then he glanced back at Eric who was staring a hole clear through the girl. Sookie suddenly felt like something had gone severely amiss.
"Sir…I.." Sookie tried to backtrack and she looked back at Eric fearfully. And the Magister finally answered…
"So it appears you have not been as forthcoming as we were led to believe Mr. Northman."
Eric said nothing in his own defense, knowing whatever he said now would just dig his trench deeper and the Magister replied…
"You know what the punishment for lying at a tribunal is don't you Sheriff?"
Eric looked back at him hesitantly, closing his eyes for a moment in regret, he finally answered…
"Yes."
"Then enlighten our ladies and gentlemen of the jury wont you?" The Magister requested.
Sookie looked back at him worriedly, and Eric met her gaze regretful for what was to come, and he muttered under his breath…
"death."
Sookie wasn't sure if she had heard him correctly, the wind was howling and she tried to meet his gaze searching for an answer…
"I'm afraid the vampires in the back might not have heard you, will you speak up please?" The Magister asked him.
Eric closed his eyes again, and spoke with booming clarity opening them again…
"THE PUNISHMENT IS DEATH!"
And in that moment Sookie felt her heart stop beating. The terror boiling to the surface she looked back from the Magister to Eric, tears filled her eyes now and she wondered what she had done? WHAT ON EARTH HAD SHE DONE????