So.. you know how sometimes you go in a certain direction and then can't go back and have to finish it? That's what this chapter is. Hope you enjoy it more than I did writing it, hahaha.
One little warning upfront: I'm about to mess with a known timeline, and basically am slightly restyling a known character to suit my own purpose.
Chapter 11
Eric
When I awake because of an extreme feeling of fear and pain, I instantly am aware of 3 things; it's not even close to sunset yet, Sookie isn't next to me, and the reason for these emotions waking me from my day rest is her.
I rush to her and see Jason struggling to get her inside, because she's fighting him. He may be strong for a human, but compared to vampires he's just a pussy. I don't even think, and rush outside into the sun. It takes a good 3 seconds before my skin reacts, so I have to be fast. I pick Sookie up, yell at Jason to get inside and just as I feel my left ear has actually caught fire, I'm back inside and slam the door shut.
Jason clumsily reaches a bottle of blood at me but I shake my head. That's not going to help. She's badly burnt and even human blood will not be able to heal her sufficiently to erase the scarring. She will need my blood, and lots of it.
"Jason, I promise you the only time I would ever ask you to do this is to save your sister, but I need to drink your blood. Sookie has to get mine, and she'll need more of it than is good for my wellbeing. So I have to replenish." Jason scratches his head in doubt but quickly pulls himself together. "Yea, yeah of course you can."
As I sink my fangs into my own wrist I study her closely to take in the damage. It's bad, and I figure if I had gotten to her even just 30 seconds later it may have been too late. There are spots, where clearly the sun had been able to touch her more intensely, that really are just a thin film of skin, and if they were to break, it would be over. I bring my wrist to her mouth and instinctively she starts to drink. Because my blood is so old, it's very powerful and effective and after just a few chugs of it, those most delicate spots have already progressed enough for me to conclude she's out of the worst danger. As her healing process kicks off, she begins to suck on my wrist harder, and my blood is flowing out faster.
"It looks like we'll have to make this a chain, buddy. I can't pull back, but I do need to resupply too." Jason nods and offers me his wrist, and I sink my fangs in it. It's not the most ideal spot to be honest, but it'll have to do. In between chugs, I manage to mumble: "What on earth were you two thinking? We nearly lost her!"
"Well that's why she called me, bro, she knew she might need someone that could rescue her in case it went wrong. I told her to get back inside when I saw smoke coming off her but it was like the sun had cast a spell on her, she just wouldn't listen. When I tried to force her back inside she punched me so hard I saw stars, and even when she started to burn, which was when you found us, she was fighting me off. Dude, had I known she'd get like that, I'd have never agreed, that's for sure."
After a few minutes, I know we're done, transfusing blood. Sookie is beginning to heal fairly nicely, but it may take a while. I just hope she's not going to be left with scarring. I'm pissed off that she didn't wait and discuss this ridiculous plan with me, I would have talked her out of it. Even if she would have turned out to be able to walk in the sun, she keeps telling me she wants to be 'just normal', so why was she so eager to try this out.
Jason is looking pale, and I'm not so certain that's only because I drank over half his blood. "You know, I've never been a fan of you vampires. We was doing jus' fine when it was just us humans. But now my own sis is one of you. I know I gave you permission but I was sure she was gonna chose to end it herself once she woke up. And I was fine with that, you know. But then she went all kickass vampire in that warehouse and I saw her in a new light. She's still who she always was, but then a much stronger and more awesome version of it. So I can't lose her, Northman, I just can't. I'm not ready. So you better take real good care of her and make sure that nothing bad happens."
I give him a slightly amused look "Or what? You're gonna kick my ass? You really think you got a shot at that?"
Slightly embarrassed he quietly laughs "Yea I guess you're right. Consider it just a figure of speech, man."
"It's ok, Jason, I hear you. I hope you know how precious your sister is to me. I've walked this earth for a thousand years, but right now is the first time in over 600 of those that I truly feel alive. Sure, I've had my fun, and I've kept busy. I've made friends all over the world and we've enriched ourselves with knowledge and treasure. But it wasn't until I met Sookie that I realized I actually still had a heart, and was still able to love someone, and to care for that one special person. I would have stuck with her in her human form until she died of old age. But then all this happened, and like you, I never expected her to stay vampire, but she did." I pause for a minute as Sookie moans in pain. The healing process is clearly causing her discomfort.
"So anyways, I promise you, from man to man, that I will do my very best to keep her safe and protected. I'm proud to be her maker, and I'm honored to be her mate, and the thought of losing her is the only thing that frightens me."
Jason seems content with that, and offers me his hand. We shake on it. Man to man.
Sookie
Finally the pain begins to fade. It was so bad, I barely noticed them bringing me inside and it wasn't until Eric's blood started to heal me that I somewhat regained awareness of my surroundings. What was I thinking, doing this without Eric? I feel myself shaking, and something on my face feels wet.
Then Eric carefully caresses my face. "Sookie, sweetheart, it's ok, let it out. You're going to be fine, you just got really badly hurt but my blood is doing a stellar job at healing you." He rubs his thumbs below my eyes towards my ears. "Can you speak? Say something please, lover."
With a very weak voice I manage to tell him "I'm sorry, Eric". And then the tears change into all out sobbing. I try to bring my hands to my face but he holds them back. "Babe you have to keep still until you're sufficiently healed, if you want to avoid scarring." Oh lord, I can't have that. Imagine me all scarred, I wouldn't just be a monster; I'd also look like one! If only the sun would pull me back into my dayrest now, that would be so much easier.
I can sense Eric's concern for me and can even tell that it's not just about my physical appearance. I think of how much I love him, and how much I want to be with him for a very long time and he apparently picks up on this, as he takes my hand and squeezes it.
The next few hours are filled with small talk and Eric and Jason are both constantly checking my entire body for progress. By sunset, my body is entire healed, but I'm thirstier than I've ever been.
"Eric, at what time do we have to be at Fangtasia?" "We? I don't think you're going anywhere tonight. You need to take it easy. You may be healed physically but your body is exhausted. Actually I was about to call this agent that provides donors who make house calls, and I was going to order for one to be here every 3 hours until sunrise. I will have to go to the bar, but I don't want you there, not tonight. You need to take care of yourself, Sook. Vampires may be tough, but you can't take the risk of running into trouble when you're this depleted."
I'm disappointed, and a bit hurt, but I realize he's probably right. "Well, if that's the case, you better send me some vampire company, Eric, because you can't risk me being alone with them donors, and losing control. And if we learnt anything today it's that my dear, muscular and fit brother stands no chance against me."
Eric seems amused by that, cocks an eyebrow and dryly says: "You mean you need a babysitter? I'm sure your big sister would love to spend the night bonding with you."
Oh crap, me and my big mouth.
Eric
Pam was highly displeased with my decision to have her babysit Sookie, but honestly, I wouldn't trust anyone else to do it. Besides, with the two of them together, I will be able to tell from the bonds I have with them whether the emotion I get from one of them matches with the emotion from the other, and I'll know whether things are going ok without any doubt, that way. At the moment, both of them are sending me frustration and boredom, which is just perfect to me.
Fangtasia opens, and it's a fairly quiet evening because it's a football night, and for whatever reason, these Americans love that sport, and stop all other forms of social activities on the days it's being played by the pros. Personally, I feel it's overrated. Sports to me when I was human, was hunting a herd of moose, and hauling them back to our camp, and slaughter them right there. The only 'sport' I do enjoy watching at times is women's beach volleyball, for obvious reasons. I may have been bored with life until recently but I'll never tire of boobs.
At around 11.30 pm there's a knock on the door to my office. "Mr Northman, there's someone here to see you. Seems like an official call of some sorts." "Well in that case, send them through."
I'm slightly shocked to see it's Russell Edgington, the chancellor of the Authority.
"Mr Northman, I'm glad to see you're back in business. I hear you've had quite the eventful week?"
I find myself instantly annoyed by his adopted, fake southern accent. It's so over the top dramatic!
"You know how it is, becoming a master to someone can be a little demanding, but she seems to settle in quite nicely."
"I'm glad to hear that. Now tell me, this new progeny of yours, she used to be quite special as a human, am I right? If I recall correctly, she was able to read minds?" "As a human, yes she used to be a telepath. But she's just our average vampire now. A little tamer and more disciplined than most baby vamps, but without any extra skills."
"I have to be honest with you, Northman. It surprises me that such an exquisite human would choose to sacrifice a fantastic ability such as telepathy, only to have eternal true love with a vampire. You were mates before last week, yes?"
What's with the obsession?
"Yes we were, and we still are. And Sookie did not get turned by choice. She was viciously assaulted by a human, and by the time I got to her, she was already too weakened. I decided to turn her before it was too late, and to leave the choice of leading a vampire existence with her. Too my surprise, and to her own as well, she took up our lifestyle without any hiccups, and seems to have chosen to stay with us."
"Hah! Well I can't wait to meet her, Northman. Is she not anywhere near?" "No, she's having a girls night with my other progeny. You know, sister to sister bonding, doing nails and hair and other girly stuff."
"What a shame. I guess the first time I'll see her will be at the ball, then." Wait, the ball? What ball? I look puzzled and surprised. "That's what I came here for, silly!" he hands me an official looking envelope, "Her majesty the Queen cordially invites you and your children to attend the 1343st Annual Vampire ball. A tradition held up over the centuries, and this year it was the Queen of Louisiana's turn to host it, and she personally insisted on inviting your little family."
Of course! I knew that this was supposed to be coming up, but thought it wouldn't be for another few months. Those balls are huge gatherings with vampires from all over the world attending. A lot of political bullshit goes on there, with each and every vampire acting nice and cordially. Emphasis on the word 'acting'.
Oh well, it's a nice occasion to send my girls shopping and telling them to go all out. Even if Sookie has any doubt, Pam will 'kindly' help her getting over that.
Russell's business being done, he makes his way to the exit. Before leaving he says "By the way, you should be approached by the executer of Bill Compton's estate. It appears you and your progeny both were named in his will." I nod at him in acknowledgement and wave him my goodbye. Good riddance, I do not trust the rat at all. We'll have to tread very carefully around this, making sure Sookies abilities are not revealed.
The rest of the evening is quite uneventful, and I am able to go home at 3.30am, half an hour after closing. I haven't felt any extremes through my bonds with my children, and when I get to my place, this is confirmed; they are both slouched on the sofa, watching some really bad vampire movie from the 1970s, and are laughing hysterically. I'm slightly, but also pleasantly surprised that Pam even seems to enjoy it. I love that she's snarky but I love it even more when I see her enjoy herself
"Hi baby, come sit with us!" Sookie giggles. I'm not really in the mood for movies, but I do like the way my home really seems like a home when I walk in to this, so I figure I'll just enjoy the vibe. Oh I can see why they are laughing so hard; these kinds of movies are so far removed from the truth, that to a real vampire, they are like watching a comedy. The clothing is so dramatic, the fangs are always terribly done and of course the acting itself is usually the worst.
I nestle in between the two of them and Sookie instantly leans against me. "How are you feeling, lover? Were the donors to your liking?" "I'm ok, baby. I was a good girl and drank just enough from each of the donors, and Pam didn't have to force me off or anything. There should be one more here in about an hour for now and that's the last one before sunrise. Hopefully I get a good day's rest this time around, and then tomorrow I'll be good to go."
We finish watching the movie, and Pam decides that's her time to head home. I gave up on trying to offer her a place to stay about 5 decades ago, that woman is just too fond of her own space. Right as she takes off, the final donor for the night shows up; a drop dead gorgeous brunette who smells ridiculously enticing. I've ordered these donors from a special service, and they are known to accept additional pay for additional service, so as I guide her to the livingroom to bring her to Sookie, I offer her double pay if she allows us both to drink from her. She's more than happy to accept that deal, and to mine, and Sookie's surprise, she says: "I can have one of you on my neck, and the other one can drink from my thigh."
Drinking from the thigh is very effective, but also very intimate and not usually allowed by professional donors, and for a second I wonder why this one is different. Sookie picks up on my doubt and gives me a sly smile. Inaudibly to the human ear she whispers at me "she's doing this so she'll be worked up when she heads home to her husband, and she's planning to have hot steamy marital sex." Smart donor, making the most of a profitable situation.
I gently pull her hair to one side, caress her cheek and sink my fangs into her artery. Simultaneously, Sookie does so into the woman's left thigh. This woman's blood is as exquisite as she is physically. It's full, and a bit thicker than usual, and has a wonderful hint of spice to it. I drink her as if she were a fine wine. Slowly, taking in the flavor, and enjoying the moment. I look down and see that Sookie also is doing the same. She must be satiated after all those feeds, and this one is just a late night snack.
"Oh my, you two sure now how to treat a lady" the donor says, slightly moaning. Sookie's eyes find mine and they tell me she's as aroused as the donor is. Seeing her so close to this woman's crotch turns me on to and I take a step back so my boner doesn't press against the back of this precious female.
In a short moment of clarity I pull back my fangs, and lick the wound in her neck so it heals nicely, the woman whimpering as I do it. I gently tell Sookie that it's time for her to let go too, and she obeys reluctantly. Sookie cleans herself up a bit, and then tenderly kisses the woman's cheek to thank her, and then she shows her out.
Finally it's just the two of us, and I wrap my arms around Sookie and kiss her long and slowly, before picking her up and carrying her to our bedroom. I slowly undress her, and then myself, and we spend the rest of the night making intense love.
A/N Alright, so this was a bit of closure for me. From the start I somehow thought she had to be a daywalker but the closer I got to revealing it, the more I didn't like the idea at all. So she had to burn. Eric will not always remain as forgiving to her, by the way. And the Russell Edgington bit: He's member of the authority now, but the Queen of Louisiana is still alive. That's different from how the series happened but it's my fic so I can do what I want!