Chapter 11

****0****

Last time we met:

If it as all possible, I feel him move closer to me.

"Tell me, my sweet Sookie," he kisses my neck softly. I swear if he lets me go, I dropping to the floor.

"What," he kisses me again, "was that tantalizing aroma that was coming from my bath when I woke?"

I moan as he increases his kisses. "Tell me, Min Kara," he pauses, "was my girl naughty when she woke," he kisses me again. "Or were you just missing me that much."

He kisses me again and I move my hips against him.

He stops my movement with one hand. "Tell me Sookie," he growls at me.

"Yes," I whisper to him.

"Yes, what?" He asks.

"Ye..yes I missed you so much," I moan out to him.

Turning my face toward him, he kisses my lips as I let out another moan.

"Well, my sweet," he pulls away from me and lifts me into his arms. "I think we will need to reenact that scene now, don't you think?"

Before I can answer him, he has me up stairs and in the shower.

***0***

EPOV

I had wanted to speak with her before anything else this evening. We had so much to talk about tonight. However, with everything that had happened already today, the sweet surprise I found when I rose this evening was going to make it hard to stay away from her. Regardless, I was determined to do my best.

All my plans for our talk flew out the window when I came to the back door and saw the vision in front of me. Her long gown hugged her body in a simple, yet irresistible manner. The color made her skin and hair glow. With my keen eye, I watched as her hips swayed slightly as she walked across the room. The ends of her bathrobe floating behind her as if she had wings gracing the air on a whim. When she turned, I saw my pendant nestled softly between her breasts. All thoughts of talking out the window, I rushed to her and pulled her into an embrace. I whisper a few words into her ear regarding my special treat and felt her body sink against mine. As if it was always meant to be there and fit perfectly.

Instincts taking over, I had her up in my arms and before she could utter a word, we were up in the bathroom, my arms still around my beloved holding her close as I could with the offending clothing separating us.

Pulling down her bathrobe, I kiss her neck and shoulders lightly.

Sookie sighs at my touch and I smile against her skin.

"How much did you miss me, Min Kara?" I ask her. "Were you thinking of me when you were touching this beautiful body in the shower?"

"Yes," she gasps at me. "I…I missed you so much, I…"

I release her for a moment and turn the water on. Turning back to her, I have her out of her gown and me out of my clothes in a matter of seconds. No more than a breath has left her delectable mouth and I'm back behind her, brushing my hands over her shapely neck, down her silky shoulders and back to her breasts. I begin to caress and fondle them until her nipples are two beautiful peaks and her skin is reddening from my touch. They are perfect and my hands form perfectly to them. Leaving not one part of them untouched when I fold my hand around them.

Again, I hear the sigh and moan releasing from her lips, telling me of her need.

Picking her up, I move us into the shower and watch as the spray falls down her shoulders and through her cleavage. Forming waterfalls over her beautiful body down to her toes.

"Did you think of me touching you here?" I ask her as I caress her breasts once more.

Before I can tell her too, Sookie lifts her arms and wraps them around my neck, moaning again.

"Tell me, Sookie," I say in a harsh tone. I still myself from growling and sinking my fangs into her to claim her. There will be times and places for that. This is neither.

"Yes, yes..Eric…I needed to feel you." She moans. "It hurt, baby, it hurt so much."

I move one of my hands lower on her body. Lifting one of her legs, I rest it on the side of the tub. Spreading her open, so I can get to her core easily. She smells so delicious. Her scent left in the shower this morning didn't prepare me for how she smells now. Not even last night were my sensescompletely overwhelmed as they are now.

"Did you imagine me touching you here?" I ask her as I move my hand between her legs the source of her exquisite aroma.

"Eric…I…" She pants, "please."

"Sookie, did you think of me when you touched yourself here?" I ask her again.

Moaning her yes, she moves back into me. Brushing her shapely bottom over my, now, very hard cock.

"Please, Eric…" she groans again.

"Sookie, you started without me." I say softly to her as I move my fingers around her core. Caressing her and brushing her now dripping juices around her throbbing lower lips. "You think you can do a better job than I?" I ask.

She shakes her head back and forth. "NO…I…I wanted…"

"You wanted what Sookie?" I ask and I move one finger into her. "You wanted to show me what you could do without me?"

She shakes her head again. "No…I…I wanted you…I just…"

"Ah, my girl was impatient, were you?" I ask as I move the second finger into her. "Couldn't wait for me?"

"I thought…I thought of ….of you, Eric…Please, I wanted you so bad." She whispers between thrusts.

"You will have me, and only me, Min Kara," I growl at her as I increase the tempo. Her body responds and begins to compress around my fingers. "No other will make you feel this way," I growl again. "I have crossed oceans of time to find you," I whisper in her ears. "No man or beast will ever take what is mine."

"Eric…I…more, please more." She begs and moves back into me again.

I shift my fingers and find the spot I'm looking for. On the next stroke, Sookie is screaming my name. I growl as she pulsates around my fingers

Before she has a chance to come down, I have her out of the shower and on her back in her room. As she opens her eyes, I enter her in one thrust. The way she grabs hold of my cock stops me. If I was human, there would be no way I would be able to hold it together. When the time comes for me to join the Goddess in Valhalla I will tell her what I loved the best in my lifetimes was being here in this moment with my beloved.

I start to move and Sookie responds by wrapping her arms and legs around me as I take her hard and fast.

"MINE," I growl.

"You…yours…all….all…yours," she pants to me.

"I'm who gives you pleasure," I growl again.

"Ye…yes Eric…only…only you." She moans.

"I am who makes your body sing," I say to her.

"Yes, only…only, you," she says between my strokes.

"All of me for you," I growl. I feel her compressing around me and Goddess help me, I've never felt any woman, creature or human make me feel this way.

"Ahhh, Min Kara, Come…Come…NOW Sookie," I growl.

As if her body is completely in tune with mine, Sookie once again falls over the cliff.

The feeling is so intense that I have no doubt that Sookie is anything but human. After several more strokes I follow her and collapse on her as I come down.

When I go to move, Sookie stops me. "No, please, stay here for a minute."

I laugh. "Sookie, I don't want to hurt you," I say.

She shakes her head. "You won't," she says softly. "It makes me feel safe, feeling pinned below you."

I smile into her shoulder. She has no idea what that comment does to me.

After a few minutes, I finally release her and roll to my side. Sookie moans slightly at the loss of our connection and I pull her close and wrap my arms around her.

***0***

SPOV

Wow, if that is a Viking quickie I am going to get them as much as I can. Cheese and crackers, I've never heard in anyone's head anything that compares to what we just did. Even Dawn never thought about anything close.

I hold Eric as close as I can trying to hold against me his weight and strength.

"Did I hurt you, Min Kara?" He asks me.

I shake my head against his chest. "I wanted you all day," I say with a moan.

He laughs. "Yes, I noticed."

My face going ten shades of red, I roll in to his side. "I…I can't believe I did that."

"Sookie," he touches the side of my hair. "Look at me."

I look up at him hesitantly.

Smiling, he touches the side of my face. "Min Kara, there is to be no embarrassment between us." He says softly. "There should never be anything that we do with one another that would cause that."

I look at him. "You…you seemed angry that I well…" I bit my lip, "started without you." I say the last in a whisper

He laughs. "I was not angry, my beautiful girl. Jealous that you were finding that pleasure when I wasn't there. But angry, no, I could never be angry with you for trying to imagine me with you." He brushes my face again. "I want to be everything you need and do all you want to satisfy you, always, My Sookie." He smiles. "I revel in bringing you such pleasure. I enjoy watching you fall. There is nothing more beautiful than watching you let go and fall apart." He says with a husky voice. "I'm sorry I was down and couldn't be with you when you evidently needed me so. It is cruel, I know and I'm sorry."

I smile at him. "Even if you were human, you couldn't be there all the time, Eric." I laugh at him. "I didn't realize you would, well, I just didn't think that what I did would affect you so."

He pulls me so that I'm straddling him and cups my face. "Promise me," he says. "Promise that if there is something…"

I touch his lips. "Eric, you are all I need," I say to him. "I wanted nothing but you. You are what I was thinking about. It was you I wanted holding me, caressing me, making me feel better than I've ever felt. I've never wanted anything more in that moment than you." I hold onto his hands with my own. "I'm so relieved that I waited for you. I couldn't imagine feeling anything close to what I felt with anyone else that I felt with you."

Smiling, he pulls me closer to him and once my lips are in reach, he kisses me.

Our kisses become more intense and soon he is lifting my hips and slowly lowering me onto his gracious plenty.

Throwing my head back, I groan as he slowly fills me. I've never felt anything as wonderful as this. I look at him and try to move but he hasn't released my hips and is controlling the movement. Slowly, he moves me up and down and then begins to move below me in the exact opposite direction. Each movement is slow and deliberate. Every time I try to speed it up, Eric smiles and slows us down further.

I feel the coil building in my lower half and he continues to move us at an ungodly slow rhythm.

"Eric…" I moan again.

He smiles. "What do you need, Min Kara?" He asks as he moves in with a stronger thrust.

I gasp at the feeling. "Eric, I need…please, please…come with me." I don't have any idea if I'm making sense.

With a quick movement, Eric is sitting up with me still straddling him. The position changed, I feel like he is filling all of me at the same time and I can't stand it.

I move my legs so that they're around his waist and use the additional leverage to try to get him to move at a faster speed.

I hear Eric groan at my pressure around him and he increases his ministration which allows me to move faster as well. No sooner has he changed the speed, I'm falling over the edge once more with Eric right behind me.

Wrapping my arms around him, I pull him as close as I can once more. Relishing in the strength and power that having his arms around me makes me feel in every ounce of my being. I've heard other girls think about feeling so alive during sex. They have no idea..

I'm not sure how long we stay like this but I suddenly realize that I've been tracing the marking on his back.

I hear him growling softly and pull me closer. I continue to trace his mark and he continues to pepper my neck, shoulders and chest with soft kisses that feel more like snowflakes but then burn in his wake.

Suddenly, I realize that Eric didn't feed.

I pull back. "Eric, you…you didn't feed," I say to him.

He smiles. "I'm very old, Sookie, I don't need to feed every day," he says.

I know he's telling me the truth but I still feel a tad bit uncertain of his words. Granted I don't know much about Vampires. I only know what I've learned from Eric. Bill was no help. But there are stories all the time. Words and gossip from patrons of Merlottes and lest we forget, thoughts of other women. I've heard about the feeding patterns of Vampires. Regardless what the media says, I know that Vampires do not only consume True Blood. If he isn't feeding on me then is he feeding on others?

"Sookie, what is it?" He asks me.

I shake my head not wanting to say what I'm thinking. It's too embarrassing and he hasn't said that he wouldn't feed on others. I hope he won't but still.

"Sookie, I just said there is to be no embarrassment between us. I don't want there to be any lies or deception either," he says. "Once the bond is complete, we will not be able to deceive one another and I wouldn't even if I could. It would be disrespectful to you and to me."

I nod and try to look away. "What is it?" He asks.

I sigh. In for a penny….

"Eric, I…are you going to still feed and…"

He touches my lips with his finger and looks straight into my eyes. "Sookie, no one will ever touch me but you. No other's blood will sustain me other than yours."

He moves to the side of me and we disconnect once more; leaving me feeling empty.

"Sookie, why would you think I would want any other's blood?" He asks me.

I shrug. "You're a Vampire," I say softly, "I heard what those women were thinking at Fangtasia the other night. It wasn't like you haven't been around, Eric." I give him a look. "I'm not saying anything about that." I pause and then sigh. "When I got to Bill's house one time there were a few other Vampires and they had some humans, pets they kept calling them. I don't think those humans were there to have a night out. They didn't even look like they were the entertainment." I sigh. "He wasn't feeding off of me so I …."

Eric cuts me off with another kiss. Goodness does every kiss this man give me scorch me to my toes.

Once he releases me, he looks into my eyes once more. "You agreed to bond with me and I you. I know you don't understand fully what that means but I need to be very clear on this. A bonding is forever, Min Kara. Not the forever, they talk about in human love songs or promises. A Bond is like a diamond. It will continue to shine for eternity. You and I will be each others, always."

Kissing me again, he slowly moves us so that we are now seated with him against my headboard and me on his lap. He releases my lips and kisses down my neck to my shoulder.

"Sookie," he says between kisses, "we have some things to discuss this evening," he says as he continues to kiss my neck.

I laugh. "I," I sigh at his ministration, "I think we should get out of this bed if we are going to be able to do that."

He growls and holds me close. "I don't wish to," he says softly. "I've thought of this since I rose."

I laugh again. "Eric, if we stay here, you and I both know that there won't be much talking."

Releasing his hold on me, he lets out a breath I know he doesn't need.

"We should put some clothes on too." I say as I move off his lap.

"Fine, but if you are going to deny me the joy of gazing at your beautiful form, please put back on the gown you were wearing." He says and wiggles his eyebrows.

"You like that?" I ask him as I make my way off my bed and to the door to fetch the articles that we discarded in the bathroom.

He is behind me in a flash, pulling me back towards him.

Growling in my ear, I again feel my knees start to give. "I will have to make sure that you receive much more of the same, Min Kara," he says to me. "If you will be in my bed, home or anywhere near me while preparing for slumber and must be dressed, then I will insist on lovely lingerie that shows off your beautiful body."

Kissing me again, I can feel his reaction to such a thought rubbing against my lower back.

"Eric.." I pant. "This…this is not tal…talking." I say before I lose all sense of reality.

Moving us toward the bathroom, he only releases me when I have to reach for my clothes. Before I'm even done pulling the gown on, Eric is done and is holding my robe.

He rubs his hand up and down it for a moment. "It is beautiful," he says and helps me on with it. "But you deserve to be wrapped in silk or satin," he says softly. "The finest ever made."

I turn to protest, but the look on his face is so full of love and desire, the words get lost from my head to my mouth. All I can do is smile at him. I doubt that any argument is going to sway Eric on this or anything else that comes to giving me gifts.

Taking my hand, Eric leads me down to the living room where we both get settled on the couch. Once settled, I see him staring at the pendant. I touch it and he smiles.

"I love that you are wearing it," he says to me. "You have no idea how much."

I smile at him. "I love that you gave it to me." I look down at it. "Eric…"

"Yes, Min Kara?" He asks me.

"You…you have this tattooed on your shoulder. Was it done before you changed?"

He nods. "When I was a little boy, my father…"

"Your father took you away and when you returned you had that." I point to it.

Eric looks at me curiously. "That's right," he says. "How did you…"

I shake my head. "I don't know. I had a dream about it and knew I'd seen it before. But Eric, that's impossible, isn't it?"

He laughs. "Sookie, I've learned a long time ago that nothing is impossible. Perhaps you saw it when you came to Fangtasia. Or you were given the dream for a reason."

"Yeah, but why and by whom?" I ask him.

He touches my face. "Those are questions that should be answered by others." He says. "When your Grandmother returns, we should speak to her."

"How would Gran…"

He puts his hand up to stop me. "Remember I said I would let you know if I couldn't answer something for you?" He asks me. I nod. "I believe there are things that your Gran needs to tell you. Once she has, then if there are other questions she has no answer to, we will seek out those who can help."

I look at him for a long moment. I know there are things that he knows. Things that I want to know but he's waiting on Gran. Could she have asked him to allow her to give me the information? What could she possibly know that I don't? Deciding to put that aside for a moment, I go back to his tattoo.

"Eric…this morning, I touched your tattoo." I say to him.

"Sookie, you can touch me any time you desire," he smirks. That one look sends chills all the way down to….ugh…stop thinking about that.

I shake my head trying to clear my mind. "No, that's not what I wanted to tell you."

I tell him about the shimmer and how it felt when I touched it.

He sits quietly for a moment and I know he is going through the sequence of events again in his mind.

"What…what do you think?" I ask him. Hoping that he won't tell me I was imagining it.

Taking my hand in his, he looks in my eyes. "Sookie, I think it's a sign. What the sign means, I'm not sure yet. However, together, we will find out. I do believe that it's a confirmation that we were meant to be together. That you and I are tied together through time, somehow. Again, I think this too will need to wait until we meet with your grandmother."

I think on that for a moment. "Wait, we?" I ask him.

He nods. "I would like to be with you when she talks to you, if it's okay."

Like I could say no to that. "But…but what if she tells me something that you don't…"

He touches my lips once more. "Sookie, there is nothing that your Gran could say that would ever change my feelings for you." Cupping the side of my face he looks deeply in my eyes. "You are my eternity now. Nothing will change that."

We stay there for a moment until Eric moves his hand.

"So, that is your family crest?" I ask him.

He nods and then looks thoughtful for a moment. "It was my human family crest as well as my undead family seal." He says.

I look at him in confusion. "I…I don't understand. Do you mean, your made children? I thought.." I wait a moment. "Okay, I think there is more to the Vampire world I need to know."

Eric nods. "I agree," he says. "I will tell you some things tonight and will wait on others." I go to protest but Eric beats me to it. "I know what you are to say, Min Kara, but there are things that must stay secret for now. Much of what I'm to tell you is common knowledge in my world. However, Vampires, like most Supernaturals like their secrets."

I think about that for a moment. He's right. What little I know from Bill, he did enjoy keeping secrets. At least Eric is willing to share some things with me.

"I…I understand," I say softly.

He nods. "You already know that there are Kings and Queens of Areas," he pauses and I nod. "There are many more in the Americas than there are in Europe, Asia and Africa. The areas are carved there as of old and don't seem to worry about modern borders. Russia is divided into several sections, where the Netherlands has one King. Much of the South portion of Africa is under one rule, while a place like Romania is home to its own King while Germany and Poland are divided with several other territories. Again, they were using regions of old.

The America's territories follow more of the states. However, New England is under one ruler as is North and South Dakota. Florida governs the islands off its coast and the Queen of Alaska has territory in Canada. Beyond that, the territories basically honor state borders."

Okay that seemed logical.

He continues. "The manner in which Kings and Queens held territory in Europe is different than how they were presented in the states. The Vampire with the strongest backing fought and won their territories."

I nod, "It's like wars of the middle ages and before? In a time where stories were written; depicting King Arthur and his Knights of the round tables. A time where the world was ruled by strong rulers surfs and rulers in ancient dark fortresses that held out their foe for winters at a time." I say to him.

He smiles. "I forget how well read you are. Yes, Vampire history holds to most of the same concepts. The strongest and best were given the right to rule and only if you could hold your territory were you allowed to keep it.

Now, there are many over there who have ruled for much longer than they should have, but modern views have deterred fighting where Humans will notice." He pauses again. "In the US, areas were given by the council."

I look at him. "The Council?" I ask.

He nods. "Yes, the Supernatural Council was derived in the late 17th Century. Before that, the Americas was like the wild west and Vampires needed to be controlled as well as many other creatures that were using this country and it's wild and untamed ways to further their own goals. The Council is made up of six seats: Two are held by Vampires, One by Fae, One by Weres, One representing Witches and the other Gods and Goddesses."

I put up my hand. "You…Witches, Gods, Goddesses… Eric, really?"

He nods. "You saw some of them last night. You really think that is all?" He asks me.

I think about it for a moment and then respond. "Okay, not to get into a philosophical debate with you right now. However, there are actual Gods and Goddesses?"

He smiles. "We will have this discussion another time, but yes. The Handmaiden helps with their will. Though, most of the time, they stay away from general debates. The last seat is held by the Pythoness, we call her Your Grace."

I feel a buzzing in my head at her name but I can't place it. "Who is she?"

He smirks again. "Have you ever heard of the Oracle of Delphi?" He asks me.

Have I ever heard of them? "Of course Eric, they are said to have lived 8th or 9th century BCE. Delphi was said to be the place of worship for Apollo and where he conquered Python. It is said that Apollo spoke through his oracles and they were used for…."

Eric smiles and nods.

"Eric, you are telling me that this…Your Grace, is an Oracle of Apollo?" I ask.

He shakes his head. "No, Min Kara, she is THE Oracle. It is said that the oldest Vampire found the Oracle among his travels. Through the years, he had gleaned much information from her. The story goes that the Great Vampire was so impressed with her that he turned Her Grace so that he would have her visions and predictions forever."

"Eric, that would mean that she's been around since," I pause for a moment trying to get my baring. "Eric, how OLD is she?" I ask him.

He laughs. "It would be rude to ask her exact age, but at best guest I would put her change at around 950 BCE."

I blink. That would make her almost 3000 years old. Not to mention that the Oracle was said to be an old woman at the time she was giving advice.

I shake my head. "Eric, are there Vampires, I mean you said the FIRST Vampire. How old are some of these Vampires around you?" I ask him.

He shrugs. "Again, this is one of the secrets we like to keep. The only Vampire that knows your true age is one that made you." He says. "But I suspect that there aren't many who are older than Her Grace now."

"But, they don't die. Wouldn't you all know if the First Vampire was dead? I mean wouldn't you feel it?" Could all Vampires come from one original Vampire? Well Christians believe that we all came from Adam and Eve.

"I'm not sure of that part of the story, Min Kara," he says. "Some believe that there were a few Vampires put on this earth. Others believe that we are all descendants of Cain. Others believe that we were cast out of a daemon realm, while others believe that we have been here as long as humans evolved from the ooze as it were."

"What…what do you believe?" I ask him.

He sighs. "After everything I've seen, I still don't know. There are arguments based on what you believe. Me, I think we may have evolved along with humans and somehow became, well us." He shrugs. "Again, this is a discussion that could take us years and years to have, Min Kara."

I sigh. He's right. "Okay, so chances are that you all didn't come from one Vampire." He smiles. "So this Council, what do they do?"

He nods. "Their rule is one of overseers if you will. They send down edicts and laws to help us work properly. You see, when they were formed, they had considerable work to do to get the states under control. If we didn't, the humans would have found out about us much sooner than we would have liked. Therefore, once they had the control they needed, they started appointing Area rulers. Since they were already called Kings and Queens in other areas, they just followed the same thought process here." He says.

"So the Council is only for the states?" I ask him.

He shakes his head. "Not necessarily, they just have more control here because most, if not all the Kings and Queens are so young."

I wait a minute. "So since the Kings and Queens outside the states are mostly older, they are governing themselves?"

He nods. "The Council is sought out for major disputes and they do tend to follow the edicts, but yes, most are close to 700 and older there. Most of the Kings and Queens here are much younger."

"But not only Vampire disputes are brought up to the Council. If that was the case, it would be a Vampire Council not a Supernatural Council."

He nods again. "Correct. However, many other Supernaturals will come to their King or Queen first before going to Council. The only reason they would bypass the monarch was if the problem was with the monarch itself."

"Has that happen often?" I ask him.

He shrugs. "Many young ones had trouble looking at other Supes as anything other than servants at first. There were some Monarchs that didn't last long. Others have died and ones put in their place."

"But you said…" He said that was only in Europe.

"It's said that was the way of old. If a King or Queen was killed by another here, the Council will approve the appointment of the new Monarch. In most cases it was the Vampire that slayed the old but not in all cases."

I sigh. "Okay, so the Council deals with major things, the Monarchs run their territories with the assistance of their Sheriffs?" I ask.

He nods. "Yes, the Pack leaders, Covens work in conjunction to make the territories run smoothly. I have meetings with them, work with them to deal with disputes and have packs and understanding to help one another." He says.

"Do all Sheriff's do that?" I ask.

He shakes his head. "More should, but no. I find it helpful to keep the peace between our kinds."

I sit back for a moment. Okay that's a lot of information but there is still a piece I don't understand.

"You..you said last night something about Sires and children." I prompt him.

He leans back as well. "Are you sure you want to know more? What I've already told you is a lot."

I nod, knowing if I allow myself to speak, I may just tell him to forget it.

"As you wish, Min Kara," he says.

"Once you make a childe, you become a Sire. I told you last night what that entails." He waits and I nod so he continues. "A Sire can be a head of a line or a member. A Sire who is the head of his own line is called a Sânge Cap or Blood Head." He pauses.

"That almost sounds, French. I know it's a romance language," I say to him.

He nods. "It's Romanian. Many believe that was the first settlement for Vampires. But we can discuss that part of our history later."

I nod for him to continue.

"A Sânge Cap is the head of his Genealogice or Bloodline. You become a Sânge Cap by being released from your Sire. I told you last night that my maker was released at one point out of respect. Some are released because they challenge theirs and others are released because their Sânge Cap dies. If you aren't strong enough to be your own Sânge Cap, many request acceptance to another Genealogice. This is how Vampires of old gained and kept power. The stronger and larger your Genealogice the more strength you had. As I said…"

I put my hand up. "I remember. So your Maker was released. That means he is the Sânge Cap of your Genealogice?" I try to say with the same accent and enunciation as he did.

He smiles. The smile is a wicked smile and the words hidden behind that smile tells me the answer. "Eric..you are a Sânge Cap?" I ask him.

He nods. "Since the early 13th Century," he says.

I sit back for a moment. Eric is old, very old. I think he may be older than he's let on to me. Vikings were around as early as the 8th Century. If history has it's facts right, that is. He could be closer to thirteen hundred years old or older. He would have been in Europe and seen firsthand how the Monarchs survived. If a strong bloodline helped you survive, it would stand to reason that Eric would build one out of protection. This would mean that his bloodline would include not only children that he's made but Vampires that have come to him for protection and out of loyalty. I look down as I put the pieces of everything he's told me on the table, if you will and look at them. Finally, I look up to see Eric watching me.

"What is going on in that beautiful brain, Min Kara?" He asks me.

I blink once then twice at him. "Eric…how, how large is your bloodline?" I ask him.

***0***

EPOV

I smile at her as I watch her mind put the pieces together. I had always known that Sookie was intelligent. Her mind was very keen. However, she was so young, stubborn and well, hardened. Conversations like this would have lead to her panicking or shutting me out.

"Eric, how, how large is your bloodline?" She asks me.

I smile wider. "What would make you ask that, Min Kara?" I ask her in return.

She gives me a look as to say stop avoiding the question.

"Min Kara," I say as I move closer to her. "I told you that a Genealogice is a secret for some Vampires as is his age."

"Eric, that is not an answer," she says.

I look at her eyes and see the pleading in them. She is silently asking me to trust her. I do. I am just unsure on how she will handle the information.

I sigh. "Sookie, what you are asking is known by very few creatures. Pam doesn't even know the full extent of that answer."

Sookie looks shocked. "Eric, how could she not? I mean I know that she's your childe. But you said that a Vampire only trusts those they made and the one that made them. Why wouldn't Pam know the extent of your… Gene…alog…ice, did I say that right?" She asks.

I laugh. "You did exceptional, Min Kara. But to answer your question, Pam is unaware of the extent of my power or my Genealogice." I say with a sigh. "Sookie, Pam…."

"Eric, what?" She asks.

I sigh again. "Some Vampires are made out of boredom, some are made for their skills, while others are made because of what they can contribute to the line." I pause for a moment. "Some are just, well, we make them out of…"

"Love…you make them out of love?" She asks him.

I wait a moment. "I believe that may be the closest to the reason. When I met Pam she was living in England, the Victorian Era," I pause. "She was the youngest child to a very distant member of the royal family, Lord Mathen Swynford De Beaufort. It was an interesting time in history and I had come to England to experience it, if that's the easiest way to explain in," I pause again remembering time in Lord De Beaufort's court.

"Pamela's father had no son's and therefore had to marry his daughters off to affluent members of society in order to keep himself in the lifestyle he had become accustomed too." I pause and Sookie nods. "I had slipped into Court one evening looking for a meal when I first set eyes on Pam. She was no more than eighteen at the time but her eyes showed a child still lived in them. She was sent to live with her mother in the north of France when she was very young and just returned to England at her father's behest. Her three older sisters had already been married and two of them had perished in childbirth. Lord De Beaufort was in need of another daughter to bargain another deal with another bored aristocrat.

I heard Pam talk about her time in France. I couldn't help but smile at her innocence and how she wished to live a life that she found in her stories and books back home. She wished to see the world and fly on the wing of a falcon to distant lands. She wished to see things that were only dreamed of."

"She…she sounded like most girls," Sookie replied.

I nodded. "Maybe of this era but not of that time and especially not for women of royal blood. Girls were brought up and knew their place. As a daughter of a Lord, Pam would have been primed from a young age about her duty to the family. She wouldn't have such dreams and aspirations.

That night, her father was sitting with a very old man. He was nearly twenty years older than her father was. Magistrate Carlson McCormick was very well known in England at the time. He was as tough a task master as he was a husband. He treated his horses better than he did his servants. He had three wives so far and several children, both legitimate and illegitimate. Even by Vampire standards, the man was a retch. When Pamela's father called her over, McCormick looked her over like she was a prized boar, not a beautiful young girl with stars in her eyes."

"You…you were in love with her." Sookie says.

Her words break me out of my memory and I look at Sookie. I see sadness in her eyes. "Min Kara, I told you that you are the only woman I've ever loved. I did not lie. I loved Pam as the child she was. She was so young and small. She deserved to be treated like a little princess, not a breed mare. She deserved the love of a father that was unsurpassed and would do anything to make her happy. Instead she had some waste of a man selling her off for coin in his pocket." I pause for a moment.

"So you took her to, what, spoil her?" Sookie asks.

I laugh. "I guess I did. I thought I could give her the life she wanted." I say.

"Eric, did you, I mean…did you always see her as your, well, baby?" She asks.

I know what she is asking. "Sookie, when a Sire takes a childe there is a lot that happens between them. Yes, sex is one of the things. In Pam's case, that time didn't last long. Her lustful ways soon turned to a more feminine desire and mine turned to treating her as the baby child I always saw her to be.

We also teach them survival techniques, how to live in this world and how to take care of themselves. I don't believe I've done the last with Pamela. She has been treated like the late in life child of an old man for over 150 years. She is accustomed to being the baby."

I pause for a moment and then feel I need to say something else. "Do not get me wrong, Sookie. Pam is a fierce woman and very good at many things. She is just.."

"Spoiled rotten," Sookie says.

I nod. "I'm afraid that she may be."

Sookie is quiet for a minute and then asks her next question. "She's never asked if she was the only one you made? She's never asked if there were any others?"

I nod. "She knows those who have sworn fealty to me. Or should I say, she knows some of them. She knows my connection to my maker and his other children. However, as you say, she's spoiled and has never even thought that I had made others."

"Eric," Sookie pulls herself a little straighter. "That's just ridiculous. I've only know about your world for what, a few hours, and I've already put together that if you have survived as long as I believe you have, you have power and strength beyond measure. How could Pam be so blind?"

I laugh. "Sookie, think about a childe; the baby of a family. One that has been home with its parents while the rest of their siblings have left the nest, as it were. They are, well they don't think of others."

Sookie sits back and thinks about what I just said. She then moves forward. "More is going on than Bill giving me his blood without my knowledge. More is going on than my skills. There are secrets and secrets all around us. I feel like I'm on a big chess board and the pieces are moving into play." She says softly.

I pull her chin to look at me. "Is it too much, Min Kara?" I ask her.

She looks in my eyes. I see a barrage of emotions flowing through them like ink in an oil lamp. They finally rest and I see resolve in them.

"Eric, I'm with you. I want to be with you and everything that is going to come with that. I'm not stupid or naïve. It isn't going to be easy, Eric. But if you are willing to put up with me and everything that goes along with it, then I'm willing to do what I need to help you." She says.

"Sookie….much is happening in the Vampire and Supernatural world. I fear that others may already know of your gifts. The Queen most certainly does."

I see fear roll across her face. "Eric, you won't…I don't want to leave you," she says with tears in her eyes and shaking a little.

"Min Kara, shhhhh, nothing will happen, I promise you." I say to her.

"Eric, you said if we bond, then no one can take me right?" She asks.

I shake my head. "Sookie, we will bond because we want to. Not to keep the Queen away," I say to her.

"But if she came now I…." I touch her lips.

"I have a proposition for you," I say to her.

She nods. "Okay, what is it?" She asks.

"I would like to contract you to me to employ you for your telepathy." I say to her.

"Eric, how will that stop anyone from taking me?" She asks.

"Sookie, I will set up a contract to have you work under my retinue. It will be submitted to Council so there are no questions on who you belong to." I see her ready to dispute that but I put up my hand. "I know what you are going to say. But in the Vampire world, you would be considered part of my property and thus, all discussions of using your gifts would come through me." I wait a moment. "Sookie, if the Queen knows about you, then many others will soon. I'm surprised you have been kept a secret for so long. Supernaturals tend to seek out those with gifts that could benefit them. This is a way to make sure that none think you are up for grabs as they say."

She looks down and I can feel the tension rise in her arms.

"What Sookie?" I ask her.

"What…what will happen to us if, if I'm working for you?" She asks and I can hear the tremble in her voice.

"Sookie," I touch her face. "I wish to Bond with you. I just do not wish you to do it under duress." Like before I think to myself but don't say it out loud. "Sookie, I wish to Bond to you but I don't want you look back on it later and regret it or think I did it because I was being high handed or…"

She touches my lips with hers. It's soft and sweet and all Sookie. Before I can increase my ministration, she pulls away.

"Eric, I wish to Bond with you. I want to be with you all the time. I hated leaving you this morning. I still have a ton of questions and not enough answers but I know for sure that I want to be with you forever if you'll have me."

I smile and she returns it.

"As for working for you, if you think it will keep the wolves at bay, then fine. Draw up the contract and I'll sign it." She says. "Just please, don't make decisions for me before discussing them with me first, okay?"

***0***

SPOV

I can't believe everything he's told me tonight. There is so much in his world that I would never know or never could know. I feel like I'm swimming.

Eric places both hands on my cheeks.

I lean into his hand and sigh. "How can I feel so much so quickly, Eric?" I ask him. "It's almost scary."

"But, not," he says. "You know when you know. There is no point in wasting time because Human society indicates what is right and what is wrong." I go to say something and he stops me. "Sookie, I've lived a very long time. Life can change in an instant. I've learned to never take for granted what you have," he pauses and I can see the sorrow in his eyes. "I will never waste precious time ever again. I…I love you my Sookie. I've never known love that I've known with you."

I blink at him, making sure he's real. "Eric…I…I love you too."

As the words leave my mouth, Eric is up and has me in his arms. Before I can blink again, he has me naked and back on my bed.

He quickly disappears between my legs and I feel his cool tongue against my hot, heated core.

"AHHHH," I scream and throw my head back.

"Look at me, Sookie," he says to me.

My head snaps back and I look down my body to his cerulean blue eyes. He returns to his ministration and never takes his eyes off me. Licking and sucking me, I feel the spring winding in my lower half as he works me like the master he is. I watch as he moves higher and sucks on my nub as I feel two long fingers enter me. Goodness me is he amazing.

Just as I think I can't take anymore, he slows down. This just causes me to scream out again. Soon he revs up again and takes me just this side of the brink before slowing down again.

"Eric, please!" I scream.

"What do you need, Sookie?" He asks me.

"Please, Eric…I need… Please." I need him to allow me to finish but I can't seem to get the words out.

The next time he revs up, I think he takes pity on me because he allows me to fall. I've never felt anything like it before. Eric's given me strong orgasms already but this…this feels like my whole body is falling apart.

I feel his soft kisses up my body as I continue to fall. Before I'm completely down, Eric has me up and over on all fours and he is in me in one stoke.

"Eric!" I scream in pleasure.

He waits a minute for me to get used to him and then he starts to move. First slow and then increasing his strokes.

As he did with his hands and mouth, he brings me to the brink and the pulls back. Over and over again until I have no idea where I am or what I'm doing. I do hear a voice screaming his name and assume that it's mine.

"Who do you belong to, Sookie?" He asks me.

"You….you….Only…" I pant out in a shallow scream.

"Who, Sookie, say my name," he growls.

"Er…Eri…Eric…I…I…I belong to you." I say as I try to move but fail when he holds me in place. I've no idea how many times I've fallen at this point. I just know that this man absolutely consumes me. I am no longer myself. I am all for him.

Flipping me again, I'm on my back and Eric's pace has slowed considerably as he uses long strong strokes to bring me over the edge once more.

Just as I can't fathom taking any more, I hear the crunch and feel his wrist to my lips.

"My blood to yours, My love," I hear him say as he bends to my neck.

The combination of our blood sends me back over the edge. Lights, orange, blue, green, red, spin around me. It reminds me of what the sun looks like peaking through the trees in a snowstorm. Colors splitting and combining to dance on the air.

As we both come down, I feel him licking my neck and know that he's healing me.

"You could leave them you know," I say to him.

He lazily looks in my eyes. "Only when necessary will I leave my mark. Any other time, will be between you," he kisses me, "and me," he kisses me again.

As before, I feel him leave me and get the overwhelming sense of loss.

Eric pulls me close and I feel him rubbing my back. "Sleep now, Min Kara. I will be here for you tomorrow to take you out." He says softly as I start to drift off.

"Stay until I fall asleep?" I ask him.

"Yes, Min Kara," he says. "Your guard will be close when I leave to watch over you. You have nothing to fear."

"I know Eric, I'm with you now." I say and drift off.

***0***

BPOV

I had returned from my little errand and went straight to the woods to find Dianne. I couldn't smell her anywhere. I didn't detect any remains so I knew she wasn't finally dead. I pull out my phone but it continuously just goes to voice mail. I do detect something in the woods but it has been gone for at least some time, maybe an hour.

I don't recognize the scent. I know that it's not an animal but what it is, I've no idea.

I move closer to the farmhouse and can hear Sookie's heartbeat. Once I'm just outside the house, I can't move any closer. It feels like magick, strong magick. But where could that have come from? Sookie has no knowledge of magick and I'm sure that neither does Adele.

Listening, I hear Sookie screaming. I try to move closer and then hear her screaming Eric's name. She sounds, ugh, she sounds like a fangbanger. How could she allow him to take her? Eric Northman is nothing but a…

"Who do you belong to, Sookie?" I hear him ask her.

"You…you," I hear her say.

"Say my name," I hear him say.

Then the words that kill me are said. It doesn't matter if she knew I was here or if he knew I was here, they've been said and I've heard them. If I take her now, the Viking will come for me.

Not wishing to hear any more, I walk back across to my house.

Walking in, I stop. Someone has been here. Who would come into my house? I walk through and see that the back door is ajar and two spray cans are by the door. Turning around I see the word Bloodsucker in bright red.

I growl. No doubt it was radical teenagers or idiots of that church trying to get a rise out of me. I close the door and turn around to see if anything else is a miss. Finding nothing, I walk back into the sitting room and smell them here as well. The disks I was copying are strewn across the table from where I threw them the night before. I quickly put them back together and place them back in the box.

Walking over to the computer, I turn it on and prepare to get the information ready for departure. Peter is gone and the wheels have already started to spin. If I'm to take Sookie now, it will need to be done by another and delivered to me. If I allow myself to be caught up with her, there is no telling what Eric will do. I will need to plan this quickly and get Sookie to my side before the week is out. If Sophie wishes to have her, then she may need to pay. Perhaps I could cry ignorance. The only proof we would have that Sookie belongs to Eric now is her word and I can always declare that he somehow glamoured her. He is a very old Vampire. I'm sure I could convince most.

There is no way he would give her his blood. Eric Northman wouldn't tie himself to a silly little human no matter how valuable they are. He would see it as a liability. No, I need to make a few plans before I go down for the day, be done with this nonsense, and get back to my work.

Frustrated I decide that this can wait for tomorrow evening. I walk out the door and run into town to find a meal to have fun with.

***0***

EPOV

I watch as Sookie falls asleep. She looks like an angel as the moonlight falls on her face. Touching the side of her neck I allow myself to relish in her the memory of her taste. She tastes better than she did the night before. Perhaps I was overwhelmed by the magnitude of being with her to really taste her. However, that seems impossible to me.

I watch for another hour, before I will myself to get up. There are still a few things I need to do before I return to my resting place for the day.

Getting dressed, I remember how insane Sookie got during our love making. I knew that Bill was outside. I had heard Dalia say that she would return later to give us privacy. I may have stepped up the noise for his benefit.

I smile as I write a note for Sookie and kiss her one last time.

Making my way out of the house, I walk to the woods where I know Dalia is.

"All is well?" She asks me.

I smile and bow my head to her.

"You have taken her blood again and she has yours." It's not a question.

"We did," I say to her. I had waited until I knew that Compton was gone. If he knew that we had exchanged, he may have ran tattling to Sophie. Then she would have sent someone to take Sookie before we completed our bond. I would have had to tip my hand before I was ready. Better to keep him thinking that I'm just playing with her.

"You will be here all day?" I ask.

She nods. "Nothing will happen to her. She will be safe until your return."

I wish her a good evening. Taking to the sky, I land and make my way to the door. I can hear him inside and know that he's not alone. I look in through the window and see that he has some nameless, faceless girl over the side of the couch moaning.

Shaking my head, I open the door to the old plantation door and walk in. Bill is part of my area and I have no need to ask permission to enter.

Swinging the door closed behind me, I take in the site of the old antebellum period home. To say it is in need of repair would be an understatement. The house is ghastly. I am all for old period homes. However, he could truly afford upgrades and modern conveniences. By the look of the place, I would hedge a guess that Bill Compton is sleeping the day away in a hole in the ground. Clearly, his desire to stay in Bon Temps is not as permanent as he wants everyone to think it is. No one who has lived as long as he has in the comforts of a Royal Court would last more than a month living in squallier. No, he had no intention on staying for very long.

"Sheriff," I hear from the doorway to the parlor. "To what do I owe the pleasure?" He asks me as he continues to take the girl.

"Are you almost done playing with your food?" I ask him. This is almost as revolting as being in the presence of the Shifter. No, I believe this is more so.

He smiles at me and leans in to capture her shoulder in his fangs. She instantly comes and I can tell that he is quite spent.

He releases her and turns her around, looking into her eyes.

"You went to the movies and down to Merlottes. You had a fun night and will wake tomorrow with no knowledge of what happened here tonight." He says to her.

Releasing her face, he walks over to retrieve his pants. Once he is covered he walks over to me.

I look at him and then around the room. "I understand that you are on business from the Queen?" I ask him.

He looks at me and smirks. "I am." He says. He doesn't even turn around when the small little girls leaves his home.

"And what is this business?" I ask him.

He smiles again. "That is between me and my Queen." He says to him.

"You are telling me that you are on a mission for the Queen and you are living here, unprotected without any type of guards? Not even any form of security?" I ask him. "Surely that is not something that would make Sophie-Anne pleased." I look at him.

His smile falters just a bit. "I am quite safe here, I assure you." He says.

I look around. "But how?" I ask. "There is no security. There is nothing that will keep anyone out during the day." I look around. "I do not believe this house comes equipped with a safe room." I wave my hand around. "Surely you would be better protected in a Vampire safe house or at the very least, the Hotel Eclipse in one of the Vampire equipped rooms." I say to him. "I will even make the call. You can be settled in before sunrise." I say.

"I am happy here." He says as I go to dial my phone. "This was my human home." He says. "I feel very at ease here." He looks at me.

"Yes, but the Queen will not like it if anything happens to you." I say. "Best to err on the side of caution wouldn't you think?" I say to him.

He looks at me. "I thank you, Eric, but I will stay here for now." He says. "I don't expect any issues."

I step closer to him. "Is there some other reason for you to stay in Bon Temps?" I ask him. "Some reason you decided to risk your final death by living in this house?" I ask him.

He says nothing.

"Very well, it is your neck." I say to him.

I turn to leave. "Oh, one other thing, Bill," I say as he looks at me as I turn around. "Stay away from Sookie Stackhouse, her Grandmother and her home." He looks at me confused. "She no longer wishes to speak to you." I say.

"Sookie can talk for herself, Eric." He says jumping from the spot that he was standing in. "She doesn't need the likes of you speaking for her." He growls.

Within a second, I have him by the neck and up against the wall. "You may be on assignment for the Queen, but you will show me the respect that I deserve." I say to him. "Now you will stay away from everything there is to do with Sookie. She is no longer your concern. If you do not obey me, you will be gone before the next dawn. Do I make myself clear?" I ask him.

"Eric, she isn't yours…" He tries to say. "You need to stay away from her and stop treating her like one of your fang…"

I growl at him and squeeze his neck harder. "Do you want to be staked here and now?" I growl at him. "I am your Sheriff. You will release the girl from your thoughts; you will find another woman to harass. You would be wise to listen to me." I say to him. "If you fail to do as I say, you will be finding yourself on a pointy end of a stake within the day." I step closer to him. "I'm not going anywhere."

Little does he know, as soon as he can tell me everything that the Queen has planned, he will be as good as dead. He is the reason for my Sookie's demise in the past timeline. I will not make the mistake of giving him the benefit of the doubt this time.

"I am under the Queen's orders. You can do nothing to me." He says with a smirk on his face. He thinks he's so smart.

"Really? Hmmm," I look around. "There is a murderer on the loose in this area is there not?" I look at him.

He says nothing and I smile. "Seems that he targets women that have been with Vampires," I look at him again. "Neither of them has been into Fangtasia in a quite a few weeks." I step closer to him. "Wonder who they both have in common?" I look right into his eyes.

His smile falters just slightly, but enough for me to notice. "You can't prove a thing." He says to him.

I shrug. "Probably not, but proof and speculation are two completely different things." I say to him. "You are supposed to be mainstreaming as you so eloquently told Pam and I last evening. Oh, and dating the southern flower across the way." I pause motioning out the window. "Hmmm," I shake my head. "Wouldn't look good if all of a sudden it is known that you have been feeding on the women you are so desperately trying to 'mainstream' with, now would it? I am not sure the members of this fine community would look so graciously on you then, now will they?" I look at him.

"I have nothing to hide." He growls.

I nod. "Keep telling yourself that, Compton." I go to the door. "But as for the matter of Ms. Stackhouse and her family, you will keep your distance. If or when your services are needed, I will call upon you. Other than that, I would expect you to stay off their land and away from them."

"It is a small town, Sheriff, I am trying to assimilate into the culture. Sookie works at the only place in town." He says. "There is no way not to be near her." He says.

I smile. "You let me worry about the Shifter's place. Just keep your distance from Sookie." I step closer to him again. "I have never trusted you, Compton. You are sneaky and arrogant. Don't think I am unaware of your intentions. Perhaps relocating to say, Brazil would be your best bet at this time." I look at him.

I walk out the door. "Think about it, Compton." I say

I take to the sky once more and land in front of the Shifter's bar. I watch as that idiot redhead walks out of the bar with the murderer.

I follow them home and watch as the redhead gets ready for bed and Rene walks out to his garage. I wait as I watch him listen for the woman to go to bed and then pull out a box with tapes in it.

"Which one," I hear him say. He pulls one out and pops it into his little television. I watch as he sits down in his chair; smiling at what he sees. He then picks up a box and pulls out a picture. I see it and have to stifle a growl. He touches the picture he's holding like he's caressing it.

"Ah, Sookie, such a shame," he says. "But maybe I turn on de accent and you and I have sum fun birst, girl, ya?" He laughs at his own words. I find no humor in them.

I move slightly and watch as he sees the shadow form. He spins around.

"What the…" I move to him and place my hand over his mouth before he can finish his sentence.

"You dare," I growl at him, "think of doing anything with my beloved? You think that you could hide from me?" I growl again and lean closer. "I should kill you over years for the offenses you have made against my kind."

Before he can say anything, I have him out of his chair and out the back. I take flight and land near the swamps outside of Reston.

I let him go and watch him stumble back. "What…what are you going to do with me?" He asks.

I smile and show my fangs.

"Oh GOD, no, please, Jesus, deliver me." He screams.

"Scream all you want here, princess, no one is going to hear you," I say.

"Don't…please, don't kill me," he begs and turns in a circle as I pace around him, trying to keep me in eyesight.

"You have killed women just for knowing us," I say to him. "You have murdered them on whose orders?" I ask.

He shakes his head. "No, you have the wrong man. I would never…."

I move so that I'm as close to him as I can get. He lets out a little squeak.

"Don't insult me, blood bag," I growl. "On whose orders!" I yell at him.

"The…the church, that pastor said…he found out what I had done…he wanted…he wanted me to start making…" He stops.

"What did he want you to do?" I ask him.

"He…he found out that I was…that I had rid our earth of those women. He said…he said he wanted to start working on other…" he gulps.

"Did he tell you who to kill?" I ask him.

He swallows again. "He…He wanted me to kill…he wanted me to kill Sookie's Grandmother." He says. "Wanted to…sc,…scare her."

A fire builds in me. The target was Adele all along. Rage fills me and I pull the vermin's arms off and throw them as far as I could. I then pull his leg and then the other. The vermin's blood is everywhere and still he's screaming. Finally I grab his head and twist, silencing him forever.

I throw the rest of him around until I know that every part of him is sitting at the bottom of the water. Food for the alligators and fish.

Falling to the ground, I close my eyes to center myself. The rage and anger I was feeling was greater than I felt in the last hundred years.

Back then, I would raid the nearest village and convince a few women to spend the night with and do what they wanted me to do to them until dawn. Now, now I have Sookie. I will not return to her in such a state. Not until she understands more.

She has received more information tonight than I've ever told another person besides Godric. To come back to her now, like this, would undo everything I've attempted to do.

I feel the pull of the sun and know that dawn is near. Getting up, I fly back to my safe house.

Safely behind the shutters, I open my computer and check mail and reports.

I pick up the phone and call Pam.

"Master," she says shortly.

Ah, she must still be upset. "Report," I say. Two can play at that game.

"Nothing out of the ordinary," she says. "No word from the Queen. Rasul called looking for you. He said he will try your cell. Other than that, the vermin were vile and the staff was acceptable."

"Very good, Pamela," I say to her.

"You…" She stops. "Good night, master."

She hangs up.

I sigh. She is going to need more work than I originally thought. But at least she's learning.

I send a few emails and send orders to Bobby on what I need done for the following day.

After finishing my work, I walk into the bed chamber and make sure that all the locks are secure. Once in bed I close my eyes but death doesn't take me.

I look up and feel something. A small twinge and smell the distinct smell of my Sookie.

I close my eyes and know that the sun has been up for several hours and she is stirring awake. I see her leaning up against her headboard with her face to the sun and smiling. I feel warmth on my shoulder. I lift myself up and touch my mark. I feel the warmth again. Closing my eyes, I see that Sookie is caressing her pendant.

"I love you, Eric." She says.

"I love you too." I say. "Min Kara," I whisper.

I close my eyes again and allow death to take me with the smell of Sookie surrounding me.