**Warning, Sookie's life changes drastically in this chapter**
-Previously on DU...
"Stay with me," Rasul pleaded.
"I have to go during the day," Amelia reminded him.
"Leave when you have to. Don't leave now," he said.
"Okay," she replied, exhausted. He pulled her to him and kissed her fervently again until he felt the dawn upon him.
"I will find a way to free you. I promise," were his last words before his empty slumber took him away from her.
His eyes suddenly closed and she knew he had died for the day. They were in the middle of the bed so she pulled the sheet from the bed to cover them both and she closed her eyes knowing he would find a way to free her. She was his mate and he could not live without her, just like she couldn't be without him. It was during her dreams that she realized she drank his blood and this had not triggered her usual curse. She wondered why but she was too tired to rationalize or concentrate on this issue any further until sleep overwhelmed her.
Everything in the compound was silent as the sun started to rise over the horizon. Diantha and Gladiola stared as the sun rose turning the clouds behind a dark crimson. They both turned to look at each other knowing what it meant and hoped that what was said about a red rising sun was not true. The only way to find out was to wait for that day to end.
Chapter 11 – Red Sun Set
More than any other time in history, mankind faces a crossroads. One path leads to despair and utter hopelessness. The other, to total extinction. Let us pray we have the wisdom to choose correctly.
Woody Allen(1935 - ), My Speech to the Graduates
The Queen's guards, the demon girls, Dermot and other creatures stood outside the compound that morning staring idly at the sky. The air seemed colder than usual in New Orleans. The noises from the animals around them made their skin crawl. Even the animals had felt the disturbing chill and they were leery. The wind picked up again, lifting leaves from the ground, moving as if to get away from that place. A cat meowed in the distance, a dog barked at something or someone. They heard a crow nearby trying to get someone's attention. The air picked up speed again, but with more force this time. It was making a sinister windy noise, pushing at them, causing their heads to snap in the same direction.
Sookie came awake as she felt the hair on her arms raise, her skin crawled like when she went to see a scary movie and she knew something horrible was about to happen. Her instincts were screaming at her… but she wasn't sure what it was or what to do. She just felt cautious, and this feeling was nagging at her. Sensing her distress, her uncle appeared just as both Gladiola and Diantha broke into her room, weapons drawn.
"What is it?" They all asked her at once. She had no idea what was going on, but her ring was glowing with that amber light, though it did not burn her.
"Something big is coming," Dermot said as he also felt it in his blood - the boiling, the sizzling the warning. But it wasn't just them that felt it. The air was charged with heavy magic.
Amelia came awake by the same feeling that had alerted everyone else in the compound. Every magical being in the compound felt it. They were all cautious but had no idea what it was, so they gathered in the throne room. All armed through their teeth, waiting patiently, yet guardedly. They all had been instructed not to leave the palace and to protect the Viking's bonded with their lives. They knew she was very precious to the Queen, and the Viking would have their heads if something happened to her. They were all wary of the were-tiger who didn't miss the looks of distrust that were aimed at him. He was used to it and didn't care anyway.
"I must speak with you, alone," Quinn said to Sookie as he stared at the guards, cautious. Three were with her at all times, he noticed. He knew who the demon girls were, of course. And though he knew the other one was a fairy, he had never seen him before, which meant he was not going to lower his guard with them.
"My guards and my uncle come with me," Sookie replied. With the creepy feeling that was overwhelming her, she wasn't risking it. Not after what she and Eric had talked about last night. He had shared who the bald man was, a traitor to his own race.
"This is a private matter," Quinn said, leery of the three.
"What makes you think I'll trust you? I don't even know you. Someone is trying to kill me. I don't care who you think I am, but I'm not stupid. If you have something to say to me, then they…come with me," Sookie said, pointing at Dermot and the demon girls. Mr. Cataliades then chuckled which made Quinn growl.
"Fine," he agreed.
As they walked to one of the conference rooms, Sookie noticed that though Quinn's thoughts had been clear last night, for some odd reason were scattered now. She couldn't get a complete sense of his mind and thought perhaps he had let her listen to him then, which he definitely wasn't doing at the moment.
"The Council would like to hire you," he said while staring into her blue eyes.
Sookie frowned. Not what she had expected, and definitely not what Eric had thought he wanted with her at all. "Hire me? To do what?" She asked. First of all she wanted to know who the Council was. Eric had told her they were a group of very secretive ancient beings, comprised of the most powerful creatures who plain and simply ruled the supernatural world. Why did they want her to work for them?
"You are no longer just a small town southern girl. Your lineage and gifts have become known to many. The Council is willing to pay you handsomely. You will be protected at all times. You could have anything you want," Quinn explained. He knew darn well that it was her best option, to go willingly to them. He had experienced firsthand what they were capable of, what they would do to have someone they wanted work for them. And they wanted her, fiercely.
"What about Eric?" she asked.
"You will have to leave him," he replied. That was one of the requirements from the Council.
"Then no," she replied and started to walk away. No matter who they were and what they offered, she was not leaving Eric. That was not an option. Never.
"They will have you, whether you want to or not. They are giving you a choice now, so it is better to come of your own accord," he warned.
Sookie laughed sarcastically. "You called this a choice?" she asked, upset. "I say NO," she said defiantly. "And if they so much as touch a hair on mine or Eric's head, they will be sorry. I don't give a rat's ass how powerful they are. My answer is NO." Upset by his words and the way he was staring at her, she lifted her hand which produced a bright light that threw him against the wall.
It had been a simple warning to stay away from her. He was not harmed, but could feel her power. If the Council wanted her, they would have to come for her. He left unscathed from that room as she stared at her hands, panicked. He was sure that she had no idea of all the power she possessed and at the moment, probably neither did the Council members.
Again she felt that she was overcome with anger that was not her own and what she had just done overwhelmed her to no end. Why she was so upset all of the sudden?
"Niece, calm down," Dermot called as he felt the energy take hold of her body, she was glowing with an ethereal light that he had not witnessed before. The peace and love that he felt radiate from her was overwhelming and peaceful. So long he had waited to feel this long awaited power.
"Why am I so upset? I don't understand," she said, shaken by the power she was feeling.
"He is a member of the Council and brother knew it. Like I said, you are channeling his anger. You must remain calm. Come, let's have something to eat. It will help you," he suggested as he guided her away from room. He was sure Sookie was channeling his brother's anger towards their father and this had been her clear answer to his request. He was glad the were-tiger left before she turned him to ash.
They were sitting in the kitchen, her hands were shaking, and tears started falling down. "I can't eat, and I left the vials and vitamins home," she mumbled, still staring at her hands.
"I'll bring them to you," Dermot said and pressed a sweet kiss to her cheek. The instant he touched her, she felt much better, relaxed and confident. Both Diantha and Gladiola had been staring at her and she knew they wanted to tell her something. Something important.
"Tell me," Sookie commanded.
Both demon girls turned to look at each other and nodded at Sookie's request. "It has been said that a red rising sun will take the purest soul to darkness," Gladiola said, as she made her way to sit next to Sookie. "We fear something is going to happen this day that will take your life. Something that we will not be able to stop," Gladiola added. Sookie gulped.
"What are you saying?" Sookie asked, confused and afraid.
"We fear you will die before the sun sets," Diantha added.
"Is that the creepy sensation I feel?" she asked. They both nodded. Her uncle appeared in the kitchen with her vials. If she was to die that day, then what was the point of her taking anything anyway? She wanted to spend the time that was left with her vampire.
He felt the change in her emotions. "They told you," Dermot said as Sookie glanced away. She nodded. He knelt in front of her. "You cannot give up. We will protect you. You are a fighter, Sookie, and I have never known you to give up on anything or anyone. We will fight till the end, till there is no life in us," he promised.
"Why?" she asked. "Why would you give your life for me? I might have this magic you say I possess, but that is not reason enough," she argued. In truth, she didn't see this as an option at all. She didn't want anyone dying to protect her.
"Us," he said, pointing at himself and the demon girls, "the ones that have been raised in the supernatural world have lived through many ages, and have seen so many lives taken. Many defended their own race for loyalty, for love, for fear, and for many other reasons. We fight for hope," Dermot declared.
"Hope?" she asked.
"Do you know why angels are absent in this world, Sookie?" he asked. She shook her head.
"They were saddened by the anger, the greed, the horror of humans and other beings here. They decided to leave us to the dark. For many years we have lived absent their light, absent their hope, and absent their love. Until you were born," he said.
"What does my birth have to do with anything?" she asked, perplexed.
"We felt it," Diantha answered. "Every magical creature felt it the minute the light came back to this world. The minute you were born," she added.
"I do not understand," she replied. But now many things her uncle had explained to her made sense; her light, her halo. But then if she, if they, descended from angels, what was so different about her? Images suddenly came to her mind which were not her own, as her uncle continued with the explanation.
"The world changed the day you were born, a light shone on the sky. It was ethereal. Though human eyes did not see it, our magic sizzled in our veins, alerting us that something was coming - something good. Brother knew that many beings would fear you and would seek to end you, so he bound your powers to protect you, to keep you hidden from all magical creatures. We were always close, but not close enough to draw attention. Your bonding with the Viking removed part of the spell. Now everyone around you can sense this power you have. They will force you to join their side or seek to end you. Your future will be decided this day. We cannot change this, but we can help you. Drink your vitamins, drink your magic vials, and go to your vampire," he said.
Her mind was being bombarded with many memories, memories that were not her own. She saw her birth, herself through someone's eyes, the way she shone, the way she always smiled so sweetly and innocently. She saw her short life as if it was in fast forward. Then her own memories came crashing down on her: when she met Bill, the Rattrays, the beating, Renee, Bill's Maker and so much more. Something clicked in place, but it was too much to make sense of it all. Dermot held her as her mind adjusted. She was changing; it was happening already.
She was overwhelmed by everything and this feeling that was nagging at her grew stronger. It was as if her grandfather was trying desperately to tell her something. She knew that if it came down to a fight that she would not give up, she would fight for as long as she could. She took her vitamins and her vials and quietly had her breakfast. After she finished, she made her way to her sleeping vampire to try and make sense of everything that was happening to her. Perhaps there she would understand it.
"We are leaving now," Quinn ordered. He had taken Amelia's belongings to his truck while she had written a letter for her vampire. She looked back at the compound. There was this feeling that was screaming at her to stay, but it was beyond her now. She got inside the truck and left with the were-tiger, even though a big part of her stayed behind. Fresh tears fell as the compound disappeared from her view.
"You will be back, but we cannot stay. I cannot risk your life," he said. Amelia turned to look at Quinn, confused.
"What are you saying?" she asked, upset. She didn't have time to react. The last thing she saw was the big fist that crashed against her face.
"Trust me. That was for your own good, witch," he said and drove away.
Sookie lay next to Eric and held his cold body. She kissed his lips as she remembered his words from the night before.
Eric had been quiet for a while, drawing circles absently on her back.
"What's wrong?" Sookie asked, feeling his distress. It was so uncharacteristic of Eric to feel like this. Sookie knew something was bothering him.
"I have been thinking about your turning," he said almost in a whisper, as if not to frighten her.
"Have you changed your mind?" she asked.
"No, Lover, never," he assured her. "I will have to drain you, and I'm not looking forward to that particularly," he confessed.
She kissed him softly and held his beautiful face between her hands. "Don't think about that part. Don't think about ending my life, think about the life we will be living together. The many years we will have together, the many nights we will share with each other," she said.
"Of course I think of that too, Sookie, but I will have to take your precious life first, and I find…it troubles me. I feel like I am ending it… taking something that it should not be ended," he said, looking deeply into her eyes. "I have been thinking of those nights where you almost died and it terrified me to no end. I felt something in my chest when your light had diminished. I cannot explain it. If I turn you, I will take your light, this light everyone says you possess. I do not wish to do it. I wish there was a way for me to turn you without taking away this beautiful light that you have," he declared.
She took his hands and kissed his palms. "I am all yours. Everything I am is yours. This light that I have is yours. You're not ending it; I am giving it to you because I know you deserve to have it. I choose to share it with you and no one else. I love you with all my heart," she admitted. "I want to be like you, rest with you, wake with you, make love to you every night, fight with you, drink with you, drink from you."
"Sookie," he called and claimed her lips. His uneasiness was calmed by her confession. Whether he deserved her or not, he didn't care. He loved her more than anything in this world. Her curvy figure molded to fit his hard frame, and her warmth melted the ice from his undead heart. Every night she warmed him in ways he never imagined.
Her small hands roamed his body, tracing his muscles, desperately seeking out his manhood. She climbed atop his body, her lips leaving a burning trail on his skin, marking him with her heavenly scent.
"Touch me," he pleaded with her. Her small hands found his already magnificently hard shaft. She wrapped her small had around him, making him groan.
"I'm going to make you scream my name," she whispered in his ear, before he growled at her promise. She smiled wickedly at him as her sinful lips continued to leave scorching marks on him, her hand pumping him slowly.
"Sookie," he moaned and thrusted his hips against her. She continued to lick and nibble on his skin as if he was her favorite ice cream flavor. He loved it when she took control of him. She knew him so well and knew how to drive him wild. She loved to test his control, drive him mad until his dark desires took hold of him. Then he would claim her with no fear of hurting her. She told him once that she loved seeing the wild look in his eyes when he was overcome with lust for her.
He growled once more as her warm lips closed around his erection, her tongue licking the head. Her lips closed around him once more, and he pushed inside her warmth. She groaned at his thrust, her other hand travelling to find her moisture. He liked seeing her like this. She wasn't shy to touch herself as she pleasured him any longer. He thrusted into her mouth once more, as her hand stroked him harder. She offered her other hand to him, wet with her juices. He took her hand and sucked on her fingers, savoring her essence. He moaned at the taste of her.
"Sookie," he called again. She sucked hard one last time before moving up his body. She impaled herself on his shaft, both groaning at the feeling of being together. His hands held her hips as he slowly entered her again. Her eyes closed and her face flushed when he started thrusting into her.
"Come," he called. She moved so that her lips were closer to his, they started moving in sync and their lips met with abandon. He embraced her as if to hold her there for all eternity. She buried her hands in his hair as they kissed with urgency. "Bite me," he called as he felt his moment getting closer. "Make me come," he ordered. She planted a small kiss on his neck before finally biting his hard skin. He groaned when she sucked hard, holding her firmly as he kept on thrusting inside of her. He was so close. Every time she pulled at his blood he felt his moment closer and closer. He felt how her body vibrated, how her light grew stronger when she fed from him. She moaned, still attached to him, and he thrusted one last time before releasing his seed into her. He felt something ache in his heart, knowing his seed would never make her belly swell with life. He thought of that small baby again and wondered why he didn't deserve to have a baby with the woman he loved.
"I love you with all my undead heart," he called to her as her muscles clenched around him.
She roared her release, his blood dripping from her beautiful lips. He licked off the remnants of his blood and her eyes darkened.
"As I love you," she said, her head resting on the crook of his neck. "Are you hungry?" she asked him.
"I'm always hungry for you," he confessed. She raised her wrist to his mouth.
"I'm always yours," she said. He bit into her flesh, his eyes never leaving hers. It felt more intimate when she fed him like this. With their bodies still connected, her eyes told him what her lips could not say, and he stared back at her while declaring his unspoken, undying love for her. It was their way of telling each other how much they loved each other.
He kissed her wrist when he was done. Her eyes closed, tired from their lovemaking, as he continued to caress her lovely face. "I'll always love you," he said, staring at her resting form before succumbing to sleep himself.
"I want you to always remember me like that," she called to her sleeping vampire a little while later. "Forgive me, but I know you will understand what I am about to do. I cannot risk the lives of everyone here. Not yours, not Pam's. I love you with all my heart and I know you will not give up on me either, but this is my choice." She pressed a kiss to his cold lips. "I love you so much," she said as tears slipped away.
"I will die fighting and I will die happy knowing you are safe. Forgive me," she pressed another kiss to him and held him for a few last seconds.
"Save me," she whispered into his ear. "Please," she called. She stared at him one last time and closed the door. With strength and anger anew, she made her way to the cells. That time she spent with her sleeping vampire allowed her to see things differently. She had figured everything out.
"Niece," Dermot called cautiously.
"Leave," she ordered in an ominous voice, laced with the regality that was their bloodline. He knew then that she had figured it out. She was about to make her decision, one that would change them all.
She made her way to the cell where she knew Bill was being kept. The guards opened the door for her. "How can you be awake?" she asked, though he was barely that. "Your Maker walked during daylight hours and she was much younger than Eric. Tell me," she demanded.
"You finally figured it out," he whispered giving her a sinister smile, the façade was gone.
"I'm tired of your games, William," she called out with obvious anger. Her hair was wild, her eyes had a different look. "You walked under the sun, and even though you burned, you did not turn to ash and cease to exist. What did you do?" she asked, clenching her teeth. She was upset with him, she just wanted to hear him say it. What he had done was despicable and he was not worthy of living any longer.
He smiled wickedly. "I made a deal with the devil. They will come for you soon, and your Viking cannot save you this time," he said.
"I need no saving," she whispered in his ear. "I will end him," she promised matching his wicked smile, which made him afraid. "It's a lie. You have no proof, do you?" she asked.
"No," he replied. There was no need to keep lying. Everything was about to change, what they have worked for was about to come to an end. All he wanted to do was witness it, but something about the way she carried herself in that moment led him to believe, he wouldn't.
She turned around, furious wanting to see him one last time, whatever torture Eric would put him through would not be enough to pay for his sins. She had believed every lie he had fed her. She had given herself to him because she thought he had loved her. He used her, lied to her, took from her, almost raped her, and he took something so precious that should have been only Eric's.
"If I'm going, I'm not going alone," she said. Her body began glowing with an ethereal shine, her hands glimmered, and a big concentration of the light was suddenly in her palm. An orb, formed growing. She raised her palms and focused on the power she was feeling and her goal, to ends Bill's pathetic, unworthy existence.
He knew he was about to die and nothing in his undead life frightened him than the way she looked at him in that moment. No one was going to save him. He was going to die, burned by her light.
"Soookie, No," he pleaded with her, his voice barely audible to her ears that wear ringing from the power that had taken hold of her.
She did not wait for him to say anything, she let go of the power on her hands. She felt the moment the light left her body and entered his. She blasted him with so much light that he turned to ash right before her eyes. His screams were heard all over the compound and though it only lasted a few seconds, the pain he felt when she burned him would last for centuries. His soul was burning in the fires of hell, where he belonged. When she saw him disappear, she felt somewhat free. Eric would be furious with her, but she could not allow Bill to live knowing what he had done.
It was already afternoon. She left the cell feeling no guilt whatsoever for destroying his pathetic life. She was done feeling sorry for these creatures that didn't deserve her forgiveness. She made her way outside and it seemed as though everyone was waiting for her. The moment she joined her uncle the enemy appeared before her. She focused on her sleeping vampire, knowing he would be safe, she stood brave before them.
"I do not wish to fight. I want to speak to him," she called to the beautiful man that seemed to lead them.
"Niece," Dermot admonished, upset because he knew what she was about to do. "Do not do this. We will fight," he declared.
She turned to look at him. "No, I want you to live. Explain it to him. Please, this is my choice," she called. He felt moisture in his eyes, moisture that he had never felt before. He was crying.
"Please," he begged her.
"I have lost too many of my loved ones. I love you and thank you for looking after me," she said, giving him one final hug. "Do something for me," and then she whispered her last whishes to him. Dermot gave her a small nod and disappeared, reappearing minutes later.
A man appeared before the other fairies. He was tall with platinum hair and unusually-clear green eyes. He was of muscular build, and very handsome. He was half naked and wore a belt that held a regal sword. She knew it was him, her blood told her so, the way she had learned many other things. The fairies had come for her, Breandan, had come for her.
She walked cautiously to him. "I go willingly if you promise to spare them all," she said, standing a few feet away from him.
"You have my word," he said. Breandan could not believe she was not going to fight him. She was going to surrender her power to him. Finally.
"Then walk with me," she said. He nodded and joined her. They stood away from the gathered creatures.
"Why are you doing this?" he asked. She was as lovely as everyone claimed she was, more so than he had thought. "You are very beautiful, any man would be proud to have you, so why are you giving up your life?" he asked. He risked touching her lovely face and was surprised that she did not flinch away from his caress. The moment he touched her, he felt her energy, he wanted to drown in it. So beautiful.
"I have seen too many deaths. I don't want to be responsible for any more. If you want my light then it's yours, but in return I want you to leave this realm. Leave and never come back," she demanded.
"I will happily do as you ask, Princess," he promised, bowing respectfully. "Join me, please. Come with me," he asked even though he knew the answer. Still, he wished she would change her mind. Together they would be invincible; together they would rule the Fae world.
"You'd take me knowing my heart belongs to another?" she asked.
"I will become everything your heart desires. Let me show you," he said. He knew his power would not work on her as she was more powerful than him, still he tried. She looked down as if she was considering his option. She stepped away from his caress, her hand stealthily covering her weapon. She looked back at her friends and those who still chose to fight by her side even though they didn't know her. Her uncle was still crying, and he gave her a small nod.
"I will never love you." She said sternly, he sensed a changed in her, but didn't know what it was. With determination, she stood in front of him, but far away from his grasp. "Everything I am, is Eric's," she said and plunged the knife into her abdomen. Breandan had been too slow to stop her.
"NOOOOO!" he called as she fell to the ground and the blood spilled from her body. "What have you done?" he called out angrily.
While Breandan tried desperately to save her, the fight broke behind him. The demon girls beheaded as many of the fairies as they could while Dermot did the same. Some fairies left right away when the fight broke others still tried to defend his leader. Fairy dust, fell over the courtyard stone. None of the fairies, had even touched the demon girls. The Queen's guards, though knew iron would hurt the fairies, were not as skilled as the demon girls and some perished during the fight. Others started leaving as they saw Dermot charge with obvious ire, his blades cutting through every single one of them.
"How did you know?" Breandan asked, enraged.
"My grandfather," she replied almost in a whisper. While he was distracted with her reply, Sookie took advantage of that moment to end him. She stabbed him with the iron blade Eric had given her. Everything seemed to pass so slowly for her, and then she felt her vampire come awake from his undead slumber.
Eric awoke to a pain in his abdomen and his chest constricted tightly. He knew something had happened to Sookie. But the sun had not yet set, so he could not step outside. He roared furiously, every being in the compound heard him. The fairies that had been led by Breandan left immediately after hearing that mighty roar.
Dermot ran to her side. Sookie saw how the sky turned a hue of different colors, her vision became blurry. She cradled her wound, feeling the pain, wishing this to end soon.
"Sookie," he called.
"Not," she coughed out the blood that had pooled in her mouth, "yet." She stopped him. He was afraid this would not work. No one had tried this.
"I love you, don't do this. Let me take you to him," he pleaded, there was time to save her, to keep her as she was. They would fight whoever tried to take her next.
She shook her head. She had to do this for all of them.
Eric paced in that room; he was desperate as he felt her life slipping away. He screamed her name over and over and she didn't come. No one went to him. He was enraged, and he was going to tear apart whoever had hurt her. He roared again, frantic and confined to that room, confined by the sun.
"Sookie!" he called, tears spilling from his eyes.
Tears spilled also from Sookie's eyes as she heard and felt his despair. She had not thought this would be so difficult.
"Now," she called while she could still talk. The sun was about to set and she knew she was dying.
"I love you," her uncle said as he did what she had asked of him. Before the sun set that night, Sookie's heart beat one last time and then she died. Her heart would never beat again.
Eric felt the moment her life ended, because he was thrown against the wall by a powerful light and pain like he had never felt before consumed him. He growled and at vampire speed he made his way to his Lover's side. He was not the only vampire there, Pam and the Queen arrived seconds later.
"Nooooooooo!" he screamed into the night. His nightmare had come true. She was bathed in her own blood and he knew what she had done. She had taken her own life to save them all. "Don't leave me," he implored her and fell to his knees, next to her unmoving body. He knew she could no longer hear him, hey eyes were empty.
"Sookieeeeeeeee!" He cried and cradled her frail body's lover to his arms, kissing her hair.
The moon was high in the sky, the red hues of the setting sun still lingered, giving the sky a terrifying yet unearthly glow. A pure soul had been lost. Dermot watched from afar as the vampire cried for his niece, but it seemed he was not the only one affected by her passing. The other vampires were also shaken, and though he had lost someone very dear to him he felt the moment another light awoke that night.
His head snapped towards the direction of the cemetery where he felt that new life. Hope flooded his heart once more.
A/N Why do you think Sookie chose to end her own life? What are your thoughts on this chapter? So finally Bill is gone, did you expect it? What do you think is going to happen next?
The next chapter will be the wrap up of this story...don't worry there is a sequel in the works. Where do you see this story going? Did you like it?
xoxox...please review...Thank you for reading my stories and for your patience...