After every nightmare Sookie awoke with a start and had to remind herself that her dreams couldn't be trusted. They were deceptive, designed to torment her, probably the last remaining fragments of her human subconscious self that still seemed to haunt her when she was at her weakest. In her dreams he was always present by her side, sometimes whispering in her ears while making love to her, other times killing her in the most excruciating of ways.

She never knew what version of Eric Northman would visit her. By the time she realised it, it was always too late. Often he tricked her into a false sense of safety by telling her he loved her, would protect her, and just when she trusted him the playful, charming mask disintegrated and his true, cold, terrifying self was revealed. Then there were the times when he didn't even bother with a facade, smirking and sneering with the most cunning of smiles as he physically tortured her. He ripped out each and every one of her fingers, laughing and taunting as she screamed in agony and begged him to release her. Those days were the worst because she woke up reeling from the physical pain, her body experiencing the full effects of the horrible agony her mind had just suffered through.

It sickened her that she had no control over herself in these nightmares. She was always weak, frail, gullible, the very epitome of being human. Although she had no memories of her own from when she was alive – Russell said that was the result of her transformation, her mind's way of protecting herself from the tragic things that had happened – she realised those abhorrent characteristics must have been true about her human self. Otherwise how could she have let herself fall in love with Eric Northman? From everything that Russell had informed her of, Eric had deceived her repeatedly, and despite that her human self had still clung to him.

She never told Russell about her dreams. She knew it would worry her maker, and she didn't want to add to his burdens. It was the least she could do considering he had rescued her from Eric's clutches and saved her from the brink of death.

Russell was her father, her friend, her protector, and only he understood her thirst for revenge that grew exponentially more with every day that passed.

They were both victims of Eric Northman's brutality, and the day would soon come when he would pay for everything he had done to her and her father. It was simply a matter of time.


"We have a mole amongst our guards."

Hearing Russell's voice from behind, Sookie turned around to face her maker. He stood by the door, concern evident in his features. "Are you sure?"

Russell shot her an irritated glance as he moved to the bar and poured himself a glass of blood vodka. "How else do you explain how quickly Northman is tracking us? He's catching up to us faster and faster these days."

She sauntered towards Russell. "Then let him. We should stop running."

Her maker levelled her with a blank stare before offering her a drink. "Not yet."

"You underestimate my strength," she fired back.

"You overestimate yours."

As if sensing her regret for snapping at him, his expression softened and he raised his hand to her cheek, tracing the long scar on her face. Although it was one of numerous wounds that Eric had given her, it was the only one which had marred her face and was visible to everyone. No matter how hard she tried to hide it, she never could. And it would never heal because Russell had turned her into a vampire long after Eric had permanently disfigured her.

"I worry about you," Russell said softly. "You don't remember the cruelty he's capable of."

"All I have to do is look in the mirror," she reminded him, removing Russell's hand from her scar. "And I remember."

"You may forget when you see him; he is quite beautiful," Russell said almost accusingly. "My Talbot was greatly fond of him, and Eric used that to destroy and take him from me forever."

"You don't honestly think I'll be swayed by a pretty face, do you? After everything he's done?"

"Unlike you, my child, I don't have the luxury of forgetting all of his assaults. I'm fully aware of how deceptively charming he can be when he's determined to get something."

"I will not let him hurt you, Russell."

"It's not me I'm worried about."

Hearing the fear and concern for her in his voice, Sookie placed her hand over his to comfort him. "I'm no longer that pathetic human, Russell. I've changed, you've said that yourself many times, and I'm not foolish enough to fall for his tricks again."

His eyes narrowed onto her face, his suspicious glint directed towards her. "I hope so."

There were many times she had caught him watching her with that very same expression, and it always left her feeling confused and angry. Although she felt guilty for even questioning her maker, especially after everything he'd done for her, there was a small, tiny part deeply embedded within that desperately wondered why he wouldn't tell her more about her past; she had to beg and plead with Russell to give her even the tiniest of details. She knew this was his way of protecting her from the tragic things that happened, but sometimes she wished he would just trust her enough to share.

"Will you read the guards for me? Tell me which one is betraying us?" Russell asked.

"Of course."

"But do not hurt him. I want to use him to our advantage."

"How so?"

There was a brief pause before he spoke again, his gaze concentrated on her the entire time. "Maybe you were right, child. Maybe it is time we stop running."

Taking in his words, Sookie offered her maker a grateful smile. For the first time that she could recall, a strange sensation of anticipation swept through her, and it was absolutely exhilarating.


Eric held no expectations about this latest bit of information that had slipped through to him; there really was no reason to considering none of them had ever panned out. As always Russell Edgington was never really where he was supposed to be, or he had already left by the time Eric had tracked him down. And there were never, ever any sightings of a woman with him after the first two years – something he had never revealed to Pam. For more than a decade he had let his progeny and Compton believe he clung to the illusion Sookie was alive; it served his purpose to let them think that. But he knew there was no hope. She couldn't be alive, not after all this time, and he knew it was for the best; he didn't want to consider what she would be suffering through at Russell's hands if she were.

At first he had reassured himself Sookie's fairy blood would ensure her safety, Russell wouldn't let anything happen to her as long as she remained valuable to him, but over time when Russell still hadn't made his move against Eric or the authority, had displayed no signs of exhibiting the powerful leverage he held over other vampires, Eric had realised he must have done something to Sookie. After all Russell Edgington was insane with anger and grief, and Eric had inadvertently handed him the very person he could unleash his anger upon.

His gaze fell on the building structure in front of him, and Eric swiped the blood from his mouth. He had spent the last few minutes disposing of the human guards and werewolves bodyguards that Russell had employed. All he had to do now was check the building but he already suspected Russell was long gone. The heavily guarded structure was a ruse, it always was.

Eric entered the building. After several minutes of investigating the surroundings and finding nothing of use, he was about to leave when the faint sound of a human cry reached his ears. At first he thought he may have imagined it but then he heard the soft whimper again.

It took him a few seconds to find the source of the noise.

Using his vampire speed he rushed to the bottom floor of the abandoned building, and concentrated his attention on the room at the end of the hallway. He had checked it briefly earlier, and had found it empty, and it looked to be vacant once again as he opened the door for the second time. This time, however, he went inside. He heard that distinct sound once more and realised it seemed to be coming from behind the walls. It didn't take long for him to find the hidden passageway located between the walls. As he followed the path, the sound grew increasingly closer until he finally reached the room at the end.

Refusing to acknowledge that dreaded feeling of anticipation that always lead to disappointment, he swung the door open.

Inside the room was a woman sitting on the floor, her back to him, bent over and feeding from a human that was almost dead. Upon realising she was no longer alone, the vampire turned around to face him, her mouth covered in blood, her eyes brimming with fear.

It was Sookie.