Disclaimer: The Southern Vampire Series, and all characters from it, is owned by Charlaine Harris. The original characters and plot from my fan fiction are mine. I am in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
A/N: If you haven't already, do yourself a favor and rent the movie Blood & Chocolate – a cute werewolf movie. The thing I love the most about it, is the cool way they show fealty or submission – it's so sexxxxy! I just love the bow, the wave of the hair, and the baring of the neck! Purrr! But alas, this movie is PG-13 or something, so that was pretty much all the excitement there. But still, it's a cute movie. Anyhoo, I incorporate their particular little bow here in this fanfic. D'accord!
You can see it here:
you tube[D O T]com/watch?v=EfGJ9KvjXM4&feature=related
just take out the [D O T] and replace it with a period "." plus no spaces.
You can fast forward to around 6:09 – this is when they show the bow. :)
June 2013 - Updated
This story was originally published on 3/19/09. Any mistakes left are my own.
In a perfectly calm tone of voice that chilled Sookie's blood, Victor Madden said, "Thirty-five of us, Miss Stackhouse, to be precise, with only two objectives: to make me the new Sheriff of Area Five and to make you the King's new pet."
Eric boomed out a loud, thunderous laugh. "Thirty-five vampires, Victor? Am I really such a big threat that you had to bring so many after me?"
Victor growled and hissed at Eric. "Why, I do believe you are sweating, Northman. You know you and your child don't stand a chance against us. Why don't you make this easier on yourself and hand over Sookie?" Victor took a step toward Sookie.
"You will be dead before you even reach her," Eric warned menacingly.
Sookie's heart began to race rapidly and she gripped Eric's hand even tighter.
"Sookie is my bonded. She is mine."
Pam fought the urge to roll her eyes. Well at least this time he didn't pound his chest.
Victor stopped advancing as Eric defiantly straightened his posture.
Sandy chuckled. "Your bond was never finalized, Sheriff. She has yet to yield to you and you have as yet to remain faithful to her." A wicked smile graced her lips.
Sookie gulped. Eric's fidelity, or lack thereof, was something she had always put in the back of her mind. She wasn't gullible enough to believe he was faithful to her, but having the truth thrown at her in this manner, was difficult to swallow—to say the least. Her grip on Eric's hand slackened, but Eric gripped her hand, squeezing it tighter. The remorseful look in his eyes confirmed Sandy's statement. Her breath hitched and she looked away.
"Compton. " Victor paused to point at himself and Felipe. "We value your database and the income it generates to our territory. We also know you hold no favor with the current, and soon to be disposed of Sheriff, especially after what we saw here today. Join us."
Bill knew as soon as Felipe and his regime got what they wanted from his database, he'd be expendable. Eric on the other hand, wanted him dead, yesterday. His only choice was to follow Sookie. He hoped she could sway the victor of tonight's battle to keep him alive. "I follow Sookie. Wherever she goes, so shall I, too. I will lay down my life for her. This I have vowed, and this I will honor."
Pam rolled her eyes upwards.
Eric and Sam straightened their postures.
Sam quickly added, "I too, agree with Bill's words. I will give my life in order to defend Sookie."
"Your opinion and your loyalty is irrelevant in this matter, Shifter. You are inconsequential to us. You may leave." Victor waved his hands at Sam, as if he was swatting at a pesky fly.
Sookie tried to disengage her hand from Eric's, but he held onto her tighter. "Eric, let go of my hand."
Her words stung him and Eric felt as if Sookie was still working on him with the knife. For some strange reason he couldn't quite comprehend, he wanted to kneel in front of her, bury his head in her stomach, and beg her forgiveness for causing her pain. But he quickly dispatched the feeling. If she never apologized to me for leaving Rhodes with Quinn while being bonded to me, then why should I? We swore no fealty to one another.
He loosened his grip on her hand. Before letting her go, however, he brought her hand up to his lips and kissed it. "As you wish, Dear One," he whispered tenderly, and released her hand.
Victor and Sandy grinned. They knew they had succeeded in separating them.
"I guess we see now where everyone stands," Felipe began. "Very well, Northman, what say you? Will you hand Miss Stackhouse over to me?"
"Your Majesty, with all due respect, I must decline your gracious offer to take my bonded off my hands. Our bond is not business driven. I have had a long life and it is high time I joined my life with another. Sookie is mine, and I, too, will lay down my life for her."
To everyone's surprise, especially Sookie's, Eric knelt down on one knee in front of her. Using his mindspeak, he spoke to Pam. Child, kneel to your Mistress.
Pam hesitated, shocked Eric would pledge himself or his life to anyone. Eric sensed his child's uncertainty, and not having the luxury of time to explain, he thought over to her. As your Maker, I command you to kneel to your Mistress and offer her your fealty.
The vampiress' knees buckled and both Eric and Pam knelt. In synchronized unison, they each raised their right hand, and brought it to the left side of their head. They held back their loose hair and presented their bare neck up to Sookie, while averting their gaze to the ground, a formal bow of fealty.
Eric then looked up and locked eyes with Sookie, speaking solemnly. "From this day forth, I swear my devotion to none other than you, Sookie Stackhouse, and swear to drink from no one else. I pledge my fealty and undying devotion to you, Dear One, and vow to meet the sun if I do not have you by my side. All this I have vowed, and all this I will honor until the end of my days." He looked over to his child expectantly, waiting for her to follow his example.
Pam kept her gaze at Sookie's feet. "As do I, Mistress, vow and swear my fealty, the same fealty I swear to my Master."
Eric's and Pam's gestures touched Sookie in her soul as did those of Bill and Sam. She could not hold back her tears at the show of love from her friends and Eric's words. Could he really be serious? Will he never touch or drink from anyone but me? Sweet Shepherd, I've been dying to hear those words coming from his lips, and now it seems I got my wish in more ways than one. It's just not fair he's saying them just as we're about to die.
Sookie tried frantically to stop from crying, and used her hands to wipe the tears which fell down her face. Eric reached out to her and cupped her hands in his, licking the tears off her fingers and kissing the palms of her hands. Only after he rose from his kneeling position, did Pam rise as well.
Victor laughed, an expression of disgust on his face. He clapped his hands. "How very touching. How very touching indeed."
The four companions, whom just a few moments ago had been engaged in trying to end each other's lives, huddled closer together. Sookie took a few steps away from them and spoke to Victor.
"Victor, if . . . if . . . I go with you willingly, would you spare their lives?"
"Eric and his child would be killed immediately. Compton would be kept alive until we had no further use for him, and since the other serves absolutely no value to us, we would concede to letting the shifter keep his worthless life," Victor replied.
Sookie was shocked to hear such candor coming from Victor. Remind me never to ask him if I look fat in shorts. "I see." She faced Felipe. "Then I choose to remain with Eric. I will fight until the end, for I don't want to be anyone's pet."
Eric was moved by Sookie's courage and drew his bonded near, putting his hand on the curve of her back. Sookie turned and stood before him. He encircled his hands on her waist, and tenderly kissed her forehead.
"Well, isn't that sweet, Sookie? Yes, I should just call you Sookie since we are going to get to know each other well. As I was saying, Sookie, you are just delaying the inevitable. Eric says you always heel nicely when he calls on you. Obviously, you are already used to being someone's pet."
"Sookie is no one's pet, Victor!" Eric yelled at him. "She is with me by choice, and that is why I . . . " Eric paused and everyone who was able to, held his or her breath as to what he would say next.
Sweet Shepherd. Is he going to say what I think he's going to say?
"That is why I care for her and will give my life for her."
Sookie's shoulders dropped in disappointment. The rest in attendance scoffed.
Victor laughed. "Your bond is a joke, Northman! You can't even tell your bonded that you love her."
Sookie's anger flooded through her. She was not going to stand by any longer and let Victor run his mouth at her expense.
"He doesn't need to, Victor! Words get lost in the wind, but actions last forever. Eric shows me his love. Ever since the first day I met him, he has taken care of me, loved me, and more importantly he's been there for me unconditionally," Sookie spat back at him. She thought about adding how Eric had put on pink tights, pretended to be gay, and had taken her to an orgy, but somehow she thought that wouldn't give off the desired effect. Best not mention that tidbit.
"Yeah right," Sandy retorted. "We've all heard how much of his love for you he's been showing to every fangbanger in his club."
Sookie sighed. I've had enough of this bitch. "Well, I'll have you know—"
"Enough talk, Sookie. Northman, the final hour for you and your motley crew has finally arrived. Prepare yourselves." Victor motioned forth the vampires in Felipe's retinue.
Pam walked to the back of the Corvette again and came back holding three swords.
"Just how many things do you have in that Corvette, Eric? Because a bazooka or a machine gun turret would really come in handy right about now," Sookie asked.
Eric chuckled. "Well, Dear One, if we survive this night, I will definitely look into installing that."
Sookie hoped their situation wasn't as hopeless as it seemed.
Both Bill and Pam drank some blood from the extra reserve bags Eric had not used earlier when he was healing himself, as they wanted to make sure they were more than ready for the ensuing battle. Sam was completely regenerated, since he had taken some of Pam's blood earlier, and was still under its healing effects.
Sookie hugged Sam and Bill to wish them luck. When she came up to hug Pam, the vampiress stepped back quickly, pretending to inspect her sword's sharpness. Sookie gave her a pat on her shoulder and mouthed a thank you to her.
At last, Sookie got to Eric and reluctantly kissed him, briefly touching her lips with his as she stood on her tiptoes. In actuality, she wanted to slap him and yell at him, "So that's why you take months to get back at me! You're out living it up with all those fangbanging whores!" But knew she had no right to tell him anything. When they bonded, it was out of necessity—it was choosing the lesser of two evils—Andre or Eric. There had been no commitments or promises of fidelity.
"Dear One, get inside the bar."
Her anger faltered with his endearment. Sweet Shepherd, why can't I feel anything but love for him? "No, Eric. I want to stay here with you."
"No, Lover. You will be safer inside. Listen to me; I need to know you are safe."
"He's right, Sookie," Bill and Sam both agreed.
"The last thing we need is for you to compromise our lives further by getting yourself captured," Pam added rather indelicately.
Eric shot his child a rather scathing look, but Sookie held Eric's hand in hers.
"She's right. I'll go inside." Sookie went and stood at the front entrance to Merlotte's, overlooking the ensuing battle. Sam took off his clothes and shifted into a bear again, but this time he seemed larger and more menacing.
Sookie gasped. Must be the vampire blood.
The group of four fighters readied themselves and Victor dispatched the first wave of six vampires. This group of vampires, also armed with swords, approached the group slowly.
"Eric!" Sookie yelled. "Watch out! There are Weres coming up fast behind you. It's an ambush!"
The four fighters moved to stand back-to-back. Pam teamed with up with Sam, and Eric teamed up with Bill, ensuring that one person could defend the front, while the other covered the back.
A loud sound of crunching gravel resounded through the tense air.
"Did we make the party in time, or are we fashionably late?" A naked Alcide Herveaux, along with several other naked Weres, came upon the group.
The four fighters let out a sigh of relief, and Sam—in his bear form—stood up on his back hind legs and gave out a mighty roar.
Sookie came running up to Alcide and placed her hand on his shoulder.
"Alcide, I don't know what to say. How did you know . . . "
"Sam called us earlier. Sorry we took so long in getting here, but there was a backup on the highway. Some idiot in a red car was driving erratically and running people off the road, speeding like a madman. He left a big traffic jam in his wake."
Sookie smiled and wondered just who that could have been.
"Anyways, Sam said there were some vampires on his property who were bothering you, Sookie, and he asked for our assistance. As Friend of the Pack, we owe you our fealty. I brought twenty of my best. We are at your disposal." Alcide and the rest of his pack knelt down on one knee and performed the fealty bow.
As they bared their neck to Sookie, they simultaneously chanted, "Friend of the Pack."
Sookie felt her heart swell with all the outpouring of love and support she had been receiving from all her friends and loved ones.
The crunch of gravel pounded everyone's ears once more.
"Is this an invitation-only party, or can anyone join in?" Calvin Norris approached with ten Hot Shot shifters in tow. "It seems I got wind of what was going on here, and as a friend of The Werepanther Pack, Sookie, we are here for you if you need us."
Calvin's pack knelt down, did the same fealty bow, and bared their necks, chanting, "Friend of the Pack."
All of her life, Sookie had been treated as an outcast and labeled as being crazy. For the first time, she realized she was not alone in the world, and that she mattered to so many people. She had never felt so loved and cared for, and if she had been able to speak, she would have quoted her favorite Sandra Bullock movie line to say, "My cup runneth over."
After Calvin and his pack rose, she stopped sobbing and went over to him to greet him as well. "Thank you, my friends. I don't have fancy words to tell you how much this means to me." Sookie tried her best to calm her tears.
"Alcide, Calvin, as a Friend of your Packs, I humbly request you fight by Eric, my Blood Bonded's side. The new king, Felipe de Castro, along with thirty-five of his vampires, wish to kill him, Bill, Sam, and Pam as well and make me the king's new pet. Will you fight alongside us to stop this?"
"Yes," both Alcide and Calvin responded. "For you, we will fight."
"There is no bond!" Victor screamed at the top of his dead lungs. "The ceremony was not completed properly and your pathetic alliance is a joke at best."
Alcide and Calvin positioned themselves with the four fighters. Eric touched the shoulders of the two Packmasters in good faith, as vampires did not shake hands.
"I thank you both for coming to aid my bonded tonight. If we live through this night, I will return the favor to your packs."
Both Packmasters nodded, accepting Eric's gracious offer, but Alcide didn't understand what Victor was talking about. "What do you mean there is no bond? What's missing to complete the bond process?"
Victor looked over at Alcide with an exasperated look on his face as if he wanted to say, Do I really have to explain myself to you?
"Well?" Alcide asked.
Sandy stepped in. "Sookie never yielded to Eric, while Eric has yet to remain faithful to her. They must both exchange blood simultaneously while yielding in order for the bond to take hold. They have not done any of this, therefore, Eric has left Sookie unprotected and is unsuited to be with her."
"Oh," Alcide said.
Victor moved toward the king and slapped him heartily on the shoulder.
Felipe looked at him as if he was out of his mind.
"Yes, thank you, Sandy. King Felipe de Castro, here, has sworn to protect Sookie. And in order for us to ensure her safety at all times, the King has graciously acceded to claim Sookie as his own. Avoid the unnecessary bloodshed to your people, Weres! Go home! This is not your fight!" Victor yelled frantically, moving protectively in front of the King.
"What an ass. I think there's something wrong with that one," Calvin muttered under his breath. "He seems too jumpy for a vamp."
Eric scoffed in agreement.
"That's where you're wrong, vampire," Alcide bellowed, having just directed some of his pack into strategic defense positions. "As long as Sookie wishes to fight—"
"We will fight," Calvin ended.
Victor waved his hands wildly in the air. "And what exactly are you fighting for? There is no bond! There is nothing here to sacrifice your lives for. Leave!"
Loud popping noises filled the air.
"Is this true, Eric Northman?" Niall Brigant appeared out of nowhere, along with several fairies in tow. It was apparent they were all masking their scents, because the vampires gave no indication their presence was affecting them.
"Prince." Eric inclined his head.
"Great-Grandfather!" Sookie was ecstatic at seeing Niall and quickly went to embrace him.
"Child," Niall spoke tenderly to Sookie, and smoothed her hair.
Felipe moved forward, about to inquire what was going on, when Victor pushed him aside. The shock registered in Felipe's furrowed brow.
"What is the meaning of this, Eric?" Victor asked.
Not missing the slight power struggle between Victor and Felipe, Eric answered, "Your Majesty, the night of the takeover, I informed Victor that harming Sookie would set unknown forces into motion."
"That was just an idle threat," Victor replied, undermining Felipe's place once more.
"Idle threat or not is for Prince Niall Brigant to decide. Sookie is part Fae—Niall's descendant to be precise. To harm her now would surely be taken as a declaration of war against the Fae," Eric stated solemnly.
Victor, Felipe, and Sandy all looked at each other in disbelief.
Niall never acknowledged the other vampires, only Eric. "I asked you a question, Eric Northman. Is it true you have no bond with my great-granddaughter?"
Eric tensed. "I—"
"Do I have to remind you of the blood oath you entered with me, Viking? You promised to protect my great-granddaughter and bind yourself to her. Have you changed your mind and are now leaving her unprotected?"
"Prince, I would never leave Sookie unprotected. My word still stands. Not one day has passed in which I have not ensured your great-granddaughter's safety," Eric said.
"Yet, it has come to my attention that you have not taken to the oath as seriously as you led me to believe. I thought I made it clear: my great-granddaughter would be the only one with whom you could bind yourself to." From Niall's words, it was clear Eric's infidelity was not part of whatever undisclosed arrangement they had made between each other.
Eric had no expression on his face, but remained silent.
"Prince," Pam spoke respectfully. "Just a few moments ago, My Master and I swore fealty to your great-granddaughter."
"Is this true, Child?" Niall asked Sookie, knowing exactly what had just transpired.
"Yes, it's true. He even got on one knee." Sookie felt her cheeks redden. .
Victor laughed. "It's like you said, Sookie. Words get lost in the wind. Eric Northman will never remain faithful to you. How could he? He beds three women every night! How could you be so stupid as to think he'd give that up for you?"
A collective gasp, then a sudden silence fell throughout the group as all eyes became transfixed on Sookie's stunned face, waiting to see how she would react.
"W-w-well, I guess both of us have trouble in that department." Sookie quickly hid the emotion from her face. "I myself, have been with three different men today as well." In her mind, Sookie thought this would make Eric look better, but somehow she wasn't so sure after she said it. Her comment raised a few eyebrows and other parts of the anatomy, as some vampires ran their fangs down with her inflammatory words.
"Child, if you and Eric Northman do not wish to be in this bond, I will see to your protection personally. I will take you to live in the Fairy Realm, where you will be safe from anyone who wishes to enslave you against your will. Would you agree to this?"
Sookie's thoughts reeled out of control. What the fuck? Three women? How's that even possible? Motherfucker! She gulped, not knowing what she was going to do. What if that scum bucket's right? How can I ever satisfy Eric? Last time I looked, there's only one of me and there's no way I'm sharing him. If I agree to this bond, how long will it be before he gets bored with me? How long can I keep him by my side?
"Child, I await your response…"
"I'm sorry, Great-Grandfather. I . . . I was . . . what did you say again?"
"If you so wish, I will take you to the Fairy Realm where I may better protect you."
Sookie sighed. "Yes, Great-Grandfather. Perhaps that's the best solution. Although I would miss everyone terribly, it would avoid unnecessary bloodshed." Sookie tried her best to sound practical, but her heart broke with every word she uttered. Maybe that's why there's been so many rumors saying Eric's never gotten serious with anyone. And I thought I could change him? What an idiot.
"Absolutely not," Eric stated. "Sookie, you cannot leave me."
Sookie held back her tears. "Eric, you have to stay faithful to me—I mean we have to stay faithful to each other. What if you . . . uh we can't do that?" Both Sookie and Eric knew the only reason Sookie had been with Sam and Bill was because of Eric's erotic messages through the bond, but Sookie was trying to take ammunition away from Victor and company, who seemed adamant in throwing Eric's infidelity in her face.
"I can and I will. I have sworn my devotion to you, and to you only. I am a man of my word." Eric looked at her, then at the Prince. "This I have vowed, and this I swear to honor, Prince."
"Words, words, words!" Victor yelled.
Niall ignored him. "Then you must complete the bonding process properly to convince me of your sincere vows. Otherwise, you leave me no choice but to take my great-granddaughter from this realm."
Eric nodded.
"Child, ask Eric if he will honor his word to you. He will speak the truth to you," Niall said.
"All right." Sookie got in front of Eric and looked up into his eyes. "Eric, will you honor your word and remain faithful to me from this day forward?" Sookie suddenly wished she had the gift of teleportation in case Eric answered, no.
"Yes, I will honor my word to you, Sookie, and I will remain forever faithful to you, Dear One," Eric answered. "There is no other woman I desire."
Sweet Shepherd, could it be true? Would my love be enough to satisfy him and keep him happy? Could he love only me?
Niall nodded and held Sookie's hand. "Child, earlier today I had Claudine give you a gel to put on your body. In essence, this gel is much like a truth serum to vampires. Once they inhale the scent, a soothing sensation overcomes them, and they are compelled to tell the truth when asked a question. Now I am certain Eric Northman is being honest, and will honor his bond to you. Will you do the same and honor your bond to him?"
So that's why everyone's being so freaking honest! I better remember to get that bottle from the bathroom, because having that gel has really come in handy. No wonder I had the urge to go to the bathroom after Eric was shot. It had to be Niall's magic compelling me. "Yes, I will," Sookie replied. "I promise to honor my bond with Eric."
The vampires all seemed to be taken aback. Truth serum for vampires? This new revelation did not bode well for them.
"Then proceed and reinforce your bond right now," Niall said.
"What? Right here; in front of everyone?" Sookie tried to calm the panic apparent in her voice. You're joking, right?
"There is no time like the present, Child."
"Hey, Sookie, remember when you went to the Were Packmaster Ceremony I invited you to?" Alcide asked. "We could be your witnesses to the blood exchange and you yielding to Eric. The bond would be iron clad, and these fools won't ever try to kill Eric or take you as their pet."
"Alcide, this is not just a simple blood or word exchange, I have to physically yield to Eric."
"So, just yield to him, Sookie," Calvin added in.
"No, I have to like yield . . . yield." There were still a few confused faces, so in order to simplify matters, Sookie made a lewd gesture with her fingers indicating she would have to have sex with Eric in order to complete the bond.
"Oh is that it? Well just do it, then," Alcide insisted. "It's not like it's something we all haven't seen before. We've all been to mating ceremonies. Unless you don't want to be bonded to Eric and you're just looking for an excuse out of the bond."
"No, it's not that." Sookie was blushing and deeply embarrassed.
"I for one do not have a problem with a public ceremony, my Lover," Eric related.
Sookie rolled her eyes upward. Of course you wouldn't! Sweet Shepherd of Judea, can I really do this? In front of everybody? She had to admit Alcide was right. She needed witnesses so no one would doubt the bond between her and Eric ever again. Oh Good God, am I really going through with this?
Sam changed back from being a bear, as he noticed all the vampires had pulled their fangs in when the fairies came on the scene.
"Are we fighting, or what are we doing?" Sam asked.
"Great-Granddaughter, I will take my leave so you will be more comfortable."
Yeah, like that's the only thing holding me back! I can't believe I went to you for help so I could be together with Eric, and this is what you come up with for a solution? Public Sex? Jeez! I could've done that myself instead of waiting around for three weeks!
Niall furrowed his brow.
Sookie took a deep breath. I'm sorry. I know you're hearing me and I must sound like a brat right now. I know you came through me. Without your interference tonight, I doubt Eric would have publicly pledged his devotion to me. "Thank you." Sookie embraced her great–grandfather.
Niall kissed Sookie on the forehead, and the fairies left just as quickly as they had arrived.
Alcide quickly set things in motion. "In our Were mating ceremonies, we usually place a red blanket on a raised platform." Alcide roamed his eyes around. "I don't suppose you have a red blanket—to make it more official?"
Pam suddenly understood Eric's unnerving behavior and couldn't help hiding the evil grin that splashed itself on her face. How could I have doubted my master? So, he struck a deal with the Fae Prince, did he? Of course, that's why he pledged himself to the telepath. Eric putting Eric first. And here I thought he might care for her. Pam chuckled and neared the group, "Well, we have a red Corvette. It could serve as the red blanket and as a raised platform of sorts."
"It'll have to do," Alcide said.
Pam put her sword down for a moment and walked over to Sookie. She reached into her outfit and brought out a powdered makeup case. She began working on Sookie's face as it was blotchy from all the crying she had been doing.
Sookie was a bit startled with the vampiress' gesture. "Thanks, Pam."
Pam could sense Sookie's nervousness as she saw her trembling hands and skittish demeanor. The vampiress was having none of it. If her Master needed to bind himself to Sookie to remain alive–she would hold the telepath down herself. "There all done. Your hair is perfect, Sookie. Look at me," she said, holding on to her shoulders. "You can do this, Sookie, I know you can. Just pretend you are alone with him."
"Pam, I . . . I . . . "
"Do you wish Eric to die?"
"No, of course not" Sookie grimaced as Pam's grip tightened on her shoulders.
"If you leave this realm, then that will surely be my Master's fate. Don't you see that? He cannot live without you." Pam winked at the telepath, letting go of her shoulders to put her makeup case back inside her garments.
"Okay," Sookie replied.
"I know you can do it, Sookie. Surely, you don't want to leave my Master now after he's pledged his devotion to you. Be reasonable; what other choice do you have?" Pam gave her a quick hug and picked up her sword again.
Sookie crossed her arms in front of her, rubbing her shoulders after Pam's rough pep talk. Pam was wrong, there were other choices she could contemplate: two in fact. One was to leave the realm and go with her Niall, the second was to submit to Felipe de Castro.
Sookie knew if she went with her first choice, she would never be able to forgive herself. Choosing to leave Eric would be just the same as condemning herself to a miserable fate, since she couldn't be without him. The past three lonely weeks had shown her that. The second choice wasn't even an option. She would never belong to Felipe or anyone else.
Sookie started shaking, contemplating the only option her heart told her was right. Gathering up her courage, she made her way towards the Corvette, stopping at the front bumper with her back to the crowd. She unzipped Eric's jacket and made her choice.
She chose Eric. In the end, she would always choose him. She knew he would always be there for her, and now she had to step up to the plate and be there for him.
Sookie was glad she still had her red apron on. At least one of her areas was going to be partially covered, and right now, it was covering her butt. She adjusted the strings on her waist and took a deep breath. She was ready.
With her heart pounding as if it would come out her ears, she took off Eric's jacket and let it fall to the ground. Her body was shimmering from Claudine's gel, and the visual of the red apron on her backside was extremely enticing to the vampires in attendance.
She kept her gaze on the ground, because she didn't want to look anyone in the face and catch a look of desire directed at her from her friends, after all, Calvin and Alcide had been interested in her at one point. She turned around, facing the crowd.
Eric took an unnecessary breath. How appropriate. Her apron's red bow hung just above her golden curls. She truly is a prize worth dying for.
Sookie sucked in her breath and moved the rectangular apron forward to cover her sex. Picking up Eric's jacket, she placed it on the Corvette's hood and sat on it.
She debated whether to take off her shoes or not, because she didn't want to scratch the paint of the car, but then she remembered the car belonged to Eric Northman. Surely, he can afford to fix a few scratches on his hood.
She slid up the car, taking the jacket with her, until her back was resting on the windshield. By now, her nerves were at an all-time high, Her breathing had increased and her heart was racing. She searched the feet on the ground and found where Eric was standing. She placed her hands on the red apron that barely covered her.
Spreading her legs, she placed her arms above her head, and took a deep breath. Her gaze then moved from Eric's feet up to his face.
Eric's fangs never clicked down faster. The visual of seeing Sookie's beautiful face, the blonde ringlets of her hair cascading down over her shoulders and creamy skin, her breasts moving up and down as she breathed in heavily, the red fabric between her spread legs, and the high-heels on top of the red Corvette was driving him insane.
As Sookie stared at Eric, the audacious Viking began unbuttoning his pants, and without a moment's hesitation, slid them off. He paused for a moment, letting her take him in visually as well. Sookie fluttered her eyes. Eric was already ready for her, and she was having trouble breathing at seeing him aroused so soon.
Sookie's heady gaze traveled over Eric's body. His pale skin glistened in the moonlight and his chiseled abs begged to be touched. She wished she could tell him to turn around so she could look at his ass, but thought better of it.
Like a domino effect, the silence of the night was interrupted by the sound of forty-one vampires running their fangs down as the vision in front of them, mixed with Sookie's enticing and alluring scent, overloaded their senses.
In the loudest voice Sookie could muster she yelled, "I, Sookie Stackhouse, yield to you, Eric Northman!"
Eric turned his head to the left, his fangs glistening in the night, and projected his voice loudly behind him. "And I, Eric Northman accept!" Eric began walking towards Sookie, her legs instinctively opening wider for him. He smiled at the control he wielded over her body and reveled in seeing her nipples hardening, begging for his touch. Her arousal scent intensified, calling out to him,beckoning him to claim her.
"Stop them!" Victor yelled. "Kill anyone who stands in your way. They must not finalize their bond!"
A/N: Whew! This was such a long and emotional chapter. I was actually getting teary eyed during some parts. Like when Sookie realized she wasn't alone and actually had affected people's lives and mattered to so many. *sniff sniff* And when Eric got down on one knee, I lost it! *sobs*
I totally left out Jason from Sookie's loved one's list because you can't have sex with your brother looking on—hello! (Although how the Weres do that, I'll never know.) Also, the forty-one vampires were the thirty-five fighters, and the three Nevada vamps plus Eric, Pam, and Bill. [We can safely assume Sandy went ahead and pulled her fangs down in reaction to the mood around her, and not necessarily because she was attracted to Sookie.] ;)
Thank you so much to all who have been so kind as to leave a review. Thanks for showing you care!