A great big mushy thanks to all of you reading this story, and especially for all of you who've taken the time to leave reviews. They mean the world to me. Thank you.


Sookie's POV

I drifted slowly back to awareness, struggling to pull myself from the blackness wavering through my mind. There was a cool hand stroking the length of my thigh, disappearing under the blood stained fabric of my dress. I moaned in response, the small sound escaping my parted lips. I felt so damned hot. I was burning up. His cool hand felt so good on my overheated flesh. I shifted towards the heavenly contact, allowing my thighs to part for his questing hand. My vampire. My lover. My Eric.

"Eric," I breathed, the sound almost swallowed by the roar of the car engine. It occurred to me, somewhere in the deep recesses of my brain, that this was wrong. I should be Fangtasia, not a car. But my traitorous body overruled my brain, and again I gave myself over to the overpowering need in my body. I had never felt so horny in my entire existence. I just wanted that cool hand to continue on it's journey. I needed him. I wanted him so badly. "Touch me, baby. I need you."

"Your precious Eric isn't here, Sookie." A cold laugh accompanied this disturbing revelation. "Oh, but don't worry. I plan on touching every inch of you before I have to give you up."

I'm ashamed to say it took a minute for his words to penetrate the fog of lust in my mind. It took everything in me to focus on his words, and not the feel of his hand on my thigh. I knew that voice, and it wasn't my vampire's faintly accented one. I gave myself over to the feelings coursing through my body. I was so hot, and his hand was so cool. I groaned as his fingers slid forward to rest against the damp white lace of my panties. His finger prodded and probed at my core, clumsily and painfully. My eyes snapped open the moment I felt his touch. This was not my vampire. This was not how my lover touched me. I looked to my left, took in the profile of the vampire driver sitting beside me and started screaming, hollering my fear and panic in his face.

"Bill Compton! You stop this car immediately. Do you hear me? Let me out of this car right now!" Cold panic settled into me, temporarily deadening the fire burning through me. I pulled myself as far away from him as I could, squeezing my thighs together tightly.

"I don't think so, my dear. You've led me on quite the merry chase, haven't you? I've got you now, though, and I plan on enjoying every minute until I have to hand you over." He was speaking so calmly. Like he hadn't just kidnapped me. I tried to shake myself mentally. I was so foggy, so hazy. And so damned horny. How could I still be so turned on, even when I was scared almost to death?

"Listen to me, Bill. You have to let me go. You have to." I was desperate, panicked enough to say words I wasn't sure were true. "Eric will find me. He will kill you for this." I didn't know for sure if Eric, Vampire Sheriff of Area Five would care enough to kill for me, but I knew Eric, my dream vampire lover would. He'd said the words to me many times in my dreams.

"Eric, yes. How did you get so much of his blood into you? You stink of him all over, and you almost glow." He tightened his grip on my thigh, squeezing painfully. I'd have bruises, for sure. "Eric should be afraid of me, Sookie. Where you are going, Eric's actions could be considered treasonous. He won't come after you. I've known the Northman for a long time. His reputation precedes him, I'm afraid. He's a cold, hard bastard who's never cared for a single human in his entire existence other than to fuck and feed. He wouldn't risk his position for a human, no matter how much he wants to fuck and feed from them." He laughed then. The coldness in his tone made him seem even more the undead creature he was.

"It's none of your business what I do with Eric! And you are wrong. He's going to come for me, and when he finds you, he will kill you." I thought about what Eric had told me at my house. He would be able to feel my panic, he would know the danger I faced. The bond would allow him to track me, he said. But when I recalled all he said, my hopes deflated a tiny bit.

'I may be able to sense if you are in danger, but keep in mind I may not always reach you in time. Do not count on me as a guardian angel, Sookie. I can assure you that would be a mistake.'

I shook it off as much as I could. I lowered my shields all I could and opened up the connection between us as fully as it ever had been, but it felt murky and weighed down. I sent thoughts and prayers his way, hoping against all hope he would find me in time. There was no doubt Bill Compton intended on having me, with or without my consent. I wasn't going to go down without a fight, but a part of me kept reminding me how much my lady parts were throbbing, how stiff and hard my nipples were against the fabric of my dress. I was still so hot, more needy than I could have ever imagined feeling. And now, faced with probable rape, I still can't get a grip on my raging hormones. The thought made me sick to my stomach. What the hell did he put in my drink? My thoughts cut short when I felt the back of his hand collide with the side of my face, before he quickly dropped his hand and pinched my hardened nipple cruelly between his fingers. I cried out in pain.

"Ow! You son of a bitch!" My cheek throbbed painfully, and my hand clutched my breast protectively. "Why are you doing this to me? Just let me go, please!"

"Even if I wanted to, Sookie, and I really don't want to, I can't let you go. I have orders to present you at court tomorrow night, and as I plan on keeping my head, I'm going to follow my orders. And as soon as I get you to my house, I plan on being buried in that sweet cunt of yours all night. I can smell you. I know you are just as excited about this as I am. I understood you playing your good southern girl games with me, Sookie, but I'm going to have you tonight until the sun comes up. And you're going to love it. I will have you begging and pleading for more, Sookie. I will have you screaming my name."

I stared at him with disgust, my skin crawling as his words penetrated me. I felt violated simply hearing him say it. As inflamed as my senses were, no matter how hot and bothered I feel inside, I would not should it to him. I didn't want him, I never wanted him. My body craved the touch of my vampire. My desire was only for Eric, not this crazy bastard. I would never scream his name. I would never beg him for more. I might not be able to stop him taking my body, but I could deny him me, my soul, my desires. Bile rose in my throat, battling with the fear and rage inside me. I felt my body burn even hotter and I opened my mouth to issue a denial when the car filled with the brightest burst of light I had ever seen. The sudden illumination showed the sudden fear on my captor's face, just as the car began to spin out of control. A long, slender hand reached from the back seat, and a single finger pressed to Bill's neck. A bolt of blue light, sort of like electricity, transferred from that hand into my captor's neck. He slumped forward, his head slamming into the steering wheel. We were going to crash. I could see the trees on the side of the road come closer as the out of control, now driverless, car hurtled towards them. My eyes slammed shut. I lost it and screamed at the top of my lungs.

"Eric!" I put all my fear and terror into my scream, wishing with every bit of strength I had to be back safe in his arms.

"You're safe, Sookie." I heard the words coming from the backseat of the car, but I was suddenly very distracted by the strange sensations pulling through my body. It felt like I was being turned inside out. When I opened my eyes again, I was standing in the living room of my old farmhouse. I screwed my eyes shut again and held them closed for a few seconds. When I opened them again, I was still standing in the safety of my own living room. What the heck just happened?

"We don't have much time, Sookie. I need you to snap out of it."

I spun around, startled by the soft voice coming from behind me. A strange woman was standing right behind me, a small smile playing on her face. She was beautiful, seriously beautiful. I stared in complete surprise and awe, my mouth gaping open. She was so much taller than me, probably six feet tall. Her hair was gorgeous, thick, dark and wondrously shiny. I just started, too confused to really care anymore.

"I'm Claudine. We haven't met before, but we are cousins." She smiled more fully at me, and extended her hand towards me. Her skin was pale and slightly luminescent, like a vampires, but different. Operating on automatic pilot, I reached my hand to meet hers, and was surprised when she pulled me into her for a swift, but tight hug. "I know you have many questions, and I promise you I will answer them for you, but we don't have time for that now. Just know that you are safe here, and I will continue to watch over you."

I gently extricated myself from her arms. It was strange how comfortable I felt in her embrace. She was soothing to my tormented soul.

"What are you?" I was scared to know the answer, but considering how she'd just magically transported me away from the worst situation I'd ever been in, I was pretty sure she wasn't human, not all human. I looked closer at my unknown savior. She had a faint glow to her skin, sort of how I'd looked after I'd had Eric's blood. "And how did you do that?"

"I'm your fairy godmother, Sookie." A light-hearted laugh accompanied her answer and I simply stared at her in response. "And I teleported us here. I promise, Sookie, I will explain everything soon. But right now we have to talk, and we must be quick. Your vampire should be on his way here by now, and I must be gone before he arrives." She turned and sat on the old couch, patting the seat next to her. "Come, sit. I swear to you, the danger is past. You must not fear me. You and I, we will be the best of friends. I can't tell you how much I've looked forward to meeting you."

I slowly moved to the couch and sank down, not really because she asked, but because I didn't think my shaking legs could hold me up much longer. I sat on the opposite end of the couch, though, rather than next to her. I did want to know what she had to say, and my body was thrumming anew at the idea my vampire was on his way here. He as coming for me.

"I have a fairy godmother?" I still didn't get that idea. Fairy godmothers were like the Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny, weren't they?

She laughed again, an oddly comforting sound. "Yes, you do, cousin. I'll explain that next time. Right now, your vampire is on his way here, and there are things I must tell you. Pay attention and listen carefully, because I don't have time to repeat myself. Do you understand?'

I nodded numbly. I didn't know how well my still foggy brain would accept what she had to say, but I would listen.

"First thing you need to know is that Bill Compton will try to come back for you, but we will not let him succeed. Stay inside the house tonight, and do not invite him, or anyone you don't know, into this house tonight. He can't come in without an invitation." She paused and looked at me until I nodded back. "Excellent. The second thing to know is that any vampire who is invited into your home can be magically expelled, all you need to do is rescind their invitation. Got it? Just say "I rescind your invitation." That's it." I nodded again. The only vampire I have invited into my home was Eric, even though I don't remember doing it. I wouldn't be throwing him out.

"Yes, I got it. Why is this so important now?"

"I can smell the herbs in the compound Compton must have put into your drink. I recognize them, Sookie, and I understand their purpose." She looked at me with a sorrowful expression. "Do you want this vampire you are tied to, Sookie? I know what happened that night. I was there, and you will never know how sorry I am that I was late getting to you that night. I couldn't stop what was happening, not if I wanted you to live. But you had no choice in what happened. Do you really want him in your life?"

I blushed, the question reminding me of just how much my body was still throbbing with need for my vampire. I didn't want to talk about Eric to this stranger, even if she was my cousin / fairy godmother. Whatever.

"I like Eric. I trust him." I trusted my Eric, anyway.

"The drug you ingested was probably meant to lower your resistance to Bill. It enhances your libido to rather extreme levels, I'm afraid. It will wear off over the next few hours, but you'll likely feel high levels of sexual desire until it does. Your vampire will be here in a few minutes and you must decide if you want him like this. If you don't, you should rescind his invitation immediately. This drug in your system will make it very hard for you to stop if you start anything with him. You are only beginning to feel it's effect, I suspect. It will likely intensify before it recedes." She reached out and patted my hand with hers. "I'm so sorry this happened to you, Sookie."

If I thought I was blushing before, I didn't know what I was talking about. Every single ounce of blood in my body flew to the surface of my skin, engulfing me in a total body blush. I couldn't believe she expected me to talk about having sex, crazy drug induced sex, with my vampire. I had my limits, and this was one of them. I was having a hard time thinking at that moment anyway. I could feel Eric coming closer, and his fear and panic were fluttering through me, as well as a persistent feeling of curiosity. I tried to calm myself, hoping to reassure him, even as I struggled to reassure myself.

"I understand what you are saying, Claudine, and I appreciate your concern and advice." That was the best I could come up with. It was kind of her to show concern, and a part of me was really, really excited to know I had more family out there. But my relationship with my vampire, what ever it was or could be, was not anyone else's business.

"One day, Sookie, I want you to tell me why you Chose him. I have a feeling it's an interesting story." Claudine smiled at me again, but I didn't understand what she was saying. I never chose Eric, even though I would, if I could. "Now, I really must be going. It wouldn't be safe for me to be so close to your vampire, especially if he's as riled up as I imagine he is."

"Wait a minute. Why wouldn't you be safe around Eric? You just saved my life. I'm sure he bears you no ill will." She confused me. She gracefully stood to her feet and I followed.

"Vampires and fairies don't mix, Sookie. We are irresistible to them. Vampires cannot control their bloodlust when they are around fairies, they apparently find our blood intoxicating and alluring. Vampires are usually fatal for fairies."

"Oh. Does that mean you are a fairy, then? A real one?" It sank in to me what she was saying. "If you are fairy, and we are cousins, does that make me a fairy, too? Are you telling me Eric is dangerous to me?"

"No, Sookie. You are in no danger from Eric. At this point, I don't know if he could harm you even if he wanted to." That sorrowful look was back on her face and she sighed as she paused. "You are only part-fairy, Sookie, and you don't smell like us, not now. If he was going to drain you, he would have the night he met you. You were covered in blood, and he kept his bloodlust completely in check." She paused again, and sniffed the air. Her body tensed, and she abruptly hugged me again. "He's almost here, Sookie, I can smell him approaching. I love you and I will visit you again soon." Another bright flash of light, accompanied by an audible POP and she was gone, leaving me standing alone in my living room.

"Well, hell." This day was dragging on like it was a hundred hours long. I glanced at the clock on the mantel and nearly fell to my knees. It was only 2:20. Only an hour and twenty minutes had passed since I was in Eric's office. I looked at the blood stains on my dress and was thinking about changing my clothes when I felt him arrive. A thump came from the porch, and pounding started at the front door. I could hear him calling my name from the porch.

I smoothed a hand over my hair, hauling the red hairband out as I did so. I took a long, deep breath and started towards the door. To my vampire. To Eric. My heart thumped almost painfully in my chest. I opened the door and took in the wonderful man, the vampire, standing in front of me. He came for me. I knew he would.

"Won't you please come in?" He was across the threshold in a flash, pulling me tight to his body, his nose buried in my hair.

This was right. This was best.


And that's all for now, folks! Hope you liked it. Please take the time to leave a review and let me know!

I'm working on the next chapter now, and I'm hoping to get it posted tonight. Your reviews are the best motivation I could have. Seriously.

Oh, yeah, and a major lemon alert on the next chapter. Who's up for some fabulous Viking lovin'?