A/N: I am sorry for the delay in this chapter. My life is still a little crazy at the moment so finding time to write has been difficult for me. But you guys have my word that I will try to post a chapter each week. I hope my chaotic life hasn't lessened the quality of the story I am trying to tell. As always thanks for the reviews of my work. I enjoy reading them. It is nice to know the story is so loved. If you have any comments, suggestions, or reviews I'd love to read them!
Fangtasia
Eric paced the floor of his office feeling antsy. A murder victim had turned up in Bon Temps during the day. The murder victim was a local woman, Jane Bodehouse. Jane's corpse had been decapitated after she was dead and was left in the cemetery. At the moment the police were looking for a man that she might have brought home. Jane Bodehouse was known for being an alcoholic and promiscuous. However, Eric had no doubt that it was the work of Pavel Ivanov. The Authority was expecting swift action on Eric's part and he was quite aware of the penalty for failure. "What time did you tell her to be here?" asked Eric looking at Tara.
"I asked Theresa to be here at 10:00 and she said that she'd be here, Eric. I don't think she'd just flake out and not show up. But I didn't leave the best of feelings when I took off last night," said Tara walking over to Eric. "You are going to wear a hole in the floor with all of your pacing. We can always go back to the idea of using me as bait."
Eric turned around and looked at Tara with a hard gaze "That was never an idea that I was on board with. I am not using you as bait. Besides, we don't even know that it would be bait that Pavel would take. I don't actually know what he is after other than killing people and getting the Authority's attention. If your sister can't help I will just find another way around this."
"I could always try to have a premonition myself. I am not exactly good at it, but they do come to me when it is important. And this feels pretty fucking important to me," said Tara. She had this horrible feeling like she was letting Eric down. He had put himself into so much peril in the last couple of weeks keeping her safe from werewolves and now she couldn't even help him when he needed her most. She walked away from him and had seat on the couch in his office. Tara curled her legs under her making sure that the strapless, silver sequined, dress was covering the important bits.
There was a knock on the office door.
"Come in!" called Eric over his shoulder.
The office door opened and Theresa walked into the room wearing a zebra print wrap dress that was low-cut. She had a over sized purse dangling from her arm. "Your bouncer at the door told me where to find you, Mr. Northman. I am sorry that I am late. I dropped my father off at the airport in New Orleans earlier and it took me longer to drive back than I expected. So, Tara...you said that you needed a favor?"
Tara smiled brightly and walked over to Theresa. "After last night, I was hoping that you'd be willing to help me...well us actually. I wasn't exactly nice when I stormed out of the hotel room." She was glad that Theresa was there to help Eric, but more so she was happy that her sister cared enough to lend her a hand. Lafayette was her only blood relative that she could count on.
Theresa reached out taking Tara's hands in hers. "I don't blame you. Last night was one colossal disaster after another. Last night needed a woman's touch and Dad fucked up. I want to let you know that I don't condone his decision to leave you in an abusive home. There was no way that he didn't know what would happen to you. He just chose the coward's way out. If he took you from your mother he would have had to be truthful with my mother. I am so sorry that his cowardice caused you so much pain. But I don't think he truly meant what he said to you last night. He was just angry and he lashes out when he is angry. Trust me I've had 36 years of his temper tantrums."
Eric looked at the two women standing in the middle of his office. Sure enough Theresa had a much a fairer complexion than Tara, Theresa's complexion was similar to that of an Italian person, but the resemblance between the two women was uncanny. Although both women were now in stilettos it was obvious that Tara and Theresa were petite and would only stand around 5'5" without the heels. Both women had dark brown eyes, jet black hair, high cheek bones, and long eyelashes. Even their noses were ridiculously similar in shape.
Theresa gave Tara a hug and asked, "So what can I do to help you? I was so surprised when you called me for a favor. I wasn't sure that I'd hear from you again."
Eric nodded his head to the couch and said, "Please, have a seat." He grabbed his desk chair and pulled it around so that he'd be sitting in front of the couch.
Theresa and Tara both had a seat on the couch. Tara said, "The favor that I am going to ask you to do...I need you to promise to keep it to yourself. No one outside of this room can know about this. I know that is a lot to ask..."
Theresa chuckled heartily. "I am used to keeping secrets. As a diviner I have been keeping them for years. So...go on."
Tara looked at Eric and nodded.
"The premonition your father had about Tara's impending death...I believe the vampire in that premonition is after me and more than that, is responsible for the deaths of several humans and vampires. As sheriff of this area it is my duty to locate him, but as he is a traveling vampire I do not have any leads on where he might be. I was hoping that perhaps you could be of assistance. It is my understanding of all of this is that the older you are the better you are able to control what you see," said Eric. He was taking a big risk telling a non-vampire that he didn't trust about this, but he was under a serious time crunch.
Theresa said, "Do you have a picture of him or something he might have touched? I know that is a tall order but, sometimes that makes it easier to have a premonition about someone. With Tara's help I should be able to come up with something. However, if I am unable to have a premonition about this vampire I could always call on our brother Alexander. He stayed here in Shreveport as well hoping that Tara would be willing to see us. He is three years older than me and therefore is more powerful than I am."
Eric walked over to his desk grabbing the file folder that Nan Flanagan had left with him. He took out a picture of Pavel. Eric handed the picture to Theresa. "Here is a picture. This is all that I have."
Theresa looked at the picture and said, "This will do nicely. I know that this is a matter of importance, but if it is alright with you I'd like to teach Tara how to mediate to bring on her premonitions. It is a skill that will come in handy."
Eric shook his head and said, "No, I do not mind at all. I have some things to do out in the club. I will give the two of you some privacy." He closed the door behind him as he walked out of the office.
Theresa opened her purse and pulled out a couple of candles. She set them on Eric's desk and lit them. Theresa turned out the lights in the office. "I brought these along when you told me that you needed a favor. I figured that it involved premonitions."
She motioned to each candle and said, "This is yarrow, mugwort, and lemongrass they are herbs that the Celtics thought helped increase our consciousness. Come sit with me." Theresa pulled over two chairs and had a seat holding the picture in her hands.
Tara sat in the empty chair nervously looking at the candles flickering in the darkened room. All of this was still very new to her. "This looks like some serious shit. I don't know if I can do this...I don't know if I am ready. What if I do it wrong?"
She smiled at Tara warmly and said, "Of course you can do this. It is in your blood...it was why you were born. This is our gift. The suffering that our people have gone through was all to ensure that this gift was passed on to future generations." She reached out and touched Tara's stomach.
Tara gasped slightly feeling the babies kick.
"And you are passing this gift on to them so that they too can protect themselves and their gifts for another generation. There are so many things that you do not know about us. But I will teach you. I am your sister and I will guide you through this. Our grandmother, uncle, father, and aunt escaped Nazi occupation in Labinskaya because of this gift," said Theresa. She picked up the picture and held Tara's hand. "Hold the other side of the picture and then close your eyes and breathe deeply. Picture his face in your mind and it will come to you."
"I don't know...this seems a whole lot like voodoo. And my mama might not have been good for much of anything, but she always told me to stay clear of that shit," said Tara skeptically.
"Voodoo is inviting something in and I agree I would stay away from that sort of thing. Voodoo and witchcraft are fairly neutral arts, but can be corrupted for evil purposes. But with diviners...all that we need is already inside of us. That is what the spiral on your foot means. It symbolizes an expanding consciousness. That is why the spiral radiates from the center point. We are aware of things that other people can only dream of. We access parts of our brains that lay dormant in other people. Just give it a try...it will come naturally to you," said Theresa is a soothing voice.
Tara reached out and grabbed the picture. She took in a nervous breath and closed her eyes. Tara started to take in slow deep breaths. The candles were giving off a heady aroma and momentarily she felt lightheaded. The two women sat like that for 10 minutes and then like a flash of light a premonition hit her like a Mac Truck. And for the first time it was coming to her much clearer than any of the other ones had.
Tara let go of the picture and stared at Theresa in shock. "That was amazing...was that you? I've never had one be so clear it was like seeing in HD...all of my premonitions have been fuzzy and short. But this was clear and detailed."
Theresa smiled proudly and said, "It took longer for the premonition to come to you than it did to me, but it still came to you. I told you that you could do it and you did. That is how you meditate on anything you want to know: past, present, or future."
"Theresa, I don't know how to thank you for doing this for me. I've only been able to count on a few people in my life," said Tara.
"Well, you can count on me now too. I'll have to go back to Las Cruces in a few days, but if you ever really need me...well as you can see I will come running. That is what families do for one another." Theresa walked over and turned on the lights.
Tara said, "I should go tell Eric about what we saw. He'll want to know immediately." She walked out of the office and headed for Eric's throne.
Eric's attention was drawn to her before she even made it half-way across the room. He left the throne and gently took Tara's arm leading her back to the office. "Were you able to see anything?"
Tara nodded and said, "Yeah, I know who the next victims will be and I have a pretty good idea of when. Pavel is going to go after Sam and Sookie at Merlotte's. In my premonition I saw Sam counting the night's receipts. He does that after he closes. Pavel is going to kill both of them if you don't do something."
Eric's face hardened as he thought about having to save Sam. In all honesty Eric wouldn't have minded taking a back seat and allowing Pavel to dispose of the worrisome shifter. However, Eric could not allow Sookie to be killed to satisfy his own selfish needs. "Thank you."
Tara could see the anger playing in Eric's blue eyes. She had known him long enough to know his moods. "I know that Sam isn't your favorite person, but allowing another person to be killed wouldn't look good for you..." She spoke cautiously as not to inflame Eric's brewing anger.
Eric chuckled at her carefully worded statement. "Don't try to play coy. It does not suit you. You are not concerned about how another death would play out before the Authority. You are worried for your friend's life. You'd like for me to save the shifter because you care about him. Well, rest assured I won't let any harm come to Sookie or Sam. I've got to leave now. Merlotte's closes soon. I'll be back soon."
Tara smirked a little and said, "Okay, be careful..."
He chuckled and said, "There is nothing to fear. Pavel is merely 300 years old. He will be no match for me. Thank you, Theresa for helping Tara with this." Although he was confident that apprehending Pavel would be easy Eric still grabbed a gun loaded with wooden bullets as a backup. As he closed his desk drawer he paused seeing a photo album sitting on the desk. Eric stared at a black and white picture for several minutes. "What is that?" asked Eric looking at Theresa.
Theresa was taken aback by Eric's tone of voice. "Uh, when I started looking for Tara I made a family photo album for her. I copied some of my dad's old pictures. This is a picture of my grandmother, my dad, my uncle, and my aunt in the 40's I think."
Tara walked around the desk peering at the photo album. She looked up at Eric and asked. "Eric, what's wrong?"
Eric shook his head and said, "Nothing. You both look a great deal like your grandmother." He kissed Tara and said, "If I don't make it back before closing Pam will take you home for the night and stay with you. Be good." Eric walked out of the office.
Tara watched him leave and then looked at Theresa. "That was strange. He seemed almost freaked out by that picture," said Tara. She had a seat next to Theresa and looked at the photo more closely. "I do sort of look like our grandmother, but..."
Theresa finished her statement, "But not enough for him to look so startled by the picture."
Tara shook her head and said, "That is odd. Anyway, so do you have time to stay for a little while? We could look at this album together?"
"Sure, I have plenty of time. Alexander is spending the evening gambling. That is another thing that runs in our family. Overindulgence in just about anything you can be addicted to. Alex and I have always taken a great deal of care to be sure we didn't get addicted to anything," said Theresa.
"Well, lucky me. I got addiction running on both sides of my family. I'll go out to the bar and get some drinks for us. What will you have?" asked Tara.
"A rum and coke would be nice," said Theresa.
"Okay, I'll be back in a minute." She walked out to the bar and ordered a rum and coke for Theresa and a glass of Sprite for herself. She went back into the office and handed Theresa her glass. "I miss drinking...so much."
"Thank you." She laughed and said, "I felt the same way when I was pregnant with Caitlin and Michaela. Our Dad and our brother are both heavy drinkers at family functions. I always wanted to claw their eyes out for drinking when I couldn't participate." Theresa smiled and said, "I found a couple of photos I definitely wanted you to see."
Tara sat with Theresa looking at the pictures for about an hour. "I can't believe that you went to all of this trouble, Theresa. These pictures and the labels are amazing. I have this whole part of my family tree that was a complete mystery to me and now it isn't."
"Well, anything you want to know I am more than willing to tell you. I know a great deal about our family history. The good and the bad. Dad has always been real proud of his heritage. He wanted us to know what we came from. Our grandmother Saoirse was the backbone in Dad's life. Our grandfather disappeared during World War II. He deserted his family, because our grandmother was pregnant and couldn't flee Russia at the time when the Nazis were invading. He ended up back in his native country of Greece," said Theresa.
Tara blinked in shock and said, "Motherfucker...I guess even back then men weren't worth a flying fuck." She had been so let down by so many men in her life it was like a running byline for her. If you trust men eventually they will turn on you or desert you.
Theresa nodded and said, "Reminds me a lot of our dad. When things get too tough he is always looking for an easy way out. Sometimes I think our gift made him lazy with life. When things don't go his way he throws a tantrum. Alexander decided to become a lawyer and not use his gift of premonitions to get ahead in life I thought Daddy's head was going to explode. He didn't talk to Alexander for a couple of months. I've been on the receiving end of his wrath a couple of times too."
"His wrath? You mean...he hit you?" asked Tara.
"No, he'd never lay an ill hand on any of us. He ain't the violent sort with his own children. He's more likely to cut you down with his words. Strip you of every piece of dignity and self-esteem you've got. I watched him do the same thing to my mother for years. Until Alexander put a beating on him for the ages. I think Alex was 16 years old and Daddy was berating my mama like nothing I had ever heard. Every horrible name that popped in his head he said. Alex and I were sitting at the dinner table. Daddy had my mama pinned in the corner screaming in her face like some sort of drill sergeant and out of nowhere...Alex stood up and picked up his dining room chair. And he hit Daddy over the head like he was playing major league baseball. Knocked him right unconscious. Funny thang...we left him on the floor bleeding and sat back down to finish our meal. After that my parents got divorced and Daddy picked up a woman half his age. He's still married to Cindy. He's gotten better as he's gotten older. He ain't as mean. But as you saw from last night he ain't nice either," said Theresa smoking a cigarette. "I am sure you are wondering why I even still deal with him?"
Tara shook her head and said, "No matter how much my mama hurt me. And she hurt me real bad over the years...no matter how much she hurt me and broke me down I always went back. I always tried to take care of her. I always tried to fix it so that she'd love me. So I can't judge none at all."
She nodded and said, "Exactly, I just want him to love me. That was one of the reasons I was so upset when I found out about you. I thought...well damn the one thang that made me special...was that I was his daughter. His one and only. And then I find out he's got another little girl out in the world. Some ten years younger than me. So you ain't just his daughter...you are his baby girl. And I know he showed his ass last night, but he cares about you Tara. When he thought you might die if we didn't get to you...I think we did 90 all the way from New Orleans to Shreveport. I ain't saying he deserves a second chance, but if you decide to give him one...I can't say he's going to be a good father. But he'll love you."
Tara said, "You seem like you've got it all together. I am so fucked up inside. I run from one bad choice to the next. Just trying to make somebody love me. To feel that love and sometimes I think I'm so dead inside that even if somebody was to love me...I wouldn't know it. I'm with Eric right now, but I can't help but wonder if I am doing the right thing or just the most convenient thing. And everybody has an opinion. Everybody knows what's right for Tara Mae. Eric makes me happy even if he don't love me."
"I don't have it all together. I married a man that I trusted and that I loved. And Lord above I thought for sure that he loved me too. But I found out the hard way that he was using me for what I could do for him. And when I tried to break up with him. He took my girls. I couldn't pull myself out of the bed after losing them. I was so mentally fucked up that my premonitions wouldn't come. I couldn't feel my girls I thought they were gone forever. And then one night Daddy brought them home to me. I asked him where Peter was and he told me that Peter was now one with nature. After that I decided to stay single. I didn't want to risk my heart again. I didn't want to risk my girls again. And I damn sure didn't want anyone else's blood on my hands. Daddy might not lay an ill hand on his children but he'll kill any son of a bitch that hurts us. Now it is just me, my girls, and work."
Tara took a sip of her soda. "That is some amazing shit. Maybe choosing bad men is genetic..."
"Could be or maybe we both just want love so much that we overlook the warning signs right in front of us until it is too late to right the ship. I had signs that Peter was with me for the wrong reasons, but I ignored them because he made me happy." Theresa took a sip of her rum and coke.
Tara was quiet a minute and then asked, "I was watching the news today and Louisiana is pretty close to following in the footsteps of a lot of other states. The Vampire Marriage Bill is sure to pass the state legislature. I'm not surprised with all of the vampires living here in Louisiana. It is like we draw them in or something. Vampire and humans...what do you think of that?"
"I think if it makes you happy, baby, don't deny yourself. People have such a narrow view of the universe. America specifically. Every 10 or 20 years they find a new group of people to blame for their woes. Right now it is the vampires. But throughout American history everyone new has been hated. Hispanic immigrants, Irish immigrants, Italian immigrants, Asian immigrants, newly freed slaves. Truth is no one likes no one. So fuck what everyone else thinks. If this vampire makes you happy then stick with it. You only live once. Although our people tend to be long-lived. Like our grandmother."
"Our grandmother...did you know her?" asked Tara
"I did. She died back in 2006 at the ripe old age of 96. She was such a strong woman and she had a temper like you wouldn't believe. She was a hard talking granny that was handy with a rifle. She didn't trust too much of anyone. I think our grandfather broke her heart. Daddy said there was another man in her life for a time once she immigrated to America. But it ended at some point. The man helped her immigrate here to America with her 3 children," said Theresa.
Tara shook her head and said, "What sort of man abandons his wife and children during a war?"
"One that never gave much of a damn for anyone, but himself," said Theresa.
"Last night you opened the doors to the balcony by waving your hand…what the fuck is that?" asked Tara.
Theresa chuckled and said, "It is called psychokinesis. It is just another benefit of being able to use more of our brain that normal humans. We can move objects with our minds. It comes in handy when we need to protect ourselves, trust me. Like I said last night…our best defense is not telling anyone about what we are. But the second best is being able to fight back if we must." She raised her hand and made Eric's desk levitate in the air.
"How do you learn how to do that? I swear it has never happened to me," said Tara.
"Just like everything else in life…we've got to practice," said Theresa with a smile. "Just like you focused on that picture. You close your eyes and focus on something you want to move and then do it. Go on now…give it a try."
Tara looked at the photo album on the desk and then closed her eyes momentarily focusing on the image in her brain. She raised her hand and then opened her eyes and grinned excitedly seeing the album floating in mid air. "I'm doing that!"
Theresa smiled at her younger sister and nodded. "That is all you. I am enjoying my rum and coke."
Tara lowered her hand and let the album fall back onto the desk. "Fuck…that is amazing. Are we human?"
"Oh and it only gets better as you get older. I wish you could have met our grandmother to see just how powerful we become as we get older," said Theresa. She quietly considered Tara's question not wanting to freak her out. "Have you heard of the term two-natured?"
"Sure, I have a friend that is a shifter and of course my ex was a werewolf," said Tara.
"Well, we are two-natured too. We are mostly human, but the diviner half of us is definitely not human. It is supernatural. And when we use our powers…it is a shift of sorts. We may not take another physical form, but we take another mental form. You and I are only half blood, but our father…you must get to know him to see the depth of what we can become."
A premonition surged through Tara so hard that she dropped her glass on the floor.
"Tara!" asked Theresa standing up quickly to check on her.
"I've got to go to Bon Temps. Eric...he's in trouble...more trouble than he knows," said Tara.
Theresa didn't ask any questions. "I'll drive. You might need my help." She grabbed her purse and the two women beat a path for the front door.
Tara didn't see Pam and was glad of that. She ran out of the club with Theresa hot on her heels.
Theresa yelled, "My car is over here." They both hopped into the rented SUV. Theresa started up the car and stepped on the gas speeding toward Bon Temps.
Tara tried Eric's cell phone repeatedly, but he didn't answer the phone. "Damnit! Of all of the times for him not to answer his fucking cell phone. He really picked a horrible fucking time!"
Theresa glanced over at Tara and asked, "What did you see?"
"I saw Eric being decapitated while his back was turned to this shadowy figure that I couldn't really make out. I watched his body turn into a gooey blood pile. I can't let that happen to him, Theresa. I love him," said Tara. She glanced at her watch and said, "Merlotte's is already closed for the night. If Eric meets the true death..."
"We won't let that happen," said Theresa driving like a maniac to reach Bon Temps in time. She only hoped that she'd be successful.
7 months ago...
Eric sat in a car in front of Tara's new place. For the first time in two months he felt mildly happy. He was close to the woman that had strings in his heart. Eric had wanted to go after to Tara when he realized that she'd fled not only Shreveport, but Bon Temps as well. However, Eric knew her firey spirit and stubbornness. He was concerned that if he did drag her back home that she would only leave him again. And that was an affront that his heart couldn't bear. Not long after Tara left Shreveport Eric's life had been turned upside down by the Magister, the Queen of Louisiana, and the King of Mississippi. So even if he wanted to go after Tara he had been otherwise occupied.
In the weeks since her departure Eric had become darker and more cruel to those around him. Even his beloved progeny, Pam, recoiled from his savage moods from time to time. And yet she was the only one that could truly understand what he was going through. Pam could feel the pain that Eric was feeling and she knew that her maker was suffering from heartbreak even if he was unwilling to admit that to her or anyone else for that matter. Pam could not understand his strong feelings for a human, but she couldn't bear to see him this way. She made sure that they shared humans or at least had sex on a regular basis so that she could ensure that he was feeding.
It had been Pam's urging that encouraged Eric to go to Houston to retrieve his human. Eric had been keeping tabs on Tara for weeks now with the help of vampires in the area. He knew that she was safe and that gave him some solace.
Pam looked at Eric from the passenger seat of the car and said, "Go to her. You want her in your life and frankly...you are a surly prick without her. I've seen the way she interacts with you, Eric. She loves you despite her protestations...she loves you. Whatever ill will you two have between one another can be worked out."
Eric cast a skeptical glance at his progeny. "And I thought you believed that keeping a human made me weak like Compton," countered Eric coolly.
Pam rolled her eyes and said, "I don't know what the fuck to think. I just know that living with you has been quite unpleasant since the little blood bag ran off. I do not pretend understand your attachment to her. But I do remember what it was like to be away from you for any period of time when I was a young vampire. I longed to be with you. I still do...why do you think that I have not yet become a maker? I have no need for a progeny because I have you. I feel your sadness washing over me like the incoming tide. And I'd do anything to make that feeling stop for the both of us."
Eric bared his fangs and growled. "I am not some simpering, lovesick, fool! I am not sad. I am angry that my possession has evaded me. And now I will take back what is rightfully mine!" He climbed out of the car and made his way to the house. Eric walked around to the back of the house hearing music. He paused seeing Tara wrapped up in another man's arms. His first instinct was to kill them both and turn Tara right there and then.
But instead he turned away from the scene before him and walked back to the car.
Pam stopped touching up her makeup and looked at Eric as he climbed into the car. "Well, that was quick...what the hell happened?" asked Pam.
"She has found another," said Eric in a strange voice. In all of the times that he thought about finding Tara this scenario had never occurred to him.
Pam paused seeing the psychotic look on Eric's face. She hissed, "Then turn her! She'll have no choice, but to obey you. And whatever animosity she will hold against you...she will get over it. You will be freeing her from the bullshit life she has led. You turning me was the best thing that ever fucking happened to me. And it will be the same for her." Pam was not one to be so easily dissuaded and the Eric she knew wasn't either.
"She will hate me!" growled Eric gripping the steering wheel. He didn't want Tara to hate him for taking her life. That was the opposite of what the Viking wanted. He wanted her to love him even if he couldn't love her. Eric still struggled with why she left him. Sure he had been gone for a week or so, but he told her that he was coming back the next day.
"She will learn to love you! She will be as devoted to you as I am to you. I am not devoted just because you are my maker. I am devoted because I love you. Because we have shared more than 100 years together. She will realize that being turned was the best fucking thing that could have ever happened to her. And she'd be damn lucky to have you as her maker," said Pam hotly.
"Tara would be obliged to appease me as my progeny, but she would hate me for decades if not centuries," muttered Eric in thought.
Pam growled in anger. "Fine! Then I will go and turn the little bitch for you! She can hate me all she wants. But you still get to have what you desire. You can play with my new little vamp as much as you like," said Pam
Eric was jarred out of his thoughts by Pam's declaration. "You would make Tara your progeny...just to appease me?" asked Eric amused by the very thought of those combustible personalities together.
"You are my maker and I would do anything for you," pledged Pam sincerely.
Eric started the car and pulled away from the curb.
"Eric, what the hell are you doing?" asked Pam.
"I do not wish to possess her that way. If this is her decision then I will respect it. I will not beg to have a human at my side. I am going to call Anubis and see about making a trip to Öland. Would you like to accompany me?" asked Eric.
Pam hated Eric's farm in Öland, but at the moment she felt compelled to stay with her maker. "I'd love to." She went back to touching up her make-up.
Merlotte's
Sam paled slightly watching Eric rip a fang from Pavel's mouth with a pair of pliers. There was a brutality to vampires Sam could never get used to. Sure he had killed people in the past in the heat of a moment. But Eric seemed to be taking great delight in what was tantamount to torture. Sam wanted to kick Eric out and make him take this freak show elsewhere, but he felt obliged since Eric had just saved his life. Eric had arrived as Pavel was getting ready to sink his fangs into Sam's neck. He knew that Eric could have just as soon waited until Pavel drained him before apprehending him. "I am going to give you some...uh..privacy." Sam walked out of the office and went to the bar pouring himself a very tall glass of whiskey.
Tommy walked over to the bar having finished cleaning up the dining room. "What are you doing letting that fanger in your office? I thought you hated that dead son of a bitch?" asked Tommy.
Sam cut his eyes at his hot-head of a brother. "He saved my life. Doesn't pay to be a dick to him after something like that. For tonight I think we can manage a truce. Now you hush up with the name calling. Vamps hear even better than we do." Sam was slowly trying to build a relationship with Tommy, but it was slow going. He just tried to remember that Tommy was the product f his upbringing with the Mickens.
"But isn't he the one that stole your girl? I mean that right there deserves an ass kicking. I know how much you want her back. I can hear you saying her name in your sleep some nights. And it don't even sound like you're havin a dirty dream or nothing. You must love her something awful," said Tommy.
He groaned and realized that in addition to barking in his sleep he was now talking as well. "Listen, I fucked up with her. There is some shit you just can't say sorry for, Tommy. Some shit that you just can't make better once you've fucked things up. That is something for you to remember. I am going to go for a run." Sam downed his glass of whiskey.
"Wait, I'll come with you," said Tommy.
Sam left the bar and went to his trailer stripping out of his clothes and shifted into his favorite dog. He took off into the woods for a run with Tommy.
Eric stood in Sam Merlotte's office holding a pair of bloody pliers in his gloved hand. He had bound Pavel Ivanov in silver and just finished removing his other fang. Eric chuckled at the younger vampire extremely amused with himself. "You really fucked up, Pavel. The Authority is going to make you an example for every vampire in North America. They are going to let you starve and then stake you. And I will be right there when you meet the true death."
Pavel had blood running down the corners of his mouth. He stared up at Eric and laughed at him. "Fuck the true death. It will be better than living this neutered existence the Authority requires of us now. We are vampires! We are savages! Our nature is to take what we want and what we want is human blood. We are superior to humans in every way. Their only use to us is a food source. Other than that...I'd gladly see all of them die. You and Compton are a couple of the worst offenders. Keeping humans as more than just blood bags is sick!"
Eric stared at Pavel as he thought over what he was saying. And finally it dawned on him why Pavel had been targeting humans and vampires. Eric said, "That's why you've been killing vampires and humans. Not just any humans, but humans that belong to other vampires." He shook his head. "Idiot. You had to know that this wasn't going to turn out well for you. Or were you so delusional that you thought you could actually get away with this?" Eric shook his head and went back to binding Pavel with silver. "It makes no matter. You have reached the end of the road." Eric lifted the weakened vampire and carried him to a waiting van outside of Merlotte's.
After Pavel was secure Eric walked back into Merlotte's to collect his tools. At that moment he was whacked over the head with an ax that was made of silver. The ax was planted deep into Eric's skull.
Eric collapsed to the ground howling in pain as the silver literally burned his brain. His body twitched as if he was having some sort of seizure. Eric laid there for several minutes in a large pool of his own blood. It wasn't enough to kill him, but he was too weak to heal on his own or fight back. Eric was completely at the mercy of his assailant.
The figure stood above Eric and laughed heartily. "You will not be turning my progeny over to the Authority. You are a waste, Eric Northman. You were once well respected and now you have become the Authority's lap dog. You are as worthless as your maker, Godric." He grabbed the ax handle and yanked it from Eric's head. He raised it high in the air as if he was about to chop the head off of a chicken.
Tara burst into Sam's office. "No!" screamed Tara. She threw out her hands with a force that surprised her and sent the shadowy figure flying through the wall in Sam's office.
The vampire struggled to his feet with his fangs bared.
Theresa glared at the vampire. She looked at some of the left over silver chains lying on the floor. She raised her hand making the chains lift off of the ground as if they were levitating. Theresa then slung her hand in the vampire's direction. The chains wrapped around the vampire and he collapsed to the ground.
"Eric!" Tara rushed to Eric's side and kneeled next to him. "Oh God...Eric..." Tara touched the back of his head seeing the blood pouring from the open wound in the skull. "It isn't healing! Why isn't it healing?"
Theresa knelt next to her sister and peered at the bloody ax now laying on the floor. "There is a nice chunk of this ax missing. How much do you want to bet that the missing chunk is lodged in Eric's head right now."
Tara said, "Oh shit...he won't heal if we don't get it out of him..." Tara took off her rings and timidly dipped her fingers into Eric's open skull.
Pam arrived having felt the attack on Eric. "What the fuck?"
"A vampire attacked him. He's wrapped up in silver over there. There is a piece of silver embedded in his brain, Pam. I've got to get it out..." Tara's nimble fingers gently felt around in the wound.
"You don't have to be so gentle. Find the damn thing and get it out of his fucking head! We don't have brain waves...you won't be hurting anything," said Pam with fangs bared.
Tara nodded and started feeling around more forcefully. Her own head was throbbing in pain as she struggled to locate the offending piece of silver. All she could think about was the pain that Eric had to be in. Tara had seen what silver did to the skin of a vampire. She couldn't even begin to imagine what it was doing internally. She found one of the bigger chunks and dropped it on the floor.
Theresa glanced at it and said, "That is too small. Doesn't match the big ass piece that is missing. That isn't all of it. There has to be more inside of his brain." She glanced at Tara seeing the sick look on her face. "Can you do this?"
She nodded in an almost robot like fashion. Tara groaned and continued to frantically feel around in Eric's brain until she retrieved the last pieces of silver. "I think that is all."
Pam kneeled on the floor and rolled Eric over. "Eric?"
Eric was too weak to say anything right now. Having silver embedded in his brain had weakened him considerably.
Pam looked at Tara, "He needs blood. Human...blood."
Tara nodded and offered her wrist to Eric.
Eric bit into her wrist and hungrily drank the blood that flowed into his mouth. Tara's blood slowly started to rejuvenate him. After a few minutes he reluctantly pushed away Tara's wrist.
"Are you better?" asked Tara. She glanced at the back of his head and saw that the wound had not completely closed.
Eric sat up so that his back was against the wall. He was still incredibly weak at the moment. "I am better than I was."
Tara said, "Well, drink more of my blood then." She pushed her wrist toward Eric.
Eric moved his head slightly. "No, I have taken too much from you already. You are pregnant. I cannot continue to feed on you when I have already taken so much." Eric used some of his blood to heal the fang marks on Tara's wrist.
Theresa spoke up, "I'd be willing to give you some of my blood."
Tara looked at Eric and said, "Please...take it. You need to heal."
Theresa offered her wrist to him.
Eric bit into Theresa's wrist and started drinking her blood. Before long the back of his head was completely healed. Eric was finally able to get back onto his feet and he was feeling more like himself. He looked at Pam. "Call the Authority and let them know that I've apprehended Pavel and his accomplice. However, the accomplice met an untimely end."
Pam grinned like a Chesire cat and said, "As you wish." She walked out of the office and went outside to make the call in relative quiet.
Eric picked up a piece of wooden debris from the busted up wall, walked over to the silver bound vampire, and stood above him menacingly. With a sadistic smile Eric said, "Adjö, jävel" (Goodbye, fucker.)
Eric raised the wooden debris high over his head and then plunged it into the vampire's heart so hard that the wood embedded itself in the floor beneath him.
The vampire exploded into a gooey puddle of blood and flesh.
Eric grabbed a trash bag to collect the gooey remains of the vampire to prove to the Authority that he did apprehend him the second vampire.
Sam walked into his office wearing only his jeans. He stopped and looked around at the carnage. "What the fuck happened here?" yelled Sam.
Tara said, "A vampire tried to kill Eric. I'm sorry about the mess, Sam."
"And his response is to destroy my fucking office?" His eyes scanned Tara's body seeing her covered in blood made him sick. "Are you okay?" asked Sam taking a step forward to make sure she wasn't injured
Tara said, "This isn't my blood…this blood is from Eric. I am okay."
His expression changed and he growled, "How long are you going to live this life? You used to look at Sookie being drawn into Bill's bullshit and it pissed you off! As it should have. She was risking her life and now you are risking yours. That blood could have been yours. You won't be satisfied until you get yourself or those babies killed. All to be with a fucking vampire! Are you that desperate to be loved? How many people gotta pay for your fucked up choices?"
Tara's eyes went wide and she said, "I know you say shit like that when you get angry…when you are fed up, but fuck you!" She stormed out of his office.
Eric walked over to Sam and said, "Send me a bill for the damage and I will pay for it."
"I don't want your fucking money. I want all of you to get the fuck out of my bar! Now!" bellowed Sam.
Eric chuckled and said, "As you wish shifter." He tossed the black trash bag over his shoulder and walked out carrying it as he whistled a tune. The remains made a sickening sloshing sound with every step. Eric walked to the van and opened the back door. He tossed the bag in next to Pavel and grinned. "I figured you could spend a little time with your maker."
Pavel screamed in agony. "Noooooooo!"
Eric chuckled fiendishly and closed the door to the van. He looked at Pam and said, "Drive the van back to Fangtasia. I will be there shortly."
Pam nodded and said, "Alright. Nan Flanagan said that she'd be at Fangtasia within the hour." She climbed into the van and took off for Shreveport.
Eric walked over to Tara and looked into her eyes. "I am sorry that you had to go through that tonight."
"I am sorry that my premonition came too late..." whispered Tara feeling tears in her eyes. She groaned and blinked them away. She wasn't in the mood to cry she was fucking pissed off.
"You got here from Shreveport before I met the true death. I'd say that your premonition came right on time. I will have to go and deal with the Authority now. I will most likely be stuck there all night. I will just have to sleep in one of the coffins at Fangtasia," said Eric.
Theresa looked at Tara and said, "Why don't you come stay in my suite with me tonight? We can keep each other company. Maybe do some shopping in the afternoon. You can meet Alexander if he's sober."
Tara nodded slightly and said, "I'd like that, Theresa."
Theresa nodded and walked away giving Eric and Tara some privacy. She climbed into her rental knowing she'd have to have the thing detailed before she returned it.
Tara smiled at Eric slightly and said, "I am glad that you are okay. And I am glad that I could help you. You are the one that is always saving me. It was nice to save your ass for once. To be of some use to you." She had been feeling guilty that her life had turned Eric's life upside down.
"You have always been useful to me," Eric lightly ran the backs of his fingers over her cheek. "You make me happy. Never forget that...never doubt that." Eric kissed her passionately. He took a step back with a smile and then took to the sky to get back to Fangtasia.
Tara got ready to climb in Theresa's car.
"Tara! Wait!" called Sam jogging toward her. "I am sorry for what I said in there. It was an overreaction and I am sorry. But what are you doing? You don't belong with him. You belong with me. I can make you happy. I have made you happy before. There is no way that Eric Northman can make you feel the way that I make you feel. He can't love you the way that I can love you. I know in my heart that you are making the wrong choice. I feel like I am watching a car wreck in slow motion and there isn't a damn thing I can do to stop it," said Sam.
Tara looked into Sam's wild eyes and reached up touching his cheek. "We were together because we were both lonely, Sam. You wanted Sookie and I wanted Jason. You and I never fit into Bon Temps. You were so nice and everyone ran over you and I was too fucking crazy and no one wanted anything to do with me. What you and I had was great for when we had it. But it was bound to fall apart...wasn't? I mean even if you hadn't stood me up...I probably would have pushed you away at some point. I'm crazy like that. I'm crazy with Eric too and he has the patience of Job most of the time to put up with my shit. I'm bad news, Sam Merlotte. Go find yourself a nice girl that doesn't throw shit when she's angry. That doesn't have fucking werewolves looking for her. That isn't pregnant with twins that aren't yours. I have enough baggage to choke a fucking horse. I'd just weigh you down."
"Tara, I've known you a long time. And I knew what I was getting myself into when I started sleeping with you. And the more I got to know you the more I wanted to know you. We are both fucked up in similar ways. Starting off with not knowing what the love of a family means. I want you and all of the crazy that comes with that. I am telling you that Eric is not the man for you. One day you are going to wake up next to him and realize that you've made the biggest fucking mistake of your life. You are going to realize that as much as you love him and devote yourself to him...he will never do the same for you," said Sam. "You want to be with a man that doesn't love you. And I am here on bended knee offering you my heart. I don't want to see you hurt again. I don't want you to have to run off because you are afraid of Eric. He is a monster...all vampires are monsters...you have to know that. You have seen their brutality."
"I don't know how all of this is going to turn out, Sam. I don't have a crystal ball." She chuckled at that part. "But I do know that Eric makes me happier than I have ever been. And even after being gone so long I never stopped loving him or wanting to be near him. It might not be perfect, but it is better than I've ever had. I am sorry if my choice is hurting you, but maybe we shouldn't talk until you have your feelings under control. Because I don't know how many more times I can get Eric...to give you a pass. I don't want to lose our friendship, Sam. You are an amazing man. But me and you can't end no other way except bad." Tara kissed his cheek and said, "You take care of yourself, Sam Merlotte. You hear..." She climbed into the SUV and looked at her sister. "Drive...please."
Sam stood in the parking lot watching the dark SUV drive away from him.
