I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who follows/favorites my story and to my reviewers. Sure I don't have a ton BUT the ones I do have are just awesome. When I started this story, I did not think it would be very popular and well received but so far I have a lot of positive feedback and it puts a smile to my face!

A Better Tomorrow

Chapter 12- It's Never Gonna Fade

"Ah! Eric! So nice to see you darling!" Sophie-Ann exclaimed with sparkles in her eyes. She was well dressed for the occasion. For a minute, you could even pretend there weren't any corpses walking the street by looking at her. You could also think this was the 1920's as Sophie-Ann never stopped wearing clothing from that Era. Godric on the other end was wearing clothing Eric wasn't used to see him in. His style had a military flare to it with black cargo pants, a beige t-shirt and a black tactical vest.

"Likewise your majesty" Eric replied

"I was so happy when your maker advised me that you were awake! Tell me, who woke you up exactly?" Sophie-Ann asked with avid eyes.

"Members of Bill Compton and my child's community. I believe they used synthetic blood to revive me"

"How fascinating! How did they find you!?"

"I did not ask your majesty"

"mmmm I wonder if Bill or Pamela had anything to do with it. Do you think they have disobeyed me Eric?"

"No I do not"

Sophie-Ann gestured to her servants which brought Eric a cup containing blood.

"You must be starving for real blood"

Eric took a sip from the cup thanking the queen for her generosity.

"does the blood pleases you?"

He nodded. She gestured for a servant to approach him

"well then why not drink from the source" she stated with an evil smile on her lips. Eric stared at this queen while his fangs extended.

"You are too kind, my queen"

he did not break the stare when he plunged his fangs in the servant's throat who moan from the pleasure she was getting. Sophie-Ann's own fangs were extended as she was watching the scene. Each sip was met by his queen's own arousal. Once he was finished, the queen looked disappointed but continued

"I have summoned you because I have a mission for you. It should not take you too long." She got up and walked over to Eric followed by Godric. She took Eric's arm and started walking down the hall.

"As you know, we have a team of researchers here which has been task to find a cure. Through the years, the team got a little bigger and now includes humans and other creatures. Anyways I digress. They have been working very hard on that cure and after years, they were starting to lose faith"

They reached a big metal door at the end of the hallway which opened automatically for them. As they entered, the working scientist stopped and watched them go by in silence. The room they had entered was a giant lab full of different people in white coats. It was clear that they were researching and testing in the biochemistry field which Eric knew nothing about. As they reached another room behind a giant glass wall, Sophie-Ann continued.

"Until recently… it has come to my attention that there might be a cure that could be engineered but it will take time. Anyhow, I would like you to investigate some death in the area as I am reinstating you into your sheriff position"

Eric had his poker face on like any good vampire would but on the inside, the thought that Sophie-Ann might of lost it crossed his mind. He did not say anything and just waited for her to explain herself.

"Many of my dear friends, vampires of course, have been killed and no one seems to be able to figure out how. I would hate for those deaths to reach your little community and my door of course, SO, I would need you to look for the offenders."

"As you wish your majesty"

"I was having a chat with the king of Oklahoma and it seems like they have been having the same problems… how unfortunate" She paused " Some of their agent will come to Bon Temps in the near future in order to join forces."

Eric glanced over at Godric who was still following them. He could not feel him at all and didn't understand why. Why would his maker choose to block his half of the bond they both shared?

"In the meantime" She pushed a button on the back wall of the room which made a window appear. It was one of those opaque mirrors where only one side can see the other. In the middle of the other room, there was a man tied up on a chair. He seemed to have been beaten severely and probably tortured.

"This piece of shit was found killing vampires in day rest not too far from here. We have no idea how he had found their hiding place but one thing for sure, he wasn't alone. We are not sure if his little killing spree has anything ot do with the other vampires death here and in Oklahoma but I was hoping you would have new ideas on how to extract the information? Maybe you know someone with better methods…"

Sophie-Ann was staring at him with a smile. Eric knew of one person who could help them but he wasn't sure if the queen knew of her and he wasn't about to reveal her identity and put her life in danger. As much as Eric respected his queen, she was dangerous. He decided to play dumb.

"I assure you my queen, you have the best skills when it comes to torturing"

Godric was watching his child carefully. As Eric crossed his eyes, Godric had opened the bond just enough to feel him. Eric was hit with feelings of peacefulness, but also caution and he knew it was coming from his maker. He also knew his maker would know he is lying and hiding something.

Eric hadn't seen his maker in over 200 years as they both had chosen to go separate ways. Godric had sometimes closed the bond in order to protect his child but most the time it was open. No matter the distance, Eric always was able to feel his maker to a degree. Since they didn't really communicate during these 200 years, Eric wasn't sure what his maker was up to and to see him with his queen was odd. He had to get Godric alone to discuss.

Sophie-Ann sighed heavily and didn't look too happy.

"I don't mean torture Northman. Did Bill and Pam fail to mention who they were watching in your little community?"

Eric wasn't eager to hear the next part. He knew Sookie was under watch but he didn't know how much the queen knew.

"The telepath will do just fine. Since she is in your area, I need you to bring her to me. By force if necessary. "

Eric wasn't thrilled by the orders. He knew if he brought Sookie to his queen, she could do anything with her and there was nothing he could do about it.

"Very well my queen"

"Perfect! So it is settle. André will escort you to your quarters for the day. It was nice seeing you Eric"

Sophie-Ann gave him her hand to kiss which he did ceremoniously. He then followed André but not before looking at his maker who nodded. Once in his room, Eric waited patiently for Godric to come knowing he was on his way.

"Child, sit"

Eric did what his maker asked him to do watching him very closely. Godric sat beside him and placed his hand on Eric's lap.

"It is so good to see you after so many years" and they both hugged each other tightly. Godric was the first to break the embrace. "I am afraid I wish it was under better circumstances" he added.

"Agreed. I was surprised to see you at Sophie-Ann's side"

"I can imagine. I was in the area investigating a group of individuals who did a lot of damage in Europe and since this is her kingdom, it is custom to request permission."

Eric nodded in agreement.

"As you know, many royals have put together teams of scientists to find a cure to the virus as human do not deserve what is happening to them. Although most vampires are researching for their own benefits, I do believe some of us wish for a peaceful and equal life with them once and if the plague is eliminated. Unfortunately, just like in the vampire community, some humans do not agree with this and believe that their god has chosen this path for the human species in order to annihilate our own species. These individuals must be stopped as I believed they are the ones responsible for the vampire's deaths in your area. They are also prepared to kill humans for their cause."

Throughout the years, Eric had witness what religion was capable of achieving. All that was needed was one charismatic leader, a somewhat plausible god story and some followers to create a deadly movement.

"We don't have much information about them other than they call themselves the fellowship of the sun"

...

Eric took flight as soon as the sun was down. He had a lot of thinking to do and a lot of information to process. He had no choice in the matter of bringing Sookie to his queen but he had to find a way to protect her. He knew what to do but he wasn't sure if Sookie would agree to it hence why he was debating on whether to do it with or without her consent. And there was the matter of the fellowship of the sun. He wondered if they had anything to do with Dawn's death in the community. What if her death was staged to look like a vampire attack?

As he flew over the wooded area surrounding Shreveport, Sookie's concern grew bigger through their bond. She was looking for something and the closer he got the clearer it got; she was looking for someone. When he reached the wall, something changed in Sookie. He sensed fear which troubled him because the bond wasn't strong enough for him to locate her.

He landed on the mainstreet and was greated by Pam

"Master! How was your trip?" she asked

"could have been worst" he replied "Have you seen Sookie?"

"I believe she is looking for her grandmother. She said she hasn't seen her all day. Bill is helping her"

"Where is she?"

"I am not sure, I will go to her room to look for her"

Pam walked in the other direction while Eric entered the church. Sookie wasn't there. He quickly looked in the kitchen, bathroom and other public place where she could be asking everyone if they had seen her. Many of the community members seemed trouble by his question since they had seen Sookie looking for her grandmother all day and now she was missing?

Eric focused on the bond to see if he could use it to locate her now that he was closer but it was in vain as the bond was just not strong enough. As he walked down the main street to join Pamela who was coming back from Sookie's room, the sweet smell of her blood hit his nostril which automatically made his fangs snap out while growling.

Thank you for reading!

xox

Z