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A/N Sorry again for the delay, Christmas always takes more time than you expect. Why is that? It's only one day, yet we spend weeks, moths getting ready for it!
Thank you all so much for your lovely comments
CHAPTER TWELVE
When Sookie awoke, she was already In Eric's arms.
Her head was nestled against his broad shoulder and she was curled snuggly in his embrace. One of his hands held her protectively close, the other gently cupped her breast, his long sensitive fingers caressing across the warm swell.
Not sure if she was dreaming, she was loath to open her eyes, but then she smelt his masculinity and she couldn't resist, her eyes fluttered open as she smiled up at him. "It still seems strange," she whispered, "to wake at night, instead of the morning, but I think I could get used to this."
Eric kissed her forehead. "I miss the mornings," he whispered sadly. "It's been many years, hundreds in fact, since I saw the colours of the dawn and the rising sun. I remember the soft dewy mists as night gave way to day. And standing on the cliffs looking out to sea as the sunset blazed crimson and gold reflections across the waves, as the great ball of the sun sank below the horizon. The memories haunt me some times, I will never see daylight again except in my dreams."
"That's so sad," Sookie answered, reaching up to stroke his cheek. His eyes were as deep as any well, she wanted to swim in their depths and learn all there was to know about him.
"Don't be sad for me," Eric smiled and his eyes blazed anew with exhilaration, "I also love the night. The night calls to me, with the fascination of the stars in the rich velvet sky and the changing face of the moon." He kissed her softly on the tip of her nose. "I also love the shadows and the wonderful things that can happen in them. For instance, if it were daylight, you wouldn't let me undress you," It was only now that he mentioned it that she realised she wasn't wearing her doublet and hose any longer. She had felt so warm, wrapped in his arms. "Nor would you let me do this." His hand moved down from her breast and she suddenly felt his fingers stroking the folds at her groin." She gasped in his arms, as he continued to manipulate her.
"I gave permission for neither, whether day or night." She sighed, and smiled, blushing. The lust in his eyes was just as arousing as his fingers. Sookie could feel him, hardening against her thigh. She wriggled and moaned as he continued to set her body ablaze.
"That is because I asked for none, I take what I want lover, but I always give in return." His teeth grazed against the pulse point in her neck, Sookie held her breath in anticipation, but he didn't bite. Instead he worked his way lower and took her left nipple between his lips, flicking his tongue over and around the hard bud, while his fingers swirled inside her. Then suddenly he bit hard into her breast and as her heart pumped, he drank the elixir, which flowed, tantalising his taste buds and hardening his erection even further.
Sookie's body tensed as immense warmth spread through her entire body, culminating between her thighs which she clenched around his fingers as waves of ecstasy overwhelmed her. Hardly able to breathe she gasped his name again and again.
.
Eric's fingers continued to play with her as her pulse regained its rhythm, before gliding his tongue over the bite to heal the marks. "You see, I always return the favour." His eyebrows raised in amusement at her blushes. He gently manoeuvred her onto the straw, his fingers never leaving her clitoris. Eric grunted with pleasure as he tasted her again. He took his time, leisurely finding every nook and cranny, driving her almost insane with his tongue.
"Open your eyes lover, watch me as I take you to new heights of ecstasy." She opened her eyes, but could barely see him in the darkness., though she could certainly feel where he was. She whimpered as he moved lower, tracing her other entrance with his tongue while his fingers entered her again. She held onto him, with her fingers entwined tightly in his hair.
Eric was being taken to new heights of his own, the combination of her tightness engulfing his fingers, the sweet taste and smell of her arousal and the passion and trust in her eyes as she watched him. He was captivated as he had never been before.
He took her to climax before he gently pushed a finger into her anus, and bit into her femoral artery, sending her into convulsions around him. He was right, nothing compared to the feelings now rushing through her. There had been pain initially, but slowly it turned into incredible pleasure which was still increasing. Eric's hands were firm but the soft grip he had on her gave her a feeling of safety. She let go of all her fears and let the feelings wash over her. Her soft whimpers could be heard throughout the barn.
They were suddenly interrupted by Edward's soft voice, "We have a problem, Eric."
Eric immediately stopped, groaning with frustration. He gave Sookie a sincere look of apology as he sat up he sniffed the air checking for intruders. But then they both heard the cries from the other side of the barn.
And then Laff's whisper. "Wot is it, girl? Wot's the matter? You sick, or wot?"
Pam, was crying, her voice muffled in the straw. "I feel bloody terrible. I'm burning, my head's swimming and I'm sweating like a whore in a fucking bake house." Sookie could only just see her in the shadows, tossing and turning to find relief.
"Shit," muttered Laff. "After wot we saw yesterday, I ain't coming no closer."
Eric looked over to Edward. His eyes voiced what he rather not speak aloud.
Sookie looked from one to the other in fear, "Is it?- is it the pestilence?" She wrapped Eric's cloak quickly around her shoulders.
"Dunno," wailed Pam. "I can't see no bloody rash, it's too dark. But I feel like I'm bloody dying." She tried to hold back her tears, but they came anyway.
Eric smiled faintly. "Dying is not what you might imagine, it's not painful once you leave the inconvenience of breathing behind." He carefully slipped from Sookie's side and went to Pam, bending over her. She lay on the straw, her knees drawn up to her belly in pain, her eyes squeezed shut and her mouth rigid. Her breathing had become shallow and guttural, she no longer spoke, but moaned and winced as he touched her.
Without the slightest compunction, Eric gripped the delicate satin neck of Pam's gown, and ripped it downwards. The strength in his fingers was considerable, and the soft material parted and spread open. Eric looked down, examining her body. He needed no candle to see in the dark. Across her breasts a strange uneven rash had started to form. The marks were like spreading bruises, as though below the skin there was a leakage of blood. Most of these bruises were pale like sepia shadows, but in places they had started to darken, as bruises do. Even as he looked, the marks turned ruddy, and then crimson. Eric traced one bruise with his fingertip and Pam shivered, rolling her eyes in pain.
Eric sat back on his heels and looked up at Laff and Sookie who were now standing watching from a distance. "It is without doubt the pestilence," he said. "I have seen these symptoms many times over the years. There is no cure."
"Oh God, that's terrible," sighed Sookie, "what can we do?"
"Very little," Eric shook his head and stood, coming over to put his arms around her shoulders. "Some victims do survive. We'll soon see whether that is likely, but if the symptoms and the pain increases, then there is no return. In the meantime, you must keep away. You must not go close or try to nurse her, or you will catch the illness too."
"But I can't just sit and watch her suffer," yelled Sookie. "Do you expect me to do nothing while I watch her die?" Already feeling dreadful that she had been enjoying such ecstasy while Pam lay dying. Guilt surged her anger.
Eric glared at her with such meaning that she cast her eyes down and tried hard not to cry too. Pam didn't need screaming and shouting around her on top of everything else.
Laff was confused, wanting to help his friend but frightened too. "There's gotta be something we can do," he insisted.
"Let's see whether the symptoms worsen," Eric advised, calm again, he was practical and efficient. "There is neither medicine nor doctoring that can change her fate now. Edward and I will do all we can."
Throughout the long night, Sookie and Laff huddled in the corner of the barn where Eric ordered them. Sookie daren't argue again when she saw the commanding look he gave her. With only one candle, the light was dim, they watched miserably while Eric bent over Pam in the shadows, washing her feverish face as Edward held her hand. There was a big wooden barrel outside the barn, left for catching rainwater, and a bowl had been found in the straw. Sookie filled the bowl with water many times when asked, bringing it to Eric as he needed it. At least she could do that much.
Laff was distraught. "That girl has been my best friend for a right long time," he muttered. "She's stood by me, and helped me a hundred times when I were hungry, or needed cash. There ain't no one I ever trusted like her. And now she's gonna die? I can't believe it. Life is fucking unfair, and that's the truth."
It was clear that the pain was increasing as Pam shuddered, trying to wrap her arms around herself and draw her knees up to her belly. She could no longer speak as the bitter dark hours passed by in silence. Outside the wind was whistling and sometimes the old barn shook, the planks groaning in the sudden stormy gusts. Eric sent Edward out to keep watch with Gunnar. Sufficient time had now passed for Ocella to have caught up with them, which no one wanted, for obvious reasons.
The candle flame blew out several times and cold draughts crept like freezing fingers under the rattling door, and there was no way to heat the space. But Pam was sweating constantly, her brow wet and burning. Her eyes had become bloodshot and trickles of blood began to ooze from her gums and her nostrils. She tossed and rolled so that the straw where she lay became scattered, but Eric bundled it back around her.
Eventually Eric looked up and his voice became harsher and more serious. "There are the final signs now," he told the others. "It is almost impossible for her to recover."
Pam was unconscious. She lay on her back where Eric had moved her, calming her with gentle, murmured words that the others could not understand. He had almost undressed her, leaving only the now ripped shift, so her breasts were uncovered and clearly swathed in the horrible creeping rash. The marks had spread and now covered so much of her body that they had run together into what seemed like one huge bruise. It crept up her neck, and down to her stomach. The rash was now deep purple and was turning black.
"Look," Eric said, as he moved Pam's arm, showing what was protruding from beneath. In her armpit a great lump was beginning to form. This was almost black, and uneven, and it seemed to pulse as though something was living inside it. As Eric touched it, Pam screamed.
Sookie started to cry. "I can't bear it," she sobbed. "Poor, poor Pam. She must be in such dreadful pain."
"Is she gonna die now?" Sniffed Laff. The tears flowing unencumbered down his cheeks.
"These are the buboe's," explained Eric. "There may be others still, perhaps in the groin, but there is no need to look for it will make no difference. This is the final sign and it shows that yes, she will soon die."
Pam began again to lash out in agony, moaning and swearing. She was bleeding as though wounded, and blood was seeping from her gums and lips, her nose and ears, and even from under her finger nails. When she managed to open her eyes, it was clear they were also bleeding heavily with ugly bloodshot streaks across the pupils and trickles collecting in the corners, then dripping down her cheeks. The ugly black buboes had also started to grow larger.
"Please," begged Sookie, "do something. Anything."
Eric paused, watching her carefully from beneath lowered lids. Eventually, speaking very softly, he said, "Sookie, There are two things I could do. Neither will not save her life. But it will stop her pain."
"I don't understand," whispered Sookie, suddenly frightened. She looked from Eric to Edward, who had come quietly back to Pam's side, having left Gunnar to watch outside.
"I could kill her, quickly and painlessly, or I could turn her. Either way her suffering would stop," Eric explained, his eyes never leaving hers.
"Turn her? You mean - like you?" Sookie whispered, afraid and confused. "How is that done?"
Laff stood quickly, suddenly excited he walked towards Eric, holding Sookies hand for reassurance. "Do it. Pam would want it, I can promise that. So do it." Finally he thought he might get to keep his friend.
Edward came between them and looked to Eric, with concern written on his face. "What if it doesn't work brother?"
Eric frowned. "There is no reason it shouldn't, if I'm careful. We both know the reason it went wrong for Ocella, and I'm hardly likely to make the same mistake."
Laff's excitement waned a little as he heard this, "What could go wrong? You've got to try surely." The desperation in his voice made Sookie squeeze his hand tighter.
It was Edward who answered him, "It was almost a hundred years ago. The throne of England has always been a battle to keep, and my great grandson was struggling to with it. He was under threat by that bastard Henry – a cold and ambitious man who had no sympathy for poor Richard. My great grandson, like myself, was a man of sensitivity and vulnerable feelings. Once the country accepted Henry, I knew poor Richard was at risk. He might be tortured, He would certainly be killed. He was imprisoned, half starved, and so depressed he was willing to die. So I asked Ocella to turn him. I was too much of a coward to do it myself."
Edward was obviously upset so Eric took over the story. "Ocella not only has a passion for royalty, but also buggery. He quickly became too excited and violent. Richard did not survive the ritual."
"Does that mean that you have to-?" Sookie did not want to finish the question, suddenly she felt cold inside. The thought that Eric would have to become intimate with Pam filled her with jealousy, yet how could she deny Pam the escape from death.
Eric came and held her tight, kissing the top of her head, "No lover, I do not have to. If that were the case I would ask Edward to do it. All I need to do is drink her blood and then feed her mine." He lifted Sookie's face with a finger under her chin and kissed her gently on the mouth, "To take and give blood is perhaps intimacy of a kind, and is not something I would do lightly. But making love is quite another matter and I would not take another now that I have you." He kissed her again.
"I see," whispered Sookie, hanging her head and looking down at her bare feet, unable to directly face the scorching gaze in Eric's eyes. still struggling with the slight resentment of Pam having Eric's blood.
Eric nodded. "We do not have much time. It'll be dawn soon, if I do this, I must do it now."
"Do it," Laff insisted.
Eric stared at Sookie, as if asking for her opinion before he decided. Sookie looked up and stared back at the strange, terrifying man she had started to love, and then down to her friend who lay in dreadful pain on the point of death.
"Yes, please, Eric," she whispered "Pam would want this. And I want it too."
In the background the storm was increasing and the wind blustered, shaking the barn's timbers. "Alright," said Eric. "If you are both sure."
