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Maker, Child and Destiny Makes Four
Chapter 13
Scene – The car park at Fangtasia, early evening.
Pam's POV
As soon as I woke I knew something was terribly wrong with my Maker. Eric had been jumping out of his skin with a happiness I had never felt before from him when I went to my day rest. Now all I get through our bond is anger and anguish. I have tried to call his phone which he has with him always but it goes straight to message bank and when I reach out to him through our connection I know I am not getting through because there is no acknowledgement or any kind of response from him, so I do the only thing that I hope may help and send him through our shared blood all my affection and support. When I get into the office I will contact the Silent Shores and see if I can find out what has happened. I hope and pray to all the Gods Eric holds dear that Godric has not met his final death. That is the only thing I can think of that would cause this kind of reaction in him.
Jessica has been chattering away all the way from my place where she spent the day and hasn't even realized I haven't kept up my end of the conversation. Fortunately for me I have a reputation that I have worked very hard on, for being rude. I turn off the engine and step out of my van, my Vampire senses immediately switch to full alert… Weres… At least four of them that I can sense.
Seeing my reaction Jessica who is just about to open her door asks –
"What is it?... Who?... What?" I can see she means to get out of the car and I quietly hiss –
"Stay put and lock all the doors." I Vamp across the short distance to the Staff Entrance. The door has been broken off its' hinges and thrown down the hallway. I can hear whimpering and voices coming from the Main floor of the Club and I quickly but silently move toward the sound, making sure to keep checking my senses for strange stimuli. From what I'm picking up however there seems to be nothing new and the strange Weres' scent was not fresh. Carefully I opened the door that leads from the office area onto the Main Floor. I check again, everything seems clear of anything untoward. The voices I heard had been coming from the dance floor where two of Fangtasia's staff lookedto have been beaten and then tied up.
I raced back to the Staff Entrance and signaled Jessica to come in. I would get her to deal with the Humans and call the Human Authorities. Having given her instructions, even though I knew our Guest had been taken, I needed to get down into the basement. Eric would want me to get as many clues as I can, I definitely hadn't smelt their particular Pack's stench before and so the slightest piece of evidence will help us to suss out who the Were's were… I was lucky… if you can call it that. I won't be feeling lucky when Eric finds out about Compton's escape. I found some fresh Were blood on a glove, one of them must have worn to undo Compton's shackles and then dropped it. I will make sure that goes into the safe until Eric gets back.
While checking the Basement, I notified all area Vamps via text to report to Fangtasia immediately. Who knew if the Weres were to come back or if Compton had advised the Queen… I need back-up at least until I can contact Eric. I make sure to pack away everything that looks out of place in a Bars cellar and had myself situated behind Eric's desk just in time for the Authorities to arrive.
When the area Vamps started arriving I delegated to them the jobs of notifying the crowd outside that the Club would be closed for at least tonight and maybe the next few and also setting up watch. I also had Chow, Longshadow's replacement call our Maintenance Man to come and fix the door.
It was early morning before we saw the last of the Humans off the premises. The Police were happy enough with the testimony of the employees saying that they had surprised the men who broke in by being there in the middle of the day. From that the Police had concluded Ginger and Belinda being there had thwarted a robbery and I wasn't about to dissuade them.
Jessica decided to turn on the TV while I finally went to the office to make my call to Eric. I still hadn't released the Vamps I'd summoned to go home, some were in the bar and the rest were still outside guarding the building. None of them recognized the Were scent in the Club. I wanted to speak to Eric. I needed to know his orders before I briefed the others. Before I had even sat down Jessica was calling me urgently to her. I rushed back to her and her face was streaked with bloody tears. On the large flat screen that hangs on one of the walls of the Club was clearly a scene of some sort of disaster. There was a building or what used to a building with fire and billowing smoke pouring out of the wreckage. On the bottom of the screen ran news updates telling the story of what it was we were seeing. We were looking at the wreckage of FOTS Headquarters in Dallas. I needed to contact Eric. Now!
Scene – The pond at the back of Sookie's property in Bon Temps.
Sookie's POV
Before I open my eyes I can feel the Sun's warmth heating my chilled body. I startle awake when I realize that I am outside. I sit up and look around. 'How did I get here?' I'm sitting in the soft green grass that in late Spring surrounds the pond that is out in the middle of my woods. My body feels cold and stiff so I start to rub my arms and legs trying to get some circulation back into them while I continue to soak in the blessed Suns' rays. I get static buzz in my head and because I do not have my telepathic shields in place my mind picks up that something inhuman… two something's inhuman have joined me in my little oasis.
I immediately try to get up off the ground but my stiff legs don't want to co-operate and I fall back to the grass in a very non to lady like manner. I know that the other presence is moving toward me and I start to panic. I decide to try to pull and wriggle myself to some shrubs at the edge of the clearing. I am looking at the trees when a pleasant voice behind me says –
"Have no fear Child we are not here to harm you." Even though my common sense tells me to keep going, my heart tells me these beings will not harm me… Today.
I turn around and gasp at the beauty of the beings standing near the pond. One is a man with long shining silver white hair, wearing a pristine, black, tailor made suit and carrying a walking cane. At first glimpse I thought him to be about fifty but when I really took him in I could tell he was much, much older. Second being… another male with long midnight hair that was pulled back from his strong face by an intricately braided leather thong that crossed his brow. He wore and outfit more like something you'd see Robin Hood wear, with a long tunic and leggings.
"Child, do not fear. We are here to help you." The older 'man' said. I was gob-smacked.
"Wh… who are y..you?" I managed to get out. "What… are… you?" That was a bit easier.
"I am Niall Brigant and this gentleman here" he pointed to the dark haired man "is Preston Pardloe. I was hoping for a better time to introduce myself to you but I see that you are again in trouble."
I looked down at myself. I was wearing my Merlotts uniform, black sneakers, white socks, black shorts and a white t-shirt with Merlotts embroidered over my left breast. I was confused because the last I knew I was in the FOTS compound bleeding to death because a zealous Christian had beaten and molested me. I think I remember Godric guarding me and Eric coming for me… I think?
"We must speak my dear… come." Niall held his hand out to me but gestured for Preston to help me to my feet. When I stood Preston kindly helped me over to a small rotunda that hadn't been there a second ago. Niall was seated at a small table that was set with foods and beverages I had never seen before.
"Come Child. Eat something while we talk." Preston helped me get seated then handed me a plate of food and poured me a drink from a jug filled with shining liquid. When I picked up the drink I felt like I was holding a glass full of sunshine and as I drank it down I could feel it's healing warmth wash through my body chasing the chill and stiffness away." I couldn't help but smile with relief because I felt so much better.
"I can see the drink has helped with your malady. Eat some of the food and have another glass and you will feel as good as new." Niall encouraged me with a smile and a wave at my plate. "While you eat I will tell you a Faery Tale…" So while I ate Niall told me a fascinating tale indeed.
I don't know how long the three of us sat. Preston and I listening while Niall told me about a whole other family history I had no idea of and I wouldn't have believed if he hadn't known some personal family things that he shouldn't of known about. He also had in his pocket a drawing that I had done when I just started school. It was a picture of a woman and a tall dark man and a little girl, around the man and the girl I had coloured a golden glow in yellow crayon. On the paper my teacher Miss Grant had written under each figure a name, Gran, Grandpa Fintan and Sookie. I had written on it "to Gran love Sookie". Naill said that he had found the picture in my Grandfathers possessions after he passed on.
"So… Great-Grandfather…" I was feeling very awkward "Uhmm… So how does all this effect me? Why am I here? I'm sure last time I looked I was in Dallas… In Dallas in a basement… In a basement, in Dallas bleeding to death." Niall and Preston smiled condescendingly at me. "You two better not be laughing at me now?" I was starting to wonder where Eric was.
"No my dear, Preston and I were just smiling at the resemblance between you and your Grand-Father. As for what we are to do now, I had to bring you into Between to heal you. I could not go to where your body is now as there are too many Vampires and other Supes around you and we are Faery."
"What does that mean, too many Vampires and other Supes?" Was he another one that was prejudice against Supernatural's? Oh wait a minute… he is a Supernatural.
"My dear Sookie, the Faery race as a whole embodies the only real drug of choice for the Vampire race. We…" he gestured to all three of us "you could say are 'Vampire Crack'." Preston was nodding in agreement. "You not so much Little One but still you obviously have an allure for them… So we avoid Vampires when at all possible. Some of us can subdue our scent. Both Preston and I have this magic within us but we decided the risk of the other races surrounding you identifying us, when as a race we actively work to keep our presence in your realm undiscovered, was just too great at this time. So you are here in Between, neither in your realm or in ours."
"So we are not really on my property in Bon Temps?" In the last few days I'd had so much new information thrown at me my head was starting to swim.
"No Child."
"Darn it. I really liked this rotunda it sure does look real pretty near my pond." The men again both smiled at me and shook their heads. "So Grandpa Niall, where does Preston fit into all of this? Is he like a Cousin or Uncle or somethin'?"
"Ah well now… Preston is one of my personal guards. I wanted you to meet with him so if you saw him again you would recognize him as someone I trust and with your permission, it was my intention to send him through the portal to become your daytime guard." I took a little while to give Preston a proper once over. He was a very handsome Faery, almost as tall as Eric but leaner in build. His straight hair that almost fell to his waist was black and shiny like polished ebony, where as Eric's shoulder length hair was the colour of wheat. The same shade blonde as mine to be exact. Preston's eyes were an amazing shade of gray and green combined where Eric's were the bright blue of a calm Grecian sea in the summer. Those eyes just made a girl want to dive right in and drown in his pheromones.
Preston had certainly noticed my appreciation of his hotness and sat up straighter and had a look on his face that almost rivaled Eric's seriously steamy 'Mr Seduction'. You know how in Zoolander… the movie, he named his looks and his best one ever was the 'Magnum'. Well, there was no fightin' it when Eric brought out 'Mr Seduction'. It just made all kinds of spontaneous things happen in my girly bits that sent chills up and down my spine… I noticed Preston noticing my reaction and I also noticed that he assumed it was him I was having the reaction too. And while I was noticing I also noted that my potential bodyguard was having trouble keeping his ego in check.
"Ah-hum…" My Pawpaw Niall politely coughed. "What do you think Sookie?" I think they both thought this was a done deal but I had other ideas.
"I will have to speak to Eric. In fact maybe you should speak to him and whatever you decide between the two of you will be good enough for me. I don't have any idea about that type of thing but after the last couple of days, I understand that I do need some sort of protection." Neither of the men in front of me seemed happy with my decision but I was with Eric now and he didn't live to be a thousand years old by not knowing how to look after himself and now, he was going to look after me. I would let him do that until I believed that he couldn't, then I would look at other options.
"Sookie…" Preston started and I could feel a sort of influence reaching into my mind. I pushed back at it as hard as I could and noticed a slight scrunch of pain on his face. If I hadn't been watching I would have missed it. He quickly looked down at his food, trying to avoid any further eye contact with me. And so he should.
"Don't ever try to do that again. Whatever it was… don't you dare Preston Pardloe." Niall raised an eyebrow at me. He seemed surprised that Preston's 'whatever it was' hadn't worked on me. Then he threw a look at Preston that made me know, it wasn't the last on that matter between them.
"Great- Grandfather, this has been nice and all… and it's been lovely to have met you but I think it's about time I got back now. You know? To wherever my body's at…" I'd left the table and was making my way over to where I was on the lawn when I 'arrived' here. "Do I have to lie down again?"
"No, no my dear. If that is what you wish, you do not have to do anything. Before you go I have something else for you." He walked over and stopped right in front of me, fishing something else out of his pocket. He pulled out a small trinket box and opened it. "These small things where Finton's Mother Einen's and she passed them onto him, thus they now belong to you." He held out a ring ready to slip it on my finger. It was beautiful. I couldn't tell what it was made of but as soon as the ring was on the middle finger of my right hand the opal like stone mounted in the beautifully crafted band flared to life and the lights within it moved like stars in the night sky. "This ring has been in the Brigant family for over a millennia and now it is yours. Do not worry about it being damaged it cannot be and the band is platinum so it will not affect your Viking. In Fae mythology it is said that the Fae destined to own this ring will be able to access many powers through the wearing of it and it's matching accessories. I only know of the ring itself and it's main purpose as I understand it, is to act as protection… a shield you might say, against any that would do the wearer harm. Within the box there is the bracelet and necklace that matches it, each item of jewelry has it's own power but specifics of these powers have been lost over time… You are the first person I have seen put on the ring and it actually do something."
"Maybe I should take it off?" I was a bit concerned now he had said that but when I had put it on it felt right, like my hand had been missing a piece of itself until I put it on.
"I'm sorry to say it Grand-daughter and please believe me in this but I did not believe that you, being only one eighth Fae would activate the magic in the ring. Once the ring is activated it can only be removed when you die and even then only if you bequeath it to someone." What the…
I tried to pull it off but I couldn't budge it and when Niall went to help me it zapped him. Well if it wanted to be on my hand that badly I'd let it stay there - for now.
"Thank you for the healing and the gift Great-Grandfather. Hopefully we will see each other again soon. Good bye Preston, you and Grandpa Niall will need to contact Eric about your guard proposal." I gave my Great-Granddaddy a brief hug and a kiss on the cheek and when I opened my eyes I was in a noisy room with people moving all around and Doctor Ludwig barking out orders about synthetic blood and donors.