Memories of Midnight
True Blood Fanfiction
Written by Singingfrogs
No copyright infringement intended
As Sookie sat at the kitchen table of Robyn's cabin she wished she had not made Robyn angry. She had refused to go and see the Witch that had cursed both the young Packmaster and her boyfriend. She had argued that she was not brave enough, that she didn't want to go into the generous situation that Robyn was ordering her to walk into. Sookie thought that Robyn was using her as another one of her wolves and she was not happy about it.
However, Sookie was regretting the idea of calling Robyn a liar. She had accused the singer of making the situation with Daniel Smithers sound more horrendous than it actually was. Sookie blamed her for making her Pack scared, for making them chase their tails as they protected their territory from a potential threat that may not come after them, to guard and Alpha who was terrified of a man and used her status to get the protection she craved.
Robyn argued her point and was just as spiteful. Sookie understood the accusation. Robyn was demanding why she was here. The young Packmaster thought she was here just for a vacation, to get away from her life in Bon Temps, running from Bill Compton after the break down of their relationship, Sookie knew that Robyn thought Sookie was just in it for the glamorous lifestyle, for the money, and the celebrity lifestyle she had expected Robyn to live.
The Fairy could not have been more wrong. Robyn lived without electricity; she lived in a cold building as she disappeared, as she hid in the woods away from civilization, away from the press and her leaking private life, hiding away from the murder who was after her.
Sookie did not dare to tell Robyn the true reason she was here. She was unable to get the images out of her head. The way Eric made her feel as she chased her, the way his physical appearance had made her heart bubble with desire; she was unable to stop her heart from falling in love with Eric as she watched how he acted, how he seemed to have become completely human in his amnesiac state. Sookie also knew that if Robyn was to ever find out Sookie would never see the woman again, and Robyn would become unreasonable as she tried to defend herself, enraged at her betrayal.
But Sookie watched as Robyn stood and crossed to the counter of the kitchen. She brought a bulging accordion folder back to the dining table and took out a photograph, which she laid on the coffee table in front of her.
"June 25, 2005," was all she said. Sookie stared at the image of a bearded man, sitting slumped, a spray of blood on the whitewashed wall behind his head. He was dressed in dark trousers and a torn white shirt. His feet were bare. She could only look at the ghastly image in front of her before Robyn laid a second photograph next to it. "July 15, 2005,"
Again the victim was a man, this one clean-shaven. Again he had died sitting propped up against a blood-splattered wall. Robyn set down a third photograph of yet another man. But this one was bloated, his stomach taut with the expanding gases of decomposition. "September 12," She voiced. "The same year."
Sookie could only sit stunned by this gallery of the dead, laid out so neatly on the cherry-wood table. A record of horror set incongruously among the civilized clutter of coffee cups and teaspoons. As Robyn and Alcide waited silently, gauging Sookie's expression as the severity of the situation crashed down onto her heart.
"And this is the work of Smithers? The man that is after you?" She asked. "He killed only three."
Robyn shook her head. "He killed women, but at the time only one was positively identified. The wife of victim number three. She was found buried in the woods a week after the photo was taken."
"She was found strangled to death with signs of necrophilia" Alcide imputed, obviously well informed with the information and images in front of her.
"Why could they not identify the other woman?"
"We are unsure, we were unable to get that kind of information from the police when we asked. It seemed that the bodies were in an advanced stage of decomposition, their identities were unable to be confirmed." Robyn voiced.
"We also know what Smithers if like, he was in our pack before he was arrested. He loved the hunt, he loved woman, and he loved to be in control. We know that the police must have been dealing with more than two bodies. Many, man bodies." Alcide expressed with repulsion.
"How did he get away with this? The press and the police must have struggled to keep this away from the limelight."
"The FBI was the ones who controlled Smithers case. But it seemed the reason he was able to get away with so many killings was because he was murdering these people in the middle of a war zone. The FBI was uncertain at the time, unsure of what to think about the various incisions that looked like dog bites and claw marks imbedded amongst the other abrasions that were made specifically for humans. Me and my Pack understood what was going on but to keep our secret safe we were unable to aid the FBI in their investigation. We knew that Smithers would kill men with young wives. It was his signature. But the FBI were unable to do anything as the case did not fall into their jurisdiction."
"So what was done?" Sookie asked.
"In a word? Nothing. There were not arrest, because apparently the suspect was never identified. Alcide and I knew better."
"We inquired, we tried to point the authorities into the right direction but considering the circumstances that the bodies were found. Thousands of war dead buried in over one hundred fifty mass graves. Foreign peacekeeping troops struggling to keep order. Armed outlaws roaming bombed-out villages, just looking for reasons to kill. And the civilians themselves, nursing old rages. It was the Wild West over there, with gun battles erupting over drugs or family feuds or personal vendettas. And almost always the killing was blamed on ethnic tensions." Alcide explained
"That's what the FBI blamed it on." Robyn interrupted
"They were overwhelmed; how could you distinguish one murder from another when there were so many. For a serial killing werewolf. It was paradise on earth."
"So this is how you know these new killings are Smithers. You've seen his handy work before."
"Exactly, they are the same from the first time I managed to capture Smither's before. When the police brought me his case file I knew it was him. But when I had the FBI knocking on my doorstep concerning these suspicious murders I took a look. I couldn't be certain it was him, I was only 19 at the time, but as I have grown older, as I have studied him closer I understand that there are very strong correlations, it is a shame that there was very little evidence to tie him to these monstrosities."
"You talk so openly about death and murder. You talk so easily like that of an FBI agent, reading into this man like an animal."
"You forget Sookie that I am a Packmaster. I have the gift to turn into an animal and I am able to read and understand things that have happened by another of my kind. For deep down, there is a monster in all of us, all waiting to be let loose for the entire world to see. My monster looks much different compared to yours but if needs be, if someone hurts someone I love, I will let the monster out and their will be no stopping me."
"And this is why you are determined to help Eric?" Sookie asked, hiding her flustered cheeks and the flipping of her heart as she said his name.
"Well when you have a boyfriend who can barley remember his own name, have a psychopathic killer who is obsessed with finding you and a witch who cursed you so your unable to shift into a wolf and protect yourself, tell me then that you would not try everything humanly possible to defend the ones you love.
0-0-0
The direct sunlight was pounding onto Robyn's car as Alcide and Sookie pulled up in front of the moon goddess emporium. The windshield was barley able to keep the head from flooding into the car as she looked at the hazy image of the building.
"You understand what you gotta do?" Alcide asked her, pulling on the hand break before resting his long arm around the back of her seat.
"Try not to get myself killed?" Sookie breathed sarcastically as she pulled her eyes from the building to look at Robyn's beta wolf. She could not help admiring, as she always did, the clean, sharp lines of his profile.
"Well don't sound to enthusiastic about it. If Robyn heard you speaking with that tone she would have you pinned on the pavement right now."
"Well good thing I'm not with Robyn."
"You just need to gain some information. To help us understand her a little more. Whose in her coven, what power does she hold? How dangerous can she be? Is she a threat to other Supernaturals or just werewolves and vampires?"
"I got it, I got it." Sookie breathed stubbornly as she heaved the door open, falling to the pavement before she shoved the door closed. She glanced through the window, a wave and she brought in a huge lungful of air as she prepared to face Marnie.
The chiming of the wind chime by the door made Sookie look above her as she continued to close the door behind her, her eyes taking in the images in front of her. The black and white tiles floor of a traditional 60's home was the dominant color scheme, the walls a pale blue. The whole place reeked of herbs and exotic roots. There were endless shelves containing jars and baskets of tonics, spices, powders, and various charms and jewellery. Wooden bowls, clay mortars and pestles were left all over the till area. As Sookie continued to look around her there were rows and rows of leather bound books that looked like they've had their share of wear and tear.
Sookie couldn't help the smile fall onto her lips as she walked to the till, looking through the large archway and into the room at the back, noticing the chairs, cushions sprawled across the floor. Just before the older woman cam into view, a medieval like dress pressed to her figure as she looked at Sookie.
"Hi!" Sookie chimed with enthusiasm.
"Hi." Was all Marnie could reply as she went to stand behind the wooden desk.
"I was passing by and I saw your sign. I'd like a reading, please." Sookie smiled, her eyes shining, hands interlocked with each other as they rested on the wood.
"We're closed." Marnie sighed with a shake of the head, her hand going to her neck as she looked at Sookie.
"Really? Nuts. Can I just say this is the cutest little store? You know, when I was a kid and homesick from school my two favorite TV shows were Sabrina and Charmed. God's honest."
"Fine." Marnie collapsed as she removed her hand from her neck, obviously fighting with herself before she asked Sookie to sit.
"Oh, really? Thanks, Miss…?"
"Marnie." She said with a small smile, taking hold of Sookie's hand to shake it.
"Sookie." Both women sat opposite each other, Sookie removing the bag from her shoulder, her eyes continuing to look around her while the witch went about lighting the candles in front of them.
"What's the back room for?" Sookie asked as the witch continued to set up the things for the reading.
"For meetings. It's just social events."
"Is that right? You know, I'm a real social butterfly myself. The way I see it, a stranger's just a friend you haven't met you."
"Could I have something to hold on to, just something personal?" Marnie asked, her eyebrows raised as if unable to understand Sookie's overbearing personality. Sookie just nodded as she reached behind her neck to unclasp the necklace that was hanging around her neck before she placed it in the witch's offered hand. She lifted her other hand to wrap her fingers around the necklace, the incense wafting around her figure as she went about casting her magic. She shook her hand as she looked back over at Sookie. "Now just relax. Just think of a question."
Sookie just concentrated on completing her own job, listening in on the distorted dialogue that was filtering through her mind. Marnie simply snapped open her eyes, her body becoming tense as she tried to regulate her breathing.
"There is a presence. There's someone who's crossed over not too long ago. A woman. I see a yellow apron. Someone older."
"Oh, my god. That's… That's my gran." Sookie managed to stumble, her eyes watering with emotion as she managed to gain the guidance her grandmother was always able to provide.
"Mm. She misses you very much."
"I miss her. Is she okay? Is she happy?"
"She's at peace." Marnie said with a nod of the head. "She wants to make sure you look after someone. Um…. A sibling. Oh, your brother?"
"Jason."
"Your gran has another message for you. Are you falling in love?"
"Well, I don't…. I don't think so." Sookie breathed with an awkward smile as her heart began to flutter at the prospect of her heart falling for Eric Northman.
"Your gran says this new man who you have feelings for that you are not to give him your heart." She voiced. Sookie simply decided to use her own gift, to listen in on her thoughts.
"The situation is temporary. It isn't going to last. He belongs to another, a woman who is devoted to him, a woman who would die to protect him. You cannot compete with that. And I brought you up much better than for you to destroy something so beautiful. To destroy something that you are looking for. Sookie. Sookie, I know you're listening. It's Gran."
"What?" Marnie asked with a frown, her eyes and face still looking away from Sookie who was clinging onto her grandmothers every word.
"Sweetheart, this woman poses great danger."
"No! How could I be a danger to someone? I have never hurt anybody."
"Get away from her. Run, Sookie, run! Get out now!"
"Oh my god." Sookie mumbled as she grabbed hold of her bag, snatched her necklace from the witch sitting in front of her, not wanting to be around her any longer.
"What? What are you doing?"
"Lady, when my gran tells me to run, I run." Sookie said with a forced smile. "Keep the change." She breathed and bolted from the shop.
0-0-0
Robyn was watching the sun set into the horizon as she looked out of the window of her cabin. She was expecting her brother to be returning any moment but she was a little worried as to what was taking him so long.
However, she frowned when she heard a car pulling up outside, and the frown deepened when she leant on the windowsill and noticed that the car was not Alcide's. She tripped over the suitcase that was sitting by the door. She could see the spare dresses and she knew it was Sookie's. She stumbled, wheeling to the door when she heard a knock.
Rupert stood in her doorway, his gray suit plastered to his figure due to the humidity, his hair wet and glistening with sweat.
"Robyn, I hope I'm not interrupting anything." He said as his Packmaster moved away from the door to allow him into the cabin. He could only look around, obviously looking at the way she was living and thinking him superior.
"Do I have any choice even if you were?"
"Probably not." He said with a smile as he flopped himself on her sofa, kicking off his shoes and resting his arms on the back of the chair. Robyn simply rested her shoulder on the side of her cabin as she looked at the wolf in front of her.
"Why are you here Rupert? I would have wanted you to inform me of your visit. We have no idea who could be following members of our pack."
"Why so formal? It's not like I've only been in the pack a couple of weeks."
"No, you've been in the pack for as long as I have, but as your Alpha I demand your respect."
"Do you know what I think? I think you're unworthy of being an Alpha. You pretend to be strong but the reality is that you can't handle the pressure of having so much authority. There are much stronger and more righteous wolves that would be ten times the Alpha that you are. You're a silly little girl who can't help but get herself in trouble, but you also bring the whole pack down with you. Why don't you just quit while you're ahead and live the rest of your life in a hole with the vampire of yours."
However, before anyone could comprehend what was going on, everything seemed to happen so fast. The sun had set, the front door was opening, Alcide and Sookie were walking in and Eric was trudging up the ladder from his cubby. And Robyn's eyes were flashing orange, a loud growl emitted from her chest as she lunged at Rupert. Her body sitting on his chest, her strong hands squeezing on his neck as she choked him.
"You need to learn to keep your mouth shut you self-absorbed mongrel, I have neither the patience or the time for your petty arguments so get out of my house so get out of my house, but just so you know, this is not over and I will deal with you later!"
"Is that a threat my high and mighty Alpha? You can't hide behind your boyfriend every time things get tough; he is not in the position to defend you. I am repulsed at the sight of you showing kindness and devotion to a vampire. You're a fucking werewolf! He is the enemy yet you let him share your bed! You let him bite you, you let him fuck you. Your disgusting, a lowlife dog who cannot find peace or affection within her own race!" Rupert bellowed throwing Robyn from his figure. The young Packmaster stumbled, feeling the edge of the sofa on her ankle, her body unable to balance. She was relieved when she felt the cold palms of Eric's hand on her waist as he steady her, his eyes glaring at the werewolf, his fangs barred as he came to stand in front of her, his arm held out in front of her.
"Rupert that's enough!" Alcide snapped, having moved in front of Sookie to protect her if the situation was to get out of hand
"Fuck off Alcide."
"Shut your mouth Rupert, before I do something I will regret." Robyn sneers, leaning heavily on Eric's arm as the vampire prevented her from pouncing, obviously recognizing that the young Packmaster was unable to control her anger.
"What the hell is he doing here anyway?! Last I heard he was away with the fairies. Not much of your beloved Eric Northman left."
"I live here." Eric grumbled; his large torso hanging over Rupert's as he was a good 4 inches taller than he was.
"You're a psycho murdering asshole! I wouldn't be surprised if you were planning to pick us all of one by one!"
"Eric is not like that!" Robyn snapped
"You got a short goddamn memory. This fucker sold you out to Russell Edgington. One of the first times you met him he tricked you into drinking his blood! He left you rotting in a dungeon being poisoned by wolfs bane. He has done all these fucking things to you and yet you allow him near your pack! Try defending those accusations!"
"Get out of my house… Now!" Robyn screamed and Rupert finally got the message as Alcide, who was equally as angry threw him from the cabin. Alcide watched as the tired of his car spun against the gravel, a wave of dust falling into the air around him as he tried to get as far from the cabin as possibly. Robyn could only pick something up and throw it against the wall, her anger and her frustration vibrating around her. Sookie jumped at her visibly outburst while Eric could only watch her. Oh how Robyn wished he would hold her.
"You kick him out and your lose credibility amongst the others." Alcide voiced as he closed the door behind him, knowing what was swimming around his sister's head.
"Would I? They know how ruthless I can be after I sentenced Rachel after her betrayal with Elliot Woods. And Debbie sure as hell knows how I can react. No offense Alcide."
"None taken. I know what she put you though." Alcide smiled, looking towards Sookie making sure she was okay while Eric had positioned himself on the sofa.
"Alcide, check the perimeter, make sure no one is hanging around." Robyn voiced, noticing Alcide nodded looking towards Sookie who also smiled and allowed herself to evacuate the cabin to help Alcide look around. When they had closed the door it was now Robyn's turn to try and help Eric get over the words of what Rupert had just said about him.
"Did I really do all those terrible things your friend said I did?" Eric asked her, his hair falling over his forehead while a checkered shirt was pressed to his torso.
"Yes. But not on purpose. And Rupert is not my friend, he is only trying to pick a fight."
"Then your pain is my fault. Why are you letting me live with you if I did all these things to you."
"Because I know there's more to you than your worst self. When I was locked in the prison close to death I had no idea that you were trying to protect me. Trying to show Edgington that I meant very little to you and may let me go. Like most things it never really worked out the way you wanted it too. You show your humanity when you're with me, and I kinda like the smug, sarcastic Eric."
"Whether decency is in me is irrelevant. I'm clearly capable of extreme cruelty."
"Only when it comes to doing your job and protecting the ones you love."
"You're a strong person Robyn, and I am weak, I don't want to drag you down with me." The dim light of the cabin was hiding the true emotions of the pair as they sat opposite each other as if they were strangers.
Robyn was unable to say anything. No words of comfort flooded her mind, no actions to help him. His eyes searching her face for any sign of her needing him. Looking for any emotion that would show him how she truly felt. Her face was vacant. She was hiding herself from him, the desperate situation calling her mind to react in the only way it believed it could. To shut down and refuse to let anyone see how she really felt.
Eric had received everything he needed. He placed his hands to the edges of the sofa and heaved his large form from the comfort of her sofa. His feet clicking against the wooden flooring as he opened the door and evacuated the cabin.
Her heart was cracking. Her eyes were watering. But it seemed her mind was ruling her heart. However much she wanted to break down and cry, to let the world get the best of her she knew she could never be a weak and pathetic woman who lets everything get the better of her. It seemed her strong Alpha instincts forced her from getting emotional, from hiding her desperation as she launched herself from the chair to try and get Eric back into the cabin.
The door was left open as she jogged away from the cabin, her eyes adjusting the dark forest around her. The lights of the cabin dimming the surroundings, her eyes squinting as she tried to locate Eric's checkered shirt cladded form. Her eyes found him. His head falling between his slumped shoulders, looking down at the forest floor as he walked away.
"Eric, stop!" Robyn shouted. Her heart was fluttering in her chest as she noticed the vampire stopped walking. The werewolf could see how Eric lifted his head from its angled position so he was looking back at her, the rest of his body turning so his eyes were focused purely on her. "Get back here!" Robyn finished as she said the only words that came to her mind.
Eric's figure moved towards her, his broad shoulders leaning over her as she looked up at him. His hair falling over his forehead as his blue eyes stared deeply into hers as he studied her. Robyn could only smile up at him, her heart fluttering in her chest as she lifted her hands to rest on his cheeks, moving his fringe lovingly. Eric mirrored her movements, lifting his own hand to rub his knuckles over her scarred cheek, feeling her imperfect skin from her cheekbone right down to underneath her jaw bone.
Robyn couldn't hold back any longer, she needed him, she needed his long arms wrapped around her, she needed to claim him, to hold him, to show him how much she loved him. She flung her arms around him, her warm skin wrapping around his neck as she pushed her body against his. Eric returned her embrace. His own arms engulfed her, his hand going underneath her arm as he cupped the back of her head elegantly, his eyes closed as he held her in a way he had dreamed about.
Robyn couldn't help the goose bumps that erupted over her body as she felt Eric trail his hand from the back of her hair and over her shoulder, feeling the bumps of the vicious scars she had received from the Maenad. She didn't flinch, she didn't tense in the way she had when Eric had first touched her scars. She relaxed into him, allowing her body to respond to him in ways she had missed.
The werewolf lifted her head, moving her hands to rest on the side of his neck as she placed a gentle kiss to his cheek. It seemed that Eric mirrored her movements, drawing himself away from her arms so he was able to look at her. Robyn leant towards him, resting her forehead on his, their eyes never leaving each others as they studied each other, observing the others reaction, making sure they were not pushing it, that they wanted it.
It seemed that Robyn was the one to pull Eric closer, claiming his lips as her own as the large vampire ducked to press his lips to hers. The electricity that passed over the pair of them resulted in Robyn and Eric to readjust their hold on the other, pushing themselves closer and closer, lips chapping and grasping as their lips moved in sync.
Robyn wrapped her arms around his neck once again as she stood on her tip toes, pressing her body against his as Eric clung onto her. The werewolf was delighted to be held in this way again, overjoyed at the feel of his lips on hers, her heart swelling with love and enchantment as Eric continued to lean into her, reacquainting himself with a woman he could not remember. It seemed that Robyn was falling in love with him all over again, kissing him as if the pair of them were strangers.