A/N I've taken a few liberties with Sookie's dad's origin story from the books. As usual, I intend no copyright infringement.

Chapter 14

Eric stomped out another small fire as Carly pulled sap from her hair.

"Since you and Godric exchanged blood just before we did, I'll be able to feel Godric?" Carly asked as she pulled a hunk of resin from her hair.

"Perhaps," Eric mused. "I don't expect it to be a strong connection, but you may feel strong emotions."

Carly walked up to Eric and encircled him in her arms, nibbling along his shoulder blade. "I certainly felt quite a bit from him while we were going at it."

Eric laughed lightly as he turned to face her. "I think he's taken a shine to Sookie."

"Is that a good idea?" Carly wondered aloud.

"Most likely not," Eric kissed her and added, "but she will be safest with him."

Carly traced Eric's jawline with her fingers and speculated, "I don't think she'll leave Bon Temps. And I don't know if she'll want to be a king's pet after her cousin's experience."

"I doubt Hadley has said anything negative about her time with Sophie Ann," Eric reminded her.

"We better get back," Carly advised. "Sookie is probably wondering where we are, even though Godric told her what we were doing."

"You saw that as well?" Eric stared at his lover. "I still don't understand everything that happens when we share blood and make love." Looking toward a spot of charred ground, he said, "It seems we've become incendiary as well."

Carly laughed. "So I guess no camping for us." She added, "I don't know if we're meant to understand everything, except to know that we're stronger together than apart." Carly took Eric's hand and began walking toward Merlotte's.

When they approached the rear entrance, they saw Godric and Sookie standing hand-in-hand beside a yellow compact car.

"You have sated yourselves, my children," Godric said, the smile on his face causing his voice to resonate further than it did usually.

"Yes, your majesty," Eric responded. "Have you discussed your plans with Miss Stackhouse?"

Carly examined the two and saw how light Sookie looked, as if she had just been swept off her feet by a knight in shining armor. "Sookie?" Carly asked.

"Um, yeah, Carly, I invited Godric to come over and meet Gran and everybody," Sookie grinned widely. "She's expecting you two as well."

"I'm looking forward to meeting her." Carly looked into Sookie's mind quickly to assess how well she was coping with meeting the vampires.

He's so beautiful and sweet. I still can't believe he's so old. And I think he really likes me. It's so wonderful how quiet everything is when I'm holding his hand—I can't hear anyone, even Carly. It's like I'm finally alone...

Sookie, Carly called out to the other telepath and waited for a response. Sookie, can you hear me?

Carly watched as Sookie continued to smile at Godric, all her longing and desire clearly displayed in her eyes. Her eyes closed, Carly visualized Godric's mind as a precipice above a void. Sookie stood perched at the edge, balancing gracefully and staring down into the void. Carly touched her hand and whispered, Sookie, look at me.

Carly? "Carly?" Sookie vocalized. "How did you do that?

"Sookie, can you use Godric as an anchor, and then reach out towards me?"

The vampires watched silently as Sookie tried to follow Carly's coaching. Meanwhile, Carly thought encouraging thoughts as loudly as she could. You can do it, Carly. I think that Godric's mind draws you toward it, but that you can direct your mind toward another, toward mine...

After a few quiet moments, Sookie managed to grasp hold of Carly. Carly, I can hear you now.

Now try to reach out into the bar. See if you can hear Lafayette or Sam. I'll stay with you, because I seem to be able to piggy-back on what you hear.

Okay, Sookie responded, I'll try.

Carly could feel Sookie struggle against Godric's attraction, could sense as Sookie sent a tendril toward the bar, toward Lafayette.

As Sookie penetrated Lafayette's mind, Carly could hear his thoughts as well. Don't know what the hell that girl did to my mama, but she seem better, seem not so damned crazy. I hope it stay that way, 'cause I don't know how the hell I get enough money to put her in the hospital. I'll be damned if I let my mama go to some filthy fuckin' state crazy house. I guess I pick up another job, but it probably not enough...figure somethin' out, but hopin' she stay good. Be nice to have my mama back to somethin' like normal.

That's good, Sookie, Carly encouraged. Can you find Sam?

Carly felt Sookie feeling around the bar, touching minds and recoiling away from them, until she arrived at Sam.

Sookie's experience of Sam's mind, for some reason, differed from Carly's. Unlike Lafayette's mind, Sam's seemed knotted, wrapped in hot red threads. Sookie couldn't access his thoughts directly or linearly, but in fits and starts. Damned vampire...Sookie...so innocent...

Sam's thoughts disappeared and, instead, Carly felt sensations of warmth and wind and pure adrenaline.

Sookie broke away and asked Carly, "Why does he feel so different than everyone else, Carly?"

Unwilling to betray Sam's secret, Carly said, "You have to ask him, not me."

Sookie tried to pry the idea away from Carly's mind, but she couldn't—Carly held too tightly to the secret, obscuring it from view. "That's not fair, Carly!"

Just because I can hide things from you, Sookie, Carly thought toward the other telepath, you shouldn't be angry with me.

"But why can you hide things from me?" Sookie said aloud.

"We're different," Carly tried to explain. "We're not telepathic for the same reasons, so mine works a little differently than yours does."

Carly could feel Sookie poking around the explanation, looking for more information, but Carly had cleared her conscious mind.

"Why can I hear music?" Sookie asked. "From that war movie?"

Eric began humming Wagner's "Flight of the Valkyries" and chuckling.

"Yeah," Sookie nearly jumped up and down, "that's it! How did you know?" Sookie looked from Eric to Godric, who was now laughing quietly as well. "Can vampires read minds?"

"No," Eric replied, "It's just our song."

"Your grandmother will be waiting for us, Sookie," Godric redirected Sookie's attention toward home. "Shall I ride with you?"

Sookie reddened slightly, enough to be seen in the exterior lamplight. "I guess you can, Godric." Turning to Carly, she asked, "Where's your car?"

"It's in the front."

"Okay," Sookie responded by unlocking the door of the yellow compact. "Just follow me. We'll be headed out to Hummingbird Lane, if we get separated."

"We won't," Eric answered and held out his hand to Carly for the keys.

Eric and Carly walked toward the front parking lot and climbed into the car. Sookie soon passed, and Eric followed her out the driveway onto the highway.

"What did you talk to Sam Merlotte about?"

Eric's focus on the road didn't waver. "I asked him if he'd seen any vampires in the area or had encountered vampires in one of his other forms."

"Do you think a vampire would recognize him as a shape-shifter when he was an animal?" Carly wanted some clarity about how vampires sensed other supernatural beings, although she didn't know if she'd asked the right question.

"No, they wouldn't." Eric stole a glance at Carly, before he added, "We recognize him as different than human from his scent and his temperature."

"Why?"

"He smells of dog, and he's much hotter than a human—probably three degrees—just like a werewolf," Eric said, growling slightly as he said "werewolf."

"What did he say?"

"He reported encountering a vampire as he was running through the cemetery, near Sookie's home," Eric replied, "and he promised to notify me if he sees him or any other vampire again."

"That can't be everything," Carly challenged. "You were in there a while, and he seemed ticked off when you came out."

Eric smirked at her. "He was." After a short chuckle, Eric added, "I told him that Sookie's family was now under our protection, and that they were all in danger."

"Did he want to know why?" Carly felt a little annoyed that Eric seemed so guarded. "And why do I feel like you're keeping something from me?"

"I'm not, my love," Eric responded without hesitation. "I'm simply trying to remain focused on the road." He added quickly, "Merlotte was suspicious and angry. I suspect he has feelings for the girl he's been too cowardly to act upon. I told him that members of Sookie's extended family had been kidnapped, and we suspected she was at risk as well."

"Okay." Carly was finally satisfied.

As they finished their conversation, Sookie pulled off the road onto Hummingbird Lane. After about half a mile, she pulled into a long driveway that led to a farmhouse. Two cars were parked near the end of the driveway, beside a shed, and two women sat beneath the porch light on a swing. As the car lights fell upon them, Carly recognized the younger of the two as Hadley, who looked anxious.

Sookie drove around the house to park her car next to the other two vehicles. Before Sookie could open her door, Godric opened it for her and extended his hand.

"Wow," Sookie gasped, "you're fast, huh?"

"Yes," Godric answered. "Vampires are much faster than humans, perhaps because we must do everything during the hours of darkness."

As Godric took Sookie's hand, she said, "I don't know how you do it. I could never give up the sun, or my tan."

"One adjusts," he answered quietly. "I am eager to meet your grandmother, Sookie."

Sookie led Godric toward the porch steps, where her path intersected with Eric's and Carly's.

Mrs. Stackhouse walked toward the steps and called out, "Carly, is that you?"

"Yes, ma'am," Carly answered. "I'm glad to finally meet you."

"Don't ma'am me, Carly," the elderly woman chastised. "Please, call me Adele." Gesturing toward Hadley, she said, "You remember my granddaughter Hadley, I suppose?"

"Yes, Adele, happily." Carly smiled and gave a brief wave toward Hadley, who was staring toward her cousin and Godric.

Hadley's emotions were visible to anyone, but Carly penetrated her thoughts to validate her suspicions. Why is that vamp holding Sookie's hand? I never seen him before, but he's cute. Carly's with the sheriff, so I guess they're still a thing. Damn, I miss New Orleans sometimes, even if it is good not to get bit all the time. I miss living like that, miss not working.

"Nice to see you again, Hadley," Carly addressed her directly, trying to get her attention away from Sookie.

"Yeah," Hadley smiled genuinely, "it's good to see you too." I probably would've wound up dead or a vampire if I stayed there, so I should be glad, and it's good to know what's going on and not be so tired all the time.

"Gran," Sookie joined the conversation, "can I introduce you to Godric and Eric Northman? They're vampires, Gran."

Adele smiled, looking from one man to another, "Well, I'll be. It's nice to meet you gentlemen."

Sookie joined her grandmother on the porch, and then Adele added, "Please, come in. I don't have any of that bottled blood, but I could call my grandson to pick some up."

"That will not be necessary, Mrs. Stackhouse," Godric replied, mounting the stairs before extending his hand. When Adele took it, he raised her hand to his lips and said, "Your company will be sustenance enough for both of us."

Releasing a giggle befitting a school-girl, Adele said, "Well, I don't know about that, but I'll do the best I can."

Adele scampered toward the front door and ushered Godric in the door, with Sookie and Hadley following.

Carly turned to Eric and whispered, "When did Godric turn into a such big flirt?"

Eric leaned down and said, "My maker has many skills. He just doesn't reveal them all at once."

"I guess so."

"Carly," Adele called to her, "I don't have anything for Godric or Eric, but could I get you something?"

"I would love something to drink, Adele." Carly smiled at her host and added, "whatever you have handy would be lovely. I had two bowls of Lafayette's gumbo, but I could use something liquid."

"Oh, I would say," Adele responded, hustling toward the kitchen, "it's good, but I've always thought it was a little too salty."

Godric followed the old woman into the kitchen. "May I be of any assistance, Adele?"

"No, oh my, no," Adele turned to face him, "please just sit and visit with my girls and your friends."

"My gran won't let you do any work, Godric," Sookie chimed in. "I hope no one minds if I run up and change real fast. I need to get out of these greasy clothes."

Sookie popped out of the parlor and ran up the stairs.

"Hadley," Carly addressed the former vampire pet, "how is everything going now that you're back in Bon Temps?"

"It's good," Hadley answered. "I'm studying for my GED. I never finished high school, so I've got to take the test before I can do any other schooling." Hadley smiled, "If I'm going to share custody of my son someday, I have to do better than work as a grocery clerk."

Eric interrupted, "I had no idea you had a child."

Hadley shrugged, "Why should you have? Not like we talked."

"But did Sophie-Ann know?" Eric questioned.

"Yeah," Hadley began playing with her fingernails, "but she really didn't care."

"What's his name?" Carly wanted to get the conversation back onto happier terms before Adele returned from the kitchen.

"Hunter Savoy," Hadley brightened considerably. "He's three, and just so smart." Her countenance darkened slightly before she added, "I think he's a little like Sookie, you know?"

"Have you said that to anyone else?" Eric asked.

"No, just to family," Hadley replied quickly, and then asked with fear, "You don't think I could get him in trouble, do you?"

In a reassuring tone, Eric said, "Just don't say too much to anyone about him. It's probably best if he spends most of his time with his father for now."

Sookie bounded down the stairs and said, "Let me help you with that Gran," as Adele rounded into the parlor.

"I've got sweet tea and coke," Adele announced, "and a little fruit to undo the damage from Lafayette's gumbo." She added, "And next time y'all stop by, I'll have some of that blood substitute."

"Thank you, Adele." Godric said appreciatively. "I hope to see more of you all, especially Sookie."

Flushing again, Sookie said, "That would be nice, wouldn't it, Gran?"

"Why, yes, it would." Adele poured Carly a glass of tea and then asked, "So, is it true about how long y'all live?"

"Many of us are very long lived," Godric answered, before Sookie interrupted.

"Godric's two thousand years old, Gran!"

Adele fumbled the tea pitcher, but Eric caught it before it hit the floor. Before Adele fell, Godric rushed around to support her weight.

"Perhaps we could have timed that disclosure more carefully," Godric said as he lowered Adele into a large chair that Hadley slid forward. "But, yes, Adele. I am two thousand years old, and my child, Eric, is one thousand years old."

"Lord almighty," Adele exclaimed. "Do you remember all of it?"

"Most all of it," Godric knelt beside her chair, visibly assessing her health. "Some things fade, or drift together, more from our human lives than from after we changed. But, if we concentrate, we can recover almost any memory."

"So you must know so much about history." Adele's face brightened, and she leaned forward. "I love history so much."

"Gran's a member of the Descendants of the Glorious Dead," Sookie offered, "which remembers the Louisiana soldiers who died in the civil war."

"I was not present for America's Civil War," Godric confessed, "but my library includes a number of records related to New Orleans during the war."

"Your library?" Adele looked to Hadley. "Hadley, can you hand me some tea?"

"Yes," Godric stood and walked toward Sookie, whose hand he took again, leading her toward a seat. "If I may, Adele, my child and I have important matters to discuss with you and your grandchildren."

All three of the Stackhouse women looked concerned, but refrained from saying anything.

Carly pushed herself back in her seat, slightly annoyed that Godric failed to include her in the discussion. He caught the gesture and corrected himself.

"My apologies, Carly also has information to contribute, and you may feel more comfortable if she begins our narrative." Godric ceded the floor to Carly in a grand gesture.

"Um, okay," Carly had not wanted to give all the information, but she felt as if she might as well begin with the LeBlancs. "Adele, a number of people from one family in New Orleans have been kidnapped, and we have reason to believe that your grandchildren might also be targeted."

"What?" Adele, visibly confused, responded with anger, "But we don't have any money? Why would anyone want to kidnap my grandchildren?"

"They weren't kidnapped for money, Adele." Carly continued her explanation. "You know that your grand-daughter Sookie is unusual, right?"

"Yes," Adele answered warily. "She's always been a special girl."

Carly tuned in to Adele's thoughts to see if the woman understood where their conversation would lead. She hears thoughts. But the others don't. I don't know why it's just her, when her grand-daddy said the twins would hear thoughts.

Twins, Carly wondered. "Well, she's special because of her heritage, just like your other grandchildren, and these folks in New Orleans have similar family history."

"They're Stackhouses too?" Sookie asked.

"Your children, Adele," Carly asked gently, "how far apart in age were they?"

Adele shook her head. "They weren't. They were twins—a boy and a girl." Had their daddy's beautiful eyes, but didn't hear thoughts.

"Could I see a picture of them?" Carly asked. "Do you have any color pictures of all of you?"

Carly had a hunch, but she walled it off from Sookie, who she could tell was pressing at her mind, trying desperately to gain access to it.

"Sure," Adele started to get up, but then seemed to think better of it. "Hadley, can you go get the picture off my bureau?"

Hadley sprinted out of the parlor and into a back bedroom. She returned in a moment with the faded 1970s photograph. Adele, much the same—still gray-haired, green-eyed, and strong-sat beside a darkly handsome Earl Stackhouse—a raven-haired man whose dark eyes were framed with gray at the temples. Their children, both blond, but with golden hazel eyes, framed them.

"They were just as beautiful as their children, Adele," Carly complimented. "But they must favor your side, since they don't resemble their father very much."

"Oh," Adele began, but paused. "I always thought they did."

"Their eyes, especially," Carly followed up, "are unique. I've only seen eyes like that once, long ago, in New Orleans." Carly remembered Murtagh's eyes and wondered if there were any relation.

"Well, perhaps," Adele stumbled as she spoke, "in the right light."

"Gran," Sookie said quietly, "is there something you haven't told us about grand-daddy?"

Adele glanced down at her hands, and then tears began to well up in her eyes. "Sookie, please," she said and then began to cry in earnest. "I never wanted you to think badly of me."

Sookie rushed to her grandmother's side and took her hand. "I could never think bad of you, Gran. You've been everything to me."

Godric pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and presented it to Adele.

"Can we call Jason, so I only have to tell the story once?" Adele pleaded.

"Sure, Gran," Sookie answered. "Let me go call him."

Godric followed Sookie into the kitchen, unwilling to abandon his new charge. Hadley picked up on Godric's protectiveness and confronted Eric, stepping directly in front of him.

"Who is he?" Hadley demanded, crossing her arms. "I've never seen him before, and I think I've met all the vampires in Louisiana at least once."

"He lived in Texas most recently," Eric answered, intentionally ignoring her real question. "He has only moved here in the last few weeks."

"You didn't answer my question, Sheriff," Hadley demanded again.

"You're a sheriff?" Adele asked. "That's quite impressive, Mr. Northman. I didn't know there were any vampire sheriffs in Louisiana."

"Gran," Hadley interrupted, "there aren't. At least, there aren't any sheriffs for humans that are vampires. He's a sheriff over vampires, and there are five in Louisiana. And they all serve a vampire queen."

"King." Eric's correction was barely audible. "There's now a king, Hadley."

"He's on his way, Gran," Sookie re-entered the room, Godric in tow.

"Sookie," Adele turned to look toward Sookie with an excited look on her face, "Hadley and Eric were telling me all about vampires," she paused, "and I guess their government."

"Really?" Sookie dropped down to her grandmother's side again. "Y'all have your own government?"

"We have concealed ourselves for thousands of years," Godric smiled, "and our organization has enabled that concealment."

"How does it work?" Adele asked. "Eric says there's a king?"

"Each territory is governed by a monarch and his or her sheriffs," Godric began. "Some territories correspond to human political boundaries, but not all. The Great Plains, for example, only requires one monarch, although the same geographical area is divided into six human states."

"So Mr. Northman is a sheriff? Are you a sheriff too, Godric?" Adele wondered aloud.

"No, Mrs. Stackhouse. I recently took control of Louisiana. I am now king." Godric smiled slightly before he nodded at the elderly woman. "And we are here to make ourselves of service to you and your family."

The sound of skidding and gravel crunching broke the awkward silence. Soon after, a young man bounded into the farmhouse.

"Hey y'all!" He said. "Whose car is that?"

"Ours," Eric rose and approached Jason. With a nod and a gesture toward Carly, he said, "I'm Eric Northman, and this is my-"

Carly jumped up and held out her hand to Jason, "I'm Carly Michael. Sookie's friend?"

"Yeah," Jason acknowledged, "she mentioned you. Said you were like her."

Carly smiled and said, "Yes, a little. And this is Godric."

Godric walked to within an arm's distance of Jason and held out his hand. "You are her brother, Jason, yes?"

Taking in everyone in the room, Jason said, "Yeah. Pleased to meet you." When he shook Godric's hand, he said, "Damn, you gotta get to a doctor man. Your hand's cold."

"I am a vampire, Jason," Godric replied. "And we are here, because we fear your family could be in danger."

"What the hell?" Jason glowered at Hadley. "Hadley, you said you didn't have anything to do with these fuckers anymore."

"Jason Stackhouse, language!" Adele yelled.

"Yes, ma'am." Jason sank into a rocking chair beside the fire. "Hadley, what's going on?"

"It's not me, Jason," Hadley pointed to Carly. "I didn't have anything to do with it. Carly brought them."

"Yeah, okay," Jason raised his voice again, "but why did y'all need me? You said you're Sookie's friend."

"I asked for you to be here, Jason," Adele straightened herself, closed her eyes, and gathered herself to disclose her secret. "I wanted you to be here, so I only had to tell this story one time, although I'm guessing Carly's already figured it out. But I want you to hear it from me."

Adele picked up the family photograph and touched Earl's cheek. "I loved your Grand-daddy Earl more than anything in the world. We got married when I was twenty years old. And we were married for another twenty before your parents were born." Adele stole a glance at her grandchildren. "We tried, but I just didn't get pregnant. It took me a long time to realize that it was probably because of the bad case of the mumps Earl had when he was a boy. They left him sterile."

"But," Sookie broke in, "you managed to have daddy and Linda. Did you get in-vitro or something?"

"No, darlin'," Adele said, beginning to cry again, "although I guess you could say I got a donor."

"What?" Jason cut in. "You needed me here to talk about getting' pregnant, gran?"

"Damn it, Jason Stackhouse, can you listen for just one minute!" Adele chastised her grandson. "I had an affair!"

"So grand-daddy Earl wasn't our grand-dad?" Jason said plaintively.

"No, Jason, he was your grand-daddy. He loved you, but he didn't sire your daddy." Adele wiped her eyes with Godric's handkerchief again. "One day I was out hanging laundry in the back, and I started crying. I'd just been over to a baby shower at the church, and I knew I'd never have one. I was almost forty, and I knew I didn't have much longer before it would never be possible."

Sookie took her grand-mother's hand, and her eyes widened. "What are you saying, Gran?"

"I looked into the woods and begged for help. I asked for an angel to come give me a child," Adele's voice broke. "And there he was, just as beautiful as an angel. You look a lot like him, Jason. Maybe that's why all the girls are always after you." She laughed quietly. "He told me he'd give me a child, but that I had to keep their secret, and help them when they began to hear other people's thoughts and began to glow."

"Glow..." Sookie whispered. "What do you mean?"

"I don't know, sweetheart," Adele squeezed her grand-daughter's hand. "But it never happened. They never heard anyone's thoughts, or glowed, or seemed any different at all. When they were born, he came to visit and seemed so sad. He said they weren't right, didn't have the spark."

She whimpered and then said, "But they were everything to me and your grand-daddy. We loved them so much."

"Has he ever returned?" Carly asked. "Has anyone ever come to see Sookie?"

"No," Adele shook her head with sorrow and said, "I never saw him again."

"Why do you want to know if anyone's ever come to see me?" Sookie sank down to the floor and crossed her arms. "There's nothing special about me. I don't glow."

"But you do hear other people's thoughts," Godric corrected, before adding, for Jason's benefit, "And that makes you extraordinary, my dear Sookie." Godric raised her up from the floor, and led her to the sofa. "Now that you have shared your information, Adele, we must share ours."

"Is it about those kidnapped people?" Sookie stared up at Godric, who still held her hand.

"Yes, Sookie," Godric sat beside her and cradled her hand in his. "The man who came to you, Adele, and gave you children, was not human, or at least, not entirely human."

"That's crazy!" Jason exclaimed, standing to emphasize his displeasure. "You can't expect us to believe something so stupid. I mean..."

"Sit!" Adele called out. "He's right. I know that, Godric. He told me he was a fairy—or at least that his father was a fairy."

"You slept with a queer, Gran?" Jason's voice broke. "My grand-daddy was a fag?"

"Jason Stackhouse, will you settle down and listen, for once in your life!" Adele stood up stiffly and approached her grandson. "Jason, Fintan was a fairy, a real fairy. He wasn't a human being. He was like..."

"Tinkerbell?" Jason said quietly.

"No," Godric answered Jason's question. "Fairies are fearsome creatures. Strong, powerful, with the ability to move through dimensions. They have interacted with human beings for centuries, but often with deadly consequences."

"So," Sookie asked tentatively, "we're part fairy?"

"Yes," Godric replied, "as are the LeBlancs. But not all part fairies have your abilities, Sookie. And they are very desirable, because they may coincide with other qualities."

"Like her blood," Hadley interposed quietly. "Her blood could let a vampire walk in the daylight, couldn't it?"

"What?" Sookie pulled away from Godric. "You want my blood?"

Godric smiled at Sookie and said, "I would be lying if I said no, but not because it might let me walk in day-light."

"Then why?" Sookie demanded.

"Because it sings to me, Sookie," Godric took her hand gently again. "Everything about you calls out to me and demands my attention and affection."

"Well, that's just fucking creepy," Jason offered.

"Jason! You can just get out of here right now." Adele grabbed a broom from beside the fireplace. "I am done with that language of yours."

"Unfortunately, Mrs. Stackhouse," Eric spoke up, "he really should not. We have reason to believe that Jason might be targeted along with his sister."

"I don't hear voices or glow in the dark or anything like that," Jason offered, "so why would anybody like to take me?"

"Because, Jason, those who have kidnapped the LeBlancs have long term goals," Eric walked slowly toward the angry young man. "They are not satisfied with the possibility of one or two fairies if it might be possible for them to have a stable full of fairies."

"I don't get it," Jason responded. "You said they already had a bunch. Why do they want me?"

After a long, appraising look, Eric said, "I have no idea why they would." Returning to face Adele, who still brandished the broom, Eric said, "They wish to breed fairies, and they require more males."

"This is my fault," Hadley began to cry. "If I hadn't told Sophie-Ann about you, none of this would be happening."

"No, child," Godric comforted her. "Sophie-Ann's interest in fairies long pre-dates her involvement with you."

Eric held his hand out to Adele. "Adele, please sit. We still need to discuss a great deal."

Adele handed Eric the broom and returned to her seat. "If they're going to try to kidnap my grand-kids, what are we going to do about it?"

"We have some reason to believe that the LeBlancs are nearby, because the proposed rendezvous point is near the Mississippi border," Godric explained. "We plan to investigate and remove the threats to your safety, at least in the short term."

"What about the long term?" Sookie asked. "What about my long-term safety?"

Godric smiled again and said, "Perhaps you recall our earlier conversation, Sookie."

Sookie cocked her head at him and said, "I don't understand, Godric. Earlier, I thought you asked me out, or expressed some kind of interest in me, but now I just don't see how that would be possible. And I'm not becoming someone's pet." Sookie quickly turned around to face her cousin, "No offense, Hadley."

"None taken, Sookie," Hadley replied. "But it wasn't a bad life, Sookie. Sophie-Ann just wasn't the best person."

"Still," Sookie affirmed, "I am an independent person, not a lap dog."

"Of course not, Sookie," Godric assured her. "I would have no desire to demean you in any way. In fact, I would like to offer you my protection, and to enter into a relationship with you," Godric turned to Adele, "with your family's permission, of course."

"Sookie makes her own decisions, Godric," Adele replied, "but I don't think any girl would want to start courting when she's afraid of getting turned into a breed sow."

"Certainly not," Godric agreed. "We can revisit the issue on another occasion, after we neutralize this immediate threat."

"Where are you staying?" Sookie asked suddenly. "I never asked you that, Carly."

Eric and Godric took the hint and allowed Carly to answer the question. "Godric has an RV, and we've parked it at the KOA out in Hastings. We towed the car."

"Do you need to stay out at the KOA?" Adele asked and then continued, "You're more than welcome to park it out here. I think we can string an extension out for electric and there's a valve on the septic, although you should just use the facilities in the house."

"A … man," Godric struggled to label Yevgeny appropriately and turned to Adele for guidance.

"We have a driver and bodyguard with us, and his English isn't terribly good." Carly smiled, "Is that what you wanted to say, Godric?"

"Yes, I wouldn't want Yevgeny to make you uncomfortable, because he's an imposing figure."

Eric added, "He would probably be more comfortable here with the woods."

"Well, that's decided," Adele slapped her knees. "Y'all need to go get the RV so we can get it set up while I can still show you where everything goes." Standing, she continued, "Make sure you pick up some of that blood, and I could use another dozen eggs, some bacon, and some nice bread if I'm going to make breakfast for everybody. There's a little store out on the highway where you can stop."

"Yes ma'am," Godric nodded. "Eric, would you mind?"

"Not at all," Eric directed his comments toward Adele, "If you think of anything further, Mrs. Stackhouse, both Carly and Godric have my phone number."

"Thank you, Eric," Adele smiled at the vampire. "Jason, you could learn some manners from these two gentlemen." After waving goodbye at Eric, Adele said, "Well, I better get dinner on the table."

Carly hadn't paid much attention to Jason since his last scolding, but she looked toward the bent figure in the corner, beside the fireplace.

"Yeah, whatever, Gran." Jason rubbed his temples. "So Mr. Godric, you're interested in dating my sister, huh?"

"Yes, Jason," Godric answered, before turning toward Sookie, "I find myself drawn to your sister, which surprises me even more than I believe it has surprised you."

"How old are you, anyway?" Jason walked over to Godric. "You don't even look old enough to shave, man."

Sookie stepped between the two men and spoke to her brother, "Jason, can you please not be an idiot for five minutes?"

"I can't ask this vampire nothing, Sook, huh?" Jason gestured in exasperation before repeating, "How old are you?"

"He's old enough to be able to say he's interested in me, Jason," Sookie put her hands on her hips. "Can't you just leave well enough alone, Jason?"

"No, now that the tall one's gone, I figure this is as good a time as any to ask Mr. Baby-Faced Vampire what he really wants with my sister," Jason tilted his chin up in a pugilist's challenge. "What are your intentions?"

Sookie turned quickly to face Godric, who was barely a head taller than she. "You don't have to answer that, Godric, please."

Godric ran his fingertips along Sookie's cheek and said, "No, Sookie, I do have to answer his question, but the answer might upset you."

"It couldn't," Sookie replied quickly. The two stared at each other for a moment, and Carly couldn't resist the temptation to tap into their thoughts.

Sookie eagerly awaited Godric's answer. I shouldn't want him to say something so much. I just met him, but he's so quiet, so calm. He's beautiful, and he says he wants me. I shiver every time I look at him.

Carly tried to access Godric's thoughts, but couldn't get a handle on them, although she felt nothing but joy and excitement pouring out of him. She knew that what she felt was only the faintest echo of what Godric truly felt.

Taking Sookie's hand in his, Godric said, "I want you, everything you are, to be mine."

Sookie shivered slightly and then said, "I...don't know what..."

"You do not need to say anything, Sookie." Godric kissed Sookie's hand. "Just get to know me and allow me to protect you from danger." Redirecting his gaze to Jason, Godric said, "I hope that declaration will suffice, Mr. Stackhouse."

"So you want to marry my sister?" Jason's disbelief was still audible in his voice.

"No," Hadley chimed in, and Carly saw that tears were streaming down her face, "he wants to bond with her." Hadley ran around the sofa to embrace Sookie and then turned to Godric, "You better be good to her."

Just as suddenly, Hadley ran into the kitchen, calling behind her, "Come on, Jason, leave them alone."

Carly agreed, "That sounds like good advice. I think I'm going for a walk."

"Please be careful until Eric returns, Carly," Godric cautioned. "I will be able to feel any distress, but please do not rely on that connection for your safety."

"I won't, Godric," Carly nodded and said, "You'll have your attention elsewhere, I'm sure."

Leaving the lovers behind, Carly walked outside and scanned the Stackhouse property. Most of the area was obscured by darkness, but the moon illuminated clearings among the tightly packed live oaks and between the bald cypresses. One shimmered with dense ripples of death energy, stronger than others she'd seen elsewhere. Carly's heart began to beat quickly, and she felt an impossible to deny hunger pull her toward the clearing. As she approached, the scent of honeysuckle and roses flooded her, and her mouth began to water. She crossed the distance to the energy so quickly that she doubted she'd walked—Did I teleport?

Carly reached out her hand gingerly and felt a rush of energy so dense it felt like liquid fire. As the energy filled her, violent images flooded her brain, and she saw lithe figures tearing at each other, much as she had in Godric's library. She drew the talisman from her pocket and watched as it started to glow. Her body pulsed as the energy entered her body, transformed, and moved into the talisman. A conduit between worlds, between death and life, Carly waited for the process to end, but the liquid fire continued to pour through her and then out into the talisman, until it finally became too hot for her to hold. Stumbling backward, Carly fell to the ground, panting. The talisman, feet away from her on the ground, finally quieted and returned to its original color. Carly rose to retrieve it and realized that she was glowing brightly. As she moved toward the talisman, she found herself back within the energy field, and unable to reach the charm.

After she stepped back outside the field, Carly closed her eyes and imagined the talisman within her hand. If I can move people, why not things too? she thought. As soon as she completed the thought, the talisman's weight made her hand drop, and she felt the energy siphoning off again.

"Carly?" Sookie called out to her. "What are you doing out here?"

"Long story, Sookie," Carly answered and then checked her hands again to make sure that she wasn't alight.

"Can we join you?" Godric asked.

"Um," Carly hesitated before answering, "I don't know Godric. I just had an episode like the one in your library."

"Then we will wait for you in the house," Godric replied. "Sookie, after you."

Sookie ignored Godric's caution and said, "What are you two talking about? Are you okay, Carly?"

Bounding toward Carly, Sookie giggled as she pushed aside branches and leaves. "I didn't peg you as a girl who'd like the woods."

"You'd be surprised, Sookie," Carly responded, "but I think Godric's right. We should go back inside."

"Don't be silly. I grew up in these woods," Sookie countered. Just as she finished speaking, Sookie stumbled over a root.

Carly caught her before she hit the ground, but when they touched, they both began to glow. "Sookie," Carly said, "don't freak out."

"What the hell?" Sookie pulled her hand away from Carly, and the glow slowly faded. "What is that?"

"Fairy life energy, I think," Carly shrugged, "but it might be something else."

"Jesus Christ, Shepherd of Judea," Sookie cried out as Godric shot next to her, and she fainted dead away.