My own "Gran" passed away in June, so I'd like to dedicate this chapter to her. She was a huge True Blood fan :)
In case you've forgotten, here's what's been happening: Eric and Sookie discussed Bill's motives, Sookie cried in front of Eric, followed by a fae dream that may or may not have been real...
As an apology for my absence, this is the longest chapter I've ever written. Also, here are some lemons ;)
PART FOURTEEN: Losing Heart
SPOV
The clock read 2:30 and my foot was kicking against the chair nervously. I had already showered, shaved, and primped as much as I could to avoid thinking about what was happening. The floor-length gown from last night was pretty much ruined. The combination of making out with Eric on the couch and sleeping all night in it had left more wrinkles than even my Gran's iron could get out. I didn't mind too much- those few minutes I spent being practically mauled by Eric were some of the hottest I could remember. I was glad one of us had come to our senses and stopped, otherwise we would have given the other vamps quite the show!
The only other outfits I had packed were the leather pants and halter combo, and a short black dress. As I wasn't planning on seeing any vampires that day, I didn't see the point in slutting it up that much with the leather, so I slipped on the dress. It had thin straps and a modest neckline, and fell in a flutter just above my knee. Despite the dark color, it felt light and fresh on my skin, almost like a sundress. I would have preferred sandals, but beggars can't be choosers, and I stepped into my heels from last night.
My grumbling stomach reminded me to eat, and I found a mini fridge in the sitting room. There wasn't much inside- a few bottles of soda and condiments. There was a wooden cupboard next to it, hiding a pantry full of canned soup and mixed nuts, along with a working microwave. By this time I would have eaten my own purse, so I heated up a bowl of chicken noodle soup. I nearly burned my tongue eating it, and then heated another. Satiated but not satisfied, I cleaned up my small mess and brushed my teeth again.
Now, perched on the edge of the recliner, all I could do was worry about getting out of the palace. Each minute that ticked by was one less that I had to hide under this glamour. I didn't know what would happen if I turned back into my true form before my escape, and I really didn't want to think about it. Part of me thought Eric would fight tooth and nail for me, but I also knew even he had his limits. If the queen caught me, would there really be anything he could do to help?
I was interrupted from my worries by a brief knock on the door. Before I could ask who it was, the door swung open and a man walked in. He was taller than me, but not by much, with thinning brown hair and eyes that sat too close together. His rumpled clothes looked as if he had slept in his car, and his face could have used a shave. I assumed he was Eric's dayman, and checked his thoughts just to make sure.
That must be her. Was this really necessary for me to drive all this fucking way? Doesn't even look like a good screw. Maybe that's why he wants her out of here so fast, not even waiting til he wakes up. "Sara?" He asked roughly.
I nodded, trying not to react to his rude thoughts. "Are you Mr. Burnham?" Without answering, he picked up my duffel bag. "Come on."
I supposed that was the most I was going to get out of him. His thoughts wandered to how tired he was and I silently agreed that we could both use a cup of coffee. Following him out the door, I cast one last glance at the bedroom, where I knew Eric was sleeping. I said a quick prayer that he would be alright, even though a vampire as old as him probably didn't need it. Bobby seemed to know where he was going, so I stayed one step behind him and allowed him to lead us. Reminding myself that all the vampires were dead to the world, I tried to slow my breathing down to normal. If I could just get out of the queen's palace, I was sure everything would turn out alright.
A few of the doorways we passed had a guard or two posted, but they merely met Bobby's eyes and gave a small nod. They seemed to know who he was, and didn't even spare me a glance. In a way, it was comforting to know how unimportant I was to them. If they thought I was somebody special, I doubt the queen would have let me leave her home. For once, it was good not to be wanted.
After a few stairways, I recognized the foyer where Charles had met us the night before. My heart leaped at the thought of finally leaving this giant nest of vampires and danger, and I could almost feel the warm afternoon sun.
"Sara?" A voice called from my left. Shoot, I thought. Of course Hadley would be awake during the day!
Slowly turning around, I plastered my usual fake smile into place. "How nice to see you, Hadley," I said politely. Bobby seemed unsure who this human was, and he was being cautious. I could tell he wanted to get the hell out of there as badly as I did, but neither of us wanted to arouse suspicion
. "Where are you going? Sophie said Eric was stayin' for the night." Hadley had a confused look on her face. Well, she usually is, a voice inside of me thought. Deciding I'd scold myself later for those unchristian thoughts, I addressed my cousin.
"He is, I guess. I don't really know his plans. I just go where he tells me."
"Oh," she said, sounding a bit disappointed. "I had hoped you'd stick around for a while. It's kinda nice having another pet around!"
I shuddered, trying to hide my disgust at her phrase. How could she honestly think of herself in that way? I realized that I pitied my cousin. Something in her life had obviously caused her self esteem to plummet so low. What could have happened to her to give her so little self worth? I knew she had been into drugs, but...
Hadley had always housed a deep loneliness that flowed out of her that you couldn't help but notice. In the palace, on the arm of a Queen, she was able to hide it away and pretend it wasn't there, but I saw it now in her eyes. All the attention, sex and money that Sophie-Ann lavished upon her couldn't make up for what was missing. She was desperate for any sort of affection, even from a complete stranger she had met the night before.
I remembered that she had always been that way. Her loneliness and self-hatred had been there her entire life, lurking under the surface. Like me, all Hadley had ever wanted was someone to love her. She had tried to fill that hole with drugs and sex, while I hid in Gran's house and pretended to not need it. Hadley and I had more in common than I had thought, and I wanted so badly in that moment to forgive her.
Something in my face must have betrayed my feelings, as Hadley attempted to cheer me up. "Don't look so sad!" She laughed, with a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Maybe when we set up this fairy trap, Eric will bring you with him again."
Ah, there it was. Why I still couldn't forgive and forget my cousin's actions. She really didn't see anything wrong with hurting other people for her own needs. She didn't care if people were ripped away from their homes or even killed, if it let her see a potential friend again. She was still that same drug addict, willing to do anything to make the loneliness go away, no matter the consequences. So what if fairies and humans alike were killed, if she got a little affection and love out of the bargain? It was like the time she stole Gran's money to go get high- the money Gran had set aside for knee surgery. It wasn't as if Hadley had been blind. She knew the consequences of her actions, but as long as she wasn't the one paying the price, she did it anyway.
I made my mouth into something like a smile, and nodded briefly. I couldn't form the words to say goodbye, and I saw my cousin's expression falter for a second. Bobby's hand was insistent on my shoulder, and I allowed him to guide me to the front door. I kept my eyes resolutely in front of me, not risking a look back.
It wasn't until I found myself in the front seat of Bobby's Pontiac Firebird (less cool by far than Eric's Corvette) that I let out the breath I had been holding. I was out of the palace, and into the safety of the afternoon sun. Looking out the window at the city passing by, I felt a weight lift off my shoulders. Bobby drove well past the speed limit, but I barely noticed. I couldn't stop grinning, and felt as if I had gotten away with stealing out of the cookie jar. I had been right under the queen's nose, and here I was, alive and well! The car pulled up in front of Franklin Mott's house. I unbuckled my seatbelt and reached for the door, but Bobby held out a hand.
"Stay here," he ordered. Reluctantly, I obeyed and listened into his thoughts. It seemed as if Eric had told him to check the house for danger, and Bobby didn't want any reason for his employer to be angry. Huffing at Eric's high-handedness, I crossed my arms and waited for Bobby to circle the house, and rolled my eyes when he entered the house and disappeared from sight.
After a minute of waiting, Bobby reappeared and opened the car for me. That was as far as his manners extended, and I struggled out of the car seat in my dress and duffel bag without so much as an offered hand. Once I was steadily on my feet, I turned around to thank him. Although I wanted to be alone, I thought it polite to at least offer him coffee or something, since he drove all the way out here to transport me.
Before the words left my mouth, Bobby was already on the driver's side, getting into his Pontiac. With one last glare in my direction, the dayman was spinning out of the driveway and out of view.
What a pleasant man, I thought sardonically. Straightening my shoulders, I decided to walk into Franklin's home without fear. Bobby had checked it out, and I had no reason to doubt Eric's ability to protect me. The home was just as I remembered it- both strange and creepy, and I decided to wait in what I hoped was the room he spent the least amount of time- the kitchen. Franklin had mentioned human pets of his own, and I hoped that it meant he had a working coffee pot.
A few minutes later, I found an old Mr. Coffee hidden under the sink. It was a bit dusty, and I had no idea when the coffee had been purchased, but it was better than nothing. Just to be safe, I ran a pot of hot water to get it all cleaned out before adding the actual grounds. Franklin's fridge was bare, so I settled for black with no sugar.
Two cups of coffee later, I was feeling a lot more excited and restless. The clock read almost four, and I wondered how I was going to make it the two and a half hours until sundown. I couldn't wait for night to come, for my true body to return, and for Eric to take me home to Bon Temps.
There were tons of problems waiting for me there- I had been gone a year, was unemployed, and not speaking to my brother. I didn't particularly want to make up with him. Besides that, I had fairies after me, and a vampire queen trying to use my family as bait. As of now, only Eric, Bill, Tara, Sam, Jason, and Jessica knew of my return. Today was the fourth day of my return- eventually the news would spread and reach the ear of some loyal subject, and I didn't know how I could protect myself then. The fairies might learn of my whereabouts as well, and that would add even more danger.
Sighing, I flopped down on Franklin' couch. There were so many worries going through my brain, it felt as if I was in a crowded room. Oddly, I wished Eric was there so I could lose myself in his silent mind, and feel safe in his presence. He angered me like no other, yet I never felt scared when I was with him. I couldn't imagine much that he couldn't protect me from. I hated feeling that way. I wanted so badly to be able to rely on myself and retain my proud independence, but I had to face the facts; I was in a scary world, where I was considered prey. Earth had changed dramatically since the vampires came out, and maybe it wasn't enough anymore to be a strong, intelligent woman. I had been on my own for so long, trying to take care of myself, Jason, and Gran. Was it so wrong to want someone to take care of me for a while?
I groaned at my sappy train of thought. I could accept Eric's help, but I wasn't going to depend too heavily on him either. Mind made up, I tried to figure out what to do with myself until Eric woke for the night. Apparently, that was easier said than done, as my mind wandered back to the blonde vampire over and over again.
Lost in thought, I felt my eyes droop, and allowed myself to fall into a light sleep. It was the kind of nap where you're still aware of the couch under you and the clock ticking away, yet you're still in that fuzzy space of restfulness. After the craziness of yesterday, it felt divine.
After a while I realized how cold it was in the house. Glancing around for a clock, I wrapped myself in the decorative blanket on the armchair. The time read 6:15, and I was shocked at how long I had slept. It really had only felt like a few minutes since my eyes closed. The windows let in the barest of sunlight, and I realized there was only a quarter of an hour until sundown. I didn't know how long it would take before Eric would be back from the palace, but he had made it seem like he would come as soon as he could. He had the Corvette, so I guessed that he wouldn't fly. Shaking my head, I realized how silly it was to worry about Eric's movements. In a way, I was glad he wouldn't be here right after the sun went down, as I was hoping to be back in my own body the next time I saw him.
The witch had said the glamour would end after the second moon- Eric had assumed that meant 6:30 tonight, and I agreed. Remembering the painful transformation, I decided it would be a good idea to put something in my stomach besides coffee. I padded back into the kitchen, where a thorough search revealed nothing but some shortbread cookies and a dusty can of peanut butter. The expiration date on the cookies wasn't too bad, and the package was unopened. I opened them and bit into a cookie, and before I knew it I had eaten the entire container. Promising myself a more balanced diet once I returned to Bon Temps, I cleaned up the mess and drank a cup of water.
I felt as prepared as I could be, yet I couldn't help wishing the witch from the store, Amelia, was there this time. I wasn't really used to magic, and I felt a nervous tightening in my stomach.
Reminding myself of all the much tougher things I had been through, I laid down on the couch and tried to relax. Fears and worries rushed through my head- what if I was stuck in this body? What if it stopped half way through? What if something goes wrong? Suddenly, it seemed incredibly stupid to do this without a witch. I mean, Octavia hadn't even told me what to expect! What if I was supposed to be doing something, like burning incense? I wasn't a witch, for goodness sake!
Calm down, I told myself sternly. Closing my eyes, I took deep breaths starting in my belly and out slowly through my nose. Slowly and carefully, I fought off the anxiety attack that was threatening to overwhelm me. I stubbornly refused to look at the clock, and reached up to close the blinds. This will work, I repeated. This will work.
After a few minutes, I felt nothing happen. Still, I continued my deep breathing and repeated my mantra. I continued this until I lost track of time, and gradually I felt warm all over. It was like sitting next to a bonfire on a cool night, pleasant and cozy. I sighed and felt all my muscles relax. Oddly enough, I felt good, better than I had in a long time. My whole body tingled pleasantly, almost like the beginning of an orgasm. Everything felt right, and peaceful.
No longer worried, I opened my eyes and sat up. Looking down, I realized my skin was back to it's normal healthy tan, and the black dress I was wearing was now a bit too tight around the bust. Biting back a yelp of joy, I ran to the bathroom.
Staring back at me was my old familiar self, and never had I been happier to see me. My blonde hair fell in soft waves around my shoulders, and my eyes were back to their regular color. I grinned broadly, and let out a laugh. I ran my hands over my body, and jumped in little hops. It worked! I was utterly amazed at how easy the transition had been, especially considering how much it had burned the last time. Thinking about it, I supposed that it made sense. This was my body's natural state, and somehow it knew that. The change into Sara was wrong, unnatural, and my body had fought it. Of course returning to my true body was easy- it was as it should be.
Practically floating back to the living room, I checked the time again. 6:45- was that enough time for Eric to get here by now? I reasoned it had taken Bobby about fifteen minutes to drive me here. If Eric had left as soon as he rose for the night, he would be here any minute. I felt a flutter of excitement in my stomach at the idea, and knew a ridiculous grin was crossing my face. At the moment I didn't care- I was back in my own body, safe and free, and all I wanted was to make out with Eric again.
Before my mind could come up with any more thoughts about the blonde vampire, my stomach let out a distracting growl. I guessed the magic had made me hungry again, and I returned to the kitchen. Eyeing the old peanut butter, I wondered, was there really no other option? I ransacked Franklin's kitchen, looking for anything more edible. Just like earlier, the fridge was completely empty. The freezer revealed ice cubes, half a bottle of vodka, and some more coffee grounds. The cupboards were bare, save a few cups, plates, and bowls. Every other shelf had a layer of dust, and all the drawers were empty. I found a few utensils in the dishwasher, and some cleaning supplies under the sink.
Perching up on the counter, I considered my options. Leaving the house after sundown was out of the question, and I didn't have a phone to order delivery. Really, I didn't think it would take Eric that long to get here, so maybe I could wait it out and ask him to stop somewhere for food. He was probably hungry as well- I hadn't seen him eat anything the night before. Deciding coffee was better than nothing, I made myself another pot and settled back into the living room to wait.
Glaring at the clock, I watched the stupid minute hand tick forward: 8:31. I had been waiting two hours and Eric still wasn't here. Where the heck was he?
During the first hour, I told myself he was still waking up. Maybe he had to have a snack first, or say goodbye to the queen. By 7:45, however, I was running out of excuses. Why wasn't Eric there?
My stomach growled angrily, and I frowned. Unable to sit on the couch any longer, I got up and stormed to the kitchen. So what if it was old and dusty- I was going to eat some peanut butter! Grabbing a spoon and the jar, I tentatively took one bite. The first taste on my tongue was amazing. I had forgotten how good peanut butter could taste! Apparently a bit of dust on the lid didn't mean the contents had gone bad. Sitting on the counter with my knees bent up, I attacked the jar.
With every spoonful I became more and more angry. My mind ran wild with all the places Eric could be. What if he was feeding on some fangbanger at Sophie-Ann's, while I was here starving in Franklin Mott's creepy-ass house? The blood in my veins burned at the thought of him touching one of those women I had seen the night before. How dare he let me languish here, knowing how important it was to me to get home, just so he can have some fun at the palace?
Suddenly, I had an even worse thought- what if it was all a horrible trick? What if Eric was sitting with Bill and the queen, laughing at how pathetic I was to trust yet another vampire? My lungs constricted as I felt the familiar sting of betrayal. After all, I thought Bill had loved me, when all along he was selling me out to the queen.
Thinking it through, I told myself that it wasn't possible. Why would the queen let me out of her sight if she knew all along I was a fairie? No, Eric had risked too much for me to sell me out now. Remembering all he had done for my sake, I felt a sick feeling of shame. No matter what Bill had done to me, Eric didn't deserve my suspicion. As hard as it was to trust him, he had given me no reason to doubt.
Then why was he so late? Looking at the empty jar in my hands, I realized a long time had passed while I was lost in my angry and jealous thoughts. Trying not to run back to the living room, I examined the clock. It was now three hours after sunset, and still no Eric. Surely if he expected it to take this long to leave the palace, he would have said something last night! The sheriff was not the type to leave things to chance. He seemed to have a plan for every contingency, and this just felt wrong.
I felt panic begin to claw its way up my throat. Had Eric been found out? If the queen knew he had lied to her, and hidden from her the thing she desired most, I couldn't even imagine what would be done to him. I felt tears prickle behind my eyes as I thought of what he might endure because of me.
I needed to calm down. Panicking wouldn't help Eric, and neither would it make me feel better. I tried to do my deep breathing exercise again, but I couldn't banish the rolling fear in my gut. I had to do something- but what? I had a little money, maybe I could take a cab to the Palace and...
And what? Letting out a sigh of frustration, I paced across the living room. My mind came up with plan after plan, each more ridiculous than the last.
Finally, I made up my mind. I didn't care that it might be the death of me- I was going to the Palace. I wasn't totally sure how I would get there, or how I would get inside without being recognized, but hopefully I'd figure it out on the way. Grabbing my purse, I reached for the doorknob.
Before I could touch it, the door flew open and I was faced with the sight of Eric, towering over me. His coat was ripped in places and his blue shirt was drenched in what looked like blood. He paused mid-step, his eyes blazing with emotions that I couldn't decipher.
For half a second I was afraid, and then before I knew it I was throwing myself in his arms, sobbing.
EPOV
Looking down at the pixie in my arms, I found myself at a sudden loss of what to do. All I had thought about since I rose that night was finding my way to her. Now that I found her, there wasn't a being in existence that could tear her from my arms.
I had expected her to be angry, and yet the way she was clutching at me, murmuring how much she missed me, begging me not to leave her again, I was reminded once again to never underestimate this woman. It was such a relief to look down and see her honey-blonde hair and those lovely breasts. Her scent hadn't changed with the witch's glamour, but I had missed her true self all the same. This was my Sookie, spitfire and fairy dust and warm life all rolled into that alluring body.
I had held her on several occasions before, even kissed her delectable mouth, but this was the first time where I couldn't detect even a single ounce of reluctance on her part. There was no anger, no meaningless arguments- just her willing body. In fact, from the way she was clutching me, I doubted I would be able to convince her to let me go.
Her face was pressed against my chest, and I hooked a finger under her chin. When she looked up at me, her lips parted and eyes glowing with tears, I noticed the blood from my shirt had smeared over her tanned cheeks. The wounds that had leaked it were long since closed, but it didn't change the fact that it was one of the most erotic things I had ever seen. Unbidden, my fangs dropped down and I felt a growl ripple through my body.
My hands gripped the sides of her face as my lips met hers. There was no time for softness or tender declarations. My tongue demanded entrance, and she wisely let me in. Her mouth tasted sweet and salty at the same time, and it was just as soft as I remembered. Gods, I could never get enough of kissing Sookie. Each time was better than the last, and yet I desired so much more.
Feeling her hands tearing the buttons of my shirt, I moaned my approval. It appeared she was just as needy as I, as my hands found their way to her curvaceous ass. I pulled her even closer and ground my hips against her, thrusting my tongue into her mouth mercilessly.
Sookie whimpered against my fangs, and my nostrils picked up the smell of her arousal. It was enough to drive me out of my mind. Drawing back and allowing her to breathe, I nipped at her full bottom lip, drawing a bead of her delicious blood. The drop melted on my tongue and I felt myself grow impossibly harder. Her fingers were teasing my nipples, featherlight touches that were sending me over the edge. She was so fucking warm, warmer than any human I had been with. I briefly wondered if she was burning me up, before realizing that I didn't care. It was a much better way to die than sunlight.
Grabbing her ass with both hands, I lifted Sookie up and turned us, so that her back was now against the wall. She looked up at me, her eyes blazing with desire. Wrapping her tanned legs around my waist, the flowy black fabric of her dress fell around her hips. Her hands grasped the back of my neck and pulled me closer, so she could lave my throat with her tongue. I groaned as I felt her bite down, hard enough to leave a mark but not yet drawing blood.
She divested me of my coat and shirt, and I allowed them to fall to the ground. Her hands roamed my chest as I nuzzled her ear, nipping and licking, trying to memorize her taste. With Sookie's legs wrapped around me so firmly, I was able to use my hands without worrying about dropping her. This was the first time I was touching her true breasts, and I caressed them worshipfully. They were pert and warm, and I couldn't wait. Pulling her strap to the side, I released her left breast to the air. Her nipple was a perfect pink bud, standing out and begging to be tasted. Lowering my head and pulling her even closer, I closed my mouth around it and groaned. Sookie's hands were in my hair, whimpering softly as she held me to her breast. Neither of us wanted to end the contact, and I bit down gently. My ministrations elicited a moan, which called my attention back to her mouth.
Once again united in a kiss, our tongues battled and danced. Finally, Sookie pulled away, gasping, and my eyes strayed to her pulsing throat. Every instinct in my body said to bite her now, but I remembered my promise to her. I was not a newly made vampire, yet it took every ounce of my control to not mark her in that way.
Instead, I buried my face in her neck, and thrust against her as roughly as I dared. Her skirt rode up, so that the only thing separating my erection from her core were my trousers and her thin panties. Sookie's heat was more than enough to burn through the fabric, and I groaned as my cock reached for her fire.
I couldn't remember ever being this hard, and I drew back to look at the face of the woman who was doing this to me. Her eyes were heavy with lust, lips parted and panting. With every thrust, she let out a low moan, her back pounding against the wall. I needed to see her face flush with release, and tilted my hips so that I was rubbing against her clit. Her eyes widened at the contact, and she clutched at my neck desperately.
"Please, Eric," she whimpered. Her own hips were thrusting against mine urgently, and I could feel the tension building in both of us. Returning my attentions to her delicate nipples, I licked and sucked until I felt her shudder around me. With a furious thrust, I ground myself against her, growling as her orgasm erupted. Her heat surrounded me and my cock gladly met its own release.
My knees weak, I moved us both to the couch. Settled on my lap, Sookie's breaths were coming in fast pants, and I watched, fascinated, as she came down from her high. Now that my lust was somewhat sated, I was amused to see that I had come in my pants from no more than a frenzied hump-session against a wall. Did Sookie even realize the power she had over me? I couldn't remember the last time I had felt such a desire.
Despite my powerful orgasm, I was not nearly satisfied. I knew I wouldn't be until I was sheathed inside the little fairie, with my fangs in her neck. Rubbing her back slowly, I began to kiss my way down the valley of her breasts. I doubted that in a thousand years of living, I had ever seen their match.
"Eric," Sookie said shakily, "Wait."
Fuck. I had been afraid of this- had she finally come to her senses? The anger I had expected upon my arrival was sure to come out now that our heads were calmer.
Pulling back, I looked into her eyes. I was surprised to see, rather than anger, the desire in her face nearly matched my own. Raising an eyebrow, I waited for her to explain why she had stopped me.
"I can't do this here. Not in his house."
I froze. What had I been thinking? It wasn't just her ability to make me come like a teenager again. Sookie's charms had caused me to throw away all the caution and self preservation that I had amassed over the years. I honestly wouldn't have minded fucking her right here in Mott's house, distasteful as his presence was. Hell, I'd do her in his bed if she'd let me!
No, the real problem was that we were still in New Orleans. The queen may have managed to follow me, and I knew we'd both be safer back in Shreveport. Besides, I couldn't be certain that Mott would obey my orders and stay away.
Worried by my silence, Sookie continued. "It's not that I don't want to. I mean, that was pretty great." I gave her a glare. Great? Try fucking amazing. "But if we don't leave now, the sun will be up before we get there. Besides, this house is creepy."
I chuckled as she shuddered dramatically. "You are right, lover. The sunrise is in a few hours, and we have miles to go. Come." Standing, I dropped her lightly on her feet and indulged in one last kiss. I pulled away, satisfied to see the disappointment in her eyes. "Get your things."
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I know it's hard to follow a story when the author takes so long between updates. Unfortunately, that's just the way I am- s..l...o...w. I appreciate every single one of you for putting up with me! M'wuah! =0_0=