"AWW!" Eric yelled, falling to the ground as the bolt missed the wolf and hit him.
The wolf landed on the other side of Eric, turning back at the smell of blood. The bolt had hit and burned through the skin. Blood blossomed on his shirt as he screamed in pain.
"Eric!" Sookie and I screamed.
The wolf shifted back to his human form before rushing at Eric. I went to step forwards, hands still crackling with current. Eric held the were by his throat.
"Stay back!" His eyes pointedly looked at me before shifting to Sookie who was about to shoot. "Don't shoot. He knows."
"He knows what?" Sookie demands, shifting nervously.
"What the heck is going on?!" I demand as I stay where I was. My current pulling back as I look between Sookie and the two men on the floor. "Why is there a were here? And what the stars could he know?!"
Sookie glances at me, a bit sheepish, but surprised I didn't know.
"Who do you work for?" Eric pushes from the wolf.
"Give me a taste, fucker," the were struggles. "Come on!"
"WHO SENT YOU?!" Eric practically bellows.
Of course Eric had such a hold on the wolf that he couldn't speak. "I can't talk," he gasps out.
I jump forwards just as I catch on. I wasn't quick enough as the were was able to get loose and start going at the wound. I dove with my natural speed, current lashing across my form as my arms circled the were's waist.
He growled out, jerking limply on top of Eric as I held on tight and kept my power pushing hard through us. I wasn't prepared for the added power the were had from Eric's blood. I was thrown back, hitting the chair. Eric threw the were at the wall behind him with a simple swing. When the were went to run, Sookie finally took the shot. The were growled in pain as he was shot in the leg and Eric tackling him.
"For the last time: Who is your master?" Eric growled through his fangs, holding the were by his hair.
Sookie looked on, probably reading his mind. I slowly got to my feet, staying by Sookie as I gasped for air a little. I had used a little more than I usually would have and it was a bit of a strain.
"If I tell you, I'm as dead as you are. You might as well kill me now."
Eric's hand pulled the long hair over his neck back a bit, shaking in raw anger. I had never seen such anger from a vampire. I tore my eyes away, fearing what would happen to the were.
"As you wish."
Sookie jumped a little next to me as Eric gave a short growl before the were screamed out. My hands shook as they covered my ears, as if that could stop me from hearing it and smelling it. The screams stopped just as fast as they began. It wasn't what made me look at Eric with raw disgust and fear.
"Oh Nalu," I whisper, hands over my mouth, shaking.
This was the prime example of what my mother had told me of vampires. This was what Mvli had told me would be my future if I let vampires around me. Too much. Too much! The animal noises stopped from Eric as he breathed heavily over the body. I took a step back as he slowly looked up.
"I got your rug all wet. Heh." He was joking about it.
Oh. My. Stars. I was shaking hard as Sookie shook a little from the adrenaline. I felt their eyes flick to me as my control was lost, breathing too hard, eyes too wide.
"Nalu le utviq," I gasp out, hands in tight fist. My back hit something. I don't look back to see as my eyes stayed on the bleeding mass and the vampire over it. It was no longer Eric in my mind, just a vampire. Fear was spiking my mind as my skin glowed brighter.
The window was open and I was flying out of it as fast as I could. It was a short lived dash. My face smashed against the ground as a larger, heavier thing struck me.
"NO!" I scream as I fight back, eyes shut as the person kept a hand to my head.
I didn't have time as my shirt was ripped and my hands and feet tied with the remains of it. A hard swat was given to the back of my head as they finished hogtying me.
I was able to stop screaming long enough to gasp for air, eyes frantically looking behind me. Eric looked aggravated as he stood up, frowning at me as if I had ruined his floor. It served only to piss me off, shoving my panic back as I spit at him.
"Untie me!" I yell as he grabs the expanse of cloth between my hands and feet to lift me like a simple bag of luggage. He wasn't gentle as I bounced with his steps, fabric rubbing my skin raw.
Sookie stood on her porch, frowning as Eric came into the area lit by the porch light. I glared at the ground, pissed at him and almost ready to shock the stars out of him.
"Eric, what the hell are you doing?" Sookie demands, hands on her hips.
"You're hurting me!" I snarl, attempting to shoot a shock at him. I was unable to aim it with hands bound as they were. "Let me go!"
Eric just sent a look down at me, as if daring me to piss him off.
"You can't keep me like this!"
"She would have taken off," he says as he drops me on the dirt between Sookie and him. I gave a loud groan, rolling to my side as my nose was the first to hit. The warm feel of wet was quick.
"Eric!" Sookie snaps as she drops down, pulling a handkerchief from her back pocket. "You're a jerk."
Her hands were careful to not actually touch me. It was a surprise that she actually cleared the small amount of blood from my face. I look pleadingly at her.
"Please, Sookie."
"We should get rid of the body," Eric says, stopping Sookie's words before she could say them.
And there I lay, watching as Eric gathered the body. I cannot say how disgusted I was with him carrying the body on one arm with me being toted like a freaking bag in the other hand. Sookie just went along with it, as Eric led the way toward the graveyard.
I just sat in a silent huff, my bindings shifted so I could sit in a huddle. Eric had found a fresh grave, quickly digging it up and dropping the dead were in. Sookie just stood by watching.
"Seriously, Eric," I grumble, "Untie me."
"Fresh graves are Ideal for disposing of an unwanted body," Eric says over me. Yup, way to be mature and pretend I'm not tied up like an animal a foot from you. He just kept up putting the dirt back on the grave. "The ground's already disturbed, so no one would think to dig again."
"So much for keeping him alive so we could question him," I snap.
"Yeah," Sookie says with more calm.
"Well, that's what I was planning," Eric says as he glances at both of us.
"But then you saw his brand," Sookie huff.
Eric wouldn't look at her, pausing his work for a moment before continuing.
"Brings back many memories. Unpleasant ones."
Sookie had to hold back an eye roll.
"If you'd given me a chance to listen to his thoughts—"
"You have no concept of how dangerous werewolves are," Eric cuts with authority to his voice, stopping his work to focus his gaze on her. "They're virtually silent. They have no fear of death. And when they've had a bit of our blood, their strength can be a challenge."
He looks down, getting another load of dirt and tossing it on the mound. "Even for me."
Sookie gulped, shifting a bit. It didn't stop her though.
"Like I said, thanks for saving my life."
Eric looked at her a moment before crossing over to me and placing the shovel against the fence I was leaning on.
"How's your wound?"
I glower, "I think I should have made it stronger."
Eric stands over me, looking at me with a lifted brow. I wouldn't look at him, head lifted in a huff and eyes pointedly looking toward the distance away from him.
"It would have healed faster if—"
"Oh, please," Sookie cuts huffily. "I would never let you do that to either of us."
"Maybe next time either of you decides to wound me," he says standing over Sookie with a dry smirk.
Sookie stood her ground, not backing down. He leans around her and grabs the wreath that was on the ground. With a small flourish he shoved it back into the ground to stand upright.
"I'll walk you back." He motions with his hand before lifting me up by my middle and holding me against his side.
Sookie starts heading toward the house again. Eric followed after her, eyes on her rear for a long moment. I snacked my head against his side and sent a dirty look at him when he glanced down. Smirking, he caught up to her and stayed in pace.
"So. Do you know anyone named Jackson? It's the only thing I could make out," Sookie starts, looking up at Eric as they walked. "Maybe that's the person he's working for."
"Jackson is where he lived." Eric didn't glance at her at first. "He had a Mississippi accent." Sookie looked up at him a bit surprised. Eric was cocky as he turned back to watching where they were going. "Can't you people tell the difference?"
"Jerk." I sent a mean look at him.
"Oh, my God, he's from Jackson?" Sookie starts, getting a bit excited. "Do you think that's where Bill is?" Gosh she is persistent. "Eric, we have to go, like yesterday."
Eric didn't look at her or pause. "I can't," he says a bit weakly. "Not yet. The problems of the world consist of more than finding your missing boyfriend. You shouldn't go by yourself, either. These werewolves are looking for you." We were just reaching the porch. "You're no good to Bill or to me if you're dead."
"How can you expect me to sit around when we have a lead?"
"It'll be morning by the time you get to Jackson." Eric sets me down on the stairs, careful this time. "If you're planning on rescuing a vampire during daylight I have seriously overestimated your intelligence. At least take the day to think it over."
"Fine. I'll leave tomorrow."
"And I'm going with her," I cut in quickly. I scooted closer to Sookie's legs. Ya, I looked so cool tied up and trying to sound stubborn while tied up like a freaking animal. Eric's somewhat sad looking eyes weighed on me as Sookie continued.
"I have to go. Bill would do the same for me. I don't expect you to understand."
She crosses to her door. "If we get into some kind of trouble, you'll feel it, right?"
Eric nods softly, grabbing me up.
"How fast can you get to Mississippi?"
"Probably not fast enough. Which is why I cannot allow you to go, Kathy."
"Come on! Sookie can't go alone Eric!" I cry as he starts to turn away, me under his arm again. "I have a power that could help keep her safe. Plus you are not the boss of my life choices."
Eric stops, frowning down at me a bit. "You have work."
"I could keep her safer than not," I grumble, eyes hard on his. "Come on. This way I'm not around when Queeny comes around again too."
He stares at me as he thinks. "Fine. You will keep your phone on you at all times and not do anything stupid."
I smile widely at him. He quickly set me down and took the bindings from me.
"Do us all a favor, Miss Stackhouse," Eric says as I stand up proudly. "Stay out of trouble."
We both blinked as he took off so quick that is seemed he had vanished.
"So…Can I spend the night, Sookie?"