Sorry for posting a day late. And thanks to everyone who is reading this.

Without further ado….

Lux Æterna – Chapter 14

Eric

After a quick phone call, I flew quickly to Fangtasia and arrived there only a few minutes after I'd arranged to meet Compton, Pam and Godric. Godric raised an eyebrow when I entered, although he'd blocked the bond so I couldn't feel his emotions. He was either amused that I'd turned up late and smelling of Sookie because I would be pissing Compton off, or he was annoyed that I smelt of his daughter.

I was hoping it was the former.

But still, Compton had the good sense to not say anything about my tardiness, although I was almost challenging him to raise the issue. Pam just rolled her eyes, her humour present.

"Firstly, Compton," I started, more for Godric's ears than anyone else's, "and unless I say otherwise, you will stay away from Sookie Stackhouse. You will not go near her property. She is under my protection, and if you don't adhere to my ruling, I will try you for treason."

Godric's eyes were on Compton as well, and despite his block on me, some of his anger towards the young vampire was slipping through, even if he didn't show it on his face.

"Of course, sire," Bill replied, showing that he wasn't as stupid as I hoped him to be.

"And I don't need to remind you that you will not tell any other being, alive or undead, about what you know of her."

He bowed his head to me, obviously hearing and understanding my threat. "I have not told anyone, and I will not."

"You had better not."

As Pam was sitting on the leather sofa with Godric, I moved to sit behind her desk and placed my boots on the desk. I could feel her displeasure at my action, but my body language was designed to make Compton feel uncomfortable as he was the only one standing, and he knew better than to take a seat without my permission.

"Report on the Fellowship activity," I told him, my eyes trained steadily on his.

Compton unnecessarily cleared his throat. "There was been seven attacks on vampire property in the last month. All of the vampires attacked were made in the last twenty years or so and their makers were not close by to guide them."

"They were sloppy," I stated.

Compton nodded. "They didn't have adequate security and were lax in letting humans know where they lived. I believe that the Fellowship have humans who go to vampire bars and let themselves become known to vampires. Obviously the vampires have not glamoured these humans well enough as the humans have learned the location of their resting places."

This worried me, and I had a feeling there was more to come from Compton. "Go on."

"In most of the cases the vampires were either managed to escape or were killed by the humans. However there are two vampires unaccounted for."

"Have their makers been informed?" Unless the ties had been cut irrevocably, a maker could normally find one of their own vampires, particularly if that vampire was calling out to them.

Bill paused a moment before shaking his head. "Neither one of the vampires had living – or undead – makers."

That piece of information fell heavy in the room. Godric stood up, a look of grave concern on his face. "I cannot accept that it is an accident that the two vampires they took were the ones who had no living maker. The ones that were killed?"

"All had makers," Compton told him.

I stood up and joined Godric who looked up to me and spoke to me in my native language. "The Fellowship cannot know this information on their own. I do not believe in coincidences and I find it deeply disturbing that the two that have been taken have no way of being tracked."

I agreed with him completely and turned back to Compton. "Keep investigating. I want to know everything there is to know about all the vampires who have been attacked, killed or taken. I want their addresses, where they went, who they fed on and their shoe size if it is relevant." I paused to appraise Compton. I didn't like the vampire, but as I had said to Sookie, he was good at his job. "You have done well so far, Compton. If you keep it up I will reward you."

"I would like to go back to the court in New Orleans," he told me with a bow of his head. I wouldn't normally have allowed such an open request to be granted, but then it would keep him further away from Sookie and I had plenty of trusted vampires who could keep a close eye on him in New Orleans.

"I will allow that if I am satisfied with your work. Now go – I want an update from you in my inbox by the end of each night. If you need anything, report to Pam."

I felt her displeasure, and once Compton was out of the room, Pam turned to me. "No offence, Eric, but is really the right vampire for the job?"

I understood her concerns. "He is a good investigator. But he is not the only one I have asked to look into this. What Compton didn't mention is that the attacks are spread out across the state. I do not believe that the Fellowship realise how organised we are, and I intend to speak to our neighbouring states to see if they have had attacks as well. Rasul down in New Orleans has a team looking into this, and I intend on having him keep an eye on Compton."

Pam sniggered. "Compton won't like being told to work with Rasul."

"No, he won't. But that is precisely what I will be telling him to do very shortly. This is proving to be bigger than I first realised." I turned to face my child. "Rasul already knows, but speak to the other sheriffs and spread word of what is happening. I do not want widespread panic, but we are under attack, certainly here in Louisiana, and we need to remain vigilant without tipping off the enemy that we know."

"I will do." Pam nodded her head and went to the smaller office next door to make the calls.

"I have concerns about Sookie," I told Godric in a low voice when we were alone.

My maker raised an eyebrow and narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean?" he growled.

I smiled a little. "Not those kind of concerns. I told Sookie about the attacks on vampires and she wishes to help."

"You told her of the Fellowship activity?" Godric asked with an accusing tone and a hard look in his eyes.

"I do not wish to lie to her," I said as calmly as I could.

"You still need to watch what she hears. I will not let you put her in danger."

I ground my teeth together to stop myself from saying what I wanted to say to him. "And I told her because she too needs to remain safe. I have already arranged for Tray Dawson and his witch girlfriend to guard Sookie. The witch is placing wards on her property, and it seems the two girls have already started to form a friendship."

"So what is your problem?"

"Sookie wishes to help. She feels that as she can go out in the daylight and read minds she will be able to infiltrate the Fellowship."

Godric's growl was low, and there was a distinct danger pouring off him. "She will not. And I repeat that you shouldn't have told her."

"I told her for her own safety," I snapped back. "She is innocent and naïve to the horrors of this world, and she knows little of vampire society. I am not going to tell her everything; she doesn't need to know that. But I will tell her enough." I paced for a moment before turning back to Godric. "And she will be safe. I will not let her do anything that will endanger her safety. I have already called Dawson to let him know of her plans, and authorised him and the witch to use whatever force they feel necessary to protect her."

Godric didn't agree with me. "Irrelevant," he snapped. "You have endangered her by giving her this information. You have admitted that she wants to help – that is not going to keep her safe in the long run even if she does nothing now."

"I still believe it is best that she knows."

"You are wrong."

Godric exerted his superior strength over me, and pushed me down onto my knees, his Maker's command stopping me from climbing back up again.

"Um … guys…"

It was Pam's voice from the door, and Godric answered her without looking away from me. "Not the time, Pamela."

Pam didn't go away. "You really need to stop trying to kill each other. You have a visitor."

"Whoever it is can wait," Godric barked out as he increased his grip on my shoulder.

"I don't believe I will," a new voice added.

Godric instantly let go of my shoulder and looked to the door. I had recognised the voice to belong to the Ancient Pythoness, and I stood up as soon as I was able to, only to bow to the Lady as she entered the room.

"Your child has more manners than you, Godric," she said in a tone that meant business. Godric lowered his head to the ancient vampire.

"My lady," he said respectfully with a nod of his head.

We both moved aside so the Lady, her two handmaidens and three guards could enter the room. It meant that it was a little crowded, and Pam remained hovering by the door once she'd shut it behind her. Pythia sat down in the chair facing the desk, but turned it so that she was facing us. It seemed that despite her blindness, her other senses were fantastic and she knew exactly where everyone was. Her handmaidens were standing on either side of her, and her guards looming ominously the other side of that, with one of them stationed at the door next to Pam.

"Sit," she commanded, and both Godric and I instantly obeyed her, sitting side by side on the leather sofa.

"My Lady, I am honoured by your presence," Godric told her, although I could feel his apprehension at her visit since he'd let go of the bond

"I am sure you are," she told him. "And by your child's lack of surprise, I assume he knows of our relationship."

"You are correct, although I do not believe that Pamela knows."

The Lady turned to face Pam, who let her emotions control her for a split second as shock appeared on her face. It was probably the first time I'd seen her lose her mask since she'd been a young vampire.

"She may know."

Godric turned to me to do the introduction. "My lady, this is my only child Pamela. Pam, the Lady Pythia is Godric's maker." I felt her surprise through the bond, but an element of wariness as well which she was quite right to possess. None of us knew the reason that the Ancient Pythoness had chosen to grace us with her presence, although I feared that it was to do with. Pam bowed her head to the ancient vampire.

"How can I help you, my Lady," I said after a few moments of silence. I was King after all, which meant that she was in my state. However, I was pretty damn sure I knew exactly why she was here.

"You have a biological child," she said to Godric before turning to me. "And you have bonded to her."

"Not in the traditional sense," I told her with a bow of my head. "A normal blood bond has not formed between us."

"But something else has? Something deeper?" I nodded, not really sure that I could put a label on the relationship Sookie and I shared. "Miss Stackhouse is an important factor in what is to come. She must above all else be kept safe."

I felt a jolt of what could only be described as 'I told you so' from Godric, but the Lady had not finished and obviously knew exactly what was on Godric's mind.

"Don't be childish," she scolded my maker. "There should be no war between the two of you over your daughter's safety. You must work together for her as she has the potential for greatness."

Godric nodded his head to her. "Of course. My child and I are bound to clash over the way to handle Sookie, and she herself is a strong and free-spirited woman." He paused for a moment. "You said that she is an important factor in what is to come … if I may ask, what is to come?"

"A war is coming, and without her a huge number of vampires may die. Trust her instincts, even over your own. She has the ability to be hugely powerful, and Northman's blood will only make her stronger."

With that, the Lady stood up. "Can I get you someone to eat before you leave, my Lady?"

"No, I have already eaten."

We all walked with the Ancient Pythoness to her large armoured vehicle, which looked hugely out of place in the parking lot of Fangtasia. Several humans noticed her, although they were quickly glamoured by one of the guards before they climbed into the large vehicle and tore out of the lot.

I simply looked to Godric who nodded his head to indicate that we should go back inside. We both fed on wiling donors (male for me, although that didn't stop the man from grabbing my ass before I restrained him) before we met back in Pam's office.

"So we must trust Sookie," I commented as I met Godric's stare. "Do you think that means we should trust her instincts regarding the Fellowship?"

"As that is precisely what we were arguing about when the Lady arrived, I suspect that is the case. She is not one for arriving at an inappropriate moment, so I would assume that is what she was referring to."

I sighed and ran my hand through my hair. "I do not wish to risk her safety, you know that. And I hate that we cannot be with her during the daylight hours, but that is when she must seek them out if she is to do so."

Godric looked thoughtful, and we both remained silent for a moment or two. "You have meetings this night?"

"Regrettably I do. Although I can possibly cancel at least one of them…" In truth, all the meetings I had needed my attendance, but I knew how important this was.

"I will speak to her. She is expecting me anyway, and it's probably better that she feels we're not ganging up on her."

"Very true," I said with a smile. We had both come to learn the ways of Sookie Stackhouse in the few months that we had known her, and we knew all too well that she didn't appreciate that two of us telling her what to do. "I am meeting with an architect at four a.m. to discuss light proofing my whole house, but I should be able to visit Sookie before sundown."

Godric stood and nodded before leaving Fangtasia and heading to Bon Temps.

.

Sookie

After Eric left, I immediately loaded up my laptop and opened the internet browser to start reading all I could about The Fellowship of the Sun Church. I'd looked before when vampires had first made their presence known, but I was shocked to see how much the websites had changed. They were incredibly anti-vampire, although I was sure that if they knew of the existence of other supernatural beings they'd hate them just as much. In fact, I got the feeling that if they knew Santa Claus or the tooth fairy were real they'd no doubt start a hate group.

They were human elitists and seemed to be advocating the destruction and murder of all vampires, albeit in a friendly, fluffy and non-threatening way. It may me feel sick, and I was sure that even if I didn't know Godric and Eric, I'd still not approve of what they were doing. The problem was that I knew all too well how small-minded many humans were, and I knew that they'd easily buy into this kind of propaganda.

What I did discover, was that although they had a strong foothold in Texas and Mississippi, they weren't hugely established in Louisiana. They had no actual church buildings other than a small one in New Orleans, but they seemed to still have meetings – always during the day – and one of them was is Monroe, a twenty or so minute drive from my home in Bon Temps.

I knew that it wouldn't be a good idea to use my real name, so I started jotting down a new persona to use. Sure, I wouldn't have any ID, but I hoped that they wouldn't ask that question, and if that went well, I was sure that I could get fake ID. Jason certainly had some shifty friends who no doubt 'knew people' that could get me a fake ID. And, if necessary, I could glamour Jason into forgetting what I'd asked him.

So, I invented Anna Lynn Patterson, aged 25 from Shreveport. Anna Lynn was a librarian, whose parents had died when she was young and was raised by her Gran. She had no siblings, but an ex-boyfriend of hers called Eric had been bitten by a vampire and had tried to attack her once he was a vampire.

I tried to keep some things close to the truth in case I slipped up at all, and I spent time inventing stories about Anna Lynn that were loosely based on my own life. I also practiced her accent – an exaggerated version of my own – and I planned an outfit of a dark blue flower print dress and matching pumps. It wasn't something I tended to wear often, but I had worn it to church on a few occasions so it seemed appropriate.

I was finally done when there was a knock on my window. As I was on the second storey of the house, it could only be a vampire hovering out there. I opened it up and let Godric slip in as gracefully as ever.

"How are you, Sookie?" he asked sitting down on my bed.

"I'm good, thanks. Have you been in a meeting?" I didn't want to mention the matter of the Fellowship outright, but I'd have been interested to get any info out from him.

"Yes, Eric and I have had an interesting meeting."

"Good…" I was hoping he'd expand, but he wasn't biting the hook I fed him. "What's interesting?"

He let out an uncharacteristic sigh. "Sookie, we know what you have planned." I tried to look guiltless, but I wasn't sure I managed it as his statement caught me off guard.

"Planned?" I said as innocently as possible.

Godric smiled a kind smile. "I can smell your deceit, Sookie. You're still human enough for that."

The smile dropped off my face at his declaration. "What?"

Godric pulled me down next to him and wrapped a fatherly arm around me. It was the first time I'd really felt like he was being fatherly towards me in that sense.

"Eric is over one thousand years old. He knew that you were planning to seek out the local Fellowship group, and no doubt go alone. Am I right?"

As he was obviously able to tell if I was lying, I stuck to the truth. "Yeah, you are."

He sighed. "Sookie, we both want and need you to be safe, and going after people who can only be described as terrorists on your own is not going to happen. Eric had already called Tray Dawson to keep a very close eye on you before he'd even left Bon Temps and authorised him to use whatever force was necessary."

I huffed to myself and Godric chuckled. "He only did it because he cares."

"I know. But I want to help, and I'm the perfect one to do so. It's not as if I'm unable to defend myself either. I can glamour them, I've always been stronger than other people as well. And Eric can track me if I did get into trouble."

"We'd hope that it didn't get to that, Sookie." He ran his hand over his short brown hair and looked a little stressed for some reason. "But you're right; you are the person for the job."

I stared at him in disbelief. I'd expected to be shouted at by him and Eric, so him admitting that was out of leftfield. Was he going to let me do it?

"I am?"

"Yes, you are for all the reasons you listed. And obviously, your telepathy will be hugely useful. But you are not going alone, and you're not doing it tomorrow. We need to prepare you, and both Tray and Amelia will be able to do that along with Eric and I tomorrow night."

"Do you want me to pretend to be Tray's girlfriend?"

He shrugged. "It's an option. Or the three of you can go in together – you could always be the younger sister of Amelia. Both of them can look after themselves and you."

"So why not tomorrow?"

"Because we'd like to spend some time training you. I will leave a message with Dawson to get things started, but you are not doing this unless Eric and I are completely satisfied that you will be able to defend yourself if required. Do you promise me that you will work with us on this one?"

I wasn't able to lie to Godric, and if I was honest, I welcomed the help of Tray and Amelia over going in alone. "Sure, I promise I won't."

He looked a little relieved. "Good. So what were you up to when I got here?" He had a knowing smile on his lips and I rolled my eyes like a teenager.

I went through all I'd thought of in inventing my new persona, and with his help set about inventing new identities for Tray and Amelia as well. Godric assured me that Tray would have no problem in obtaining the ID to back our stories up, and typed a long email to Tray with details of the new plan. I'd asked him what led to the sudden change of heart in allowing me to help, but he was suitably vague about specifics and I didn't push him on it.

"I'd like for you to take my blood," Godric announced after we'd been brainstorming for a few hours and it was getting closer to dawn.

"Are you sure? Is it safe?" I was a little sceptical considering the doctor had said I shouldn't have his blood during my transition.

"Yes. I checked with Ludwig and she has no reason why you shouldn't take my blood. However if you are willing, we will wait until Eric gets here before we do it. It means that I too would be able to track you if my blood is inside you, and my blood is old and powerful."

"I think that's a good idea," Eric said announcing his arrival as he slipped in through the open window.

I immediately stood up to greet him and he pulled me close into his chest, his arms wrapping tightly around me as he buried his head into my hair. I rested my head on his chest, but grabbed his ass with my hand wrapping around his body.

He stepped back and smiled at me, placing a chaste kiss on my lips. "Careful, I don't want you to get in trouble with your dad." He winked at me as we both looked to Godric who seemed mildly amused at our antics.

"Why do I get the feeling that the two of you are going to cause me no end of trouble?"

"Me?" Eric and I both said at the same time. Godric simply shook his head and I sat down in Eric's lap on the bed.

"I think it is a good idea, though," Eric said, his voice becoming more serious. "Godric's blood is powerful; you would be much stronger from taking it."

"Okay, as long as you're okay with it." I met Eric's eyes to see no hesitation. His blue eyes were bright and intense, and I found myself becoming a little lost in them.

Godric interrupted our moment. "Let's do this, then, and I will take my leave."

We all agreed, and Godric bit into his arm while I remained sitting in Eric's lap, his arm tightly around my waist with my back to his chest. I immediately latched onto Godric's arm and took a large mouthful, my fangs biting into his arm to open the wound wider. His blood was thicker and sweeter than Eric's and I hungrily drank at his arm, my hands clutching at him to keep his arm in place.

I had to admit that the taste of Godric's blood was quite intoxicating, and I could feel Eric getting hard underneath me as I squirmed in his lap. After I'd obviously had enough of his blood, Godric wrenched his arm away from me, but Eric somehow managed to grab hold of him and take a quick mouthful of his blood.

I was unable to see Eric's face, but I could feel that he was turned on, and see the look on Godric's face. It made me a little uncomfortable knowing their past, but I also knew how vampires were when it came to blood. Godric allowed Eric to lick the wound clean and seal his wounds, before he placed a gentle kiss on my forehead and left the room.

I didn't have chance to dwell on what had happened between the three of us before Eric was on me and pulling at my clothes. I was more than willing to be dominated by him, and allowed my own hands to roam over his firmly muscled body. It took all of my willpower to not cry out loudly at Eric's glorious assault on me, as the last thing I wanted to do was wake up Gran.

When I was good and ready for him, Eric plunged into me, his teeth sinking into my neck at the same time as he took large mouthfuls of my blood. I groaned loudly, feeling my body orgasm and clamp down around him as he pushed skilfully inside me. As soon as I was able to, I sank my fangs into his neck, taking more of his delicious blood and letting his power mingle inside of me along with the blood I'd taken from Godric.

The sex was frantic and needy, and I was more than aware that I'd almost torn up Eric's back from clawing at him. It was just a good job that within minutes he'd completely healed.

"I'm sorry," Eric said to me after a few minutes of me snuggling into his chest. "That wasn't appropriate of me."

I say up a little to meet his eyes. "You were affected by Godric's blood."

He nodded. "I have not fed from my maker for a very long time, and with you in my arms I got a little carried away."

"It's okay, I understand."

And I did. I couldn't deny that it was strange when I thought about Eric and Godric having that kind of relationship, but then they had known each other for a thousand years before I was even born, so they were bound to have a history.

"Thank you," he said kissing me gently. "I would not like you to resent either Godric or myself."

"I couldn't. I love you both."

I didn't quite realise what I had said until it came out. But it was true, I loved Godric like a father or brother, but I loved Eric as my partner and lover.

Eric smiled and pushed me back down onto the bed, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "I love you too," he told me before doing his best to make me wake up Gran.

So… Eric saw straight through Sookie's plans, but it is better that she'll be working with Tray and Amelia? And what of the AP's predictions?

I'd love to know your thoughts.

;)