A/N: A big thank you to everyone who took the time to review the last chapter. You are all awesome and fantastic in every way. I replied to all of you but for a few. Please remember to enable your PMs. That is how I write back to you when you review. If they aren't enabled, I can't answer you. And again thanks to those who have faved or altered the story.
Many people have asked me for a summary so you can read it before this chapter officially starts.
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Links to Sookie's knife and images of Bondi Beach are on my profile.
Disclaimer: All characters except Enki Berg belong to Charlaine Harris
A brief summary of events: (If you don't want to read the summary, skip on down to the page break for the start of the new chapter)
The story begins with Sookie leaving Louisiana six months after the events of DITF. By chapter 2 we discover Sookie is off to Sydney, Australia and under the alias Sabrina Summers. Later on we learn that Sydney is one of the few places left in the world that still contains an open fairy portal and it is there where she hopes to find Niall. She is living in Sydney three weeks before Niall makes his first appearance. Sookie by then, had found a temporary job at hotel with a Were manager named Nicki. She found herself a small apartment right off Bondi Beach and is adjusting to life in Australia quite well. (Mostly by working on her tan when time permits.)
We also find out that during this six month period, Victor has been actively pursuing any means possible to rid himself of Eric and therefore Sookie, by proxy. He has driven away business at Merlotte's and Fangtasia through his numerous enterprises. He has also made further attempts on Sookie and Eric's lives, sending wolves to her home while they were sleeping to burn them alive, and should Sookie have escaped, she would have been kidnapped and taken to New Orleans. However, Claude was able to save them both by teleporting them to the safety of his house inMonroe. It was not the last attempt on their lives.
Eric meanwhile, tracked the wolves that Victor hired to New Orleansand brought them back toShreveportfor interrogation. While he was able to remove the threat the wolves posed, he was still unable to retaliate against Victor himself without actual proof to bring to Felipe, who is otherwise, unconcerned about the situation in Louisiana. Every time Eric has attempted to contact Felipe, he has been met with punishment by Victor. Metaphorically, at least, Eric's hands were tied and he is stuck between a rock and hard place, losing profits from Victor's enterprises, the continued absence of Felipe, the continual watching by spies and the pervasive death threats that face both him and Sookie. As Sheriff, Eric also had to be part of the investigation surrounding the explosion of "Vampire's kiss."
In retaliation for the burning of Sookie's home, she enlists Amelia who works her magic and Sookie, using what Amelia gave her, blew up Victor's bar, "Vampire's Kiss," striking him in the place she felt it would hurt the most. Upon hearing that Eric, for the moment could do nothing to Victor himself, she designs her own plan to get rid of him and enlists the help of Niall to track Victor and several of his underlings down. She also contacts Alcide who arranges several meeting with the packmasters ofLouisianato join forces with Eric should their assistance be needed in exchange for help organizing their packs.
We also found out that Victor was responsible for the near death of Amelia – believing she had something to do with the explosion, though had no proof.
When Sookie leaves forAustraliashe leaves Eric with no warning. Eric wakes to find the bond between them stretched and only later discovers through letters – Sookie believes they have both become liabilities to each other, Pam's help and talking with Alcide and Claude, what has been going on when he wasn't around. He contacts a tracker by the name of Conrad to search for her. He and Pam determined she had made it as far as LAX. Eric is worried not only about where she has gone and what she is doing but also being able to find her in time. There is a vampire summit that Sookie will need to attend in December. Felipe is expecting her to be there.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, Sookie is enjoying her time inAustralia. No one is trying to kill her. No one has called her crazy and she hasn't been thrown into any life threatening situations. She expresses concern over her telepathy to Niall and her desire to improve her shielding and her ability to read shifters. Niall enlists the help of a 400 year old, German half-elf telepath by the name of Enki Berg to mentor her.
For a week now he has been coming to her to help her train and focus her telepathy. He even took her to another realm (not the fae realm) to practice on other supernatural creatures. The other realm that they went to severed Sookie's already dwindling blood bond to Eric. When she got back the bond reemerged but even more faded. It is only a matter of days before the bond is extinguished completely.
Before Sookie could go to the other realm with Enki, she had to drink something that Niall gave her that made her smell like full fairy to blend in.
The drink had disastrous effects for Sookie, unfortunately, when the next night, she was bit by a vampire staying in the hotel, who she named "Freckles." She managed to escape, stabbing Freckles with a silver knife and having only the bites and a few bruises to deal with.
After Sookie makes it safely home from Freckles attack, she receives a call from Niall telling her Victor has been secured.
Chapter 14:
"THE EDGE, there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over."
- Hunter S. Thompson
November 10th
Niall had secured Victor Madden. This was cause for celebration.
He had to repeat those words to me several times before they sunk in. After I had regained the ability to speak.
After I got off the phone with Niall I sat on my couch just staring into nothing for a long time. I was consciously aware that time was passing but didn't really care. I had faith that my Great Grandfather would pull through for me on this but still, having actually done it came through as something of a shock. It was like opening the door to find Publishers Clearing House on your front step.
When I finally snapped myself out of my stupor I called Enki. We had decided to forgo training since I'd be working late and had been training for several days in a row already. He was going to meet me tonight with his car and we'd head to the address Niall gave us.
All day at work I was distracted; forgetting my information, bringing things to the wrong rooms, not answering to my...name. I was a mess. I returned the car to the same spot it was in yesterday and snuck the key back into Nicki's office when no one was looking. I hoped no one had noticed its absence. I imagined that if someone cared, they could find me taking it on the security footage.
Eh, what are they going to do, fire me?
"Isn't it a bit hot for a scarf, Sabrina?" Abigail asked. I just finished going over some particulars to a group of tourists.
Ah yes, the scarf. I fingered the sheer fabric at my neck.
"Maybe, but we are in the air conditioning most of the day. Besides, I think it adds a nice touch of color to the uniforms. Don't you?" I asked, smiling widely.
Truthfully it did add a lot of color to my otherwise neutral uniform palate. The scarf was tied around my neck with a big knot to one side, its two ends sticking out. It was a sheer fabric that I had to improvise making out of one of my beach cover ups. It was bright yellow with a lacy looking design woven to the sheer with only a touch of black threading. I hated having to cut it up.
Unfortunately, I couldn't imagine myself trying to explain to everyone who saw me that a vampire guest of the hotel, sent by my vampire boyfriend-husband to watch me, decided in a fit of vampire bloodlust to attack me because I smelled like a nice juicy fairy.
She gave me the once over. "Ya know, it does," she said.
She was thinking about why I was so covered up. Normally, the summer uniform had short sleeves and I was wearing a long sleeved, summer linen shirt in the same color the hotel required.
"You know, I'd better go check on the conferences on the second floor," I told her, glancing at my watch. "They'll be getting out soon and I'll have to help with set ups for the next round." I grinned and took off before she could say anything else. Just call me yellow-necked.
Since any traces of vampire blood have more or less worn off in my system, it was taking the normal human amount of time for me to heal, which, I'd forgotten is really, really slow.
When I woke up this morning the lower half of my face was covered in bruises from the pressure of Freckles hand over my mouth. My right arm and waist also suffered. I felt like I was wearing five pounds of cover-up on my face. Wearing foundation in summer is absolutely no fun at all.
The day felt like it was lasting an eternity and when it finally ended at four-thirty (I was not risking staying late again) I practically sprinted out the door.
At home I showered quickly and made myself an early dinner. I wasn't able to concentrate on making much more than a sandwich with some chips.
Changing into something simple – jeans shorts and a half sleeve light weight blouse, just incase I got blood on my clothes was necessary. That was always a possibility around vamps.
Waiting for Enki outside my building, he picked me up promptly at six. He looked resplendent, as his usual fae-self did in fitted distressed dark wash jeans, converse sneakers and a sage, short sleeved, double pocketed utility shirt that stretched just right over his frame. His hair was back in pony tail.
It was incredibly relaxing to be around his silent mind after the day I'd had.
"We need to make a brief stop along the way," I told him.
"What for?" He asked, giving me a puzzled expression. "I figured you would be all for going straight there."
I googled a place nearby that sold hunting knifes and other sporting equipment while I was at work. "I am. But I need to stop at a shop along the way. I lost my knife." Well, I broke it on purpose – in a vamp – but that was beside the point.
"Knife?"
I explained the situation from yesterday to him, pulling down my scarf to show him the bite marks. He looked about as happy as I felt about it.
"That was quick thinking on your part, Sookie. Most people would have panicked."
"I'm not most people." And I've been exposed to enough supernatural crap to expect this sort of thing.
After a palpably tense minute passed he said, "I am sorry for giving you the potion."
"You couldn't have known something like that would have happened." I gave him a little pat on his shoulder. Didn't he? It was really nice not knowing what he was thinking about. Then again, it kind of wasn't.
"Maybe not, but Niall, you and I all knew that we would be mixing with vampires again eventually. I don't know what Niall was thinking in concocting it."
Well, nothing we could do about it now, I said to myself. I was more disappointed with losing my little knife. I liked that knife. We were only just really becoming acquainted. I had considered naming.
Obviously, Mr. Pointy was out. Perhaps Mr. Sharpie? No, that's a type of pen. I started laughing at myself.
"What's so funny?" He glanced at me.
"Oh…I'm just amusing myself. I was thinking of names for my knife."
"I see," he said, turning back to the road.
"I have a stake named 'Mr. Pointy.'" Or at least, I did.
After another minute or so, still looking at the road, he said quite seriously, "Are all weapons male?"
I laughed. A tear trickled out of my eye and I didn't stop until my sides started to cramp up.
Finally, after I calmed myself down, I said, "You know, I don't know." Then I burst into another fit of giggles. "I'll let you know if I ever get a gander at their nether regions."
When we reached the shop I had directed him too, he parked on the side of the road opposite the storefront.
Right before we walked in, he said, "How about 'Mr. Stabby?'" The edges of his mouth were attempting to stifle a smile.
Fifteen minutes later Enki and I walked out of the shop with Mr. Stabby. He was very similar to his predecessor. That is, a silver butterfly knife and very sharp.
The address Niall gave us brought us to a warehouse in an industrial area of Sydney. The streets were small and lined with high buildings, some filled with offices from the outside look of it, and some just factories or warehouses.
At this time of the day, it was more or less empty; everyone having already left their day jobs.
As we pulled up to it, two fairies emerged from one of the large doors. They guided us into the large, garage like sliding door and promptly shut it once the car was fully inside.
I hesitated. I was very wary of any fairies that weren't Niall, Claude or Dermot. The two fairies were both stunningly beautiful and they were both female. One had thick black hair that cascaded all the way down her back and dark brown eyes. The other had bright strawberry blond hair in tight ringlets that went down to the same length. Though it would be longer if it was straight. I envied how perfect and shiny it was. She had bold grey eyes and faint freckles that adorned her cheeks. Both were strikingly tall and lithe in that Amazonian kind of way.
Beautiful and deadly.
Enki gave me a reassuring pat on the shoulder. Its ok, he thought at me. They are part of Niall's guard. Read them for yourself. He got out of the car.
I followed suit, opening my mind and pushing through the buzz and oddity of the supernatural thought pattern. I stayed in the car while I probed. The concentration is still a big effort and I was unwilling to let them see my expression as I tried. I would probably never master it the way Enki has but this was still helpful. Yes, they were Niall's guards and they had been the ones to grab Victor.
Exiting the car and moved to stand near Enki. The fairies gave us the once over.
"Hybrids," said the one with black hair. There was a sliver of distaste in her voice.
"You are The Prince's kin?" Asked the fairy with the ringlet curls.
"I am. Sookie Stackhouse." I nodded to her. Was it smart for Niall to leave two fairies in charge that already didn't seem to like us much?
"We know your name," said black hair. "I am Frena. This is Sibilina," she told us, pointing to the strawberry blond fairy. She nodded to us.
"Pleasure to meet you both." Kill them with kindness.
"And you are the part elf, Enki. We have heard of your skills." The way Sibilina said Enki's name, elongating it, changing the sound of the vowels, made it sound like it was coming from a completely different language. It probably was.
"The Prince informed us it was your planning that allowed us the freedom to hunt," Frena said. Her tone had changed from distaste to delightful.
I nodded. They hunted Victor Madden. Maybe vampires weren't at the top of the food chain.
Frena came over to me and gave an audible sniff before looking me in the eyes and placing her hand on my shoulder. "Perhaps you are an intriguing human, after all. You smell like a full fairy and magic. It has been such a long time since we have been relieved as Our Prince's personal guard for such an assignment." She stepped back.
"Indeed," said Sibilina, who brushed my hair back with her hand. "We owe you our gratitude. I haven't had fun like this since Brenadan's banishment."
Okay, I was significantly creeped out. I knew fairies were big on the touching and that was all fine and dandy when it was Niall or Claudine or Dermot. Even Claude was okay. But I didn't even know these fairies and the mentioning of Brenadan wasn't helping.
Enki, meanwhile was leaning against the side of the car examining his fingernails. Yep – fairy guards, hybrid distaste, the banishment of relatives – totally normal for him.
I had to remind myself that I've only know Enki a week. While we had shared quite a lot during that time about our histories, I still had to remember he was only half human. Half human and four hundred years old.
Since I met him, he had started feeling more like a mentor, in a brotherly sort of way. And that was pretty nice, having someone I could talk to the way I talked to Enki. I knew it was wrong, thinking of Jason in such a light. He is my brother and I wouldn't trade him for the world but when it's laid out in front of you – what you have and what you could have had, the brain just goes there.
I stepped back from their touching. "Well I'm real glad I could bring you two some entertainment." I smiled widely.
"So…um, where is Niall, anyway?" I asked turning around to look at the space.
There wasn't much to see from where we were. It looked like a loading area. The walls stretched up high, with large windows spaced over the top third of one wall. Empty shelves were stacked up high, almost to the ceiling and there was a large fork lift at the other end of the space. There was also another car there, a large four-door Escalade.
"He will be here after dark. Come, we still have some time before the creature wakes."
Frena began walking us toward a door at the other end of the loading area.
On the other side were storage rooms. The warehouse was empty, and the only things in the rooms were empty shelves and the exposed piping and fluorescents connected to the ceiling.
I was aching to ask them about Victor. "You were the two to catch Victor?"
"Oh, yes." Frena said, as she walked ahead of us. Sibilina stood beside Enki. "Although, I must say, I expected more fight out of the vampire." She smiled at me, revealing razor sharp teeth.
I gave an involuntary shudder. Sharp fairy teeth. Never again.
I didn't realize I had stopped walking until Enki gave me a little nudge.
"What are you talking about? We took him during the day!" Sibilina half shouted, half laughed.
"Yes, well, those ridiculous panther bodyguards were really no challenge."
Panthers? "Where did you find him?"
"We tracked him all over Louisiana initially. He liked moving around to inspect his underlings." Frena had reached another door and stopped.
"He thought that made him harder to catch," Sibilina laughed. "We certainly proved him wrong!"
Oh, fairy humor. Funnier every day.
"But finally we cornered him at a house outside Winnfield." I figured that was right along the Area five border.
That would have meant there was a possibility they were Calvin's panthers. The little voice inside me hoped I didn't inadvertently have more deaths on my shoulders. "You killed them? The panthers?"
"Unnecessary." Sibilina waved her hand. "We teleported directly into his house."
"The presumptuous blooddrinker didn't even ward himself against fairies!" Frena exclaimed. "Witches are filthy creatures. They steal magic that isn't theirs but they have their uses for the vampires."
I felt like I was in for a speech.
"During the fairy-vampire war many of our kind were prevented from entering the vampires' resting places because of these horribly simple human-witch wards."
"Unbearable," the other said.
"Intelligent," was all Enki said.
"Do you remember that cute little witch-human we cornered warding in the North? The one who thought she could best us with her childish incantations?" Frena asked of Sibilina.
"Of course. Such an adorable little creature."
Something told me I didn't want to know what happened to the "adorable little creature."
"Were you able to get to Victor's other vampires?" That was important.
"Oh, yes." Sibilina informed be with a frightening smile. "It was such fun."
Oh, boy, here with the fun again.
"It felt like a proper hunt, disposing of such incorrigible blooddrinkers. The infighting between our brethren has depleted our numbers even more. I did not enjoy slaying other fairies."
"Indeed. Yet these vampires were hardly worthy of our blade. So blindly following the suited vampire like little hounds scrapping for food." Frena grimaced. "Disgusting. No self respect." I had to agree with her there. The vampires in Victor's retinue all seemed pretty low on the totem poll of worthwhile vampires.
Yes, I was being judgmental. So what? It's not like they would have hesitated to come after me if Victor gave them the say so.
"The two vampire boys in the short leathers; they screamed like little children afraid of the dark." Sibilina giggled.
I was getting that feeling in the pit of my stomach. The one about something not being a good idea. I really wanted Niall to hurry up and get here.
"The Oriental – he had stamina. It was a lovely dance we had," Frena explained to us. I guess these were typical compliments. I briefly wondered what condition I was about to find Victor in.
"Oh, yes. He was by far the most difficult. I enjoyed the challenge." Sibilina sighed. "It's a pity there are so few good challenges now."
I hoped they hadn't taken their enjoyment out into the open for everyone to see. "It was quite though, right? Niall explained it to you?" For this to work right, it had to look like they disappeared willingly.
Their eyes narrowed and they both formed grim expressions. The unison of it all was all a little eerie. "Of course. Do you take us for fools? We follow Our Prince's word to the letter."
And with that, conversation ceased.
You hurt their pride. Enki thought at me.
Didn't mean to.
The second room we entered was pitch black. The fairies walked in first, flipping a switch on the side and filling the room with light. Enki and I followed them inside.
Fairies have a strange sense of honor. And an ever stranger sense of humor. Be careful what you say to them. Remember, they aren't like us.
Yeah, I noticed.
The room we stepped into was clean and sterile. It was filled with a strange assortment of objects. The one that drew my attention the most was a large, silver plated, rectangular box. There were heavy silver chains keeping it shut tight.
Well, there's Victor.
The two fairies went over to Victor's coffin and unchained it. When they opened it up, I gasped.
Victor looked like he'd been worked over by a meat grinder. Twice. Since they'd taken him during the day, he was without his normally pristine suit wear. Instead he wore nothing but a pair of black boxer briefs.
"How long have you had him?" I peered over Frena's shoulders to look.
His wrists and ankles were shackled in silver. He appeared to still be in his vampire sleep state. It was the best light I could ever muster to see Victor in.
"This will be the third night. We could not teleport such a large distance."
I didn't know what to say. I wanted Victor good and finally dead. I also wanted a little information from him. But…torture. It was completely unnecessary.
They dragged him out of the coffin.
They wouldn't have known what questions to ask.
Maybe it was better that Niall closed the portals after all.
Frena uncuffed him and they each took one of his arms. They dragged him to the wall facing us where there were four pointed silver spikes jutting out of the wallface spaced in a square pattern. They couldn't have been more than four or five inches in length. The tips were larger than the shaft, sort of like an arrow head. Once something was on it, there was no getting it off without more tearing.
Enki grabbed me and pulled me back, away from what they already had planned.
The fairies tied his wrists and ankles up with rope hanging near the spikes. The ropes extended to pulleys and wound around a small barrel shaped instrument with a lever. Once his limbs had been pulled taunt with the levers, they pushed his limbs back impaling him on the spikes. One for each limb.
I shrieked.
So did Victor.
A whole big freight train full of feelings just past right on through me and I didn't know which one I wanted to analyze first. Maybe disgust.
My stomach was feeling the need to purge its contents of my dinner.
The memory of something sharp inside me was suddenly pushed to the forefront and I had to turn around for a moment and remember to breathe.
Enki wrapped a comforting arm around my shoulders. Remember what I taught you. Breathe. Focus. Think about why you're here. Think about what you want. Use your feelings. Control them.
I looked up at him and whispered a silent thank you.
"Miss. Stackhouse," Victor drawled, elongating my name.
I turned around, determined to show nothing but stoicism. "Victor." His fangs were out.
"You surprise me, Miss. Stackhouse. I did not think you had it in you," he said, indicating the surroundings with his eyes.
"You underestimate humans, Victor. It's one of your biggest problems." I moved a little closer to him. My heart beat a little faster.
Drops of blood dripped down from his forearms and thighs where they met the spikes and made little splashing sounds when they fell to the floor. The smell of his burning flesh hit my nose. I stepped back.
Breathe. Control . In and out.
"I imagine it won't be a mistake I'll have the chance make again," he stated simply. The two fairies smiled their sharp smiles. He glanced at them. His fangs ran out even longer as he sniffed the air.
"Ladies, so nice to see you again." That was when I first noticed how gaunt his face looked.
"Has he been fed?" I asked them.
"What for?" Sibilina responded. He will meet his gods soon. He needs no sustenance.
"And yet you both tempt me with your delicious scents all night," he growled.
"We know," Frena laughed. "We can mask our scents; Niall taught us but we choose not to. It is more fun when he is in a frenzy."
I looked over at Victor. His eyes were dilated and he was struggling against the ropes and silver spikes. If he could, he'd sink his fangs into Frena in less time than it takes to say "fairy blood."
Sibilina came over to me and placed a pair of pliers in my right hand. I held them up to my face and then looked at her. "What am I supposed to do with these?"
"Take his fangs," she stated, simply. "We left the honor to you."
Honor? "What?" I screeched. I'm sure there were a few people in New Zealand who may not have heard me.
I stared at them both. They were crazy. Maybe not Thing One and Thing Two crazy – but close.
"We thought you would want to. The Prince has told us of the blooddrinker's actions against you. As they are against you, they are against him. Recompense must be paid." It was like Sibilina was telling me I had to go and file my taxes before April fifteenth.
"I can't do that." That would be like…well, like taking a man's testicles. Or a woman's breasts. They were what made him a vampire. Then of course, I realized, that is the point.
I held the pliers away from me like they were diseased, with only my thumb and index finger holding them. Holding them out to Sibilina, She backed away.
Victor laughed. "Perhaps I spoke too soon."
"Victor, you're not exactly in the position to give criticism. So for the time being, why don't you shut the hell up?"
"Because this is all incredibly entertaining. Besides, how often do I get to speak with you without the Viking present? And I would so love the opportunity to converse with you…one on one. I see someone has already had a taste," he said indicating marks on my neck.
My hand involuntarily went up to the scarf around my neck and covered the wounds. The mental image that flitted through my mind had no conversing whatsoever. "Keep dreaming," I told him.
Sookie, I heard Enki mindspeak. You should do it. Take his fangs.
I rounded around to glare at Enki. What the hell are you talking about?
You are owed the offense against him. He has taken from you. It will also cement yourself with them, he said, eyeing the two fairies.
Why should I worry about them if they work for Niall?
It would be a good thing to have their respect. Trust me on this. Take his fangs. Show him you are capable of doing what you need to do.
But I don't need to take his fangs for that!
"Another telepath? How fascinating." I turned back to face him. "Truly, Miss. Stackhouse, you do surprise me. Tell me, how is your friend, the witch?" He sneered. "I made sure you found her in just the right place."
I held my lips together tightly and smiled. "Oh, she's just fine, Victor. Pam healed her." Well, that was partly true, anyway. Pam gave her a few drops of blood and whiles not enough to heal her completely; it eased her pain and reduced her recovery time. Amelia, on the other hand, wasn't very satisfied with only a few drops.
"My, my, have you tamed her as well? Perhaps I went about this all wrong, since you seem to so endear any vampire who gives you his ear long enough for you to speak."
"If that were true, you would've stopped trying to kill me a while ago."
"You are too valuable to the Sheriff to be allowed to live."
Oh, well, that's comforting. I had to be killed because it would make Eric weak. Maybe I could go into the witness protection program.
"That was all you cared about? Owning Eric's area?"
"Not just his area." I could tell he was trying to block out the pain from his scorching limbs. The smell of the fairies was getting to him.
Frena rotated the lever around one turn and his limbs stretched even tighter. The spikes tore more at his flesh the more his limbs stretched.
He grimaced and gritted his teeth but made no sound that the stretching or tearing had affected him.
"You had New Orleans, you had plenty of vampires in your retinue. What was so important that you were determined to kill Eric and me?"
"You can't see that for yourself?" He asked, through slight gasps of pain. "I thought you were brighter." That got a half turn from Frena.
I could figure out the answer, but I wanted to hear it from him. Besides, I was the queen of chit chat, even if this was a more morbid form of chit chat; and I needed him chatty.
"What were you planning had you brought me to New Orleans?"
"Why, you would have been a gift for The King, of course." If Felipe was really on Victor's side, now would be a good time to know.
I glanced at Enki. Can you read him?
I can, but we should wait until we are alone with him. The fairies can not know that I can read him.
"Will you leave us?" Enki asked the fairies. "Sookie, I suppose you have a few more questions for our guest here," he stated, nodding to Victor.
I blinked. "Yes. I apologize, I know that the two of you are…enjoying yourselves, but I would prefer right now to speak with Victor in private.
The two fairies looked positively crestfallen.
Sibilina walked over to Victor and ran a finger over his face. "We'll have more fun later. The last time I was in the human realm, they hadn't even invented electricity." Victor went completely still.
Actually, I did too.
Reluctantly, the two fairies left.
"Have you reconsidered my offer to…converse?" Victor asked, attempting to regain his lost composure.
"Tell me, Victor, do you honestly think Felipe would have ever made you a king?" Apparently, I'd hit a sore spot him because he stopped his leering and growled at me.
I'm sure he would have ripped my head off if he could.
Enki's mind was open and he was broadcasting to me everything he was picking up from Victor's mind. Gruesome.
He stopped growling and steadied himself. Another one of those smiles crept across his face. It was artificial and it disgusted me.
"My dear, if Felipe did not give me the kingship, I would have taken it. Just as Eric has taken you."
My brows furrowed. I don't see how the two are related. "Eric hasn't taken me."
"Hasn't he? Do you really believe that he will allow you to ever leave him? That he doesn't know where you are right now? You are his. You are his until you are old and gray and he no longer wants you. You are his until you are dead or he turns you. If he turns you, you will be his forever. You are his to control now. You will be his to control later."
Victor's mind played out for me through Enki. The gruesome and horrible things he's seen makers put their children through; the mindless walking zombies humans become when a vampire takes over control completely.
The deep monster of anger I had inside me, the one that I had been trying to keep careful control of since the fire, reared its ugly head. My teeth clenched and it was a good thing Enki saw was I was about to do a second before I acted on it.
He grabbed Victors jaw as I lunged at him with the silver pliers. Enki pried open Victor's mouth and I gripped one of his distended fangs with the pliers and yanked it out by the root.
Victor screamed. Blood flowed out of mouth like a waterfall. I latched on to the second one and pulled.
He screamed again. Only this time the scream it was muffled by the blood that filled his mouth.
I looked at the two bloody fangs that were now in my left hand. I closed my fingers over them and looked at Victor.
"I control myself."
A/N: So what do you think? Too much?
I debated a long time if Sookie should be the one to pull out his fangs, considering what she's been through.
I had also considering killing Amelia and having Victor leave her head in a box on Sookie's doorstep. Too gruesome?
Sookie's discussion with Victor is not over. Sorry but no Viking this chapter. He will be back soon!
Please forgive any tying mistakes. Its 3 am and I'm falling asleep.
It seemed to work last time so I will do it once again. The minority percent of you who review get a teaser into the next chapter. Perhaps more than just a chapter synopsis even. I really want to know everyone's thoughts on what Sookie did this chapter.