Chapter 21

Sam woke up in his truck about noon; he was stiff and sore, but mostly he was angry with himself for sleeping so long. He was more than an hour away from the cabin,yet, and he had wanted to get there early. He dialed Sookie's cellphone, but there was no answer. He tried Carolyn's cell and the result was the same. He dialed his house and then Bill's house to see if the girls had gone home, but there was still no answer.

Sam began to get worried. He remembered the discomfort Sookie was in last night and wondered if she might have gone in to labor after he left. He called Dr. Ludwig's office and was told that Sookie wasn't there and wasn't expected either. By now Sam was getting frantic. He called every place he could think of, but no one had seen either Sookie or Carolyn.

He knew the vampires were not awake now, so he called Alcide Herveaux to see if he could get one of his pack members to check out the safe-house. Alcide agreed and Sam started the truck and pulled back onto the highway. When he got to the cabin, two weres were standing outside talking. Sam could see that the door had been smashed in; his stomach dropped to the floor.

"They're gone, Sam. It looks like someone kidnapped them, but they put up a fierce struggle." one of the weres said. Sam had known the man for a long time, so he knew they had scouted the area around the cabin thoroughly for clues. When he walked through the door, Sam saw the upended lamp on the side of the couch; the cheap coffee table that sat in front of the couch looked like kindling wood. Then he saw two cellphones ground into pieces hear the door, no wonder she didn't answer. Sookie was gone, and Sam howled in fury.

Sam immediately called Alcide and made a few other calls to some shifter friends. Within two hours twenty shifters and weres stood in front of the cabin door. "We have to find them. Search everywhere; don't leave any stone unturned." The shifters and weres changed to their animal forms; their senses were so much keener lthen.

Sam shifted into a bloodhound and tried to pick up a scent, but it was no use. Who ever had Sookie and Carolyn did not go by foot or by car; they went by air. In the pit of his stomach, Sam knew it had to be Eric. No one could find a trace of him or Pam after the battle this morning. He was so sure that Eric had no idea where he and Bill had stashed their wives; it killed him to think how wrong he was. Sam began to pray.

Alcide had his pack members spread out so they could search better. He made a call to some other pack wolves to see if they could pick up a trail either from Sam's or Bill's house. They all searched all afternoon, but no one had any luck.

Back at Eric's cabin, Carolyn took a quick shower to wash off the blood from Sammy's birth and re-dressed in the clothes she wore nigh. They stiff, but they were dry and warm. While Eric held Sammy, she helped Sookie to shower and remove as much of Eric's scent as she could. As Sookie put her old clothes back on, she noted in a worried tone, "Sam will smell Eric on me anyway."

"Yes, I know he will, but at least the shower will get rid of a lot of his smell. I won't want to lie to Sam, but I hope he understands that we had to do what was necessary to save your lives. Still I don't want to rub it in his face. " Carolyn answered back; she was feeling very guilty now. Eric said nothing; he was sitting hunched over in the corner; his eyes had the blank faraway look of a man who had lost everything.

It was nightfall now, and Bill had arisen; he could sense Carolyn fully through the bond and knew she was all right. He knew exactly where she was located. She was in a cabin about seventy five miles south. He told Justin and Mel that Eric had Carolyn and Sookie, and that he was going after them. When they wanted to come with him, he said no. "Tell Sam they are located here." he said as he drew a map on the cave floor with his finger. He gave Justin Sam's cell number and asked him to call him. Then he was out of the cave flying in the air. He would be at his destination in less than a half an hour, but it would take Sam more than an hour to get there.

Bill got to the cabin, just as Carolyn and Sookie finished in the bathroom. He smashed down the door to the cabin as if it were a pile of toothpicks. Eric jumped up and went into a fight stance at the sound of Bill's entrance; Eric's mind was clear now. Bill's face was red with rage. He picked up one of the broken boards planning to use it as a stake to kill Eric. Carolyn could not remember seeing Bill so angry; he was clearly out of control, and it frightened her badly. Eric picked up a stake too; that frightened her even more.

"No, Bill! No, Eric! Stop!" Carolyn and Sookie yelled at the same time. Bill and Eric paid no attention. They advanced toward each other, slowly circling around looking for and opportunity to strike. Eric struck out at Bill, but missed, then Bill caught him a good one on the chin with his fist. Eric reeled from the force of the blow, but a second later, he managed to give Bill a shot that was just as hard. Eric knew Bill was a match for him now; it was a fight of equals to his surprise.

Carolyn and Sookie were screaming at the two warrior vamps begging them to stop, but Bill and Eric only had eyes for each another. One of them was going to die for sure tonight. The fighting seemed to go on for forever. Both Eric and Bill had large gashes on their face, chest and arms; blood spewed from from the wounds. Bill and Eric closed on each other again, their faces grim and determined.

Suddenly, both men were sent flying back against separate walls of the cabin. Their arms and legs were splayed out like a child making an angel in the snow. Neither one of them could speak or move a muscle, except for their head. They were shocked by the intensity of the force that held them tight. The sound of a powerful wind filled the cabin, and they looked toward the noise.

Carolyn stood with her arms stretched out to the side as if she were gathering strength from some unseen source. Carolyn's short hair and her clothing blew back against her as if she were standing in a wind tunnel. She was surrounded by white pulsating lights. The same white pulsating light streamed from her fingertips to both Bill and Eric, holding them tightly in place. Strangely, the white light felt wonderful; neither of them felt any pain, only warmth and life.

In a loud commanding voice that echoed through all parts of the cabin, Carolyn spoke only one word. "Enough!"

The two vampires were shocked by what they saw and felt. Their muscles relaxed and suddenly the rage and fury that had consumed them only moments before was gone. The force that held them dissipated quickly and both vampires sank to the floor. Carolyn collapsed into unconsciousness at the same time.

"Carolyn!" Bill and Sookie called out together. Eric stood silent at the wall; he was still stunned by what had happened. In a flash, Bill was at Carolyn's side. He picked her up and held her close to his body and rocked her. He was filled with guilt and shame. He asked himself if his burning desire for revenge had harmed his beloved wife.

Carolyn stirred, "What happened? Why am I one the floor? Did I fall?" she asked. It was clear from the tone of her voice, she had no memory of what just happened.

"How did you do that? How did you stop Bill and Eric from killing each other?" Sookie asked in a hushed voice.

"I don't know what you are talking about, Sookie. The last thing I remember is Bill and Eric fighting. I was so terrified, I thought I would pass out." Carolyn said.

"You did stop us. Why? Bill asked. "Eric deserves to die for what he did."

"I still don't remember a thing, Bill. I agree with you that Eric deserves to die, but you don't deserve to have his blood on your hands for the rest of your life. There has been so much bloodshed already. I know you want revenge, but you have to just let it go." she said.

Bill wasn't convinced, and his face clearly showed it. "Look at him, Bill. What honor is there in killing Eric now; can't you see how sick he is? He needs help. You can help him; I know you can!" Bill looked over at the Viking; he was hunched over again on the floor; his eyes were vacant and dead. Bill knew that look well, he had it himself for such a long time, but the last thing that Bill wanted to do was help Eric in anyway.

Carolyn continued, "No matter how much you hate him, he saved Sookie's life today, and he saved Sammy's life too. Doesn't he deserve some credit for that?"

"But he hurt you; I know he did. I could feel it when I was sleeping." Bill was working himself up into a rage again.

"No, love. I am not hurt, neither are our babies." Carolyn pulled Bill's hand down to her belly. The twins were quiet now. "Please no more bloodshed, Bill. If not for me, for our children. Please don't sully their lives with hatred and revenge."

She leaned over and kissed him full on the mouth. Bill parted his lips to receive her tongue. When he did that, Carolyn grabbed his tongue with her teeth and bit down hard then deliberately cut her tongue on his descending fangs. Their blood mingled together on their lips and tongues.

Bill instincts told him, Carolyn was trying to distract him, but the taste of her blood aroused him. It started a fire in his veins, and he pushed her back against the floor. He shuddered as he bit down on her neck. The familiar golden aura surrounded them; it cascaded with pulsing golden light, and the air around them started to shimmer with their heat. Their psychic bond exploded in their minds, and they forgot where they were for a moment. Bill started to take of his shirt.

The sound of Sookie's embarrassed cough, brought them back to reality. Sookie was aroused at the sight of the two lovers on the cabin floor. "Jesus, Mary, Mother of God!" she breathed. "You two get a room already!" She looked over at Eric; he was was staring at Bill and Carolyn as if he were seeing them both for the first time. The front of his jeans showed he was definitely aroused too. "They glow like that all the time." Sookie said drily with a small smile.

"He loves her." Eric said, but the words were more of a question than a statement. "Oh yeah." Sookie answered.

"But I thought he was still in love with you, Sookie. All the time we were apart, I thought you loved him, and that he loved you. I thought Sam was just a cover for you." Eric said incredulously.

"Look at Sammy, Eric. Do you really think if Bill loved me, he would let me have sex with Sam? If you do, you really don't know Bill at all." Sookie was appalled at Eric's suggestion. "Sam is my husband, and I love him can't you understand that?"

"All this was for nothing then?" The war, this cabin. My taking you. All for nothing? No, I don't believe that! I know you love me, Sookie. You love me more than you love Sam. Please come with me." Eric pleaded once more.

Sookie was at his side now. She tenderly touched his face. "I do love you Eric, but I love Sam in my way too. I am his wife. We have Sammy to consider now. I can't go with you." she said. Eric slumped to the floor again; his eyes and face were wracked with grief. "What will I do now? How can I forget you?" he asked.

"Bill, if you can help Eric, please do it for me." Sookie asked. She was crying now. Carolyn was crying too, but her tears were for Sookie. She looked at Bill and pleaded with him with her eyes.

At that moment, Pam walked through the door. She saw Eric on the floor and went over and began to rock him back and forth in her arms. She had heard what Eric and Sookie said a few moments before. Her bloody tear filled eyes pleaded with Bill too.

Bill sighed, he clearly wasn't happy, but he pulled out his cellphone and dialed a numbe in Honduras. He stepped outside the door and spoke for a few minutes. After a moment, he returned inside and looked at Carolyn, Sookie and Pam. "There is a vampire sanitarium in Honduras. Its where I went last year when I was so sick. They helped me, and I believe they can help Eric too; that is, if he wants help. I have arranged for someone to pick him up in Rustin. There is a small private airstrip there, and they will have a plane ready to go at midnight tonight. It won't be easy. The accommodations are minimal, and he will only get synthetic blood to drink. But the vampire doctors and psychotherapists there are the best in the world. If Eric works with them, he will get better." he said.

Eric's eyes were feverish, but he understood every word Bill said."You would do this for me after what I have done?" he asked. "Not for you! Never for you! This is for Carolyn and our children. If you are going, you better leave now. Sam will be here soon." Bill said.

Eric walked over to Carolyn; she backed up into Bill's arms. "Woman, um, Carolyn: I apologize for the ordeal I have put you and Bill through. I thank you, and I am forever in your debt." he said. Pam looked on as if she couldn't believe what she heard. "Come, child." Eric said to her. "I have a plane to catch." The two vampires flew out of the door and into the night air.

Bill and Carolyn were sitting at the kitchen table and Sookie was sitting in one of the rocking chairs nursing little Sammy again when Sam dashed through the door. He didn't know what to expect, but the sight of his wife calmly feeding their child was not it. He rushed over to her side. "Are you all right? Is he all right?" he asked; his body was shaking with relief. He had been prepared to fight Eric, and he was all keyed up, now tension ebbed from him like a fast moving tide.

"Where's that bastard, Eric?" Sam demanded as he looked around the cabin. "Sammy and I are all right. Eric is gone, and he won't bother us anymore." Sookie replied.

"Why isn't he dead, Compton?" Sam looked directly at Bill and demanded an answer. But before Bill could say anything, Sookie said. "Little Sammy and I were both dying. Eric saved us both. I asked Bill to let him go; he deserves that much at least."

"Did you give him your blood? Did you let him bite you?" Sam demanded as he looked at his wife neck and throat. He saw no marks there. "No, I didn't let him bite me, but I had to take his blood to survive." Sookie didn't want want to lie to Sam, but she didn't tell him that Eric had taken her blood when he cleaned her up after she gave birth.

When Sam hesitated, Carolyn spoke up, "She's telling you the truth, Sam; Eric didn't bite her. I was here all the time." It was a lie of omission, but she didn't want Sam to be hurt. She knew how much he loved his wife.

"Can we go home now, Sam?" Sookie asked. Sam kissed her and helped her out the door as she held their son in her arms, but there was a doubtful look on his face.

Justin and Mel arrived a moment later. Mel hugged Carolyn for dear life. "I was so worried about you. Are you and the babies all right?" she asked her baby sister. "I'm fine." Carolyn said. "Will you and Justin give us a lift?" They both nodded and smiled happily at her.

Bill turned to Carolyn and said. "Come, love. Its time to go home." Then he picked her up in his arms and carried her to Justin's Cadillac Escallade. He gently sat Carolyn inside, then climbed in beside the woman he knew was his true Forever Love.

*****

To be continued in "Forever Love - The Debt"

Bill and Carolyn's story is not over. There is are so much more I want to write about, especially the birth of their twins, the nature of Carolyn's special "gift" and what finally happens to Sam, Eric and Sookie. Unfortunately, it is tax time here, and I will be busy with that for a while.

I want to give a big shout out to all of you who have taken the time to review Forever Love; it is my first attempt at writing anything, and I enjoyed it so much. It gave me encouragement to know that others found my little story enjoyable too.

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