ALL SVM CHARACTERS are the property of the Divine Ms. Charlaine Harris.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Always Running Out of Time
"ERIC! OH MY GOD!" Sookie shrieked as Eric went down to his knees with a moan. She heard a war cry coming from the direction of the forest that sent a chill down her spine. Sookie grabbed Eric and dragged him back into the house tears streaming down her cheeks adrenaline fueling her. 'This is not happening, oh God please don't let it be silver.' Sookie was shaking all over. Eric moaned and she helped him to a sitting position.
"Sookie, calm down listen to me." He steadied himself and sent her calm and reassurance through the bond.
"Eric there is so much blood, Omigod what do I do?" Sookie was frantic, she felt him sending her calm and she was grateful that one of them seemed to be calm and confident about this. She watched in horror as Eric broke of the front of the arrow with a grunt. He cursed himself for allowing himself to relax and not paying closer attention to their surroundings, he would not make that mistake again.
"Sookie grab the end of the arrow and pull it out." He could feel that it was not a silver tipped arrow and thanked the Gods for that, but he was in a great deal of pain. He sent Sookie all the strength and calm he could. He knew this was not a fatal wound, but it had been close. Too close. He could hear her whimpering as she crawled behind him gripping the end of the arrow and started to pull slowly.
"One swift pull, Lover." He instructed her and she complied. He could feel the wound beginning to heal, but knew it would take some time before he was at full strength. He listened and could hear a war cry and a corresponding cry coming from the woods outside. He reached into his pocket and got his cell phone he knew that Pam could most likely feel his distress, but he sent her a text to confirm that there was a problem. He felt Sookie's arms wrap around him as he tried to stand, they needed to get to the panic room. He groaned and fell back to his knees when he tried to stand.
"Oh God Eric baby you're hurt bad." She was sobbing now and as a reflex reached out to touch the wound on his abdomen. What happened next surprised the both of them. Sookie's hands began to glow a bright blue over the wound Eric's eyes grew wide as he stared at her. Sookie could feel power radiating in her middle and flowing through her body she brought her hand to touch him and his body jerked with the influx of power. Eric could feel himself healing faster than even his Vampire blood was capable of. She felt the power dissipate and they sat for a moment on the floor looking at each other neither of them knowing what to say Eric broke the silence giving her the smirk he knew made her smile, "Well, Lover that's a new one."
"Oh Eric." She grabbed him and felt like never letting go. She realized in that moment that she loved him more than she had ever loved anyone or anything. Eric hugged her back shushing her and trying to console her as she wept.
The knock at the door brought them out of their reverie. Eric jumped to his feet ready to decimate whoever or whatever was behind that door.
"Who is it?" Sookie said with a squeak. Eric gave her an incredulous look and raised an eyebrow at her, she just shrugged.
"It's Pam."
Sookie gave a sigh and stood to open the door. Pam stood on the porch looking damp, but no worse for the wear she was flanked by Richard, Johnny and Jean-Paul stood at the bottom of the stairs behind a woman Sookie had never seen before. She looked to be about 40 with almond colored skin and large eyes the color of sea glass. Her simple blue sheath dress was torn damp and appeared to be burned in several spots at her feet lay one of the creatures that Sookie recognized from her attack by the pool when Artanis saved her.
"Sookie, this woman says you are expecting her." Pam was not convinced and not only intended, but was looking forward to torturing whoever this woman was to get the information needed. The woman spoke up before Sookie had a chance to answer.
"My name is Erzulie Dantor. Your Uncle Dermot sent me."
Sookie stood for a moment when recognition hit her, "Omigod! Yes, he told me you were coming. They didn't hurt you did they?" The woman crossed her arms over her ample bosom and gave Jean-Paul a once over. "Hardly," she sighed. "I am afraid I lost my luggage in pursuit of the Grolm in your woods, I was trying to catch one alive, but your comrades made a mess of most of them."
Sookie noted that she sounded both apologetic and irritated at the same time.
"Whatever they are they taste fucking terrible! Got any True Blood to wash the taste out little Sister?" Johnny stepped forward wiping his mouth on his sleeve.
"Oh, where are my manners I am so sorry. Ya'll come on in out of the rain." She stepped back so they could enter. "Um leave the Grolm outside will you?" She really did not want that thing in her house. "Is it dead?"
"As a Doornail," Johnny grinned.
Sookie put a Tru Bloods in the microwave and went to get towels for everyone.
"I am sorry there is no place to sit," Sookie apologized blushing. She noticed that all of the Vampires were on one side of the room eyeing Erzulie suspiciously on the other. "I didn't realize you would be here so soon."
"Do not worry my dear girl. I am on time." The woman answered as she dried herself. They stood in an awkward silence. Eric was the first to speak, "Has the area been secured?"
"Yes, Master." Pam answered still eyeing Erzulie.
"Okay, so um…what now?" Sookie looked at Eric. What she really wanted to do was go back to Eric's lair and inspect every inch of him to make sure he was okay and then hold onto him for dear life. 'Maybe we can just stay in the lair until the babies are born.' She thought to herself.
"Sookie and I are going to my home in Shreveport. Pam, you and the others will take Miss Dantor to the house on Baker's Street and meet us at the house." Eric was in Sheriff Mode.
"No Sir, I am afraid that s unacceptable." Erzulie spoke and every eye in the room snapped to her. Eric tried to keep his composure, "What did you say?" Though they all knew with his Vampire hearing he knew exactly what she'd said.
"I have been instructed to stay with the Young Miss. I have taken a vow to protect her and her unborn.."
"UNBORN?" Johnny and Richard both exclaimed and Jean-Paul just raised his eyebrows in surprise.
"Sookie is pregnant." Eric said flatly giving Erzulie what can only be described as a death glare.
"Well, that explains a lot now don't it?" Richard said staring at Eric. 'I had been surprised at Eric's commitment to a human girl, but a pregnant human girl at that? Something is amiss.' He thought to himself.
"Well Bloody Hell! How did that happen?" Johnny exclaimed breaking the silence. Sookie giggled and everyone turned to stare at her.
"I can give you a lesson on the birds and the bees later Johnny dear." Pam quipped smirking at Sookie.
"You know very bloody well what I mean! Whose child do you carry?" He was addressing Sookie at this point and she thought he looked rather put out.
"She carries MY child brother." Eric spoke up standing in front of Sookie instinctively.
Eric's friends just stared at him in disbelief. Richard began, "If you claim the child it is your choice my old friend, but you must see that the child will be a target, and a weakness."
"I do not claim anything. I am biologically the child's Father." Eric spat indignantly.
"Actually, she is carrying twins so …." Pam interjected.
"TWINS!? Well this just keeps getting better. When did you plan on telling us about this Brother?" Sookie thought Johnny looked as hurt as he was irritated.
"Perhaps we should discuss this at another time," Richard said flicking an eye toward Erzulie.
"No need to mince words on my account, I am aware of the situation."
"Eric, Dermot told me she was coming he said I could trust her." Sookie looked at Erzulie and tried to take a dip into her mind. "'Trust your instincts child I mean you no harm.'" Sookie remained stoned faced at the woman's mental communication. "I trust her I think we should bring her with us."
"Very well, let's go then." Eric put his arm protectively around Sookie and she wrapped her arms around his waist.
They all walked out to the cars. Sookie and Eric rode in the Corvette and everyone else pilled into Pam's Town and Country.
"Eric, are you feeling okay?" Sookie was still concerned about his injury, it hurt her to see him in pain that way.
"Min Älskare," He looked over and smiled at her taking her hand and kissing it, "Min ängel, I am fine. I am more concerned for your well being."
"Well that's sweet and all, but I was not the one shot in the gut with an arrow." She looked at him wide eyed, and honestly shocked at how calm and flip he was being about this. He kissed her hand again and smiled.
"I believe with the arrival of Erzulie we will finally have some answers. She knew what that creature was, and she is not human.."
"She isn't?" Sookie was a little taken aback, which was ridiculous when she really thought about it considering that Erzulie had perused and killed one of the creatures.
"Hardly," Eric continued. "At any rate whatever information she can give us is more than we had and will be of help in how to proceed against our enemies." Sookie could feel that Eric was genuinely pleased at this new development. "Tell me Lover, how did you heal me back there?"
"I don't know. I was so upset. I felt the power here," she touched her not so flat tummy, "and I felt it build and move to my hands. Do you think it was the babies?" She began to rub her belly unconsciously, thinking of how powerful these little beings might be and it scared her.
"Possibly, the healer said that Elves are healers. It could be that you had the ability all along." Eric noticed her hand rubbing her belly and smiled to himself. 'She is finally beginning to accept this.' He thought.
Behind the Corvette Pam had a white knuckle grip on the steering wheel, 'Sookie's close calls are getting too close I fear her nine lives may be running out. I fear my Master would not survive her death.' Pam eyed Erzulie sitting in the back seat with Jean-Paul. 'I hope this woman, who or WHAT ever she is can protect my Master's bonded.' Sitting beside Pam in the frontseat Johnny grimaced at the bad after taste the creature left in his mouth.
"Whatever those things are they really do taste bloody awful."
"What possessed you to feed from it anyway?" Pam hissed.
"I planned on killing the bloke and I hadn't fed, so it seemed like a good idea at the time." He really fought the urge to spit out of the window.
"Your tastes never were terribly discerning ol'bean." Richard laughed from the middle seat.
"Perhaps our lovely Pamela will be able to relieve my sufferin during our 'birds and the bees' lesson." Johnny smiled at her when he said this and Richard laughed.
"You smoked entirely too much Opium when you were human." Pam said haughtily.
In the rear Erzulie sat next to Jean-Paul who was pointedly staring at her. "Is there something you would like to say Vampire or do you just plan to stare at me the entire trip?" She stared back at him waiting for a reply when he began to lean into her personal space until his face was inches from hers.
He bent his head to her neck his cool breath giving her goose bumps as he inhaled deeply his lips grazing her ear he whispered so that only she would hear, "I KNOW what you are." Smiling he returned to his side of the seat he could hear her heart pounding and smelled her arousal.
"Animal." She murmured indignantly.
When they all arrived Eric and Sookie parked in the garage and entered through there, the rest went in through the front door. Sookie showed Erzulie to the guest room and gave her something clean to put on. "We can go into town and get you some things tomorrow. I'll have Eric pay for them since you lost your things protecting me. It's the least we can do for you." Sookie said.
"Thank you, I appreciate it."
Sookie closed the door behind her and went to the lair to get cleaned up. She still had Eric's blood on her shirt and smeared on her arms. She could tell Eric had already cleaned himself up because he left his wet towel on the floor. 'Men.' Sookie thought to herself as she picked his towel up before she got into the shower.
Upstairs I the living room Eric stood before his friends and cohorts explaining everything about Saladin's visit and Sookie's pregnancy to them. He told them about Las Vegas and the things the Ancient Pythoness said to him. He told them that Sookie was unaware of what happened in Vegas and wanted to keep it that was as she was alarmed enough as it is.
LinMai was the first to speak. "So you have summoned us here just to help you protect your human, or do you plan to join Saladin in removing DeCastro?"
"I have not intentions of moving against DeCastro unless provoked. Currently the safety of my Bonded and unborn children are my top priority." Eric waited for a response.
"I will stay and help you and yours Viking, you have my word," Jean-Paul stood and approached Eric shaking his hand at the elbow. Richard , Johnny and Ian also agreed to help. Boris sat motionless next to LinMai, "Boris follow LinMai."
All eyes were on LinMai expectantly. Eric knew her to be a very pragmatic and cautious vampire, she was as old as him and did not get to be that way by making hasty decisions. Eric hoped that she would join him. He knew her tactical skills as well as her combative abilities were rivaled only by his own. Sookie had finished cleaning herself up and waited around the corner catching the last part of thre conversation. All of the vampires in the room knew she was standing there of course, but ignored her presence awaiting LinMai's decidion. Sookie took a deep breath and came from around the corner.
"LinMai," all eyes turned to look at Sookie. "I thank you for coming when Eric called, I understand that you do not know me and to you I am just a human so I will understand and hold no fault against you if you decide not to help us. Frankly, we have Gumbo pot full of shit going on and it seems someone is always trying to beat me up, kidnap me, kill me or all three. And I will feel awful terrible if something happens to one more person while they are trying to protect me." Sookie figited a little never breaking eye contact with LinMai.
LinMai thought for a moment of the fate of her own children over a thousand years ago, and she felt a sadness that she had long forgotten. She decided then that she would help this little human girl protect her children. She would do what could not be done for her or her children when she herself was a young human girl.
LinMai broke into peals of laughter that reminded Sookie of tinkling bells, "You amuse me Sookie Stackhouse. I will help you defend your young."
A/N- So we have a band of merry Vamps to help Sookie and Eric battle their enemies. Hit the green and let me know what you think. GREEN IS LOVE I am Beta-less so any mistakes are my own