CHAPTER 21
Sookie's day-off continues with a trip to Bon Temps.
SPOV
I had worked up a good sweat moving around boxes and assessing the damage to my Gran's house when I heard a knock at the door. It must be Claudine. I wiped off my dusty hands and headed toward the door to answer it. I scanned the mind beyond the door and verified that it was in fact Claudine. I couldn't read the minds of fairies, but they always felt like running water to my gift.
"Claudine!" I said as I opened the door.
"Little Cousin!" She wrapped me in a warm embrace.
Usually I tried to shy away from touching others because it only heightened my ability to read their thoughts, but with the fae having close contact with them made me feel like I was coming home to a warm place. I think it was my spark calling to theirs.
"Come in. It's a mess, but I think I could have a crew down here sometime next week. I just need to collect all these things and put them in storage for the time being." She followed me into the house as I showed her around.
"You've made progress in the few hours you've been here. Northman must be impressed by your expedience." We continued to walk around the house and I kept pushing around things that didn't belong.
"I suppose so. How long can you stay?" I asked moving down the hallway.
"I can stay a couple of hours, before I must go back to Hooligan's. It's Ladies Night you know. You should come." She gave me a knowing smile. She had been trying to set me up with an elf. You think vampires have sharp teeth, his teeth were like a chainsaw. It made my skin crawl thinking about it. Ick.
"I'm meeting Jason, remember."
"Oh yes, our lovable black sheep of the family."
"I think he used to think the same about me growing up." I fiddled with some picture frames and gazed at the pictures of Jason, Gran, and I when we were younger.
"Well you've been given a gift Sookie, his gift of beauty has helped him in his own way. Yours has opened up your world to things he may never be able to understand. It is both a blessing and a burden the knowledge you hold."
"Sometimes I wish I could share it with him."
"Don't make wishes you don't mean little one." She was right. I would never wish that on Jason, even if it would help us better relate to one another.
"Well let's get started. Do you need me to do anything?"
"No. Just stay in the house and don't leave it until I'm finished."
"How does the ward work?"
"It's tied to the occupant of the house. It will recognize those of your blood and prevent those that try to enter the property without permission. It's almost like the magic that prevents vampires from entering a house. The ward will also prevent those from entering that want to harm the occupants of the house even if they have been granted permission previously."
"So Jason will be fine to enter?"
"Yes."
"What about Eric?"
She waited until she was facing me to say, "Sookie, I thought you wanted me to ward this place because you did not want vampires here?"
I'd rather not admit that having Eric around made me feel safe to Claudine. So I followed up her question with another. "Will the ward prevent him from entering?"
"It depends, have you had his blood?"
"Maybe."
"There are no maybes in the exchange of blood, Sookie."
"Then yes."
"How much blood?"
"Just a drop."
"Well then, I guess the ward will let him in then. He will still need an invitation into the house. Same rules apply, but the property surrounding the house will allow him passage whether you give him permission or not. As long as his blood is in your system, it will recognize him."
"Good."
"Why did you take his blood Sookie?"
"It was part of my contract." I quickly said to her.
"Has he had yours?" She asked with concern in her voice.
"Yes."
"Not many fae, be they part human or not would let a vampire bite them. Do you trust him?"
"Yes, I do. I also did it with Grandfather's blessing."
"I thought you'd gone rogue for a second cousin. If Grandfather allows it, who am I to judge, but I do find it curious. Did he explain why?"
"Does he ever."
"No, I suppose not. But I am sure whatever reason he has for bringing you and the Northman closer, it is for your best interest."
"I hope so. I'll be inside. Let me know when it's done." It was as good a time as any to call Jason. He might still be at work, but maybe I could leave him a message to drop by afterwards. I called his phone and he actually picked up.
"Hello." He answered.
"Hey Jase! It's Sookie."
"Hey Sookie! How is New Orleans?"
"I'm not in New Orleans right now. I got a job in Shreveport." I felt a rush of déjà vu and tried to forget our previous conversation and just go with it.
"Really, doing what?"
"I'm sort of like an executive assistant for a local businessman." My plan was to take baby steps in explaining my position to Jason.
"Oh okay. What's up?"
"I'm actually in Bon Temps right now and was wondering if you would like to come over to Gran's house to hang out. I made Gran's pecan pie."
"Really you made pie?" I felt bad, tempting Jason with pastry, but he responded better when his stomach was filled with some honest to goodness food in him.
"Yes, really. So are you going to come over?"
"Yeah sure. I just need to stop by the Grab It Quick to get some beer, unless you have beer?"
"No, no I don't. While you're there why don't you pick up some ice cream too?"
"Good idea. See you soon."
"Bye."
Hopefully our conversation will go more smoothly than the previous one and with assurances that it will not be interrupted by my vampire boss more productive as well. I brought out some plates and silverware for the pie and pulled it out of the refrigerator. I didn't bring much food here since I didn't plan on staying, so the only thing occupying the fridge now was some milk and water. I haven't heard from Claudine in a while so I took a peek out the window and saw she was standing protectively in front of the porch. I made to go out the door when she said in a stern voice.
"Sookie, stay inside."
"What's wrong?" I asked as I moved closer to the screen door.
"Someone has breached the ward." She gestured toward the woods and I tried to look beyond her, but I couldn't see anything. "Can you check for me?" I knew she was asking for me to use my telepathy.
I scanned out toward the area for inspection and found a familiar brain pattern. It was Sam, but not. I ran out the door and straight toward the tree line. Claudine tried to grab my arm, but I moved too quickly.
"Sookie stop." She came running after me. I heard a dog yelp and I turned toward the sound.
I pushed past a bush and into a clearing and found two green eyes frozenly staring back at me. Claudine brushed past me and stood protectively in front of me. I stepped past her so we were standing side by side looking down at our intruder.
"What happened to him?" I asked Claudine.
"He is well inside the property line; he must have been inside when I created the ward. He's frozen in place because he has not been given permission to enter."
"He seems to be able to make some noise." He didn't make a sound during our examination. I decided to address him.
"Hello Sam. Do you remember me?" He barked his answer. "Good. Then you'll know that you are trespassing. Sam Merlotte you have permission to be on my property." The ward released him and he sat on his haunches. "Either you leave or you can explain yourself right now." His head swiveled from side to side evaluating his options or looking for the nearest path for escape. He got on all fours and slowly walked over to a bush. And then out of the foliage, no longer stood a collie, but Sam in a pair of jeans and a flannel shirt.
"Hello Susannah. I'm sorry for trespassing. I was just was passing through and not used to anyone being around your property or being caught in whatever voodoo you've got going on."
I crossed my arms across my chest and lifted my eyes to meet his.
"Well, next time please let Jason or I know before you come traipsing through our woods. I would have given you permission. You just need to ask. Oh and Sam, this is my friend Claudine." I had no idea what Jason has said about our family.
"Oh uh, hello." He went back to ignoring Claudine. "How did you know I was out here?"
"You have your secrets I have mine."
"Well now you know my secret. You're the only one in the town that does, care to return the favor."
"I'd rather not." I said coldly.
"Well next time you see your vampire boyfriend, please tell him I don't appreciate him glamouring my customers." Boyfriend? I was sure Eric would be offended by that title. Boy he was not.
"He's not my boyfriend." I immediately raised my shields. I knew what Sam was thinking without having to read his mind. He will not be my boyfriend either at this rate.
"All the same, just pass along the message if you see him. I guess I'll be going. Nice to see you again Susannah. Claudine." He ran back into the woods and disappeared from sight.
"You are like a supernatural magnet Sookie." Claudine quipped.
"So far he is the only one I have encountered in Bon Temps. But I guess you're right then."
"Why did he think Northman was your boyfriend?"
"Long story. Let's get back to the house before Jason arrives." Eric was my friend, but I was starting to think he may be something more. I already had this discussion with Amelia, once was enough for today.
We walked back to the house and saw Jason's truck pulling up the drive way. He really needed to paint his car. The flames had to go. I was amazed he still got girls to ride around with him in it, let alone his road crew friends. He brought the truck toward the back of the house, so we walked toward the back porch to meet him. He jumped down from the truck carrying a plastic bag.
"Hey Sook!" I ran over to him and gave him a hug. Then he turned to Claudine and waved to her. "Claudine."
"Jason." She turned to address me. "I must go, but you two have fun. We're happy to have you close by again little Cousin. Farewell." She walked a few steps then disappeared in a burst of light.
"Why does she have to do that, it freaks me out?"
"She's just showing off. Let's get inside. You hungry?"
"Always." I smiled at his reply. He was in a much better mood than the last time we encountered each other. It must be the promise of pie.
We assembled our procured items on the table and finally sat down. So far everything felt so comfortable moving around the kitchen together like we used to do during family dinners with Gran. This was nice.
"How big of a slice do you want?" I asked.
"As big as you'll give me." Always the glutton. I was amazed he still maintained his lean physique with the amount of food he consumed.
"How about you start with this?" I served Jason his large slice of pie and put two scoops of ice cream onto his plate. I doled out my own portion and readied myself for our little talk.
"How've you been Jase? Why weren't you at work today?"
"It was a half day today. We laid some new asphalt and couldn't do anything else until it hardened. So instead of waiting around all day staring at the ground Catfish gave us the rest of the day off. What are you doing at Gran's place?"
"I want to restore it and I wanted to know if you could help me when you have free time so we can make the way Gran would have wanted it."
"So you're not staying here?"
"I have a place in Shreveport so I can be closer to work, but maybe once it is done I can move into here."
"I think I can come by on the weekends. What is your schedule like?"
"Well, right now I am not sure. It really depends on my boss' schedule and some of the assignments he has me doing. Today is actually my day off, but I can call or text you to see if you are available to help. Maybe you can also check on the place if I hire some contractors."
"Oh that sounds great. You must have made bank back in NOLA. Why'd you decide to come back?" He said with genuine curiosity.
"I was happy there, but I was ready for something different. And I missed having my big brother around."
"Well I missed you too Sook." We shared a smile and Jason went back to devouring his pie and ice cream.
"Do you want some more pie?" He was nearly finished. I was surprised he hadn't licked the plate yet, he was eating so fast.
"Yes, please." I was glad he hadn't forgotten all of his manners. He handed me his empty plate and I refreshed it with pie and some more ice cream. "I wish I could find a woman who could cook."
Jason had never confided in me about his love life, so this was uncharted territory for both of us. "Well what kind of girls have you been seeing?"
"I haven't been really seeing anyone in particular, more like I see a lot of girls and hope that one of them wounds up being good." Had to be Jason think if he threw a bunch of thumb tacks at the wall eventually one would stick.
"Maybe you should focus on one girl at a time and then maybe you could learn more things about her. Like if she could cook." The thought bounced around in his head, and then he looked like a light bulb had just exploded in his mind.
"How'd I end up having such a smart sister?" Okay this was getting weird. This complement had definitely tipped the scales into un-Jason like behavior.
"Just trying to help." I replied unsurely.
"Thanks for the pie Sookie. Let me know when you start the renovations, I'll bring Hoyt and my friend Rene over to help too." He stood and grabbed what was left of his beer supply.
"You're welcome and that would be great. Thanks for stopping by!" I walked him out to his car. Before he got in, he gave me a big hug.
"Love you, Sook." Ugh, that was tight.
"Love you too, Jase." He finally released me and drove away.
I stood looking down the driveway, confused at what just happened. Jason was polite, nice, complimentary, and didn't make a disparaging remark to me. He was a little cold to Claudine, but otherwise he was perfectly fine with me. The gears started to turn in my mind and finally the last piece fell into place. Eric glamoured Jason. The first thing I felt was numb.
Then I just screamed at the setting sun, "FUCK!"
Back in Shreveport
I was tired from my day-off. My next day off was going to be devoted to relaxing on my roof worshipping the sun. I looked at the clock and saw that it was ten till midnight. I needed to get all this dirt off of me from working around the house and running through the woods after Sam. Once out of the shower, I walked back to my dresser and heard the signal that I had received a new text. It was Midnight, I knew exactly who had just texted me. Fucking high-handed vampire, that was who.
[Eric]: Play time's over. Check your email. ;)
The games have just started.
Disclaimer: CH's property, not mine.