A/N: Sorry about the delay in posting. Real life issues abound. Read and enjoy.
Sookie forced herself to eat the food placed before her although she barely tasted it. Who knew if they would continue to feed her?
Russell and Anton chatted lightly in another language that Sookie thought was French, nursing their goblets of blood in a casual manner. Clearly both had fed recently enough to take the edge off their hunger. Be thankful for small favors, she told herself.
Once she finished every last crumb of her meal, she laid the cloth napkin beside her plate. She noticed she hadn't been given any silverware, although none had been needed with the sandwich and fruit. To prevent injury to the vampires or herself, she wondered? She placed her hands in her lap so no one could see them shaking. She steeled her spine and forced herself to catch Russell's eye. She refused to let him terrorize her, or at least to let him know it.
But he was alert to her finishing and acknowledged her pleasantly enough. "Ah, Miss Stackhouse. I hope you enjoyed your meal?" Sookie didn't respond but Russell sailed on regardless, playing the charming host. She had to remember that although he seemed to observe human social conventions, he could kill her in an instant.
"Then let us begin," Russell nodded to his progeny and his prisoner as if he were opening a meeting at the Rotary Club. "As you're aware, Miss Stackhouse, your unique gifts are the reason you are here. Now, I could peel the skin from your body in one piece and display it on my wall. A process during which, I assure you, I could keep you alive and aware for a very long time. And I would be fully justified in doing so, given your crimes against me and my beloved." He flashed a fangy smile and Sookie struggled to remain unaffected by the horrible images he conjured. "But I am not a savage." Another smile. "I'm a pragmatist. I believe we can have a productive working relationship."
Sookie decided she couldn't just sit and let Russell spin whatever dire plan he had in mind without interruption. "But you know now that my blood doesn't really let you walk in the sun. It may taste good, but it can't do that much for you."
Pointing out her own uselessness. She wondered if that was a good move.
"Please don't underestimate yourself, my dear. There may be a solution to the problem you speak of." Russell was far too confident for Sookie's comfort. What did he mean? "Besides, you have other valuable talents. I haven't forgotten your telepathy. Or your fairy power." He smiled fondly at Sejour. "Anton has that shut down for now but I am sure, in time, we can put it to good use."
Sookie's stomach was tied in knots. She might not survive the night but she wasn't going to roll over for this psycho. "I will never, ever do anything for you willingly. Eric and Bill will track you down. They beat you once and they will again. You killed that guy on national, live TV. You'll be the new Bin Laden once they know you're back. Every redneck with a stake and wooden bullets will be gunning for you. The whole US government, plus the AVL wants you dead, too. You won't win against all of them." She was breathing hard by the time she finished. She wondered if he would kill her now.
Russell chuckled as if she were a toddler who'd said something funny but nonsensical. "Insightful analysis, my dear, but completely wrong on every point. Where shall I start?" His goblet of blood was empty and Sejour promptly rose to refill it. "First, nobody knows I have returned. And they won't until I'm ready to make myself known at the proper time. Second, the AVL has its own problems to worry about. They are in a factional crisis from which they will not recover. I've seen to that. And the US government has much more to think about than me, if they can even be persuaded that I'm back. The world economic system is on the verge of collapse. Chaos is growing in every corner of the world. The old social and political systems are breaking down but for the first time there is nothing to replace them. All the familiar "isms" have been discredited. People don't know what to put their faith in anymore. Thus, extremists of all stripes who promise they have the answer and that the world is really black and white after all, are on the rise."
Russell sipped his blood, warming to his topic like a professor with a favorite student. "The supernaturals themselves are in turmoil. Some of the two-natured want to come out, some don't. The development of technology makes "outing" inevitable and they'll have no control over it. Too, they're angry that old hunting grounds and habitats are disappearing all over the world. Environmental laws are weak and getting weaker in the face of growing population and scarce resources. The supes are ready for a strong leader who will put their needs first; who can stand against human greed and stop the ruin of the planet."
"Every Were and shifter I know would rather die than serve a vamp with a God-complex," Sookie sneered. "You're just like every other lunatic who wants to rule the world. Ever hear of Napoleon or Hitler? They lost, you know." She couldn't stand to listen to Russell's smug fantasy anymore.
Russell shook his head as if sorrowing over her inability to understand the complexity of his thoughts. "That is their choice, of course," he said, referring to her first comment. She tried not to envision Sam or Alcide put to death because they refused to yield to Russell's dominion. The madman continued, "I liked Bonaparte. He had style. A brilliant general; a skilled politician who modernized the legal system and infrastructure of the country. He enjoyed art and culture, too. Anton, Talbot and I had a fine time in Paris, didn't we?" He sighed nostalgically and Sejour gave a slight nod, finishing his blood. "But Napoleon never should have invaded Russia, or declared himself Emperor. He should never have listened to me, in fact."
For just an instant, Sookie thought she could see Russell's true face-skeletal, ancient and cruel-author and instigator of so much human suffering. Then the vision was gone, and she thought she might have imagined it. Although the reality was bad enough.
"As for Adolph, well, I saw an opportunity and took it. He really wasn't a very stable tool. But he ended up blowing his brains out in a bunker and I am very much in the here and now. So all's well that ends well, eh Miss Stackhouse?"
Sookie could barely process all the horror pouring out of the vampire's mouth. Six million dead in the ovens, and this man had a hand in it? What more was he capable of?
A lot more, as it turned out.
"Now, Sookie; I may call you Sookie may I not? We're going to be so close." The vampire leaned over as if he would have patted her hand if it were available. "As for your own situation," Russell interrupted himself. "Oh, but first, let's get you something drink. More milk, sweet tea or something stronger?" Sookie thought these human-like pleasantries were meant to disarm and confuse her, to deepen her pyschological dependence on her captors. Russell had had three thousand years to observe his human prey and perfect his manipulation of them. How in God's name was she supposed to defend herself?
She had been drugged, tied up, mentally tortured and absolutely terrified today. She just wanted to lay down and pretend it was all a bad dream. She was utterly exhausted. She took a deep breath. She couldn't give up. She'd have to examine every word he said for traps and double meaning. She had to stay sharp and find any weakness to use against her enemy.
She was thirsty, she realized. At first Sookie thought of refusing, in case the drink might be poisoned or drugged. But then she decided that Russell was having way too much fun trying to impress her with his plans to knock her out yet. "I'll take sweet tea. Three sugars." She needed it strong and sweet to sustain her.
Sejour smoothly rose and took a pitcher of tea out of a refrigerator whose doors had looked like wood paneling so she hadn't noticed them before. He poured her a large glass, added the requested sugars and served it to her with grave courtesy. Sejour had said little tonight, yielding the floor to his maker. What was his part in all this, besides his magic use, she wondered. Was he just the muscle or did he give Russell advice? Talbot had been Russell's main heartthrob. What was Sejour's place in the "family"? He certainly hadn't been around in Mississippi at Russell's playboy mansion. Eric and Bill hadn't known about him, even though Sejour had apparently been in Paris with Russell at the time of Napoleon. Not a recent turning, then.
As she slowly drank her tea, Sookie speculated on Sejour's past. Vampires could have wildly different relationships with their makers. Bill had ended up despising Lorena and held her down for Sookie to drive a stake through. Eric had lived long years apart from Godric while still loving him deeply. Where did Sejour fall on this continuum?
"Well, now that you're comfortable, let's continue." Russell clearly still had things to tell her. Sookie knew she wouldn't like it. "You and your vampire entourage did me great harm. Merciful as I am," he flashed Sookie a narrow-eyed look. "I can't let it go completely unpunished. You've probably wondered why your faithless Sheriff Northman and his absurd King Bill haven't come to rescue you yet. Even though their connection with you is broken, I'm sure you take comfort in the notion that they will try to find you." Russell gave a sad smile. "I'm afraid, sweetheart, that you're dead to them. Would you like to see your obituary when it comes out?"
In a smooth voice Russell described her staged murder and the destruction of her family home. Sookie's mind began to float away from her body. The pain and suffering of her family and friends was too much for her take in. Did Eric really think she was dead? He'd never repeated his declaration of love after the night his memories returned but she knew he had feelings for her, just as she did for him. He would be enraged, but would he know where to direct his vengeance? Or would he think it was sad she was gone but that it resolved a messy emotional situation he'd never asked for, never wanted?
She was completely alone now.
The next thing she knew, Sejour was pressing the glass of tea to her lips. His cool hand cupped the back of her neck, not painful but insistent that she would drink. Sookie lifted hopeless eyes to his black ones. She couldn't read the expression in them, if there was any. She took a small sip of the tea, then a longer drink. He held the glass in place until she waved a hand indicating she could stay upright on her own.
"What are you going to do with me?" Sookie was proud of the steadiness of her voice. She needed to know what her fate would be. She'd never contemplated suicide but for the first time, she wondered if death would be preferable to whatever existence Russell had in store for her.
"My clever boy has devised a way to use his power to magnify the effects of your fairy blood." Sookie almost expected Russell to tell Sejour to take a bow, he made his announcement with such satisfaction. "If all goes according to plan, I'll be able to walk in the sun as much as I like. As long as I have access to your blood, of course. Fortunately I won't have to drain you but can feed moderately at a rate which, with care, your body will able to replenish. We'll be together for years to come, my dear." Russell sounded almost giddy with excitement. "And eventually, you'll serve me by reading the minds of Weres, shifters and humans that I deal with."
Over your dead body, Sookie thought silently. Aloud she said, "No matter how careful you are, someday I will die. You can't do this forever."
"It's true that individual humans do not keep well. But humans have their own form of immortality: children." Sookie looked into Russell's eyes and saw the glittering madness there. He gestured to Sejour who rose, walked to a desk at the far end of the room and returned with a file folder which he opened and handed to Russell. "You must recognize this. It's your geneology compiled by the enterprising Mr. Compton."
Why the hell did Russell care about her family? "You know I'm the only one with fairy blood. My granddaddy Earl is long dead. Nobody else can do what I can." So he didn't know that she had been to the realm of the Fae, and that there were many other human-fairy hybrids that had been "harvested" by the Fairy Queen. Could she use this to her advantage somehow? She would have to think carefully about that.
"Perhaps that's true," Russell acknowledged. "But evolution and genes are powerful forces in themselves. Look at your telepathy. It skipped a generation between your grandfather and yourself. Yet the gift bypassed your brother and your cousin Hadley, even though you all are in the same generation. That indicates the fairy gene is recessive. Your relatives may be carriers although they don't have telepathy themselves. They could pass the trait on to their young. The chances of the gene being expressed is even greater if two carriers mate and have children, of course."
Please God, don't let him find out about Hadley's son, she prayed.
"Now, I assure you we will be on the lookout for another fairy hybrid such as yourself so that you can have children of your own. Something you were never going to have with vampires, I might add. So I am trying to give you what you want most. A mate and a family of your own." God, did he think he was Santa with fangs? Sookie clenched her hands into fists, her fingernails digging into her palms. Russell smiled briefly and sighed. "Of course, finding another like you will take time and I'm not the most patient person. A sad failing, Talbot used to tell me. So we must consider the alterneratives."
"Mating brother to sister would have too high a chance of genetically morbid offspring, however intriguing the possibilities might be," Russell eyed her speculatively. Sookie thought she might be sick. "But first cousins have married for centuries and produced viable progeny. Your brother the deputy is easily obtained. I haven't seen Hadley since right before Talbot was murdered. Have you forgiven her for betraying you to the Queen? If she'd kept her mouth shut Bill Compton would not have seduced you on his Queen's orders, and you wouldn't be here right now." Russell shook his head wonderingly. "Fate is a funny old thing isn't it, dear girl?"
"Well, Sophie Anne certainly was attached to her little concubine. I hardly think the noble Bill would hold with the tradition of executing the human favorites of his predecessor so I imagine we can find her if we look hard enough." The vampire gave her a calculating glance and continued.
"Of course, I'm sure you know that William was the one who brought Hadley to Sophie Anne in the first place. He was the Queen's procurer for 35 years, scouring the streets, clubs and bars of Louisiana to bring her whatever delicacy she was in the mood for at the time. He certainly rose in Sophie Anne's favor when he delivered a treasure like Hadley; pretty, not too smart, no family in the way, and her blood so strangely sweet. Then Hadley gave up the prize-you, the potential fairy. Bill was dispatched to confirm what you were and create a connection to you so Sophie Anne would finally have a real reason to wear sunscreen." Russell chuckled at the idiosyncracies of his deceased spouse.
Death by a thousand cuts.
That's what it felt like. Each thing Russell said made her heart bleed and crushed her spirit a little bit more: To live for years under his control being fed on and exploited like livestock; to know everyone who loved her believed she was dead; to dread her brother and cousin would be captured and forced to produce children for Russell's evil use; to hear Bill was a sort of vampire pimp responsible for God knew how many innocent lives being used up and discarded by Sophie Anne, including Hadley's. How much more could she bear?
"Russell," Anton spoke for the first time in his cool voice. "It will be dawn quite soon. Perhaps it is time to let Miss Stackhouse retire. She has had a trying day and you have given her much to think about."
"Why, of course!" Russell exclaimed easily. "Pray excuse my lack of manners, Sookie. I'm sure you wish to rest and reflect." He stood up and nodded to Anton. "Please settle our guest in for the day. We'll begin our work tomorrow evening. Until then, my dear."
Anton gave a slight bow to his maker and went to stand behind Sookie. Russell walked to a paneled door at the far end of the room, punched in a code and passed into what appeared to be another suite. The door shut solidly behind him.
Anton put a light hand on Sookie's shoulder and helped her with her chair so she could rise from the table. She felt a thousand years older than when she'd sat down. She turned to face the silent vampire.
"So what happens now?" she asked. "I just want to go to bed."
"Soon," Anton said briefly. "Please remove your robe and lay down. I'll try to be as quick as possible so you can rest."
Sookie had the strangest feeling he was reluctant to start whatever it was he was about to do. "Why? What's going on?" She began to get scared. More scared.
"I must renew the controls the loa have over your fairy magic. Their power has waned," he explained.
"No, please." Sookie backed away from the vampire. "I won't use my powers, I promise. They're really unreliable so I never know when they're going to work anyway."
"It's my maker's command. I must obey," Anton said, quite gently. "Lay down now and try to get comfortable. You know I can force you." He stated this as a simple fact, not a threat.
"Your maker is a fucking lunatic and his stupid plans will never work!" Sookie lashed out. "And someday I'm going to sink a stake into both of you!" She was so tired of these bullshit vampires doing awful things to her.
Anton ignored her outburst. He backed up a few steps, perhaps to help reduce her fear. "Please," he said again, gesturing to the bed.
Sookie knew she couldn't win a physical confrontation. Choose your battles. Stay alive and come daylight, figure out how to escape.
She straightened up. Slowly and with dignity, she removed her robe and draped it on the end of the bed. She reluctantly climbed in, taking care to keep the open-backed gown gathered around her. Thankfully she didn't sense any sexual threat from the vampire. This helped her have the courage to lay down full length on the bed. She felt very vulnerable as he came to stand over her.
Anton looked down at her, almost with regret, she thought. "You were drugged before," he said. She didn't have time to wonder what he meant, as he continued, "Forgive me, but it is for your own safety."
Faster than she could imagine, the vampire blurred around the bed and she herself strapped down with padded canvas cuffs on her wrists and ankles.
"No," Sookie whispered, and silently she started to cry. She couldn't help it. The restraints brought back the torture and violation she'd endured earlier.
"I will be quick, and then you can rest," Anton said again.
Sookie made a huge effort to stop her tears. She tried to brace herself for whatever would happen next.
Anton went to the refrigerator and came back with a thick crockery bowl. "Pig's blood from a slaughterhouse," Anton explained. "Not what I prefer but it will do for tonight."
Slowly, so as not to startle her, Anton smeared some of the blood on Sookie's forehead, cheeks and neck, murmuring words she didn't understand.
After several seconds, a low buzzing began in her ears; a very faint static. Anton's hands stroked lightly but purposefully over her face and body, coming to rest on her belly. Gradually the white noise intensified until it seemed to vibrate in her bones and grate along every nerve. She felt an uncontrollable urge to twitch all over like a horse dislodging a fly. Sookie jerked hard against the restraints. She moaned out loud.
The vampire made small comforting noises as if calming a wounded animal. Without warning the sensations within her body instensified. Tiny, toothy things were crawling around inside her, making her skin ripple and distort like a horror movie special effect. Panting heavily in fear, she struggled uselessly to escape.
Anton placed his hands on each side of her face. Sookie whimpered, "Please don't."
"Be brave," he said softly.
Suddenly she felt the vampire inside her mind. He seemed able to open a window but couldn't enter completely. Sookie had a mental image of herself clothed in white flowing garments standing on a grassy lawn, glowing slightly. Black, sticky strings of energy appeared and snaked their way across the ground. She found herself unable to move. She exerted all her strength but couldn't lift a finger or wiggle a toe. The dark molasses-like wraiths began to twine around her feet, twisting and binding her legs together, slithering up her body. Despite her struggles, she was quickly covered in the pulsing strands; a fly bound up in spider's silk. They roped around her neck. She opened her mouth to scream but had no breath.
At first there was only silence. As the voracious threads wormed their way down her throat to stifle her forever, from somewhere came the ability to form one word.
Eric!
Sookie was disappearing; she would soon cease to exist.
Eric!
The loa dragged her under.