A/N: I'm so so so so sooooooooo sorry for this late update. I have been under the weather and I couldn't even dare to stare at the computer for long to write. Forgive me? :((

Anywho thank you guys for reading/favoriting/following/reviewing Allure. My eyes almost fell out of my skull when I seen the alerts on my phone. Thank you guys and welcome new comers! Thanks to my twin, you are awesome! Disclaimer: Not mine, except my characters and this laptop I'm on.

Enjoy!

Chapter 21: Bring Hell on Earth and the Apocalypse to Hell (FINALE: One of Those Fangtasia Nights Pt. 5)

CPOV

Before Allura's Attack . . .

I haven't been feeling right all day. It all started when I woke up to go to work from Jason's house. Since he wasn't spending any time there, I made myself at home. But anyways, as I was getting dressed I felt something wasn't right. It was heaviness on my shoulders and a stabbing sensation in my gut. I ignored it at first thinking I was coming on with a cold, but as the day went on it got worse. Something was wrong or something was going to go wrong and I had a hunch it had to do with Lurie.

After work I went straight home. As I drove closer the bad feeling was . . . well it kind of was . . . soaking my skin. I couldn't put it any way but as that. It was like sweat dripping over me but I wasn't sweating at all. My window from my pickup was down and the air was too cool for even a drop of sweat to land on me. It was strange and uncomfortable.

When I entered the house I called for Lurie but she wasn't there. My first thought was that she high tailed it out of here to go back to Pittsburgh with my aunt and cousins, but then I saw her chucks by the stairwell. I never felt so scared in my life. I checked her room just in case, all her belongings was still there. I was pissed at my little sister but I didn't want her to leave Bon Temps.

I guessed she was with Alistair or something, because Fangtasia was closed on Mondays. I hope she was alright. I called and texted her, but I didn't get any answer back. I was worried but I knew she was alright, she had to be. There was nothing to worry about. Besides, she was with Alistair. He wouldn't let anything happen to Allura. A killing rage filled me as I thought about the probability of my sister bring hurt. He better not let anything happen to her. Demon or not, I would tear him to pieces if any harm comes my baby sis.

I was now sitting at the island in the kitchen eating a bowl of cereal. The bad feeling was still sitting at the pit of my stomach and it was getting harder to ignore. I sigh deeply and turned to my silent phone beside me. There still wasn't a call or text from Lurie. Maybe I should head down Fangtasia. Maybe she was with Eric.

I seen how the sheriff and my sister had been eyeing each other the last time I showed up at Fangtasia. There was something between them and it weird me out. I have nothing against human and vampire relations . . . or demon and vampir – whatever! I have no problem with it. BUT, and that was a big BUT . . . no pun intended, but I wasn't sold on the idea that an old vampire sheriff was all over my little sister.

Allura was only twenty going on twenty-one for goodness sake. She wasn't even in a legal age to drink yet! Eric Northman was dangerous and Allura doesn't need to be caught up in his vampire shenanigans. She was innocent, demon or not and Eric Northman just doesn't spell out innocent to me.

Shaking my head at the thought, I dipped my spoon back in my bowl of Golden Grams and – wait. I stared down at my cereal, then the spoon and the red bowl I never seen before in my life. I looked up the fridge and noticed boxes of cereal lined up and bags of bagels and honey wheat bread . . . my favorite. I swallowed the lump in my throat as I pushed myself away from my bowl.

I got up and opened the fridge and everything was stocked with food. I turned to the cabinets, filled with food and new plates, saucers, cups, and bowls. I opened the drawers, nothing but metal utensil and cooking appliances. Under the sink were every cleaning supply known to man. Stove top was covered with new black pots and pans. How could I not notice this before?

I stared at the wall, they were white. And I didn't mean that dull white that I was use to seeing, I mean white, WHITE. The walls were clean, the wooden floor were waxed. I searched through the whole house and it was spic and span. Even the cruddy basement and attic were clean. As long as I lived here I wouldn't dare go up in that attic. It was too dusty and dirty.

It was whole other world in there, but yet my sister cleaned it. She cleaned everything from top to bottom. Now that I think about it, the front yard didn't look like a jungle anymore either. I used to have to drag my motorcycle out the shed. It sucked pulling it through those weeds to get to the driveway. But yet as I look out my front window, I see not a weed in sight.

I smirked and looked back at my – our home. A bitter taste covered my tongue as I thought about how I acted towards her. I slouched down on the couch and buried my head and my hands. "I'm an asshole." I groaned and I truly was.

The heavy feeling in my stomach brought me back from my thoughts. I looked down at my phone again, still no call. "Allura, you better be alright." Heat traveled up my back as anger filled me. "You better be."

-OOOoooOOoooOOO-

APOV

Dark . . . everything was dark and cold. My chest felt heavy like a boulder was sitting on top of me. It was hard to breathe and it was getting harder to stay calm. A sharp shiver went up my spine as the cold grasped me once again.

Things have been crawling on and inside of me for who knows how long. I could feel them. A tear ran down the side of my face. I couldn't see them but I could feel them. I could feel them eating me alive. They tore through me and I screamed as they dug themselves in my mouth . . . my nose . . . my eyes. My whole body felt like an opened wound being eaten over and over again. I knew this wasn't really happening. I knew my body was still whole, but I couldn't help to let my mind slip sometimes thinking this was all real.

After everything, I finally stopped screaming. I didn't have the heart to scream anymore. Even if I wanted to, I couldn't. My voices wouldn't work. Plus . . . I think they liked it when I screamed. It was more painful when I screamed and they ate at me faster but since I was quiet they have slowed down.

I was hanging on by a thread. A very thin thread and I was holding so tightly to it. Holding on so tightly to the last bit of my sanity. I could feel myself dangling between life and death. I hate to admit it but I wanted to let go badly. I wanted to fall into that blissful place and sleep, sleep for a long time. I sniffed as another tear rolled down the side of my face. But I couldn't. I couldn't let go. My pride wouldn't let me and I wasn't a quitter. So I was going hang on and when I feel I couldn't hang on anymore, I'd push myself to do so.

Bitterness overshadowed my pride for a moment and I drowned myself in self hatred for my own weakness of wanting to let go. Pathetic, truly pathetic. How did I let this happen to me? I thought I was stronger than this but . . . but when that thing touched me, he put fear in me that I never felt before. It was worse than my old memories and my past fits. Whatever he did to me, he was using my own memories and emotions against me and twisting them into something else, something gut wrenchingly sinful, insufferable and baleful.

I felt a stab of pain on my arm, then my neck, then face. What was happening to me? Trickle of something was leaking from my arm . . . blood? Why was I bleeding? I shook the self hatred and pity from myself and focused with the last bit of motivation I had left. The fear was still eating at me but it wasn't in complete control. I needed to get out of here. I needed to . . . I needed to . . .

My eyes snapped open. Everything was blurry and agonizingly bright. There was nothing solid; everything was flurried shapes and shadows. I closed my eyes then opened them again. They were burning. Tears leaked from my eyes, not because I was crying, but because they stung. The heaviness was still present on my chest and the smell of my blood was filling my nose.

I tried to move but I couldn't. I didn't know if it was because I didn't have the strength or I was too scared to move. I hated this. I hated that with one touch my world came crashing down with throbbing dread. What did he do to me? What was he? Was this the monster that came through those portals?

I tried to move my arm again but it wouldn't move. I checked my flame and it was the size of a walnut. I tried to bring back the familiar prick of heat in my skin but it was futile. All I felt was the damp chill scratching at my skin and the terror eating me from the inside out. I let out a long breath and refilled again. It was getting even harder to breathe. I tried opening my mouth to speak but nothing would come out except shaky breaths. This was pissing me off! I was not going to be the helpless little lamb! I couldn't be. I opened my palm trying to feel the familiar heat on my finger tips, nothing. Nothing. Nothing. NOTHING WAS HAPPENING!

My eyes traveled up to the ceiling staring blindly at the light. Was this how I was meant to be? Was I meant to be stuck this way? Was I meant to be another version of my mother? A shift of something moved around me. What was that? Was that – no . . . I was seeing things.

If I could, I would have laughed. I was starting to see things that weren't there. I was turning into my mother. I was growing insane or maybe I always been insane. Another chill came making me shiver all over again reminding me it was still here. Like I could forget the thing that been haunting me since I was a child. The heaviness on my chest was digging in my skin. What the hell was on me?

I was staring at the lights above me when something eclipsed the brightness of the light. It was dark and huge. What was that? My vision was still blurry, so I couldn't really make out what it was. Suddenly, something wet was hitting my cheeks. What was that, water? No . . . it was thicker. Another drip plopped on my lip then nose. The dripping was coming faster as the dark shape was moving forward. What was going on?

I willed my eyes to try to see. In and out my vision came and gone. The figure was big and lowering itself to me. I tried again to focus on the object moving in front of my face, pain in my eyes be damned. When my sight became semi-clear, the first thing I noticed was fur. Panic struck me. What the hell was on me? The fur was long and it traveled higher and higher to . . . to . . . what was that?

A loud hiss rung out it and the threatening sound shook me to my core. The drips fell quicker and quicker on my face. It was . . . saliva . . . no. It smelled harsh and bitter. It was . . . venom. My breath quicken as the damp chill fell upon me stabbed at my heart. My eye sight was becoming clearer as the thing moved in closer and closer. As it came I was beginning to make out what it was. My eyes bulged as I seen huge black fangs wiggling in front of my face. Eight beady black eyes stared back at me. Its long black legs stood to full height looking ready to strike if I moved a inch.

A spider . . . a huge . . . freaking spider was standing on top of me.

Terror gripped me hard making my chest burn. I opened my mouth to scream but nothing but air was entering.

"Mrmp . . . mph . . . Eu . . . Auh" Speak damn it! Scream! SCREAM!

I tried again to bring heat to my palm to blast the thing off, but nothing was happening. Everything was locked and frozen. My eyes would not leave the creature in front of me. The spider hissed again and steadied its legs ready to make its move. With one last hiss it went to strike. The action gave me enough fear and will inside of me to scream the only name that has been settling in my throat since this whole nightmare began.

"ERIC!"

-OOOoooOOoooOOO-

Meanwhile . . .

EPOV

I have to say this night has been eventful. From Gabriella telling me that Godric has gone missing to hearing my woman standing up to the Stackhouse woman and sharing one of my many kisses with her, I have to say this was definitely one of my favorite nights in Fangtasia. Bill staking Longshadow was the cherry on top of my evening. Now all there was left to do was talk to my woman about her delicious proposal that I couldn't turn down.

I had never been in a monogamous relationship, not since my human years when I was married with Aude. As a vampire I didn't see a purpose in having a relationship with anyone. It was a waste of time and emotions were drivel. However, with my lockande ljus it was different. I wanted her every way imaginable and her to only be mine, but for that to happen I have to make her my equal and let myself be only hers. If it was anyone else I would have told them to fuck off. I couldn't imagine myself lowering myself to be equal to a human. I was taught vampires were superior to all beings, but yet my little woman has me caught in her web . . . damn her.

In other news, my childe has been very helpful to me. This disappearance with Godric has me unsettled. I couldn't feel anything from our childe and maker bond. I knew that bitch Tanya was up to something. I would give anything to stake her miserable dead heart. I couldn't believe I actually called her mother for all those years. Treacherous snake! One day I would have the pleasure of watching her burn in the sun until she was nothing but ash beneath my feet. The things she put us through were ungodly. Godric should have send her to her final death when he had a chance.

It was good thing Gabriella was in Dallas keeping her eyes on her. Though she was young, she was a quiet little thing, quite stealthy. She wouldn't be seen unless she wants to be seen. I have asked my childe to stay in Dallas until I arrived. Come to find out she was already planning on staying and was going to help the sheriffs with their search. She made me aware that there has been some rancor behavior from one of sheriffs, Stan. I knew my childe was able to handle a small town sheriff like Stan, age be damned. Gabriella was a magnificent fighter just like my Pamela. But if I see such things in my line of view, I would deal with the sheriff accordingly.

Bill's True Blood was finished warming up in the microwave. I handed it to him and motioned him to sit down. He took a sip and I inwardly winced. "How can you stomach such garbage? Don't you find it metallic and vile?"

Bill shook his head. "I don't really think about it. It's substance that's all."

"And you could bear it because of your daily drinking from your whores along with the Stackhouse woman, but that isn't any of my business." I said with smirk but Bill only gave me a scowl in return. "However," I said darkly as I leaned over the desk. "Allura is my business."

His eyes widen only for a moment but quickly went away. "I have no clue what you're talking about." He leaned back in his seat and took a sip of his garbage juice calmly.

"Oh but don't you Bill? You think I didn't notice how you smelled her scent on me when I visited you at your lovely home?" Bill moves uncomfortably in his seat. "Or how you had your eyes on her the whole time while the investigation was happening?"

I stood from my seat and walked over to my cabinet where I kept my swords. I opened it and chose my Spatha I had in my human years. I gave it a couple of practice swings loving how the sound of slashing air reverberated in my ears. Once I gotten a handle of holding the rounded hilt, I walked over to the scum and sat on the edge of my desk with the hilt of my sword twirling beneath my fingers.

"Or how you thought about her when you went to back of my bar and touched that pathetic excuse for a muscle." I pointed the sword at his throat. "Did you find your release Compton?" I pressed harder into his neck. "Did it feel good? Did you imagine her panting and withering beneath you? Did you imagine her moaning and screaming your name as she comes undone? Was that when you found your release?"

Bill leaned backward but kept his mouth shut. What could he say, he was caught.

"I'm going to say this once and only once." My brow deepened into a scowl. "Allura. Is. Mine." I leaned forwards and grasped one hand on the side of the arm chair and my blade pressed firmly to his lower regions. "If I catch you doing anything what you did tonight again or I smell your arousal when she is here with me, you will deeply regret it." I narrowed my eyes. "Are we on the same page?"

Bill kept his eyes on my blade as he nodded his head silently. I withdrew my sword from him and placed it back in where it belonged. "Now that little problem is settled, you know I have to report you to the chancellor for killing one of ours for a human, do you not?" I asked.

"Yes sheriff." Bill said testily. Ooh, feisty.

"Good. I will make the call to see to your judgment." I patted his shoulder.

He stood from his seat. "I was saving my human's life Eric!" He argued.

I shrugged as I got up to meet my woman. She better be out there or I would have to bring my threat into fruition and drag her out of the bathroom. "That is not my problem as you obviously can see. Now if you will excuse me, my woman is waiting for me." I opened the door.

"Wouldn't you do the same for Allura?"

I halted my steps when he asked me that. I turned around slowly towards Compton. "No." I said simply. Bill had a smug smirk on his face ready to say something but I cut him off. "I say no, because I have no reason to engage in such folly in the first place."

Bill's miserable face contorted in confusion. I took a step closer to Bill with heavy steps. "I know how to protect what is mine. You however, do not. Allura was out of harm's way before Longshadow hopped over the bar to attack your human. While you were in the corner watching in your wake, Sookie was being attacked all the while my woman was safely in my arms."

I took a step.

"So you see Bill, what's mine always stays mine."

I took another step.

"And I protect what is mine."

And another.

"And whoever want to test that theory and dares to try and touch or harm what is mine, well . . ." I was now standing toe to toe with Bill looking down on him. "It won't be very pleasant for them."

I waited to see if he had anything else to say and for his own good, he wouldn't. When he didn't say anything I turned from him to leave out the office. "If that will be all, I have a prior engagement I need to attend to, maybe you should check on Miss Stackhouse." I opened the door but looked back at the last moment. "As I said before, the chancellor will be notified of your behavior this night."

I left that sorry excuse of a vampire in my office. I couldn't help but feel like he was testing me when he asked if I would stake Longshadow for Allura, trying to analyze how much was Allura's worth. He expected me to say no, that snake. I wanted to rip the bastard's lips off when he had that smug look on his pathetic face.

I have to watch Compton closely, closer than I ever did before. I have found out some interesting information from my brother when he read the stain's mind, information that I was not too happy about. But all was well for now. Compton would stay safe and I would leave him alone . . . so long as he leaves my Allura alone.

I entered the bar and the first thing I noticed was my little woman was not there. However, the Stackhouse woman was there following Pam to her office, my guess to change those dreadful clothes. I went to head to back where the ladies room to drag her out but was stopped by a pressure in my head. What did he want now?

'Yes Alexander?' I inwardly sighed.

'Let the girl be Eric. She has been through hell tonight. She looked tired and troubled when she went after the little Fae girl.'

'Fae girl?' Why was this the first time I was hearing this. 'You didn't tell me Sookie was Fae Alexander!' I scowled at him.

'Oh hush, I was going to tell you. But as I was saying before I was rudely interrupted,' I scoffed at him but let him continue. 'Let my kitten settle herself before you barge in there and throw her over your shoulder like the brutish Viking I know you are.' His face turns serious as he stuff his hands in his pocket leaning on the bar top. 'She has to wrap her mind around what happened tonight and she doesn't need to be doing that while you're hounding her like a dog in heat. There will always be other times for that dear brother.' he thought with sly smirk.

'Kitten? Since when was my Allura start being your kitten? And you have some nerve to call me brutish, Chieftain.' I thought hotly.

Alexander's smiles widen. 'Oh I love it when you call me Chieftain.' Alexander purred in my mind. He leaned over me and wrapped his arm around mine. 'Talk dirty to me again you naughty Viking.' He kissed my bare shoulder. I cursed myself for wearing a tank top.

'I'm flattered, but you're not my type' I pushed him away but he clung to me more. 'Besides . . . I'm already taken.' I said with a smug smile as I moved away from him to sit in my throne.

"So you decided?" Alexander spoke out loud.

"Yes I did."

Alexander nodded his head. "Good. She's perfect for you . . . mate material. Maybe queen material."

My mood turned sour no sooner the nonsense fell from his mouth. "Don't be stupid. You know I don't want to be king. I am fine where I'm at. I don't have the patience to be king. And even if I did, the vampire world wouldn't accept a human as their queen. I wouldn't even accept it."

"Kitten fits perfectly at your side and Allura is more than what she seems, you can believe that." I stared at Alexander curiously. What was he trying to say? "And for you being king, you need to consider the possibilities and actually think on it."

And the speech starts again.

"I am tired having ties to that brainless babe running this state. She is draining the wealth of this state dry for her own selfish reasons. You mark my words Erik, that heifer is going to go broke and the only way to keep money flowing in is to sell V. I wouldn't put it pass her to sell her own blood to drainers." I snorted. I could actually see my queen doing that. "The only reason I signed a treaty with her was because you stayed in this backwater town. I was hoping you would kill the little brat and take your place in running the kingdom."

"You knew I didn't want anything to do with being king. I didn't want it when I was human and I don't want it now."

"Yes but when you were young you didn't know better. You're a vampire now. You've grown smarter and understand that probability and importance of being a king Erik. It's foolish to try to deceive yourself thinking any different. It is expected of you to be a king." Alexander takes an unneeded breath before he spoke again. "You know it's going to be a time when Sophie-Anne does something that pushes you over the edge." Alexander turns from me. 'Like trying to take a certain raven haired woman from your clutches.'

I snapped my eyes to my brother. "That's not even close to being funny."

"Who said I was being funny." Alexander stared back at me. "Think smart Erik. You smelled Allura's blood. Hell the whole bar smelled her. I read the vampires minds and they all want her." I growled at the thought. Allura was mine! "The only thing stopping them from taking Allura is that you already claimed Allura as yours. That, and they're scared of you. But that doesn't apply to Sophie-Anne. She can take Allura from you without batting an eye and make Allura her pet having her way with her. Hell, if you weren't my brother, I would kill you and take her for myself."

My grip tightens on my throne. "You wouldn't have won IF you tried."

Alexander's eye twitched as the growl settle in the back of his throat signaling a subtle warning. "Don't delude you're self on idiotic thoughts like that one. Allura would be mine IF I wanted her." He said coldly.

"You wanted her since you seen her in my mind." I gritted.

Alexander only ignores my accusation and continues to look at me stoically. "Jealousy is not a good look on you Erik."

"It's not about jealousy Alexander." I hissed. "I seen the way you looked at Allura when you were with her at the bar. I know that look Alex and I know it well. You forget I seen it before, countless of times when you were looking at her."

Alexander eyes widen in disbelief. 'I thought you were over that?' I didn't answer him. I stared at the back where the restrooms were. 'You still blame me that Sofie left you for me?*' I still didn't answer him. 'It wasn't not my fault and I will not have you blame me for something you could not fulfill for her. If you would have done what you supposed to do, she wouldn't have come crying to me.'

'You knew why I couldn't do it! Sofie was mine and she was whatever I wanted her to be. She was mine Alex. If I denied her wish to be turned into a vampire, then so be it.'

'She wasn't your pet Erik! She was your companion.'

'I never seen Sofie as a pet!'

'Yes you did. You controlled her like a pet and then she disowned you like a pet and came to me.'

'And you were all too happy to oblige. I should have known then that you wanted her. I have seen you watching her when we were visiting you kingdom. You always touched her and flirted with her. Admit it that you wanted her from me.'

'And so what if I did Erik? I did want her but I wouldn't intentionally take her away from you. She left you on her free will and came to me. And let's not pretend that you denying her to be turned into a vampire was the only reason why she left.'

I ignored everything he said. 'You started a relationship with her Alexander. You even thought about creating a bond with her.'

"But I didn't!" He shouted out loud. Luckily no one was in the bar at the moment. "So you need to get over it and quick, because this will be the last you bring up Sofie and my relationship. We ended a long time ago and you need to let it rest. Pam already did and now it is time for you to do the same. What you need to do is learn from your mistakes from Sofie and not do it to Allura."

Alexander moved in front of me. "Allura is different from Sofie, she will not put up with your bullshit. Allura might be fragile in some ways but not as fragile as Sofie. Sofie was easily cracked under pressure when it came to you. She always felt she needed to please you. Poor thing was scared to step outside without your permission and she wasn't even with you anymore. She didn't stop with her mousy behavior until she was turned into a vampire. Allura is the type to nip it in a bud before it gets out of control. That's exactly why she is perfect for you and why she would be perfect as a queen. You need someone to stand beside you, be an equal to you Erik. Not a pet to kneel at your feet."

I went to think something else towards Alexander but the door opened in the front letting in Dameon. He looked around the room then looked at me. "Is Allura still in the bathroom with the blonde chick?"

"No," Sookie came from out of Pam's office sporting a leather black dress. "She's still in the bathroom." Bill came out at that moment and hugged her to his chest.

"Oh I can let it down then." Dameon closed his eyes and immediately I felt his cloak drop.

I went to ask why there was a cloak up in the first place but my brother's gasp stopped me. "What's wrong?"

"Allura . . ." he whispered as he focused on something.

"What?" I moved off my throne. "What goin –"

"ERIC!"

Allura's frightened voices shook my bones. I wasted any time getting myself from my throne to the ladies bathroom.

"Allura!" I went to open the door but before I could open it, a slender pale hand grabbed my wrist stopping me from my mission. I turned to left of me to find my childe holding on to me. "What is the meaning of this?" I hissed.

"Master, don't touch that door." She said.

My fangs slammed down. "Excuse me?" Pam looked down at herself but kept her hand on my wrist. "I suggest you take your hand off of me before I rip it off!" I roared.

"No Eric! There's something wrong with that door."

Pam let go and grabbed something from behind her. It smelled like . . . Longshadow. Pam took a piece of something from the bucket and threw at the door. Soon as the red gunk met the door, it sizzled and turned into ash. What was the hell was that?

"That is why you can't touch the door. If any vampire would have touched it, we'd be in chard, probably ashes. It some sort of magic or whatever around the door. Someone placed it there so we couldn't get in."

"How do you know this?" I asked suspiciously.

"I don't know. I had a . . . a feeling." She shook her head obviously not understanding it herself. What was happening with my childe."

"Help! Please someone help!" Allura cried through the door.

"Allura?!"

"Eric something dark is behind that door." Alexander moved next to me.

"What is it? Can you read their mind?" I asked hurriedly.

Alexander shook his head as he concentration on the back of the door. "I hear nothing but whatever it is, it's dark Eric," his voice trembled. "Very dark."

"ERIC!"

"Allura!"

"Get me out of here please!"

"We are trying lockande ljus. Just hang on for me."

"I can't fight it anymore! I can't Eric! Get me out. Get me out!" She was petrified.

"Allura keep fighting! Whoever is in there with you fight them off. I promise we are trying to get in, just keep fighting for me."

"I can't, I can't! Eric, please!" Allura cried out. "Er-arg!"

"Allura!" I went to bang on the door forgetting about the sun radiated door and stung my hand but managed to knock on it. "Shit!" I watched the blisters on my hand heal.

"Be careful you idiot!" Alexander roared.

I ignored him and punched at the door again trying to break it down. "Allura!" I banged again and again until my hands were chard. When I couldn't use my hands, I kicked on the door. "There is no way in hell this door could withstand vampire strength. Someone made sure we couldn't get in. Damn it!" I could hear Allura gagging for air through the door. "They're choking her!" I kicked at the door again. "Cowards!" I kicked at it again and felt the door shake but didn't budge. "Face me!"

This couldn't be happening. This was not happening. How was this happening? Who was responsible for this? Was it one of my enemies seeking revenge? Was it the queen? Has she find out about Allura somehow? Or –

I turned around and searched but he wasn't anywhere in sight. "Where's Compton?"

Dameon left then came back within seconds. "He and the girl are gone. They must have left when we came over here."

"You think he has something to do with this?" Alexander asked.

"Well don't you?" I questioned testily.

"I . . ." Alexander stopped in midsentence and focused on some. "It's gone. What – Pam is whatever magic on this door gone?"

She looked at the door looking for something then turned to me. "It's gone."

She didn't need to say no more. I burst through the door hoping min lockande ljus was unharmed and waiting for me. She was supposed to be waiting for me. We were supposed to be having our talk about our . . . relationship later on tonight. We were supposed to announce our want and claim each other the only way we knew how, through our passion, through our heat. We were just supposed to just . . . be.

But what I saw when I entered the women's bathroom broke me. I have never felt this broken since I watched my family be massacre in front of me. Pain flowed through my blood like poison, eating me from the inside. My knees gave out looking down at my beautiful little woman. Lying on the white tiled floor was Allura's limp body. I started to crawl to her still body.

"Erik."

I ignored my brother's call and continued to crawl over to Allura. I was numb as I loomed over her body watching her motionless face. I wanted to roar in rage but I couldn't do it. I was too dazed of seeing the sight lying before me. I touched her pale russet cheek hoping the familiar heat on her flesh would warm my dead ones, but all my fingertips were met with piercing cold. I pressed my full hand on her cheek trying to will warmth into her. She was alive she had to be alive.

"Erik . . . she's not breathing." Alexander finally said.

The numbness from my body slowly began to melt away and felt the rise of a pending rage welling inside. I put my other hand over her heart and felt no heart beat, but I felt a spark of something. There was something there. I gathered Allura's limp body in my arms and turned to the vampires behind me. I directed my gaze to Pamela.

"Call Ludwig." I said as I walked passed them to go to my office.

I laid Allura on the couch and took her cardigan off, next her shoes. I felt my childe behind me and Alexander near the door.

"Did you call Ludwig?"

"Eric . . . Allura is . . . I can't hear her heart beat." Pam came closer.

"She has not died. She still has a chance. I know it, I can feel it" I said the last bit to myself trying to believe the words I was saying. "If we hurry we could save her." I placed my mouth over Allura's and blew air. I pressed on her chest with my almost healed hands and did the cycle over again. I needed to do something until real help comes. I couldn't stand and watch Allura's corpse like body. I had to do something.

"Eric you have to stop this." Pam knelt down to me. "She has stopped breathing! She's dea –"

My fangs slammed down and I snarled at my childe. "DON'T YOU DARE FINISH THAT SENTENCE!" I roared. Pam obediently listened. "Do not question me!" I peered at Pam and did something I thought I would never have to do again. "Pamela, as your maker I command you to call Dr. Ludwig at this moment."

Without any fuss she pulled out her cell phone and called the hob goblin doctor. As she did that, I continue to push air into my little woman's lungs. In the background I could feel Alexander staring at my back but I paid him no mind, even when he whispered he hoped I was right. He had no idea how much I wished to be right. This was all a hunch but I had to try something. I was not ready to lose the love of my life yet.

-OOOoooOOoooOOO-

Eric kept filling Allura's lungs with oxygen that she didn't need. With each breath being pushed into his little woman, his hope rose. Alexander watches his brother battling no to lose his mind. He has never seen Eric as emotional as he was now. He was a mess, an emotional mess and it didn't fit him, but perhaps it was what he needed.

"I hope you're right about this Erik." He whispered to him but the Viking paid the Chieftain any mind.

Ten minutes has passed until a loud pop was heard in the room. Dr. Ludgwig stubby figure stood behind Eric. "Move you stupid Viking so I can work."

Eric growled at her but did what she asked. The goblin moved in his place and started to examine Allura's body. She touched her wrist. "Mhmm." Then she opened her mouth. "Okay." Then her eyes. She nodded and the lastly, checked her fingernail and toes. "Yup, this woman is dead alright." Ludwig said.

Eric dead heart crushed into a million pieces. He shook his head. "No . . . she's not dead."

Ludwig turned to Eric. "Who's the doctor here?"

"Listen here you tree stump," Eric hissed. "Allura is not dead. I can feel it. I felt her. Something is blocking her from me."

"What's blocking her?" the doctor asked.

"That's your job to find out!" Eric bellowed.

"Erik please calm down." Alexander intervened.

"Tala inte om för mig att lugna ner Alexander! (Don't tell me to calm down Alexander!)"

"There is nothing I can do for you Mr. Northman. This woman has been dead for at least twenty minutes. Whatever killed her did it slowly. I suggest you make plans for a funeral."

"She's alive damn it! I'm not paying you for nothing. So get back and check her and bring her back to me!"

"Eric!" Pam and Alexander yelled in unison.

Right after the deafening screech from his childe and brother, Allura chest began to move, but not in a movement that meant she was breathing. No, something was moving inside of her. The four vampires and goblin doctors stared in horror as they watched a lump of something moving about in her chest. The five moved closer trying to get a better look. The lump moved higher and higher until it disappeared when it got to Allura's throat.

Without warning Allura's mouth snapped open letting out a unearthly sound. Her body began to convulse and head snapped back and forth. The group around her didn't know what to make of this, not even the good doctor. She never had seen anything like this happen in all her practices. She couldn't comprehend what was happening. If Ludwig wasn't seeing it for her own eyes, she wouldn't have believed it.

Wheezing sounds fell from Allura's lips as tears leaks from her closed eye lids. Creeping up her throat were eight twelve inch spider legs peeking one by one out of Allura's mouth. Snaps and cracks were heard from the creature trying to stretch out Allura's throat to get loose. With one last push, Abigail burst from the little demon's mouth and landed on Allura's chest. The vampires were flabbergasted witnessing what just happened. How something that was as huge as a football enter someone's mouth in the first place.

Abigail sits high on her legs hissing at her enemies warning them to not to get closer. Its fangs wiggles and it hairs stands attention, she was ready to strike if needed to.

The doctor looks at the spider then at the gazing vampires. "Don't just stand there, capture it."

With that being said the spell was finally lifted from the vampires and they went to capture the creature. Before anyone could get their hands on it, the spider moved at lightning speed moving down Allura's body to the floor and up the ceiling. When Abigail reached the corner of the ceiling it pierced its eight beady eyes at the vampires and hissed.

Eric vamped over to his sword cabinet to grab his dagger and threw it at the hideous black creature. The spider disappeared in black mist of smoke exactly the same way her master did, leaving the vampires and doctor speechless . . . at least until Pam asked the obvious question.

"WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT?!" Pam hollered.

Eric once again was about to answer but Allura jumping out of her death screaming paused the Viking speech.

"Get them off! Get them off me! Please!" Allura screamed as her arms and feet flailed everywhere.

"Allura, what's wrong?" Eric moved forward.

"Get them off! Get them off!" Her head twist back and forth as tears leaks from her blurry eyes. "Please take them off of me, please!" She begins to scratch her face and arms. "Get them off! Get them off! Get them off! Get them off of me!"

Milk and honey filled the office and round of clicks were heard. Eric's eye widens and covers Allura. "Pamela, I command you to leave this room until I tell you to come in."

"Dameon, I command you to leave this room until I tell you come back in."

The makers made their command and their children did what they commanded. Eric quickly kneels down by Allura and grabbed her hands. She tried to twist her hands away but Eric wouldn't let her go. Instead he leaned closer to Allura's ear and spoke. "Allura, listen to me. There is nothing on you. I need you to calm down."

Allura pulled at her arms again but without avail. "No! No no no! There on me! Let me go! Let me go! Let me go!"

Allura was going hysterical borderline insane. Fear was deeply embedded in her nerve and it was eating her alive, feeding on her flesh and mind. Her layers were completely gone and were too damage to prepare. She tried so hard to hang on to the last thread of her sanity but it finally snapped when Abigail did what her master instructed when she enter the demon's body.

"Hold her down." Dr. Ludwig finally said as she took out tube and a needle.

Alexander grabbed Allura's legs while Eric sat behind her and held her arms tight. Allura shook her head back and forth begging to let her go. She twitched and turned her body trying to wiggle out their grasp but the vampires had her.

The doctor stepped towards the violently panic-stricken demon and stuck her with a needle. Allura's thrashing calmed and her body slacken against Eric's chest. Slowly, Alexander let go of her legs but Eric kept his arms tightly around Allura. The relief swelling inside of him was too great. His little woman was alive. He didn't know what was happening to her but he could worry about that later. Right now, all he cared for was the bundle in his arms, his lockande ljus, his woman.

"What did you give her?" Alexander asked Ludwig.

"I gave her a sedative. It was nothing harmful, just something to calm her down." The doctor said without taking her eyes from the resting raven haired woman.

Looking at the young one in the Viking arms, Ludwig got a good look at her . . . or smell of her. She smelled her blood and realized it was of Fae but cloaked over with something. She knew exactly what that other something was and she only dealt with two in her lifetime. 'So she's a Regular?' The goblin doctor stuck her hand in her medicine bag and got out a citrus rub, lemon scented. 'I'll just put a little bit on h –'

'If you put one drop of that on her I will cut off your knobby knees and make you eat them.' Alexander peered down at the small doctor.

The doctor stopped her movement when she heard Alexander's voice inside her head. She wasn't no fool, she knew about the King of California and though his telepathy is a secret, it wasn't a secret to her. Her great great great grandmother helped the king with his telepathic gifts and how to control it. But the telepathy wasn't what she was afraid of, it was the thing she heard about the Irish man. She knew if the vampire made a threat, he was always good on his promise. It was his name after all, The Promise Man.

'I'm guessing you know her true identity?' Ludwig thought to Alexander.

'Yes.' Alexander had his eyes on his resting kitten.

'Does Northman know?'

'No and I appreciate it if you don't tell him. She will tell him when the time is right.' Alexander turns to the doctor.

'Whatever. It's none of my affairs sweet cheeks.' The doctor stares at Eric stroking the sleeping demon's head. 'Can you tell me what happened to her?'

'All we know is that we heard her screaming in the woman's bathroom. When we got there we found out the door was heavily on guard with magic. We couldn't touch it nor break it down. Allura was screaming for help. She was frightened. Eric tried to calm her down but nothing worked. That's when we heard her choking. We thought someone was in there but we wouldn't have guessed a spider was being stuffed down her throat.'

She nods then hobbles to the sleeping woman. Ludwig went to touch her but stopped when Eric growled at her. "Oh shut up and put your little claws away. I need to wake her and ask her questions while she is sedated." She wanted to say sane but she didn't want an angry Vikiing to snatch her up.

Eric growled again but made no movement to stop the good doctor from waking Allura. Every since the Viking had his woman in his arms he did not want to let go, afraid if he does she would be the corpse she was before. Alexander noticed the protective nature of his brother. It was natural for a vampire to protect his mate.

Mate? Alexander smiled at the thought. It's about time, he thought.

Dr. Ludwig broke a piece of smelling salt under Allura's nose. A few moments after the little demon's eyes fluttered open. Her breath came out easy but seconds went by and it became erratic.

"Easy there little one, there's no need to go crazy." Eric and Alexander looked pointedly at the goblin. "What? What did I say?" When she didn't get a answer she shrugged and turned back to Allura. "Allura, my name is Dr. Ludwig. I'm here to help you. Can you tell me anything that happened to you before this?"

Allura's eyes darted around the room. "Where are you?" Eric's grip on Allura got tighter trying to not let his anger over take him. Allura winced but she didn't mind. She wanted Eric hands on her, just so she can feel that he was real and know she wasn't alone in the dark places in her mind.

"You can't see me?" Ludwig asked?

Allura shook her head as tears fell from her eyes. Her body begins to shake but Eric pulls her close to whisper words of comfort in her ear. With each passing word Allura settles down a buries herself into her Viking. Eric placed several kisses on her face and continued his soft whispers.

"Do you remember anything Allura?" Ludwig asked again.

Allura took a deep breath before she explained her experience. "Someone was in the bathroom with me. He came after Sookie left. He was the one that did this to me."

Ludwig took out her pad and started taking notes. "What did this person have on, what did he look like?"

Allura eyes stung with tears readying to fall feeling the choking fear spreading through her. "He wore a black cloak with a hood. He . . . had grayish skin," Ludwig looked up from her pad. "and had yellow eyes and these sharp teeth."

"A Daunting." The doctor whispered.

"A what?" Eric spoke up.

"A Daunting Mr. Northman is a creature that takes a being's fear and uses it against them. It is a hundred times worse than any nightmare or traumatic affair, it's hell. Dauntings are psychological creature. It likes to play with minds. Destroy from the inside out if you will. It's their high as well as their profession to bring their prey's horror to life and do it over and over and over again until the Daunting is satisfied or the prey is finally dead."

"Whatever he did to her, will it go away on its own?" Alexander questioned.

"No. She might feel like herself from time to time but that fear he placed inside her will never go away until he wants it to go away or if she finds away to conquer her fear." The doctor rubbed her temple feeling emotionally drained. "I cannot imagine what that little one is going through right now. This is extremely unfortunate."

Allura heard all this and under her fears she could feel the familiar heat in her chest. She was pissed. "That thing . . ." Allura clutched Eric's shirt. "He did something to my mom. H-He messed with her mind. He made my mother l-loser her mind and will." Heat pricked at her skin and gums began to ache.

"Who is your mother little girl?" Ludwig asked.

"Ellis . . . Ellis Gracie."

"Gracie? You're one of the Gracie children?" Allura shook her head. "Well shit." Ludwig pulled Allura's arm from Eric's and looked at her palm and then her neck. "There are toxins flowing in you. No doubt from that spider being inside you."

"Are they poisonous?" Alexander asked.

"I do not believe so; if they were she would be dead . . . again. But I'm going to take her blood and see about the toxins in her." Ludwig took four tubes of Allura's blood and placed them in the bag. "I will give you the results later on tonight or by tomorrow night." She put the rest of her belongings in the bag as well. "I'll send you my bill." And with a loud Pop, the doctor goblin was gone.

Alexander moved closer to Allura and stroked her cheek. "How do you feel kitten?"

"I feel like crap and I'm tired." She said sleepily.

"You need rest." Eric said.

Allura shook her head as the fear welled up in her again making her chest burn. "I can't, I'll see them again."

"See what Allura?"

"The spiders." Allura looked up at Eric as though she could see him. "They were crawling all over me. I tried to get them off, but they kept coming. T-they were all over my f-face and h-hands. I tried to get them off but they k-kept coming and I was s-so cold Eric." Allura was full on crying by now. She buried her head in Eric's top. "I was alone in that dark place. He trapped me inside my mind and unleashed all my memories and made it into something worse than it was. I don't want to go to sleep; I don't want to go back there. Please don't make go back there."

"Ssh, I have you. Ssh min lockande ljus. You're with me now. I have you always." Eric whispered in her ear.

Allura crying had stopped as she slowly met Eric's. She lifts her hand to feel his face feeling every curve and dip. "I hate that I can't see you." She sniffed.

Eric brought Allura's lips to his. It wasn't a passion filled kiss but it was a kiss that was supposed to comfort. "But you can feel me. You can always feel me." Eric brought Allura hands to his face and kissed her palm and fingers. He could taste her blood under her nails. The vampire shivered in delight.

"You are still bleeding." His fangs clicked down. "Let me heal you." Eric bit his wrist and put it to Allura's lips. "Drink from me."

Allura smelled the blood and began to repulse as she thought about the last she took a vampire's blood. With a leap of faith Allura latched on and drunk from Eric. She moaned as Eric's blood hits her tongue. It wasn't the metallic taste like Vampire Bill's but it tasted like chocolate covered cherries. Eric let out a groan as felt his blood flowing in Allura's veins. He felt connected to her and he could feel her.

After every trace of Allura's scratches were gone and Eric's wound closed, he told Allura to rest. Finally calm and at ease, Allura rested in her vampires arms. The Viking kept stroking her back as his little woman calmed down. The North Man was pissed. He wanted the person responsible for harming his mate. He wanted revenge. He wanted blood and would have both. Eric looks down at Allura and sees she was sleeping. He kissed top of her head repeatedly and did something he hasn't done in a long time. In his native tongue he prayed a prayer to watch over Allura and send her into a dreamless sleep.

He kissed Allura's head again and looked up. "Pamela you can come in now."

"Dameon you can do the same." Alexander watch the whole scene between Eric and Allura. Yes, his kitten was perfect for his brother.

The children came in soon as they heard their masters calling them. They stared at Allura's sleeping form snuggled in Eric's frame. She didn't look like the same Allura they seen earlier tonight. Her beautiful russet skin was pale, she looked like she lost weight over the minutes that passed since they seen her, and she looked older. Dameon held into his anger. He didn't like seeing Allura like this. Alexander feeling his child's ire, he sent calm through their bond. Dameon gladly accepted.

"Did you hear everything?" Eric asked Pam but still staring at Allura's sleeping form.

"Yes. Eric, you do notice that what happened with her mother is happening to her?" Pam took a step closer to Allura.

"Of course."

"Wait, what happened with the mom?" Dameon asked.

"Allura's mother is in a mental institute. She was arrested for disturbances, a lot of waking up the neighbors with her screaming and carrying on. They questioned about marks on her face and arms. She told both doctors and police that spiders were crawling on her and tried to get them off."

"So the Daunting that got her mom is after Allura now?" Dameon asked sitting on the desk next his maker.

"Yes, but that not telling us the why?" Pam sat in the chair across from Eric.

Eric didn't say anything. Instead he took out the hair pins and braids in Allura's head. He messaged her head and began playing with the silky strands. "Pamela, get Alcide Herveaux on the line please. Make sure you put him on speaker."

Pam gave her make a confused looked but did what he commanded. She dialed the number and waited for him to pick up.

"Yeah, what you want Northman?" the gruff voice on the phone.

"Now doggie is that anyway to speak to the man that could get your father out of debt with me?"

There was short pause on the line before Alcide spoke again. "What do you want?"

"Come to Fangtasia. I have a job for you." Eric nodded towards Pam motioning her to hang up.

She hung up the phone and placed her hand on her hip. "Are you going to tell me what this is about?" she asked.

"Ooh this going to fun." Alexander smiled his shark like smile. "Come childe, lets wait in the car." Alexander made his leave with his childe leaving Pam to her maker.

"Well?" she sat on arm of the couch were Eric head was.

"We are going to take a quick field trip my childe. I need Alcide to watch over Allura while we go see Margery. You said she took the job as clerk at the mental hospital to keep an eye on things, correct?"

"Yes she has worked their for a few days."

"Well don't you think it's time to see what Miss. Dearbourne found out." Eric looked up to his childe with a sick grin then turned to look at his sleeping beauty. "It's time to get to the bottom of this. That . . . Daunting touched what was mine Pam." He hissed as clutched tightly to Allura. "That is unforgivable. I will find this Daunting and when I do, I will be the one to end his existence. Nothing is going to stop me from finding the fucker who did this to Allura. I will bring Hell to Earth and bring the Apocalypse to Hell until I find the bastard and I'll kill anyone who stands in my way."

Thirty minutes later Alcide walks into Eric's office catching said vampire putting on his leather jacket. "So what is this all about Northman?"

"You see the woman lying on the couch sleeping?" Eric turns to the dog.

Alcide turned to Allura sleeping form then back to Eric. "Yeah, and?"

"I need you to watch her for two hours or so. I will erase your father's debt and this will be the last job I ask of you."

Alcide looks at the vampire weirdly. "Who is she to you?"

Eric vamped over to the wolf's face. "That is none of your concern. All you need to know is that you need keep an eye on her. It's simple."

"Poor girl shouldn't be messed up in your vampire mess Northman. She looks like an innocent."

Eric leaned in dangerously into the Were. "I don't care what you think wolf. But I tell you what I do care for, that little woman on my couch sleeping." The vampire's eyes turned darker as speck of grey clouded over his normal blues. "She is valuable to me and if anything happens to her on your watch I'm going to kill you, your sister, and your no good gambling father, am I clear?" The wolf and vampire stared each other down not willing to break contact.

Alcide looks to Allura and sighed. "I'll do it."

"Good." Eric turns away and went to his little woman. He knelt down beside her sleeping form and brushed her dark locks behind her ear. "I will be back for you. I won't be long." He kissed her head, then her chin, then her eye lids, the finally her lips. "Jag ger dig allt om mig som ni ger mig er alla. Du har en sak som jag aldrig låta någon röra helt, mitt hjärta. Jag accepterar att vara bara dig trogen genom monogami och blod. Du har hela mig, my alluring light . . . completely (I give you all of me as you give me all of you. You have the one thing that I never let anyone touch wholly, my heart. I accept to be only faithful to you through monogamy and blood. You have all of me,)." He sealed his devotion and love in one kiss to his mate.

Without another lingering minute passing by, Eric got up to leave. "Watch her or it's your life." Eric was already out the door before Alcide could say anything. Alexander, Pam and Dameon were waiting in Pam's van when Eric made it to the parking lot. Eric climbed in the passenger seat and took out his black berry to text Margery.

Alexander leaned over to Eric. "Did you have to be so mean to the wolf Eric, really?"

"Be quiet Alexander. Pam drive to Margery's house so we can get this done and over with. The sun will rise soon and I want to be back here on time to take Allura home."

Pam puts the car into drive. A smirk played on her lips. "The Gracie home or your home?"

Eric turned to look at the passing trees before answering. "My home."

Wide grins were shared between Alexander, Dameon, and Pam but Eric paid them no mind. He would have his woman beside him at all times, now he spoke his vow to her. There was no hiding or dancing around it anymore. Eric checked the tiny bond with Allura. He could feel his blood coursing through her veins and the little something in his from taking a bit of her blood from her nails. It wasn't enough to make a full bond, but it was a bond nonetheless. They were together, fully and completely.

* If you don't know who Sofie or Marge is, shame on you! I introduced them in previous chapters already. Sofie not so much, but Eric mentioned her to before to Alexander. You have to remember all the names and little clues I give you guys, because they will come back up again.

So that is it for chapter 21! I hope you guys enjoyed it. Reviews are welcomed :) Next Chapter is . . . . Chapter 22: Fitting the Resolve.