A/N - SVM characters belong to Mrs. Harris, original characters and storyline are my own. Thank you as always for the feedback, alerts and reviews, you make my day. FYI I have created a banner for this story with a link available to view it in my profile, please feel free to use it if you are linking back to this story from various blogs.
Chapter 21 - He is Mine
Scene 1 - EPOV - 'Found You'
I was going through paperwork in my office when the guards announced Viola's arrival to the compound. I told them that I would see her in the Hall of Introductions and called Quinn and Pam to join me there.
I waited for Viola on the small stage, relaxed on my throne with a leg over the armrest as usual to indicate my indifference and boredom. Pam and Quinn stood behind me, their hackles raising when they saw who accompanied the blonde from Oklahoma. Del at least had the decency to appear miserable to be there, while the glee was just rolling off of Viola. She really wasn't that bright if she did not see the insult she had been given by appearing before me in the empty echoing Hall instead of a more intimate setting in my office, as would have been shown to the Seconds of Texas and Mississippi.
Viola paused at the foot of my throne, not even bothering to show deference, while Del and Viola's two body guards had dropped to their knees submissively. Since she felt she was setting the tone, I ignored her presence and pulled out my phone, parsing through emails and answering text messages. She finally became exasperated after five minutes of nothing but the tappity tap of my fingers on the phones keypad.
"Eric, I really don't think you want to waste time here," she started to say, tapping her foot to show her impatience.
I was upon her in a eye blink, her throat in my hand and her feet dangling a good two feet off of the floor.
"I do not remember granting you permission to use my proper name, vampire. Your Queen may be sloppy with her court etiquette, but I rule here and I will not tolerate such insolence."
I flung her from me contemptuously before settling back on my throne, directing my attention to the shifter that still knelt before me in obedience.
I nodded to her, "Rise shifter, you are the one known as Delaney are you not. I see our worry for your safety after your disappearance to be in vain, you look like you are fairing well."
She blushed at my words and stood as requested, keeping her eyes downcast.
"Please your Majesty, you may call me Del, if I may it is my disappearance I would like to discuss with you?' she asked me earnestly, lifting her eye to finally meet mine.
I flicked a finger to indicate that she could continue.
Viola growled as she stalked back to the foot of the throne, fangs bared aggressively at the shifter, "It is not your place to speak Del, you will be silent."
"Viola, do you really wish to be reminded of your manners again?" I threatened.
She finally took the hint and turned to me with a deep curtsy, her eyes on the floor while she spoke, "Of course not your Majesty, but I feel that you would find the information I have for you of more importance than the words of a mere shifter."
"I think I will be the judge of that, you may continue Del," I stated, ignoring the glowering vampire still prostrate at my feet.
Del darted her gaze between us, took a deep breath and started her story.
"Your Majesty, I was the one that took Sookie that afternoon," she said. "I used the talisman given to me by Viola from the witches to teleport us to Freyda's Palace."
There were snarls from vampire and tiger at this revelation.
She began to shake, but continued her tale.
"I was telling the truth when I told Sookie and the others that I had been attacked outside the University those months ago, but what I didn't tell you was that after I was collared the Queen had one of her associates contact me to tell me that if I wanted to see my parents and little brother again that I would have to do them a favor. That threat and the control they could exude through the collar was how they meant to insure I would do their bidding." She took another deep breath, as she looked over my shoulder and straight at Quinn. "What they did not expect was for you to have the ability to remove the collar or the fact that I was coming to ... care for those of you here. I thought I was free of them until Viola showed up here and reminded me, by showing my family in chains, the power they still held."
She dropped her face into her hands sobbing, I thought it quite the performance, and I knew Quinn was falling for it hook, line and sinker.
I strummed my fingers on the armrest to show my impatience, "Yes Yes, they held your family..."
Del lifted her face and rubbed away the tears,"Viola gave me the pendant and told me that all I had to do was slip it over my head, touch Sookie and chant my brothers name to activate it, and we would teleport to a predetermined location. Once we were there they would take Sookie to speak to the Queen and my family would be set free."
Her fingers curled into a fist and she glared at Viola, still at my feet, "But they lied to me, they had already killed my family and they had no intention of just speaking to Sookie, I watched as they took her, as they hurt her. I could not move, I could not help her, they killed my family and I could do nothing because of those damn witches! Your Majesty, I wish you to grant me death for my betrayal. I offer myself and all that I know of Sookie's where a bouts." She dropped to her knees, her arms outstretched and wrists crossed, awaiting my judgment.
Viola was hissing with anger.
"Quinn, come here please," I requested.
He stepped from behind me and nodded in deference.
"I believe you know this child?"
"Yes"
"I place her in your custody then, you are free to take her where you choose and do with her what you wish. You will inform me what you learn through your endeavors."
"Your Majesty," he bowed to me, then walked over to Del and grabbed her hands, pulling her to her feet. "You will come with me." He walked them to the hallway and disappeared in the direction of the infirmary.
I knew the first place they would be stopping would be to visit Wanda so that Del would be able to see what her little teleport did to someone who remains behind.
Chow appeared behind me to take Quinn's place and I turned my attention to Viola.
"You may rise Viola."
She stood slowly, defiance in every movement.
"Viola, my tolerance is limited. I already know you are here for your Queen."
"Then I will make this easy on both of us Your Majesty," she bobbed her head slightly, her lip curled with contempt. "The Queen has your former bonded and requests your presence at her court to finalize your marriage details or she will send Sookie to her true death."
She was expecting me to leap forth in rage at the knowledge that my lover had been turned and was surprised at my complete indifference to her revelation.
I leaned forward, "Viola you are well aware that Sookie is my bonded, so you know that I felt her death. What made you think I would not feel her rise three days later?"
She frowned, "The bond between you would have ended with her death."
I shrugged, "Be that as it may, I know Sookie was turned, most likely against her wishes. The punishment for turning a human against their will, by our own laws is one hundred years bound in silver, for turning one of the Fae, well I would assume that logically that would entail the Maker's true death."
I caught her eyes with my own, bearing my will upon her,"Are you Sookie's Maker Viola?"
She stuttered, "No, No I am not Sookie's Maker."
I am sure she realized the possibility that I may not believe her and send her to her true death on the spot so that my lover would be free from that compulsion, yet I felt the need to press the point home.
"I suggest you tell me who is then Viola, or I will assume you are lieing and take the means necessary to assure Sookie her freedom," I drawled.
"I ... Freyda is Sookie's Maker." she said.
I lounged back into my throne, a smile of satisfaction upon my lips. My head began to pound, what the hell vampires do not get headaches, and I felt something rise inside of me, to push against my lips. I parted them, fangs dropping and watched in astonishment as a stream of power left me to encircle Viola. I could smell and taste Sookie.
Viola's eyes widened and she writhed against her magical bindings.
I ignored her, a frown of concentration wrinkling my brow as I struggled to understand the voice that was whispering through my head.
Pam and Chow were still standing behind me completely motionless, as if seeing me perform feats of magic was a nightly occurrence.
Ask her about the Queen, ask her why she is really here Eric, the voice said.
"Viola, what did the Queen think to accomplish by taking and turning Sookie and why are you really here?"
She continued to fight against her bonds and remained silent, but in my head something wondrous was happening. When I had asked the questions a slide show of images had started to play back in my mind, visions of arguments with the Queen, ceremonies with Hallow and Mark in attendance creating wards around a palace. I saw Sookie shackled in a chair and then I saw the iron being reapplied. I saw the Queen kill her, the witches chant over her, and then the Queen force her blood upon her. I saw Sookie rise for the first time and her impressive show of defiance toward her Maker. I saw every time that Sookie was punished and every time the Queen used her for her own pleasures. I saw how Viola treated her, how she tried to school Sookie in the way of the vampire. I saw Viola observing her own Queen, who was also her Maker, slipping further and further into madness. I saw how the Queen depended on her witches to enforce her will, and I saw the final meeting between Sookie and Viola, when Viola confronted Sookie with her knowledge of our exchange of power.
My head was whirling as I tried to filter out non essential information, and my respect for Sookie grew when I realized that she dealt with something similar every single moment of her existence, then I realized that if her essence was allowing me to read a vampire's mind, then Sookie had either lied to me before ( I received a distinctive mental slap for that thought) or she would now have that ability when she was once again whole (a light brush of warmth this time).
The power released with a snap and Viola scrambled to remain on her feet. I immediately took the initiative.
"You want Sookie and I to kill your maker so that you can become Queen in her stead?" I asked in surprise.
"How do you know that?" she whispered, "What the hell did you just do to me?"
I slashed my hand down in dismissal, "It is of no importance, but you will explain yourself, now."
She was not as intelligent as she tried to appear when she snarled, "Why should I explain anything to you?"
I did not have to lift a finger, Pam and Chow had her stretched between them like a rack in a vampire instant.
"You should explain before I decide that you are lieing after all, and remove a potential Maker from the equation."
"Fine," she squeaked, "I'll tell you if you have them let me go."
"You really are stupid aren't you?" I muttered, as Pam and Chow moved, the double pop of simultaneous dislocated shoulders echoing through the hall.
"Freyda has gone insane since the death of Sophie-Anne," she screeched.
Pam and Chow moved again, releasing a small amount of pressure as encouragement for her to continue.
"She believes she has found a vampire witch able to raise Sophie-Anne from the dead. She was angry that you refused what she felt was a very generous marriage proposal so that she could proceed with her plans. Sookie had also been promised to her as a pet before your interference by taking over the state. When I told her that your officers had sworn fealty to a human, and witnessing first hand how you treat Sookie at the coronation in Nevada, Freyda decided to just take Sookie and turn her, so that she could control her power and in turn, control you," she explained.
"Did you betray Sookie to the Queen?" I asked.
"I told her what occurred here when Sookie killed that vampire, yes. But I did not tell the Queen that some how you and Sookie have managed to communicate to each other, or that Sookie remembers who she is and what has happened to her. In fact, Sookie knows that I was coming here and that I was going to ask you for your assistance. We had a private discussion before I left her. I do not trust that Del is not a pawn of the Queen still, so I took Sookie into her bedroom while Del remained outside to go over my plans"
"Is that all you did, talk to my bonded, you didn't try to force her like your Queen did you," I snarled.
"I am not a lover of women, of course not."
I had already read everything that she had told me in her thoughts, she had only confirmed them. I would agree to her plan only so far as it would get me in touch with Sookie, but I would kill the Queen only if Sookie's plans failed, I had no intention of becoming ruler of yet another state, that isn't to say that the remainder of that bitch whores life wouldn't be miserable though.
"I will return to your Queen as requested," I stated, "Pam and Chow you will accompany me, please make yourselves ready to go once you escort Viola here back to her quarters, and Viola," I turned back to her, "I suggest you do not do anything stupid." I echoed the words she had spoken to Sookie.
Once everyone else had left the Hall, I stood and stretched then wandered my way out to the gardens. It was a lovely evening to sit and relax while I waited for Niall to appear. He had agreed to meet me after I was through with Viola, there was much to discuss before I head to Oklahoma. These particular gardens were designed by Sookie, with several night blooming flowers and plants with foliage that stood out in moonlight. We had fulfilled one of my fantasies on the bench I was sitting on. I could still remember her laughter when I had pulled her down into the grass and proceeded to show her just how many times I could bring her to ecstasy in the moonlight and fountain spray.
*Pop*
"Niall, well met"
"Eric, you have news?" asked Niall as he settled beside me. He was dressed in leathers and had obviously been fighting.
"Freyda has her," I replied, as I shifted position so that we could speak comfortably. "Has Ludwig come up with a solution?"
Niall shook his head, "Blood magic is complicated Eric, we still don't understand what she did the first time. All I can tell you is follow your instincts, so far that has worked for the best between you two. What Sookie is doing is new to all of us, we just have to trust her."
"I wish Claude to stay with Stan, and Claudine to back up Thalia here, is that acceptable?' I asked.
"That will be fine, Neave and Lochlan are keeping de Castro's people busy in Arkansas right now. This needs to be resolved soon, or else we just may be up to our armpits in a full out vampire / fairy war."
"Felipe has crossed too many lines, especially when news of his alliance with Freyda surfaces. He has sacrificed too many two natured and humans in his need to conquest, the Council will be holding session soon. The political winds are shifting," I said.
"Watch your backs in there Northman, we are going to need all of you back safely."
"There is rumor of a Necromancer."
Niall became very still, "If it is true, do not let them touch you," he whispered, "they will sense Sookie."
We finalized our plans and Niall took his leave, it was time for me to retrieve Sookie.
Scene 2 - SPOV - "Choice"
I was reading a nice mystery when Tasha opened my door and announced that the Queen wanted to see me in one hour at the assembly. I cleaned up and dressed in the normal court attire for Oklahoma, a silk shift and sandals and made my way to the gathering.
The doors to the assembly room were wide open, allowing visitors to spill into the hall way. The room itself was the typical Grecian columns and ornamentation that I was beginning to associate with Vampire Queens. The palette of colors ranged from soft lilacs and purples, to cream, orange, dusty greens and browns the colors of the harvest. This room is where the Queen held audience while she dealt with the petitions and political rigmarole associated with vampire politics.
Today the room was packed and I had to wiggle my way to the front where the Queen was sitting on her version of a throne, a solid piece of carved oak displaying grapes, sheaves of grain, fruit and various fertility scenes. The Queen herself was dressed in a loose white silk gown that was belted with a wide leather belt under her breasts, from which hung a leather pouch. She was barefoot and her staff was held across her lap, her only jeweler a gold pendant.
"Sookie come here," the Queen called to me, indicating a space to the right of her throne where a pillow had been set. "I want you to sit here and listen; you will be quizzed when we are through."
I dipped my head slightly and took my place on the pillow. The Queen had started to show me off publicly once Viola had left on her errand, she had taken it upon herself to teach me the subtlety of vampire politics, and expected me to study each case brought before her, their statements and then explain to her how I would resolve the situations. I had to make that my responses fit the knowledge of someone only recently made aware of the political structure, instead of using the extensive political knowledge that I still retained. I was exhausted by the end of the evenings from hiding my memory gain and keeping my emotionless facade to the forefront.
Freyda called the next petitioners forward, the sight of which had me desperately suppressing a growl. The Stonebrook twins, Hallow and Mark were asking the Queen for permission to leave her service, the rats were leaping from the sinking ship. I was surprised that the Queen agreed to let them go; apparently she felt that they had served their usefulness. I made note of where they were going to travel, there were many who would want to hunt them down later.
The next few hours were a dizzying presentation of petitioners with extremely minor issues, and I did not understand why there was such a large audience for these minor squabbles. Then I heard a door open behind me and the aura of something explicable evil surrounded me. I kept my focus forward, but every vampiric sense I possessed was trying to identify the potential danger. The Queen stood and turned the left, holding her hand out to the figure that was now standing there. The figure clasped her hand and allowed her to bring him forward to the face the congregation.
"My people, I am proud to introduce our newest resident, the vampire Pari Lium has agreed to join with us in our quest to further the influence and wealth of our Monarchy," Freyda proclaimed.
I studied the new vampire, he was a short squat man with a menacing features surrounded by a mane of coarse black hair and beard with gray eyes. He was naked except for a loin cloth wrapped around his hips. His body was heavily tattooed with black ink in abstract patterns.
I called on a whisper of my power and I could see a miasma of darkness oozing over his body. His eyes snapped to mine and a small smile curled over his lips. He returned his attention to the Queen and thanked her for her hospitality, then took a seat on another pillow to her left.
The Queen returned to her place on her throne and another hour passed with more mundane political clap trap before we were interrupted again by a guard stepping to the Queen's side and announced some late visitors. She looked at me over her shoulder and a smile of anticipation spread across her face.
"Certainly, allow them to come forward, I am sure our petitioners would not mind being set aside for now in the presence of such Nobility," she beckoned four figures forward.
It took everything I had not to leap across the room and into his arms when Eric strode down the aisle with Pam and Chow at his back and Viola bringing up the rear.
The Queen searched my face looking for any indication that I recognized those that now stood before her. I used every trick that Eric and ten years of hiding from Andre had taught me to keep her from sensing my elation through our child / maker bond. Her eyes blazed with glee and she whispered the command that would have me rising from her side and striding down the aisle away from Eric and back to my rooms.
I immediately headed to my small shower the moment the command released me and lost myself in the sound of the water drumming on my body. He was here and he was so close, I wanted to race from the room and join with my family again. I wanted to tear through anyone who thought they could stop us from leaving; I wanted to feel the Queens throat in my jaws.
My power was pulsing up and down my body and the scent of flesh burning mingled with my shampoo in the steamy air, as the shields I had built to contain it started to crumble. I shut down the shower and raced to my bedroom, collapsing onto the bed in a seated position with my legs crossed and eyes closed. I struggled to recenter myself, to soothe the magic inside of me, almost an impossibility with the beast already free and clamoring for blood. I released the power ounce by ounce, grounding it through the bed and into the floor until it finally faded away just as the sun began to rise.
When I rose the next night, after dressing I was met at my door by a pair of guards. They said not a word as they escorted me down into the sub chambers to a small room, empty accept for a small table in the center. I was pushed into the room and the guards closed the door behind me. I heard footsteps a few moments later. I placed my back to the wall furthest from the door and crouched defensively.
The door slid back open and Freyda walked in with Pari just behind her.
"Hello my child, I have something for you," she said.
Before I could register his movement, Pari was at my neck and feeding. I tried to push him away but he was so much older and stronger. The Queen joined him by taking my wrist; the only sounds were their feeding.
When they were through they dropped me to the floor and turned and walked away. I caught their words just as the door closed behind her.
"Can you feel him?" she asked.
"Yes, she still holds a small part of his magic." he replied.
I tried to get to my feet but I was too weak. They left me in the room for several days, only bringing me a donor to feed from. When the doors opened for a final time, Tasha entered to escort me back to my rooms, where she watched me shower then assisted me into my 'clothing' for the evening. I was to be dressed in an iron chain mail bikini, Red Sonja style.
"This is a ridiculous outfit," I complained, twitching.
"The Queen is in a barbaric mood this evening, come it is time to leave," she urged me out the door and through the halls to the assembly room. We were met at the door way by two of the vampire guards, and before I could protest they stepped forward to snap iron chains onto my shackles, and then the door was opened and I was led forward.
The aisle stretched abnormally long before me, there was a haze of magic in the room, obscuring those who stood as witness, chanting. I could see two figures standing on the dais, and another figure on their knees in front of them, head bent as they looked down upon the body that lay between them. As I was pulled closer I felt rage beginning to bubble. It was Eric who was kneeling, covered in silver chains and it was Pam's body sprawled between them, her eyes open and empty. Freyda was laughing and I could see something streaming from Pari's hand that was connected to Pam, he was ... draining her.
Freyda spotted me and she stopped her laughter long enough to speak to Eric, "Oh this is so perfect, your bonded is my child, and your child will soon be my Necromancer's bonded. Are you sure you will not change your mind Eric? If you marry me, I can stop all of this right now, and if you don't..."
Pari lifted his hand away from Pam and instead pointed it at Eric but before he could touch him, Eric was surrounded by a shield of blue. The two magic's collided, Fae and Necromancy, with a shriek. I dropped to my knees keening with the pain, determined to keep my lover safe. The shield started to flicker as Pari poured more power into his attack on Eric, reaching to physically touch him. I knew once that happened we were doomed. I could feel my power building inside, demanding outlet, and then I heard her words.
"Sookie, you will stop shielding Eric, as your Maker I command you."
I could feel her influence swarming to swallow me, to make obey her and I fought her, my eyes blazing.
I let my power explode from me in waves of blue silver and gold; the concussion slammed the Queen and Pari back from their victims and knocked away my guards. I managed to stand despite the agony from the iron burning and ran over to Eric, the minute I touched him the power of the telepath slammed into me, seeking a way back to where it belonged. I stood there, incandescent, as my body became a battleground between Human, Fae and Vampire.
The words of a far off dream, what do I choose to be, one or the other and break, or do I bind all three.
"We choose ..." whispered the Fairy
"We choose ..." whispered the Beast
"Eric," finished the Telepath
"We choose our Hearts Desire, and now three shall be one and free,"
I was lifted off my feet as the power consumed and remade me, my blood boiling as the beast's power scours every trace of my Maker clean. I could feel myself fading, when the blood magic that is required to animate a vampire is destroyed, but then the telepaths magic takes control, my humanity briefly returning to hold me suspended until the final power is ready. The Fae magic pours from me, surrounding me and then dissolving me. I became nothing but the air around us, my collar and shackles dropping to the ground.
The Queen has climbed back to her feet, the Necromancer is still incapacitated.
I send a stream of power over Eric, the currents strip him of the chains of silver leaving him free, to pull Pam into his arms. He looked over at me, his eyes wide and bloody with tears.
The Queen is still trying to command me; it was time to teach her the error of her ways.
My voice was the roar of the wind, "You stupid Bitch, do you have any idea what I am? You DARE to touch my mate, to harm our child?"
"He is my King, I am his Queen, and He chose me. Eric is mine; you think you can steal the desire of my heart? HE IS MINE!"
The Queen screamed at her guards to subdue me, a group coalesces out of the magic haze. I tossed them away like toys, and laughed.
I settled to the ground in front of her, my body solidifying
"The iron, the spells you should be burning, you should be dead!" she shrieks at me, "Stop I command you!"
"You think you can control me? You think your puny little witch can stop me?" I asked her, indicating where I had him locked to the floor in a stasis field. I lifted my hand and pointed at Eric, wisps began to form around him healing his wounds before they pour over Pam, she trembles and gasps, her eyes close then reopen full of life once again; satisfied that my family is ok I begin to stalk the Queen around the room, she cowers away from me, without her magic she is nothing. I back her into a corner where she stands, her eyes filling with determination and her mouth opening in a chant.
"Silly vampire, now you die," I whisper, and I released my beast to feed.
My fangs rip into her and her blood streams down my throat bitter sweet. The beast takes control, the power flowing through the wounds to unmake her. I hear her scream as her own blood boils. The Fae strips away her magic and the telepath destroys her mind. We pull away from her, dropping her at our feet when Eric calls out to us.
"Sookie you must stop now, unless you wish to be Queen," there is a hint of amusement in his voice.
"Are you sure you do not want to be King?" we ask.
"No, I have what I want right here," he replies.
His arms wrap around us and he turns us to face him, his one hand lifting our chin so that his eyes capture our own. We can see our reflection there, our face rapidly changing between the three. The Beast with eyes of solid blue and fangs bared. The Fae with pointed ears and sharpened teeth, magic in her eyes; and the Telepath with human eyes and golden skin, scars rose upon it.
We tremble in his arms, anxious. He smiles at us and drops a kiss on our nose. We smile and close our eyes, we are loved, it is enough we are content.
When my eyes reopen I am whole again and I laugh reaching for him. He kisses me deeply, his fangs dropped and I cut my tongue offering him my blood. He growls and sucks on the wound, the sensation causes my own fangs to release, and he twines his tongue over them to slice deeply offering his blood in return. The moment I taste him, our bond is ripped back open, emotions slamming back and forth bringing us both to ecstasy with only a kiss.
A throat clears, "If you two are through, there is a kingdom to decide," Pam drawls.
Eric pulls away and looks around at the destruction. The Queen is sprawled on the floor eyes wide and darting, whimpering in fear. My field still holds the Necromancer in stasis, Chow holds a silver knife at the throat of Viola, and surrounding us, held back by the wind, is the rest of the Queens entourage.
Scene 3 - EPOV - "Beautiful"
Pam's voice pulls me back from the pleasure found in Sookie's arms. She is beautiful as she stands before me, whole as she should be. Her eyes were once again human, an icy blue. Her teeth were no longer sharpened though her fangs were still elegant and dainty. Her ears gently pointed and her skin yet golden, with power occasionally slithering below it. She hadn't lost her sparkle. Her blood was still as sweet and satisfying as before, the miracle that kept her alive to be in my arms when she destroyed the bond between Maker and Child.
I was a happy vampire, this exotic creature was mine, and she chose me.
I set Sookie down from my arms and turned to Pam.
"Pam, what is the hurry," I asked, grinning at her," Do you want to be Queen?"
"No!" she snarled at me, not amused.
"I believe Viola wants to answer that question Eric, do you think we should let her?" asked Sookie.
I pretended to consider for a moment, then continued with the game.
"Well Viola, what say you?" I asked, "One way or another this woman dies, at whose hand shall it be?"
"I will be Queen," Viola whispered against the blade at her throat.
"Chow you may release her," I command.
I can feel the crowd rumbling behind us, and I roar out.
"Freyda, former Queen of Oklahoma, has abducted and turned my bonded, Sookie Stackhouse without her consent. I claim my blood rights; Freyda's life is mine to dispose as I wish."
Sookie steps to my side and her voice is the one now raised.
"Freyda, former Queen of Oklahoma, stole me from my bonded and turned me without my consent, she lied to my bonded, bound him in silver and dared to attack our child Pam. I claim my rights as a former human and fairy queen, by right of battle, Freyda's life is mine to dispose as I wish"
We spoke as one, "Our decision is this, Freyda's life is forfeit, and Viola will be the executioner."
Viola dropped down next to the creature that used to be a Queen. She caressed her Makers hair for a moment then lunged for her neck, fangs biting deep, draining her dry. When she was through she stood up and turned to me.
"I will call the Council and inform them what has occurred here, their decision will be final." I told her.
She bowed her head to me, "I understand your Majesty, and could your bonded please release our people?"
Sookie nodded and gestured, the wind fell away and the rest of the Oklahoman's were free.
I pointed toward the Necromancer and lifted a brow at Sookie.
"There will be a trial, will the Ancient Pythoness be present again?" she asked.
"Yes, she will be."
"Very well then," she said, her brows furrowing as she concentrated. Pari's eyes few open and I could see blood start to trickle from his ears. The stasis field released him, but he just stood there staring.
"What did you do to him?" I asked.
"I've locked him away from his magic, so that he won't be able to hurt anyone that way. But he's still a vampire with a vampire's strengths. I left a 'note' as it were, in his head for the Ancient Pythoness to 'read' when she sees him, with instructions on how to remove the block," she explained.
"Impressive," I praised her.
"Actually I learned how to do it from Freyda, it is how she blocked our bond," she said, "Eric can we go home now?"
"Yes we can, we just need to get outside away from all of this iron," I said, then turned to Viola, "Good luck, you are going to need it."
"Thank you Viking, and believe me, none of my people will come after you, we have learned well what happens to a Queen that comes between the Viking and his Bonded, take care of my sister."
I felt Sookie snarl softly and decided that now was a great time to leave.
"Come Lover, your Blood kin await us."
The four of us made our way through the crowd, people bowing and moving out of our way, until the fresh wind of the courtyard rushed over us. The moment we were free of the palace, the Prince joined us with three of his warriors all wearing the talismans that neutralize their scent.
*Pop*
"That's quite the outfit you are wearing Great Granddaughter," Niall chuckled, indicating my ripped shirt that she had borrowed from me to cover her nudity.
She laughed and leaped for him, wrapping her arms around him when he caught her, covering his faces with kisses.
"I am so happy to see you, thank you for helping to find me," she whispered.
"Always my child," he smiled, "Are we all ready to go?"
I nodded as I moved to stand next to the largest Fae warrior. He held his hand out to me and I clasped his wrist in a warriors embrace, and then motioned for Pam and Chow to so the same with the other two fairies.
"Let's go home," I said, smiling at Sookie. She blew me a kiss from the Prince's arms.
*Pop*
A wind blew through the courtyard, whirling and playing with the dust and debris left behind.