Chapter Twenty One

You're Not the Only One

I felt like lingering in bed today. I could see by the clock on my night stand that it was already 11:30. I knew all of the vamps would be dead still, but Erzulie would be up. I had promised last night that I would take her downtown to replace her things. I thought about the events of last night and snuggled closer to my sleeping..okay dead Eric. The thought of losing him is unthinkable bond or not I don't think I could go on. I thought of his friends agreeing to protect me, and I just hate to think of someone else dying because of me. I wish I could protect myself better. After everyone went their separate ways for the evening Eric and I picked out furniture at Haverty's online. Not as fun as going in person, but I know he has lots to do at Fangtasia. Nature called so I untangled myself from my Viking and went to the bathroom to get ready for the day. I tried to put on jeans but they were too snug. 'I could have sworn these fit a few days ago.' I gave Eric a quick kiss and went to face the day, which I would do right after my coffee. I went into the kitchen to find that the coffee was made and there were fresh cinnamon rolls waiting for me along with bacon, eggs, and grits. Erzulie gave me a warm smile, "Good morning Sookie, did you sleep well?"

"Um, good morning. Wow, you didn't have to do this. It smells fantastic." I grabbed a plate, coffee and saddled up to the kitchen island to dig in.

"Don't mention it. You need your nourishment; here is your tincture from Dr. Ludwig." She handed me a glass. 'How did she know about that?'

" 'I know lots of things Sookie dear.'"

I choked almost spitting my coffee all over the place. "Did you just read MY MIND?" This was beyond unsettling.

"Well if you do not put a block up what do you expect? If that is something you need help with I can teach you." Erzulie was being very nonchalant about this.

"You're telepathic?" I wondered if Dermot knew this when he sent her.

"Yes, I am and yes, he did."

"Um, Erzulie could you not answer my thoughts before I say them? It's unnerving." I tried to say 'knock it off that's creepy as polite as I could.

"So sorry dear, I forget that you are not accustomed to being around other telepaths." Erzulie hummed a tune while she cleaned up breakfast and I ate slowly trying not to think of anything in particular. Now I know how everyone else feels. I need to ask her to help me shield in the opposite direction.

"So do you still want to go shopping? Eric wants me to call my friend Alcide to go with us if we leave the house today. Do you mind?"

"Whatever makes you comfortable?" Erzulie fluttered about like she hadn't a care in the world. So I called Alcide and he said he had already spoken to Eric and would meet us at the house I hung up and told Erzulie who honestly I think just plucked the plan from my head.

"Um Erzulie?"

"Yes?"

"Do you think you can teach me to block people from reading my thoughts?"

"I will teach you that and much more." She gave me a very warm smile along with what I thought was a typical Supe cryptic answer. I went to put on a light jacket and I opened the garage for Alcide. We decided to take the Escalade and Alcide drove.

It was a decent day a bit of overcast, but not too rainy or cold. Erzulie and I actually had a nice time shopping. She picked up a few things and I bought some really cute onesies made for twins, with little pea pods on them. We passed a maternity store and I decided that I should get a pair of maternity jeans. They had some really cute ones that made my butt look good so I bought them. It felt so strange to shop and not really worry about what things cost, but I didn't want to go crazy with Eric's money. We were leaving the maternity store and walking down the street towards the car when a white van came barreling up the street and drove onto the sidewalk directly in front of us. Everything happened so fast. Alcide grabbed me as four huge burley guys jumped out of the van. I could tell by their minds that they were Weres. I heard a loud crack and Alcide's body shook for a second and he hit the pavement with a thud. The Were in the passenger's seat had shot him. One of them came charging toward me and I threw up my hands in a defensive posture screaming, I felt a rush of energy flow through my body and the Were plus the one that was behind him went flying backward. I stood there with my mouth open catchin' flies as Gran would say. 'Well Hell! What was THAT?' I looked over to my right and saw that Erzulie had her hands up and with it the other two Weres and the VAN! The air between her and them shimmered and with a flick of her wrist everything went flying through the air crashing into the side of a brick building. Alcide groaned and I bent to help him Erzulie appeared next to me and I noticed she grabbed the bags before she hoisted him up and we ran toward the car. Erzulie barely grunted when she tossed Alcide and our purchases into the back seat like a rag doll and yelled for me to get in. She jumped into the driver's seat and we sped off. We ran a few lights and were well out of Downtown Shreveport heading toward home when my heart finally started to beat semi normally. I was sweating and scared and confused as to what the Hell just happened back there. Alcide moaned in the back and I opened my cell phone to call Dr. Ludwig to have her meet us at the house, it's never a good sign when you have a Supe Dr. on speed dial. I eyed Erzulie in the driver's seat and noticed her disturbingly casual posture; she seemed completely unmoved by what just went down.

"Erzulie?"

"Yes, Sookie?"

"What the Hell are You?"

A/N GREEN IS LOVE. Thank you for all of your reviews and suggestions. I am Beta-less and lost in a sea of fiction so any mistakes are my own.

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