Authors Notes: Hello my wonderful readers! Here is the next chapter. :)
I wanted to keep on writing but this chapter was getting rather long, so I decided, very reluctantly, to make it into two chapters. I hope you are not mad at me. :P
On a serious note, this chapter might be graphic for some people. I do not condone this kind of behavior. I am a writer that looks at all aspects and writes about hard topics. If this is offensive to you in any way, I am sorry.
Please enjoy this chapter and tell me what you think!
Thank you very much for reading my story and always reviewing! Keep up the good work! :)
I own nothing, nada, zip zilch!
R&R! Make me happy. :P
XOXO-Sharamoon
I had a good three hours of getting to know Amelia better and eating some toast. Yes, just toast. I asked Pam if we could get more to eat than just bread and she gave me a look that told me she didn't know what I was complaining about. Finally, she promised to get more food in the house tonight and I thanked her very heartily. After doing everything I needed to do, I nearly ran back up the stairs. Eric would be up in a few minutes and I wanted to be with him when he woke.
I slipped into the room silently and tiptoed over to the bed and sank under the covers. My arms automatically went around the Viking and I snuggled as close as I could. I kissed his shoulder and relaxed more into the bed. After a few minutes Eric began to stir. His arm that I wrapped back around my body, gripped the material of my shirt. His head moved forward and his face fell onto the top of my head. I heard him take a deep breath and sigh.
"Good afternoon" I said softly; my hands rubbing circles on his bare back.
"Same to you, my lover," He whispered. "I missed you."
I smiled into his chest and I felt my cheeks turn a shade darker.
"Probably not as much as I missed you." I countered.
"Oh, I highly doubt that." He laughed deeply. His arms enclosed around me and I felt myself being shifted so I lay on top of his beautiful body. "I dreamt about you. Your beautiful body," I beamed at him. "Oh yes and your magnificent smile."
I felt him shift below me. He was aroused; I could feel it gliding against me. I closed my eyes as the initial heat started in my body. Moving like wildfire once again. I wondered if this feeling would ever die. Then I knew how stupid I sounded. I shouldn't even have thought of it. Eric was one of a kind and I knew just by looking into his eyes that I would always feel the way I feel right now; because I could never truly get enough of this Viking god.
"My lover, do you want me?" Eric's eyes smoldered and that alone could set me aflame. I nodded. "Do you need me?" His hands got busy then. I looked down as he was unbuttoning my jeans and then pulling down the fly. He guided the material apart as far as it would go to reveal my red lace panties. "Red looks amazing on you." He told me and I had to laugh.
"You've told me that before." I stated but that was as far as I could go to talk. His thumb found my nub and began rubbing. My head fell back and I let out a grunt. His hands moved away and up to my shirt and took it off. I wasn't wearing a bra; I honestly didn't think I would need one since I wasn't going out at all. His eyebrows rose as he took in the hardness of my nipples. Eric's hands fell to my bottom and lifted me casually until I was off his lap and then down on the bed where he then proceeded to take off my pants. That went very quick as I could feel his need for me.
In one swift movement he was hovering over my form and ready to enter. His blue eyes met mine and I felt him push in. I gasped in delight and my hands went up to his biceps and held on as he slowly pumped in and out of me. I leaned up as far as I could, longing to feel his lips on mine. Eric met me half way which was very sweet of him. His tongue licked my bottom lip, wanting entrance and I gave it to him gladly. As he was exploring my mouth he began to move faster. With more purpose. I moaned hard into his mouth as he began to hit the right spot. I felt his fangs drop and I pushed my tongue against them, breaking open the flesh and letting my blood flow into his mouth.
We both wanted the end result quicker than we had the night before. I needed to feel him as he hit his orgasm. I craved it, wanting it more than my own. I began to move with him, circling my hips as his thrusts came quicker together and he went deeper than he did before. Eric groaned as he pushed deep within me, he kept still like that but I didn't. My hips swayed back and forth as fast as I could manage. I was getting close and I began racing to the finish line. It became a frenzy as I gripped onto his shoulders for support. I lifted my bottom off the bed and started moving his member in and out of my body. Eric looked down at me with complete surprise as I rocked back and forth. Eric's head fell down and I heard him growl. My lips were in distance of his ear and I leaned over.
"Come with me Eric." I panted and licked his ear lobe. He growled primitively and took over. He leaned up and sat on his knees, pulling my body to his with no effort. My back bent awkwardly so I could get closer to him. I wrapped my legs around his waist as he pushed into me again. This was a very odd position and one I have never been in before but I enjoyed immensely. I could feel him as he went deeper within my walls. Eric increased the speed and began to pump in and out of my body with purpose until we were both falling off the edge, crying out each other's names.
Eric fell limply at my side and pulled me closer to him. I cuddled, enjoying this moment as the aftershocks fell off of me. I could feel myself trembling and I could only be grateful for it. I really enjoyed being like this with him and I told him so. He smiled and kissed my head. I felt his hand run through my hair casually, as if this was something we did every day.
Eric wanted to know how my day was when he was asleep and I told him. He asked quite abruptly if I missed home and I told him that I did. That I missed my friends and family but that I was torn between it as well.
"What do you mean?" Eric whispered to me.
"I miss everyone but I find that I wouldn't trade anything for what Im experiencing right now. Being with you, here in this room. We're having some rough times right now but that doesn't stop me from enjoying the time we have together." I pulled him in for a hug. His arms closed around my back tightly as his head fell between my neck. I felt safe here, no matter what was going on. Eric was my safe harbor, protecting me even when he doesn't realize it.
Eric's mood shifted then and it caught me by surprised. He seemed apprehensive and that got me worried.
"Sookie..." He whispered and his voice held so much emotion in it. I didn't understand what was wrong.
"What's the matter Eric?" I rubbed his cheek, trying any way I could think of to sooth him. I could feel his tension and it was starting to scare me.
"What if we don't get my memory back?"
"What? Of course we will!" I was relieved for a few seconds as I said that. If that's what was wrong, then I had to make him understand that we would get it back no matter what we had to do.
"No, that's not what I mean. What if we just forget about it and live as we are now?" His fingers found mine and wove them together. I tried to catch his eyes to see if he was serious, but he wouldn't look at me. His eyes were cast down and looking at our hands together.
"What...what are you saying? You don't want your memories back? You don't want to be your normal self?" I was more than confused to say the least.
"What you told me before and this...feeling I have. I don't think I was that great of a person. I feel like I hid from myself, cared about my own wellbeing more than anyone else. You said I always drag you into my business. I don't want to do that anymore." He stopped and looked at me sadly. Oh, god bless him.
"Oh Eric." My eyes grew sad. "I drag my own self into the vampire politics without even realizing I do it. It's my fault, not yours. I shouldn't have said that, because I honestly didn't mean it. Anyway, I know you won't be happy living this way the rest of your life. It's not fair for you; you have a business and so many other things that make up your life. I don't want you to throw it all away, just because you don't want to bring me down. You won't do that to me. You don't do that to me. I promise."
I watched as his eyes grew suddenly intense. "I want to be with you, only you. I want to give up everything, just for you. I will get a real job and I will support you..." He paused. "I could love you."
"Sounds a lot like marriage to me." I tried to make a joke but he wasn't having it. His eyes burrowed into mine.
"Yes." He whispered.
I looked deep within his eyes and I knew I couldn't allow him to give his life up for me. Even though it sounded so great to me on a selfish level. I couldn't let him do that because I know Eric and I know he wouldn't want this life. I wouldn't do that to him. Because truthfully, the Eric I have come to know and respect isn't this side of Eric. I want him to be his normal self, no matter how he would feel about me afterwards. I knew I could be making a great leap into believing that he cared for me, when he is himself but I truly do believe he does. No matter how nervous I am that he wouldn't want me afterward, it shouldn't make want to keep him like this. It isn't fair and I didn't want it that way. I cared about him too much for that.
"No, Eric. I don't want you to live this life not knowing who you really are. I want you to have your own life and be happy. You wouldn't be saying all of this if you were yourself."
"I don't know if I like my old self." He told me, sarcasm strong in his voice but to be honest his words hurt me. I wanted nothing more than Eric to be right back where he belongs with his own mind and happy with where he is in his life. I didn't want him to hate half of who he is.
Truthfully I missed that side of Eric. I missed how he held himself; his strong personality. That he had confidence when everyone else would have given up. He might annoy the hell out of me sometimes but that's how Eric is, that's how he is supposed to be.
"But I do." I whispered and I knew it to be true.
Eric gave me one last look before leaning over and began kissing me. "Whatever you want, I will give you."
I smiled. "I just want you to be back to your old self."
"You don't like me now?" He seemed sad.
"No, no! I didn't mean it like that. I miss your attitude and everything that you did, but I really like the way you act now." I giggled, remembering some moments. I leaned up and kissed him lightly. "I like all caring and adoring you give me." I bit my lip. "Promise me one thing?"
His lips brushed mine. "Of course."
"That you will keep these emotions you have for me after we get you back into your right mind. That you will still give a shit about me." I giggled to myself.
"I always have." He told me with complete sincerity.
A little while later, Eric and I came down the stairs. I grabbed his hand and held it close to my beating heart. I didn't know that would set him off. Eric pushed me up against the wall and leaned in for a kiss. I had to laugh. He couldn't keep his hands off of me and I liked that. I really and truly did. This kiss held so much longing in it that I wanted nothing more than to go back upstairs and have at it again but Pam did ask us to come down so we could talk.
Very reluctantly I sighed and moved out from under Eric's grasp. He growled in his chest, letting me know he didn't want to be finished with me. I still had the conversation buzzing in my brain. I knew I did the right thing and I flushed with pride that I picked him over my own selfish nagging fear. I didn't know that I would have that emotion. Why now would I be afraid, when we got his mind back that he wouldn't care anymore? I thought I believe that he does care for me. I guess all girls second guess themselves but is being afraid so bad? That just means that I don't want to lose his companionship after Eric is returned to normal. I truly do care for him and I guess that I am just being too paranoid.
Pam was sitting at the table with Amelia and we watched her close her phone.
"Alcide." She said to me as a way of telling who the caller was. "He was telling me that they believe they found the warehouse the witches are using. There are magical forces around the entire place. There are more weres in their coven than we originally thought, by the way. A lot more. They are still scouting and he will get back to me in an hour. If this is them, then we attack at dusk tomorrow."
I nodded in agreement. "Good now we can get started on making a plan."
"Good idea." Pam said.
Eric kissed me on the cheek before he took a seat. I on the other hand stayed standing. There was something outside. Their thoughts were red and wild. My eyes snapped forward to the window that looked out front of where we stood.
"We have company." I said and everyone was on their feet.
Amelia brought her hands together as a rather durable looking man stepped from the shadows. "The wards will hold, the wards will hold." She chanted again and again as the man walked toward the house.
He was right on the barrier then I could see it now. Something totally shocking and unexpected happened to him then. As soon as his foot touched the barrier, it looked as if he was struck by lightning. He screamed as he was thrown in the air with such force, that his body arched in an odd distorted way before he fell back and on to the ground not moving.
"Yes!" Amelia screamed and I saw Pam give her a fleeting smile.
"Now watch them try to get in!" She said and started doing a happy dance. Pam and Eric were currently distracted by Amelia's outburst and therefore didn't see what I saw.
"They might not be able to get in, but were definitely going to have to get out." I said and no more than my last word, Molotov cocktails starting bursting through the windows.
"I guess my wards don't hold off those." Amelia said. I nearly laughed at how glum she sounded, but now wasn't the time for being silly.
I jumped back as one hit the carpet next to my feet and it burst into flames. Eric's hand enclosed around my wrist hard and he pulled me against his chest as he dodged another one. We retreated to the living room.
"How many are out there Sookie?" Pam asked me in a hurried voice.
I closed my eyes and felt around. "Five? Six?"
"They are either very stupid to bring so little, or they have an excellent plan." Pam said. She was partially right. There were only a few of them outside, but it would be overwhelming for Eric and Pam to fight them with no outside help. I heard Pam hissed as a particular flame started to burst through the doorway. I was surprised that I was so calm. Even more so for the vampires. Flames and vampires equal death. Amelia moved out and front and kneeled. She began chanting very swiftly. I watched as the flames started to lap against an invisible barrier she had created from her hands. Damn, she was talented.
"Hurry, figure out what we're going to do." She panted. "I can't hold this for long."
I turned my head to look at Pam and for the first time, she didn't look confident. She looked frozen. I noticed that her left hand was trembling. She felt my stare and looked up at me. She had nothing to come up with. Eric noticed it too, but probably through their bond.
"Pam, look at me." He told her and she obeyed. "Call Alcide and get him to come out here as quick as he can. We have to get out of this house. That means we will have to hold all of these witches off."
"You didn't even remember how to fight." She told him. "We didn't have enough time." Another first for me to witness, Pam looked sad; regretful. "You should leave, Eric. Leave now."
He shook his head. "It doesn't matter now. I have to do this and you will have to as well. I do not flee."
"I don't want you to die, Eric." She told him and I noticed a red tear, making a trail down her left cheek. My heart started to pound as I felt my own tears. I was really scared now.
"If I shall die, it will be because I went down fighting." He paused for a second. "Pam, I order you to fight as best as you can and if I die, you protect Sookie."
Pam closed her eyes. "Yes Master." She picked up the phone and dialed Alcide. "Get here now, the war has started."
And just like that, Eric grabbed me around my waist and Pam grabbed Amelia and we went through the window. The glass fell around us and I covered my eyes so none would cut me. Pam and Eric dropped both of us on the ground and they both stepped out slowly and toward the line of weres.
"Sookie, I am going over there. I can start bringing out spells that will help us in this fight." Amelia told me in a hushed tone.
I nodded because I couldn't take my eyes off of Eric. He turned to look at me and I felt his feelings fall through the bond for me. This was a way of telling me goodbye. I shrieked and tried to reach out but he had already turned so he couldn't see my tears. I watched as Pam and Eric nodded to each other before jumping down the stairs and began running toward the enemy. I moved to the bottom of the stairs as if there would be something for me to do. There wasn't as I figured out and I stood there, crying my eyes out as Pam and Eric took on the weres.
Then I heard a mind that I have read before. It was closer to me than I would have expected because I heard heavy breathing.
"I told you I would get you, bitch." Debbie Pelt's voice entered my ears and I had a moment of sheer anger before I felt something very large hit the back of my head. I went down and everything went black.
I couldn't see anything but I knew I heard screaming. Amelia's voice yelling as I slipped under. I felt Eric's rage and worry, it nearly choked me. To my surprise I didn't hear or feel anything after that.
Awhile later I started to come to. I felt my hands first and then my neck and legs. The only reason I noticed this was because I couldn't move any of them more than an inch. I tried to turn my neck and felt something begin to cut into my skin. I stifled back a gasp. My eyes flew open to show a very dark room. It looked very much like a prison cell or a cage; there were bars on the right side of me. The floor was damp with some thick liquid. I didn't look to close, I knew it wasn't water.
After I regained full consciousness I knew I wasn't alone in the room but seeing as I couldn't move because I found that I was chained to the wall, I couldn't run. I looked up into the eyes of a woman that hated my guts and I smiled.
"You really shouldn't have done this Debbie." I told her slowly. "Because I know a very pissed off vampire will kill you."
"Which one are you talking about? The one I drank from after he was tortured? Or the big blonde one?" She smiled deadly. I had a moment of stupidity there. I was left wondering what she was talking about before I finally grasped what she said. Debbie was talking about Bill. I saved him from being killed that day. He then turned around and almost killed me. Nice huh?
"It doesn't matter which one." I told her. "Both will come."
I didn't sound too happy about that. I didn't want Bill to show up. I hated him to the deepest pits of my being. Debbie leaned her head back and laughed shrilly.
"I don't think both will come." She told me. "Because I just watched big blonde get killed. He didn't put up much of a fight."
I was already moving by the time she finished. I was kicking and screaming as loud as I could. No, he couldn't be dead. Eric couldn't have died. I would have felt it right? Right? Tears burst to my eyes and I fought harder against my restraints. Debbie looked at me incredulously. She walked slowly and carefully over to my writhing body. Her hand came down on my head as she proceeded to pull back my head by grabbing my hair and yanking. It hurt and I am sure hair came out with it.
"Now you see. Now you feel as I did when you killed my Cooter." Her voice was trembling. "But I am nearly not done with you. I want to make you feel all the pain I have gone through. I am going to make you suffer."
I heard a noise to the right of me and I glanced a look. There was a tall woman standing on the other side of the bars. It was Hallow. I was in the warehouse Alcide was talking about. I knew it and I also knew that some of these witches were going to watch what Debbie had planned for me.
I didn't know how Debbie came to know these weres but I really didn't care. All I could think of was Eric. He can't be dead. I couldn't deal with it. I started to cry in earnest again and to my astonishment I knew I have been lying to myself. I didn't have to grow to love Eric. I loved him; loved him more than I loved anything. To the point I would be willing to die for him instead of him dying for me.
"Yeah bitch, cry because you have nothing left. Cry because I took it all."
"No, you didn't take it all." I breathed in deep. "You had to have other weres attack him because I know for a fact that he would have ripped you to shreds. You are the most worthless, piece of trash that ever walked the face of the earth."
She screamed and hit me in my left side; some of my ribs broke in the process. I stifled back a cry and I looked her straight in the face.
"Im glad Coot is dead, because he was nothing. He was even bigger trash then you are." That rewarded me with another hit, this time to my face. I heard something crack there too and this time I did cry out in pain. I slumped my back against the wall as Debbie moved around the small room we were in. I caught something in her mind that made me wonder.
Can't kill her, can't kill her, can't kill her! They would kill me if I did. I get what I want, they get what they want. Just hurt her; hurt her bad. Yeah. That's what Im going to do.
I watched her walk to a small table in the far corner of the room and she bent over. Something began to gleam and I knew it to be a knife. Something in my mind just told me it was. As she walked closer I noticed it was a big knife. My heart sank and I tried to blend into the wall as if that would help. Debbie smiled at me and brought the knife up to her lips. I watched her tongue drag across the blade. I grinded my teeth together and waited for it.
"This is going to hurt." She promised me and it did. She rammed the knife into my left thigh. I screamed as hard as I could as if it would save me. I never felt so much pain in my life. Debbie was up in my face now, watching me as the tears fell from my eyes; drinking in my pain. She pretended to look thoughtful as if Debbie could really do that. Then she shook her head. "Nope, not enough pain for me."
She pulled the knife out and went to my other leg. This time she went deeper, missing the bone within inches. Debbie was breathing hard in my face as I cried and screamed and shook the chains. She began laughing hysterically. She turned the knife an inch and waited for me to scream again. Of course I did, it hurt more than anything. I felt the blade move again, turning in the opposite direction. I screamed and cried until I thought I couldn't anymore.
Finally the knife left my leg and blood start to seep through my jeans. They were becoming numb and I didn't know if that was a good or bad sign. Good in the sense I didn't have to feel that pain anymore or bad because that means she hit nerves on both legs.
My legs gave out then and I was being held up only by the chains of my arms and neck. I couldn't breathe right and soon I would die from strangulation. I used as much willpower as I possibly could to move my legs and stand again. I got maybe a few inches higher and I was breathing better but this wouldn't last for long.
"You deserve to die." Debbie said.
"Then kill me." I cried; because I didn't want to live in a world where Eric wasn't. If he was truly and finally dead then I wanted to go that way too. "I don't want to live."
"That's why I won't kill you, because you want it. Death would be too good for you. You don't even deserve that. I want you to suffer for the rest of your life, you little freak." She came at me again and put the knife right below where the chain around my neck was. She began to push the blade into my skin and I felt blood start to dribble down. Her eyes were blazing with fire and with hate.
Debbie moved the blade, bringing it to my right shoulder. I felt the tip of the knife poke into my flesh. She then began to drag it outward. It slid onto my upper arm and then down to my elbow; creating an open gash that didn't seem to end. Debbie wanted to see me scream, she wanted that more than anything. I got that from her mind and now that I knew what she wanted, I wouldn't give her the satisfaction. I grinded my teeth together as the tip of the knife sunk deeper into my flesh by my elbow. I closed my eyes and tried to move away from the pain. It didn't work.
Debbie got even madder then. She stood back and threw the knife to the ground and then proceeded to punch me as hard as she could in my stomach. The air was temporarily knocked out of me with the blow; therefore I couldn't scream or even cry. I was left gasping, hoping I could draw breath sooner rather than later.
Hallow left the room but her one minion stayed. He looked as if he wanted to join in the torture. Debbie walked over to him as he put his hand in between the bars holding some object. She grabbed it and turned it around in her hands. She nodded to the other were as he sank back behind the shadows to where I couldn't see him anymore.
Debbie started to tap the object in her hand and walk toward me. I glanced down at it before my eyes met hers. She was now in front of me. I watched as she took the object and faced it forward, the sharp tip pointing in my direction. It was a big splinter of wood. I cringed knowing what was to come. Debbie stepped those last few feet that separated us apart. With all the force she could bring to her scrawny little body, she shoved the stake into my stomach on the left side. I gasped as my body fell limply against hers. I began trembling from the shock, making the pain in my stomach escalate as the wood shifted with every shake.
"How does it feel to be staked vampire fucker?" She whispered in my ear, her voice was dark and sly. My eyes were wide as tears simply just pooled and fell. My mouth was agape but no words could form. I tasted blood now and I felt it start to drip from the corner of my mouth. I would die soon if no one would help me.
Debbie carelessly threw me off of her and my back hit the wall with a loud thud that echoed around the walls. I heard a loud noise from somewhere outside the room we were in. My eyes were all blurry but I could have sworn the werewolf that has been watching this entire time, move out of the room.
There was a loud commotion now but I couldn't tell if it was going on inside my head or if it was real. My body was still trembling and I was on the verge of passing out. I was bleeding badly and I felt it pooling around my feet. I knew in the back of my mind that there was a lot of blood I was missing from my body but I kept upright.
The yelling increased as if there were more people in the other room but they weren't having a discussion. It sounded as if a war was happening. I heard crashing noises and screams. I managed to smile at Debbie who was standing rather stiff.
"I told you, you shouldn't have taken me." I said and my legs finally gave out. I slumped down and I didn't even feel the chains cutting into my neck or wrists. I couldn't even tell if I was breathing anymore.
The door flew open then and I saw a dark figure move to advance on Debbie. Her eyes were wide and I think she screamed at the figure. I couldn't tell, I heard a loud buzzing in my ears as the room took on a tunnel effect through my vision. "No! You promised! You said you wouldn't kill me if I…" The room became abruptly silent all except for the buzzing. I looked up and I saw that Debbie's head wasn't attached to her body anymore. The door was broken open by something large and I thought I saw what looked like a tiger. Yeah, I think I'm seeing things; only explanation.
My savior was looking at me now and I knew that face and I could tell you right now that it wasn't the face I was longing to see. Bill stepped closer to me but something inside of me told me to stay back. I pushed myself against the wall in a horrible effort to get away.
"Sookie…please." He whispered and the lure of his voice almost had me but I kept away. Something was telling me inside that this was wrong. That I shouldn't give in and for once I listened. I turned my head away from him and hit the wall again. I really didn't know what else to do. I couldn't exactly run because I was still chained to the wall and even if I wasn't; I probably wouldn't make it far. My legs were stabbed and bleeding heavily. I looked back and saw that Bill was still advancing on me and I was ready to scream for help when I heard a loud roar. Ok, maybe I didn't hallucinate the tiger.
The magnificent creature stalked up into the cage where I was being held. Looking over its shoulder to the door that was broken open. I glanced too and saw that there really was a battle going on. I watched as a werewolf was thrown against the wall by another. I didn't know which one was on our side or the bad side. My eyes flew back to the scene before me and my head started to pound as I moved too quickly. I thought I was going to get sick but it never arose. My eyes finally lay on the tiger who was eyeing Bill intently. Bill tried to shift to get to me but the tiger wouldn't let him. The animal roared again as Bill took one more step. His nails scraped the floor creating an awful, nails-on-a-chalk-board sound. The animal was giving a clear warning, it was ready to pounce.
"Leave." I said weakly and I watched Bill's eyes glaze over as the dark pools of nothing return. He was angry but at what? Right now, I couldn't care less. The tiger roared again as if to tell him to do what I said. I watched Bill walk to the door and then he turned and looked at me once more. That face frightened me more than anything because it was a face of someone that was truly crazy.
I turned my attention to the chains and started to shake them. I wanted nothing more than to get out of these restraints and find Eric. I wouldn't believe what Debbie said. He couldn't be dead.