I'm late, I know. I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!
Thank you for all the wonderful reviews and PMs, I will reply to all of you tomorrow. I know I haven't been sending out teasers, but the chapter gets done in one day and posted asap so a teaser seems useless to send a few hours prior to posting. I do appreciate the reviews, though, so please keep them coming.
Thank you so so much, Keri for taking care of this chappy for me. I love you to bits. *muah* And Anne, for researching the AP thingy. Love ya!
This is my longest chapter to date, and there are only a few more left. I can't give a number because I tend to derail and write more than I planned or stuff more stuff into one chapter, like this one. I figured you girls wanted one chapter instead of a cliffy in the middle, right? hehe.
Disclaimer - CH owns everything, but Alex and my plotline, thank you very much. :D / New Visuals on the Picasa album!
The bags were packed, much to Pam's displeasure. She always wanted to have a hand in any packing that was done by the people she was about to travel with. The little control freak wanted to make sure everyone's clothes matched the requirements set by her critical eye.
"Oh, well, Pam! Deal with it," told her as soon as Pam opened her mouth to bitch at the fact that her opinion was being disregarded.
"Did you pack formals?" she asked, her arms folded over each other.
"Yes," Sookie replied.
"The black one from New Orleans?"
"Yes."
"The navy one?"
"Yes, Pam. That and a lot of others as well," Sookie replied, rolling her eyes.
"What are you so nervous about, anyway?" she continued.
"I don't know. I have a bad feeling for some reason," Pam replied.
That caught Sookie's attention.
"Anything in particular I should be worried about or are you nervous over something?" she asked.
"I don't know. Both, maybe," Pam shrugged casually.
"Well, we'll just keep an eye out for trouble then. I mean, trouble we won't be causing," she added with a wink, making Pam laugh.
"What time does the plane take off, Sook?"
"Nine. So we better get to it if we want to get there in time. I can't believe I had to buy a travel casket," Sookie said.
"Well, that's part of being a Vampire. If you don't want everyone to know about your little ability, then you'd better stop complaining about it," Pam pointed out.
"I know, I know. It's just… creepy. I haven't traveled in one yet, and I hope I won't have to on our way back home, either," she said.
"We'll just have to schedule the trip carefully then. Just keep in mind, you won't be able to postpone it forever. Plus, we might be taking Alex's plane, instead", the elder Vampire said.
"I know that, Pam. I'm just hoping for later rather than sooner."
Right then, Eric came into the room where Sookie was wrapping up the packing.
"What do you wish it to be later rather than sooner, Mrs. Northman?" he asked as he put an arm around her waist and kissed her forehead.
"Oh, nothing. Just a little claustrophobia attack, nothing else," she assured him and he nodded, not feeling anything in the bond to concern himself over.
"We leave the house in 10 minutes," he announced. "Alexander is putting away your luggage, Pam. He claims it's heavy even for a Vampire," Eric teased his progeny.
"Did he mention that half of that is actually his?" Pam asked with a raised eyebrow. "He's got more stuff that I do," she said.
Sookie's eyes grew wide.
"Oh, now I understand," she said smiling.
"Understand what?" Pam asked.
"Just why you worship the ground he walks on. It's not love, it's envy," she chuckled.
"Ha Ha. Laugh all you want, but I wouldn't go shopping with him if I were you. If you think I'm nasty, wait 'till you see him."
"Oh, no, thank you. Let's hope that never happens. I can shop by myself just fine," Sookie said, horrified at the thought that someone could be a more avid shopper than Pam.
"Suit yourself," Pam said and went to find Alex.
Sookie closed the last bag where she had folded some clothes, her mind set on the following nights.
"What has you nervous, Lover?" Eric asked from his spot at the end of the bed.
"Felipe. I hope he just gives you Louisiana peacefully," she replied.
"I hope so too, but I don't think that will be the case, Lover. We'll see. You might be right and he'll just step back," Eric replied.
"Yes, let's hope so," Sookie said absentmindedly.
Eric picked up the last remaining bags that had to get to the car and lead the way outside the house with Sookie close behind him.
Twenty minutes later their SUV parked near the Anubis hangar. Alexander's private plane was waiting for them, the staff in place, although it was only the second of January. Avoiding public airlines, check!
They loaded their own luggage in the plane, since it was faster than anything the Were-human staff could do, and soon their plane was in the air.
"Where are we staying?" Sookie thought to ask. She realized that she didn't even bother asking before, leaving all the details of their trip in Eric's capable hands.
"Alexander has a home in town, so we'll be staying there. That way, we won't be attracting any unwanted attention over us with hotel reservations and whatnot. Felipe has his hand in everything and anything around there," the Viking said.
"When are we going to have the meeting with him?" she asked.
"Tomorrow at sundown," he replied.
"So what are we doing tonight?" Pam asked.
"We could go out and see the lights," Sookie said excitedly and Eric smiled at her. He loved seeing her this happy. She could go straight from talking about a potential coup to being giddy about something as simple as seeing the Vegas lights.
"Yes, then I know a place. It'll be perfect for the night," Pam said, just as excited as Sookie. She loved a good night out with her sister and their men.
Not long after, their plane was landing on the Vegas airport, their luggage in the trunk and the four vampires all gathered up in a black SUV, leaving their caskets in the plane.
Alexander drove through backstreets and alleys, making sure to lose any tail they might have. Precaution mostly, they said to themselves, but agreed it was an honest possibility that Felipe had tightened security around himself.
"You two think he's gotten word about what I did at Fangtasia, don't you?" she asked as they took another turn.
"Yes," Eric replied from his front seat.
"Did you give him any clue that we might be after him?" she asked, a bit alarmed that they might be walking into a trap.
"No. Unless there's anyone spying on us, there is no chance for him to even know we left Shreveport," Eric said as the car finally made its way up the driveway of a big mansion.
"What do you even need a house this big, Alex?" Sookie asked.
"It's not a problem of need, Sookie. I wanted it, I bought it," he replied.
Sookie groaned. Apparently this kind of thinking this was a trait common in all the vamps she knew.
Much to their surprise they weren't the only ones on the front porch as they got out of the car. An old woman, slightly hunchbacked, with white, long hair and white eyes, was waiting for them, a black limo parked to a side.
"Ah, and I thought my timing was wrong," the Ancient Pythoness said.
"Your Majesty," Eric said as they all bowed their heads.
"Forgo the pleasantries, Viking and let us go inside. There is much we need to talk about," she said. "You two can go have your fun. De Castro doesn't know you are here," she added, turning her blank eyes to Pam and Alex.
Eric gave them a quick nod and they got back in the car and drove off without another word. He opened the door with the keys Alex had given him and pressed in the code.
"Please, come in," he told the old vampire and moved from the frame, tugging Sookie inside.
The vampire moved swiftly for a woman who looked like she was in her 90s.
"Let us find somewhere more comfortable to talk, yes?" she said and searched Sookie with her blind stare. It always creeped Sookie out how she seemed to be able to look through her, although her eyesight wasn't there anymore.
Eric led the way as he was the only one to have been in Alex's house before. It had been many years since then, but he could still remember the details. He found the dining room and flipped the light switch on. He pulled a chair for the Pythoness and one for Sookie, helping them get situated at the long table.
"This is a lot better. Now, let us begin," the ancient woman said.
Sookie stole a glance to Eric but said nothing and he remained just as quiet.
"You are wondering, perhaps, why I am here tonight," she said and they both gave a nod that she couldn't see.
"I sense that my prediction has finally come true. The Chosen Couple…" she trailed and went silent for a few minutes, reveling in the magic surrounding the two blonde vampires.
"We have some questions," Sookie dared, but was interrupted.
"I am sure you do, but you must listen first," she said.
"I will start off with a lesson of family history. Viking, do you remember your grandfather, Eileifr?" she asked.
"Yes, I do. What does he have to do with anything?"
"Shut up, Eirick, and listen. As you know, I have been around for a very, very long time. I met Eileifr when I was about 700," the AP said.
"But how? That was 600 years or so before my time," Eric interrupted again. Sookie was watching quietly the interaction. She tried poking into her head, but for the first time, got nothing.
"Stop doing that, girl," she said, turning her eyes at her. "I can sense you."
Sookie gasped.
"Do not worry, your secret is safe with me. Now," she said and turned her face to Eric, "Eileifr was not human, Viking. He was of the water fae – the first born of the King and Queen of their realm." When she noticed that she had managed to shock both Northmans into silence, she continued.
"His name meant 'heir', and rightfully so, since he was to inherit the throne. He was relatively young at the time, only 200 years or so. I met him in one of my travels. He was handsome and he saw beyond the way I looked. We became friends. An odd pair, as you can see, a vampire and a Faery. It was in one of the first nights I spent with him that I had the vision of the Chosen Couple – the two who would unite the supernatural world. As you can imagine, I thought my powers had gone awry, and the vision only came to me because of my time spent with my faery friend. I did not mention it to him.
"In the next centuries we met from time to time. In his later years he had fallen in love with a woman, Birgitta, and they had several children. Somewhere along the line, his fellow villagers started to consider him their lucky charm as they always seemed to be safe in their raids. He took to the Viking life and there was never a man lost at sea on any of his ships. As you can imagine, it was all due to his real nature. He was handsome; tall, blonde, blue eyes," she said looking straight at Eric who was still silent, his feelings in turmoil.
"The last time I saw him was when he was giving his final breath. Unfortunately, a vampire had gotten to him and caught him off guard. He didn't get a chance to run and I did not manage to reach him in time to save him, as I was too far when the premonition came. His killer was Appius, Eirick," she said.
"What?" he half shouted, his fists closed tightly. He knew she wouldn't lie about something like this. He respected everything the Pythoness said, but it was hard to comprehend what she was telling him.
"He did not simply change you, Eric. He watched you, on and off for over ten years. Your grandfather caught him looking at you one night and that was his last," she said.
"But that means he's got as much fae blood as I do," Sookie piped up. She wanted to get to the middle of things.
"That, my dear, is true," the Pythoness said kindly, surprising Sookie with her tone. "However, Eirick never held the spark. He has the good looks and he can attract women like honey attracts bees. But that is as far as his fae traits go. He is much like your brother, Jason, in that aspect."
Eric's mind was reeling. How come he had never known about this? His mind flashed to muddy memories of his human life. "Never be afraid of the water," his grandfather had told him. "Water is our friend, my child. You will do great things in your life." He remembered his grandfather, his face clear despite his old age. His hands managed to expertly tie nautical knots to the ships that left the icy shores. Even then he helped the sailors and gave them a sort of blessing, putting his hand to their foreheads. Good luck. He was wishing them good luck.
"Will this affect us in anyway?" Eric asked after awhile.
"I have not seen anything to worry about, but that does not mean you do not have to be precautious," she replied.
"What was the prophecy?" Sookie asked.
"As you may have heard so far, it states that a vampire and a faery vampire would mate. They would help keep the peace among supernatural species, and between these and the humans. I know it must sound simple to your ears, but this is not something that has ever happened. A faery turning vampire is rare as it is, but one mating with a vampire out of love is unique, Sookie. The supernatural world has never been at peace as no one stepped up to rule it until now.
The Prophecy said:
"One of light will turn to night,
Accepting the love's bite.
One of night will see the light,
When love will take flight.
The mates will rule outright,
And the world they will rewrite."
"I understand why vampires and fae would listen to us, but the rest?" Sookie asked after a few moments of silence in which she tried to burn the words to her memory.
"Have you never wondered where your telepathy came from, Susannah? You are Niall's granddaughter, so that covers your father's side, but your mother was a mix. However, the powers never manifested themselves. She was the second born of were parents, and one of them had some daemon mixed along the way. Also, and most importantly, she was born a witch, but she was always too afraid to do anything. She could never explain things happening around her as a child," she said to an opened mouth Sookie. Eric was holding her hand over the table.
"How do you know this?" she finally asked and the Pythoness smiled and tapped her forehead.
"When I first got the vision about the Chosen Couple I could see the faces of all those who could be in contention. Yours were among them. Over the years, as some of them died or made the wrong decision, they stopped appearing into my vision. Your faces stayed in my mind for the last few years, every time I got the vision again. I researched your family tree, since I already knew the Viking's, and found all this information. I may not be able to see your faces now but I know precisely how you look. Also, Eric can tell you, as a vampire ages, the better he or she can sense powerful magic. Your bond is unique."
"Why didn't you say something before? Why have I never heard the Prophecy before?" Eric asked.
"I actually have a theory. It seems that whenever the one featured into a Prophecy is in the room, they cannot hear the words. Not until they are ready to fulfill whatever the vision indicated they should do. I suspect you did not hear anything concrete of it until Sookie became your childe, am I right?" she asked.
"Yes, you are correct," Eric said.
"Apart from this, I have been trying to prepare the vampire world of your coming, by speaking of the Prophecy. I suspect that some have already figured it out?" she finished, with a question in her tone.
"Yes, some recognized Sookie's powers as fae. Since she is obviously a vampire, most have figured it out and those who didn't took the others' lead," Eric told the Pythoness.
"Very well. It might be a bumpy ride in the beginning, it is good to have allies," she nodded.
"What do we do now?" Sookie asked.
"Well, I will call in a Council meeting with my sisters around the world; they are seers just as I, who have promised to help when time came. I would give it a few weeks, maybe a month before we have a decision. I need to know, however, that you two are going to accept whatever the Council sees fit for you to do," she said in a warning tone.
"Of course, your Excellency. We will do as best we can to follow whatever indications you give," Eric said, making sure to point out that their authority would not be messed with once they were in power and that they wouldn't be someone else's puppets.
The Ancient Pythoness smiled.
"You are just like your grandfather, Eirick," she said.
"I am curious about what powers you developed, Susannah," she said, turning her face to Sookie.
"Well, I can control Sun elements – fire, ultra violets, that sort of stuff. My telepathy is now more potent, as you could sense earlier, and there's this pink shield-like thing surrounding all of us connected by blood to the two of us," she said. "I also we have found out cannot be damaged by silver like a normal vampire."
They Pythoness went silent for a few minutes, considering what she had been told.
"You are leaving something out, Mrs. Northman…" the old Vampire admonished.
"I… We can walk in daylight," Sookie said after stealing a glance to Eric who nodded his approval.
"Ah, there it is. The element that will surely help you rule," she said.
"You think we should make this public?" Eric asked, surprised.
"Yes, but later on, after the public announcement. Not now. Now it can be a liability to your safety. Later, it will help ensure your position and it will stop others from thinking you have any weaknesses," the Pythoness said.
"I can also teleport, like the fae," Sookie added.
"You are a most unique hybrid, Susannah. Quite extraordinary. None of the other fae who passed through the transformation has been as gifted as you are," she said.
"What happened to the others?" Sookie asked.
"They were killed by their Masters as soon as they figured out their intentions. They only wanted power. There are passive notes about them, here and there, in secret books. However, none of them appeared in my visions," the ancient vampire said as she got up.
"Is there anything we should do?" Eric asked as he stood up, following the Pythoness' movement, escorting her to the door.
"I would return home tomorrow night if I were you," she said and got into the limo that sped off.
Sookie and Eric were left on the porch, looking after the black car.
"She had to be a little cryptic tonight, didn't she? And it had all gone so well," Sookie said.
"That is her way. This was actually the first time she didn't hide behind words ever since I met her. I have an idea what she might be talking about, but either way, it's better to follow her words," Eric replied as he walked inside the house, guiding Sookie with a hand on her waist.
They were silent as they made their way through the house, Eric guiding her to the bedroom they would spend their night in.
"Are you ok, hon?" Sookie asked.
"I can't get over the fact that my grandfather was a fairy. It's been so long and I still remember him, although my memories are tainted by time. I regret not knowing it," he said.
"Would it have made a difference if you knew?"
"No, I guess not," he said after a few seconds. "I just wish I did. I feel like I've lived a lie for this past millennium. I cannot help but wonder what would have happened if my grandfather hadn't died. I hate Appius now even more than ever," he said with fury in his voice and eyes.
"There is nothing you can do now, Eric. Appius is dead and that's all in the past. Please, don't be upset anymore," she asked.
"If my grandfather had lived, if Appius hadn't killed him, he'd have taken over the water fae, Sookie…" he trailed off, but she wasn't getting it.
"Your parents might have still been alive if he ruled. The flash flood…" he said defeated.
Sookie went silent. He was right. She might have grown up with her parents at her side. They could have taken care of Gran for her so she could be a child. They could have been the grown-ups instead of her and Jason. But her mother was scared of her and her father rarely helped at all. She couldn't possibly say, with an open heart, that she had been better off without her parents but that's all that she knew, her entire life she had been alone, with Jason and Gran. It was useless to grieve over something that could have happened. It all happened with a reason – to bring her to Eric, she was sure of it. If her parents had been around she might be different, not that strong, she might not have gotten involved with vampires, and she might not have met her Viking .
"It doesn't matter, hon. Not anymore. We can't play the 'what if' game. There are so many variables to any given situation that I can't even think about them all. Let's live 'now' and forget any other possible outcomes," she said, squeezing his hand.
"You don't have to say that to make me feel better, Sookie. You could have grown up with your parents around. I know how much you miss them," Eric said, still angry at the twist of fate.
"I do miss them, but I'm fine, honey. I'd have been happy if they lived, but I'd probably have been very unhappy to grow up with them. It might sound wrong, but Gran was the best thing that could have happened to me. She believed me about my telepathy and gave me space, whereas Momma and Daddy were scared of me and took me from doctor to doctor to see how to fix me. Gran trusted me and helped me grow into my power, while mom and dad were freaked out about it. Gran believed me when I told her about Bartlett, while mom called me a liar and said I was making things up. I do miss my parents, but I'm fine, honestly. So stop giving me a pity-party and think about how amazing this all is," she said, snapping him out of it. "Also, there is nothing you could have done to save your grandfather. Revel in the fact that his killer is now dead."
Eric smiled at her and gathered her in his arms, thinking at what she'd said.
"You're right, my love. You always know what to say," he said and set them to lie down on the covers.
"Why do you think she told us to go home tomorrow evening?" she asked.
"I don't know, but we better listen to her. She's been right so far," he said and fell silent.
"I didn't enjoy the ordering part of the conversation. I do not want us to be just a pawn on someone chess table. If we're supposed to do all these things then we'll do it in our own way," he spoke again.
"And I agree with you. I'm sick of being someone's puppet. We'll find a way to do it our way, hon," she said and turned her head to give him a peck.
A knock on the door announced Pam's return.
"Enter," Eric said.
Pam and Alexander filled the doorway, questions easily written in their expressions.
"She's calling in the Council from all around the world and they'll make the announcement in a few weeks," Eric said.
"Good. What else?" she asked.
"Why would there have to be something else?" he teased and she rolled her eyes.
"Because only that information wouldn't put you in that state of mind that I can feel in our watery bond," Pam replied, huffing.
"Fine, apparently I'm just as much of a faery as Sookie is," he said and stopped for dramatic purposes watching Pam's and Alex's shocked faces. "The AP knew my grandfather who was a full faery. She got the vision on one of the nights she spent with him, a few centuries before I was even born. She didn't know it happened because his grandson would be the one the prophecy spoke of."
"So how does it work? Wasn't it supposed to be vampire and faery? If you're faery, too…"Alex said.
"I'm not. I didn't have the spark. Technically speaking, I was a human turned vampire," Eric clarified.
"I found out some things about my family as well," Sookie piped up and joined the conversation.
"What else could there be?" Pam asked incredulous.
"Apparently, my mother was the second born of were parents. As far as I know, her older brother died when they were kids, so there were no weres left in the family. Except Jason, that is. However, she was born a witch, but was always too chickenshit to do anything about it; she considered me an abomination. Oh, and also, someone along my family tree did the naughty with a daemon, so I have some of that laced in my blood as well. Go figure!" she said and watched the shocked faces of her audience.
"Is that it?" Pam asked again.
Sookie looked at Eric again and they both shrugged.
"Maybe. She gave us two pieces of advice – to advertise our daywalking ability after the announcement is made, and to go home tomorrow night."
"Why would she think that making that a known fact would be a good idea?" Alex asked.
"Because it would stabilize our rule over all types of supernatural creatures," Eric answered.
"What about tomorrow?" Pam asked.
"I think it has something to do with De Castro, but I'm not sure. It might not be anything violent, but we're following her advice," Eric said and got up from the bed, rising to his full height.
"Put some clothes in a duffle bag and drive the luggage back to the plane. Tomorrow you two should wait for us here when you wake. You'll be close enough to feel if there's trouble and come join us in time. If not, Sookie and I will teleport here and then take you two to the airport. Sookie and I will go check out his compound so she knows where to teleport us tomorrow," he instructed and grabbed Sookie's hand and lead her out, leaving Pam and Alex to do his bidding.
As soon as he was out he opened his arms and she jumped into his embrace a second before he took to the sky. They hadn't traveled like this in a long while, so she was eager to fly in his arms.
Eric took them over a big sprawling mansion with hundreds of yards of gardens around it. A dozen tacky sculptures littered the yard, and five fountains with just as tacky figurines spitting water.
"Damn, he's got shitty taste," Sookie whispered to Eric who simply smirked and nodded.
"This is where you have to take us tomorrow at 3:30 PM. Sunset is at 4:30, but Felipe is around 850 years so he'll wake sooner than that. We need to be here in time. Do you have the location now?" he asked and she nodded in understanding.
"Good," he said and grabbed her ass, parting her legs which wrapped around his waist instinctively and took off.
"Where are we going?" Sookie asked breathless.
"We're going to check the desert, Lover," he smirked and licked the column of her throat, sending shivers through her body.
"Hurry up then," she said and pushed a hand between them, rubbing his cock.
He groaned and sped up.
As soon as they reached the desert, he started groping her fully. She had been nibbling his neck, kissing up his chin and massaging his dick through his pants until he thought he would combust.
Eric made a move to land on the sandy ground below, and Sookie glanced down.
"Stop!" she said when she saw the cacti and other spiky plants down there.
"Where then?" he groaned in exasperation. He wanted to be inside her badly.
"Here," she said and started taking off his jacket which soon dropped towards the ground. She found her own 'wings' and started levitating near Eric's body, her legs trying to unwind from his waist. He groaned and pulled her tightly into him, making them both groan at the contact of their sexes.
His hands tore up the front of her shirt next, exposing her braless breasts. His lips found her nipple just as she ripped open his black wifebeater, her hands touching every inch of exposed skin. He lifted her skirt to her waist and pushed her underwear to the side as his fingers began probing her.
She moaned and her hand went straight to his belt buckle, fighting it. His zipper popped open under the weight of his cock as soon as the belt and button were open.
Her legs went around his waist again as his fingers grabbed her panties and kept them to the side while her pussy enveloped him whole.
Their screams of pleasure filled the dead silence lying over the desert. Sookie ground her hips up and down his length at a maddening pace while his fingers dug into her ass cheeks, helping her move. In and out, in and out, until the both shouted their simultaneous release, scaring all living creatures in the area.
"I love you," she breathed into his ear as her pants eased down.
"I love you too, my wife," he replied, kissing her full lips. "How about you get us home after we pick up my jacket from that tall cacti?" he asked chuckling.
"Sure. Hold on tight," she instructed as she helped him levitate to the top of the cacti, grabbed his leather jacket, and popped them back into their bed in Alex's mansion.
Eric was lying on his back in the bed with Sookie still on top of him, his cock buried inside her.
She slowly lifted off and tumbled into bed beside him.
"Well that was a first," she said.
"What was, Lover?"
"Us managing to keep most of our clothes on and destroying only one each," she laughed heartily.
"You're certainly right about that," he replied, looking at his destroyed wife beater and his opened pants.
They silently got out of the bed and stripped of their clothes before entering the shower.
The following afternoon, as they woke for the day, Sookie could feel what felt like butterflies in her stomach.
"What are you nervous about, Lover?" he asked.
"Can't I be nervous about what we're about to do? What if there are guards near his resting place?" she asked back.
"I doubt it, my love. He's far too paranoid for that, as my sources have told me."
"Ok. Can you hand me a blood please?" she asked as she started perusing through the clothes Pam left out for her.
He nodded silently and heated up two bottles of blood. They barely needed it as it was, but they could use the extra strength.
When he returned with the bottles, she had a black leather catsuit laid out on the bed, and her knee-high boots.
"Are you planning on killing me tonight, Lover?" he asked when he saw the clothes.
"Nope. Just playing ninja under Pam's watchful fashion sense," she joked and took the blood from him, slugging half of it back in one go.
"Just do as we have planned and everything will be ok. No need to be nervous," he reassured rubbing her shoulder. "If there's trouble just grab my hand and pop us here, ok?" he asked and she merely nodded.
After they finished off their feeding they started getting dressed.
Eric picked out a black pair of pants and a black long sleeved shirt. His hair was tied back in a pony tail and his sword sheathed in a leather wrap on his back.
Sookie slithered in her catsuit, got into her high heeled boots and slicked her hair back into a pony tail, much like Eric's. Her sword was wrapped tightly around her back, in easy reach, while her silver Kris was nestled on the outside of her right thigh.
"Ready?" Eric asked at 3:29 PM.
"As ready as I'll ever be," she replied and took his hands, facing him. Her right hand played with his wedding band, rotating it around his finger as her eyes fixed with his.
"I love you," she said.
"I love you, too," he replied and leaned forward to capture her lips.
Their kiss ended, and they were teleported to Felipe's resting chamber.
The walls were golden and adorned with tacky nudes. The hardwood floors were covered in fluffy carpets. In the middle of the room lay a huge bed on which the attractive Latin man slept.
They exchanged a look and took their place at the foot of the bed, after carefully searching for all and any weapons that might have been hidden in the bedding. Two knives and a stake lay at the far end of the room now. He really was paranoid that someone could enter his room although there were three doors, each a foot thick, that separated his chamber to the labyrinth that led out to the rest of the mansion.
They silently waited for him to rise.
At 4:00 PM he started to stir. As soon as he felt that he wasn't alone his hand went under his pillow only to come out empty.
"Good evening, Felipe," Eric greeted.
"Northman. How did you get in here?" the King asked, fear laced in his defiant tone, as he rose to a standing position.
"I have my ways," he said and tilted his head to Sookie.
"Good evening, Felipe," she said in her southern fashion that made her sound like she would soon offer refreshments.
"Miss Stackhouse," he said, recognizing her.
"It's actually Mrs. Northman, if you would. We just got married," she replied, her head held high.
"Congratulations to the both of you," he said as he tried to get out the bed.
"I'd stay there if I were you," Eric growled his threat.
"What is it that you want? If you wanted Sookie to vow her loyalty to me, you could have asked for a hearing," Felipe said, his eyes searching frantically for an escape path. He had made this room so secret, he never thought anyone would find it. And yet, here stood the Viking and the telepath, sheathed in black and apparently armed.
"Oh, Sookie will never vow herself to you, Felipe," Eric spoke. "In fact, it would be wiser if you kneeled in front of her," he added with a smirk, proud of his woman.
"Me? What for? Some parlor tricks she can do? I heard about Compton and I don't believe any of it was true," he said defiantly.
Suddenly Sookie's hands glowed with fire, round balls rotating in her palms as a sinister smile took over her beautiful face. Felipe cowered back into his pillows, even more frantic to find an exit.
"You are better to believe it Felipe. Anyway, that is not the problem at hand tonight. You can pledge your loyalty along with everyone else, to her and to me," Eric said, authority in his tone.
"To you? I can kill you in an instant," De Castro growled back.
"You forget yourself. I am older and more powerful than you will ever be. If I didn't take the job of being King until now it was because I didn't want it, not because I couldn't," Eric replied in a steady voice. He was the lion staring down his prey.
"Why are you here?" the King asked.
"I want Louisiana and Arkansas back. They belonged to Sophie Anne, and as her last standing Sheriff I claim my right on them," Eric replied.
"Why would you want them? They are bad moneymakers. I've lost millions there. Victor…"
"Victor has lied to you and Victor is dead," he replied and let the information sink in. His eye was caught by the molten fire in the balls in Sookie's palms.
"That, however, is not why I want the territories. They are rightfully mine as Sophie Anne's highest in command. Plus, I promised my wife to make her Queen," he smirked and Sookie smiled lovingly at him. She didn't particularly crave the position but she understood that it would keep them safe. Plus, it was kind of romantic, in a way, her husband promising to make her royalty.
"I can kill you to take the states, but I have no interest in Nevada," Eric added when Felipe had taken too long to think his options over.
"Fine, I'll give you the two states," Felipe said hastily. "I'll make the announcements as soon as the paperwork is done," he added.
Eric scanned his face for a few seconds. His bullshit meter was reading that as a 'false'.
"If my lawyer doesn't have the paperwork in 48 hours, I know where to find you," Eric said and pulled out his sword flinging it around for effect and reveling in the shiver that made its way into Felipe's skin.
The King nodded frantically, his eyes wide as one of Sookie's fire balls approached him slowly.
"I do not do parlor tricks, Mr. De Castro," she said before making the ball poof away.
She grabbed Eric's arm and teleported out, leaving Felipe gaping and rubbing at his eyes like a human would when they first woke up.
"What was he thinking?" Eric asked as they popped into their bedroom.
"I really need to start learning Spanish, that's what he thought," Sookie said in frustration.
"Tell us what you heard," Pam said from her place near Alex.
"What does 'guerra' mean?"
"That would be 'war'," Alex replied.
"How about 'nunca'? " Sookie asked.
"Never," Eric growled.
"He was also saying that we were 'andador de días'"
"Daywalkers," Pam whispered.
"Well he sure figured that one out," Sookie said.
"That was faster than we thought he would, you are right, but it's of no importance. Most will think he's delusional. It's never been heard of," Eric said.
"He also thought 'finalmente' right after that. I'll assume that means 'finally', right? What was he referring to?" she wondered aloud and they all remained quiet for the next minutes, trying to figure it out.
"What do we do now?" Sookie asked, breaking the heavy silence.
"We go home. We gather our forces. We prepare for war," Eric replied.
Leave me some love!
Also, I have been meaning to say this for a while. I haven't got around to reading Dead Reckoning, mainly because I just can't stand my dreams to be ruined by her. I predict loads of bitching, therefore I'm waiting. I have no idea what happens in the book, apart from bits and pieces, so I will not keep count of anything going there because I simply do not know what does. If that makes sense. anyway. :D
xoxo
Gaby