a/n: Warning: As I said before, this chapter contains descriptions of violence.
a/n #2: Missing the love. Did you all really hate the last chapter or just in a hurry? Your reviews make me giddy like a school girl and keep me motivated to write despite the many distractions in my life. Please remember to review!
Sookie stared at the four walls of her tiny cell, blinking in the harsh light. Her captor had awaken her with hanging fluorescent bulbs, the type that hung in school classrooms. It was blinding and after weeks in darkness, her eyes couldn't seem to adjust. She stumbled backwards towards her corner where she usually hid.
There was no hiding now. She knew her captor could see in the dark, but the bright light still made her feel uncomfortably exposed. She kept blinking, willing her eyes to see her surroundings more clearly.
Slowly her eyes adjusted, though she couldn't keep them open for more than a few seconds at a time. The cell was larger than it felt, but still small, about the size of her largest closet. Her stomach twisted in knots at the thought of that closet. She had stored all the toys and clothing the kids had yet to grow into in that closet.
Sookie looked at the walls where she'd been poking for weeks, looking for escape. She saw trails of blood where she'd scraped back more skin then mortar. Now that she could see the the brick walls clearly, she saw it was no use. There was no chance of escape from here.
She hugged her legs close, her body shaking with sobs. No tears came. She'd run out of tears long ago. She knew she would die here. It was over. She would never see her children again.
Never smell their sweet skin or see their goofy, little grins. She smiled as she remembered evenings cuddling on the couch after bath time. Payton would sit in between her legs as she combed out her hair, singing to herself or telling Sookie about her day. Sookie would comb out her long, blonde hair into a ponytail to air dry, listening and laughing while she worked out her tangles.
Payton was so creative. She would start out singing a familiar nursery rhyme but end up singing her own made up lyrics, usually centered around her brothers or friends. Sometimes she'd sing about her stuffed animals and dolls. Sing of their adventures or dreams. The boys would listen too, giggling at her silliness and trying to sing along.
Sookie's smile fell as she remembered that Payton would no longer be that little girl. She was gone now. Grown up in some strange fairy world.
Maybe it was for the best. If Sookie was going to die in this cold empty cell, maybe it was better that her kids would be older, able to take care of themselves...
Sookie shook her head and hugged her knees, her eyes on her feet. It was then that she started looking herself over. Her skin was no longer tanned, but pale and covered in brown and red streaks. The brown was dirt and bruises. As she looked closer, she saw that the dark red was her own blood. Her skin stung with cuts and bruises. Her nightgown was torn and filthy. She wanted to tear it off and burn it but she fought back the urge and left it on. She couldn't take it off. Then she'd be left bare.
That would be much worse. She knew her captor had seen ever inch of her skin, her skin was still stinging from the his rough touch, but she couldn't bring herself to peel off the gown.
No matter how disgusting it may be. It felt like a protective shield though it was little more than a veil.
Her stomach growled and it was immediately followed with a wave of nausea. She felt her stomach and was surprised to find a small bulge there. She was reminded of the pictures of the starving children in foreign countries. They always were so skinny other than their swollen bellies. She looked like one of those children. She was sure that the man, the monster that was keeping her here was also starving her to death.
She crawled over to the small bed. It was just a mattress and a small pillow. A pillow? She didn't remember feeling a pillow there before...
She climbed on top of the bed and placed the pillow over her face, willing death to come quickly. She thought of her children … the way they were. Tiny and precious. She thought of them and fell asleep, praying she never woke up.
xxxxx
Eric was getting tired of dead ends. The bloody remains of the last dead end still lay at his feet. He wiped the blade of his katana clean with the dead man's shirt, struggling to keep his temper in check.
Niall had been less than forthright about Dermot's possible accomplices and hideouts. He knew the old bastard was lying to him. He had no intention of including Eric in his search for Sookie. He wanted to keep Sookie as far away from Eric as he could. His animosity towards vampires was clear but that was fine. The feeling was mutual.
Eric sheathed the sword as he stepped over the body and made his way back to his car.
A sudden snapping sound from a nearby tree branch broke the silence of the woods and alerted him of another presence nearby.
He decided to feign ignorance of it, slowly making his way to his car, waiting to see if whoever it was would attack or retreat.
He smiled when he heard footfalls quickly retreating. He did love a good chase.
Eric turned and was running, vampire speed, in the direction of his prey.
The man tripped and Eric was soon on top of him.
He was human and he was scared. He was literally pissing himself as he raised his gun to Eric's face with trembling hands.
Eric laughed out loud. Humans were so naive.
Eric was behind him in an instant, knocking his gun from his hand and into the woods out of sight. He slowly took out his sword and placed it in front of the man's face.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" he asked, turning it from side to side. "This blade was forged over 400 years ago."
Eric drew the blade across the man's arm causing him to scream in surprise and pain.
"Still sharp, yes?" Eric smiled, again twirling the blade in front of the man's eyes.
Eric's other hand moved up and held the man's head back by his hair, forcing him to stay focused. "The tip is actually hooked backwards, ikuri-okissaki its called, making it quite easy to tear back the flesh or extract an eyeball." he hissed as he traced a line along the man's face with the tip of the blade.
The man struggled but Eric simply pulled his hair harder back. "Wait. I haven't told you the best part." he whispered menacingly in the man's ear. "The edge is tapered. I can flay back your skin with the precision of a skilled surgeon."
Eric proceeded to demonstrate the sharp edge along the man's cheek.
The man was ready to pass out from fear. Eric could tell this much from his accelerated heartbeat and breathing.
Humans are so weak. Eric mused, shaking the man to keep him awake.
"I don't have to hurt you. Just tell me what you know. Where can I find Dermot?"
The man nodded, swallowing thickly, trying to find his voice. Eric waited for him to speak, his patience nearly running out when the man finally started mumbling.
"I... I... I'm just a scout. His men... they came to me. Asking me about the area. I just helped them find a secluded place. I never touched that girl..."
Eric growled. Yes, an innocent scout. A scout who carries a large, semiautomatic gun.
The man had just revealed what Eric wanted and condemned himself in the same sentence. "I never mentioned a girl." he said, careful to keep his voice light.
The man nodded eagerly, hopeful that he'd told Eric what he wanted and would be set free. "Yes, there was a girl with them. She was small, blonde … pretty hot. I only got a glimpse of her before they...they disappeared."
Eric grunted, forcing himself to keep his temper in check. "Where did they take her?"
The man swallowed hard, sensing he had said something wrong. "Somewhere near the East Bank. I told them it was the most secluded area of the woods here … due to the gators." The man started mumbling but Eric's mind was elsewhere.
"You only got a glimpse of this girl? Nothing more?"
"Y...y...yes." the man stuttered. Eric was twirling his blade while deep in thought.
"And you only led them to this area and nothing else?" Eric asked, his blade spinning faster in his hand.
The man could no longer speak, he was shaking so badly. He nodded again.
"Very well. You are no further use to me." Eric replied. He broke his neck with one quick movement, tossing the body aside.
He now had a place. He would find her soon. He needed a plan of attack. The human mentioned a group. He'd suspected there would be more than just Dermot. How many more?
Again he got the feeling of being watched. He smelled the fairy as quickly as he'd spotted him.
He was fast, but Eric was faster and he soon tackled the large man to the ground.
He was tall, dark haired, and definitely Fae.
It took great restraint not to kill him on the spot. His scent was overwhelming and after a kill, Eric was always hungry. He could not bite him. Not yet. His need to find Sookie overpowered even this temptation.
That realization left a bitter taste in his mouth. How did this human become so deeply entrenched in his mind? He was risking everything, his own undead skin to find her.
Then thoughts of her being harmed or worse came to his mind and quickly overpowered his feelings of irritation. He would protect her. She was HIS.
He smirked at the trembling fairy beneath him.
"Where is Sookie?" he growled, as he struggled to keep his thirst in check.
"I am searching for her too, vampire. I am Claude. I am her cousin."
Eric blinked at him in confusion, then his smirk was replaced by a scowl. "Sure you are."
Claude's eyes became unfocused for a moment and Eric shook him to bring him back to the present. This fairy was starting to grate on his nerves and he knew his resistance would not hold much longer.
He felt his fangs extend further, past his lips. This fairy better start talking.
Claude seemed brought back to situation at hand. "Niall wishes to speak to you. He will meet you at Sookie's house tomorrow night."
Eric's growl became louder, erupting from deep in his chest.
Then the fairy vanished and Eric was left grasping air.
Eric's ensuing roar could be heard miles away.
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