Chapter Twenty Five:
Eric and I sat in silence as I wolfed down the bowl of Chilli Sookie set in front of me before she set off to separate the rest into containers. As I finished far quicker than any normal human, I pushed the bowl away and began fidgeting with my hands. I felt embarrassed over my outbursts. Not just with Eric and Sookie over finding out that Godric had loved Kyra, but the way I had yelled at Godric. Sure I was angry and hurt, and at the time it felt like a good idea. But now as I thought of what Eric said, that we all needed to unite in order to destroy the witches, I realized that I never should have raised my voice to Godric.
"You're far too silent." Eric mused, his hand reaching over to grasp mine. "What's on your mind, my little Phoenix?"
"I feel embarrassed." I admitted, my cheeks growing pink. "You were right."
It came out as a mumble, but Eric had clearly heard and was smirking widely. "I'm sorry, what was that?"
"Oh you heard me." I grumbled, nudging him in the side and earning a chuckle from the vampire.
"You're allowed a few outbursts or two, Ellie. After all you've been through, it's okay to be angry." He assured, squeezing my hand.
"But you were right, I shouldn't be angry with Godric."
"I never said you shouldn't be. We just can't be fighting with one another right now. When this is all over and done with, by all means, slap him all you want. Actually, that was a bit amusing." He snickered. "I'm just happy it wasn't me this time you were slapping."
"I slapped you like that before?" I raised an eyebrow.
"Before you left." Eric nodded. "When you were ranting to me about something or other. You slapped me, burned my face just like you did Godric."
"Whoa, you burned his face?" Sookie suddenly turned around, her eyes wide.
"My powers may have possibly chosen that moment to show." I shrugged with a smile.
"Wow." She shook her head, impressed at what I had been able to do. "Well that does make sense. You were always able to use your powers the most when you were emotional."
"I'm always emotional; they should be going off like fireworks all the time." I rolled my eyes.
"You've earned the right to be emotional." Eric reached up to tuck my hair behind an ear.
"Let's not talk about that." I shook my head. "I just want to forget about the witches and what they've done, just for two minutes. Please?"
"Of course." Eric nodded as he stood and held out his hand. "Come with me."
"Where are we going?" I questioned curiously.
"You'll see." He offered a genuine smile. "Hand."
My smile widened as I placed my hand in his and slipped off the stool. I waved at Sookie as Eric began leading me out of the room and back down the hallway. We passed by the open rooms before stopping at the staircase. I shot Eric a confused look but he only squeezed my hand and began up the stairs.
"Eric, really, where are we going?"
"You have absolutely no patience." He smirked down at me
"Not for crazy vampires who could be leading me to my death for all I know."
"Now why would I do a thing like that." His smirk widened. "You're too adorable to let die."
My cheeks flamed and I had to shake my hair out so my long locks would hide my face. I had never been so happy to see the second floor of a house in my life, giving me something new to distract myself with. Eric chuckled in amusement at my reaction and led me a short distance down the hall before stopping in front of a closed door.
"Are you going to tell me where we are?" I asked.
"This used to be your room." he opened the door and motioned me in.
I looked up at him questioningly before stepping into the room, our hands still clasped together. The moment I had stepped into the room that I just knew held so many of my memories, I was caught off guard. It was like someone had just thrown a brick at my face, forcing me to stumble backwards and into Eric's hard chest. His arm wrapped around me to steady my rocking body. I felt ringing in my ears as my vision turned black, only to be replaced by a movie like reel.
I watched as a shirtless Eric walked out of the bathroom carrying none other than a soaking wet me. I gasped as my eyes widened, amazed as he held my body to him before gently lying my crying form on the bed. I tried to step forward to get a better view, but Eric of the present kept his arm securely wrapped around me. I continued to watch as the other Eric dried my red skin before tucking me into bed. I could see mouths moving but couldn't hear a single thing even when I strained to. Eventually, my form on the bed curled up against Eric as he lay beside me, his arm around my waist.
The scene quickly changed, though it was similar to the last, instead I was walking out of the bathroom on my own two feet with a towel around me. Eric sat on my bed, a solemn look on his face. He looked so sad, so defeated. I wonder what was wrong. I waited as a dress was shown and Eric helped to do it up. As his fingers danced across my back, my own cheeks grew red and I almost wished Eric would do that to me now. When we eventually kissed, I had to bite down on my bottom lip in order to keep myself from wanting to turn in Eric's arms and kiss him like I had in the past. That feeling was quickly diminished when the saddened look returned to Eric's face, matching the one that was now on mine. Something had been wrong, something terrible was about to happen and I wondered what it had been.
"Ellie?" Eric's voice behind me shook me from the visions. "Ellie, are you alright?"
"Huh?" I blinked, the room returning to normal with no extra Eric's and me. I turned around in Eric's arm and gave him a small smile before hugging him tightly. "You've always been there for me, haven't you?"
"Not always." He admitted, his tone sad. "But I've tried. I've tried as hard as I possibly could, Ellie."
"I know, Eric." I squeezed his middle before pulling away and looking up at him. "Thank you for everything you've done for me. Now and in the past. I may not remember everything, I may never remember it all. But thank you for everything."
"You deserved it." he cupped my cheek. "You deserve better even."
"Don't say that. I deserve you." I surprised myself by saying as I moved into his touch. "I don't care what's happened in the past between us, Eric."
"I do." He frowned. "You may not remember what I've done, but I do."
"Well don't." I laid my hand upon his as it caressed my cheek. "You've been amazing to me since I got here. You didn't have to do what you have. I know we're bonded together, but that doesn't mean you have to care. But you do, you do care and that's what matters."
He looked away, forcing me to reach up and turn his head back towards me.
"You have no idea how much I need you right now, Eric. I need you more than anything. You're my rock. You make me feel like everything is going to be alright. And I need that. God do I ever need that." I smiled up at him. "So thank you for everything."
I wasn't expecting for Eric's lips to crash down on mine, for him to turn us around so my back was pressed up against the closed door. His hands trailed up and down my sides before grabbing onto my hips and grinding himself into me. I was out of breath as Eric kept his lips pressed to mine in a rough, but passionate kiss. It felt like a fire had been ignited deep inside of me, the warmth flowing from the inside of my chest to my fingertips. I raised a hand to his neck, my fingers curling into the hair at the nape of his neck and pulling him in for a deeper kiss. Eric obliged as his tongue brushed against my lips, and the moment I moaned in pleasure, his tongue slipped in to start the tango with my own. By this point, every feeling in my body was intensified. One of his hands slipped up under the hem of my shirt, his icy touch feeling like heaven on my bare skin. I arched into him, wanting to feel more of him, and was rewarded with his erection pressing into me. I had never been so glad before to only be wearing a large t-shirt and my undergarments. Or really, I was glad for the nearly lack of clothing. I wanted them all to be ripped off. I wanted his to just vanish so I could run my hands up his perfectly toned chest, so I could feel his rock hard abs under my fingers.
Eric must have known this as he pulled away from me just long enough to pull off his shirt and toss it to the ground. His lips began moving down my jaw now as his hands found their way back under my shirt and began fiddling with my bra. My eyes fluttered closed as his cool lips were met with the curve of my neck, just grazing over the pulsing vein as he placed kiss after teasing kiss across my neck and down to my collar bone.
"Eric!" I breathed out, tightening my fingers in his hair as he pulled one of my breasts out of my bra and lightly ran a finger over my nipple. I let out a gasping moan and my body shook with immediate pleasure and moved into his touch.
"I..." Eric lightly nipped at my earlobe. "Want..." his fingers tweaked my nipple, rolling it between two fingers. "You now."
His words only drove me higher on the arch of my pleasure as his lips found my neck once again. His tongue flicked out, teasing the sensitive spot just above the vein. My breath was caught in my throat and I could barely get oxygen into my lungs as my body grew sensitive to his touch.
"What are you waiting for?" I managed out, wishing he would take me already, all of me.
I wasn't thinking. I couldn't, I didn't want to. I didn't give a crap that there were witches after the both of us, that our lives were in danger. I didn't give a crap that there were others in the house that could probably hear our loud panting and moans. All I cared about were the pleasurable sensations surging through me as Eric touched me in ways that I had only dreamed about. I wanted him to take me and throw me on the bed, to make me forget even for a little while, all of the pain I had been through.
And he did just that. He grabbed me around the waist and in seconds I was flat on my back on the bed, Eric hovering over me. My shirt was ripped right down the middle and fell limply to the bed as he dipped his head down to the breast free of any clothing. The moan could barely leave my lips as his tongue circled the nipple before he gently tugged on it with his now extended fangs. I held his head there as he sucked, sending pleasurable waves through me like I had never experienced before.
"Oh god." I moaned out, running a hand up and down his chest, my nails digging into his skin.
A growl emitted from the vampire as he lifted himself away from my breast to smirk down at me.
"I've been waiting for this for two years." His hands began moving down my body at the slowest speed possible, torturing me in the most unforgettable ways. Pain? What pain? I could barely remember what the excruciating pain had felt like when Eric's hands were on me, tickling my sensitive body with his ice cold hands, dancing across my thighs with expertise.
"Oh stop with the teasing already!" I gasped out, arching my back, silently pleading for him to hurry up.
"My pleasure." He hissed as his fingers swiped across the crotch of my panties, up and down, repeating the action until I was just about screaming in sexual frustration.
"Eric!"
"I love hearing you say my name." I could feel his fangs graze over my neck, pressing against the pulsing vein that was almost begging for their inevitable insertion.
"Oh just fuck me already!"
His fingers grasped each side of my panties, slowly beginning to slide them down my thighs, torturing me even more. I was about to yell at him to hurry up, only to be halted by the sound of a cough. Eric's movements froze, as did mine as we realized we had been caught. Why hadn't we locked the damn door?
"Yes Godric?" Eric raised his head, his eyes boring into me as he frowned. I could see the hunger and desire in his eyes, and I knew I was not the only one disappointed that we had been interrupted.
"As much as I'm happy you two are...having fun...Sam and Alcide are here to discuss our next course of action." I could practically hear the smirk in Godric's voice.
I was caught between feeling bad and not caring. I mean, Godric and I had been together only weeks ago, and in the most intimate of ways. But on the other hand, he hadn't seemed to even look at me in the same way that he had then, and the way I felt with Eric seemed to override anything I could ever feel about anyone else in my entire life. It was just so different with Eric. I wanted him, needed him. It was about lust, desire, passion, and even love. And I could see the exact emotions in Eric's face. He wanted this as much as I did. He felt the exact pull that I felt towards him. And that excited me. So much that I almost wanted to just ignore Godric and continue.
But that just would have been wrong, right?
"It can wait." Eric insisted.
"It can't unfortunately. You two can continue this later. For now, we need to discuss this."
Eric growled and I saw the disappointment in his eyes. He wanted me just as much as I wanted him. And I think that turned me on even more. The disappointment in his face turned into a smirk however as he tapped his nose and I had a rough feeling that he could smell my arousal.
Which meant so could Godric.
Alright, this was getting bad. Very very bad.
"If I don't see you down there in ten minutes, I'll be back up here." Godric warned, though his tone was light and even happy. It was like he didn't even care that Eric and I were about to have sex. In fact, he sounded like he was glad.
Now I was really confused.
And still completely turned on.
"I should have locked the door." Eric snickered as he slowly drew off of me and I took that as a sign that Godric had left.
I pouted as I propped myself up on my elbows. "Did we always get interrupted while doing this?"
"What makes you think we've done this before?" he smirked.
"Because the feel of your body against mine, the way you know every pleasure spot, makes me believe we've done this loads of times." I had a smirk of my own crossing my face. "Am I right?"
"Whatever happened to the girl who didn't want to believe that we had a past, that you were mine?" he lifted off of me and stood beside the bed.
"She left with the asshole version of you." I poked him as I joined him off of the bed. I glanced at the ripped shirt as I adjusted my bra and panties. "Now I don't have a shirt."
Eric chuckled as he walked over and grabbed the shirt he had been wearing what seemed like ages ago. Thankfully he had taken better care of his own shirt and he handed it over for me to wear. I shot him a grateful smile and slipped it over my head, pulling it down far enough so nothing was showing.
"I really need clothes." I commented.
"Sookie was supposed to bring some. But I don't care for them. You don't need to wear a single thing." A finger slid up my side teasingly, causing my body to shudder at his touch.
"Don't start, I'm already turned on." I pushed his hand away with a laugh. "How is it that an hour ago, I was crying my eyes out, and now all I want to do is get you alone?"
"I have that effect on woman?" he grinned from ear to ear as he pulled me up against him, his head dipping down to capture my lips. Before I could even attempt to deepen the kiss however, he pulled away and laid a soft kiss on the top of my nose before tugging me towards the door. "He really will come up here if we don't hurry it up."
"Party pooper." I mumbled with another pout.
Eric flashed me a smirk, his fangs on full display as he did so. I rolled my eyes and let him lead me out of the room and down the hallway to the stairs, our hands clasped together. I didn't think it was possible after I had woken up that night in the worse pain imaginable that I would be smiling again, that I would ever feel like things could be okay. I knew that they couldn't. I knew that sooner or later I would have to face the music. Sadly, it seemed much too soon than I would have liked. But for those few hot and heated moments, I felt like I was on a different planet, like my life and the one that I loved weren't in mortal danger. It felt nice, welcomed even. I only hoped that this war with the witches ended quickly so I could get back to more of these escapades.
Only without Godric's interruptions.
"It's great to see you again, Ellie." Sam hugged me tightly, though my arms were at my sides the entire time.
It was hard to embrace someone freely when I couldn't remember a thing about them. I offered the man a smile, but not even that grin of his and those bright eyes gave me a clue as to how I knew him. I wanted to know so badly. I wanted to remember everything, especially what had happened in the past with Eric. But I couldn't remember. Nothing seemed to work. Sure I had those visions upstairs in my room, but they weren't exactly helpful. They didn't tell me anything that I didn't already know. Eric saved me, in more ways than one. That was what he did. He was my saviour. But that didn't help me remember my own friends. And that's what I wanted to remember. Sam looked so gentle and friendly, and I understood how I could befriend him easily. I already knew that I could trust him; he just had that sort of vibe. So why couldn't I just remember him?
"I know you don't remember me." there was a sadness that crept into his eyes. "But I just want you to know how happy I am that you're here, that you're safe as you could possibly be."
"Thanks." I replied softly, my eyes moving to the other man in the room. I could tell by the way he was looking at me that he knew I was uncomfortable. He smiled warmly but didn't try to embrace me like Sam did. I smiled in return as a thank you and knew immediately that even if I never remembered who he was, I would still want to get to know him.
"Alcide." He voiced. "I helped you and Sookie out years ago."
"It's nice to meet you Alcide. Again."
He nodded before his gaze turned onto Sookie who had been rummaging in a bag by the door. When she came walking back into the room, a bundle of clothes in her hand, I noticed the looks both Alcide and Sam gave her. I remember Sookie telling me about Bill and his betrayal, but I couldn't remember if she had any other love interests. It seemed though, like she did. Whether she knew that or not.
"I hope these fit." She handed over the clothes. "I grabbed whatever I could the moment Godric called."
"Thanks Sookie." I thanked her, grateful to have clothes to wear that didn't consist on one of Eric's shirts. Not that I couldn't enjoy wearing his clothes. "Maybe I should go get dressed now."
"No." Eric shook his head as he pulled me down onto his lap as he sat on the couch. His grip around my waist was iron tight and I knew there was no way to get out of his grasp. I rolled my eyes and lightly slapped his chest before settling in. I certainly could get used to this.
"Anyways..." Godric sent the two of us a knowing grin before addressing the rest of the room. Pam had joined us back in the room, as did another vampire who was Asian. He looked bored, like he didn't even want to be here. But I knew that he was trustworthy if Eric deemed him worthy enough to come into his home.
"I talked with my pack master." Alcide spoke up. "We've ruled one of the warehouses out that we think they've been using as a base. We have two others we're looking into. Our trackers are doing everything they can."
"That's perfect." Godric nodded. "I called Sophie-Anne and she said she would be here soon."
"What?" Eric's head snapped towards Godric so fast I wondered if he got whiplash. "You're involving her?"
"She is the Queen of Louisiana." Godric reminded. "She's a friend of Elizabeth's, she wants to help. And she has resources that we don't."
"Like?"
"She has the authority in the state. Whatever happens, whatever we do, we'll easily be able to hide." Godric pointed out. "And she has both vampire and Were soldiers ready to fight at a moment's notice."
"The Jackson packs has been cut back to only those honourable." Alcide nodded. "They'll be a good asset. There's only a few of us able to fight in my pack. We'll need all the help we can get with Hallow and the witches."
Eric frowned but didn't say another word on the subject.
"Once we know where the witches are located, we'll be able to formulate a plan." Sam voiced. "We need to figure out what we're going to do about these two though. If they're bonded like you said they are, then Eric won't be able to fight."
Eric tensed and I knew he didn't like the sound of that.
"I'm fighting." He growled. "They're mine. I want each and every one of them to pay."
Sam and Alcide exchanged shocked looks before glancing back over at Eric, whose arm had tightened around my waist.
"You can't, Eric. Not unless you want Ellie in the scuffle." Sam reminded.
"We'll find a way around it."
"No." Godric shook his head. "It's too dangerous. I won't have it. Elizabeth has been put through enough pain. I won't lose her because you're too stubborn to sit this one out."
"I want them, Godric. You promised me I could have them." Eric narrowed his eyes. "I want to hear their screams as I rip them apart, limb by limb."
"I won't lose you either." Godric's voice turned soft. "I can't. You will sit this one out. We'll bring the one who attacked Elizabeth to you if need be. I don't care. You are not getting involved in this battle."
"But why not?" It was my turn to voice my opinion.
All eyes fell on me, and I could tell I shocked one or two.
"What are you talking about?" Alcide questioned.
"Why can't he fight? He's the second oldest vampire here; he's one of the strongest men we've got. Why can't he fight?" I reasoned.
"You, Ellie. You're the reason he can't fight." Sookie looked at me like I had two heads.
"Well, then why I can't I be there too?" I looked around at them all. After receiving blank stares, I knew I would have to elaborate. "I'm a Phoenix, aren't I? When I got pissed off at Godric here, I burned his face."
"There's a difference between that and a fight, Ellie." Sam shook his head. "You can't, you could get hurt."
"When I was in Chicago, the night that Godric and I talked for the first time." I glanced over at Godric, our eyes meeting. "I was at the mall before that and tried to fight off three guys from hurting a poor innocent girl. And I did so using my powers."
"Ellie, this is different." Sookie laid a hand on my arm. "This is war."
"It's not so different. I used my powers to help that girl. I can just use my powers to fight off these witches. I'm more powerful than all of you combined." I pointed out. "I'm more powerful than any of them, including Hallow and the one who did this to Eric and me."
"If you were so powerful, than why couldn't you fight off your attacker?" Pam spoke, her eyes piercing threw me.
I didn't know what to say to that. She was right. If I was so powerful than how had that witch been able to cast this spell on me? Why hadn't I been able to fight back? I was only angry with Godric and I had been able to use my powers, and yet when I was fighting for m life, nothing happened. Why were my powers picking and choosing when to show themselves?
But I still wanted to fight. I wanted to try. These witches sought to destroy my life. But not only my life, Eric's as well. While a part of me wanted to curl up in a ball and just wait it all out, another part of me wanted to fight back. I wanted to take back my life, take back everything that these witches were stealing from me. Would my powers work? I wasn't sure. I could be left defenceless and in harm's way. But I couldn't let that stop me. I wanted pay back. I wanted revenge. I couldn't do that by sitting on the sidelines. And Eric certainly couldn't destroy these witches like he desired. And to be honest, that was one sight I wanted to see.
"I want to fight." I spoke determinedly.
"No, Elizabeth" Godric shook his head. "I won't allow it."
"Well that's funny, because it's my body, my choice." I snapped. "I'm not going to just sit back and let you all get yourselves killed."
"That's exactly what you'll be doing." Pam pointed out.
"Not if I can use my powers."
"And what if something happens and you can't." Sookie looked worried. "We just don't want you to get hurt, Ellie."
"I'm already hurt, Sookie. You can't even imagine the pain I've been in. None of you can." I felt the emotions threatening to escape. "They took my life away from me and they want my soul. They want to kill Eric here for his blood. I just can't let that happen. Eric wants to fight, he needs to. And so do I. I need to do this for myself. I need to fight back once and for all."
"The last time you fought back you almost got yourself killed." Godric frowned as he remembered a past that I couldn't.
"Well it's different now."
"How? How is it any different?"
"I can't explain it. I just know that I can do this." I was two seconds away from begging. "I need to do this. I need to fight back. I want to do this. I have to. I know that I can."
I knew no one would agree to it, I could see it in their faces.
"It's not going to happen Elizabeth. You and Eric are going to sit this out." Godric's word seemed so final.
And that annoyed me.
So much that I forced Eric's arm from around me and jumped off his lap.
"You can't tell me what to do, Godric. I'm my own person. If I want to fight, then I will."
I twisted on my heel and started storming away. But just like earlier, I had to stop in my tracks before getting too far.
"Eric!" I snapped, turning back towards him.
"Are you stomping away again?" he raised an eyebrow, his lips quirking into a smirk.
"Just get your ass over here."