The Rediscovered Ally

Chapter 26

"What the hell is going on?" Sam asked once he reluctantly admitted Eric into his trailer.

"What do mean?" Eric asked wanting to hear Sam's perspective.

"I smelled a vampire sneaking around outside and then she tried to get me to come to the door".

"Did you see who it was?"

"That vampire that was with Steve Newlin".

"What is going on Eric?" Sookie asked groggily through a yawn.

"I am not sure but we need to be wary of Nora" Eric confessed.

"Do you think she's going to try to hurt Sookie?" Sam asked with concern.

"Before tonight I would have said no but now I am not sure. I am not getting a good vibe as you say from her".

"Great. Just what I need, another vampire who wants to end me" Sookie said in exasperation.

"Lets get out of here and let Sam get some sleep" Eric suggested. "Thank you for assistance" he added.

"Anything for Sookie" Sam answered. "Keep her safe man".

Eric nodded and whisked Sookie into his arms and immediately shot up into the dark sky.

Sookie suppressed a shriek at the suddenness of their departure but settled into Eric's grasp.

"What are you doing!" Sookie yelled as Eric pulled one arm free.

"Relax, I will not drop you" he said with a smile as he pulled his cell phone out of his pocket.

"Who are you calling?" Sookie asked.

"Alcide".

"Why?" but the call had already connected and Sookie listened as Eric made arrangements for them to spend the day at the home that Alcide was temporarily using.

"I don't understand why we aren't going to one of your safe houses" Sookie asked after Eric disconnected the phone and crumbled it over the bayou below.

"We need to stay in a non-vampire residence so vampires cannot force their way in" Eric explained. "Besides, Nora knows most of my safe houses and I do not trust her right now".

"I don't like putting Alcide in danger" Sookie said.

"He already is because of his association with Kalen" Eric pointed out.

Sookie fell silent as they continued to Shreveport. She was uncomfortable being with Eric in Alcide's home but she knew that she would not let him go to rest without her today.

Eric carefully circled the area to be sure there were no signs of any vampire or human activity in the area and asked Sookie to check for brain signatures. When they were both satisfied that they would not attract any attention, Eric landed them quickly in the back yard of a contemporary styled home in the same housing development where Alcide's home had been.

The wolf must have been waiting and quickly opened the patio doors and invited them in. Once they were safely inside, Alcide reset the house alarm and drew the drapes closed.

"The basement isn't finished in this house but there are no windows down there" Alcide said immediately.

Eric looked around the room and was dismayed that there was no furniture.

"We just finished building this spec house and the decorator hasn't been here yet to stage it" Alcide explained knowing what Eric must be thinking.

"It is of no consequence. Our safety is more important than our comfort right now".

"I have a blow up bed that you can have Sookie" Alcide offered.

"I don't want to take your bed, I'll be OK".

"I can't have a lady sleeping on the floor" Alcide insisted.

Eric was pleased with the offer as he did not want her sleeping on the hard cold concrete either.

Sookie protested a bit more but finally acquiesced knowing that she was going to lose the argument.

Alcide left to gather the already blown up bed and moved it to the windowless basement. When he returned the three sat on the floor in the empty living room and reviewed the events of the night since Sookie wasn't up to speed on what had transpired at Fangtasia.

"Do you think Kalen is safe enough?" Alcide asked when Eric was done.

"I would trust Gus with Sookie's life" he answered in response.

Alcide knew that was as good as it could get right now but he still felt very uneasy about Kalen being apart from them.

"When do you think it will be safe to go see her?" he asked.

"I wouldn't recommend doing anything that could arouse suspicion for quite some time" Eric answered somberly.

"What's your definition of 'quite some time'"?

"It is going to depend on the pressure from the Authority but I would say at least a year if not more".

"A year!" Alcide asked as he suppressed a howl.

"We must ensure that the Authority believes she is truly dead".

"I thought you said that their reach doesn't extend to Europe?"

"Are you willing to give up your life here and move to Sweden?" Eric challenged.

"It's not sounding like a bad idea just about now" Alcide mumbled.

Eric raised his eyebrows in response but said nothing. It was Sookie that piped up. "What about Janice and your business?"

"I could come back and visit them and I'm pretty sure they need contractors in Sweden too" Alcide retorted.

"You'd be willing to give up everything for her?" Sookie asked with disbelief.

"Yeah, I think I would" Alcide answered solemnly.

Sookie shook her head at the thought but said nothing.

"Remember for the time being that you should not have contact with her. If you need a message to get through I can do that for you" Eric reminded Alcide.

"Won't it look funny if the Authority finds out you are all chummy with the King?"

"Gus and I were turned in the same century and have always been close. We have been in contact regularly our whole existences so this should not arouse any suspicion".

"Well then get word that I miss her and that I'll come see her as soon as I can" Alcide requested.

Eric nodded and promised to take care of it the next evening.

"We should go rest" Eric said as he rose from the carpet. "I do not know what tomorrow will bring but we all need to be rested and prepared".

***00***

"What do you mean I can't call him?" Kalen asked in desperation.

"The Authority is not convinced of your demise in the fire and they are still looking for you" Gus explained gently already feeling protective of his new charge.

"Eric gave me untraceable phones" she protested as tears formed in her eyes.

"There is a concern that they are all being watched and their work places and homes may be bugged".

Kalen closed her eyes in an attempt to regain control of her emotions.

"For how long?" she whispered.

"Until Eric tells me otherwise".

"Why can't the Authority just leave me alone?" she said aloud although it was more of a rhetorical question.

"They fear what they can't control and you my dear are a wild card" Gus offered.

"Have you ever met a hybrid that didn't go insane?"

"As a matter of fact I have and you will meet him tomorrow night. I have summoned him to assist in your training".

"Does the Authority know about him? Maybe we can prove to them that hybrids can be stable and I don't have to keep hiding?" she asked excitedly feeling the first glimmer of hope since this awful conversation started.

"I'm sorry my dear but Rolff has flown under the radar for centuries now and would not want any attention drawn to his true existence. He has more vampire tendencies than were and has managed to integrate himself fully into vampire communities".

"Can't vampires smell that he's different?" Kalen asked.

"There is clearly something different about Rolff but he is so vampire like that no one questions him".

"How do you know that he's a hybrid then?"

"Rolff is my childe" the king answer calmly.

Kalen's eyebrows raised to hair line as she waited for Gus to continue.

"I did not realize the Rolff was a bitten were when I turned him. Actually his scent was quite enticing. I have often speculated that there was some otherness about Rolff but we have never been able to prove any connection".

"Alcide told me that Fairies taste really good to vampires. Do you think he's part Fae?"

"That would be my best guess but I do not know for certain".

A scowl crossed Kalen's face as her features saddened once more.

"What is wrong?" the king asked with concern.

"Maybe the reason Rolff is still sane is because of his otherness" she whispered.

"Listen to me Kalen" the king began. He waited until she made eye contact again before continuing. "I believe your sanity is within your control. With the right support, guidance and training you will be able to master the duality of your being. Most hybrids are abandoned by their makers when they discover their mistake and go through their formative days alone. That has not been the case for you upon your turning or now. Hear me when I say that I would not have done this favor for Eric if I did not believe that I could help you".

Kalen's eyes filled once more as she took in the king's reassurances. "Thank you" she choked out emotionally.

"It is my pleasure" Gus said sincerely.

"Do you think Rolff will be mad that he has to work with me?"

"I know that Rolff is looking forward to being reunited with me and would welcome the opportunity to help another hybrid" the king replied.

"What does Rolff do?" Kalen asked.

"He runs all of our business holdings and manages the financial end of our empire".

"Is he going to have the time to do this?" Kalen inquired nervously.

"Kalen dear, he wants to do this" Gus stressed. "Rolff can easily do his work from his office here and he is genuinely happy to help you."

"Thank you" Kalen whispered overcome with emotion once more but this time of relief.

***000***

"This is fucking ridiculous!" Nora yelled to herself as she paced in the large hotel suite she had rented since being kicked out of Eric's home.

Nora had not felt this level of anger at her brother in all their years together. Not only had he forsaken her for some ridiculous blond bimbo but he was openly thwarting the Authority by protecting a fucking hybrid.

Nora picked up a table lamp and hurled it across the room in anger and frustration. She let a guttural moan escape her throat as she slumped against the wall.

She hated feeling helpless and that was exactly how Eric was making her feel.

"Enough of this!" she said out loud as she straightened herself up. She was a member of the Authority. A child of Godric. She was strong and it was time for her to start acting like it and regain control of the situation once and for all.