Chapter 26

Adele's bones were as old as her sorrows. The climb to the attic had been difficult and painful but it needed to be done. Over the years she'd done her best to forget just what was hidden away amidst the debris of several generations of Stackhouses but she could not continue to do so.

Fintan had explained enough for her to know that the little relic she held in her hand was a true game changer. Inside the green and gold case was the only Cluvier Dor left in existence.

Its power was immeasurable. Fintan had taken many years and a great deal of energy to craft it. It was his insurance policy for his children and their descendants. He'd asked Adele to keep it safe until she saw that it was time to make use of it. With her granddaughter's happiness on the line that time had finally come.

The vampire and Sookie were connected and neither would be whole without the other. Over the months he had been living in her home Adele had come to view Eric as another member of her family. She saw the strength that had brought him this far but she also saw that he had been at a breaking point. Being separated from the woman he loved would shatter whatever spirit had been left in him. As for Sookie the guilt and regret would weigh her down. She had not realized how much she cared for Eric until he was gone.

So here she was with the only thing that might give them both a chance. The little green box hummed faintly with its contained power. It was warm to the touch and if she squeezed It in her hand it would glow slightly but it would not open as she did not have any faerie blood in her. Sookie did.

She'd debated long and hard about letting her have this. Use of such an artifact would forever tie her granddaughter to her fae origins. This was something that Adele had always wanted to spare her. She wanted her children and grandchildren to have peaceful lives away from the maelstrom of the supernatural world. Unfortunately she no longer had a say in any of that.

Adele hoped with all her human heart that her Sookie would be strong enough to withstand what was inevitably coming her way. With only her deep love of Eric as guide the path would be a treacherous and unforgiving one.

A loud knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. Adele put the Cluvier Dor in the pocket of her apron and went to get it. What she saw when she opened the door was truly unexpected.

A vampire woman holding an unconscious faerie greeted her. The girl was carrying the man like a sack of potatoes and Adele winced slightly at this. She would bet her best cast iron pan that this was Pam.

"Yes?" she asked the vampire who was scowling. The woman responded by allowing the fae to fall into the floor.

"Do you mind if I leave this on your porch? He's not waking up anytime soon."

Adele looked at her curiously. "Won't he be more comfortable inside?"

"I don't care a bit about his comfort. This man in a faerie therefore part of those louses that kept my master at heel. It would serve him right to have a horrible painful death"

There really wasn't any reply to that statement so Adele simply said: "I see. Won't you come in Miss Pam? Sookie has told me all about you."

Pam stepped inside and peered at the old furniture and peeling walls. Her master had said that his family had very little money and she saw that he hadn't been lying. No wonder he'd had to work. I would probably take a great deal of money to keep this place from falling apart altogether.

"Please excuse the mess. I was preoccupied with finding something in the attic. Wasn't Sookie supposed to be with you now?"

Pam snorted "Well about that… how do I put it? Sookie's been taken by who knows what to who knows where but I daresay it's probably Faerie. The comatose worm in your porch knows for sure but he's not telling."

Adele blanched and would have fallen if not for Pam's quick thinking. As it was she had to let the vampire guide her to a chair.

"My Sookie. We must find her."

"That's the plan only I'm going to need some more info from you starting with just how the faeries are able to jump to their dimension. There must be a portal somewhere around here that I could use."

"No portal… only those with fae blood can travel to the realm." She said gravely.

"I see. I thought as much but wanted to confirm. Someday I'm going to have to ask you about the particulars of human/fae sex but tonight is not the time. I have to go drain me a fae."

Pam went out the porch only to be stopped halfway by a frantic Adele.

"There is something… I have something that you need to give to Sookie as soon as you find her."

The vampire peered at the old woman. She probably wanted to send Sookie a sweater just in case she got cold. Weren't humans dumb?

The artifact that Adele withdrew from her pocket shut her up. She'd never seen anything like in in her long life.

"What is it?"

"One last hope." Adele replied as the Cluviel Dor glowed.

XxXx

Eric died a little past midnight. He was looking straight at Sookie when the last bit of life left his body. Sookie and Claudine both sank to the floor before the fallen Viking. At last the pain had come to an end and he was free.

"Oh God Eric" The girl cried in devastation.

Sookie barely looked up through her tears when the air shifted and Niall appeared before her. This time he was dressed in his full regalia and was carrying a sword in his scabbard.

"What are you doing here now?" She asked with barely concealed anger. The prince had caused much of Eric's agony and was therefore directly responsible for his end.

"I came to check on my property only to find that he is no longer. Ahh well -we got a good eight hundred years of service from him."

Sookie rose quickly and slapped the prince with all her strength. How dare this monster say that? Property? Eric had been so much more than that.

Niall did not flinch but merely stood still before the irate woman. From the corner of his eye he saw that Claudine was merely looking straight ahead and not reacting to what was going on around her. His granddaughter definitely needed some time away. Maybe he would send her to Paris for the shows next month.

He stopped Sookie's hand midway and forced her onto a nearby chair. This one he would keep here. It was time for Sookie to finally learn of her place in the world. He hoped that such knowledge would cure her of her unhealthy attachment to the slave.

Interestingly enough the body was not reducing itself to the splash of blood and guts that marked fallen vampires. Maybe it was a side effect of the faerie blood he'd allowed the vamp to have. Whatever it was he would have to burn the thing.

He was making preparations in his head when the air changed yet again. Pam the vampire materialized in front of him.

"You've drank fae blood!" he announced angrily as the woman rushed to Eric's side.

"Yes I did and it was delicious." She admitted as she peered at Eric. "What is wrong with him?"

Sookie did not reply but merely shook her head.

"It can't be…not now" Pam whispered. "He cannot be gone. It's not fair." Blood tears flooded her eyes. "I can't lose him again."

Sookie hugged Pam who violently thrusts her away. "Don't come any closer you faerie bitch. You pushed away and drove him to this."

Sookie sobbed. "I didn't mean to- I was so confused."

"Yeah sure, whatever, you didn't want him simple as that."

He girl was hysterical. "I want him… I need him- I would do anything to have him back."

"Well bitch here is your chance." She said and dropped the Cuviel Dor in Sookie's lap.

TBC.

Sorry for the long delay. Well I'm still debating on what will Sookie do with the CD exactly. Just what will she change in to bring Eric back. Please send suggestions my way.