Thanks to Nycsnowbird for her awesome beta skills. I couldn't have gotten this out without her amazing talent!
SOOKIE (July)
I tried to roll over onto my side, but there was heaviness across my chest that prevented me from moving. My head felt like a truck had barreled through it and forgot to apply the brakes, but that didn't explain why there was weight on top of me.
My hand reached up and patted around, finally settling on a hand that seemed attached to a long arm. Eric.
Memories slowly came flooding back to me from the previous night. It had all been such a blur at the time—Victor getting me out of the compound, the plane ride home, seeing Eric, the … all I remembered was excruciating pain in my head, like a hawk's razor-sharp talons flaying a small prey.
No one had to tell me what had happened. It was easy enough to figure out. No doubt, Felipe had found out I was gone and this had been his way at lashing out at me. At least, now that it was daylight … at least, I thought it was daylight. I peeled open one eyelid, and even though the drapes were pulled shut, I could see a tiny band of light at the bottom. Felipe was at rest, which meant I was safe for the moment. If only there was a way to prevent him from getting to me again like that.
I turned my head and opened my eyes fully, looking into Eric's sleeping face. Even in his daytime rest, his face wore the tensions from last night, and probably even longer than that. I reached over and smoothed his hair behind his ear.
Eric didn't usually move when he was sleeping like this; I nearly jumped when his arm muscles flexed across my belly and he repositioned himself closer to me. It should have been a comfort that even during these moments he was protecting me, but it wasn't.
The fact was, now I was even more of a danger to him and everyone else, being here. Felipe not only had access to me, but to them. Did I want to run? Sure. Did I want to disappear now that I could teleport again? You bet. So what did I do? I pushed myself further against Eric and snuggled as close as I could and closed my eyes. Right now, in this moment, was where I wanted to be.
My eyes opened again, after goodness knows how long. I was still lying against Eric in the same position I'd fallen asleep. This time, though, I moved his arm off of me and scooted out of his grasp. I had business to take care of, and apparently it couldn't wait.
While I was in the bathroom, I had decided to take a shower as well. It felt good to rinse the stench of this past weekend off of me and try to start fresh. Besides, the extra sleep had made my headache dissipate enough to where it was only a dull roar.
I threw on some clothes and glanced at Eric in the dimness one last time before I left the bedroom. My normal routine would have been to head to the kitchen for a cup of coffee to start my morning. However, I had no desire to drink or eat anything at the moment. So, instead, I ended up in Eric's office.
I was sure he had spent most of last night in here, figuring out a way to get rid of Felipe. Deep down, I had a niggling impression that I wasn't going to be seeing this office much longer. After taking in the décor and the precise location of everything in the room, I went downstairs and did the same to the kitchen, the library, and the living room—memorizing every inch of this place.
Eric kept such good care of his possessions, including me. As much as I hated feeling owned, it was comforting to me right now. He had taken such good care of me, and I only wished I could have done the same in return. Chaos and headaches are what I brought to his life.
When I re-entered the kitchen again, there was a note propped up by the coffee pot that I hadn't noticed before. It was in Riley's scrawl. A slight chuckle escaped my lips as I noted that his penmanship was rather neat for a doctor. Even though it was addressed to Amelia, I couldn't help but glance down at it, and a numbing chill ran through my body.
It wasn't a love note. It was more like a shopping list. He had gone back home to get some items she would need to produce some serious magic and would be back in a few hours.
I sat down at the table and rested my hands against my my head. Everyone had suffered so much because of me. It was almost too much to bear.
"You should not burden yourself with these thoughts, Sookie."
I jumped up, the chair skidding out from under me and whirled around. A scream died in my throat as I saw who it was. Lilith was standing in the doorway, frowning. Her clothes were pristine and she had a slight glow to her.
My stance dropped and I grabbed my chair and returned to my sitting position at the table. "How could I not? My friends are doing this all for me."
She took the seat opposite me and placed her warm hands over mine. The moment she touched me, I felt oddly comforted.
"Not just for you. Perhaps that is your human friend's motives, but there is more to Eric's motive."
Lilith had me there. "Of course, you're right. And I feel like I'm being selfish to think this is just about me. Felipe has to be stopped … no matter what the cost."
"There is always a cost to bear when war is approaching. However, Eric has many allies, some of whom are upstairs resting now. Others will come this evening, pledging loyalty to him and will fight by his side. He will be victorious in his quest."
I wasn't sure how she knew all this, but it was a relief to think that Eric would come out of this a winner. Images suddenly popped into my head, flying by at a rushed pace, and I saw all the people who were planning on helping him. So many of them. Some I recognized from the bar as loyal patrons of Eric's and some who had taken sides with him because of their hatred for the king. I saw Stan and Russell side by side with Eric, ready to take on the enemy. There was also another vampire there—a woman whom I never met before. Yet I knew she was just as important as Stan and Russell.
I hoped that he and the others also came out of this unscathed. I didn't want anything bad to happen to them. Felipe was the only one who had to die, in my humble opinion.
"You do realize the impact of your last thought, do you not?" I glanced up at Lilith's face and she actually looked forlorn.
"Yes, I do. I am tied to Felipe. If he dies, then I die with him."
"Are you not afraid of that?"
"Of dying? Yes. Of seeing my friends hurt or worse? I would give my life so that they didn't have to do this."
"You are a very brave woman, Sookie, to lay down your life for your friends and loved ones. To sacrifice yourself for their wellbeing." She paused, as if she was considering her words. "What if I told you there was a way to protect you, so that your friends could do what they needed to do?"
My head whipped up and I stared at her with wide eyes. "What do you mean?"
"I am talking about a sacrifice. Would you truly sacrifice yourself, so that Eric and the others could take care of Felipe? I can only tell you who will fight alongside of him. I cannot tell you the outcome."
The images of those involved flipped through my head again, and the words flew out of my mouth before they registered in my brain. "I'll do it. Whatever it is, I'll do it."
"You make this choice without knowing what I am going to ask?" Her eyebrows raised in question.
"Yes. If it means that Eric and the others will be safe and can take Felipe out, then I'll do it. They will be safe, won't they?" Of course, now that the words were registering with me, I was nervous at what the sacrifice would be.
Lilith closed her eyes and long moments ticked by. When she opened them, they were almost all white. "I see a great sadness and a great victory." She closed her eyes again and when she opened them, they were back to normal. "Your immediate friends and loved ones will be safe. Harm shall not come to them."
I sat back in relief and looked at her. "What do I need to do?"
"You will come with me now." She stretched out her hand for me to take.
"Where are we going?"
"To see your great grandfather."
Niall? "But how? He closed the portals to Faery."
"Yes, he did, but only to the human world. There are other portals in other worlds. We will need to travel through my world to get there."
My head turned toward the doorway. "Does it have to be right now? Can I say goodbye to Eric and my friends first?"
"Then it would not be a true sacrifice. Do not worry, I will make sure they know what has happened to you."
I wanted to recoil from her outstretched hand. I wanted to run back upstairs and throw myself down next to Eric and tell her to leave me alone. I wanted …
"Will I ever see them again?" I was afraid of the answer, but I had to know.
One moment, her eyes flashed almost that milky white again, and then resumed their normal color. "Some things are not so clearly seen."
It wasn't the answer I was looking for, but it was an answer nonetheless. Slowly my fingers reached out to hers and as soon as our palms touched, a brilliant white light blinded me and I flung my other arm up to shield my eyes.
"I apologize for the abruptness of the light. My world is very bright. You may keep them shut for a few more moments. We are almost there."
Even through tightly shut eyes, the intensity of the light radiated uncomfortably against my retinas for several minutes until I felt its effects lessen, fading, and I was able to open my eyes fully again. I was amazed at what I saw, my jaw dropping in wonder. It was nothing but lush rolling green hills framed by an enormous mountain as the backdrop.
The land was resplendent in color and richness, and there was a slight breeze blowing the scent of summer flowers all around me. We had come to rest on a dirt path that seemed endless, as it wound around before us and disappeared into the mountain.
I'd never seen anything so beautiful in my life.
"I am glad you like it, my great granddaughter."
I turned quickly and dropped Lilith's hand. Niall was standing there, looking both sad and happy to see me. His silver hair was brushed back slick. The refined suit he normally wore was replaced with some kind of white tunic and matching pants. A gold belt was wrapped around his waist, holding the material together. If it wasn't for the seriousness of the situation, I would have giggled and said that he looked like he was wearing pajamas.
Apparently he must have heard what I'd thought because he smiled at me. "Yes, I suppose I do look like I am dressed for slumber, my child. Lilith, thank you for bringing her here."
"It was my pleasure, friend." She bowed her head in deference to him and disappeared.
"Come Sookie. Let us take a walk."
He extended his hand, motioning to the path before us and we walked along in silence. I had so many questions to ask him, yet I couldn't utter a single one.
"So much is weighing on you, my child. I am so sorry I was not there to help you. If I had known what the king was going to do, I would have prevented it myself."
"It's over and done with. I accepted the consequences of my actions … as much as I regret what I did. Lilith said there was a way to protect me, so that Eric could go after Felipe. I have so many questions. How did I get here? Is this really Faery? Can I ever go back to Eric? Won't he know I'm missing again?" I couldn't help the speed at which my words tumbled out of my mouth. I felt out of control and embarrassed, but I had to ask.
Niall stopped in his tracks and waved his hand. A bench appeared out of nowhere and he gestured for us to take a seat.
"Do not fret over your rush of questions. There is no need to hold back. I can feel your anxiety, and you have nothing to fear here. You are indeed courageous to accept responsibility for your actions. It is admirable."
"I don't feel courageous. I feel like I let everyone down."
"Nonsense. The fact that you are willing, even now, to sacrifice yourself to protect those you love, speaks volumes."
Niall looked around at the landscape before him. "I am glad you are here. I had always hoped that one day you would get to see Faery. When the portals were sealed, I knew that would never come to pass. Yet here you are. I must thank Lilith again for allowing you to pass through her world to be here. As for your other questions, I will make sure the vampire knows where you are and that you are safe. He has a great task ahead of him, and knowing you will not be harmed will allow him to do what needs to be done. As for seeing him again …"
He paused and picked up my hand, allowing me to feel the warmth and compassion of him and his words. "The bond you and Felipe share cannot penetrate this world. It still resides within you, but it cannot sense what is happening at the other end." I sighed and rubbed my forehead with my free hand.
"I realize this may all be confusing for you. The transference of the bond from Eric to Felipe should never have happened. What I am trying to say, is that if a tragedy should befall Felipe, the bond would not know it and would remain intact while you are here."
"And if I went back?"
Niall squeezed my hand to stop it from trembling and looked deep into my eyes. "The bond would know it had been broken, and with no transference to someone else, your body would not be able to handle a complete break like that. Do you remember the suffering you felt when the bond was transferred to Felipe?" I nodded, not sure what to say, and not really wanting to talk about the pain I felt that night. "It would be many times worse; you would not survive it."
I snatched my hand back and jumped to my feet, pacing back and forth, his words reverberating in my brain. He allowed me to continue my movements for several minutes before I saw him shifting to stand. Suddenly, I stopped and looked down at him.
"I can never go back, can I?" It was the one question I wanted answered so badly, but was afraid of the answer.
"Eventually, yes. You will be able to return to your world. With Lilith's help, she has a way to help ease the bond out of you, so that you may return without any damaging effects."
There was a great silence between us and I sensed he was holding back with something. I took a deep breath. In for a penny, in for a pound, I thought. "What else? What aren't you saying?"
"My child, you may stay in Faery as long as you like, even after the bond is removed, if it pleases you. It would be my pleasure for you, as my kin, to live with me in my palace." I motioned for him to continue, my patience wearing. "I do not know how long it will take for Lilith's magic to work, but you should know … although you will never be a full fae, the longer you stay in Faery, the stronger your fae side will become. When you return, I cannot guarantee that you will be able to stay with the vampire, as you would not be able to mask yourself from him at all."
Talk about a bombshell.
I sat back down on the bench next to Niall and tried like heck to wrap my brain around it all. On the one hand, if I went back now, I'd be fine. Except that if Felipe were killed, I would die. On the other hand, I could stay here and let Lilith work her magic, and if Felipe were killed or not, I would be free of him. However, I run the risk of my fae side becoming stronger and wouldn't be able to be with Eric.
"I cannot make this decision for you, Sookie. You will need to decide for yourself, and soon. Time is not on our side."
"Wait a minute. What if the bond was just transferred back to Eric again?" Why hadn't I thought of that before? It was so simple. A win-win situation.
"Unfortunately, that cannot happen. From what I understand, your union with Felipe was a permanent one. The spell put upon you both at the ceremony made the bond non-transferable. In your world, the only way to break it is for one of you to die."
My hand went over my mouth in shock.
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ERIC (July)
The moment I came into consciousness, I knew something was wrong. The bed was too empty; the house felt too empty. I opened my eyes and looked around. Everything looked the same, except for the fact that Sookie was not in bed.
I closed my eyes and sensed the other presences in the house, but I also sensed a huge absence. Sookie wasn't here. As quickly as I could, I threw on some clothes and ran down the hall. The door to my office was cracked open, and I knew I'd shut it before resting for the day.
Taking a defensive posture, I flattened against the wall and slowly pushed open the door. From peering around the corner, I could see the figure of a woman staring out the window. I dropped my shoulders and walked into the room.
"Where is she?" I sat down at my desk and stared at her.
"Is that a proper greeting for a guest?" When she turned, there was something different about her.
"My apologies," I said with a bit of sarcasm. "How nice of you to come into my home unannounced and uninvited, Lilith. Please do sit down before you tell me where Sookie is." I would give her a chance to come clean before I lost my temper. I would never do violence against a woman, but even I had my limits.
"I will ignore your tone and your threat, vampire, but do not let my calm demeanor fool you. Even though my people are pacifists, I can be fierce when needed." She took a seat on the couch and tapped the side of her head, indicating that she had read my thoughts.
I bit my tongue and drummed my fingers on the desk. As she smoothed out her dress over her knee, I inhaled deeply and caught a whiff of something familiar. "I will thank you to stay out of my head. Now, you will bring Sookie back from Faery immediately. I do not know how you got her there, but she belongs here with me."
Lilith did not seem surprised that I could tell exactly where she had taken Sookie. "Tell me, Eric. Do you value her safety?"
Such an absurd question. "Of course I do."
"Then she must remain where she is until your task is complete, and it is safe for her to return."
"She has nothing to fear. I will safeguard her life, as I have always done."
"And when Felipe dies? Can you safeguard her when she is dead? Surely, you realize that once he is gone, the bond will be severed, and she will perish. She has already tasted a fraction of what the pain would be like. Can you put her through worse because you are selfish enough to want her with you right now?"
My fingers stopped and I leaned forward. "Then Felipe will not die. You have my word on that."
"Ah, but that is not your call, is it? I have come to you for two reasons. The first is to let you know that I have taken Sookie to a place where she will not be harmed, no matter the outcome of your confrontation. The second is to tell you that the Council has sanctioned Felipe's death. Not only will it put an end to his plans, but it will serve as a warning to others who would try and follow in his footsteps."
My eyes narrowed, as I was nearing the end of my patience with this conversation. "How would you know the will of the Council?"
I was rarely caught off guard, but when Lilith's eyes flashed pure white, I pushed back my chair and knelt down on one knee in front of her. Her name sounded from my lips in a barely audible whisper, but the intonation carried the respect I had for the position Lilith now carried.
"Pythoness."
~^^~^^~....~^^~^^~
SOOKIE (October)
As I woke up in my plush bed, my arms stretched out before me, and I rolled over onto my side. The curtains were parted and the sun was shining through, just like the day before, and the day before that, and … well, you get the picture.
Faery was beautiful, no doubt, but it never changed. It was always beautiful. There were no storms to usher in the fresh scent of wet grass in the morning, no hot summer days where you just wanted to sit in the air conditioning or use a large fan and a cool drink, no cold winters so you had to light a fire and snuggle up with your sweetie and some hot cocoa. It was always beautiful.
So why did I have the strangest feeling that today something was going to change?
Three months. Three months of Lilith working on me to get rid of the permanency of the bond. Three months of not knowing what happened to everyone, and not being able to get word to or from them. Three months without Eric by my side. Three long, lonely months.
At first, Lilith had to practically knock me out, because whatever spells and potions she was using, made me sick. It was also extremely painful, to the point I was seeing stars, and every breath I took was a crushing blow to my chest. As time went on, the treatments became less severe, and now they didn't even faze me.
With a sigh, I glanced over at the alarm clock and sat up. It was just about time for breakfast. Sure enough, as I smoothed over the comforter of my bed, there was a knock at the door.
"Come in."
Cecilia entered right on cue with a lap tray of food for me, just like she had been doing for the past two months. She was what Niall called my 'lady in waiting'. I hated to be waited on, but, as a guest here, I didn't want to complain.
"And how is Miss Sookie today?" It had taken me a week to convince her to at least say Miss Sookie, instead of her royal princess. I may have Niall's blood in me, but I was far from princess status.
"I'm well rested, and you?" I pulled my hair back into a ponytail, combing out the tangles with my fingers and letting it drop behind.
She set the tray down on the nightstand, picked up the lid off the plate and spoke softly as she looked up at me. "I am good today, Miss …"
Her eyes widened and she nearly dropped the silver dome in her hands. "What is it, Cecilia?"
She pressed her fingers to her lips and spoke through them, her words shakily coming out. "You … you … oh my lord."
Without so much as another word, she bolted from the room. What the heck? A few minutes later and there was a lot of noise and shuffling coming from the hallway. I was just about to get out of bed and find out what was going on, when there was another knock at the door.
"Come in." Niall entered, wearing a robe and looking rather concerned. "Great grandfather, what's going on?"
He cautiously approached me and sat down on the edge of the bed. "My child, how are you feeling this morning?"
"I'm feeling fine, as usual. Can someone tell me what's going on?"
He picked up my hand and stroked the back of it with his thumb. "Are you sure you do not feel any differently this morning?"
"I'm sure. I feel fine. Can someone tell me what's going on?" I brushed my hair back again with my free hand … and gasped.
I bolted out of bed and ran to the mirror in the bathroom. My hair had fallen forward, and with shaky hands, I reached up and brushed it back. Immediately, I felt light-headed and sat down hard on the edge of the tub. My fingers brushed the curves of my earlobes and up the sides of them, until they rested on … points. My ears had points at the top.
The reflection staring back at me was not my own. It couldn't be. Humans didn't have pointy ears. "You are not completely human, though, are you my child?"
For the longest time I couldn't speak. How? Why? I closed my eyes and Niall's words from the day I came here, rushed into my head.
Although you will never be a full fae, the longer you stay in Faery, the stronger your fae side will become. When you return, I cannot guarantee that you will be able to stay with the vampire, as you would not be able to mask yourself from him at all.
Damn it. Why did it have to take so long to rid my body of this connection? Lilith had said in the beginning that the magic surrounding it was strong, and it would not be easy to remove. I hadn't planned on being here this long. Surely, Felipe was already overthrown and disposed of one way or the other. Maybe there was still time for me to return. Maybe my fae side hadn't grown all that much stronger.
I looked up into Niall's eyes. They were both elated and anguished as he rested his hand on my shoulder. "It's too late, isn't it?"
"Perhaps. Time may yet be on your side. Sookie, my child, you are at a crossroads. It would give me infinite joy to have you stay here with me. I enjoy your company, and because you are of my bloodline, and only one of two living relations left, you are second in line to the throne, after Claude. My people—our people—have come to love you as I do, and would follow your rule."
I couldn't believe what he was saying to me. It was like straight out of some fairytale. I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes, but forced them back and remained calm. I knew what a crossroads meant. It was a moment in your life where your decision could, and most likely would, affect your entire future. "What is the other choice?"
"The other choice would be to return to your world. I was expecting Lilith to come by today and let me know the outcome of your last session with her. Your fae side is stronger now, at least strong enough that your features are changing."
When I glanced over to the mirror again, it was then I noticed more than just my ears had changed. My hair seemed lighter than the normal dark blonde, and my eyes, although always blue, were a lighter shade. My skin was smooth with a hint of blush in my cheeks. The other day I had sworn I'd grown an inch or two, but I thought it was my imagination, now I wasn't so sure. I'd also noticed that I was thinner—not that I was about to complain about that!
"Which means, if I choose to go back home, I might not be able to stay with Eric. Does everything in my life have to be so complicated?"
"Not always. But we do the best we can with the hand we are dealt. Let's wait and hear what Lilith has to say. I know she wants to talk to you about something. Now, it is too beautiful a day for you to be cooped up in your room. I know you enjoy taking a walk through the marketplace. Why don't you get dressed and take a trip over there. Cecilia can accompany you. Then, when you come back, we can have a nice lunch and meet with Lilith."
He kissed me on the cheek and bid me good morning before shutting the door behind him. I had no desire to go to the market today or anytime soon, but he was right. I couldn't stay in this room. I needed to keep myself occupied.
Instead of eating, I took a shower and got dressed in one of the many pieces of clothing Niall had given me. It was a white cotton dress with multi-colored flowers splashed everywhere. The bottom came down to my thighs and flared out in a billowy effect. It had a built-in shelf bra with a v neckline, and spaghetti straps. I paired it with deep green sandals, and left my hair down around my face, trying to cover my defect. At least that's what I thought of my ears at the moment.
When I looked at myself in the mirror, I almost had to laugh. Oh yeah, I was so princess material.
'What's wrong with being a princess?'
My inner self sat up in her lawn chair and glared at me. She had been obviously sun-bathing. Nothing is wrong with it. It's just not me.
'It could be. We don't really have to leave here do we? I like it here.'
Of course she did. She was being spoiled rotten with all this pampering. That's not for you to decide, is it?
'I think I have a say in where we go. I vote here.' She folded her arms across her chest and stuck out her lower lip.
I'm just not so sure about that. I didn't belong here, really, and she knew it. Then again, if I was too far gone, I didn't belong with Eric either. I sat down and rubbed my forehead. Stupid crossroads.
My obvious choice would be to leave here and run back to Eric as fast as I could, provided that my fae side was not strong enough that I couldn't be near him. I sighed and decided that the best situation for me at the moment was to wait and talk to Lilith. Once that happened, then I could make my decision.
In the meantime, Cecilia knocked on my door again and asked if I was ready to go to the marketplace. She looked eager to go, and frankly, I was not big on ideas about how to occupy my time, so we headed out.
Truthfully, I was glad for the company. I let her chatter on about this and that, as we strolled through the different stands and tents of wares and food being sold. At least it distracted me from the numerous eyes, turning to stare at me. When I'd first arrived in Faery, they stared. They wondered. They gawked. But as time flew by, the fairies had ceased to regard me as an oddity, and began warming up to me … until now. I had to believe it was because of the changes my body was going through.
Cecilia and I stopped at a tent here and there, so I could look for gifts, in case I was able to leave. Artisans and craftsmen abounded in Faery, and everything they laid out for sale was beautiful. I settled on a couple of bracelets for Amelia with crystalline stones. I bought Riley a white tunic with royal blue stitching and a golden symbol embroidered on the front. For Sam, I bought a bottle of local wine, infused with the fruits and earth of the land. Eric. Eric had been the hardest to shop for,
"You should get something for yourself, Miss … to remind you of your time here."
I looked at Cecilia and thought that my memories would be enough, but she was right. In the next row, Marta's table gleamed in the sunlight, as rays danced off of the beads and crystals lining her jewelry. She was a faith healer and kind to everyone. Her warm smile made me feel good as I stepped up to her table.
"I'm happy to see you, my friend. I've been waiting for you to come back and see me. I have something in particular I thought you would like." She extended her hand to me, and resting in her palm was a dark-toned pendant, beautifully carved and hanging from a thick black thread.
"What is it?" I asked, admiring the delicacy of the curves and points.
"It's a sepharia, carved out of the purest rubies in our kingdom. It's the Faery symbol for love, faith and infinity."
"It's beautiful." And a perfect gift for Eric. It would serve as a symbol of my love and faith in him, and the infinity of the life I hoped to share.
As I slipped a few coins out of my satchel, she wrapped it up in a small white box with a dark red ribbon. "We do not take this emblem lightly, Sookie. When we gift this to someone, we are pledging our love and our lives to them for eternity. It is a Fae binding from someone to their lifemate."
Again, perfect for Eric, as I wanted no other in my life save him. I thanked Marta for her wisdom and generosity, and Cecilia and I headed toward another row of tents … this time one with food. My stomach groaned in appreciation, reminding me that I had skipped breakfast.
"Ahhh, Ms. Sookie. It's so good to see you .…"
I turned at the sound of the voice, and the merchant stopped in mid sentence. The smile he had on his face began to fade and turned into one of shock. For a moment, I didn't understand his expression, until I realized my hair was flung back over my shoulder and he must have seen my ears.
Nervously, I smiled back at him. "Hey, Tony. Do you have any fresh cordellas today?"
Cordellas were a fruit only grown in Faery, and were becoming a personal favorite of mine. They were the size of an apple and tasted like a cross between a cantaloupe and mango with the sweetness of pineapple mixed in—slightly tangy, but very juicy and delicious.
I felt like I was going to have to snap my fingers in front of his eyes and count backwards to one before he woke up from his stupor. His eyes were so transfixed; I probably could have gotten him to cluck like a chicken at the ring of a bell as well.
"Tony?" He shook his head, coming around.
"Cordellas? Sure, I have a couple of ripe ones right here." He handed me two of them, and I pulled some coins out of my little satchel, but he shook his head and waved his hands.
"You know you're money's no good here. I was hoping you'd come by today and set these aside especially for you."
Tony was slightly older than me in his features. He was considered a young fairy and quite a catch. Although he looked to be in his mid-thirties, his actual fairy age was three hundred and twenty-five.
I thanked him and handed one to Cecilia as we walked along, all the while, feeling Tony's eyes on my back. When we turned the corner at the end of the road, I could still see his hooded lids staring at me … and he was smiling. For a moment, it made me wonder if he had misconstrued my pleasantries toward him as something more than friendship. After his initial shock at my ears, he certainly seemed to perk up more than usual.
We meandered along the winding path that lead back to the castle, and stopped at a low retaining wall to sit and eat our fruit. I was enjoying the silence, when my company spoke up.
"I suppose you'll be going back home soon, Miss?" She looked a little disheartened.
"I hope so. I feel like I've already missed out on so much, being away this long. I miss my family and friends, and …."
"Oh, but you have family here as well. You fit so well here in Faery, as if you were born to be here."
"I do like it here, but my place is in the human world. Like I said, I miss everyone, especially Eric. I do wish there was some way to get word to him that I'm okay and I hope to see him soon."
Again with the disheartening look. She was so kind to me since I arrived, and I never once looked at her as some kind of servant. Cecilia had grown into a friend and confidant. I guess now that I was hopefully going to leave, she was going to miss me terribly.
I turned to her and threw my hands around her neck, hugging her to me. "I'll miss you so much, Cecilia."
"And I'll miss you too, Miss Sookie." She wiped the few tears that sprang to her eyes and stood up as she squared her shoulders. "We should probably get back. It's almost lunchtime, and then you have your meeting with the prince."
Claude had joined us for lunch, and, as I sat and listened to them talk, my heart lurched a bit in my chest. There really was so much I was going to miss about this place. Claude had been grateful that his club was doing well. He had had a hard time adjusting to being back home, but was finally getting into the swing of things. Currently, I was listening to their idle chatter about Faery business and some kind of plan for renovating part of the northern territory with a healing center. Since I had no desire to join in the discussion, I sat back and tried to memorize everything I could about my cousin and great grandfather. I wanted to remember them forever.
When lunch was over, and Claude had taken his leave, Niall and I retreated to the salon and waited for Lilith. I hadn't seen her in over a week, and wondered why she had missed our last session. Sure enough, the moment we sat down, one of the butlers came in an announced her arrival.
Lilith practically floated into the room, looking her usual perfect self, except … her eyes were almost completely white and her hair had lost some of its color.
Not mincing words, she took a seat in the chair opposite us and got down to business. "I am sorry I missed you last week, Sookie, but I was attending to some matters that were of the upmost importance."
"I see your fae blood is strengthening. Otherwise, the features dormant in your DNA would not have come forth yet." She was obviously not surprised by my appearance. "The good news is that the bond you had with Felipe is no longer a problem. If you wish to return to your world, you may do so without mortal danger to yourself. The spells and drinks have removed your attachment to Felipe. It was not easy, but thankfully I was able to use some very ancient magic to break the binding spell. I did not remove the bond you still share with Eric, as it is fractional, and I assumed you'd want to keep that in place."
Without missing a beat, I blurted out. "So when can I go home?"
Niall turned his head sharply and the frown on his face said it all. He didn't need to express what was being said. "I'm sorry. You know I love you, and you know I like it here, but this isn't really home for me. It never has been. I belong in my world. I belong with Eric."
I looked over to Liilith, and tried to take a deep breath, but there was such tightness in my chest. "I can go back to Eric, right? I haven't been here that long, have I?"
"Give me your hand, Sookie." With trembling fingers, I reached out and rested my hand on her palm.
She placed her other hand over mine and closed her eyes, creasing her brow, as if she were studying something intently. After what seemed like ages, she released my hand and opened her eyes again.
"You are on the precipice, Sookie. If you choose to turn and walk away, you will remain here until the end of your days."
"And if I choose not to?"
"You may still return to the human world. The fae blood in you has risen to that of a quarter blooded-fairy. I believe Eric can tolerate the amount. However, you may find that weaker vampires will not hesitate to come after you, especially very young, nascent vampires."
My body sagged a little from the tension it had been holding, and I finally breathed a sigh of relief. "How soon can I go?"
"Tomorrow night is All Hallow's Eve in the human world. I shall take you then. We will travel back through my world to get you home." She looked over at Niall, who had been strangely quiet during the conversation. "Niall, I would like to speak to Sookie alone, if you don't mind. I will come see you after we are done."
"Certainly. Sookie, I will talk to you at dinner." He bowed his head courteously and left the room.
I sat politely and waited for her to tell me what seemed so important. "Sookie, as you know, the Pythoness had no intention of leaving this world anytime soon. She had hoped to groom you so that one day, you would take over her position and seat on the Council."
How sad, that I had just found out I was related to her by blood, and now she was gone at the hands of an opportunist. "I still don't feel ready, and I don't know if I'll ever be."
"That is understandable, and in the future, you may yet change your mind. For now, though, the Council has chosen me to fill the vacancy. If and when you are ready, you can easily step into my place."
Something confused me about that. "I was under the impression it had to be a blood relation."
Lilith sat back in her chair and smiled at me. Mulling it over in my head, I could have slapped myself for not having jumped to the conclusion right away. "You?"
She flashed her white eyes at me quickly, and crossed her legs. "I have known for quite some time that you and I shared a connection through her, albeit a small one. It was enough, however, to convince the Council to choose me. I will endeavor to do my best, but as I said, when you are ready, you have every right to claim the seat as yours."
"No, I think you would be a perfect addition." Someday I was going to have to meet this Council in person.
"Thank you. Now, do you have any questions for me?" I shook my head. "Good. I must talk with Niall now, but I will be back tomorrow evening to return you to the human world."
After Lilith left, I went back up to my room and looked around at my belongings. Well, they weren't actually my things, since I hadn't paid for them. There wasn't really anything I wanted to take with me, except for the memories. From my nightstand drawer, I fished out a gold necklace with the royal family crest dangling from it. This. This I would keep with me always.
The rest of the afternoon, I spent wandering the halls and grounds, trying to burn every beautiful image into my brain. I never wanted to forget this place, and hoped that someday, if Niall reopened the portals, I could come back for a visit.
When the bell rang, announcing dinner, I hurried back to the dining room and took my usual place. A few moments after, Niall glided in and took his seat next to mine. The dinner was incredible, and I knew he had asked for something special since it was my last night here. Our conversation was both enlightening and sorrowful, as I realized how much I would miss our little talks and walks.
I had been too anxious to sleep that night, and, as dawn approached, I packed a few things in a bag that Cecilia had brought to my room. Since I no longer needed the clothes, I had asked Niall if I could give them to her as a going away gift. She was shocked and awed at the generosity, and hugged me for the longest time.
Niall had not come down to lunch when the bell sounded, and I ended up eating alone for the first time since my arrival. I had wondered where he went, and if he was planning on saying goodbye. I couldn't bear to leave here, knowing he wasn't there to see me off. I also realized how hard this must be on him, to say goodbye to me. Perhaps he was right to distance himself somewhat from the hurt that would surely come.
Suddenly, I wasn't as hungry as I thought I was, and pushed the food away from me. Instead, I got up from the table and slowly wound my way through the halls back to my room, making sure I had everything I was going to take with me.
Time, which seemed to move here as it did in the human world, was passing by at a quickened pace through the day, and before I knew it, Lilith was standing by my side in the front courtyard. It was about a half hour before sunset, and I had been holding out hope that Niall would come one last time.
As if he had heard my thoughts, a figure came through the front doors, and I immediately dropped my bag and ran to him. I'm sure it was inappropriate to be hugging a great fairy prince, but I didn't care. He never said a word to me, but his eyes held such expression that he didn't have to. I could feel every word he was saying.
"Sookie, it is time. We must leave now." I pulled back from Niall and returned to my place beside Lilith with my bag in hand.
"Sookie, my child. I love you and will think of you every day."
Tears rolled down my cheeks, and as a bright light began to block out his image, I smiled back at him. "I love you too, great grandfather."
AN: I hope you liked this chapter. I know you all were expecting the huge fight coming, but I just had to get this part out of my head first. Don't worry about the timeline (being that it's October for Sookie). I promise that next chapter, Eric will catch up from July to October! Trust me.
