Chapter 29
It was all about the blood.
Blood that bound him, that controlled him, blood that kept him tied to a cruel bargain. The blood that he'd spilled and his blood that he'd shed.
What then of his blood? His was the blood of a cursed man. The blood of a creature that had lost all its dignity when he learned to bow and scrape at the end of a whip. Was it worth anything? After centuries of living as he did was there really anything left worth saving?
He looked at her. She was so unsullied, so whole that it made him want to fall to his knees. And yet she loved him. Eric knew that now. Her body had joined with his and she'd let him inside to the most concealed part of her. It was a gift no less sacred than the Cluvier Dor she'd given him
Maybe there was hope.
Eric's eyes fell on the opened jade box. Round, larger than the palm of his hand. Jade, polished to a deep green that was almost black, inlaid with silver and faerie gold. He sent his wish to the little ball of light inside the metallic folds. The Cluvier Dor glowed brightly and disappeared into the air. Sookie looked at him expectantly as he rose.
His fangs extended and he bit his wrist until the skin broke and blood flowed from the twin wounds. Sookie focused on the dark red trickle as Eric knelt before her. A question burned in his eyes as he extended his bleeding wrist to her mouth and waited for her response.
Her heart clenched at his humble gesture. Even now he would not impose his will upon her. He loved her enough to respect her judgment. Without any doubt she pressed her lips against his wrist and drank deeply.
The tantalizing feel of her lips on his skin moved something in him and he drew closer. There were no boundaries between them, no doubts and no rejections. She was taking him and all he was inside of her. Never had he imagined that such a deed would be possible. He didn't think that anyone would want him like that.
Eric shifted his body a bit so that his face pressed against her neck. He breathed the heady aroma and nuzzled the soft skin of her clavicle. The blood flowing beneath it called out to him and his fangs ached to taste her. Sookie hissed in anticipated pain but continued to drink from him even as he pierced the tender skin.
The first drop was heavenly and he closed his eyes as her essence coated his tongue. He'd drank from her before but it had never been like this. Before her blood had sustained him but now it was joining with his own.
"We are now one" he murmured against throat. Sookie moaned in acceptance of the fact.
XxXxXx
Pam sighed for the umpteenth time. It had been hours since Sookie had gone to wherever stubborn, suicidal vampires went. Not knowing what was happening was really annoying. Equally annoying was being stuck in Faerie with thickheaded prince and his batty granddaughter.
But even she had to admit that they smelled incredible.
The vampire pondered how fast she could drain the fae girl before Niall would zap her or whatever was it that angry faeries did. Even so it might be worth it. She really had it in for Claudine knowing full well what she'd put Eric through.
Maybe Eric would wish them all away. Now that would be something else.
Pam rose from her seat and walked towards the bed where Eric lifeless body rested. It was truly a disturbing sight. Her maker's form was thin and wasted to almost nothing. The skin was completely discolored and the shadows beneath his closed eyelids looked like bruises.
"He wouldn't feed" Claudine whispered from her spot on the floor. "I tried giving him my blood but he wouldn't touch it even as he lay dying."
Pam snorted. "He wants nothing to do with you. You can throw yourself at him as many times as you want but he will always reject you. Haven't you realized that by now?"
The faerie buried her face on her folded arms. Shame and regret burned in her throat. "I know." she whispered.
"If you knew than why did you take him away from the human girl?"
"I was foolish. I thought that I could make him forget her but he let himself fade away instead."
Niall 's eyes flashed with indignation but he remained silent. There was nothing to add to the conversation. Claudine had been blind and the vampire would probably use the Cluvier Dort to make all his tormentors pay.
They were silent after that. The hours passed slowly as the wait continued.
It was Pam who noticed the slight movement in Eric's right hand. His fingers trembled as the joints shuddered back to life.
"Eric?"
Claudine rose quickly and rushed to his side in time to see the eyes flutter open. She gasped at their brilliant blue color so unlike the faded greyish hue that she'd grown accustomed to. Her consternation grew as she took in the soft flush that gradually settled his normally pale skin. If she did not know any better she could have sworn that she was looking at human skin. Her hand closed on his wrist. It was warm. The blood was clearly pulsing. "How?"
"Crap" said Pam. "You loved her that much?" she asked in disgust.
He did not reply but rose to a sitting position and looked about the room for her. His gaze landed on the fae prince instead.
"Master" he whispered before he caught himself. "Niall" he amended instead.
The prince pursed his mouth and narrowed his eyes. The filthy vampire had not only been brought back but he'd been brought back to life itself. How dare he? It was an affront to the ways of the world.
Niall bared his teeth at the prone man. His voice was gnarled and angry. "No matter what form you may take you will always be the creature that crawled on its belly for centuries. You will always be nothing but a slave."
Eric drew in breath and with considerable effort swung his legs to the side of the bed. The limbs felt weak but he pushed on. With deliberate movements he rose and slowly walked towards his tormentor until they were face to face.
The urge to drop his gaze was there but Eric ignored it. Now was the time to remain firm and unbowed.
"Never again." He said without hesitation.
TBC
I apologize for the long wait but my muse took an extended vacation. I could not get past the first paragraph which was really frustrating. Thank you so much to those that are still reading. One more chapter left which I will get out in a few days (promise).
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