A/N: Thanks again to Charhamblin my beta and for everyone who reviewed and added to their favorite lists. Thanks also to my guest reviewer (person without a FF account) who left my first anonymous review. Yay! I love hearing from you!
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Chapter 35
Instinctual Responses
"You guys are already making me sick," Pam complained, but she had satisfied smile on her face so I ignored her. "Eric take a minute for a breath of fresh air before you go up there, they don't need to see you high on Sookie."
Eric winked at us, turned and entered the elevator, "Wait Eric," I yelped just before the door closed. He put his hand in the pathway of the door and it slid open again.
I rushed over, stood on my toes and gave him one more kiss on his lips. I know it wasn't fair for me to do that, but this was really important to me. I lowered myself so I was flat on my feet, but kept my hand on his cheek. "Please?" I asked and watched with regret as the look of happiness slid off his face and was replaced by a scowl.
He nodded stiffly and then said, "Eat," pointing to a small table on the far side of the room, which held a covered dish and a glass of milk. I eagerly agreed and he allowed the door to slide closed, his glare fading slightly into a more resigned expression.
I waited until the door was completely shut to let my own face break out into a wide grin of excitement and anticipation. "Well that got rid of his high. What was that all about?" Pam asked curiously, sitting down in Eric's empty chair and gracefully crossing her legs at the ankle. She looked like an attendee at a ladies luncheon in her knee length brown and orange plaid skirt, cream-colored angora sweater and brown penny loafers.
I grabbed the tray of food and placed it on the coffee table and groaned with delight when I pulled off the cover and was hit by the delicious smell of meat lasagna. I shook out the rolled cloth napkin, and slid down to sit on the floor by the coffee table. I didn't want to sit alone; I'd missed Pam's company.
I moaned again as I took my first bite and smiled gleefully when I heard Pam laugh at me. I didn't care how I sounded or looked. I'd been living on frozen fish for the last week and a half and I was a meat and potatoes kind of woman. This lasagna was simply fantastic. I ate half of my meal in silence before taking a break to drink some real milk and answer Pam's question.
I took my time, explaining between bites what I expected from the remainder of the evening, and tried to hide my amusement as I watched Pam's eyes widen and her lips turn down into a pout. Before I was done talking, Pam pulled out her phone and sent a text, mumbling, "I can't believe he didn't tell me about this," under her breath. Within a few seconds her pout vanished as she jumped up, smiling triumphantly, "I can come and watch, I just have to get something first. He's ready for you so you should go up now," she said, gesturing to the elevator.
"Hang on a minute Pam, do you know of any workout clothes around here that might fit me?" I asked as she walked to the door. She turned around and eyed me impatiently; "Miriam and I left a variety of workout clothes in your closet. Eric hasn't given you a tour yet?"
I shook my head, "No, we haven't had time." She started to walk back toward me, but I stopped her, "Just think about an outfit you put in there so I can see it in your thoughts."
She didn't enjoy having me in her mind, but thought about a closet in the next room, not Eric's but one obviously dedicated solely to my clothing. Inside the closet, on the bottom left shelf was a turquoise sports bra and light grey yoga shorts with turquoise piping down the side. It was cute, but not appropriate for this situation, "What about something a little more conservative?" I prompted. She rolled her eyes and the images in her mind were replaced by those of a black pair of yoga shorts and a fitted racerback tank with a supportive built-in bra and patterned in gray paisley graphics. These items were both on the same shelf as the previous outfit. "Perfect," I said, "What about socks, shoes and a hairband?" Again she thought about where I could find the items I needed.
"Thanks," I said as I gave one last forlorn glance at my unfinished meal and turned to enter the elevator.
"Aren't you going to get changed?" Pam asked and I smiled at the back of the elevator.
"Not now, I just wanted to know where they were," I said, and with that, I turned around and grinned wickedly at her. As the door slid shut, I saw her speed out of the room on her way to get whatever she needed before joining us.
The door of the elevator slid open and I stepped into a huge open area that was clearly the training center for the guards. I only had a second to look around, but that was all I needed to determine that I was in workout heaven. The space, which took up most of this floor of the almost block-sized building, sported an unbelievably large wrestling mat in the center and was ringed by punching bags, weights, cardio machines, stretching mats, a Pilates studio and what looked like a small medical ward. I was eager to take a better look around, but before I could take a step, my view was blocked by Eric's large back.
I started to peek around him to see the two vampires and Were he was protecting me from as they adjusted to my scent, but I gasped as I was bowled over by a wave of unexpected fury from both vampires. Eric tensed and bent slightly into a crouch, ready to attack. At that moment, I was able to see straight into a blond vampire's green eyes and saw the bloodlust that undoubtedly preceded the violence of extreme vampiric anger. I didn't hesitate this time, I threw one arm around Eric's waist from behind and teleported us back to his quarters.
Eric flipped around, breaking my grasp, and wound his fingers around my arms, "What? What happened? Why are we here Sookie?" I was still on high alert, listening for dangers, for minds closing in on us, so I was slow to answer. Eric was not in the mood to tolerate delays; he shook me gently, his fangs running out even further than they were as he sensed my tension.
I shook my head, trying to break out of my hyperaroused state and took a deep breath. "They recognized my scent. You've had them searching for my scent for years," I said and I hated the sound of anxiety in my voice. I took a deep breath to center myself, and began again, calmer this time, "They think I'm an imposter…that I've presented myself to you as your lost wife to use or hurt you in some way." Eric was staring at me, his eyes fixed on mine, but his mind was elsewhere, "Eric, they were going into a rage, they wouldn't have listened to reason. I had to get out of there," I said adamantly.
"Where are they now?" he asked. I'd been following their every move, so I knew exactly where they were.
"The vampires are in the elevator coming down here. They're calling Pam now. The Were…by the way, she's not just a Were…is still upstairs, she's angry with me for other reasons, but doesn't understand what just happened.
"Stay here," Eric demanded, "I will handle this," and he went to the door that exited to the horizontally moving elevator that led to the offices beyond. "Keep connected to my mind, you may need to share some memories with them to prove your identity." I agreed and opened a two-way pathway between our minds even though my adrenaline was fading and emotions that I hated for him to see were rising up in me.
Eric stilled as he felt my emotions and he returned to me and held me in his arms, soothing me. "These are my two most trusted allies besides Pam, they will listen," he said into my hair. Because our minds were now connected, he could see that their anger and hatred had been very much like his own reaction when he first scented me in Hana. He held me tighter and I gratefully accepted the comfort.
"How many other vampires did you have looking for me?" I asked, worried that I would face this reaction again and again.
He didn't respond for a moment, but then said, "All of my Sheriffs, along with Heidi, Stan, Russell and Bart. Freyda too, but she knew the rest of the story before meeting you. I called them off the hunt once I learned you were alive and that the blood belonged to you, but vampires do not forget a scent."
I closed my eyes and burrowed my face against his chest. He pulled me away from him and tilted my chin up; I opened my eyes before he could ask. "I will take care of it," he said firmly. "This is why we are going about your reintroduction slowly…to identify the pitfalls in a safe environment." I nodded, but the reality of my situation hit me for the first time.
I'd been feeling capable, powerful and hopeful, even to the point of ignoring Eric's warnings and risking our safety to make a good first impression and, I can admit, to show off a little. I let my ego get in the way and look where it got me.
"No, Sookie," he said with a slight growl in his voice, his eyes flashing, "don't doubt yourself, you were right in your desires. You must present your strengths, garner their respect, and you will still do that tonight. James and Will were just doing what I'd asked of them in trying to find you and in protecting me. They will do as I ask again, once I explain the situation more fully."
"You're king, shouldn't they just do what you say anyway?" I asked, realizing what a hypocrite I was since I didn't do what he wanted all the time either.
Eric narrowed his eyes at me and frowned slightly, "Not my inner circle. I ask them to speak freely about important topics and encourage them to question my plans if they have other suggestions. They know better than to do so in public, but I would be weaker without their experience and expertise. You will learn to trust them too Sookie, as they will learn to trust you. Just give them time."
I sighed in response as he gave me one more kiss on the forehead and left the room. I listened to him as he passed through the thick wall in the elevator and confronted his guards. They followed him to another elevator and were met by Pam and then all four of them returned to the training floor together.
Eric called upon me twice and I offered up some of my less personal memories of my last few days in Bon Temps and also of our disastrous reunion in Hana. Eventually, with Eric, Pam and I working in concert, they finally believed that I was who I claimed to be.
A few minutes later, Eric gave me the all clear to make a second attempt at our meeting. Sadly, a lot of the joy I had originally felt about having the chance to prove myself had faded and my task had taken on a grimmer flavor. This experience was an acute reminder that I wasn't in Britlin anymore surrounded by a multitude of variously talented opponents ready to spar with me at any given moment, but absolutely devoted to my protection at the same time. I was now facing lethal opponents who, just fifteen minutes ago, desperately wanted to kill me.
Once again the elevator doors opened and I found myself facing Eric's back, but this time I sensed anticipation and curiosity rather than fury. It didn't take long for them to adjust to my scent, but Eric waited a few seconds longer than necessary before stepping aside and giving me my first real view of his guards. I discretely refused to take his hand when he offered it to me, deciding rather to stand strong and independent.
"Sookie, these are my primary guards and trusted advisors," Eric said, continuing the movement of his hand to gesture to a handsome dark-haired vampire who must have been about twenty or so years old when he was made. He was about six feet tall, had a thin moustache and intelligent dark eyes. "This is James Chrichton, my younger brother by Appius."
I know my eyes widened at that news, but I tried to keep my face passive otherwise. I'd never asked if Appius had made any others, but Eric had said that his maker was drawn to unique and talented men, or boys in the case of Alexei. For all I knew, Eric could have dozens of 'brothers' out there made at different points in the elder vampire's long life. I found myself extremely curious as to what made James unique enough to draw Appius' attention.
James stepped forward and bowed to me with a flourish that made me smile, "Please accept my apologies for our boorish behavior. It is a pleasure to finally meet my brother's long-lamented wife," he said with a soft Scottish accent, "I now see why he pined for you so deeply." Okay now that was going way over the top, clearly James Chrichton was a skilled ladies man.
I was unable to stop the blush I could feel blooming on my cheeks, "It's nice to meet you James," I said, smiling at him.
"This," Eric said, raising an eyebrow at James' behavior and moving me past him to the slightly larger blond haired, green eyed vampire next to him, "is Vilhelm or Will, as he prefers to be called today, Halvorsen." Will simply nodded at me with a flat expression that I recognized as the face I saw on Eric when he was unwilling to share his feelings or opinions about something. I nodded back, keeping my expression blank as well, and then I turned away to look at the third and loudest member of the guard.
"This is Sheila Fieldstone, a Were from Alcide Herveau's pack in Shreveport." I gasped and smiled when I heard that. My relationship with Alcide had degraded during the last year or so of my life in Louisiana, but I still remembered our original friendship fondly.
"Hi Sheila. How's Alcide doing?" I asked, partly to learn more about him, but my real motivation was to keep her from yelling at me, as she so badly wanted to do.
Her ridiculously loud broadcasting had drowned out James and Will's thoughts from the moment the door opened and almost had me closing my shields to shut her out. Unfortunately that wasn't a pleasure I could have right now, I needed to listen as much as I could to keep on top of everything. She was perseverating on the turn that things had taken for Eric and thus for her in the last few weeks. She had found a way to blame me for everything negative that had happened, from the trial at the summit, to being out of touch with Eric for an unprecedented period of time over the last week. She wasn't selfish or a coward, or thankfully in love with Eric, she just liked to have control of anything that could affect her or her performance in her job.
She considered me an unknown, a loose cannon and was sure that without her up-close and personal supervision, I would bring about Eric's downfall. She had decided that she didn't and wouldn't trust me. I took a slow, deep breath and looked at Eric who was hearing her thoughts through my mind. He had to work hard to keep a straight face and I was appalled to hear that he actually enjoyed Sheila's attitude. Well I sure didn't enjoy it. Couldn't she think of something a little more original? The party line she was spouting was getting really old.
Welcome to the fucking party Sheila, get in line behind everyone else who wishes I hadn't returned.
"She doesn't look so tough," Sheila said to Eric, ignoring my question about Alcide. He looked at me and his smile broke through, he was really amused, the jerk. To show him just how not funny I found this situation, I closed my mind to him and earned the expected deep scowl in return.
Sheila's aggression was obviously beginning to rub off on me and I was really looking forward to this after a stressful night of being on parade. I nodded to Eric who had straightened his face before speaking to his guards.
"Sookie and I both believe," I gave him a little smile when he said this, "that it's important for you to fully understand her capabilities, so we've decided to give you a chance to test her. Your goal," he looked at me too, "is to try and pin one another down. Guards versus Sookie. No weapons are allowed today, but prepare for that tomorrow. Tonight will be about trying to catch up to and contain her.
"Right now, Sookie is in a moderately weakened state. Consider how you would feel having been exposed to silver and given only half a bottle of Red Stuff a day for a week and a half," he said to James and Will, "and having slept only one hour a night and taken in only a few bites of food each day for that length of time," he said to Sheila. "You would be able to function, but at a vastly decreased capacity from your top level of performance. So this will be your best chance to beat her. She will be stronger and faster tomorrow after she has had a chance to recharge." Eric's eyes were bright, and although he was still nervous about how I would fare against his guards, he was even more excited to see me in action.
As for me, I wasn't remotely nervous anymore. Not at all, my heart was thumping with anticipation, readying my body for the coming mock battle. My job was to try and stay standing and also to take each of them down, so I checked my powers one final time. I was running low that's for sure, but I would be able to jump and shift at least a few times before I fatigued and my reactions became more sluggish. Unfortunately, I wouldn't be able to pull more energy from the environment around me so I would have to use what I did have wisely, at least most of the time.
The three guards stared at Eric as though he'd lost his mind, but it was James who spoke up, "You mean for one of us to face her at a time, right?"
Eric shook his head, "No, three on one would be the more realistic scenario. If someone were to attack Sookie bodily, they would not do so alone, unless they were a complete fool of course."
Will was still stoic and I caught a few thoughts that told me that he'd fought fairies before and he didn't underestimate what my abilities might be although, at my request, Eric hadn't filled them in on my specific skills. Sheila didn't say anything more, but was bouncing on her feet unconsciously, eager to get moving. In that action, I could see one of the things Eric enjoyed about her and I found myself both liking and hating her at the same time.
Eric positioned us with me in the center of the room on the wrestling mat and each of the guards in a different corner. Eric would be observing from above. He flew up above me and said loudly, "Do not draw her blood, but if they do Sookie, defend yourself, just try to not to kill them." I could hear the smile in his voice as he said that.
I heard Sheila mumble something about a little girl in a skirt getting her ass kicked and I had to laugh at her over-the-top approach. Embracing the arrogant attitude that Sheila was pounding me with, I channeled my cousin Claudine. In the blink of an eye, I was wearing the workout clothes Pam had visualized for me and my hair was neatly secured in a ponytail high on the back of my head.
I turned to my friend Pam and blew her a saucy kiss meant to add to the showy nature of my apparel change and was rewarded when she winked and allowed her fangs to run out a little.
Okay, I know I was showing off, but that's what this exercise was for. I was going to enter into this relationship with these three guards with my boots firmly on and all 'guns' blazing, nothing less. This was my one chance to wow them before they made their minds up about me.
This ability to manipulate clothing was a skill that only Clovache had the tolerance to work with me on developing since it really is a superfluous fairy skill that the Britlingens couldn't do and that most of them perceived as a waste of valuable energy. Clovache had coined it the 'quick strip,' since she thought its most useful application would be in removing one's clothes all together, especially when with a lover. She was always a pragmatist, but she was right and if I didn't love the feeling of Eric taking or ripping off my clothes so much, I would use it all the time with him. Anyway, I'd envied this skill ever since I saw Claudine change outfits in Merlotte's during the time of the witch war.
I heard Eric clear his throat unnecessarily, bringing me back to the moment at hand. I nodded without looking up at him and tensed slightly as I scanned around the room for my opponents.
"Begin," Eric's voice rang through the room.
My eyes saw only streaks of movement from the vampires, but I followed each mind and immediately teleported to the empty corner of the room and landed crouched behind a weight machine as James ploughed through the now empty space that I had just been occupying. Sheila was closest to me now and she ran toward me, moving in a slinking pattern that made it look like her joints were hypermobile. As she jumped over an elliptical, I ran from behind the machine and leapt over three more obstacles, heading for the open space of the stretching area.
The minute my feet touched the mat as I cleared the last machine, James slammed into me. Damn he was fast. We flew through the air and I felt him place his hand under my head to protect me from the impact with the floor. He was a true gentleman…what a pity that I wasn't a well-behaved lady.
I smiled up at him sweetly and just before we hit the ground I gently pushed my power through the one hand that was placed on his chest, as I had done with Eric. He flew off me with a roar of pain and I landed on the ground, rolling myself up onto my feet and then jumped directly on top of him so that I was straddling his waist. He smiled through his pain and his dark brown eyes twinkled with mirth. I could see why Appius had been drawn to both James and Eric, they had a similar sense of humor. Too bad Appius had been such a jerk.
"Gotcha," I said, smiling back at him, and then I transformed into a hawk and flew up into the air.
I needed a minute to see where the others were before reengaging. Pam had left her perch along the side of the room and was in the process of helping James as he moved out of the way. She opened a bottle of TrueBlood she had brought up for him and they both sat and watched me as I circled around the ceiling studying my two remaining opponents.
Focusing on Will, I swooped down toward him and was shocked when he disappeared. Wait, no he hadn't disappeared, he'd just managed to conceal himself from my sight because I could still sense his mind right where it should be. Wow, that was a terrifyingly cool talent for a vampire to have.
I changed directions and landed closer to Sheila, back in my regular form and at a crouch, ready for action. I tracked Will, but he was staying back, waiting to attack when I was distracted by Sheila. They made a good team and I could see plainly that they had done this many times before. Shelia made a lot of noise as she jumped onto the machines and weight racks and then ran slightly to my right to drive me to the left where Will was skulking.
Instead of allowing myself to be herded, I held my ground, defended myself from Sheila's flying roundhouse kick and countered with sweep of her standing leg and a chop to the side of her neck. She avoided my foot with a jump but the blade of my hand hit her side causing her to stumble back with a gasp. Taking advantage of her momentary weakness, I struck her in the stomach with my foot and was thrown off balance when her hands wrapped around my ankle and she tossed me to the ground with impressive force. We both quickly gained our feet and I lost my focus on her for a second while I checked on Will. He was only a few feet away, right behind me now. I bared my teeth as I deliberately allowed Sheila's kick to hit me straight in the stomach, throwing me right into Will and I took him down in the same way I had managed James, minus the niceties.
I heard James whoop with glee as he watched his partner face the same fate that he had. Now it was just Sheila and I. She was well aware that I'd given her that last hit and her anger was warring with her excitement at having the chance to face me alone. She circled me with her low slinking motions but I stayed put, simply turning so I could keep my eyes on her.
It had to be Sheila and I facing one another at the end, this was the only way I could hope to get the three of them pinned. The vampires I could take down easily, knowing they would heal quickly, but Sheila, I would have to handle more gently in a traditional fight. She was quicker and more agile than many of the Weres I had fought before, reinforcing my belief that she wasn't just a 'Were' with a capital 'W' as Eric had told me, but some other form of shifter or something else along that line.
Finally she lunged at me and instead of teleporting, I stayed put, wanting this to be an even fight. I stepped to the side, grabbed her by her shirt and her shoulder and used her momentum to throw her past me. I ran to the other end of the room, gleeful as I vaulted over and wound between equipment, always keeping tabs on her, making sure she was no closer than a few feet behind.
When she got too close, I sprung into the air where I grabbed onto an edge high up on the wall that stuck out, and pulled myself up onto it. From here, I had an excellent vantage point to see exactly what Sheila was doing and which pathway she was liable to take in avoiding my next attack. This must be exactly what they used it for.
I didn't stay on the ledge more than a few seconds; I was having too much fun. I dove off the edge, as I shifted into a hawk again. Unfortunately my body chose that particular moment to run low on energy and I flailed in midair before I finally completed the change and landed gratefully on the ground at the far end of the gym. I only had enough time to change back and regret being so cocky before Sheila came at me with a flying kick. I deflected her with a high sweep of my leg that I followed with a kick of my own, aimed at her head. She ducked and rammed me with her shoulder and I sunk low into a crouch and tossed her over me, but by the time I turned around, she had already aimed at me with another kick to my head. I tried to teleport away, but my energy was at an all time low and the kick struck home, sending me tumbling across the room.
I jumped up, determined to avoid being pinned by her, but Eric's voice rang out in the room. "Stop!" Suddenly I was in his arms and we were soaring into the air with both James and Will now standing right where I had been, fangs down and eyes fixed on me. Eric leaned in and licked the corner of my mouth, drawing attention to the fact that I was bleeding.
Shit.
I managed to control my baser instincts that were so strong at the moment to allow him to tend to my small wound in the form of sweet kisses and licks until I felt it heal. I looked down after a minute and was happy to see that both James and Will had managed to reign themselves in some and were back against the wall with Pam. Good. Now Sheila and I could continue our battle. So I was startled when Eric's strained voice rang out again, "We will meet back here tomorrow at nine o'clock."
I squirmed in his arms, wanting to get down and continue the fight, my body was roiling with adrenaline, my muscles twitching and heart pounding; I wanted more. I didn't want to stop. One quick glance at the look in Eric's glazed eyes told me that inaction was the last thing on his mind at the moment. The room cleared quickly and Eric lowered us onto the wrestling mat, as a different set of elevator doors that I hadn't even known were there slid shut.
I was naked before my back hit the mat and Eric was inside me a second after that. He was straining to hold back his bloodlust and passion from the near violence he has been observing, but I could feel it pulsing through his system and I encouraged him to release his hold on his control and join me in my battle lust. I nipped him hard on his neck and ran my fingernails up his back, barely avoiding drawing his blood and he roared out a yell mixed with a feral growl.
He slammed into me, wrapping his arms under my back and his hands around my shoulders to keep me from sliding up from the force of his thrusts. He was wild, animalistic and as near rabid as he had ever been with me. I loved it and egged him on dangerously, wrapping my legs around his hips and encouraging his onslaught.
I wanted to feed the rabid beast within both of us in every way possible but even in my own crazed state, I knew that I would not fare well if he bit me. I rolled us over, held his hands down on the mat and then slid up his body and pinned his arms down under my knees. I was able to position my legs so that he couldn't reach any of me with his mouth. He growled and snapped at me with his teeth, but I could see a tiny bit of his sanity returning with this unorthodox break in the action. I'd be taking care of that, I wanted to drive him insane.
I momentarily transformed the nail of my right index finger into a claw and made a deep two-inch scratch in my upper chest. Whatever sanity Eric had found was gone in an instant, but somehow he managed not to throw me off him, instead he continued to permit me to restrain him with my knees.
I stayed upright, allowing the blood from my cut to run down my chest and onto my stomach and I didn't release him until I felt the wound heal completely. The moment I shifted off his arms, Eric grabbed me and flipped us over so I was underneath him and he was inside me once more. He placed one arm under me, arching my back so my chest was raised and more accessible to him and wound his other hand into my hair, pulling my head back, trapping me in his grasp.
An unbelievable orgasm ripped through me as he pounded into me and licked me clean while growling incoherently and then he followed me off the cliff, gathering me to him and holding me so tightly, I felt as though I was being embraced by an unrelenting metal sculpture.
Finally he relaxed, only now realizing how he was holding me. He jerked and released his grasp, taking his weight off me and onto his own arms. His hands cupped my head and he ran his thumbs over my cheeks. He started to say something a few times but only ended up opening his mouth and then closing it again. I loved being able to render him speechless.
I decided to play with him a bit, to lighten the intensity of the atmosphere. I forced my face into an expression of extreme concern, "I'm sorry Eric. I shouldn't have done that. Look what I've done to you. I know you hate being out of control like that. I promise, I won't…" but that's all I got out before he laughed softly and lowered his forehead to mine, shaking his head. I sighed as errant strands of his hair tickled my neck and the side of my face.
"You think you're funny my sera fae, but you can weave your enchanted web for me anytime you want. You are magnificent," he said in a nearly silent whisper.
We relaxed for a few more minutes and then Eric swept me up in his arms and carried me to the elevator. "Wait," I laughed, "we left our clothes and I really don't feel like running into Will on the elevator like this," I gestured to my naked body with humor in my voice.
Eric grunted, dismissing my concerns, "Only you, Pam and I have access to this elevator, the others use the main elevator," he said jerking his head to the one I saw the others exiting through. "As to your other concern, this whole area is cleaned every day and I will have it aired-out to remove the smell of your blood before I allow any vampires in here."
I squirmed again, trying to get out of his arms, "I still don't want the cleaning staff to have to pick up my shredded clothes," I complained. Eric ignored me, activated the elevator and stepped inside. I glared at him as the door slid shut behind us and because the process took longer than usual, I had the pleasure of hearing him bellow my name as I teleported back into the gym to gather our clothes and wipe up a drop of my blood from the mat.
Although I was moving slowly, I still beat Eric back to his bedroom and I even had a chance to throw out the clothes and climb into bed before he entered the room. "Stubborn woman," he grumbled as he stalked over to the bed and pulled the sheets back from me.
"Hey!" I yelled, reaching vainly for the covers.
"We have only fifty minutes before dawn and you cannot fall asleep here," he decreed, and I had to smile. Here he was standing naked before me, blood smeared on his chest and holding a sheet in his left hand. His long hair was mussed from our more violent than normal loving and none of that impacted the power of his message. He was glorious, completely uninhibited and self–assured.
"I love you Eric," I said with a smile as I crawled across the bed and knelt at the edge with my arms held out to him.
He dropped the sheet and wrapped his arms around me, running his fingers through the ends of my hair. "So," I said with a smile, "what do you suggest we do for the next forty-eight minutes?"
He gave my hair a light tug and I prepared for him to toss me to the bed, but he said, "I thought you might want a tour."
I pulled away from him to see if he was joking and I was disappointed to find that he was absolutely serious. He pulled me off the bed and told me what had really been on his mind. "Sookie," He said seriously, "I want you to wait to leave here until sunrise in Hawaii."
While I gathered my thoughts, I reached behind his neck and untied the leather thong that still held some of his hair back from his face and ran my fingers through the soft strands until they fell onto his shoulders and down his back. "That wouldn't give me enough time Eric. I need to be back here at sunset to get in a full night. If I waited for sunrise, I'd only have about six hours in Hana before I needed to come back," I said gently, unwilling to get into an argument about this.
"If I were Niall," Eric said, "and I knew where your home was but I could not go to it myself, I would send a vampire in my stead. He did that with me already so we would be fools not to expect him to try it again. He would know that you could not hide in here forever and that you would probably return to somewhere that you perceive as safe."
I frowned, "He could send Weres too," I argued gently.
"I like your chances with Weres better than against vampires," he responded firmly.
I gave an innocent smile, "Really? Sheila might have something to say about that."
Eric didn't smile back, his eyes were dark and serious, "Do not be coy with me, Sookie. You pulled your punches with her, not wanting to injure her too much. You, leaving this building…is not a game."
He was right. I'd learned a valuable lesson earlier in the evening with Will and James; I'd be a fool to take unnecessary chances now.
"Okay," I said, "You're right. I'll wait."
Eric took my face in his hand and looked deep into my eyes, "Promise me," he said.
My heart broke for him. How hard it must be for him to let go of me after all that we had been through. If it weren't necessary for my survival, I was sure that he wouldn't be capable of trusting me to the unknown elements of the outside world. "I promise, I'll wait until sunrise in Hana to leave here." He studied me for a minute longer before kissing my forehead, stepping back and holding out his hand.
We dressed and went into the sitting room. "Sophie Anne, Andre and the Berts had their private rooms on the top two floors of the building. As you know, I changed many things when I took over. The top two floors are now vacant although I had them fully appointed in my and Pam's style of décor. Everyone, with the exception of my primary circle, believes that we inhabit those floors.
"I decided that the safest place to be was right in the midst of the action. If someone were to target the building, the first place they would strike would be the top floors since that is supposedly where my residence is." I closed my eyes at the thought of someone striking the building with a missile or bombs like in Rhodes.
Eric squeezed my hand as he led me through a familiar door to the horizontal elevator and out into a long hallway. It was still vacant and would remain so at night until Eric formally returned. After taking a quick look around at the typical business offices that were staffed mostly by vampires but also Weres, witches and humans, we reentered the elevator and Eric stopped it midway.
"I had this and part of the next floor mapped out into rings, with my and Pam's quarters at the center. What we just saw was actually the fourth ring out from our rooms. We pass through three sections in the elevator.
"The first layer out from my quarters is made of titanium, silver and steel plates and should withstand any blast so long as the building remains standing."
I gasped, "Doesn't the silver weaken you?"
He shook his head and ran a hand down my back, "No, it only bothers me if it's warm or if it touches my body." I nodded and he continued, "You have already seen part of the second layer out which consists of the variety of offices and meeting spaces I frequent.
"The third layer is one that you have not seen yet. It houses the offices for my primary circle of staff. They have sole access to their quarters on the next floor through private elevators from their offices. A thick layer of metal plates also protects their quarters, and the rest of the floor consists of offices. Everyone else believes that the central space on this and the next floor is top-level office space." I gave him an approving smile and he started the elevator again.
"I have eight different meeting rooms, all of which have elevator access directly to the room from the ground floor and some from an underground network I'll show you another time." I looked at him wide eyed; this was quite an impressive fortress.
He smiled and led me back into his room and into his private office and then opened a door next to the one that we'd entered to go meet Maeve. We stepped into a bare hallway, which was so thin that we had to walk single file.
"This passage runs between some of the layers of titanium and travels three quarters of the way around my and Pam's quarters, giving us access to each meeting room without traveling in the main hallway if we don't want to. We can also take others through this without compromising the security of our quarters. The only space that can't be accessed through this is my office and the rooms connected through that."
I frowned at him; "You take other people through here?" I asked, terrified at the thought of him being cornered in this tight space by an enemy.
I couldn't see his face, but I could hear the placating tone of his voice, "Only when absolutely necessary," he answered with a dark tone to his voice. "When I do, I am never without my guards and every entry point from our private rooms to a public space requires activation of two secure doors. It is quite impenetrable even to vampires. Even though this layer of the wall," he ran his finger down the wall, "is titanium, all of the doors are made with silver threaded into the metal and it's enough to keep a vampire from being able to break it down. However there are parts of the door which are free from silver that only Pam, myself, Will and James know of, just in case we need to touch the door in an emergency." I nodded to myself, satisfied that he had taken every precaution possible.
He led me down the hallway and we peeked into each of the rooms, always activating the two secure doors, just as he'd said. The meeting spaces ranged from comfortable and cozy to sterile and severe, but it was the last one we entered that made the strongest impression. This room was larger than the others and had an empty raised dais at one end. The walls were covered with flags and insignias, some of which I recognized, bearing the blue, gold and white of Louisiana and others that were unfamiliar.
On the wall behind the dais, was what looked like a glass cabinet, but given its contents and the security panel next to it, I was sure that it had to be some material much stronger than glass. Inside the cabinet was a long, light colored wood stake crossed with a shining sword that would look very comfortable in Eric's hand.
I looked away from it and noted that there was a large rug rolled up at one end of the room and the blue, white and gold tiled floor gleamed brightly. The only thing marring the beautiful floor was a two-foot wide drain directly in the center of the room. I turned and looked at Eric, waiting for an explanation, but not really wanting one.
He looked at me seriously, "This is necessary Sookie. I am the King. I must keep a firm rein on my population. Most of the time, the rug is down and I simply greet larger groups here, but there are times that I must carry out punishments or allow others to exact their vengeance in this room. Usually, all that is needed to clean up is a vacuum, but now that I am bridging more into Were and human dealings and politics, the drain is occasionally required."
Some of Maeve's memories were playing in my mind and I could see Eric ripping a vampire's head off and in another, he sliced the head off a Were in wolf form as he stood surrounded by other Weres. I'd seen vampire and Were justice carried out before, but this space was tainted by Maeve's fear and disgust, making everything more real to me. But just because I understood the need for it, didn't mean that I had to like it.
I closed my eyes, turned my back on him and walked to the door. I felt his hands on my shoulders as I was activating the security system. "Sookie," he began but I cut him off, putting my hand on his so would know that he didn't disgust me.
"We have a few more days before I have to face the full reality of your position as King. Give me a little more time please." He looked at me skeptically, "I'll deal with it Eric," I promised, "just not tonight." He nodded and we entered the passageway again.
When we hit a dead end, he ushered me through one more set of doors and back into his sitting room where he took my hand again and led me through a new doorway straight ahead and into a space I hadn't seen before. It was a suite of rooms with another sitting area, a bedroom and an office. Most of the space was bare except for the absolute necessities of a bed, lamps and a desk.
"This," he said with a small sweep of his hand, "is your space. I hope you will be comfortable here and enjoy decorating it to your tastes. My decorator left you books and there is a laptop and cell phone for you to use. Perhaps that is what you can do while you wait for sunrise in Hana."
I was a little sad I wouldn't be sharing his room, but I knew that we would need our own privacy too. "Thank you Eric," I said, wondering what he had given up to make this space.
He must have read my expressions because he said, "I only stay in this building on rare occasions. Typically I leave here close to dawn and return to one of my other residences. Likewise, I would prefer for you to only use this space when you need it, but to stay with me wherever I am when you don't have to return to Hana."
I pushed up on my toes and kissed his lips, "I'd love to," I whispered with a smile.
He kissed me gently, "Now I must return to my rooms, dawn is coming," he said and I could hear the fatigue in his voice. We walked back to his bedroom and he pulled off his clothes, leaving them in a pile on the floor and climbed into bed. I had sweet flashbacks of tucking Hunter into bed as I pulled the covers up to his chest, brushed some hair off his forehead and gave him a chaste kiss on the lips.
He wound his fingers into my hair, "I don't want you to go Sookie," he said quietly.
"I know," I answered, knowing clearly how hard it was for him to let me go and loving him even more for his willingness to do so, "but I have to. I'll be back when you wake."
He closed is eyes and released my hair, "I know. Be safe. Be smart. Come back here if you have any concerns," he whispered and then fell asleep.
"I will," I said and with that, I kissed him on the forehead and returned to my new rooms to wait for another sunrise.