Chapter Thirty Five:

I was floating around on a cloud surrounded by nothingness. Everything felt peaceful as I just floated. There was no pain. There were no thoughts. I was just there, in absolute bliss. I had never experienced anything like it, and I almost never wanted to leave. Why go back to the pain, to the battle for my own life, when I could just stay here and be happy? I wasn't sure where I was, I couldn't see a single thing but blackness. But the bliss I felt, it was luring and desirable. If this was at all what heaven felt like, then maybe I should just let myself find the bright light that will take me to an entire lifetime of happiness. I could see my family again, everyone I had loved and lost. It would be worth it.

"You must go back"

The voice sounded so familiar and yet foreign at the same time. I didn't want to listen to the pleading, to the urgency. Why should I go back there when I could enjoy this peace?

"Ellie you must go back."

I wanted to shout at whoever it was to leave me alone, but I found that I couldn't speak.

"Open your eyes Ellie."

What? My eyes were open. I didn't want to...

And then my eyes flashed open, truly opened. I gasped out in pain, shooting up into a sitting position. The peace that I had once felt, the blissfulness, it disappeared as if it had never been there, and I was thrown back into this miserable life. I wanted to cry, to close my eyes and go back there. I was tired of all of this.

"Elizabeth?" a hand caressed my cheek.

My eyes moved to the owner of the voice and I was met with blue green orbs. Godric looked down at me in worry, his eyes flashing between mine and my sore neck. I raised a hand to find that it was no longer bloodied, the fang marks closed. But the pain was still there. I winched and pulled my hand away, turning my head around the bar as I began to remember what had happened.

"Where is he? What happened?" I asked, pushing away Godric's hand and attempting to stand up.

"He's outside." Pam spoke from where she sat at the bar. I eyed her and my heart dropped when I saw the bloodied tears. "Burning."

"What?" I shook my head, not believing her. I forced myself up onto my feet, Godric's arms around me as he kept me steady. "No. No it was supposed to work."

"It didn't." Pam's voice was strained.

"He bound himself to Russell, Ellie." Sookie's voice pulled my attention over to the blonde. She sat in a chair, Bill hovering over her though she refused to acknowledge him. "Ellie...you shouldn't have...I don't deserve it after what..."

"Don't Sookie; I don't care about any of that." I shook my head, my eyes roaming over the bar until I found the security camera monitor behind the bar. With Godric's help I found a way over, leaning heavily on the vampire for support. When I saw Eric and Russell lying on the concrete I couldn't stop the tears from flowing. "No. It...it was supposed to work. He was supposed to be okay."

"Whatever it is that you did, it prolonged the burning." There was sadness in Godric's voice. "But he is still burning."

"It's the same with my blood." Sookie stood and walked over, laying a hand on my shoulder. "They're both..."

"No, I can't let this happen." I shook Sookie's hand off of me and tried to push Godric away. "I need to..."

"You need to what, Elizabeth?" Godric firmly kept his arms around me. "You can barely walk, you're too weak. I could only heal you a fraction. You need more blood."

"I can't let him die, Godric." I stared into his eyes, pleading with him. "Please. He's your child, Godric. You have to let me go."

"You are too weak." He shook his head.

"I'm not. I need to save him. I can't let him die." The tears continued to flow. "Please Godric, let me save him."

There was an inner battle raging war inside the 2000 year old vampire, one that neither side seemed to be winning.

"Let her do it." Pam spoke. "Let her do it, Godric. Let Eric live."

Godric looked like he was going to refuse, but after a glance at Pam, seeing the pain on her face, he finally sighed and nodded. His arms dropped to his sides, knowing that he wouldn't be able to help me over to the door. I tried to give him an assuring smile, but I couldn't even assure myself. I had no idea what would happen the moment I stepped out of this bar. I didn't have the strength to pull him back into the bar. I couldn't even think about using my telekinesis, I wouldn't be able to move him more than a foot. All I could hope for was my powers to finally just work, just for once.

"Be careful." I heard Godric's pleading voice as I slowly began towards the door.

My feet were barely cooperating, but my sheer determination was keeping me going. I felt like falling over, but I couldn't. I needed to do this at all costs. I couldn't let Eric die, not without at least getting a good yell in about him kissing Sookie. The anger mixed with sadness and fuelled my strength. How I was even standing on two feet was beyond me, but I somehow made it to the heavy bar door. I glanced back, making sure all the vampires were far enough away that they wouldn't feel the rays of the sun, before yanking the door open. I huffed and puffed, just pulling the door open itself taking a lot of energy. But that wasn't about to stop me.

I leaned against the door for a brief moment before my ears heard the most awful sound. Eric's screams in agony, mixing with the sound of sizzling skin made me absolutely sick to my stomach. It was revolting. I had never heard someone in so much pain before in my life and it brought even more tears to my eyes.

"Eric..." I breathed out softly as I pushed myself off of the door and began outside.

I made sure to close the door behind me tightly, not wanting the others to feel the wrath of the sun. I found my legs working faster than I thought was possible, hurrying over to the pained vampire. I fell onto my knees beside his form, the smoke rising off of his body, his skin charred and turning into ash more quickly than I would have liked. His eyes were closed as I pushed on his chest, trying to rouse him away.

"Eric, please Eric." I whispered urgently, my eyes falling onto the disgusting vampire king. He laughed loudly, as if he was enjoying this. I glared at him, the anger bubbling deep within me. I saw the handcuffs that were holding the two together and I tugged at the metal, wishing it would just crumble between my fingers. "Where is the damn key, Eric?"

Eric's face contorted in pain as he let out a loud moan. I whimpered at hearing the noise, wishing for his pain to just stop.

"Key, Eric. I need the key." I continued to shake him, trying to get his attention.

"Pocket." He managed out before screaming in agony.

My bottom lip trembled as my hands searched for every possible pocket. I checked the leather jacket pockets but found nothing. I tried the nearest pants pocket, but still there was nothing. I hoped I wouldn't need to somehow roll him over to get to his back pockets, and stuffed my hand into the other front pocket. I let out a sigh of relief when my fingers curled around the key. I yanked it out and, while fumbling with the small item, attempted to unlock Eric from the handcuffs. I wasn't sure if Russell would be strong enough to do anything, but that thought barely crossed my mind as I freed Eric and began worrying about what to do next.

"Oh Eric." I cried out, my tears slipping down my cheeks and meeting his charred shirt. The blood was seeping through his clothes, burning the fabric before turning to ash.

I didn't know what to do as I just sat there. My hands travelled up to his head and cradled it in my lap, holding it closely. My eyes closed tightly as we just sat there, Eric in the worst pain imaginable and I couldn't think of a single way to make it stop. What was the purpose of these powers if not to be used to save those who I cared about? Eric was slowly dying in a horrible way and I couldn't do a damn thing. I had to sit here as he's put through this torture with no possible way to stop it, to shield him from the pain. I didn't want to be a phoenix if it meant that I would have to watch the only man I ever truly loved die in my arms. I just couldn't do it.

And then that's when it happened. There was a coolness that wrapped around my body, opposite to the warmth I was used to. It began in my chest, in my swelling heart. It surged through my veins, through my entire body. I opened my eyes, amazed to find a light blue light emitting from my hands, enveloping Eric's body. My mouth dropped open and I could only watch as soon both Eric and I were safely wrapped by the light, protecting us from all that was around us.

"Fucking amazing!" Russell choked out.

"Oh shut the fuck up." I muttered, my eyes focusing on Eric's as those beautiful blue eyes slowly opened.

He was still bleeding, parts of his skin burned off. But there was no longer any smoke rising from his body, no more screams in pain. I felt relieved, but I knew I wouldn't be able to keep this up forever. I needed to get Eric inside somehow and quickly before my powers diminished. But how? I still felt weak; I was living off of pure adrenaline and will power. There was no way I could possibly pull him over to the door and call for help. The only way to get Eric into the bar was to give him blood, for him to heal enough to walk.

"Eric, you need my blood." I whispered to him, running a hand though his blood stained hair soothingly. "I need your help Eric. I can't keep this up. I...I'm not strong enough."

Eric's eyes met mine, and I could see the struggle he was having as I placed my wrist near his mouth. I waited and waited, but nothing happened. He couldn't extend his fangs. He was too weak to even do so.

"Damnit." My eyes looked around for something to cut myself with.

My eyes fell on the metal handcuff and I quickly reached over, though Russell attempted to pull his arm away. I glared darkly at him as I grasped onto one end, pulling the sharp edge across my wrist as hard as I could. It took a few ties, but soon the blood was pulsing out of my vein. I didn't waist a drop and placed it over Eric's opened mouth, the blood pouring down his throat. He moaned as he attempted to swallow the blood. After a few moments, and to my relief as I began to feel the power within me shake, his hand reached up to grasp my wrist and attacked the vein with his now extended fangs. My eyes closed as he drank from me. I could already feel my consciousness slipping from me, but I fought against it. Eric needed me right now, I couldn't let him down. If I fell unconscious, the calming blue light would vanish and Eric would burn once again. I forced my eyes back open and was happy to see that he was slowly healing, now sitting up beside me and hungrily drinking from me.

"Eric..." I cried out softly. "That's...that's enough."

Eric hesitated, his lips sucking at my blood. But as I began tugging away from him, his senses returned and he pulled himself away.

"I-I need your help to get you back inside." I struggled to stay upright.

Eric nodded and together, we slowly pulled ourselves up onto our feet. We both staggered both almost falling. Neither of us were stable enough on our feet, but the blue light was beginning to fade quickly. I let out an urgent squeak and we quickened the deadly slow pace we were taking. I wasn't sure how we managed to get into the club. I wasn't even sure how the door had opened for us, but as if by the act of god, we both crashed into the bar, falling to the floor instantly. The light evaporated from around us, every ounce of my energy following it.

"He needs blood." Pam was beside Eric in a flash, just as quickly as Godric was next to me. "Human blood."

"I'll give him some." Sookie offered.

"No." I shook my head. "Mine."

"Don't be an idiot, you're barely conscious." Godric ripped open his wrist and held it to my mouth.

I pushed it away however and edged closer to Eric. Between the two of us, and even though he had been burning to death, Eric looked far better than I did.

"No." Eric growled, his hand shaking as it came to cup my cheek.

I wanted to argue, but no words came out. I was only conscious for a moment longer, just long enough to hear Russell's screams from outside and to watch his entire body catch fire on the monitor behind the bar, turning into ash and blowing away.

I groaned as my eyes slowly began to open, expecting to feel excruciating pain. But I found no pain. I blinked away the blurriness, only to find the sun glaring down at me. Had I failed? Had I just imagined saving Eric? Had it just been a dream, had he really died? But as my senses returned to me, I found my hands surrounded by grass, as was my entire body.

"What the..." I trailed off as I slowly rose up into a sitting position, my eyes wide when I saw I was back in the Phoenix utopia. I looked around in confusion, squinting as the sun stung my eyes. "Am I dead?"

"No, you're still very much alive." The familiar voice rang from behind me.

I looked over my shoulder and found Kyra standing there, in the midst of wild flowers, smiling down at me. She held out a hand and I slowly took it, rising up to my feet. I stumbled for a moment before finding my balance and looked at her in wonder.

"Why am I back here?" I questioned.

"I wanted to say goodbye." She explained.

"Goodbye?" panic shot through me. Why was she saying goodbye? Was something wrong?

"Nothing is wrong." She seemed to sense my fear. "You have fully transitioned, Ellie. You are the Phoenix."

"Transitioned?" I felt my head began to pound at the statement, not understanding. "What do you mean now I'm the Phoenix?"

"Sit." She laid her hands on my shoulders, pushing me down onto a seat that had just appeared behind me. "I'll explain everything, just rest. Your body needs it."

I nodded silently, running a hand through my hair as I gazed around. Finally, my eyes fell on the girl beside me. It still amazed me how much we looked like one another. But the longer I got to know her, to see her in the flesh, I was able to pick out the differences between us.

"We are all born human." Kyra began. "We don't truly become the phoenix until we have matured, aged to the point that we are powerful enough to contain such a sacred gift."

"T-that's why I never knew of what I was for so long." I guessed.

"Exactly. I didn't know of my destiny until after Godric had saved me." she admitted. "I had always been told stories by the village that had raised me before we were enslaved. Part of me knew what to expect."

"How old were you?" I asked curiously.

"Only a year or two older than Godric would have been." she looked off into the distance. "Not even 20 years of age. That was the moment in time I stopped aging. The moment we become a phoenix, our aging stops, giving us the ability to live for centuries until the trait is passed down in whatever way."

I nodded, slowly beginning to understand.

"You telekinesis was the first power to appear to you, wasn't it?"

"Godric knew about it before even I did." I remembered.

"We all have our own unique power, one that we are born with. I was given the gift of seeing the future, while others can heal or read minds. Yours was telekinetic powers."

"I was wondering about that." I mumbled to myself.

"Do you remember being sick?" she asked suddenly. "Remember a time when..."

"When my body felt like it was on fire." My eyes widened. "No matter what anyone did, it felt like I was on fire."

Kyra nodded. "The same happened to me, as did it happen to all the others. We are children of the sun, our main gift is fire. The Phoenixes, before the trait was given to humans, regenerated after their ashes were engulfed in flames. The same happens to us, just in a less morbid sense. Our body is put through a process, our blood burned of the past in order for us to be regenerated. It is painful, I agree. I still remember the feeling to this day."

"It was horrible." I shuddered.

"After you were sick, your powers began to peak. You could do things you couldn't explain, I'm sure your emotions were probably on a rollercoaster."

I nodded, feeling completely numb. All of that was true.

"It wasn't until you were faced with life and death that you completed the transition." Kyra smiled as she took my hands in hers, squeezing softly. "You are the phoenix now. Your powers, they're complete. There are no more struggles. There is no more confusion. You just are. Do you feel the difference? Do you feel the power?"

I thought about it, thought about everything that I felt, to the blood pumping through my veins. And she was right. I did feel different. It felt like every one of my senses was heightened, as if I felt invincible. There was such a force surging through my veins, rushing through me that I was surprised I was still alive. It felt like it was going to burst out of me, an odd light just barely shining over my shaking body. What surprised me the most though, was how strong I felt. I had wanted for so long to feel strong, to not feel like a weak little girl. And I had gotten my wish. I felt like I could do anything, like there was nothing stopping me. I loved it. I loved everything about it.

"I have to say goodbye now, Ellie."

"But why?" I turned back to her.

"We're here to guide you, to help you understand. But you know everything know. You are the phoenix. You no longer need me." She smiled sadly.

"But that's not true, I do need you." I shook my head wildly. "Please, I..."

"You are strong, Ellie. Do not forget that." She wiped away a stray tear slipping down my cheek. "Never forget just how powerful you are."

"But..."

"I don't have much time." Kyra silenced me. "I...I was hoping you would do something for me."

I sighed but nodded. "It's the least I can do."

"Just...tell Godric that I love him." I could see the tears pop into her eyes. "Tell him that I will forever love him. But also tell him...tell him that he needs to move on. That none of this was his fault. Just make sure he knows that."

"I will." I assured her, hugging her tightly. "He probably won't listen, but I'll remind him every day."

"Thank you." Kyra attempted a smile as we pulled apart. "It was an honour knowing you, Ellie. I have been waiting 1400 years to finally meet you."

"I'm going to miss you. Miss this." I looked around sadly.

"One day you will be back. But I hope it will not be for a very long time. Now go home, Ellie. Live your life not in fear. You have earned that." Kyra pulled me to my feet, smiling at me with my own identical smile. "And don't fear loving Eric. It's only natural to love someone. But know that you do not deserve to be hurt. You deserve to be cherished."

I nodded, wanting to say so much more. But I never had a chance before a bright light suddenly appeared

"Goodbye Ellie!"

I had to shut my eyes in order to shield them from the blinding light bursting out of thin air and enveloping me completely.

A/N: Russell is dead! there was no way I was going to let him live. had to not follow the show with that one. I quite enjoyed killing him off lol. and Kyra is leaving the story, everything is explained now. but there's still some issues lingering. like Eric Northman. What will Ellie do about Eric? She loves him, but is love simply enough? we'll have to see...and quite possibly the story could end tonight because i can't stop myself from writing lol. I'll try to prolong it until tomorrow though haha