THANKS TO: casper22, Eternal Kaila, ncmiss12, racecz5, VAlady, evalilly, Mistress-Cinder, My Universe, Impulse53669

Please note: italicized words would be the thoughts from another's mind they hear. So when it's Sookie's POV, the italics represent things of Eric's she hears. And if it's Eric's POV, the italics are things of Sookie's he hears.

Chapter 34

I put my hand out and release some light and am grateful when I'm allowed passage inside. The place is alive and the show is in full swing on stage. It's very enjoyable here and I won't give it up without a fight. I will keep visiting until the magic won't let me in anymore.

Claudette is behind the bar and I walk over and take a stool, waiting for her to notice. I glance around and see a few regulars who are having relations with fae and are brought here to be with their lovers. In working at the club, I learned so much about the fae and how Bill had some of it right when he spoke of them but most of it wrong. Just like people misinterpret some vampires and don't understand.

"Sookie," she smiles softly. "I'm so glad you came. I think we handled that poorly the other day."

"Yeah, it was very hurtful," I admit as she hands me a margarita.

"We're just so worried for you."

"Don't be. Eric would never hurt me. He loves me, completely, as I love him. For the first time in my life, I actually happy and have something that's right for me and someone who's good to me."

"Even if it means dying?"

"Everyone will die eventually, Claudette. You. Me. But if he can bring me back from that so we can have more time together? I don't know. It's just something on my mind and on his."

"Just please don't do anything rash."

"It's not something I'd decide in one second and he's not pressuring me at all, but- I need information."

"Wait for my break and we can talk more. For now, we're short staffed. Want to earn some cash? You look positively divine in that dress. Is it new?"

"Yes and yes. I'd love some cash," I say and she hands me a tray and order pad.

It certainly passes four hours while waiting for her or Claude, though he's been keeping his distance. I'm not surprised but Hadley and I laugh as always. She shares with me some new photos of Hunter and we giggle. I love the energy in this place. I've missed it the past few nights since Eric's been back.

"Want to slip in back for a bit?" Claudette asks around midnight and I nod and follow her. "Maurella said she wishes to speak with you."

In the eight months since I've been working here, I've never once had a conversation with Maurella. She's the oldest who resides here but does not make time with most anymore since she's tending to her son most of the time. I've always been intrigued by her, even before I knew she was the oldest fairy here. She's just got a wonderful energy to her and when she enters the room, everyone notices.

Claudette leads me back to the living quarters where Maurella is just putting Drew to sleep in his bed. She places her hand on his head and a purple glow lights and she smiles as he curls around his teddy bear.

"Sookie Stackhouse," she smiles as she walks over and points to the couch. I sit and she beside me but Claudette wanders off. "Claudette and Hadley informed me of your relations with the vampire and the conversation. They're worried."

"Yes. Before we discuss him though… I need to know some things. First, I've noticed different light, like different colors. What do they mean? Is there a difference in the energy? And I've just started teleporting. Is there a trick to that? Or a rule? I teleported someone else with me. Is that normal? How far is the longest I could do it? And how long do you think I could live? If I'm half-fae, then-"

"Slow down, slow down. One thing at a time," she laughs softly as she takes my hands in hers. "Your light is strong, Fae-Sookie. Your light is very strong."

~*~*~*~*~*~

I watch underlings clean the mess we've made on Agostino's orders and I really do need some lackeys. I've used humans before but they're so whiny about cleaning up blood and guts; it gets ridiculous.

"Well that was a very productive evening," Brandon laughs as he licks his hand of some blood. "Highly entertaining for the first few days of your reign, King Northman."

I smile and wipe my hands with a wet rag. "At least I feel we have the truth. Don't we Timmy?" I ask as I walk over to where he's chained and he tries to scramble away from me.

"Y-yes," he nods, fearing the same fate for himself as he witnessed for his brother. "Yes, Highness."

"Excellent. Then I suppose you'll rest for the day," I say and pat his shoulder before Brandon's lackeys come over and put him in the same coffin where his brother had been.

I follow Agostino upstairs and Brandon trails behind us into Pam's office where she's currently sitting going over receipts. "Do you need the space?" she asks and I shake my head. I'd like her to stay. "What did you find out?"

"The little piece of trash lied. Little Timmy was quite happy to show us the texts from his master. They were under no order to attack. Though sending text orders to your progenies shows just how crazy he's getting." No self respecting vampire would send maker commands through text since it doesn't work that way. Whatever magic makes a progeny follow a maker command does not work via technology. It's your voice, the tone and emotion that communicate to the blood. "That's why he ran. He didn't want to take the heat for the other's rashness."

"So he's-"

"A puddle," I respond. "And rightly so for touching mine." My progeny and my bonded. I took great pleasure in plunging that stake into his chest.

"We should hear back from my boys soon," Agostino says and I hope so. We sent them to confirm the whereabouts of Istvan's operation. He's supposedly got his other followers in an abandoned house a half hour outside of Shreveport, in the opposite direction of Bon Temps.

"So what's the plan? Go in fangs blazing?" Pam asks.

"It'll do no good to attack if he's not there," Brandon says. "We get the intel. If he's there, he'll go to ground there and we attack tomorrow night. If he's not there, we wait and monitor the place."

"Agreed. Meanwhile, I trust Pam's accommodations were adequate?"

"Oh yes, the guest house was very nice," Brandon says. "Though can it accommodate all of us?"

"We'll make due," Agostino states. "My underlings can bury themselves."

Good. I hadn't wanted to bring anyone to any of my residences and certainly didn't want Pam's residence common knowledge either. Vampires who get cocky and think they are untouchable do not last a thousand years.

"Well then… if that's settled, shall we enjoy a glass out at the bar?" I suggest as I stand.

~*~*~*~*~*~

I can't believe Maurella and I have been talking for over four hours. I simply lost track of time and I hope Eric's not worried. Though I'm sure he would have called if he was.

"I'll walk you out?" she smiles as she stands and takes my hand in hers as we walk. "You must be certain to keep these things dear to you, Sookie."

"I will," I tell her. "I'm so grateful, Maurella, for your time and everything tonight."

"No need; we're sisters," she says as we walk past the bar. It's practically emptied out of humans as it's after four. "And you listen not to Claude," she says loudly for his benefit. "He's too worrisome."

I hug her tightly and kiss her cheek as she opens the door and walks out with me. There's a gentle breeze tonight and even though the air is warm, it's not oppressively humid as it was last week.

"It's been a while now since I came out," she says as she inhales deeply. "This world smells so wonderful in the summer."

"Sookie, there you are" says Eric as he lands in front of us and Maurella steps back quickly with her hands up. He glances at her and I immediately feel his draw to her. I sense the twitch in his fangs that he fights. I touch his arm, my hand glowing purple to calm him a little.

"Eric, this is Maurella. She's a friend. Maurella, this is my vampire."

"The Viking? You're promised to The Viking?" she asks surprised.

"I told you about Eric."

"You didn't tell me he's The Viking. No wonder Claude is so concerned."

"Why do you keep saying it like that? He's Eric." I don't see why "The Viking" is such a huge deal.

"He killed Claudine."

"By accident," I defend him. "He wasn't himself and he was just protecting me. She was trying to take me away again."

"I mean you no harm," he tells her once he's regained a bit of control. "You are all like family to my bonded and as King of this half of the United States, I intend to extend my protection to my bonded's family, human and fae alike."

She stares at him a few long moments, as if she's reading his mind or his intentions. She puts her hands down to her side and relaxes only a little. "Only time and action will truly tell, Viking."

"Stop saying that. His name is Eric," I correct her.

"To you. In other circles, such ancient creatures are known by other names. The Viking, The Roman, The Scarred, The Russian-"

"What do you know of the Russian?" he asks quickly. "Have you heard of his presence nearby?"

"The Russian is close?" she asks, her hands going up and glowing immediately. "I must go. Sookie, please- come with me," she says and grabs my arm to tug me back into the club. "It's the only place you can hide."

~*~*~*~*~*~

Her fear immediately drenches the air around us and covers any scent of fairy. It's potent and overwhelms my senses and draws my fangs out.

"Maurella," Sookie says and steps between the fairy and I as if that would stop a fairy if she meant to send me flying or stop me from getting to her. "He means no harm."

"What do you know about the Russian?" I ask her. "Istvan. Is that who the Russian is?" Upon hearing his name, her hands glow hotter and she starts shaking in fear at which point three more fairies open the door but stand just inside.

"Maurella," one says and within a second, he's teleported out here and taken her back inside the door.

"It's not safe, Sookie. He can't protect you. The Russian is ancient, older than he. Please, come inside."

"Do you have a way of finding him?" I ask her. "I intend to deliver true death to him," I growl, which of course sets the fairies off even more and all their hands are glowing, ready to fight.

"He's reacting to your fear and mine," Sookie tries to calm them. "Please." I can feel her pleading with them and me to keep things civil, her own hand glowing bright as it rests on my arm.

"Why?" a fairy says. "He's your kind."

"That psychopath is no kin of mine," I growl. "And he sent his minions to attack what's mine. I've already sent one of them to true death and the Russian will join them. I need to know where he is."

"He's too strong," Maurella says as she shakes.

"Whatever he did to you… Eric can help. He can protect us all. Please, help us find him," Sookie pleads.

"I have powerful allies," I tell them. "He is a threat to fairy, human and vampire. He needs to be taken out and I have the authority to do this."

"The looking glass," one of the fae says and Maurella nods.

"We will be in contact. Sookie, please," Maurella pleads. "Even half-fae are in danger by the Russian."

"I am safe," Sookie tells them. "Eric can protect me. I promise I'm safe. Call me if you find out anything?" There's no response. The door simply disappears and the meadow is once again simply a meadow.

"It's never boring," I state as I pull her close to me since I know she's now worried about everything. "We'll stay at my house again. It's much safer."

"Yeah, okay," she agrees and I kiss her forehead.

"Do you need anything from your place?"

"I don't think so," she shakes her head and I wrap my arms around her and take to the air.