CHAPTER 37
Souls on Ice
Eric left the room saying a prayer to Odin that his Sookie was okay. He reached out for the bond and felt nothing. He felt her following, but said noting as he entered the code and the door slid open he was overwhelmed with her scent light and green, yet sweet. Stripping to his boxers he sat on the edge of the bed.
"Pam, I do not need company."
"Maybe I do."
Eric glanced at her then stood and was next to her with Vampire speed. Guiding her to lie down he tucked her in moving behind her cuddling her to his chest as a Father would his small Child. Slowly rubbing her hair placing a kiss on the top of her head. He felt her take an unnecessary sigh, "She hated me you know."
Eric continued his ministrations, "Who my Childe?"
"Mother. My Father adored me and I him, but he was away often. He had given me a gold locket with his picture in it so that I would not miss him so terribly when he was away.
My Mother and I quarreled daily as I grew,' her English accent adding an elegance to her pained words. "When I was a child she would whip me for the slightest offence. I wanted her love so badly. And then as I grew into a woman I decided that I no longer needed or cared if I ever acquired her love. That is when I felt truly free. My Beloved Father went on a trip and never returned. When we were being told that his carriage was attacked by thieves and that he was dead. My Mother did not shed a tear; she walked by me snatching the locket from my throat as she passed me by. She carried on as if nothing had happened in private. We were not permit to mourn, and yet she wore black and played the grieving Widow in public. I realized then why I never won her love, she hadn't any to give."
Eric felt the blood tear that slid down her cheek plop on his forearm.
"She always spoke of finding me a suitor that would be a prosperous match as soon as possible. My Father was a Baron and Mother had found a Suitor in a Grand Duke. That would elevate her situation to great heights as she saw it." Pam took an unnecessary breath," He was thirty to my sixteen. I'd heard the scullery Maids speak of him in hushed whispers, vulgarities the likes that I had never heard. I told my Mother what I had heard and that I could not possible be expected to marry such a nave. My Mother slapped me across the face and flew into a rage the likes of which I have never seen. She said that this is the least she should be afforded after being forced to endure me in all my golden haired glory while her little beloveds were blue with death at the breast of life. She said this would be my penance for my wicked existence, her comfort in her final years amongst the upper eschlem of society." I lay on the floor in a heap as she stormed from the room. He happened to be in Bath at the same time as we were and I had an opportunity to interact with him. It turned out 'Orgy' and 'Ménage et trios' were not nearly as vulgar as I presumed. I endured it and at many point enjoyed it. We married soon after. It was common knowledge in Court that my sexual proclivities were as voracious and lewd as his. I was shunned by all in social settings, and worshiped in the bed chamber. My Husband was outraged when I took several of the servant boys to bed. He said that the women were fine, but I was not to touch any man lest him. Any Heir would be his seed. I was on my way to my lover when I met you. You never questioned why I did it." It was more of a question that a statement.
Eric paused a moment, "I was sure you had your reasons, I could not judge."
"I saw the fear in her eyes when I released what I had become." In silence Pam recalled the fear in her Mother's eyes. {Flashback}
"Pamela! What in the Devil are you doing about at this late hour? This is no way for a lady of your ranking to behave. A ranking might I add, that you have no title to by birth, but through the efforts of your Dearest Mother."The old woman tightened her gown around her neck fingering a golden locket.
"You have something that belongs to me Dearest Mother; I've come to claim it." Pam was dressed in white gauze dressing gown the ethereal glow of the Moon from the window behind her shone in giving her pale skin a pearlescent glow. Her naked siluette out lined by the soft light and her flowing mane of blonde hair wild and whipped about from running to her former home. As her Mother lit a lamp Pam stepped into the light."Dear GOD! Pamela what has happened?" Pam let her fangs run down in response. "Oh please no. NO! I beg you no." The old woman pleaded tears dripping from her drooping eyelids her lips curled at an odd angle without her wooden teeth with the ivory caps on them in her mouth. Pam snatched the locket from her throat scratching her chin. The old woman's hand groped at the small wound frantically shrieking in terror at the sight of the blood on her hand. Pam inhaled deeply she eyed her Mother hungrily and descended on her like a bird of prey. She tore into her throat and drank deeply she drank until she felt her body become still; she drank until she felt her Mother's heart beat stop. Tucking her into bed she sat the old woman as if she were asleep. Then she twisted the head off without disturbing the body and set the severed head in the old woman's lap. To anyone walking in it would look as if the old woman had torn her own head off. {End Flashback}
Eric and Pam sat in silence for a few moments.
"I will help you get them back Master. You will have back what is yours."
Eric kissed his beloved child on the top of her head their bodies relaxing as Death took them.
Sookie sat at the bottom of the window and sobbed. Shaking she stood and made her way to the opulent bed. Pulling back the silk blankets she climbed up onto the bed and pulled the covers over herself. For a moment she pretended that she was back in Bon Temps.
Gran's House.
Safe.
She took deep breaths trying to calm herself in her mind completely stilled. 'OMIGODOMIGODOMIGOD!ERIC!WHATDOIDO?WHATDOIDO!WHATDOIDO. Okay get it together Stackhouse there must be a way out of here' Sookie sat up and tossed the blankets from her head, getting down from the bed she began to pace the floor. She walked over to the door she had seen the strange woman go out of and tried the knob. Locked. 'Duh.' She thought dryly. She paced and paced her mind racing she had to think of a plan. There came a knock on the door and she heard it creak open, Sookie backed away unsure of what could come through that door. Imagine her surprise when the woman from the bookstore walked in with a tray. The old woman had yet to take notice of Sookie and shut the door before walking over to the nightstand and setting down the tray of food.
"I'm sure all she gave you were those damn tea cakes so I brought you some food," the woman spoke as she looked up and stared at Sookie.
"You're the woman from the bookstore!" Sookie took a step toward her. "What are you doing here?"
"I could ask you the same thing." When Sookie said nothing the old woman continued, "My name is Bracken, and I am the closest thing to sanity you will find in this realm."
"I am Sookie Stackhouse." She said extending her hand.
"I know who ye'are." The old woman spat glaring at Sookie's out stretched hand. "Thanks to you they found me. I should 'a knowed I couldn't escape her. She is less herself than I remember."
"Who?"
"Albaid! Who else? Ya' stupid girl. You led them to me, so they must've been followin' ya' for some time." Bracken began to take the lid off of the tray revealing a roast beef sandwich and some strange fruit Sookie did not recognize.
"Do you know what she wants with me?"
"Who can say? She's been insane too long to reason her judgments."
"I am NOT staying here. I have to get out of here. Will you help me?" Sookie had to ask. She remembered Bracken's reaction to her at the bookstore and by her attitude she was not here by choice and she could use an ally. The woman's cackling laugh brought Sookie from her reverie."What's so funny? This situation is far from a laughing matter!"
Calming herself Bracken replied, "A laughing matter it ain't of that ye can be sure Miss. No. I will not help you."
"FINE! Then get out!" Sookie did not appreciate being made fun of.
"You don't understand. There is no help to be given. Have ye' no notions of where yer at?" Bracken stared at the young girl and her angry stare confirmed her ignorance. "You child have the misfortune to be in Endor. In the fortress of the Dark Mistress, there is no help to be given from me that I can be sure."
"But you got away once! We can do it again, if you won't tell me how and I will go alone." Sookie stood tall her chin up. The old woman stormed past her and to the window ripping the paper façade in one inelegant motion revealing the scorched earth, the boiling pits running into streams of fire. "Do you see NOW! Can you see where you are? Surrounded by DEATH!" She gave a sniff in Sookie's direction and a small smirk crept onto her features, "Ah, perhaps the little girl is no stranger to the company of dead things." She huffed and headed for the door.
"Wait!" Sookie didn't want to be alone. The old woman turned to look at her with a touch of pity in her eyes. "Can you sit with me? Please."
Bracken felt an emotion she thought long gone from her soul. Sympathy. "Sure, I'll stay for a bit." Plopping down on the lavish chase lounge she motioned for Sookie to eat. Sookie made her way to the plate and bit into the sandwich, it didn't taste like Beef but she dared not try to imagine what it might be in a place such as this. Bracken eyed her curiously. "It's impolite to stare" Sookie quipped, her mouth full.
"Aye, and rude to speak whilst chewing." Bracken fought the urge to chuckle; she liked this girl despite herself. "You got moxie, I can see that much, but I wonder what She wants with ye'." She looked around the room and shuddered. "I have not been in this room in some time, and it has not changed. This is where he kept Her you know. I can remember the day he brought her here. She was the most beautiful creature I had ever seen. HE kept her here and never let her out."
"Who?" Sookie was hoping that she could get some information that she could use.
"The Dark Lord, the Necromancer. Tis' a pretty cage. Well, there be work needs doin'. I will come check on ye' later." The little woman got up and left the heavy door shutting behind her when the latch clinked signaling it being locked Sookie shuddered.
A/N- So0o0o sorry for the delay in update. Please review