AN: Thank you to WRose, SomebodyWhoCares, B-Rock525, sandadee27 and pannech for reviewing the last chapter xx
Disclaimer: I do not own True Blood.
Chapter thirty-seven
Eric's POV
"Lover, I am not very pleased with this idea of yours," I shake my head in disapproval, my Lover rolling her eyes at me while she presses her back up against the wall, her head casually popping around the corner to check to see if the coast is clear. She is acting as though she is a spy.
"Eric, I know this isn't how you wanted us to spend our night, but it has to be done. Alcide said he heard some of the Witches inquiring after you, he said they were carrying around a large file and several posters of you. They are trying to get a hold of you, Eric, and I plan on finding out why," My Lover tells me before she lurks around the corner, leaving me to follow after her. Originally she wanted me to stay at home, but I refused to leave her to do this on her own, if any harm or danger was to come to her while I was not present, I would never forgive myself.
I wish to only protect my Lover while assisting her in finding out who has made me human. If they do not restore me to my Vampire state soon, it may get to that point where it is no longer possible to do so, or it will be more difficult to change me back. Magic is a very tricky thing and can cause mass effect if the spell is used incorrectly. I have witnessed this happen many a time during my many years of life, or death as some people refer to it, and I know of the harmful hazards it can and has caused. I have seen many people die due to powerful spells being cast wrongly or incorrectly.
"We all wish to discover why, Lover, but is it really worth the risk? You are putting yourself into danger," I remind her, all she does is throw me an odd look with an eye roll.
"You're over protective, Eric. But seriously, I can handle a bit of danger. I live it every day," It is a sad thought knowing that she knows this very well and that she does indeed live a life of danger.
Being surrounded by Vampires and other Supes must not help to soothe her fears at all.
"I am just caring for your welfare,"
"I appreciate that, but just look out for yourself, you're the one in danger here, not me," She reminds me before turning the corner, ordering me to remain where I am, as she heads towards the door of the coven. I couldn't help growling lowly, she knows I detest being told what to do, and the fact that I am even obeying her demand is a miracle on its own. I am only doing this because it is part of the plan, the same part of the plan that we all agreed on when organising it. Godric and his Lover are somewhere else currently, they are pursuing a different lead to us, Pam is holding down the fort at Fangtasia and my Lover and I are doing this, although she does have hold of the wheel in all of this.
She is the one guiding us through this; she has taken on a leading role, a dominant role, one which I must admit I am enjoying greatly. I have always found dominant, independent women to be very attractive. But I must contain my arousal until we are alone and away from all of this. I am still in need of planning a romantic evening for us both; I have something very important I need to declare to her, something which requires a romantic, cosy setting. I believe that is how humans do this. They like to be told things such as this in a romantic setting; that is of my understanding. Maybe I should check this with Pamela; I do not wish to make a fool of myself in front of my Lover. I listen intently as the door opens, my Lover introducing herself.
"Good evening, my name is Katie; I wish to inquire about the coven," I cautiously look around the corner where I watch the elder woman invite my Lover inside, my alarm rising by the second. I have never trusted a witch in my life, nor do I plan on trusting them now. They could attack her, or kidnap her. My concern is that they have discovered that she is my woman, if that were to be discovered they may hold her hostage in order to get to me. They may use her as a negotiation, swap myself for her. I would do that in a heartbeat if it meant my Lover would be safe.
Katie's POV
Looking around the room I can't help but cringe, the place is painted in dark, dull colours and the only real colour in here is red and even that is more of a blood red. However, there are hints of green painted around the room, too. This place reminds of somewhere a Vampire would love. It kind of reminds me of Fangtasia. I look to the back wall where there are many photo frames along the wall, each one containing a picture of a woman, no men though…
"As you can see we like to keep things simple here, no fancy schmancy useless items, just the basic rug, cushions and lamps, as well as a few candles here and there. You actually caught us at a good time," She announces, motioning for me to sit down on the spare red cushion beside hers on the rug. I do as motioned, my gaze briefly travelling around the small circle of women, aged from about eighteen to seventy something if I include the old lady who showed me inside.
At least there is one other woman in here who is a similar age to me.
"We have just been discussing our next spell casting," The younger one, aged eighteen maybe, informs me. She has bright green eyes and dark black hair, she seems far too wide eyed and alert. Drug user, I am almost positive of it.
"Denny, please, hush. Now, young lassie, we here have been working as a group for a mighty few years now, we don't have no need for anyone else, but ya seem like a nice young lady. Tell us, how long have ya been practising magic for?"
"Umm, five years," I lie, not sure how else to react. I always thought you had to be born a witch, or at least born into a family of which consists of a witch or two.
"Ah, now tell us, who is ya old tutor?"
"Oh, I was never allowed to know her name, she deemed it unsuitable, she said the knowledge of her true identity would ruin the lessons, she said emotional attachment to your tutor is something which should never take place,"
"She aint very wise then, a good relationship between tutor and student is vital, without that connection you cannot truly access the power hidden inside of you," She points to my chest, around about where my heart would be. I smile nervously while nodding in agreement.
"Should we not inquire as to her identity?" Another one of the more mature members of the group probes, making the old lady beside me nod.
"She has a point, my dear, now tell us your name, age, your location, your rank and your learning ability as well as any home life information we may need to be aware of, such as marriage or children," She pushes me for more information, my nervous smile only increasing.
"Why is my home life important?"
"Your old tutor really is not a wise person, she aint taught you nuttin' useful. We need to be aware of ya home life as some of our work is dangerous, just recently we have been pursuing a magic trick that caused a dramatic change to someone's life, can't say he dint deserve it though. Lousy rascal murdered my family at one point, bout time I got my revenge," She babbles on, my senses moving into high gear as my alertness increases. She could be talking about Eric.
"When did this man do this?" I probe innocently.
"Back in the late fifties I had myself a daughter, she were a very special young gal as well, I could sense it, but she dint get a chance to even get to live her life, at the age of three she were murdered by the brute along with her papa. It were a painful day for me, I have been wanting to get my revenge for a long time now. I hear he got himself a pretty young girl for a partner, my plan were to ruin his life by turning him into everything he hates, and then making him kill the one thing keeping him going," This brings even more alarm to me. Eric would never kill a child. Would he? No…I don't want to believe that, my Eric could never harm a child. Never. She must be talking of some other man, oh, lord, I plead to you for it to be another man.
"But surely this man is close to death by now anyway?"
"Nope, he one of those Vampires, ya know, with da fangs," And to emphasise her point she lifts her upper lip up to show off her dentures. I couldn't help cringing again.
"Are you sure it's the same Vampire? How do you know you just haven't got a couple of them muddled up? I have seen a fair few of them and some of them do look alike," I point out, the old lady shaking her head.
"I know what I saw that day; I came home to two dead bloody bodies, the Vampire man still feeding on my husband. With a sneer he shot outta the door, I didn't even get a chance to kill the bastard," I have never in my life heard an old lady use such foul language as that.
"Are you sure it was a Vampire?"
"My daughter was lifeless on the floor, drowned in her own blood practically; she had blood staining all along her neck, two big fang marks in her neck. I remember how empty her eyes were, I remember how limp my husband was. He died moments after the bastard left,"
"I'm sorry to hear that," I offer my sympathy. I do mean it as well, I cannot imagine how that must have felt, if that had been me I would have been destroyed, I wouldn't have been able to live. Not after that. That is too deep of a trauma to ever be cured.
"It were a struggle to live on after that, I had nuttin' to live for, so I held onto the revenge. I knew I couldn't die peacefully until I got the bastard back, and it looks like ma revenge is about to be sweet," I lick my licks nervously, my throat suddenly feeling incredibly dry.
"Do you have the name of this man?"
"I do indeed,"
"May I know it?" I probe, the old lady shooting me a curious look.
"Are you wanna those Vamp lovers? Is that why you come sniffing around here pretending to be a witch? You trying to protect this Vamp who murder my family?"
"Excuse me?" I demand, suddenly feeling outraged at this accusation.
"You are, aint ya? Listen here, ducky, we know our own, you aint one of them. Now give yourself up otherwise we'll be forced to take it from ya, and it aint a pleasant experience," I get up hurriedly at this point, but two of the witches soon grab me and pin me to the floor, all of them circling around me, my panic rising as I feel my heart pound against my chest, almost as if it was trying to escape me.
"I don't know anything!" I protest, the old lady kneeling down beside me as the youngest member joins her, her penetrating green eyes diving into mine, I quickly look away.
"There something special about you, too, like there were about my daughter. I can sense it. You aint no normal human," The old lady accuses, my lower lip becoming trapped between my teeth.
"There isn't anything special about me," I grit out, trying to hide my fear the best I can.
"Oh yes there is, and you know exactly what it is, as well. Tie her up," The youngest one demands, the two witches who have hold of me dragging me across the room, despite my best efforts of trying to escape their grip. All I can do is scream and thrash around, but no matter how hard I try, they have too hard a grip on me to let me go.