AN: Thank you to SomebodyWhoCares, KyaraSalvatore, sebeaver and Millarca666 for reviewing xx
Disclaimer: I do not own True Blood.
Chapter thirty-eight
Eric's POV
"Has she not come back out yet?" Pam demands in a quiet hiss as she approaches me, she is strutting up the street dressed in her usual black leather jumpsuit that hugs her like a second skin; she's even partnered it off with a white belt and white stilettoes.
"No, she has not, it has been over an hour, Pam, I am worried,"
"I can't even hear inside, they have sound proofed the building," Pam growls, my hands balling into fists. I cannot stand around and wait any longer, I need to take action, she may be in danger, and if that is the case, well, then it is obvious what I must do. I go to move forward but Pamela grabs my wrist, pulling me back while managing to place herself in front of me. I growl at her.
"Listen here, Eric, you need to watch your step. You're a human, you can't just go barging in there; they could kill you!"
"What about my Lover? They could kill her!"
"She is not worth half as much as you are," I push against her then, surprising her as she falls backwards and lands on her ass, a small screech leaving her lips as she grips at her ankle.
"My Lover is worth the world to me, you will not stand in my path, I am your Maker, now obey me," I order her before stepping over her, Pam watching me go silently, she knows not to defy me, she knows I will tear her apart when I become Vampire again if she even dares to stop me.
Just as I go to knock on the door of the coven, my Maker grabs me and pulls me away and back around the corner where Pam has managed to stumble back to her feet with the help of my Maker's Lover. She glares at me as Godric tosses me to the side where he stands before me, halting any means of escape I may have had in mind.
"I need to get to her!"
"You need to stay here and stay put, do not be so foolish. If these witches are indeed after you, having you rampaging in there is not going to do her or yourself any favours. You'll only get both you and her killed!" Godric yells at me, I grit back my snide remark because I know that he is right, and even if I didn't believe he was right, I would still remain quiet for the simple fact that his theory includes the death of my Lover, something I do not think I could bear.
"How do you propose we go about this then? She has been in there for over an hour, she is most likely in danger otherwise she would have made some sign to show us her safety," I point out, my Maker thinking on this for a moment before he suddenly grins as though a bright light bulb had just switched on above his head. I see he has thought up an idea. About time.
"Remain calm, my Child, I know what is to be done,"
Katie's POV
"Now, lil girly, ya gonna tell me everythin' about ya self," The old woman orders, she has got me tied to a chair, but she has ripped my shirt so that my stomach is bare, I look to the side where I can see the younger lady, Denny, working on some spell over one of those cauldrons. I didn't actually think they used those. Huh, guess you learn something new every day. I shake my head at that. I'm in complete danger here and all I can do is think about witches using cauldrons? What the fuck is wrong with me?
"No, I'm really not. There is nothing to know about me,"
"Fine then, if ya not gonna tell us about ya self, I ask that ya spill the beans 'bout this Vamp ya covering for. Ya know the man who killed my baby,"
"He would never kill a child, he would never hurt a child at that, he isn't like that,"
"Now, lil missy, I know ya lying 'cause I can see it on ya face,"
"He would never hurt a child!" I scream at her as I try to thrash around against the restraints, the ropes rubbing against my skin, but I ignore the pain. I need to get out of here.
"Joanna, it's ready," Denny calls over, the old lady smiling as she walks over to the cauldron, my eyes following her as a small shiver runs down my spine. I don't like where this is going. I watch in horror as she grabs a cup and scoops up some of the awful smelling liquid into it before she takes hold of something that has been lying in the fire. It's a brander.
"Are you fucking mental?" I yell while pulling at the ropes, my panic rising above coping levels. This crazy bitch is going to fucking brand me!
"Sweetie, just stay still and this won't hurt a bit," The old lady assures me before pressing the scolding branding iron against my stomach, making me screech in pain as I arch my back, the agony taking over my body, tears springing to my eyes. The second she removes the branding iron she throws the liquid in the cup onto the burning area before murmuring some words that sounded like gibberish to me. I sit there, sobbing as I battle the infuriating agony controlling my body. It's sending my body into shock, I can feel it.
"I wouldn't have had to do that to ya, missy, if ya had jus' told me what I wanna know,"
"There is nothing to tell you!"
"Now, I suggest you start talkin', otherwise ya gonna end up with another pretty scar on that smooth skin of yours,"
"You're fucking crazy," I whisper, the old lady smiling slowly at me.
"I aint crazy or insane, missy, I'm jus' a woman wanting revenge for her baby's death. Surely ya can see where I'm comin' from,"
"I just want to go," I release a few tears through a shaky breath. I just wish I could get some sign out to Eric that I was in danger…
I can't even use the bond because it isn't there, he's human and it isn't there. I focus all of my energy on the stinging wound when I begin to feel dizzy and nauseous. I've got to stay awake.
"Tell me who the Vamp is and ya can go, simple as that," She assures me in her sugary sweet voice, all I can do is whimper as sickness truly starts to take its toll on me. The pain is actually making me feel physically sick… Just as she goes to get me again with the branding iron, the doors fly open before three blurred figures raid the place, taking down all of the witches before they pin Joanna up against the wall, the old woman grinning in the face of Pam and Alex. Soon enough I find Godric in front of me, his eyes running along my body where they land on the burn on the side of my stomach.
"They hurt you," He murmurs quietly, more to himself than to me.
"Please," I beg him while pulling on the ropes. I need to get out of here. I feel ill. He nods before tearing the ropes while helping me up, but I soon lose my balance when my vision blurs, Godric catching me. He looks over to Pam and Alex worriedly.
"Tie her up, get a sample of whatever is in that pot and be careful. She's a witch,"
"What about the bodies?" Pam probes causally while taking in the bloody mess along the floor. I close my eyes as I fight the sickness.
"Leave that to the police, I don't care. Leave no evidence of us being here, check for security tapes and destroy any evidence that may have been left. The bodies can remain, the families will want them for comfort," He orders them before taking me out of the building where Eric instantly comes over to us, snatching me away from Godric.
"Lover, what have they done to you?" He demands while cupping my cheek, I wobble slightly in my place before leaning over and throwing up, Eric moving around so that he can support me. Once I am finished chucking my guts up I feel faint and soon lose my footing as I close my eyes, Eric catching me where he picks me up into his arms bridal style.
"Godric!" Eric appeals. I open my eyes briefly to see them talking, but I can't focus on the words, all I can focus on is the stinging burn on my stomach. It's throbbing, but not in the way you would expect, it's almost as if it's making my entire body throb.
"Lover, Lover, stay with me, they have done something to you, but what?" He murmurs that last part more to himself than me.
I soon feel his fingertips running along my new burn, making me scream in pain as I wriggle away from his touch, Eric apologising while cuddling me closer.
"Godric, this is no normal burn,"
"Let me see," I open my eyes again, but I can't find the strength to lift my head up to look at it.
"Look at how intricate it is," Eric points out.
"It's a symbol," Godric states. "And it's draining her. We need to get her seen to as soon as possible,"
"Let's get her back to Fangtasia, I will call Ludwig on the way, she will be able to see to her,"