"So?! What is it?" Sookie asked anxiously.

Fergus turned back towards her, his face still reflecting the shock of what he'd just read. "I need a drink. Did ye find any liquor around here by chance?"

"No. Fergus! What the hell?!"

He swallowed dryly and walked back over to the desk and sat down. "Come dove. I'll weave ye the tale." He rubbed his eyes with his fingers before flipping back to the pages where the story began.

"This is a translation of the first story in this book. I am the great grandson of the author of that story and it is my responsibility to be the keeper of this book, until such time that I will hand it down to my eldest, should he live beyond his first century. Languages have been adapted and changed so much over the last several centuries, that I feel it is important to make our tales legible for future generations, especially as more humans mingle into our fold. Here are our forefather's words:

I am a simple warrior, a general from a military family. At least that is how I like to remember myself. Not the monster I've become. But here is my history, passed down to you future generations. I'm unsure if it's my hope that one of you will find a cure for what I am or if this is just a way of defending my actions. Perhaps this is even an opportunity to simply air my side of events, for I'm sure the tale will be skewed and twisted and embellished, as is most folklore. That's what I've become – a folktale, a warning for future generations.

As I mentioned, I am or was a general in our army – the Fae army. Fighting among factions is as old as time itself. But when us elves decided to live in the earthen plane and embrace humanity, it set off a great schism among all our race. Some fae, like the demons, were jealous that we were able to understand humans and live along side them, marry them, and create families with them. They accepted us as we were. Other fae, like the fairies, despised us, called us names, and tried to cut us off from moving between worlds. There were still others that joined us on earth yet fought us over lands and control of certain areas and people.

A responsibility fell to my family, our family, to run interference between all of our factions and the human race. As time went on, it seemed we were constantly at war with one group or another. Sometimes bands of fae would join our side for a certain cause then fight against us in another. That's one thing about the fae. We aren't particularly loyal unless it's for something self-serving.

My story begins during a particularly gruesome battle versus a group of demons bent on wiping out a human populace near our home. We fought for what seemed like a millennia until one gloomy day, they gained the upper hand. I remember it like it was yesterday. There was a biting wind that whipped dark grey clouds across the sky so fast that if you stared long enough, you'd think you were the one moving. Rain fell steadily, filling ditches and puddles and making the onslaught even more miserable.

A shrill cry of fear and pain rang out over the din of battle that made my stomach lurch in fear. I peered into the misty distance, searching for a sign that all was well by my home. I watched intently from the corner of my eye, while I battled with a small cluster of demons. Just as I was dispatching the last of them, I saw my family being led out, one by one, into the pouring rain, down to our littlest, a wee boy no more than three. As I darted towards them, a quiver of panic and helplessness ran down my spine. I was too far away to do much of anything besides roar, as one by one they were cut down.

When I reached the scene, the barbarians attacked, but I was blind with rage and heartbreak. No quarter was given, as I took those beast's heads from their shoulders and ripped their hearts out with my bare hands. Blood of my rivals covered me from head to foot, oozing into my skin and my mouth. I tilted my head towards the sky and welcomed the downpour, as the sky seemed to open, weeping its rain tears over the shared misery of my loss.

Suddenly my body began to twitch and flex uncontrollably. My senses seemed to be sharpening as well. I could hear the rustling of the leafless branches of trees from a across the field, my eyesight was sharper and the scent of blood and death filled my nostrils so strongly, it was nearly overwhelming. Most importantly, I could sense my enemies all around me, even though they were now some distance away, regrouping. An urge welled up inside me to press forward, to seek them out one by one and destroy them in the same way they destroyed my family.

From that point forward, I was no longer a soldier but a hunter. I followed the stench of demon, trudging along sodden trails that I wouldn't typically have been able to see, moving even faster than I normally do as an elf. Within moments I was within striking distance.

I didn't hesitate. I attacked with stealth and vigor, easily finishing off demon after demon that attempted to approach me. I cleared my way through their camp until finally, I came upon their leader. He could have passed for a human man with his greenish-brown eyes, closely cropped hair and thin hairless face. He had a slight build that made him appear non-threatening. Yet, he had an unmistakable air of authority about him and when he smiled, he revealed rows of gleaming white fangs instead of teeth.

He bowed to me ceremoniously. "Congratulations! It would appear you have gained the upper hand after all. I hope you'll find these pathetic blood bags a just reward for all the loss you just incurred."

I swung my sword back, reading to take his head as I had done with all the others, but he held his hand up to me and looked me in the eye. Something happened in that moment. It was as if he was looking right into my soul, penetrating my brain. I released my bunched muscles and relaxed my sword-hand to the point that it nearly fell from my grasp. I was entranced.

"Look at you, covered in our blood! It oozes from every pore, drips from the corners of your mouth. You will leave me now and wonder this forsaken realm, seeking out the one thing you will never be able to find – satiation of the thirst that will take hold of you soon. You are now one of us, yet not, because you are elf. Gods help mankind for whatever you are about to become!"

And then he was gone. I am unsure if he actually disappeared or if in the stupor he put me in, I just don't recall him leaving. But those demons never returned to Earth as far as I know. They did not need to. Whatever was in their blood had affected me in ways I still do not understand and true to his word I have traveled this earth, a scourge to mankind for eternity.

Henceforth, I have only craved human blood for nourishment. My body has changed, my abilities all enhanced. I am not only stronger and faster than any elf I know, but I also can teleport like the fairies, move things with my mind, and I heard things, things I could not possibly have actually perceived with my ears. Thoughts of others filter through my awareness from what seemed like miles around. My body has become leaner, less elf-like and more human-like. I have become a predator of the human race.

For a long time, my thirst for human blood had become my sole focus. I learned to dress and act like humans and became an expert at luring them away from their towns, villages, and clans, especially because I could hear their thoughts. When I feed, my teeth become sharp like the fangs the demon leaders, but when I am hunting they look normal, aside from their straightness and pearly appearance.

I'm unsure exactly how much time had passed before I no longer killed when I fed. Humans had not yet matured in population growth and when I decimated enough from a village, as the new comer, they always turned to me, forcing me to leave and move on. Eventually, I did learn how to only take small amounts of blood, enough to leave the being alive and none the wiser, thanks to my new ability of being able to erase ones memory. It was then that I became lonely. All fae are social creatures, but especially elves. We live in groups and prefer the company of others. And to be honest, I was bored. I lived my entire life, quite a long one considering we don't age the same way as humans, as a soldier. I missed warring because it was and still is part of me. Thus, I sought out conflict. I don't mean that I went and purposely stirred up trouble. But, war is also in man's fiber. They war just as much, if not more than the fae. It was fairly easy to seek out turmoil and pick a side. With my heightened abilities, I was able to sway a far number of conflicts to my ally's favor. This is how I met a leader far more ruthless than the demons who inadvertently gave me this life.

I was in a strange land that was full desert, but also full of life, thanks to a lush and vibrant river that cut through the otherwise barren land. There were scores of people, living and working together in a way I had yet to come across in this vast Earth. In order to bring in more people and skilled labor, this leader would send out raiders to take over new land and bring back its inhabitants as slaves or other types of workers. At first, he seemed like a good leader, although his tactics were a bit ruthless, so I decided to join his fight. I befriended him and we became close confidants. In the beginning, without him knowing, I would use him for his blood, for it was full of power and something I had yet to come across in other humans. Eventually, he noticed that I never ate or rarely slept. He also acknowledged that there were times when he couldn't quite remember certain things while in my company. Finally, I felt confident enough in our friendship that I revealed to him my true nature. I assumed he would become terrified and send me away, and I was prepared for that. What was unexpected was how he actually reacted.

He immediately demanded I make him what I am. I had no way of knowing how to do this, so of course I denied him. Well, this fellow who by now was a great leader, a king among his people, was unaccustomed to being told no. So, he imprisoned me and had a group of priests start experimenting on me.

At one point, I was like a starved lion in a small cage. They would throw a helpless human in and watch as I lost control and fed until their untimely death. These deaths haunt me until this day, for I could have avoided all of this had I just kept my secret to myself. Regardless of their callousness, they continued to experiment. They drew my blood out of me through some type of hose and sharp instrument and put it into other helpless men via the same means. They tried having some drink it and they even tempted me with seduction, wondering if my condition was something passed on from procreation. These people had very advanced techniques and understandings of the human body. It was fascinating in a twisted way, how methodical they became in their approach and how they studied me.

After countless attempts and strategies, they figured out a way for me to create "children" or in essence transform normal men into monsters like myself. However, they were not exactly as I am, for the catalyst for transformation came in the form of death. Man must be killed or brought to the point of death, then transfused with my blood. From there it takes approximately three days for them to rise from the dead and become a blood thirsty succubus with abilities such as hypnotizing, inordinate strength and speed and a host of other things that seem to vary from person to person.

These experiments were so successful that the king demanded he be morphed into this monster and within a few short years, humans began fully worshipping him as a god, building temples in his honor.

They eventually let me go and I was free again to roam aimlessly. However, the damage had been done. Beings like me, yet not exactly, were now living undead existences, shaping human history. Worst still, they had the knowledge to reproduce at will, simply by an exchange of blood, either willing or unwilling through the catalyst of death and rebirth. This realization tore at me and nearly drove me mad. On top of that, it seemed that this sharing of blood somehow tied me to each new "child". I could in some weird way, sense them, and I later found out, it allowed me to even control them to an extent. That would come in handy in the future, yet that tale is for another time. The distraction of these connections made it hard to continue living. That is, until the day I met Étaín.

Étaín was a Fae princess, said to be related to sunlight itself. There are many stories surrounding her or beings resembling her, but this is what I know to be fact. She claimed she never knew her parents, and recalls only being in existence as a young maiden, wondering among the flora and fauna of the earth plane. She was unusually tall, with long golden hair that framed her face like a lion's mane. Her physical form was striking, rendering men and women alike speechless at the sight of her, including myself. Some would even later worship her as a goddess, claiming her a god to warriors and fertility, and more. But I claimed her as my wife. She became my one source of nourishment, and through her, the clamor of voices and connections to my undead progeny, became less and less until I could control it at will on my own. She eventually bore me twelve sons, each given the surname Hale that meant in our day, 'without disease; of purest health' but also came to be associated from where we settled our family, in the streams and moors.

None of my sons seem to have the same affliction as me, in the sense that they do not need to feed on human blood. They are all handsome, strapping lads, never sick or with ill health. They hold the qualities of any ordinary elfish fae, with one small anomaly that has only just begun to emerge. None of them have borne any female children, regardless of which race their wives come from. Perhaps it is just coincidence, only time will tell.

This is my tale to this point. I have handed this tomb off to my eldest, for him to use and add to as he sees fit. If you are reading this, you are either mine enemy or mine kin. Either way, you have my version of events and will do with the information as you must."

"Sweet Shepherd of Judea! Is that the story of the first vampire?" Sookie asked, sitting down hard on a chair across from Fergus.

"It'would appear so, lass."

"And that this person is one of our ancestors! He said he gave all of his sons the last name Hale!"

"Aye."

"So, he's like both our great, great, great, great, great, great, great…"

"Grand-da. Aye, minus a few greats in there for meself. This t'is a powerful connection and one the bloodsuckers would be very interested in findin' out, agreed?"

"Uh huh," Sookie breathed. "And one the Fae would want to kill to protect?"

"Aye. Especially if ye were one of the few livin' females born into such a lineage."

Sookie's face lit up with acknowledgement. "That's why Gran wasn't supposed to have any children! She must have been the first female born in all this time and they had no idea what to expect!"

"What?!" Fergus exclaimed.

"After I left the Queen's, I went to Uncle Dermot for help. Long story there. But, while we were together, we discussed many things. He recalled a memory about Gran that Fintan had shared with him." Sookie proceeded to recant the information Dermot shared with her at the restaurant.

"If ye are the remainin' female with the ability te reproduce, ye are in everyone's crosshairs! Jaysus! What a feckin' disaster! We need te get ye somewhere safer than here. There are fecking fairies just across the yard and it's getting te be twilight, so then the vamps will be out too!" Fergus stood up abruptly and began to pace, trying to work out a place for her to hide.

"Hold on Fergus. I mean, I've been alive for nearly 20 years. I've been to Supe clubs and I even worked at a bar owned by Fairies for fucksake. Although I don't doubt that I'm in serious danger, it's not as if everyone will converge here soon. We need to finishing putting the pieces of the puzzle together." She emphasized her meaning, by pointing to Bill's laptop they had all but forgotten about.

"Aye. Yer right of course. I mean Adele has lived a fairly long life without too much trouble comin' her way. Her children lived long enough te have their own offspring. So obviously the urgency t'end ye all hasn't always been there."

"Yet, my parents were killed in a randomly freak accident, Aunt Linda supposedly died of cancer – but had never been sick a day in her life before her diagnosis, and then Hadley was staked by a supposed madman…err vampire. Not to mention Gran's condition that we know is not medical, and the countless threats on my own life in the recent days. This all adds up to something."

"Aye," Fergus agreed again. He rubbed his hand over his chin in contemplation, trying to sort everything out in his head.

Sookie went and sat back down on the other side of the desk, attempting to get past the password prompt on Bill's laptop.

"What would a vampire choose for a password?" Sookie huffed aloud. "I've tried, 'blood', 'bloody', 'iluvblood', including various versions of that. I've tried 'bloodbags', 'suckandfuck', 'fuckandfeed'…"

Fergus laughed at her guesses. "How about 'password'?"

"Seriously? Who would be dumb enough to pick that?"

"Try replacin' some of the letters as numbers and capital letters. I've seen many people use it. It's easy te remember – not that vamps have memory issues, but ye never know what skill he has with these tings."

Fergus continued his deep introspection when Sookie startled him by shouting, "Hot Damn! I'm in! That dumbshit did use 'password', but he capitalized the P and used a zero in place of the letter 'o'! Ha!"

He went over and stood behind her, so that he too could see what she was seeing on the screen. Of course there was nothing obvious on his home screen, other than some shortcuts to various programs and some scanned in receipts for what looked like the home improvement store.

Sookie clicked around for nearly 45 minutes without any luck. Her hands and neck were starting to cramp up from sitting at the desk that was evidently built for looks and not ergonomics and it was really starting to get dark inside, as the sun started to set. Sensing her frustration Fergus told her to take a break and he would take a crack at it.

"Should I light some of these candles? The heavy drapes over the windows should block out their reflection to the outside, don't you think?"

"I can see fine lass, especially with the light from the computer screen. If ye really need light, maybe just one te be on the safe side."

Just as she was about to light a match that was conveniently left by some candles, she had this overwhelming sense of relief, then thirst. Then – arousal? What the heck! The emotions were so strong they actually made her sway with dizziness.

"Ye alright, dove?"

"I…I…I think Eric is here?" It was the only possible reason to explain her unexpected feelings.

"Ye two are blood bound?"

Sookie nodded as she sat down abruptly on the floor, to save her self from falling down.

Fergus blew out a breath that was similar to a low whistle. "Let me do a quick perimeter check before he gives our position completely away." And in a flash, he was gone, out the way they had snuck in, through the old coal shaft in the crawl space.

Moments later he returned with the Viking in tow. Warmth spread through Sookie, as their eyes met. It was as if she was being hugged from the inside out. Without thought, she 'popped' to him and returned his virtual embrace with a physical one.

Fergus returned to the spot at the laptop and pretended not to notice the vampire and his mate reuniting after their strained absence.

"Where have you been?" Sookie asked, in between scorching kisses.

"You are well?" Eric inquired at the same time.

They both smiled and returned to kissing and caressing each other, reassuring themselves that each was whole and in good health.

Sookie stepped back, holding Eric's hands in hers. "You look very pale. You need to feed?"

"I feasted on alligator blood after my escape from the Queen's compound. But, I suffered some injuries that cannot be properly healed without human blood. Flying and tracking you has expended much of my energy needed for complete healing."

Sookie nodded, understanding his need and not thinking of anything else for the time being. She turned and looked around for a private space where she could let him feed on her, without any embarrassing moments in front of her uncle. She quickly noticed the stairs heading up and figured that there had to be rooms there, that would at least provide them a little bit of isolation.

Without letting go of his hands, she led him through the house, and up the stairs into the first room that was nearest to them.

Before she could catch her breath or close the door, Eric had Sookie against a wall, head tilted to the side in preparation for his feast. She gasped as his fangs sank into a soft spot between the juncture of her neck and shoulder. Her body went limp as he drew forcefully from the two tiny puncture wounds. He lifted her legs up and wrapped them around his waist as he continued in a slight frenzy, ever mindful that this fragile woman was in all rights, his mate.

When he had his full, he took his time in healing her neck properly. Then he carried her over to a solitary, dusty full sized bed that looked like it had seen more than a few decades and laid her on her back. Without speaking, he began stripping her of her clothing. When he was done with her, he more hurriedly removed his own, appreciating the full eye-fucking she gave him as he knelt at her feet.

"Why were you wearing such strange clothing, my lover?"

She smiled, recognizing how much she missed being called that by him. "Long story. Come. Make love to me. Then we'll talk."

She realized as she spoke those words that she was using sex as much as a distraction as a bonding experience. She was undecided as to what information that she had recently pieced together she would actually share with him. Even though they were blood bound and she cared for him deeply, she was still uncertain just how much she could truly trust him as a vampire. Twisty and deceptive are the words that kept running through the back of her mind. But then he entered her, and all thought ceased for at least a full hour.

When they finally returned downstairs, they found Fergus pacing the length of the first floor not unlike a caged animal.

"What is it?" Sookie asked.

"I managed te find the program we were searchin' for," he replied hesitantly. He too was unsure how much information to share in front of Eric.

"And?"

"Ye do have to see with yer eyes, lass."

Sookie approached the computer while Eric arched an eyebrow at Fergus, as if that movement would somehow sway the elf to speak. Fergus ignored the unspoken request and turned his attention to Sookie.

"It's a database of… family trees?"

"Key in yer Gran's name," directed Fergus.

Sookie did as she was told and silence filled the air.

"What is it lover?" Eric sensed great distress through the bond. And then – she shut it down! The fuck?!

She looked up at both men and her face paled. What she saw on the screen were sketches of the grandfather her and Fergus had read about earlier, the apparent first vampire. Sketches of him and his wife and their 12 sons. It was obviously a very old document that had either been scanned and/or photographed – digitized in some fashion, but the detail was plainly visible. Sookie looked identical to Étaín! How could that be? What did it mean?!

"Is this real? Is this what this is all about?" she whispered to no one in particular.

Fergus rubbed his face in distress. Eric spit out, "Someone better tell me what the fuck is going on. NOW!"

Just then, the front door of the house blew in and in it's place stood about 20 fairies.

Author Note: Thank you all again for reading. I took some liberty with the first vampire folklore and made it my own to fit the story. Hope you enjoyed that. And of course a little bit of Eric too. Until next time. *Virtual Viking Hugs*