Chapter 38

Souls on Ice pt. Deux

…. The little woman got up and left the heavy door shutting behind her when the latch clinked signaling it being locked Sookie shuddered.

Sookie finished the roast beef (at least she hoped it was) sandwich and left the odd little piece of fruit. Sookie went to lie down and despite herself her eyes felt heavy and she began to doze off.

'Sookie. Sookie! We must speak can you hear me?' Sookie heard a melodic voice and she felt her eyes begin to open she squinted at the brightness of the light in front of her; as her sight adjusted she could make out a figure coming toward her. Immediately she was engulfed by a feeling of love and warmth. As the figure began to manifest she gasped.

"Claudine!" Immediately she was on her feet and embracing her cousin. Sookie felt safe and warm and loved and overwhelmed. She began to weep with joy, Claudine was clearly an Angel and had come to save her from this wretched place. Claudine wrapped her arms and her huge white wings around Sookie and began to hush and comfort Sookie . Releasing the embrace Sookie stared at Claudine and beamed. "You did it! You're an Angel! I knew you'd become an Angel." Sookie thought Claudine was a beauty before and now well she was ethereal.

"Sookie we must speak we don't have much time." As she spoke a burst of light appeared next to her and manifesting before her very eyes stood.

"Claude? What the Hell are you doing here?"

"Good to see you too cousin," Claude looked around the room. "Fabulous digs, can't say must for the sight seeing."

"Claude!" Claudine growled and he rolled his eyes.

"YOU'RE an ANGEL? Seriously?" Sookie gave Claude an incredulous look.

"I know! Right? I was surprised myself. I soo0o0o did not see this coming. Anyway we have to tell you something and it ain't good little cousin." His gorgeous features contorted in distaste.

"Claude! A little tack, please." Claudine turned to Sookie. " You must leave this place Sookie, you are in more danger than you could ever imagine."

"And for you that's sayin' something." Claude quipped.

Both Sookie and Claudine shot him a look. "This," Claudine gestured to Sookie's baby bump. "Was not written.."

"We thought we were helping you." Claude said looking chagrined.

"What do you mean?" Sookie clutched her belly protectively.

"I was desperate to conceive, the stones on that bracelet held two essences. After the babies in my womb came to term I was going to released their Fae essences, it was a safe measure just in case. I am so sorry cousin. I…."

"It's my fault." Claude interrupted. " the essences in the stones are what you would consider 'souls'." Sookie thought Claude's air quote motion was tacky considering the subject matter. "I never in a million years thought it would work with a Vamp! I thought that maybe one day you'd come to your senses, and the stones would help give your babies a little something extra."

"What are you saying?" Sookie felt sick.

Claudine put her hand on Sookie's shoulder, "The babies you are carrying are not far enough along to be fully attached to their magic if it is extracted from them they will be born empty, if they survive at all. If they were Human they would just be born without magic, but…."

"They whole Vamp-Fae-Elf mix throws a wrench in that theory." Claude interjected.

"Albaid wants their essence to restore herself. She was once of the Light, but little of her Essential Spark remains. If she were to harness the light within you and your babies she would be unstoppable…"

"And she is off the charts mental so that would not be a good thing." Claude added.

"So what do I do? Get me out of here!"

"We can't."

"Why the FUCK not?"

"Um excuse me? Angels watch your language." Claude chastised looking abashed.

"She is most powerful here in this realm. We are new Angels and do not posses enough power to engage her. You must save yourself Sookie, you and Albaid have much in common. Use that."

As the images of her cousins began to fade Sookie howled, "WAIT! Tell me how! Don't go, please don't leave me here!"

"Good luck cousin we will help when we can."

And with that Sookie was alone again. She sat on the bed clutching her belly and rocked back and forth biting her lip trying to think of a plan. 'What could I possibly have in common with that thing?' She thought hotly. 'I'm just going to have to play it cool, like I don't mind that she totally fucking nabbed me from my own baby shower. Bitch. When she lets her guard down a little I'll zap her crazy ass.' The door opening interrupted Sookie's musings. Bracken came bustling in with what looked like a gown.

"The Mistress requests your presence, put this on and be quick." The gown she lay on the bed was a soft pink and encrusted with sparkling rhinestones.

"I'm not going anyplace but home. Thank you so much." Sookie replied chin up with righteous indignation. Quick as you please Bracken lay a slap across her face and had her by the collar.

"Now you listen little miss. You'll do as you're told if you hope to get out of this with your skin. DO NOT UPSET HER! Now put that thing on, go wash your face so I can do your hair." Bracken released her and stood back with her arms crossed tapping her foot impatiently. Sookie did as she was told and sat transfixed at the dressing table examining Bracken's handy work. The front of her hair was braided intricately around her head to form a sort of crown and the rest flowed down her back in flowing waves. Sookie could not help but think she looked beautiful, but to what end?

"Thank you Bracken, it's lovely." Sookie refused to forsake her manners even under the circumstances.

"Sure, sure. Up with ye' let's be goin'" Bracken helped her up and they were through the large door and walking through corridor after corridor until they reached a huge hall. Sookie could not help but gasp. There were mirrors wall to wall and brilliantly glowing crystal chandeliers hanging every few yards. Sookie had never dreamed of such opulence as they came to the end of the hall Sookie spotted her captor seated regally on a largest of two golden thrones. Her flaxen hair falling over her shoulder in a large braid. The light glinted off of her golden mask, the jewels of her ruby lips twinkled. Bracken bent her body and tugged Sookie into a crouch as they approached.

"Mistress, your prisoner..." Bracken began, but Albaid shot up out of her seat with a preternatural quickness lifting Sookie to her full height while simultaneously slapping Bracken across the face.

"PRISONER? SHUT YOUR FILTHY MOUTH AND LEAVE US!" Her shriek suddenly softening to a purr, "Sookie is my honored guest." Her golden mask tuning to address a bewildered and visibly shaken Sookie, "Please sit down and we shall receive court. It is dreadfully dull, but I suspect one attendee in particular may interest you." She motioned toward the smaller throne and Sookie complied afraid to upset the obviously fragile emotional state of this crazy person.

Sookie sat for what felt like hours as creatures of every shape and size came before Alb aid with one request or another. Sookie could hardly keep her features impassive at the look of some of them. One in particular, made her breath hitch. He strode to the throne with a grace and dignity of a monarch. His towering height making it impossible to blend in, Sookie had to shake herself. This man was a ringer for her Eric. The differences being that his long hair an inky black to her beloved's spun gold, and his eyes a deep jade to Eric's aqua. He smiled and bowed deeply.

"Your Majesty, may I say that you are as lovely as ever." He barely spared Sookie a glance. She noticed that there was no lascivious leer in his eyes, there was love and adoration for the creature to which he spoke.

"Siris," The coolness of her tone clearly false. 'My Beloved Siris if only to be in your arms again' Sookie nearly balked as she caught the thought from Albaid's mind. 'She LOVES him. Sookie thought to herself' in surprised. She imagined Albaid a creature incapable of a real emotion. She watched as the man straightened himself and began to speak.

"I seek private counsel with her Majesty if she so wishes," His tone was pleading.

"We shall see," she said dismissively. With that he gave a curt bow and removed himself to the sidelines.

Before Sookie could contemplate what she had just witnessed the large doors opened and Bracken entered leading what she knew by the voids in their minds to be Vampires, six of them and one were. As they approached Sookie gave an audible gasp.

"Silence child, he is no threat to you." Albaid hissed so that only she caught it.

With a flourish of his cape bowing deeply before the throne stood none other than, Felipe DeCastro.

"Your Majesty Albaid Mistress of the Darklands, greetings." Rising to his feet he gave Sookie a fangy and lust filled smile, 'Meez. Stackhouse, lovely to see you again. May I say you look exceptionally delicious this night."

"No you may NOT." Sookie spat.

Felipe's face blazed in a mask of rage for a second before he composed himself, "Such fire. It will be a shame to see it extinguished."

"Enough," Albaid spoke with a bored authoritative tone, "You are a quest in my realm Felipe, I will thank you not to upset Sookie, now state your business I grow bored."

"Your Grace, when I heard that you had obtained the Fame Telepath Sookie Stackhouse you can imagine my confusion that I was not contacted considering our arrangement. Realizing that you are as busy as I myself am I decided to come an collect her myself to save you the trip." He leered at Sookie's breasts the entire time he spoke as she glared daggers at him.

"Hmm?" Albaid's hand raised from the arm of her throne to tap a finger on the chin of her mask. When the length of her luch purple robe slid from the hand it had been covering Sookie shivered a little at the sight. The Queen's hand wore a silken black glove covering her to the joint of her elbow, and on each finger she wore ornate caps encrusted with jewels the tips spiking dramatically to lethal claw like tips tipped in what Sookie thought to be silver. "an arrangement you say? I do not recall such a thing." Her red eyes fixed on him her mask concealing her true features and her hand again resting casually on the arm of her throne.

Felipe looked aghast and then livid as his gave turned to the Queen, "The Telepath is MINE, we agreed that you would give her to me once she was removed from that barbarian! You would deny our deal?" He was shaking with anger and trying fruitlessly to control himself.

"Ah yes! Now I recall that conversation, but I fear it no longer applies."

"WHAT!" Felipe roared. Suddenly the room became eerily quiet. The Vampires at his side stiffened ready to defend their King and Quinn, who Sookie had missed earlier formed a semi circle around Felipe. Sookie suddenly caught a disturbing thought through a snarl of red hatred. 'I'd rather see her dead than with that shithead Northman or being trapped in this realm forever will do..' Quinn.

Suddenly Sookie could not contain her fury, "You would see me DEAD? Quinn you selfish son of a bitch!" Sookie shrieked her eyes glazing over with rage. All eyes turned to the little pink clad girl and then to Quinn who growled in response his eyes already yellow with feline slits his hands morphing to claws.

"You left me for ERIC! I could have protected you, I could have LOVED you! But you rejected me!" Quinn growled. All eyes shifted back to Sookie.

"LOVED ME? Before or AFTER you sold me out to the Nevada Vamps? You're not only delusional, but an idiot!"

"ENOUGH QUINN!" DeCastro roared, "You will not speak again." His gaze turning back to Albaid, "I will have the girl!"

Albaids voice was calm, "No. You will not. You were of no use obtaining her and even if you had been our conversation is null."

"Why is THAT?" Felipe sneered incredulous.

Albaid's posture remained casual, "Because I changed my mind. I find her company delightful, here she will remain. You are dismissed." She waved her clawed hand and two hulking creatures glad in golden breast plates stepped forward prepared to remove the offending party. Felipe let out a feral growl and lunged for the seated Queen…

A/N:

When I picture Albaid's palace I imagine Versailles if that helps. Sorry the update is so late. Please review.