The ride to the witch's house was quiet. Eric was trying to get my attention from beside me without actually saying anything, it would seem the comment I made about dying tonight was not to his humor. Oh well he can chastise me later and if he gets his memories back he will. I saw his mouth move as he was about to speak but I didn't want to have to deal with him right now so I spoke to interrupt him.

"Hi I'm Sookie" I introduced to the vampire in the front seat next to pam. He was a big vamp, not fat but solid and tattooed.

"I know who you are" he spoke; his disgust was vibrating through his voice "you a parasite to the supe community" at that comment the car almost went off the road as Pam growled viciously.

"It's okay pam" I said as I held a tight grip on Eric's chest "I'm glad you know me" I smirked, watching his expression change in the side mirror "just remember" I leaned close to his ear holding his eyes in the mirror "most parasites are fatal" I grinned my southern belle smile and rested back in my seat. I knew I had won, no matter how hard he tried to hide it; I saw the fear flash in his eyes. You may think me cruel but hey it's either fear or respect and I definitely haven't got his respect.

The car pulled to a quiet stop a few blocks from the house. I climbed out silently but was stopped by Eric's hand. I looked at him expectantly but he was staring at Pam with a look I couldn't quite decipher. Pam hurried from the car and closed the door.

Eric turned to look me softly in the eyes, I I'll never know how someone can hold so much emotion in just two eyes.

"Sookie, I am afraid" I tried to hide my surprise at his words but he felt it "I have come to understand that fear is unusual for me but it does not change how I feel. And if this spell is broken it will not change how I feel about you. I love you Sookie, I don't think I have ever felt like that. I feel something that even in my memory less state I know is more powerful than anything I have ever felt. You make me happy, just being near you makes me feel complete. And I want you to promise me that if I get my memories back, that you will be with me. I can't go into this battle knowing that if we win I will lose you. I refuse to win like that. I love you Sookie and I cannot let you go, ever" His words hit me hard, I felt something deep inside me come to life and I threw myself into his arms.

"I love you too Eric" I mumbled into his shoulder, I knew it was not the time but I couldn't help it. The words he spoke were s honest that I finally understood the feelings within myself. I Sookie Stackhouse love Eric Northman.

"I hate to break up this little party but we have a war to go to" Pam interrupted, knocking on the window rather loudly. I turned to see her not so happy face staring in impatiently.

I turned back to Eric and kissed his lips briefly before we climbed from the car and followed pam and the tattooed vamp down the street.

We stopped a few houses away and wolves crept from the hedges looking at us expectantly. The house that Hallow was stationed in was dead quiet but I could feel people moving around inside. From the signatures I could tell there were at least 5 witches and several more weres, however to make the situation more complicated there were also hostages.

"Pam they have hostages" I said, pam just looked back at me "which you already knew" I looked at her, I could tell she had no plan to save those hostages "let me guess, collateral damage?" I snarled keeping my voice barely above a whisper

"There are always casualties in war Sookie" Pam stated, her face a plaster of boredom

"Right, so am I just a soon to be casualty" I hated that she was using other people's lives for her to win a conflict

"Don't be so dramatic, you know how our world works" Pam growled in a harsh whisper

"Yes I know very well" I snarled back and jumped to my feet, I didn't have much time and I still had to break in.

"Don't do anything stupid" Pam said grabbing my arm

"Nothing is more stupid then letting those hostages suffer for our mistakes" I pulled my hand away and began my ascent.

The house was dark and quiet but the brains insider were on overdrive, from the chanting I was hearing I suspected that they were doing a spell. Shit if I could hear the chanting I could be affected by their spell. This was a problem, this meant I was going in blind, I threw up my shield and crept around the back of the house, I hoped that they were all still in what I was guessing was the living room at the front of the house. I scanned the back wall looking for a way in. there were five window I could see from this angle, four were quite large but one was just small enough to fit through; that could only mean one thing; bathroom. All these industrial area houses had small windows in the bathroom since their neighbors were so close; it gave enough light to see but not enough for other to see it.

The window was a little higher than I am tall but I was able to grip the brickwork, I suspended myself using my legs to brace myself against the brick as I silently pulled the knife from my boot. I gently slid into the window lock and closed my eyes as I slid into firmly to the right.

A breath of gratefulness fell from my lips as I thanked god that the window was silent. Now I'm not a big girl but I'm too small either, I have a solid build which meant trying to fit through a window not much bigger then myself was not an easy task; especially since I had to do it without tipping off the senses of weres. Not easy at all.

Once I was final through the window I dropped to the floor, allowing my body to fold over onto itself and landing solely on my toes to ensure I was noiseless. I slowed my breathing as I crept towards the open door, weres senses were not good enough to hear my heartbeat but they would hear loud breathing if I wasn't careful. As I reached the door I leaned back against the wall. I could hear soft chants and the feeling of power was coursing through the wall of the house. I kneeled and peered out the door. The living room was alight with candles, illuminating the area with an eerie light. I could see several weres lying around lazily, but my main concern was the five standing in the middle, the magic was coming off them in waves. They stood each on the point of a pentagram, this was no play magic. Hallow stood at the top of the pentagram holding a metal bowl that reeked of the metallic stench of blood. Her eyes were closed and she was chanting in an ancient language.

To Hallows left huddled 4 terrified figures, holding candles and chanting with trembling voices. They were definitely the hostages. I needed to know what hallow was thinking if I was going to get those hostages out alive. I slowly lifted my shield and that was my mistake.

I felt a crushing pressure on my throat and Hallow's eyes popped open, smiling viciously at me.

"So nice of you to join us Sookie" She sneered, her smile reminded me that of a jackal looking apron its freshly killed prey with glee. Suddenly I could no longer control my body and I was moving towards the witches. I was trying to fight but the pressure on my throat was getting my severe and the more I fought the pull the more pressure was used. Eventually I had to stop fighting and let it take me; I was running out of air and quick.

As stopped resisting the pressure lightened and I gulped in a large breath of air, holding my hand to my throat trying to release the pressure all together. I was dropped to my knees in front of hallow and she looked down at me gleefully.

"So you're the great Sookie Stackhouse" She laughed condescendingly "you are stuff of legends and from what I see that's all they are. Stories look at you bowed down before your superiors" she laughed

"You are not my superior" I ground out, trying hard to fight the pressure as it tightened

"Whether you believe it or not, it is true, you are kneeled at my feet because of our own stupidity to take us on alone" she laughed but stopped sharply when I laughed back at her. Her eyes narrowed.

"What makes you think I'm alone" I laughed and while she was interpreting my words I just got in "COME IN!" I yelled as loud as I possibly could. Suddenly the house was engulfed in the sound of smashing windows and splintering wood and super naturals swarmed the room.

With Hallows concentration broken the pressure on my throat vanished and I jumped to my feet pulling out my knife and high-tailed it for the hostages. They had begun to scatted but I grabbed the quickly and pulled them into a tight group. The room was becoming chaos and I could see the were searching for their weapons.

"Do something, smokescreen or something to give the vamps an edge" I yelled at the hostages, they closed their eyes and began chanting softly. The room slowly began to fill with fog. I pushed them back into a corner placing myself between them and the rest of the room. I couldn't see anything, not even my own hands in front of my face but I knew I had my knife and that's all I needed.

The room had erupted in shouting and growled the sound of weapons colliding and the screaming of victims. I opened my mind and followed the voids as they attacked, I had trouble distinguishing our weres from there but I just hoped ours were missing.

"I can't do this" One of the witches screamed suddenly and slipped from my hand, disappearing into the fog. Shit.

"Stay here, do not move" I order and pulled a knife from my holster "use this if anyone attacks" I handed over the knife and took off into the fog after the fleeing witch. I didn't get far before I was almost thrown off my feet my someone running into my.

"Sookie" pam's voice echoed and I gripped her arms as she pulled me up "try to stay on your feet" she said a second before she disappeared into the chaos. I moved through the fog, searching for the witch's brain signature but instead of the witch I noticed something else; something was charging at me fast. I spun to the side pushing the creatures in my way. I turned and the void was once again focused on my.

"Well little parasite, just me and you" she snarled and gripped my arm, throwing my off my feet. I glared at where the void stood. I knew this vamp was trouble the second I introduced myself. I did the only thing I could think of, I took off into the fog, moving through the crowds of people. All of a sudden I hit something hard and closed my eyes at the pain in my nose. I placed my hand against the wall and tried to get my bearing but id dint have much time. A fist missed my head by an inch. I spun on my heel and could vaguely make out the figure in front on me. It was definitely the tattooed vamp.

I slid myself against the wall just in time to dodge another punch. He grabbed my throat holding my still.

"I won't miss this time" he snarled, even in the fog I could see his fangs shining, I had to think quickly before my brains became the new wall paper.

I reached out and gripped the original hole in the wall and pull a large splinter of wood from the wall, I felt the wood tear a gash in my flesh but I ignored it. Pull out the wood and plunging it deep into his heart.

His eyes widened with surprise and he looked down at the wood protruding from his chest before he looked back up at me and blew a sudden gust of air from his nose before his body exploded, covering me in his innards. I held my mouth closed tightly to avoid swallowing any and closed my eyes as his guts dripped down my hair and onto the floor in gooey drops.

"Covered in blood" I mumbled picking a piece of flesh from my hand "again" I huffed, I was sick of being covered in other people's blood; it was more disturbing than anyone can imagine.

I looked up to see the fog beginning to clear, various creatures stood sewn around the room some lying dead and other standing over them the victors. I noticed Pam against the wall, holding Hallow by the throat and growing viciously. I smiled a little to myself, we at least we won, even if it was messy. I stepped out of the blood and scanned the rest of the room until I caught eyes with Eric. He smiled genuinely at me and ran to me pulling me into his arms, His cold body was a welcome distraction from the fact that we were standing in a battle ground.

"You survived Sookie, I was so worried" He whispered holding me close against him

"Of course I did" I smiled up at him and he went to kiss me but I pulled away gently, I was still covered in blood "I should get cleaned up" I said offering him an apologetic smile, which he returned with pearly white reassurance.

I took in the room, we had really made a mess, the walls were painted with blood and bodies of weres laid everywhere, some dead and some wounded. I was happy to see Alcide seemingly fine helping a pack member to his feet. I nodded to him and he returned it signally that he was fine. It seemed that our side had minimal damages while all of Hallows coven had been destroyed and the corpses of her were guards laid about.

I walked towards pam and hallow, watching as the witches eyes lite with hatred as I approached.

"The feeling is mutual" I said glaring own at her, I wanted to kill her for all she had done but instead I chose to walk towards the door. I needed to get out of there, it was chaos and I had, had more than enough of chaos. As walked something by the window caught my eye. I looked over to see the body of the young witch that had run away scared, she had a large portion of her stomach missing and blood was dribbling from her mouth. I walked over to her slowing as I got closer. She looked young, no older than 16. I knelt next to her taking in her young beautiful face now tainted with lifeless eyes.

I ran my hand over her cheek, she was still warm, and I had missed her by minutes before the smoke cleared. I sat back on my heels and finally took in the room for what it really was, it wasn't a battle ground, it was a mass grave, where people died thinking they were doing what they had too. And all this death was because of the greed of one little witch bitch.

I thought back over the night we had just had, we had planned this attack out like children playing a game. We attacked people no better than ourselves and we did it for what we thought was right, we may have been protecting ours but they were just protecting theirs. This whole thing could have been avoided by a one on one between the real people at conflict here. We didn't belong here, me and the weres on either side, even the vamps to some extent; this should have been settled between the sheriff and Hallow. All this was not necessary.

I looked back at the girl in front of me, laying hopelessly on the floor, without life, she did not die for a noble cause, he death was unnecessary and a waste of what could be a potentially great future.

"I'm sorry you got involved in this" I whispered and slid the girls eyes closed slowly; I had seen it done any times in war as a sign of respect and life lost. I stood slowly and turned. My eyes fell onto my Eric, standing b Pam; staring down at the witch with a confused look in his eyes. My Eric, but he wasn't mine was he, not anymore. He may love me now and be in my charge now but what about when he comes back to himself. He will once again be the stubborn sheriff. He won't be my Eric anymore. I stopped myself on that thought. My Eric; was he ever really mine. I couldn't deny the feelings I felt for him but I was lying to myself if I thought for a second I was in love with this Eric, he was special and sweet but he was not the man I should love. I was scared going into this battle and I said things I shouldn't but I can't fall for Eric, when he gets his memories back he will regret it all, he actually said he loves me. He will shun me; perhaps even kill me for the vulnerability I have seen in him. As much as I had come to care for Eric I could not forget that he was above all a killer, a powerful, manipulating vampire with a beast waiting just under his flesh.

I looked at Eric as he looked from Pam to Hallow confused. I felt my body almost involuntarily moving backwards, stepping in between the bodies, and never taking my eyes from him. When I reached the door way I took a second to give this Eric one last look before turning and heading towards the street.

Inside the house looked like an atom bomb had exploded but outside looked pristine, nothing was disturbed and the whole was quiet, completely unaware of what had just taken place yards from their front doors.

I pulled my jacket around me tightly and started down the street, walking back towards the road we had taken from Pam's house. It took me a good 20 minutes to get to her house. In that time I had felt Eric's call to me through the bond but it was fuzzy enough for me to ignore without feeling too guilty for abandoning him. I was sure Pam could care for him, besides the threat was gone now so he was where he was meant to be.

After finding my truck and climbing in I took a moment to just breath and relax for a second. I wanted nothing more than to go home and I pulled out of Pam's driveway with that exact intent.