Disclaimer*** No copyright infringement intended. These characters are exclusive property of Charlaine Harris, Alan Ball and HBO.
It had been easier to get back inside the Authority Headquarters than Eric expected. Apparently, their act of playing along had been so convincing that the guards didn't even bat an eye at their return with Bill's progeny and "prisoners" in tow. Entering through the garage put them again by cells holding the humans. Much to Sookie's dismay, Sam was no longer being held there. Eric wasn't too keen on playing where's the shifter... he had his sister and his progeny to save... but he waited anyway for Bill to question the guard.
"You, where is the human?" Bill demanded of the guard, recognizing him as the one he had instructed to keep the shifter alive until their return.
"I... I don't know, sir," The guard stammered, clearly afraid. "He was here before, we didn't take him anywhere."
Eric's patience was thinning, he had very little use for humans, and just as little use for weak vampires. Their plan was to take over the Authority, might as well start now... In the blink of an eye, the three guards in the area were nothing more than piles of goo.
Earning a gasp from Sookie and a dirty look from Bill, Eric shrugged in response. "Isn't this the plan? Get in, get out while eliminating any vampires in our way?"
"Damn right it is," Jason chimed in, guns in hand. Eric was not surprised that Sookie's brother was so ready to kill vampires, it appeared not much had changed from his days with the Fellowship of the Sun. Not that it mattered much to Eric, Jason would be useful, as long as he didn't set his sights on Eric.
"Bill, where's Sam? We have to find Sam!" There was panic in her voice as Sookie searched the faces of the frightened humans... as though she could will the shifter into existence by looking for him.
"We will find him, Sookie, do not worry," Bill tried to reassure her, his hands on her shoulders. He looked toward Eric then, giving him a nod. Finally... Eric thought, they were going to get moving.
"You stay with Jason and Jessica, go and release Pam. She should be held in more holding cells down that corridor," Bill pointed her in the right direction, "Eric and I will head to main security. We will find Sam."
She was going to protest, Eric could see it. Humans and their attachments, and a shifter no less. This place was far too dangerous to be worrying about the life of a shifter, they were almost more irritating than werewolves.
"Get Pam out and meet us back outside like we planned. We will find your shifter friend. Do not come after us, you will only get in the way." Eric stepped closer to Sookie as he spoke, his eyes intent on hers as he wished yet again that she was susceptible to glamour. Time and again he had found Sookie had quite the knack for getting herself in trouble, especially when she refused to listen..
To his surprise, after she glanced at Bill, she nodded her agreement and turned towards the hallway Bill had directed them to. Satisfied that they were listening, he sped off in the other direction without even checking that Bill was following. They didn't come across more than a handful of guards on their way and they were all dealt with swiftly and quietly.
Eric hated to admit it, but Bill had continued to impress him. Eric had reluctantly begun to respect Bill more as he dealt with the witch situation, and then Nan Flanagan. When they were taken by the Authority, Eric knew they would only survive if they worked together, and he had not been let down by the younger vampire. Eric was even willing to concede that Bill had played along far better than he when it came to convincing the Authority that they were on board with the 'new' plan. Not that Eric had any particular fondness for humans, but they were out of the coffin now, and things had been quite profitable since the revelation.
He had been taken aback by the effects of the blood they had been given. Eric still questioned if it was truly vampire blood. He had found it very easy to get lost in the violence and power of it all, until Godric snapped him out of it. If it weren't for his maker's eerie appearance, Eric knew that he very well could have been on the wrong side of this fight, beside his sister, Nora. How was he going to get through to her? He had a feeling that tonight wasn't going to be the night. He'd have to get her out of the Authority first and then find some way to convince her that she was wrong. They were out in the open now, that makes it too late for an all out war on humans. Despite their superior strength, speed and pretty much everything, they were still vulnerable. He had seen over the years that humans, once they set their minds to it, are very proficient at killing.
Thanks to Bill's closeness with Salome, he had been given access codes for the security room, and unlike many old vampires, he was quite skilled with the technology. In a matter of seconds Pam appeared on the screen in her holding cell, her face bored and her arms folded across her chest. Eric watched as the others approached her and Bill pulled up another screen. To Eric's dismay, Salome was on screen with Nora in her quarters... but they didn't appear to be having a friendly conversation. Nora was on her knees before Salome, her face streaked with tears of blood, This can't be good, he thought before looking up at Bill.
Several more locations popped up on the screen, empty areas throughout the Authority, the main room with some sort of mess in front of the doors leading to the ceremonial chamber, a room that Eric hadn't seen before where a very bloody and oddly naked Sam Merlotte was carrying a dark haired woman wearing a suit. Eric was a bit perplexed at what he saw, but his concern for Nora had him pushing aside any interest in figuring out what was going on.
"There's Sam, we need to get to him and tell him how to get out of here."
"You go ahead, I'm going to get Nora."
"Wait.. we should go together if we're going to face Salome. I know where Sam is. It's on the way." Bill reassured him, as he continued to work the controls on the security feed. Pam was out of the cell by now, and appeared to be arguing with Sookie.
Just great, Eric thought... they were wasting time. "Jason, get them out of there," Eric spoke into the walkie talkies that had been added to the bags of weapons. He watched as they continued to disagree, "We found Sam, we'll get him. Now Go!"
Eric needed to get to Nora, something bad was happening between her and Salome. He could feel it. Before he could speak, to urge Bill on, Bill turned towards the door and was heading out of the room. Eric followed closely behind him as they made their way through the Authority, down a hallway that Eric didn't recognize. Bill pushed through a set of double doors and they nearly collided with Sam. He appeared to be covered in vampire... Eric had no desire to ponder the how or why of that further. His concern for Nora was growing stronger as the seconds ticked by.
"Bill, thank God, you gotta help us get out of here." Sam was out of breath from carrying the woman that they had seen in the holding cells with him. She looked nearly dead.
"There is help waiting for you, go back down this hallway..." Bill explained to Sam the quickest route to get out of the building to where Sookie and the others should be waiting. Eric still wasn't quite sure why they were wasting their time with a shifter... although it was important to Sookie and he knew Sookie could motivate Bill to do damn near anything. Thankfully, Bill remained brief and Sam was heading back the way they had come within moments and they could continue on their way to Nora.
They had to cross through the main chamber to get to the rest of the corridors, the room smelled strongly of blood... the mess they had seen on the monitor.
Bill stepped closer to the doors leading to the room that held the vial of Lilith blood. He knelt down, lifting a strip of fabric from the gooey mess. "I think this was Kibwe."
"I think this was, too." Eric agreed, pointing out another splatter on the wall. He kept walking, about to zip off at full speed to get to Nora when the look on Bill's face made him pause. He was eyeing the ceremonial doors and before Eric could blink, they were open and Bill was standing before the box containing the vial of blood.
"Bill... come on, we need to go."
"You go, I'll be right behind you."
Eric hesitated, he wasn't sure if he could trust that Bill wouldn't do something stupid, like fall back under the influence of that damn blood... whatever it was, but he also knew that Nora wouldn't be long for this world if he didn't reach her soon. He studied Bill for a matter of seconds, as Bill seemed to be studying the vial, an unreadable look on his face.
"Don't do something stupid," Eric said before disappearing down the hall, his decision made. Nora was too important and Bill... well, he'd find out soon enough if Bill could be trusted.
He arrived to Salome's chambers in what appeared to be just enough time. Nora remained kneeling before Salome just like he had seen on the security feet, blood tears stained her cheeks as she prayed quietly, her head down. Her vibrant blue gown was also streaked with blood. Salome held an ornate stake high above her head. Eric's fangs came out of their own volition and with a roar he shoved Salome out of the way. In her surprise at his intrusion, the stake went sailing out of her hands, bouncing off the raised bed, with Salome protesting from where she had landed next to the beaded curtains. A fire crackled in the fireplace beside her bed, that coupled with the lit candles tossed moving shadows around the room.
Eric pulled Nora to her feet, a stunned look on her face. It took her a moment to recognize Eric and meet his eyes. He couldn't stop himself from shaking her, trying to get her attention, anything to break through the glazed look in her eyes.
"Nora... Nora!" She was looking at him, but it wasn't her... she was still mumbling some sort of prayer, her hands were clasped so tightly over some object that blood was running from her hands, small rivers of red trailing down the white flesh of her arms.
"How dare you!" Salome spoke as she regained her composure, suddenly next to Eric with her hands on Nora as well, trying to pull her away from Eric.
"I won't let you harm her."
"It is not harm, Nora wants this... she is to be sacrificed for Lilith, she believed she was the chosen one, but she now realizes it was simply a test." Salome reached up to stroke Nora's cheek, "Isn't that right, my darling, it was a test of your devotion and this will prove it to Lilith."
"Yes, I must be sacrificed, it's the only way." Nora spoke as if she were a robot, her voice empty. It only served to make Eric more angry. He couldn't stop the snarl that escaped from his lips.
"I don't care what you say or what you believe. She's coming with me." He knocked Salome's hands off of Nora. "You will not touch her again."
"Do you really think that I would let you just walk out of here? That Lilith would allow you to just walk out of here?" Salome took a step back as she spoke, a small smile curving her lips. "Lilith will get what she wants and those who do not believe will pay the price."
Nora just watched, her face still without any hint of recognition. Breaking her from this was going to be no easy task, but Eric knew he could worry about that later. For now, he had to find a way to get out of there. Where the hell was Bill?
x
x
Bill stood in front of the box, mesmerized by the vial of blood. He hardly noticed when Eric vanished down the hallway. His words 'don't do something stupid' echoed through Bill's mind at war with another whisper... a whisper telling him he was chosen. He still wasn't sure he knew exactly what that meant, and in the past, his being chosen by a supernaturally powerful woman hadn't worked out so well. Lorena had destroyed his life, had led him down a path that would always plague him, guilt him for the things he had done forever. Would this be any different?
Bill studied the vial that held the blood, ornate in it's design, what was meant to be the vessel for the sacred blood. The gold intricately wrapped around the spun glass reminded him of one other woman who had chosen him... who loved him no matter what he had done. He tried to shake off the old feelings that had been creeping up since arriving back in the authority.
He could feel the seconds ticking by, there wasn't time... he needed to do what they had come here to do. Bill made his decision, lifting the vial from it's case, watching the light shine through the deep red blood. This was going to be the only way... there was no other choice. He left the room quickly, the clear door ajar as he sped down the hallways to where Eric had gone to try and rescue his sister. Bill knew how powerful her belief was, he didn't have much hope that Eric would be able to save her, but he couldn't blame him for trying.
It was hard to predict exactly what was going to happen with Salome. Bill had a suspicion that he wasn't the only "chosen" one. Not with Kibwe splattered across the floor, or Nora on her knees before Salome on the security feed. Somehow, something-whatever this blood truly was, was playing a game with them. The only wildcard left was Rosalyn, Bill hadn't seen her when they quickly scanned the rest of the camera feeds. Knowing Salome, had Rosalyn also felt she was the chosen one, she was likely a pile of goo somewhere in the building.
While it made their job easier, in that the authority had managed to take itself out, that still left Salome... and possibly Nora if Eric wasn't able to sway her. Bill arrived at Salome's quarters, stopping just outside the door. The element of surprise was all he had at the moment. His mind racing as he listed to the conversation taking place, how could he get the upper hand?
"Lilith will get what she wants and those who do not believe will pay the price." He heard Salome say.
"There is no Lilith, we don't care what you say. I'm going and Nora is coming with me." Eric's voice was hard and cold, hiding what Bill knew were significant feelings of concern and love for his sister. He and Eric may not always get along, but Bill did know that there was more to Eric than he let on, at least when it came to family.
"Salome, my treasure," Bill stepped into the room before Salome could continue to argue with Eric. "Why are you even wasting time on these two?"
"Nora is trying to take this away from me, to take Lilith from me."
"But Lilith has chosen you, no one can take that away from you... She appeared to me as well... she told me that you were the chosen one, that I was meant to serve you." He said slowly, inching forward and trying to draw her attention away from Eric and Nora.
"I am chosen," She agreed, a small smile forming on her lips as Bill held out a hand to her.
"They are of no consequence... not anymore." he kissed the back of her hand, bowing slightly. He continued to hold her hand, turning her away from where Eric held Nora. Bill could see that Nora was still under the hold of Salome or Lilith or whatever the hell this was, but Eric could deal with that once he got her out of the Authority.
"Yes... they are nothing to us. Those who do not believe will be met with the true death." she nodded at Bill... waving a dismissing hand towards Eric and Nora.
"Certainly, my goddess." Bill again bowed his head before retrieving the stake from where it had landed on the floor. " I will take care of it at once."
Bill advanced towards Eric and Nora. The fight seemed to have gone out of Nora, just like they had seen on the security video, she was resigned to her fate as some sort of sacrifice. Eric clutched her hand tightly, his jaw clenched in anger.
"Don't do this Bill," he said stepping back towards the door, fear mixed with anger in his eyes. "This isn't you, it's the blood talking."
"You have left her no choice, Eric." Bill hoped Eric realized he hadn't gone insane and that this was simply a way to get them away from Salome. Although, Eric being angry and afraid would play well for Salome, as long as Eric didn't wage some sort of attack on Bill.
"This won't take long... and then, my darling, you can see what it means to be truly chosen." Bill held up the ornate vial he had pocketed in the ceremonial chamber, holding it out towards Salome.
"Yes... it is time, isn't it?" Salome smiled in wonder as she spoke, reaching for the vial, her eyes alight with the excitement of being Lilith's chosen one.
Bill grabbed Eric's arm, not all that gently, and stepped with him and Nora towards the door.
"Wait," Salome's voice rang out... shit! Bill thought... they were so close, his eyes met Eric's, hoping he was ready to run. "My Nora," She was suddenly in front of Nora," I could not have done this without you. You shall be rewarded."
Salome placed a kiss on each of Nora's cheeks, laying a hand gently on her face before turning her back to them. "Take them to the next room and do it, I no longer wish to have the sacrifice made in my chambers."
"Yes, my goddess.. I shall then return to serve you as you become one with Lilith."
He tugged on Eric's shoulder, pulling him out of the room, Nora in tow thanks to Eric's grip on her arms.
"Please... do it now... end this suffering. I am not worthy of the goddess, I must be sacrificed." Nora pleaded as they moved down the hallway.
"Soon enough, my sister... Soon enough."
Bill let go of Eric once they were out of sight of Salome's chambers. He gave Eric a nod, that said take Nora and get out of here. Nora continued to babble on about Lilith and sacrifices, her head bowed as she ignored Bill and Eric.
"What about you?" Eric asked quietly, was that a hint of concern on his face? Bill almost couldn't believe it... although they had needed to depend on each other quite a lot during this last what... barely a week?
"I need to make sure it's done. Get her out, get the rest of them out. Don't wait for me."
Eric paused, meeting Bill's eyes before he lifted Nora into his arms and vanished down the hall. This is it, do or die... Bill turned back towards Salome's room. Was this really almost over? He could only hope so... just as he could only hope that he, too, would soon be on his way out of here. Sookie was out there, waiting for him. He didn't want to disappoint her, not when they had just begun. He steeled his resolve, the stake still in hand... and made his was back toward Salome.
Her back was to him as he re-entered her room, she had changed into a long white gown and stood facing the fire, the vial of blood clutched to her chest. She heard him enter and turned slightly with a smile upon her lips.
"It is finally time. We have been waiting centuries for this all to fall in place."
Bill remained somber as she moved towards him, hoping she would mistake it for reverence and subservience. He just needed her to drink the blood... if she drank it this would finally be over.
"Lilith has shown me the way, that you are to lead us into a new age. I am here to serve only you."
"I know you wanted this for yourself," She said with a pitying look on her face, "But there can be only one who is chosen."
Bill looked appropriately dejected... but not for the reasons Salome expected. He was again reminded of Lorena, she and Salome were far more alike than Bill cared for. Although, he at least had more freedom when it came to Salome. She would be able to overpower him easily should it come to a physical alteration, but he was thankful to not be tethered to her the way he had been with Lorena. In addition, her interest in him, while not as obsessive as Lorena, had given him just the opportunity he needed to bring her the true death.
"I can only trust that Lilith has made the right decision." He told her as she lifted the vial. She held it up to the light, much as he had done in the sacred chamber. She removed the top from the bottle and closing her eyes, she put it to her lips.
Bill watched as she drained every last drop of blood, unable to stop the smile of satisfaction as she drank. He had hoped that Salome wouldn't have any doubts, that in her arrogance, she wouldn't even suspect that something was wrong.
It didn't take long for her eyes to pop open, a stricken look on her face. Bill had no idea what would happen to the vampire who truly drank the full vial as the ghostly voice had commanded, and he wasn't sure if Salome knew either. But as she began to cough and gag, she realized that this wasn't it.
"What..." She managed between coughs, blood gathering at the corners of her mouth, "What have you done?"
She stumbled towards him, he side stepped easily as she fell to her knees.
"Colloidal silver... I knew you would be too pre-occupied with your own arrogance to smell it in the blood." He stood over her, disturbed to watch her suffer, yet at the same time almost glad to know that this would finally be over.
"You... how could you... taint the sacred blood?" she cried, unable to find the strength to get back up.
"I haven't," he said as he pulled a smaller glass vial out of his pocket and holding it up for her to see. Bill wasn't sure why he hadn't just added the silver to whatever blood was already in the vial, but something held him back. Maybe it was the uncertainty of what it was and what it would do to Salome. If it truly was more powerful than he knew, maybe the silver wouldn't work within it... or maybe there was something else that compelled him to save the sacred blood. It could still be his if he wanted it, he could be the chosen one.
Bill shook his head as if to clear it, unhappy with the path his thoughts had taken as he held the vial of untainted blood. It wasn't what he wanted, he would remember that more completely once he got out of this place. He turned his attention back to Salome who was writhing in agony on the floor. It was time for this to end. He knelt over her, the vial back in his pocket, the stake over her chest.
Salome stopped struggling, blood dripping from her mouth and red tears collecting in her eyes. She looked up at Bill, her dark eyes full of resignation. She reached for him, touching his cheek with the last of her effort before dropping both arms to the floor, opening herself for him.
"Lilith chose wisely." Her final words as Bill pushed the stake into her chest. Blood fountained up from her mouth as she dissolved into the mess of blood the signifies the true death. As the pool of blood spread, he could feel the wetness seeping into his pant legs from where he knelt on the floor. Bill could only stare at his hands and the bloody stake they held as Salome's words echoed in his head... Lilith chose wisely... but had she?
x
x
Sookie was so glad to see Sam, even a blood covered naked Sam... well, naked Sam definitely had it's appeal... but the blood covered part was much less pleasant. He carried Luna in his arms and had caught up to them just as they reached the holding area with all of the other captive humans. Sookie didn't want to jinx them, but it had been a lot easier to find Pam and free her than she had expected. The hard part was fighting the urge to go the other way... the way Bill and Eric had gone, farther into the Authority.
"Sam, oh my God! What happened to you?" Sookie asked, rushing over to help him with an unconscious Luna. "What happened to Luna? Is she okay?"
"I don't know, she's breathing, but I can't get her to wake up." He said, his eyes shifting, searching as if he was on high alert. Sookie could see the panic and worry in his face, "We need to get out of here."
"It's okay, Sam, we are getting out of here, we've got a car right outside, everything is going to be okay." She tried her best to reassure him as Jessica reached for Luna. They both could see that Sam wasn't doing too well either. What had he been through? Sookie wondered as she searched the area around them.
Sookie found a stack of what looked to be blue track suits in a cubby off to one side in the holding area and tossed a pair at Sam. Sookie had a moment of curiosity, why on earth did vampires have a closet full of matching track suits? The thought left almost as quickly as it came, since they had bigger things to deal with.
"Pam, can you open those cells? We have to let these people go." Sookie said, glancing down the hallway that Bill and Eric had vanished down just a short time ago. Where were they? She knew they had told her to get Pam and get out, but Sookie couldn't help but worry.
"Why?" Pam asked a bored look on her face, which somehow didn't surprise Sookie. Pam had barely managed to issue a thank you when they had found her and opened her cell. "We should be helping Eric, not some stupid humans."
"Eric and Bill will be just behind us, they told us to get out. This is the plan." Sookie explained again, even though she herself had a hard time not giving in to the urge to run after Bill.
Pam muttered something under her breath that Sookie didn't quite catch, but she reached for the bars and with a swift pull, she took the cell door from it's hinges. The people continued to cower in the cell, Sookie trying her hardest to block out their panicking thoughts.
"It's okay, we're here to help you," Sookie said, reaching a hand out for the nearest person. It was a young woman, scraggly brown hair falling in her face, bruises colored her shoulder and arm, she reached out a shaking hand and allowed Sookie to help her to her feet. "Come on now, we don't have much time."
Jason remained standing guard at the door leading them out to the garage. He was quite a formidable presence dressed in a black combat vest, a black knit cap and yellow tinted glasses... the two guns he held didn't hurt the image either. Sam seemed a bit stronger now that he had some clothes on, taking Luna back from Jessica. He held her close, her eyes were still shut and she was limp. Sookie couldn't help but wonder what exactly had gone on before they arrived... why is Luna wearing an ill fitting suit? Jessica continued to watch the hallways for any signs of more guards, but now she stepped into the cell behind Sookie.
"It's gonna be all right, everything is fine," She said gently as she, too, started helping up the naked and terrified people. Once they seemed to believe that Sookie and the others truly meant to help them, they gained more confidence and started moving with purpose.
Some made an effort to grab for clothing from the stacks that Sookie had found, others seemed more inclined to just run, shooting out the door past Jason without even looking for something to cover themselves with.
From what Sookie could tell on the way in, they were somewhere in the center of the city, an almost residential area. They shouldn't need to go far to find help. None of them appeared so injured that they could not walk on their own, but Sookie did notice plenty of bumps and bruises, making the horrors of this place all too real. It also gave Sookie an even greater sense of urgency, they needed to get out of here... all of them.
She couldn't help but glance down the hallway one more time, hoping for a glimpse of Bill and Eric... this needed to be over... so they could all go back to living their lives in Bon Temps. No more New Orleans... no more Authority... just her and Bill, well, at least until the next problem showed up.
"Happy now?" Pam asked, her arms crossed over her chest as the last of humans scurried out the door.
"Sam, you and Jason should get Luna loaded up in the truck, we've got to get her some help."
"I'm not leaving without Eric."
"You heard him on the radio, we're supposed to go, they'll meet us outside." Jessica said, trying to talk some sense into Pam... knowing that none of them would be any match for her physically.
"I don't care."
"You know it's not safe for us to just be standing around here, they won't be long, I'm sure of it... we need to get out of here." Sookie took a step towards Pam, hating the words she was saying, every fiber of her being was screaming at her to go find Bill... what if something happened to him before he could come back out. Sookie was fighting with herself. She knew she should be listening to Bill. He had done what he had said- he said they would get Sam out, and then once the rest of the Authority was taken care of, he'd be out too.
"Then go, I'll stay behind," Pam's fangs shot out, "I'm... not... leaving."
"You always were a stubborn one." Eric said, almost out of nowhere. He held a dark haired woman in his arms. She was staring off glassy eyed into nothing, mumbling something about chosen one and Lilith and prayer, Sookie wasn't sure what to think.
"Eric!" Pam was next to him in an instant.
"Lets go," He said sternly, walking past Sookie and Jessica.
"Wait, where's... Where's Bill?" Sookie asked staring down the hallway behind him as if she looked hard enough, she could make him appear.
"He's dealing with what's left of the authority. I'm sure he'll be along soon." Eric said, pausing in the doorway that led them outside.
"What do you mean dealing with what's left? You just left him behind?" Sookie was mad now, here she thought Eric and Bill were after the same thing when they decided to return to the Authority, but all Eric cared about was Pam and the woman he was holding, who Sookie guessed was Nora. "I should have known... all you care about is you."
Sookie knew she shouldn't, she knew it was dangerous, but she couldn't stop herself, she took off running in the direction she had seen Bill and Eric go and prayed that she wouldn't get lost. She didn't make it far before she felt the air move around her, unable to stop the yelp that escaped her lips when strong arms grabbed her from behind.
"No, let me go... I have to find him," She yelled, struggled against the hands holding her. She knew it was Eric before he spoke.
"Sookie, Bill is the one that sent us out of there. He gave us the chance to get away." She stopped her struggle as the words sank in. "I didn't leave him behind."
He met her gaze and for a split second she could have sworn she saw something akin to remorse in his eyes, his arms falling to his sides as he let her go. Was he really concerned about Bill?
"What was happening? Shouldn't he be out by now?"
"He was dealing with one last vampire, he should be fine," Eric said, with a shrug, his face an unreadable mask... although he didn't sound as convinced as he was trying to look.
"Something isn't right, he should be here by now. I have to help him." She turned and started making her way down the corridor, hoping she'd manage to find the right way. She had to find Bill, he was far too important and she just couldn't live her life without him in it. She had been trying to stick with the plan, trying to trust that he would make his way back to her, but it was almost like she could feel something was wrong. It was taking too long, there were too many dangers in this place.
Maybe it was because of the cell full of people, captured like cattle... or it was knowing just a fraction of the things that had happened already in this building, but being here definitely gave Sookie the creeps. Almost like she could feel the darkness pulling at her, draining her... she needed Bill and then she needed to get out of this place. They all did.
"No," Eric said, grabbing her by the arm. She was ready to protest, already jerking her arm out of his hand when he held fast, pulling her," It's this way."
Instead of dragging her back the way they had come he led her down a different hall... he was actually helping her. Sookie didn't quite know what to make of that... Eric has not been the Eric she had come to know as of late. Before all of this occurred with the Authority, Sookie would have never believed he cared about anybody but himself... well, maybe Godric... She still didn't quite trust it, but if he was going to help make sure they all got out of here alive, she wasn't going to argue.
He moved swiftly, Sookie running to keep up. She didn't have much time to take in her surroundings, but she was surprised with how ornate and old fashioned a lot of this building was. From the outside it looked like a normal big fancy house... but the inside almost looked temple like in places. Sookie had to keep herself from panicking the few times they passed by what looked like vampire remains... it's not Bill... Bill is fine she kept telling herself over and over. She was so focused on thinking positive thoughts, she almost collided with Eric as he came to a stop outside of a doorway.
A pool of goopy blood caught her eye first, catching her heart in her throat as she looked into the room... no... no... she was finally able to lift her eyes from the blood and almost fainted with relief. It was Bill... he was alive, he was fine... he was standing in front of the fireplace, his back mostly to them. She could see he was holding something in his hands, something small... it glinted red in the firelight as Sookie tried to figure out what it was. Bill was staring at it so intently, he didn't even seem to notice them in the doorway.
"Bill?"
