Living Lockdown in Louisiana
Chapter 7
Eric rocketed out of his outdoor throne at Fangtasia and into the sky, ripping a jagged hole in the black canopy that helped transform the parking lot into a den of semi-secret delights. Customers gasped when lightbulbs shattered spectacularly against the pavement and ragged bits of black canvas blew upwards into the Eric-shaped hole. Patrons were still catching their breath as the tattered fabric settled, exposing their pale-painted faces to the starry sky. Painted humans crowded around to watch the faint trail of the Sherriff's departure; a mere arcing ghost in the moonlight. It was the most excitement the vermin had seen seen in months.
Eric knew Thalia would assume his position of authority and maintain both order and the aura of mystery in the wake of his abrupt departure. The small, ancient vampire was an expert at looking bored and powerful, which is what the humans come to see.
The bond was still sizzling with shock and fear, and then safety registered. Airborne, Eric fought to understand what had transpired. Most importantly, he needed to know where to land.
Finally, his phone buzzed. It was Jason. She was with her brother. He changed course and jetted toward home.
"Hi Eric? Sookie's here with me, she's ok. You were darn right about those fairies, though."
Eric growled into the freezing wind. "Is she hurt?"
Eric could hear him turning his head to look at his sister. He could all but see her shivering on one of the folding metal chairs in Jason's small kitchen. "She has a scratch on her leg. It's bleeding quite a bit, but she'll live."
The protective Viking growled. "I'll be there in fifteen minutes."
"I'm really ok, Eric." Sookie's voice shook from the background of the call. Eric longed to fly to Bon Temps immediately, but he landed of the roof of their Shreveport home instead. His phone was a blur in his hand summoning every reinforcement he had at his disposal. Every banner, favor and loyalty was called upon. The Area was locking down its borders on every side with all haste. Eric unsheathed his sword and entered the through a door hidden inside a fake chimney.
Minerva was alerted to the master's unusual choice of entrance. "Sheriff, please indicate readiness level."
"Orange", Eric replied as he swiftly navigated the concrete hallways that housed many of the safety mechanisms. Rooms with heavy metal doors contained towers of electronics and immense steel gears. Thick cables extended into the walls from spools larger than the average SUV. The overhead lights glowed orange as he passed, and the machinery groaned as it came to life in his wake. He reached a vault door guarded by a retinal scan, and it hissed as it opened and let him into the living space. The door that closed behind could have been a simple closet.
With his newly shined and sharpened weapon at the ready, Eric stood guard over Violet's sleeping form. Her golden curls fanned peacefully over the satin pillows of her frilly bed, totally unaware and innocent. Pam appeared as silently as a ghost into the bedroom despite the heavy armor she wore and the arsenal she was carrying. Her ponytail bobbed as she nodded briefly to Eric and drew a pair of long katanas from a sheath on her back. Eric returned the gesture. He held his blade carefully away as he bent to kiss his daughter's rosy cheek. He tucked a curl behind her tiny ear and flew out of Violet's window without a word. The moment Eri'c boot cleared the sill, Pam slid aside a cute painting of teddy bears riding in a hot air balloon and pressed the red button beneath. The window snapped shut, the glass turned opaque, and thick metal shutters slid down. Giant gears and cables groaned overhead and inside the walls. A deep, lengthy hiss signaled the engagement of the heavy vault locks. She could hear it happening all over the house, sealing all points of entry above ground and below. The vents gave a gentle woosh as the circulated air safety system took over. All canned lights were extinguished, replaced with a steady crimson glow.
Minerva's voice was set to the lowest possible volume. "Fortress Mode Red activated."
Pam nodded at the camera hidden discretely in the corner. She had always admired that Eric's strategy to not merely have a panic room, but a panic house.
The vampire took up post as the foot of the sleeping girl she had grown to love so much and waited, swords held high. For once she didn't have a snarky comment to say even to herself.
"Move aside", was Eric's greeting when he materialized on Jason's doorstep.
"Hello to you, too", Jason muttered as his dead brother in law flashed by.
Sookie was fine, truly, as she said ad nauseum. "It doesn't hurt", she told Eric as he swabbed the deep cut to her calf. "Perhaps not", he retorted, "but do you remember that Maenad? Faeries have all sorts of nasty things under their fingernails. Disgusting creatures." Sookie raised her eyebrows. "Except for you and Vi, obviously."
They were all acutely aware of the havoc rent by Lochlan and Neave all those years ago, and how the wounds had festered despite constant care. The vicious scars were still evident on Sookie's skin to this day. Now she would likely have yet another permanent reminder of the ferocity of her own kind.
Eric is right, she thought, faeries are disgusting.
"That dress is pretty damn cool though", said Jason. "What is that stuff? Looks like you got a harvest evenin' floating around your legs."
"I didn't get the chance to ask exactly, but there's this thing called plasma that – "
Jason held up a hand. "Whoa there! My brain's got all the schooling it can handle. One extra thing in my ear and stuff I need might leak out the other side."
Sookie smiled. "Duly noted."
"If we're done catching up here, can you please explain what happened?" Eric snarled. Sookie did her best to recall every bit of detail from her trip while Eric listened. "So you see, they need Violet's – shit!" Sookie jumped up in shock. "We have to go home! Is she alone? They will come for her!"
Eric set his warm, large hand on her shoulder. "She's protected, lover. Pam is with her, and the emergency systems are activated. The pack is on the grounds, along with fighters from New Orleans and Baton Rouge. Arla's men are holding the south, Cleo's are holding the west, and Edgington is holding the north with the shifters. I doubt we'll face attack from the east, but the supes of Monroe are holding the line just the same."
Sookie breathed a bit easier. "So how does this play out?"
Eric shrugged. "They will attack. You say their people are sick. We will prevail."
"So we just let them come, wave after wave, and slaughter them? That in itself is terrible, but what happens if there are too many? What if they gain ground bit by bit and all we have left is our home? Will it be the Alamo?"
Eric stood up to pace. Jason was listening intently. He might not have a head for physics, but dammit if he didn't know when to expect a fight.
"It won't come to that, Sookie. Our defenses are strong." Eric's words were spoken strongly and with conviction, but the siblings could hear the underlying meaning. What they heard was, "It might."
"Can we go home, please? I'd like to see our daughter."
Eric checked his watch. "We can't get in for another twenty-four hours. The system is locked tight, but I have somewhere else in mind."
The three of them stepped outside into the balmy night. Crickets and frogs were singing their tunes and the trees rusted in the light breeze. Eric held his arms wide, and the Stackhouse siblings walked into his cold embrace.
"Hold on", he advised. With a silent explosion they flew up and away into the starry sky.
Pam's house was exactly how Sookie remembered it. Tidy and unassuming with neat hedges, the casual observer would never guess it was different from any other home in the suburban tract. Unless they happened to be looking closely late at night.
Eric landed as close to the front door as the eves would allow. He peered into the perfectly regular peep hole, and a small horizontal lazar scanned his eye. The front door hissed open in much the same manner as Eric and Sookie's door did.
"Holy Moses", Jason whispered. "sounds just the same as – "
Eric flashed away into the dark recesses of the house. Within moments, the window panes flashed to a murky white and metal shutters descended from the ceiling to cover the windows. Outwardly the windows would appear merely curtained, concealing the true level of fortification.
"Fortress Mode Beta activated."
Jason's charm found a camera to wink at. "Hello, Minerva. Fancy seeing you here." Sookie rolled her eyes.
The AI lights blinked like a chuckle, but her words were all business. "Lockdown set for twelve hours, Sheriff. Power reserve set for 60% capacity. Life support systems at 50%."
Eric strode back into the dim foyer and was comfortable enough to lay his sword on a console table. Sookie raised her eyebrows. "I know you don't need to breathe, but why is life support at half capacity?"
Eric sighed. "Only two humans are present, and the circulated air is measured for one hundred. We will only be here for twelve hours, so fifty percent is already a gross overkill. To run it at maximum would be akin to setting the thermostat to fifty degrees and leaving every door and window ajar in the bowels of summer. Such waste would be imprudent."
Jason chuckled. "Don't touch a man's thermostat, Sook."
Sookie rolled her eyes and smiled.
"Excuse me", she said, "but I must prevail upon Pam's washroom and wardrobe. I feel like a trussed-up turkey." Sookie disappeared into Pam's master suite.
Jason was confused. "Prevail upon?"
Eric took pity. "Impose? Commandeer?"
"Ah! Sure. Girl stuff." Jason looked around for the kitchen. "Do ya' think she has Stackhouse Light? Our seasonal blend would sure hit the spot." He was ignored.