Disclaimer: I don't own anything but Layla and a few of the plot twists.
There was a flurry of noise from above them and Sookie jumped up with hope.
"Bill." she said, but Godric shook his head and closed his eyes.
"No. I'm here my child." he said, to someone who was obviously not Sookie or Layla. The brunette tugged half-heartedly at the torn strap of her sundress which was stained with blood and dirt from the debacle on the floor.
Eric appeared and a knot that has been in Layla's stomach unraveled. The towering blonde whispered Godric's name and took a knee before him. Layla wasn't sure how she felt about seeing him taking a subservient position, but ultimately, Godric had saved her life tonight.
"You are a fool for sending humans after me." he said.
Huh, someone else who thought Eric was a fool. Layla was already warming towards him.
"I had no other choice. These savages they...they seek to destroy you." Eric said, his voice soft and low. Layla watched him, love and adoration shimmering in his gaze and found herself wishing someone would look at her that way.
"I am aware of what they have planned." Godric said. "This one betrayed you." he said, pointing to a still unconscious Hugo.
"He's with the Fellowship." Sookie said.
"How long has it been since you fed?" Eric asked, caring more about Godric than anything else.
"I require very little blood anymore." Godric said. Alarms began to blare. "Save the humans."
"I'm not leaving your side until-"
"I can take of myself." Godric hissed, not meanly, but as a fact.
"We have to go." Sookie said. Layla found herself torn. Sure, she wanted her and Sookie out, but she also wanted Godric with them. She didn't want all of this to have been for nothing.
"Spill no blood on your way out." Godric told him. "Go."
Eric held and arm out for Sookie and Layla to pass him. He gave Godric one more look before placing a hand on Layla's back as they took the stairs up the the ground level of the church.
People were evacuating the church as they came to the top of the stairwell. Eric stepped in front of the two bruised and battered women and took in the view.
"I could have you out in seconds." Eric mumbled.
"There's kids out there." Layla reminded him, not that he probably cared.
"None of those humans would think twice about hurting us." he reminded her. Layla wanted to smack herself for the thrill down her spine at his use of the word 'us' but she decided she had been smacked around quite enough for one day.
"Why didn't you bring Bill with you?" Sookie asked.
"His attachment to you is irrational. It clouds his judgement. He would kill every child in this church to save you." Eric explained.
"Why aren't you?" she asked, throwing a pointed glance towards Layla. Eric turned his head, coolly ignoring Layla's probing gaze and looking at Sookie.
"I'm following Godric's orders and getting you out. That's all." he said.
"He's your maker isn't he?" Sookie asked.
"Don't use words you don't understand." Eric told her. Layla sighed.
"She just meant you have a lot of love for him." she explained. Eric now turned his gaze to hers.
"Don't use words I don't understand." he said, turning his face away and peaking around the corner again. Men were shouting and locking up the front doors of the church. Eric went to take a step and with a mind seemingly of it's own Layla's hand shot out to wrap around his forearm, gripping it hard through the leather of his jacket.
"Eric. No." she whispered, eyes wide, for the first time feeling absolute fear. If he went out there in some kind of self-sacrificing attempt it would fail and they would be right back where they started only with a lot less hope. Eric turned to look at her and took a step towards her, crowding her personal space. He dipped his head low, almost like he would kiss her cheek.
"Trust me." he said. Layla took a breath and relaxed her hand and let it slide off of him as he walked out into full view of the humans.
Both Layla and Sookie watched from the shadows as Eric hung his head and hunched his shoulder, employing the most hokey of southern accents.
"Hey y'all. How's it goin'?" he asked, in a voice that under normal circumstances would have had Layla rolling with laughter. "Steve sent me over to uh...man the exit here. Think I can take it from here." he said.
"By yourself?" one asked.
"Uh, yeah." Eric said.
"I mean, you're big and all but there's a Vampire on the loose." another said.
"Oh..." Eric said, as if the idea were completely foreign to him.
"Where's your stake?" one of the other men asked.
"Ugh...dang...I forgot. Maybe I can borrow yours if...if that's okay?" he asked. Layla felt her bottom lip jut out. Stripped of his pompous nature Eric had the ability to be truly adorable. She quickly bit down on the lip. Now was SO not the time to be consumed with thoughts about Eric Northman, especially since the men were now suspiciously backing away from him.
"I can't do that. Get your own." the kid said.
"I very much, would like to borrow your stake." Eric said, the accent disappearing as he glamoured the unsuspecting boy. Just as Eric went to reach for the piece of wood the boy was now offering the older man behind him raised his arm.
"Stake!" Layla shouted. Eric spun and began knocking the men aside like rag dolls finally pinning one against the wall with a stake poised at his throat. Sookie and Layla rushed forward.
"Eric, you don't have to kill him." Sookie said. Eric threw the stake down and dropped the man before going to the doors and gesturing to both women.
"Come on." he said, opening the front door only to see a swarm of people approaching.
"Those arrows are wood. You'll never make it through." the man who had almost suffered a stake through the jugular said from where he still sat on the floor.
"Eric, through the sanctuary." Layla offered. The three burst through the doors, Sookie slightly skipping to keep up with Layla and Eric's long strides.
"Where's the exit?" he asked.
"Back that way." Sookie said, pointing.
"There are several exits, actually." came a voice the bounced off the walls. Eric, Sookie and Layla stopped as they registered Steve Newlin, standing by the altar. "For you, the easiest one takes you straight to hell."
The doors behind them opened as the members of the Fellowship came in, carrying all kinds of weapons.
"Let us leave. Save yourselves. No one has to die." Sookie said, looking frantic.
"The war has begun you evil whore of Satan." Steve said. Layla wanted to move closer to Eric but forced herself to remain where she stood at his right. Steve went on, talking about how the Vampires had started this, like it were a silly fight in a schoolyard.
"The vampire you were holding got away. He's a Sheriff! He's bound to send for help." Sookie told him, but Steve looked unphased.
"We don't need Godric. Any vampire will do...and we got one right here." he said, gesturing to Eric.
"NO!" Layla shouted so loud all heads turned to look at her, except for Eric's. His face remained impassive and focused to the Reverend. Layla took a protective step in front of Eric, shaking with anger, but he put his hands on her shoulders and gently pushed her aside.
"I'll be fine." he said, but his eyes didn't agree. They looked sad and resolute. Layla looked at him, terrified. What had gotten into him? Screw Godric's plan of spilling no blood! He could have decimated the whole damn church to get away and she wouldn't have minded a bit. Layla glanced at Steve Newlin who was smiling like a jackass. She really wanted to hit him.
Eric stepped forward, away from Layla who now stood alone with Sookie while Newlin addressed the congregation.
"Brothers and Sisters, there will be a holy bonfire at dawn."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"Just as lord was betrayed by thirty pieces of silver, so can a few ounces of silver betray a child of Satan!" Steve declared as Eric lay helpless on the altar beneath silver chains which steamed where they touched his skin.
"That doesn't even make any sense!" Layla argued, struggling against the men that had held her ever since her first attempt to run and rip the chains off of him.
"How can you people listen to him?" Sookie asked, struggling herself.
"Let him go!" Layla screamed, fighting as hard as she could and growing all the more furious as she realized that in her weakened state, her hardest simply wasn't enough.
Eric made a small noise, trying to speak. Reverend Newlin turned to look down at him.
"I offer myself in exchange for Godric's freedom, and the girls' as well." Eric said. Layla shook with fear and fury.
"That's noble, but those girls are just as culpable as you are. They are traitors to their race. The human race. They hardly deserve mercy. We could use Sookie to bait more of your evil kind to justice, but the brunette serves no purpose. Maybe we should tie her to you so when the sun comes up she can roast with you. " Steve said, taking a step toward Layla who was practically snarling now.
The doors suddenly burst open.
"Sookie!" Bill yelled, running into the room. In the next moment Steve had a gun pointed at Sookie's head.
"If you shoot her, everyone here will die." Bill threatened. "Let her go, now."
"Honestly, what do they see in you?" Steve groaned. "Soldiers, some silver chains for our friend here."
"Don't! He's done nothing to you." Sookie pleaded.
"Sookie, I will be fine." Bill said.
There was a shout and then something flew through the air and hit Newlin's hand, making him drop the gun. A blonde with a paintball gun was yelling at Steve to let Sookie go. A second shot hit the Reverend square between the eyes. As some people panicked and ran back Bill ran to Sookie and Layla was released as her human chains ran for cover. The minute she was let go Layla ran up the the altar and carefully pulled the chains off of Eric, trying not to hurt him too badly in the stood and grabbed Newlin, slamming him down onto the ground.
"Eric, do NOT kill him!" Sookie said.
"Kill him!" the guy with the paintball argued. As Steve taunted Eric, daring him to create a martyr there was a noise from outside the sanctuary and all heads turned to see what it was. Layla planted her feet on the ground and Bill pushed Sookie further behind him.
It was Stan and a large group of Vampires. They started out by saying all the wrong things, the kind of things that only fueled the fire of hate the Newlins had been fostering and ended with a command to kill everyone. Eric and Layla didn't move as Vampires rushed forward, prepared to drink the blood of their enemies. Sookie was screaming at Bill to stop it while Bill simply wanted her out and to safety.
"Enough!" came a voice from the choir loft, where Godric stood on the very edge. "You came for me, I assume."
"Yes, Sheriff." Stan grumbled, his mouth still poised at the throat of a victim.
"These people have not harmed me. You see? We can co-exist. Mr. Newlin, I do not wish to create bloodshed where none is called for. Help me set an example. If we leave you in peace will you do the same?" Godric asked.
"I will not negotiate with sub-humans." Steve said flatly and Layla suddenly had the urge to kick his teeth in. "Kill me. Do it. Jesus will protect me." he said to Eric who stared down at Steve looking bored.
"I am actually older than your Jesus. I wish I could have known him, but I missed it." Godric said with a light smile. Layla felt her own lips curl up, despite the circumstances. In an instant Godric was dragging Steve to his feet. Sookie clung to Bill's side and Layla stood close to Eric, but refused to touch him, not matter how badly she wanted to.
"Good people, who of you is willing to die for this man's madness?" Godric asked.
No one moved. No one spoke. Not a single person.
"That's what I thought. Stand down everyone." he commanded. Reluctantly the Vampires released the humans.
"People, go home. It's over now." Godric said.
"Oh, thank God." Sookie whispered, dropping her head onto Bill's shoulder. Layla merely let out a breath and sat down as fatigue once again took it's toll on her body.
"I dare say my faith in humankind is stronger than yours." Godric said, dropping Newlin to the ground so close that Layla scooted away and backed into Eric's legs.
"Come." Godric said, walking past Newlin.
"Sir, after what the humans have done to you-" Stan tried.
"I said 'come'." Godric repeated. Stan stepped aside and allowed Godric to lead the way out.
"Are you okay?" Eric asked, crouching down to Layla who still sat curled at his feet. Layla scoffed.
"Me? I'm fabulous. You're the one that was strapped to an altar. I'm fine." she said with false bravado. "I'm fine, really." she added in a softer voice. "Right Sookie?" she asked, looking to the blonde who nodded. Eric stood and walked over to Sookie.
"You're sure you're okay?" he asked.
"She's fine." Bill answered, looking furious. "Go with your maker."
Eric glanced quickly at Layla and then left as the paintball guy ran up to Sookie. Layla's eyes however were trained on Eric as he walked away.
"On the day of reckoning, we'll see who goes to heaven." Steve threatened. Layla refocused in on the conversation going on behind her as she stood. The paintball guy was young, attractive and looked a lot like Sookie.
"I reckon I've already been to heaven. It was inside your wife." he said, right before he punched Newlin in the face. Layla burst into laughter.
"Jason, c'mon. You too, Layla." she said as she and Bill hurried out of the sanctuary. Layla was still giggling and turned to look at the handsome blonde.
"I like you." she said and laughed a bit more.