Marnie cried when guards came to escort Layla out of the cell. Bill was down there, waiting for her. She crossed her arms as they walked.
"I'm sorry. I didn't realize they had put you with her. They didn't know you were to be placed with Eric and Pam." Bill said.
"I'm sorry I lied to you...sort of." Layla said. "I mean, I did what I thought was right at the time."
"You no longer believe you chose the right path?" Bill asked, signaling for his guards to leave them be.
"I was trying to protect him." Layla said. "Please tell me you understand that."
Bill was quiet for a moment. "Eric is a risk to everyone as long as he is under the necromancer's spell."
"A fucking spell didn't make him climb on top of-"
"Please." Bill interrupted, holding his hand up. He didn't want to think about it either.
"Sorry." Layla said lamely. "Look, I don't want to defend him-"
"But you're going to anyway." Bill said with a bored look on his face.
"He really is innocent right now." Layla said and Bill rolled his eyes. "I know how that sounds and look, no one hates him more right now than I do, but he is. From the moment his memory was taken he became innocent. He has no idea who he was. He didn't know my name. He didn't know about Sookie or her blood or her ties to you. He's honestly just following his heart." she explained sadly.
"Layla, please don't cry." Bill said, as tears began to slide down her cheeks.
"I'm such an idiot." she sobbed. "I should have listened to Alcide, to everyone. How many times has he hurt me? Why do I always go back?"
Bill, unable to deal with a crying woman, wrapped his arms around her and rocked her gently.
"It'll be alright." he soothed.
"No."
"It will. Soon this will all be ov-"
"I think I'm pregnant." Layla said. Bill pushed away, holding her at arms length and staring into her eyes.
"What?" he asked. "That's not possible."
"Fucking tell me about it!" Layla half-sobbed half-laughed. "I've been feeling sick for days. Marnie says my vibrations are weird, and then she connected with Godric-"
"Layla, none of this means you are pregnant." Bill told her firmly.
"Do you have a stick I can pee on?" she asked. Bill didn't move for a moment.
XXxxXXxxXXxxXX
Layla stared at the incriminating little test in front of her. She was in Bill's private bathroom off of his master suite. One of the guards had gotten the stupid test for her. she took a deep breath before walking out and showing the stick to Bill, who was waiting.
"This sucks." she said.
"It's impossible." Bill said. "How?"
"The only bit of necromancy I was there for was making a dead bird fly. I don't know if maybe some of that rubbed off on me or what." Layla said sadly.
Bill was quiet for a long moment. "You are sure it's not Alcide's?" he asked. Layla frowned at him.
"I didn't cheat on Eric, Bill. Unlike him, I have a little honor." she snapped. Bill was flabbergasted. there was another prolonged silence.
"A Vampire can not reproduce. Seeing as you are pregnant the human side of you has clearly prevailed. It is not my place to judge you. You are free to go." he said.
"But-"
"Go, Layla." Bill said. Layla nodded and went to leave but then turned back. "Don't tell him. Don't tell anybody. Please." she said. Bill nodded.
"I swear."
Layla smiled and walked out of Bill's house freely. She got as far as the graveyard before realizing that the sun was coming up and she had nowhere to go.
XXxxXXxxXXxxXX
That next night Bill watched as Eric was brought out of the house and forced to his knees on the front lawn. He did not fight.
"Your Majesty." he said.
"You understand why you're here?" Bill asked.
"I've been told that I'm under the spell of a necromancer. And I consorted with your human." Eric said.
"Sookie is not mine." Bill said, looking away.
"But you love her." Eric said.
"Irrelevant." Bill said coldly. "You are here Sheriff Northman, because I have been given orders to sentence you to the true death. You have anything to say?" Bill asked.
"According to my progeny, I was a... I am, a barbarian thug who has never respected your authority. I don't expect you to show me any mercy." Eric said.
Bill stared, seeing the innocence Layla had told him of. "Surely you don't wish to die?" Bill asked.
"No. But I don't wish to live this way either. The vampire I used to be is a stranger to me. I have nothing to say in his defense. I will accept my sentence, but I have a request." Eric told him.
"Naturally." Bill said.
"Release Pam. At the rate she's decomposing she can't be much of a threat. At least not for long." Eric said.
"What else?" Bill asked.
"Sookie." Eric said. "Tell her I was born the night she found me, and because of her I went to my true death knowing what it means to love. Tell her thank you."
"And for Layla? Does she not warrant a goodbye?" Bill asked. Eric looked at him seriously.
"Is she alive?" he asked, his throat thickening. Bill nodded.
"Of course." he told the viking. Bloody tears began to spill down Eric's cheeks.
"That's all I need to know. As long as she lives, that's enough." Eric said. "Please watch over her, sire."
Bill paused before grabbing the stake, tipped with silver and prepared to kill Eric.
XXxxXXxxXXxxXX
Layla spent the night at a motel. It was the middle of the night and she was eating pizza and watching basic cable when there was a loud knock on her door. When she answered Bill's guards were there.
"We've come to escort you to the King." they told her. Layla held out her wrists to be restrained, figuring Bill had changed his mind.
"No ma'am. I mean we will follow you to the King. You may drive your own vehicle." they told her. Layla took a breath.
"Alright." she said, going out to her car.
When she arrived at Bill's the guards disappeared. Bill was waiting for her on the front porch. Layla shoved her hands into her pockets.
"Did you kill him?" she asked, trying to prepare herself for the answer.
"No." Bill said. "I realized that, you now have nowhere to go."
Layla's eyes filled up at news that Eric was alive. She didn't know how to feel about it. Instead she shrugged in response to Bill.
"I'll land on my feet." she said. "I still have some money left."
"In your condition-"
"It's not a condition, Bill." Layla told him. "It's a baby. A baby I shouldn't be able to have."
Bill nodded. "I want you to stay here."
Layla raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
"For your protection." Bill said. "And your baby's."
"Why do I need protecting? Did you tell someone?" Layla asked.
"Layla, you yourself are a miracle. Half Vampire. Half Human." Bill explained. "Somehow you are carrying a Vampire child."
"We don't know it's a Vampire." Layla said.
"No, but the odds are against us that it will be 100% human, don't you agree?" Bill said calmly.
"Fine." Layla agreed stubbornly.
"If the Vampire community found out about this, it would either be a miracle or an abomination. Either way, it would make you a target. I would feel safer if you were under my protection." Bill explained.
"Bill, I don't know-" Layla began.
"Please understand, I am not asking you to be mine. I am not interested in you romantically and do not wish to form any relationship with you beyond that of friendship." Bill stated.
"Geez, way to kick a girl when she's down, Bill." Layla joked lamely. "This isn't a trick, is it? Honestly, Bill. I can't take much more bullshit." she said honestly.
"No trick." Bill said. Layla weighed her options. If she went out on her own there was a chance that she could remain hidden from the world and keep her baby hidden too. Then again, if anyone ever found out there would be no real way she could protect them. If Eric ever found out she would be hopelessly screwed. If she lived with Bill, she would be stuck in Bon Temps, but she would be guaranteed safety, even from Eric.
"Yes." Layla said, smiling at Bill. "I think I'd like it here." she said.
Layla held out her hand in a business-like fashion.
"Thank you, Mr. Compton."
"Oh, you are quite welcome, Miss Dahlin."
"Can we drink now?" Layla asked. "I know you have the good blood in there."
XXxxXXxxXXxxXX
Layla sat in one of Bill's armchairs as he poured them both another tumbler of blood from his private stash. They both turned at the sound of the door.
"Sheriff Petino." Bill said. "Is there something wrong?" he asked.
"I, uh. I've made a terrible mistake." the sheriff said. "I need a word, your majesty."
"Is it our prisoner?" Bill asked. The man stepped forward and Layla stood, preparing to leave.
"I was sent with a message, from Antonia Gavilán de Logroño."
"Logroño?" Bill repeated. "How is that possible?"
"All things are possible." The man then pulled out a gun and shot Bill in the stomach. Layla screamed as the Sheriff dove for what looked like a stake.
"Bill!" Layla screamed. Bill shot the man and the stake fell from his hands, Layla grabbed it quickly and Bill climbed on top of the other Vampire, pinning him down. Layla quickly gave the stake to Bill who pressed it against the traitor's heart.
"What is your business with Antonia?" he asked, but the vampire remained silent. "Where is she? Answer me?" Bill demanded, pressing the stake further into the Vampire's skin. Shockingly, the Vampire reached up and pressed the stake in himself, effectively committing suicide, before whispering something to Bill.
"So much for it being safer here." Layla muttered to herself, and Bill turned to stare at her.
XXxxXXxxXXxxXX
Jessica came over as soon as Bill called and he gathered both women into his bedroom to privately brief them on the situation.
"Who's Antonia Gavilán de Logroño?" Jessica asked.
"She was the only human ever known to wield power over Vampires." Bill explained.
"Uhm, was?" Layla asked, pointing to the blood on her shoes from the puddle of dead vamp downstairs.
"She died four hundred years ago." Bill said. Layla and Jessica sank down beside each other on the seat beside Bill's bed. "During the Spanish Inquisition, Vampires exploited the chaos, by satiating their appetites for blood and for lust. One of their victims was Antonia. She was a powerful necromancer. She could control the dead and as she burnt upon the stake she cast a spell that drew all the Vampires of Logroño, out into the sun."
"Holy fuck." Jessica breathed. "For real?"
"I thought she was lost to the past. A cautionary lesson from our history. But I could see her influence on Luis. I felt it. She's returned." Bill said.
"You mean like a ghost?" Jessica asked.
"You mean possession." Layla said, her face serious.
"No way." Jessica said, shocked, looking at Layla, then at Bill.
"There's a witch we've been keeping an eye on. She's harmless on her own but somehow, Antonia has inhabited Marnie's body and now that Antonia has a human host, well, you can see the result." Bill said, pointing to the blood-soaked shirt Jessica was holding.
"Well, why would Antonia want to kill you?" the redhead asked.
"No, not just me. Luis promised resurrection. I believe that she wants to make all Vampires meet the sun. Finish what she started in 1610." Bill explained.
"That's insane." Layla said, horrified.
"There are millions of vampires." Jessica argued.
"Since when has any fanatic been held back by the improbability of their righteous mission?" Bill asked.
"Ok, fair point." Layla agreed.
"Well, as I sure as hell don't want to fry in the sun." Jessica said. "What do we do?"
XXxxXXxxXXxxXX
Layla was not at all happy with the plan. All Vampires were ordered to leave the state. All those who elected to stay would be bound with silver in their coffins to painfully brace themselves against the resurrection. Being only half-vampire and with silver barely affecting her system and sunlight becoming part of her routine, Layla did not have much to fear. In fact, she was going to be one of the people standing between the witches and the vampires.
Layla was walking up the road with Bill, heading towards her...Sookie's house. Bill had offered to get her things for her while he was there informing Eric and Sookie about Antonia's plans, but Layla needed to see for herself that Eric was alright. Damn it all if she wasn't still worried about him.
"Layla, are you sure?" Bill asked again as they walked up onto the porch.
"Yes. I even promise not to kill Sookie." Layla said with a forced smile.
Bill knocked and Sookie answered.
"Oh, hi." she said.
"May we come in?" Bill asked. Sookie looked at Layla.
"Are you gonna hit me again?" Sookie asked. Layla rolled her eyes.
"Looks to me like you healed up just fine, princess. But for your peace of fucked up mind, no. I'm just here to get my things." Layla said caustically. Sookie looked annoyed but let them in anyway. Eric walked around the corner in jeans and a flannel, looking heartbreakingly beautiful, and Layla knew it, cause her heart broke when she saw him.
"Your majesty." he said reverently. "Hello Layla." he said, offering up a small smile which was not returned.
"I don't know why you let Eric go, I'm not sure I want to know," Sookie was saying. Bill and Layla exchanged a glance. "But I'm glad you did."
"It appears the reunion was happy one?" Bill asked diplomatically.
"Yes. Very much so." Eric said.
"Eric, shush." Sookie said.
"So," Layla said shakily. "You're okay, right?" she said, wanting nothing more than to rush over and hold the viking close to her.
"I'm wonderful. Thank you." he said, flashing her a genuine smile that took the pieces of her broken heart and put them through a meat grinder. Layla nodded and raced upstairs to get her things.
When Layla came back down stairs she had composed herself and had majority of her clothes shoved into her suitcase. Bill was explaining the silvering to Eric and Sookie.
"I will be going home where Jessica and I will be doing the same thing." Bill said.
"What about Layla?" Sookie asked.
"She-"
"I'm only half-Vampire." Layla said, interrupting Bill to speak for herself. "Even if the curse affects me, I won't burn in the sunlight."
"You are half-Vampire?" Eric asked, looking stunned.
"Yeah." Layla said sharply. Bill, graciously left the room for a moment to let Layla speak her piece. Layla took a few steps further into the living room, her hands balled into fists at her side. She was taking deep breaths through her nose and trying hard to keep calm.
"Sookie." she said. "I know it seems barbaric to silver him, but please do it. It'll hurt him like hell but he will heal. Don't be shy with them either, he's one of the strongest Vampires around, one little silver chain isn't going to hold him. I am begging you, if you care for him at all, protect him from this." Layla said, before turning and grabbing her luggage and following Bill back to his house.
XXxxXXxxXXxxXX
Layla was sitting on the front porch, like she had been all afternoon, when suddenly a strong wind kicked up... the kind of wind you knew wasn't just wind. It was the spell. She knew Sookie would watch over Eric. Bill had guards and silver bars and chains. Eric only had Sookie and chains. Fairy light crap wouldn't stop him from knocking her on her ass. It was too much of a risk. She dropped the book she had been pretending to read all afternoon and sprinted to Sookie's house. Inside she could hear Eric roaring from his cubby and Sookie trying to reason with him. Layla slammed shut the cabinet doors that hid the ladder and pressed her back against them. Even if he got through Sookie, no way was he going through her. Thousand year old Vampire or not, she would keep him safe whether he liked it or not.