Chapter 18 is finally here. I apologize with the delay but life and work have my focus shifted some. I hope you all enjoy. Thank you for reading and let me know what you think.
Eric and I arrived at my house late in the evening, I heard from Sookie that she, Jason, and Bill arrived late yesterday afternoon. I yawned tiredly as I got out of his car while digging in my purse for my keys. I felt Eric's hand rest at the small of my back as we walked up to my porch "Are you staying for a bit?" I asked opening the door and quickly turn off the alarm.
"I must go to Fangtasia and make sure I still have my bar. I can only trust Pam to be alone for so long." He joked. "And you my dear are practically dead on your feet time for bed."
"I'm noooot tired." I tried to hide the yawn but Eric shot me a knowing look before point up the stairs.
"Bed!" He then began to push me up the stairs. "I will see you tomorrow min lilla an." Eric started to pull away about to leave my room but I grabbed his hand.
"What are we now?" I asked holding his hand keeping my eyes down casted.
"You are mine." He answered placing a cold hand on my cheek.
"Does that make you mine as well? And what does that mean exactly mine? Is it like boyfriend girlfriend? " I had to ask, I was unsure of how this claiming thing worked and it made me insecure of what to call us.
Eric grinned impishly before he pushed me down on the bed before knelling in front of me. "Well vampire and human relations are something different. We are more protective of what is ours. We have a deeper bond." His hands ran down the outside of my legs stopping at the top of my boots "The blood we have shared will connect us and we will feel things stronger and faster than what you have perceived as normal before." His finger started to loosen the laces and he slowly pulled them from my feet. "Now what's next?" He teased eyeing me like prey, "OH that's right." Eric pushed me back gently as his fingers hooked in the waist band of my pants: it wasn't long before I heard the sound of my zipper coming on done and it was even less time before I felt a cold breeze kiss the skin of my legs.
A giggle escaped my lips when Eric straddled me. "I thought you had to get back to Fangtasia?" My fingers commenced to fiddle with the zipper of his leather jacket.
"I can spare a few more minutes, I'm sure Pam is do a great job." He muttered as he came closer to my lips. "Besides I'll miss having you sleep next to me, so I need something to tide me over." I let out a squeal as we kissed. My arms and legs wrapped around him holding him close. I was about to push Eric's leather jacket off when his phone started to blare. "What is it Pam?" Eric growled his face nestled into the crock of my neck. From this position I could hear Pam's voice coming from the other end.
"I know you are probably deep inside your new love but you need to get down here, nowish." She drawled. "There's a shifter here and won't leave till he's talked with you and his brought little humans with him you know how I hate those." I could hear her distaste for whoever was at the bar.
Eric sighed "What does he want?"
"Won't say, just get here so he can leave; they're stinking up the bar." I heard Pam hang up.
"I have to go." He kissed my cheek before getting off the bed; I pouted as he straightened his jacket.
"What's a shifter?" I asked, Eric turned to me raised an eyebrow. "What you practically had the phone in my ear it's not my fault I overheard."
"Nothing you need to worry about." Eric only nodded, "I will see you after sunset tomorrow. Stay out of trouble."
"I don't get into trouble that often." I huffed, Eric glared at me. "Alright, alright I will do my best to stay out of trouble; though I doubt anything will happen in less than twenty-four hours." He just shook his head in response.
"I'll lock up on my way out. You sleep." Eric kissed my forehead before disappearing in a whoosh and a slamming of the front door.
I lay back down on my bed with a smile, thinking about mine and Eric's relationship. It was all happening so fast but I did not care. Everything felt right when I was with him; he made me feel safe when I was with him 'Which is a nice change from my last relationship.' . I turned on my side pulling one of my pillows to my chest; hugging it tightly as I stared at my reflection in the mirror. I closed my eyes shaking the thoughts of my last relationship from my mind. "That's over now." I whispered to myself. "He's gone now and I am fine. I am fine." I repeated my mantra tightening my grip on the pillow. I turned to my other side no long wanting to have a staring contest with myself and opted to gaze out the window. I looked out at the night sky I thought back that last night in Dallas on the roof with Godric. I don't remember much from that night other than what Godric and Eric told me. 'Some ancestor talked through me and was able to convince Godric to stay alive. By telling him he played some important part in my and Eric's future. And that Eric and I are destined for some sort of supernatural greatness.' I frowned as I tried to recall anything from that night but nothing but darkness came. All I knew for was that Godric had returned to his homeland in search of answers of what I am and where I come from.
I was drifting asleep when I heard shrikes and screams outside. "What the hell?" I whispered getting out of bed to open my widow. Looking out the window I saw nearly half the town running down the road stripping themselves of their clothes. "Okay I did not need to see all of that." I said averting my eyes from the town's folk.
"Emilia!" I heard my name shouted. I looked down to see Arlene in her bra and short next to Terry who was in his boxers and shorts. "Emilia have you seen Sam? We need to find Sam."
"No I haven't." I answered, "I just got back to town."
"Ohohohoh then you haven't met Maryann than. You so need to meet her. She is AMAZING." She and Terry began to giggle.
"Babe we need to find Sam Merlotte." Terry spoke.
"Right, if you see Sam tell him were coming for him." She cackled.
'That does not sound good.' I thought. "Wait why do you need Sam so bad?" I called to them.
"The God Who Comes wants Sam." They laughed as they ran into the woods. Moments after they disappeared I heard a shattering of glass near my head. I shot to the right avoiding the shards.
"What the fuck?" I yelled. Looking to my left I saw the retreating figures of some of the locals from Merlotte's. I inspected the shards of glass. "They threw a fucking beer bottle at me." I quickly shut and locked the window drawing the curtains closed before backing to my bed. I was startled, slipping from perch on the edge of my bed, when my phone went off.
I scurried to the night stand to grab my phone, swiping it open. "Hello?"
"Are you all right?" Eric's voice came from the other end.
"I'm fine, how did you?" I asked. "Vampire blood, right." I answered my own question.
"What happened?" Eric asked.
"Some drunken asshole threw a beer bottle at my window." I heard a growl. "I'm fine Eric. Half the town was outside running around practically naked looking for Sam."
"I heard. He was here with two teacup humans."
"Teacup?" I asked.
"Children." He explained.
"Wait Sam doesn't have kids." 'At least none that he knows of.' I added to myself.
"They weren't his." I heard Eric sigh on the other end of the line.
"What's wrong?"
"I have to go to New Orleans. I am unsure of how long I will be there."
"Wait why? What's in New Orleans?"
"I must see the Queen."
"Queen?" I asked. "What Queen?"
"The vampire Queen of Louisiana, I have to consult with her about the Maenad problem Sam has brought to my attention." He paused. "I will call you when I can. If you need anything Pam's number is your phone. Stay away anyone with black eyes and please try to stay out of trouble."
"Black eyes? What do you mean black eyes?"
"I have to go."
"Eric? Wait." I let out an aggravated sigh. "Not even gone for a week and the town goes to hell." I was about to lie down when heard frantic knocking at my door.
"Emilia! It's Sookie! We need your help!" The frantic knocking continued.
"What now?" I quickly grabbed robe before rushing down the stairs to the front door. I looked out the window by the door to see Sookie and Layfette. I flicked the porch lights "Let me see your eyes." I called through the door.
"Em? Our eyes are fine." Sookie she stood in front of the window. "We're not under whatever bull shit spell that Maryann's got the whole town going bat shit." Sookie was dressed in a white dress and Layfette was behind her holding a riffle.
"Why the fuck, do you have gun?" I asked opening the door after putting the alarm on standby.
"There is all sort of fucked up bitches running around out there. Ain't about to be out there without some sorts of protection. You feels me hooker?" Layfette said taking a look around my home. "Gots a nice place here."
"Uh thanks. So what's going on? Why are you here?" I asked shutting the door behind them.
"Do you know who Maryann is?" I shook my head no.
"I only just got back a few hours ago." I answered farther.
"She's turned the town on its head. She's a Maenad. And she has destroyed my house." Sookie began to explain.
"Ah May- what?" I asked.
"A Maenad, some sort of ancient creature that can hypnotize people; she's the thing that we saw in the woods a few days ago. Bill has gone to find some answers but he isn't back yet, so Layfette and I aren't waiting. Tara was under her spell, I was able to get her out of it but she's gone back to get Eggs. We need your help."
"Why do you need my help?" I asked leaning against the door frame crossing my arms. 'Eric said to stay out of trouble. This doesn't feel right anyway.'
"Please, they want to sacrifice Sam. We need to stop her." She pleaded me.
I shifted from foot to foot weighing the options. "Just give me a moment to think."
"We don't have a moment." Sookie snapped.
"Hey! I've been through a lot already where you're concerned, whenever I'm around you trouble follows quickly and I've had about enough of it. I already had a glass bottle thrown at me by those crazy fucks once tonight." I snapped back at her: her mouth quickly shut. "I need a moment to think and go change, if I'm about to do some sort of rescue mission with you two I am not about to do it half naked." I explained, "Now you all can take a seat and I will be back shortly." I walked up stairs to my room silently shutting the door behind me. I dropped my robe to the ground before grabbing my jeans that Eric removed only a few hours ago. I slipped them on along with a pair of flats that were by my bed. "I so do not have a good feeling about this." 'There is going to be blood tonight, I just know it.' I grabbed my phone from my bed then headed down stairs. I came back to the living room to find Layfette looking out the window and Sookie pacing a hole in my floor. "Ok so what's the plan?"
"We're gonna go to my house, sneak in find Tera, and get her out. Then we are going to find Sam and get away from here." Sookie said heading to the door.
"That's not much of plan. Do you even know where Sam is?" I stated.
"Do you gots a better one?" Layfette snapped, I said nothing. "That's what I thought. Now let's best get a move on." Layfette lead us out of my house. We stuck to the woods hoping to avoid running into any of the crazed town folk. It did not take long for Sookie's house to come into few. "Let's go in grab Tera and get the fuck out of heres."
"Hey! You are trespassing." We heard a voice call from above. Looking up we saw Terry and Arlene setting in a tree.
'Oh thank god they found their clothes.' I thought thankfully when I looked up seeing them fully clothed.
They jumped down and Terry made a grab for Layfette's gun. "Don't resist." Terry called.
"Hold up, hold up. Ya'll want drugs?" Layfette asked jumping back pulling a large baggy of pills from his pocket.
"What you got?" Terry asked stopping his attack.
"Baby drugs are for losers." Arlene chastised.
"But it will make the sex so much better baby." He turned to her feeling her up. "We want the drugs."
"Alright come and get it bitches." He said shouldering his riffle and tossing the pills at them. "You two go on I'll catch up." Layfette began to lead the two of them away.
"Are you going to be okay?" I asked as I felt Sookie pull on my arm.
"I'll be fine once I lead these crazy bitches away. Just like Hansel and Gretel." He mumbled the last part as he tossed blue and white oblong pills in the air.
"Come on Em we got to find Tera and Sam." Sookie continued to pull me towards the back of her house.
"I'm gonna go inside and see what I can find. You look around here and wait for Layfette." Sookie told me climbing the back steps of her porch.
"Hold on just a minute are you sure it's safe?" I asked. "We should stay together watch each other's backs." I tried to reason.
"It will be fine." She assured me "Stay out here wait for Layfette and look around for Tara, Eggs or Sam." Then left me alone outside.
"Goddamn it." I whispered pacing in a small circle, "I fucking knew this was a bad fucking idea." I started looking around making sure none of those black eyed crazies were near while trying not to be seen; luckily they stayed mainly in the front yard. "I could just leave; no one would know, just go back to my house lock the door and go back to bed." I tried to persuade myself into leaving Sookie, but I couldn't so I decided to sneak around and find out what is happening in front of the house. There was some sort of an alter and it smelled something rancid. I noticed that the whole lot of them were huddled around an altar. "Okay that's not creepy at all." I whispered backing up "I need to find Sookie and get out of here."
"Pssst Emilia. I got rid of those two." I heard Layfette whisper behind me.
"Took you long enough." I trailed off when I turned to see his eyes black as night. Arlene and Terry right behind him. "Shit."
"Shit is right hooker. Take her inside." Layfette instructed Terry with a flamboyant gesture; Terry hastily grabbed hold of me with bruising grip.
"Let me go!" I shirked at him. "I am really getting tired of this shit." I tried to fight him but he was strong. Terry dragged me up the front steps of the house, through the front door and into the living room; where a tall skinny brunette was standing holding a wedding dress to her chest admiring herself in a mirror. When she turned she gasped happily. I finally took a look around the living room it was completely trashed, mud 'At least I hope that's mud.' Splattered and rubbed all over the walls, trash was everywhere; piling in the corners mostly, and there were plants strone about all over. It looked like a crazed botanical garden. "What the fuck did you do to Sookie's house?"
"You must be one of Sookie's friends I am Maryann. Oh the more the merrier. I could always use more bridesmaids. I'm just so happy I finally have the proper offering for the one true god." She placed the dress down on the couch and stood in front of me. "Now what is your name?"
"This here is Emilia. New resident to Bon Temps. Currently resides in the old Blanchard house down the road. Sookie's neighbor and currently dating a vampire as well." Terry recited when I didn't answer.
'How did he know I'm dating a vampire?'
"Are you special? Like your friend? I've found just so many unique people here in this desolate swamp." Maryann asked me. "No matter. I know how to find out." She stepped back closed her eyes and her whole body began to vibrate. Maryann stopped her movement "Hmm nothing. You are special. Most definitely not human." She practically squealed with excitement. "Now what are you?"
"Of course I'm human you crazy bitch." I spat at her. 'I know I'm not human at least not entirely but this woman is crazy and I am not about to let her know anything about me if I can help it.'
She smiled grasping my shoulders. "But you're not human if you were you would be under my control like these idiots here." Maryann frowned "I don't have a dress for you. But that's okay you'll just put you at the end of line with my other bridesmaids." She clapped her hands together and Arleen came in wearing a white strapless dress with a crown of vines. "Arleen it's time to get ready."
"Of course got to make sure you are extra pretty for the god who comes." Arleen smiled as she went about setting up a chair and laying out makeup.
"Terry, take my new bridesmaid and make sure she has seat outside. Oh and make sure she can't leave grabs some vines on the way out." Maryann order as she sat down in the chair Arleen had place moments ago.
"Yes Ma'am, and baby you look beautiful." Terry began to pull me from the living room.
"Let me go!" I tried to plant my feet. "Sookie!" I screamed hoping she was ok.
"Come let's go." He wrapped a strong arm around my waist while pinning my arms to my side before lifting me of the ground just enough that I couldn't place my feet. Right before we left through the front door Tara and Eggs came running down the stairs giggling evilly followed by a high pitch scream. I noticed Tara had a very large egg in her hand as she passed into the living room.
'Well I found Eggs and Tara.' I though as I tried to kick Terry.
"Eggs!" Terry called to the tall black man before he could follow Tara into the living room. "Grab her legs. Maryann wants her in a chair outside. She doesn't want her new bridesmaid to run away." Without a second thought Eggs grabbed a coil of vines and picked my feet up holding them in a vice grip.
'Goddamnit where is Eric! He has to be feeling.' I thought, there was no way I was getting out of their grip they were too strong for me. The two men sat me in metal folding chair next to a horrible string quartet before quickly binding my wrist behind the chair. I sat there trying to pull myself free but the vines may have well been made of rope. 'This is ridiculous if it wasn't for Eric's blood I would still have marks from the last time I was tied up.' I let out a frustrated sigh. I continued my attempts to free myself as the towns folk were working on the last touches of the crazy bitch's 'wedding'. I looked up at the altar as the last finishing touches were being made it resembled horns twisting from an indistinguishable body.
A wave of darkness took over me as my sight disappeared for a flicker of a second when my sight returned I was in a white tiled room with a skinny pool in the center. There were no window but someone put a lot of effort to making it look like there was a beach outside beyond the walls of the room. There were lounge chairs placed all about the room and in the far corner from me sat for figures.
"Yahtzee!" Shouted a pale, red headed woman who resembled a 1920s movie star, "You know what I love about this game, no matter if you're my social, physical, or intellectual inferior everyone has the exact same chance." When the red head pointed to the blond man next to her I all but fell over. "I heard about your maker. That blows."
"Eric?" I whispered.
"Do you know there is a Maenad in Reynard Parish?" The woman asked Eric.
"Yes, that is the reason I came to see you, your Majesty." Eric said.
'She must be the Queen.'
"I wouldn't get involved if I were you. Stick to what you're good at." She shook the dice again before continuing, "I gave William Compton some hammy down folklore we've accumulated over the years but who knows if its gospel or horse shit." She placed her notepad down. "You know I think he is monogamous with his human."
"He's in love with her, yes." Eric confirmed.
"He is?" I barely heard the dark blonde ask before she quickly put her head down to look at her score sheet when the Queen glared at her.
"Well of course he would be with her, you probably are too." The red head threw in.
Eric took a moment to respond "I do not love humans." He answered not making eye contact.
"She is not entirely human." She leaned in a little to him. "Have you tasted her?"
I could see Eric swallow, "Sadly no."
"You better not have." I mumbled to myself.
"Good. Don't. Ever. One vampire falling in love is enough."
"Yes, Bill Compton has a knack for finding trouble."
"Yes for instance how does he know I'm having you sell vampire blood?" She stroked her chin with French tipped nails. "The guards hear everything." Eric tried to explain "That is really bad."
Eric leaned closer to her "He does not know you are supplying it." Eric had barely finished before the Queen lunged at him.
"He better not, I'm holding you responsible." She spoke through her fangs. Her hands began to roam over Eric's chest. I did not like that at all, 'Eric is mine.' It did not take her any time before she latched her lips with his. They both let out a growl as they began to kiss. I felt my heart ache as I watched them and was thankful that I was able to pull myself out of the vison.
When I opened my eyes I found the altar was smashed on the ground in the distance I could see Sookie running away, 'Where is she going?' I was still trying to free myself when I saw Sam strung up bleeding from his chest. "Sam!" I cried as I finally got a hand free. I ran to Sam and made quick work of his bindings; his almost lifeless body slumped against mine. "You're going to be okay." I whispered to him 'He's losing a lot of blood… BLOOD! BILL!' "We need Bill." I said more to myself. "Bill where are-"
"I am right her Miss Emilia." He drawled touching my shoulder "Let me see him." Bill ripped open his wrist to allow Sam to drink, but Sam did nothing. "Sam Drink. You need to drink Sookie is in danger." That was all the prompting Sam need before he suckled Bill's wrist like a new born. It only took maybe thirty seconds before Same was fully healed Bill on the other hand looked pale even for someone who does not get sun on a daily basis. "Go Now!" Bill ordered Sam.
"Stay with Bill." Sam instructed me before he took off running after Sookie; ripping his clothes from his body.
"What is he doing?" I asked helping Bill up. He only told me to watch: I could barely believe my eyes when he transformed in to a large horned white bull. "What the fuck just happened?"
"Vampires are real, Sookie can read people's thoughts and you have trouble believing a man can shift into animals." He chuckled lightly.
'Shift? Shifter? Is that what he is?'
"Let's catch up." Bill prompted me.
Eric's POV
"But if I wanted I could own your fangs as earrings, understand?" The threat from Sophie Anne was clear.
"I will take care of Bill Compton personally." The tan foreign human cleared his throat drawing the Queen's attention back to the game. I took a moment to collect myself feeling for Emilia. She was scared but not in any immediate danger. I couldn't risk trying to leave and shifting the Queen's focus away from Sookie: 'Sookie maybe intriguing but Emilia is mine and nothing will take her away from me.' I sat up adjusted my jacket before rejoining the game. 'I fucking hate this game.'
It was not till almost midnight the next night that I was free of that god awful game. I was relieved that Emilia's fear had subsided shortly after the Queen and I's little tiff; though her fear was replaced by a different emotion that I couldn't quite place.
I landed in front of Emilia's house, she had the living room light on and I could hear the TV playing. I walked up to the front door knocking loudly; I ran my fingers though my hair taming the disheveledness as I waited. I could hear her stand and then she stumbled to the door mumbling profanities. I raised a brow when she opened the door with a distasteful look; I noticed a bottle of bourbon grasped tightly in her small fist. "What is wrong min lilla an?" I asked. She said nothing as she walked away leaving the door open 'Something is wrong. I may be in trouble.' "Emilia," I spoke firmly "What is it?"
She dropped herself on the couch her eyes landing on me as I stood in the doorway of the living room. Emilia took a long drink before speaking very clearly. "Did you have fun with the Queen?" She asked me. "Did you ever finally get Yahtzee?"
"You had a vision." I let out sighing heavily. "What did you see?" I asked moving to the couch.
"I saw you sucking at Yahtzee, something about Bill and vampire blood, oh and what else…" Emilia got up from her to walk around the room. "That's I saw you kiss that red headed bitch that looks like she popped out of a 1920s movie." She spat anger clearly present.
"She kissed me." I defended.
"Yeah and you kissed her back I know what I saw Eric it was right in front of me clear as day. Why the fuck did you kiss her?" She crossed her arm in front of her, protecting herself.
'I should kill that fucking bitch.' "Emilia, that kiss, it meant nothing to me. I only returned the kiss to show my loyalty to her and to protect you."
"Protect me? From what?"
"The Queen likes to collect things, things that are unique, that she finds interesting. Mostly she collects interesting and unique human. She apparently is unaware of my relationship with you and if she does know she most likely thinks it's just sex and doesn't care: I would like to keep it that way." I could see the confusion on her face. I moved to her placing my hand on the side of her face. "You are very important to me. I feel things with you that I have never felt with anyone human, vampire, or otherwise. And I will do anything to protect what is mine." I gently took the bottle from her hand and placed it on the small coffee table. I turned my attention back to her, my thumb brushing her pale cheek lightly. "You are mine. I am yours." I kissed her deftly on her red lips. "The kiss meant absolutely nothing to me."
"It's not just sex?" I could hear doubt in her voice.
"Not just sex." I reassured her with another teasing kiss as I flicked my tongue across her mouth. "Though it is amazing." To that she let out a giggle.
"I was mad. I'm still mad at you." Emilia pushed me away a little. "I do not like seeing you kiss other people, vampire or otherwise."
"Is that jealousy I hear?" I teased, 'My little human is very possessive and she will make an excellent vampire one day.'
"Eric! I'm serious." She smacked me carelessly to which I growled. "You are mine and I am yours that's what we decided yesterday. And I do not like sharing what is mine." I could see and hear fire in her. "If you do something like that again I may have to punish you."
"Alright my lilla kattunge." I pulled her close to me inhaling her scent deeply. "Buuuuuut" I dragged out "What if I want you to punish me?" I hummed nipping her ear with my teeth.
"Eric." She chastised me, as small giggle escaped her lips. "Right now all I want is to go upstairs and lay in bed with you."
"And what will we do up there?" I asked kissing her neck.
"I think we can find something to do." I smiled lifting her into my arms to run upstairs.
I hope you all liked the changes I made, and I know Eric is starting to be different from the show but I like the path he is taking so far.
Next up: The Magister comes and things do not look so good for Eric's favorite girls.
Please favorite, like, review and all that jazz.