A/N: 'tis but the calm before the storm. Or something.
Chapter 33
The wolves parked a couple of blocks away from the monastery. It took up a full city block in a very wealthy residential neighborhood lined with mansions. The old Volkswagen stuck out like a sore thumb and she hoped that nothing would happen to it.
They all piled out of the van and none of them were quite ready to separate. Maria-Star was closest to Sookie and hugged her first.
"You be careful, got it? Really, really careful. I couldn't stand it if you got hurt. Now bite me, Sunshine. You need to be strong."
Sookie had been drinking the bagged blood that Tray had brought from Eric's, but fresh would definitely be better. Plus she hadn't had much that night because she'd been feeling so nervous. She bit Maria-Star's neck and the wild taste of Were made her almost smile. Her wolves had been her first meal, after all. It was only right that, if things went sideways, they would be her last one, too.
Jake was next. "I love you. And, dammit, you had better fucking come back alive… Undead… Whatever. You aren't allowed to die. Now hurry up and bite me before I start to cry."
Sookie sobbed out a small laugh and then bit him. Jake sighed when she was through and shook his head a little.
"You know, that feels a whole lot better when we're having sex."
Sookie laughed a little again, but now she was really crying. Tray was in line behind Jake and he pulled his handkerchief out of his pocket and dabbed at her bloody tears before he hugged her.
"I still feel like I'm not doing my job and am breaking a promise, but he broke his promises to you first. And I don't work for that son of a bitch any longer. I can't keep you safe but I did agree to feed you in an emergency, and I will happily do that."
He kissed her cheek. "Taking this job was the best thing I ever did. I love you, Sunshine. Now bite me, dammit. I'm the only one here who's never had the pleasure."
He moved his head to the side, baring his throat for her, and she fed.
Alcide came last. She loved all of her wolves the same but her relationship with Alcide was just a little bit different. He was fiercely protective of her, even more than the others. He teased her like a little sister and had fucked her like she was a goddess. He spoiled her. And he was always the first one to drop everything to take care of her, from fixing up her arm the day that they'd picked her up hitchhiking, to feeding her on the way to the hotel the morning before when she'd been so weak and in so much pain. She knew how much he'd blamed himself for not saving her from Pam. How much he wanted to protect her tonight. He pulled her into his arms.
"If you die, Sunshine, I swear to God I'm going to bring you back and kill you again."
She was trying hard not to burst into tears and he squeezed her a little tighter. "I love you. If you need me to shift and come for you, just tell me. I don't give a shit how dangerous it is, do you hear me? I don't care who sees."
She nodded into his chest.
"Good. Now bite me. And tell me it won't be the last time."
"It won't be the last time. I promise."
He laughed, and there was a touch of bitterness in it.
"Don't make a promise you might not be able to keep, Sunshine."
She fed from Alcide and she was glad that she would have her family with her, at least a little.
Maria-Star cleaned Sookie's face and then kissed her cheek one last time. Sookie smiled a sad smile, waved at them, and then walked towards the monastery. The wolves spread out, one on each side of the fence that wrapped around the property, keeping in the shadows.
Sookie took a deep, shaky breath when she got to the gate, but then stood up straight and walked inside, feigning confidence. Confidence was about the last thing she felt.
Rasul and Melanie were standing just inside on the walkway, screening guests and checking names off of a list on a clipboard. Sookie was tentatively relieved to see familiar faces. And hopefully friendly ones. She felt a little bit better when they both smiled at her, even though they looked nearly gleeful. Rasul's eyes were downright twinkling.
"Well, if it isn't Sookie Stackhouse. Isn't this a nice surprise? Your maker told us that you wouldn't be coming tonight."
Melanie grinned at Rasul. "Bet it's going to be a surprise for Eric as well."
Rasul shrugged. "Maybe it will cheer him up. Judging by the way he looked on the way in, he could use it."
They both snickered, excited for the drama and ensuing gossip. They wouldn't get to see the aftermath first hand, but they would have their own part in the matter to share. It was easy to find Sookie's name on the list; it was the only one scratched out. Melanie initialed the change and checked Sookie off, like she had done for the rest of the guests who had already arrived.
Melanie smiled at her. "We're supposed to make sure that everyone is in period costume, but to hell with it. There's no way that we're going to turn you away."
They parted and let Sookie pass between them. She took a shaky breath and walked through the front doors and into a long corridor. She heard music coming from the room at the end of the hallway and she headed in that direction.
There was a large photo of the queen and a smaller portrait of each of her children displayed on the wall. It gave Sookie a bit of a pang to see Hadley there, although Sookie knew that she wasn't dead yet.
She stopped at Waldo's picture and studied it. It was very much like the image that she'd seen in Bobby's head after the fire, although that had been distorted and hard to see. In fact, it wasn't just very much like it, it was it. Waldo hadn't glamoured Bobby to set the fire; Bobby had been shown a copy of this very photograph.
A shiver went down her spine. She closed her eyes and reached out to all four of her wolves at once.
I'm inside. Can you hear me?
It was funny how she easily recognized each of them. Their thought-voices shouldn't have been shaped by the size of their vocal cords or the way that their breath flowed through their mouths and noses, but they were.
This is Tray and I'm in position.
I can hear you loud and clear, Sunshine. It's Jake.
Maria-Star here. It is so weird that I can hear the rest of you guys, too! Good luck, Sookie.
Alcide loves you, baby.
Sookie took a shaky breath and walked inside.
She was definitely not dressed like anyone else. They were in bustles and top hats and puffed sleeves and waistcoats, and she was wearing a red silk second skin with a slit all the way up one leg and an abundance of milky-white cleavage on display.
She glanced around quickly but didn't see Eric. She was afraid that he would feel her there but there wasn't anything that she could do about that. The ballroom had six huge stone pillars and she stood behind one of the three on the left. She tried not to look suspicious.
There was a human waiter near the middle of the room and she glamoured him to subtly turn around, giving her a view of most of the people in attendance. She saw the queen standing with Hadley. Andre and the Berts were standing guard behind her. Sookie didn't see Waldo, which didn't bother her one bit.
There were a few shifters but most of the guests were either vampire or human. She really didn't know anyone else of any species. There were a few familiar faces from the palace, but she saw nobody that she even knew well enough to speak to.
"Sookie, you look absolutely radiant tonight."
The smooth voice with the thick old-fashioned Louisiana accent nearly made her skin crawl. The pillar was a great place to hide, but it was also a great place to get cornered.
"Um. Thank you, Bill. You must feel right at home, dressed like this."
He was wearing a top hat and tails with a green cravat. He smiled. "I was a farmer when I was human, Sookie. I never had the opportunity to dress like this at the time."
She pasted a small smile on her face. "Well, it suits you, Bill. It's been nice to see you."
He hung there for a moment, hoping that she would re-engage, but he had been dismissed. He went across the room to speak to a couple of vampires that he knew from Seattle but he kept a close eye on her.
Sookie took a shaky breath.
Did you guys get that?
She had projected the conversation as it had happened and they had received it like a live broadcast.
Alcide chuckled inside his head. Damn, Sunshine. You blow me away.
Jake laughed. I want you to blow me, too.
Sookie felt Maria-Star's eye roll. Jesus, you guys. Knock it off. Anyway, what he said was fine, but something about him made me uncomfortable. He seems like a real creep, Sunshine.
Sookie shuddered. That's the vibe I get, too.
A small group of women, both alive and dead, passed right by her, heading towards one of the small rooms off a hallway nearby. She recognized the woman that she'd seen Eric talking to on Wednesday night. She was stunningly beautiful — tall and slim with striking features and light brown hair — and Sookie hated her on sight, even if this wasn't the queen of Oklahoma. Sookie kept her distance but started to follow.
Bill watched Sookie leave the ballroom, heading for the private monks' quarters in back. He would be able to speak with her alone there. He had heard that there were troubles between her and her maker, and Bill thought that he should strike while the iron was hot. He started to make his way over to her.
Eric was forcing himself to talk to Salome and Gervaise, who were visiting from Baton Rouge. He kept up a pleasant facade, but he was incredibly on edge, trying hard to keep his rage at bay. At Sophie-Anne, at Freyda, at Tray and her infernal wolves, but mostly at himself. He couldn't be angry at Sookie, as much as he wanted to shift the blame in her direction. He had replayed those last few moments before she'd stood up and walked out of his existence over and over and over again.
He caught a flash of red out of the corner of his eye but didn't see anything when he turned his head to look. Then he saw it again, peeking out behind one of the stone pillars. He excused himself and headed in that direction, although he didn't really know why.
