AN: Hello everybody! Sorry it's been a week. I mean, I know I said it might be between updates, but the days just kind of ticked by. I've been trying to work out how to fit Maria in to the next couple of seasons given how vampire-centric they are, plus I'm building to a BIG crescendo that I think you guys are going to LOVE when it happens, but the journey there is, undoubtedly, going to aggravate the shit out of you. I mean, it would me if I didn't know the juicy end, lol. So, without further ado, here is another chapter. I hope you let me know what you think, and enjoy!

Chapter 27

Eric emerged from the shower feeling much better than before. He was covered in his and Maria's blood from their bought in the cellar. The guilt he felt over that still swam within him. Something came over him so powerful that he couldn't fight it. It drove him, as though it possessed every cell in his body. It compelled him to the sun, told him that –despite knowing that it would kill him- he had to do it. If it weren't for Maria intervening, Eric knew he'd have died that day. She was protecting him, did everything possible to keep him out of the light, so he didn't blame her for breaking multiple bones. He did, however, feel bad for attempting to do the same to her.

As he dried himself off, Eric noticed the clothing Maria had given him to change into. It was nice –a pair of dark jeans, expensive boxers, and a dark, almost black-red shirt with a v-neck. They weren't her clothes, obviously made for a man, but he couldn't recognize them as his own. She said they were, that they were pieces he kept there for the nights he stayed, but they might as well have been on a mannequin in a store.

After he dressed, Eric went downstairs where he heard Maria in the kitchen. The smell of food curled his nose, but she clearly had to eat. She might not have been human, but she was alive.

He walked downstairs and through the floor plan with an ease he hadn't felt in a long time. Actually, ever, as far as he knew. It was that same sort of familiarity that had surrounded her since he saw her walk up to Sookie's house. It struck him immediately and the oddness of it caused him to approach her. Nothing about Maria at that moment clicked with him, not the way she looked, smelled, or the sound of her voice. She was as blank to him as Sookie had been when she drove up in her little yellow car, but comfort accompanied Maria. He couldn't explain it, only that it was there.

When he entered the kitchen, Eric saw Maria standing at the stove cooking something in a pot. She noticed him and glanced up with a small smile. He could see something in her eyes that he didn't see with Sookie. It was loss. Despite how she tried to hide it, Eric could see that she was almost mourning the vampire he used to be. The only other person to look at him like that was his Progeny.

"Thank you for the clothes." He said.

She asked with the same little smile, "Do you feel better?"

He nodded, gave a smile of his own, then decided to take a seat at her kitchen table.

"May I ask you something, Miss Romanov?" He asked as he slid onto the nearest chair.

"Always," She replied.

"Do you think I should try to get my memories back?"

It had been something he had thought about frequently since 'waking up' with nothing. Part of him was desperate for it, if anything to have a reference for the hatred launched his way. Another part didn't want to. So many people were terrified of him, told him that he was vicious, violent, and ruthless. He was conflicted and wanted any advice he could get.

She turned to face him, leaning against the countertop by the stove while, what he assumed was soup, continued to simmer.

"Why ask me?"

"Because I'm still not sure."

She paused for a moment, thought over his question, and then replied simply, "It's up to you." She said. "No one can tell you one way or the other. It is your decision in the end, but no matter what you decide, I know Pam will be there for you."

"And you?"

"Yeah. I will."

He felt better for that, though he wasn't entirely certain why. But shortly after, a thought crossed his mind. Almost immediately, Eric knew it would be a bad idea to bring up Miss Stackhouse, but from what he could tell, Maria had been nothing but honest and forthcoming. Perhaps she would remain that way.

"Do you think Miss Stackhouse would still wish to be my friend?"

While he'd asked the question relatively timidly, with little to no tone what-so-ever, he saw Maria's face harden immediately. Anger flashed in her eyes and almost the same instant it did, she turned her back on him, as though she were shielding him from it. Instead, she went back to stirring her soup.

"I can't speak for her." She replied in a clipped voice.

Eric's brows furrowed slightly. "You don't like her, do you?" He felt he already knew the answer.

"No," She bluntly said. "I don't."

"Why?"

Maria didn't immediately offer another answer. As before, she seemed to think over his question, to contemplate what she was going to say. Eventually, she did respond.

"It's an old feud, mostly, but I don't like her as a person, either."

"Why?" Eric knew he risked her anger turning on him if he continued to press, but he had to know, especially when it was clear her hatred ran deep.

Maria slowly stopped stirring. Again, she paused, but only briefly before she turned to face him.

"Honestly?" She asked. He nodded. "She's manipulative and self-righteous, and causes nothing but trouble as a result. I have seen her guilt people into helping her, and then throw them under the bus when the inevitable consequences of her interference happen." A sinking feeling had swept through Eric the longer Maria spoke. He practically refused to believe her, though he wasn't entirely certain why. He just couldn't believe that someone as sweet and caring as Sookie Stackhouse could be as cruel as Maria implied. "You asked me if I think she'd accept you if your memories returned?" Eric nodded apprehensively. "No, I don't. I think she's going to try and keep you like you are right now because it would serve her better."

A quick burst of anger rocketed through his body. It compelled him to shoot to his feet. Eric stared down at Maria sternly, warningly.

"You don't know what you're talking about." He said, surprising himself with the level of animosity that swam within him in that moment. "I feel that she loves me enough to wish me whole again."

She clenched her jaw. He saw the muscle flex while she chewed on the inside of her cheek. Reluctantly, it felt, Maria's eyes drifted back to his and their gazes met. She was frustrated and he could tell a thousand things wanted to leave her mouth in that instant. Instead, she spoke measuredly, calmly.

"Clearly, you care about her, so, for your sake, I hope you're right." The way she spoke was almost a warning, which genuinely worried him. "But the witches need to be dealt with, regardless. They're targeting vampires, not just you and Pam. I doubt they'll stop."

Eric could tell any talk of Sookie had come to a sharp and abrupt end. Considering how upset it seemed to make Maria –something he hadn't truly intended- he chose to move along as well.

"No, I don't think they will, either." He replied.

They sat in silence for a moment. A thought came to him, and one he knew she wouldn't like. They had to visit the king.

Later that night, Eric and Maria ventured to Bon Temps to meet with the king. They were given passage through the guards and led to the foyer where they were promptly told to wait because the king was meeting with someone else. Not long after, the door to the office opened. Sookie and Bill emerged, both shocked to see the other.

"Oh, Eric," Sookie lunged forward and immediately wrapped her arms around him, hugging him tightly. "I'm so glad you're okay. Bill told me about what the witches did."

Eric tenderly hugged her Sookie. It felt nice to have her hugging him again.

"Yes, I'm fine. Maria kept me inside."

He felt her stiffen in his arms, but draw back. He noticed her turn a hard eye to Maria.

"Thanks." She said to the brunette.

He noticed Maria didn't reply. She only stared at the blonde with cold, unsettling eyes.

"How did you manage keeping him indoors?" King Bill asked her. "The pull, for Jessica and I at least, was almost inescapable. Jessica actually managed to nearly meet the sun."

"I broke his legs and locked him in the cellar." Maria's voice was dead and flat.

"Oh my God," Sookie mumbled. She clutched at Eric's hand and held it tightly in her own. "Well, I'm glad you're okay."

When she smiled up at him, he smiled back.

"So," King Bill chimed. "What are the two of you doing here?"

Eric proceeded to tell his king that he and Maria were there to offer aid in the fight against the witches. He was surprised to hear that Sookie had done the same.

Eric held her hand, their fingers entwined. His eyes darted around the room, however, unable to land on a single subject for more than a second or two. He'd look to King Bill, to Sookie, and to Maria. Maria was the only one not to look back at him. Instead, her attention remained focused solely on the king she despised. Every time he glanced down at Sookie, she'd smile back at him and tighten her grip on his just slightly.

His mind was clouded with conflicting thoughts. They were battling in his brain, telling him too many things for him to focus on just one. Part of him wanted to reach out and hold Maria's hand as well, but he didn't. Even as lost as he was with his current life, he knew it wouldn't be a good idea to hold both of them and since Sookie was the one who offered, he accepted.

The feelings coursing through him only helped to confuse him further. He was drawn to Miss Stackhouse, pulled to her by some unseen force. She'd found him, taken care of him. She was tender and kind and feelings developed as a result. He couldn't say for sure because he had nothing to compare it to, but he was fairly certain part of him loved Sookie. How could it not? After all he'd been through, after being lost and confused, it made some sense that he would latch onto the first person to show him kindness.

But then there was Maria. If what she'd shown him was to be believed, they had some sort of relationship before his memory was taken from him. They shared things, moments of kindness and passion. He felt inexplicably comfortable with her, as though some small part of him belonged. He hadn't even felt that with Sookie for the first day or so he'd been with her. The sensation was immediate with Maria.

The two young women were infinitely different, from the way they looked, to the way they smelled, to how they treated him. Miss Stackhouse had been afraid of him at first, but slowly accepted him. She still treated him like a doll, however, which he thought was odd. Miss Romanov was much more upfront. She could and did answer questions seemingly honestly. She never shied away from him, treated him like a monster or like he'd break. He might not have had a reference, but it felt as though she treated him as she would have before the witches stole his memories.

As he stood in the foyer holding Sookie's hand, Eric remained conflicted and a bit saddened that Maria would barely acknowledge him once the blonde took his hand. He could sense her agitation with the situation, her anger and the animosity she felt toward Sookie.

He did wonder at one point why, if he and Maria had been in a relationship prior to the witches' curse, she refused to say anything about it. In her memories, he felt that she loved him (or at least something very close) but she didn't take it any further. She stood back and allowed whatever would happen to happen. She was passive, and he didn't understand it. Surely, if she felt as strongly for him as she did, then she would say something. Would she not try to keep Sookie back, to impress upon him and everyone else that they were together? Then again, perhaps she simply wanted to give him the freedom to decide for himself. He couldn't say either way, but if it was the latter, he respected her for that, thanked her for it, and was extremely grateful. It gave him a chance to try and settle his own thoughts.

They continued to speak, to form plans, and strategies. Eric marveled at how passionately Maria talked about the coming fight. It stirred something inside him. Deep down, deep in that place he couldn't quite reach, Eric knew he was a warrior. He knew that fighting was in his blood, and when Maria spoke about fighting the witches, he could sense she was the same.

Arrangements were made shortly after the real conversation began. It was agreed that, along with a few others, Pam would be included. Maria made the argument that she deserved to be present given she too had been targeted by the witch.

Roughly ten minutes after Maria called her, Pam arrived at the manor, more than willing to rip some witches' throats out. Her bloodlust was contagious.

Plans had been put into action, soldiers organized and vampires called for the coming fight. Most said they would arrive within the next ten minutes. Bill had called Antonia and asked her to meet them somewhere, a graveyard, apparently. She'd agreed.

Maria hoped neither side was naïve enough to fully trust the other.

As she stood in the foyer pacing, her body charged with energy and the need to act, Pam approached her. The blonde towered over her in a pair of fashionable heels. With her arms crossed and her face set in a hard expression, she spoke in Swedish.

"He still swoonin' over the waitress?"

Maria clearly didn't have to bother asking who Pam was referring to. Ever since Sookie showed herself, Eric had been at her side. Currently, the pair was sitting in the den on the couch, still holding hands. Sookie clung to him so tightly that Maria wondered if she was afraid he'd run off.

"He says they're in love." Maria replied, fighting the bile rising in her throat when she said the words.

Pam scoffed obnoxiously and rolled her eyes. "Please," she practically laughed the word. "Only reason she's clingin' so hard to him right now is to make Bill jealous and because of what Eric can give her. You know what?" Maria gave her full attention to Pam. "I heard she was in fairy land that whole time and only a couple minutes passed for her before she showed back up again."

Maria's brows rose. "So, wait… you're telling me that, as far as she's concerned, she broke up with Bill and then practically the next night she was in love with Eric?"

"Basically," Pam nodded.

"Jesus Christ," Maria mumbled. She glanced over her shoulder at the two. Sookie still had her death-grip on Eric's hand, but he was vacant, staring off into the room. She'd seen that look on him more than once when he was thinking, so assumed that was all he was doing. "I knew she was opportunistic, but to jump on him this fast when he's vulnerable… that's…"

Maria didn't have the words to describe it, but Pam did. "Low." She said.

The brunette only nodded.

Her mind raced as she came to terms with what Pam had said. That meant that within days Sookie had managed to trick Eric into falling in love with her. Worse yet, Maria was fairly certain it'd worked. At the very least, he felt deeply for the fairy, which turned Maria's stomach in ways she didn't know it could turn.

"Hey,"

Pam's voice brought Maria back out of her thoughts. She glanced up and noticed the blonde shifting uncomfortably on her feet.

"Was Eric with you last night?" She asked. Maria nodded. "Thanks for keepin' him safe. I-" Pam continued to shift uncomfortably on her feet. She put her hands on her hips and kept her gaze diverted. Maria grinned to herself. This was Pam's 'I'm trying to be sincere' pose. "I appreciate it." She finally got out.

"No problem." Maria replied. The smile must have touched her words because Pam shot her an angry glare. It only broadened Maria's smirk.

"Alright," Bill's voice drew all attention to him. "I think it is time that we do this."

There was a chorus of agreements before everyone fled the mansion like a plague about to descend on the witches.

It was chaos in the fog, gunshots and screams. The smell of blood fueled the animal within Maria. She gladly cut down anyone that she hadn't arrived to the meeting with.

As she darted through the tombstones and danced from one victim to the other, Maria stumbled across an interesting scene. Sookie.

The fairy was slumped at the base of an obelisk, clutching a bleeding wound on her stomach. She'd either been shot outright, or managed to catch a ricochet. Either way, she was bleeding out.

Sookie's eyes, heavy and barely open, drifted up to Maria as she slowly approached. Sookie was breathing heavily and her heart was racing in her chest.

"Maria," Sookie's voice was soft. "Please,"

Maria tilted her head to the side. She had two options. One, she could save Sookie. She could lift the young woman into her arms and spirit her away from the gunplay. She could probably find some vampire's blood, and save her life. Option two, she could do nothing. Sookie Stackhouse was a shallow, vapid young woman who manipulated the people around her. She thought everyone should drop everything to help her, acted without a thought to what the consequences would be, and then batted her eye lashes to get out of trouble. She did what she wanted when she wanted no matter who was hurt in the process, and then had the audacity to get angry when someone called her out on it. She was a terrible person wrapped up in a pretty package.

Maria squatted down in front of her, resting her forearms on her knees as she looked over the blonde. A cruel, cold, and vindictive smile curled Maria's lips, and then, she laughed. The sound was filled with genuine glee and amusement at the situation she found herself in. And it was instinctual.

She continued to muse over the situation as she bounced back to her feet. Before she disappeared into the fog, she twiddled her fingers in a mocking wave, and vanished.