Okay, so to address some comments I've been having...

This Sookie has a lot of emotional growing up to do. She's quick to judge and make decisions because that's what's required during battle. She wasn't a strategist, she was a warrior, a soldier. She followed her sisters and observed battles for those worthy of Valhalla as such, she's a little naive when it comes to anything else. A lot will be explained later because I wanted some mystery and surprises but there is a reason why she is the way she is at the moment.

The other thing I want to emphasize is that Sookie doesn't believe in a happy ending, after everything she's experienced, she sees her death as a finality. All she wants is to be in a peaceful setting and be content. Finally, I want to mention this, which will be mentioned in a later chapter as well. Sookie is mortal in form but her essence is still very much Valkyrie. With that tidbit, I will leave you to your interpretations until I explain it later. ;)

I'm also glad some of you are disagreeing with her and seeing that she has character flaws. I dislike Mary Sue's. So thank you for your thoughtful reviews. :)


Eric had wondered what Sookie thought of his gift all night. When he hadn't gotten the necklace back or even a card, he contemplated going to see her but an emergency had popped up. No one had seen or heard from Godric for four nights. Godric's underlings in Dallas contacted Eric in the hopes that he knew of Godric's whereabouts.

Eric had searched his end and contacted vampires in Dallas but his maker remained missing. He had been about to go to Sookie, hoping she could shed some light on the matter when she entered Fangtasia wearing a white dress with red flowers that ended at her thighs and the necklace he had gotten her.

It matched her perfectly. Leaving his throne overlooking the club, Eric used his vampire speed to meet her before her scent drew in other vampires. She appeared worried but not shocked to see him near her so suddenly.

"Eric, I need your help." She was fidgeting with her hands, he noticed. His immediate reaction was to agree to help her in anything she needed. But there were other things that demanded his attention. Still, Eric couldn't leave her looking so distressed.

He ushered her to his office without any protests from her. Sookie had even allowed him to lead her with a hand on her lower back, a touch she hadn't noticed. Eric caught Pam's eye but refused to acknowledge the suspicion there. His child had been very vocal about his growing attachment to the human. Once they were away from the loud music and prying eyes, Eric sat her down and leaned back on his desk in front of her to be as close to her as possible.

"What is it?"

"It's Godric, he hasn't answered my call for two nights. I think something might have happened to him." So, she hadn't heard from his maker. The concern in her voice and the alarm made his hackles rise, a feeling that was almost akin to jealousy.

"Perhaps he's busy."

"He's never ignored my calls before. He always answers." She sounded so sure that Eric's earlier concern regarding his maker returned. He knew the two were 'friends' but he was beginning to see just how far that friendship went. When Eric had pried about Godric's knowledge of Sookie, his maker had ignored his calls and texts, unmoved by his curiosity and more loyal to a human woman.

"I'm sure he'll contact you soon." Eric said, feigning nonchalance.

"Has he had any contact with you?" Eric shook his head. "Have you felt him? Sensed him with your bond?" He was shocked she knew of such a thing and wondered just how much Godric had told her. No matter how much one trusted a human, it was practically forbidden to give them such detailed information about their customs and weaknesses.

"No."

"Eric, I know that something's wrong. We have to look into this. We have to go to Dallas." He had been thinking of going to Dallas himself after he got things in Fangtasia settled so this would work in his favor. Godric's underlings in Dallas had even invited him to visit them for the search.

"We? Sookie, I have a business to run, not to mention I'm a sheriff." Eric grinned inwardly when she stood up angrily. She was still shorter than him by at least a head even with him leaning on his desk. His eyes immediately strayed to the necklace resting between her pert breasts. It looked better than he imagined. He suddenly imagined her wearing nothing else but that necklace. She would be naked atop white silk sheets with the necklace and her hair framing his mark on her neck.

Thankfully, she hadn't noticed his attention was elsewhere. "Godric is your maker. Aren't you worried?!"

"Godric is also twice as old as me and ten times the vampire I will ever be. There's no reason to be worried." It was exactly why he was worried. Godric was over two thousand years old. If something had happened to him, especially if it was by the hands of the Fellowship of the Sun, it was cause for all vampires to be worried.

"I can't go to Dallas by myself. I'm…" She seemed to grit her teeth. "Asking you for a favor."

"A favor? What makes you think you have anything of value to me? You are just a human."

"I'll take you up on your job offer. I'll be your telepath." Sookie didn't appear to realize what she was saying. She was so concerned about his maker, she practically accepted a claim on her.

Eric took Sookie's hand and tugged her closer until she stood between his legs. "How can I say no? I'll look into the matter myself and contact you tomorrow night." The relief and gratitude in her blue eyes made him feel almost guilty for manipulating her. But having her in his debt was better for him than being in hers. If Eric had been the first one to go to her, she would no doubt have made him promise some nonsense about staying away from her. Eric fought to keep the grin from showing on his face.

"Thank you." Sookie seemed to finally look at him and he could tell she noticed his hair cut. It had been Pam's idea of course.

"You look nice." She then seemed to realize her position between his long legs and blushed as her pulse sped up.

Eric smirked, causing her gaze to fall on his lips. A stronger vampire would have been able to resist. He wasn't such a vampire. Drawing her closer, Eric's hand moved to the back of her head and leaned down to take her lips in a searing kiss. His other hand on her lower back, he pulled her tightly against him, feeling her lean into him for support. Her hands trailed from his chest to his shoulders until she wrapped her arms around his neck. This time there was no hesitation on her part and no resistance. Eric didn't know if she realized it but Sookie was attracted to him in a very physical way.

If all it took to kiss her was to make her forget where she was and draw her attention to his lips then he would do it at every opportunity by invading her personal space.

She responded so sweetly to his possessive kiss and when she tentatively met his tongue with hers, it took every ounce of willpower he had not to drop his fangs and sink them into the delicate curve of her neck. Sensing she had to breathe, he trailed kisses down her cheek to her neck as she gasped. Her scent was so strong, urging him to take her in every way. He was about to bare his fangs when the door opened and Pam entered his office. He growled when the sound broke Sookie's haze and she stiffened in his arms.

"What?!" His Swedish was harsh, angry at his child for disrupting what had been the highlight of his night.

"Sophie-Anne wants to see you. She's waiting outside." Sophie-anne, the incompetent queen of Louisiana but his queen nevertheless.

In his arms, Sookie cleared her throat and stepped away from him. "I have to go, call me with the plan." The blush on her cheeks made it harder to let her go but he couldn't allow Sophie-Anne to see her.

"Pam will escort you out the back." He said before leaving his office to deal with his annoying queen.


It was nearly midnight by the time Eric texted her details of their trip to Dallas for the following night. Sookie simply agreed to everything and even grudgingly accepted that she would owe him another favor for paying all of her expenses. After his expensive gifts, Sookie knew Eric wasn't really as frugal as he wanted her to believe. After all, the former Viking was very wealthy and Fangtasia was also doing well. But while she was on the trend of breaking rules and adding debt, what was one more?

Her day had been spent convincing Sam to let her use her vacation time as well as doing the grocery shopping so Adele wouldn't have to strain herself while Sookie was gone. Hopefully the trip to Dallas would only take a few days but she prepared everything so that Adele would be okay without her for a week. Sookie felt guilty for leaving the old woman alone even if it was only for a few days but Adele seemed a bit healthier recently.

Sookie sighed then saw the plane she was supposed to be getting on. It was smaller than she imagined. Anubis Air was printed on the side. Checking in with the pilot and handing them her suitcase, she boarded the plane hoping to familiarize herself with the cabin before takeoff. As to be expected from Eric, the plane was extravagant with plush leather seats that fully reclined and large monitors for every passenger. There was even a conference area in the middle of the plane with a table between two chairs that were facing each other. Sitting in one of the chairs, she closed her eyes and tried to relax.

This trip would mean telling the vampires in Dallas of her abilities. But Sookie couldn't sit around while Godric remained missing. What Sookie had thought was only two nights was in reality now five nights, going on six that Godric had been missing. It was no longer senseless concern, something was definitely wrong and even if it meant throwing herself into a nest of vampires, she would do anything to find him. He was a two thousand year old vampire, who couldn't have been taken without a fight. And If Godric had died; no one would be safe from her wrath.

Her thoughts turned to the reason why she had contacted Godric in the first place. After her continued encounters with Eric, she was starting to see a side of him that she hadn't seen on the battlefields. Godric was the one who told her about Eric and how they were doing. Sookie never had a conversation with Eric before she became human so she wanted to know the reason why Godric decided to release him, a question that had never crossed her mind before. She had just assumed it was because they had been together for so long and that Eric had achieved his goal for vengeance. But that wasn't true.

Now, after meeting him and talking to him, Sookie realized he wasn't at all like she expected. She didn't even know what she expected from him. She had been smitten when he was human, infatuated with the fierce Viking to the point where she disobeyed her sister Brunhildr's order to see him dead during battle. Brunhildr had deemed him ready for a place in Valhalla but Sookie knew he wasn't ready for death, not until he fulfilled his mission.

Feeling the plane's engine start up, Sookie's lids popped open and she saw Eric sitting in front of her. On the table between them was a brown envelope which no doubt held her contract papers.

"I didn't hear you come in." It was a first for her. As the plane started moving out of the hanger and to the runway, Sookie forced herself to calm down and relax into the seat. It helped that she couldn't hear Eric's thoughts. "What did you find out about Godric?"

"No one's heard from him. All of his things were in his house including his cell phone." He appeared so calm and talking took her mind off the fact that the plane was gaining speed for a takeoff.

Once they were in the air and at a cruising altitude Sookie spoke. "Can his underlings be trusted?"

"Godric has known them since he became a sheriff. They're also too young to match him."

"What about other supernatural beings? Has there been any word of them in Dallas?" The fear that one of her sisters was involved in Godric's disappearance had kept her up the previous night. A thousand possibilities and thoughts ran through her mind and kept her awake. Her sisters could have thought they were protecting her now that she was vulnerable. They had never trusted Godric or Eric after he became a vampire. She had tried to assure them that Godric was good but they all refused to believe her. Or Godric could have been taken by any number of enemies.

Humans could have found him while Godric was sleeping and silvered him then transported him right after sunset. She couldn't rule out some sort of poison or if someone had leverage on Godric, they wouldn't need to resort to violence. No matter how far fetched a scenario was, Sookie imagined it happening and had grown more restless, unable to sleep.

Eric's demeanor changed and he leaned forward in his chair, his elbows rested on the table, Eric laced his long fingers together and rested his chin on top of them.

"No other supernatural being would be able to take Godric."

"For almost twelve hours a day, vampires are vulnerable and you are not without weaknesses."

"How do you know so much about us?"

She had to be careful, once she got started; it was difficult for her to stop. "I've known Godric for a long time. We trust each other. Right now, I only want to focus on finding Godric."

Once they found Godric and she talked to him about Eric and she would go from there. Sookie would be Eric's telepath and word would get out about her abilities. It wouldn't be possible for her to go on with the façade that she was just a human. She would tell him the truth. Why did she still have the ability to read minds? Perhaps her idea of living peacefully as a human, falling in love, getting married, having children, and growing old was naïve.

All she had done as a Valkyrie was train, scour the battlefields, and fight. She hadn't even had a hobby and still hadn't gotten around to finding one. Sookie fulfilled her duties as a Valkyrie and as the daughter of Woden and Freya but after the centuries passed, she realized just how empty her existence had been. From what she felt from humans, they were passionate creatures. She supposed it was because their lives were so delicate. In her short time as a human, Sookie felt things she hadn't felt during a fight. It was different from the pain, anger, courage, and fortitude she was used to. Humans were more complex than she had previously thought.

Eric graciously changed the subject and leaned back in his chair, no longer crowding her. "Once we get to Dallas, we'll be able to learn more but no one is certain who kidnapped Godric or why." Sookie nodded. "Do you understand the situation you're getting yourself in?" Eric asked.

"Yes, you told the vampires in Dallas that I was your telepath."

"They won't understand or believe your friendship with Godric so it's best if you don't mention it." Sookie nodded again.

"I understand."

Eric took out the papers from the envelope and handed them to her. Without reading the document, Sookie flipped the pages to the last page and held her hand out for a pen. After printing her name and signing the contract, she dated it and handed the contract back to Eric along with the pen. She hadn't bothered reading the papers because she didn't have the patience for it and because she was holding up her end of the bargain.

"It would also be in your best interest if I claimed you as mine."

"No." She crossed her arms in defiance, that was something she refused to do. "I'm not a possession."

"We will be going to a nest and Godric isn't there to keep them in line. I have no authority there. If you say you're mine, they won't be able to touch you. I can keep you safe." Eric looked so damn smug, she wanted to punch him.

"I'll stake them all in their sleep if they try anything."

She could tell Eric fought the urge to chuckle. "We need to focus on Godric." She couldn't argue against that but she wanted to. She wasn't a possession, damn it! But Eric was right, she couldn't spend her time making sure the vampires in Dallas kept their hands to themselves and she wouldn't be able to fight them off. Especially if what Eric said about her scent was true. She didn't know about the vampires in Dallas and wasn't exactly keeping up with vampire news.

"The ground rules are no biting and no touching or I'll stake you in your sleep." Sookie despised the emptiness of her threat even more than the fact that she was going to tell vampires who were technically younger than her that she belonged to Eric.

"There will have to be some biting. You only need to take a little of my blood and I'll be able to sense where you are and whether or not you're in trouble."

To her knowledge, Sookie still had a little of Godric's blood still inside her so he could still sense her. It would be no different than that. But Godric had given her blood when she was close to death, he had saved her life. This would be like admitting she would need Eric to save her if she was in trouble. It was a blow to her pride. She didn't think she would be getting into any dangerous situations with vampires while she was human which was why the prospect of asking for help never occurred to her. Now that the situation presented itself, Sookie was forced to admit she was weak. In this form at least, she was utterly defenseless.

Sookie also noticed that Eric didn't mention the possibility of dreaming about him in a sexual nature, probably because he was still trying to seduce her. But she didn't have to worry about that since she didn't dream.

Her nails bit into her palms and her knuckles turned white. "Just this once."

Eric motioned for her to come to him and had her sit on the table facing him. She forced herself to relax her hands but her heartbeat sped up and she was certain he could hear it even over the roaring of the engines. She would belong to him even if it was just to trick a few vampires; the thought of being tied to Eric sent an odd shiver of anticipation through her. Dropping his fangs, Eric bit into the vein on his wrist and held it up for her. After a long hesitation, Sookie took his hand and brought his bleeding wrist to her lips and placed them over the wound. She forced down a mouthful of his cold blood. It tasted metallic but it was also laced with something extra, indescribable, unlike her blood.


Eric was about to tell her the wound was going to close when she reached out to hold his hand and lifted his arm to her lips. Her hot mouth closed around the punctures and her tongue darted out to lick the blood that had trailed out. His eyes darkened as he watched her take a tentative pull. Her hair was clipped on one side, exposing an ear and part of her neck. Her eyes were downcast as though she was trying to think of something else as she forced his blood down.

With his free hand, he trailed a finger down her neck, eliciting a shiver. It would be so easy to sink his fangs into her neck. But she wasn't ready for that yet and he needed her to find Godric. She pulled away from him too soon, he would have allowed her to take more of his blood but she had already taken more than enough to ensure he would be able to feel her emotions and sense her. Her lips were tinted red, making her appear almost like vampire.

His wound healed in just a few seconds and something about the look in his eyes must have startled her because she quickly stood and went to her chair. Eric would have questioned her or tried to fill the silence but he didn't want to sour her mood too much. He felt her worry, most likely for Godric as she turned away from him and rested her chin in the palm of her hand and looked out the window.

After his meeting with Sophie-Anne, Eric's stress had doubled. Thankfully she didn't seem to know about Sookie but she had instructed him not to interfere with any selling of V and had even ordered him to use Fangtasia to sell V on the side. Apparently the Queen of Louisiana was broke and in debt to the IRS. Eric mentally shook his head at her incompetence. Sophie-Anne also said something about one of her vampires in court moving to Louisiana to help with the sales but he hadn't been paying attention. The only reason why he hadn't deposed her was because he had no wish to become king. While the position held greater power, it was just a title. He and Godric, being older than many others held real power, not given to them from the Authority but achieved through survival.

"If…if Godric died or was in trouble, you'd feel it right?" She sounded so uncertain, almost frail.

Technically, Godric had released him and was able to block his end of their bond but Eric believed his maker would have called for him if he were in real danger. At least, he hoped that was the case. It was also possible, however slim that Godric was taken by humans and if they had some sort of weapon Godric would have tried to protect him by not calling him. Godric would have sacrificed himself and any chance at a rescue.

But Sookie didn't need to know his worries as well. Eric simply nodded and felt some of her relief. She was concerned but she was unafraid, which was something Eric respected her for. She was loyal to his maker and cared for him. She possessed rare qualities and had even surprised him on multiple occasions.

More than her scent or beauty, the fire she possessed and the loyalty she had towards Godric made her attractive to him. It was also partly the puzzle she presented him with. From his maker's subtle hints to Sookie's interest in his necklace, he had an idea of what she was but he wasn't sure. He would have to taste her to be sure she was something other than human and at the earliest opportunity, he would take it. But for some unexplainable reason, Eric wanted her to offer her blood to him and he didn't want to be in a situation where she was forced to give him her blood. For the second time in his existence, the first being his progeny, Eric found he enjoyed the company of someone other than Godric.


Once they arrived in Dallas, Eric and Sookie were greeted by a human chauffer and a limousine. He appeared nervous, but otherwise a normal human holding up a sign that said NORTHMAN PARTY with one hand while the other held a glass of blood. One sniff and Eric knew that it was real, human blood and not the synthetic waste they tried to pass off as blood. Sookie reached the chauffer first and Eric approached them a few seconds later. The man smiled weakly and held the glass out to him.

"With our compliments Mr. Northman." He said after clearing his throat. He seemed uncomfortable but it didn't matter. Taking the glass, he brought it up to his lips while the chauffer motioned for Sookie to get into the car. However, before his lips touched the glass, Sookie hit his hand and knocked the glass away. The blood spilled onto his leather jacket and the ground.

Eric looked from the shattered glass to Sookie, and saw the man take out a pair of handcuffs, Eric could only assume were silver. Before the chauffer could cuff him, Eric had him by the throat and on the floor with a powerful knee trapping his arm. His fangs bared, Eric growled lowly in anger.

Locking eyes, it was easy for Eric to glamour the man. "Let go of the handcuffs."

Still using his glamour on the man, Eric got up and motioned for Sookie to open the door, which she did. "Get in the car." Following the driver and Sookie into the spacious back seat of the limousine, Eric closed the door behind them.

"What is your name?"

"Leon." The man said, deep in the thrall that Eric put him under.

"What was in the blood, Leon?" Eric asked, though he was sure of the answer.

"Silver."

"I heard his thoughts when you were about to drink. It was supposed to kill you and he was going to take me." Sookie said from beside him, not the least bit shaken from what had just occurred and what almost occurred.

Eric didn't take kindly to threats on his life and even less on what was his, and Sookie was now his.

"Who are you working for?"

"Fellowship of the Sun." His suspicions were correct. The human church group most likely had taken Godric and they now knew of Sookie and tried to abduct her.

"Do you know who specifically hired you?"

"No." Eric nearly growled.

"Where were you planning on taking her?" Eric's fangs retreated now that the threat was gone.

"The church." That was likely where they had Godric as well. A thousand thoughts went through his head. Most of them centered on the question of how humans managed to capture Godric. He briefly wondered if he should let Leon take Sookie and believe that they succeeded. It could lead him to Godric but it was also risky.

Beside him, Sookie raised her voice. "Why were you ordered to abduct me?"

"I do not know. I was only told that the human with the Northman party was helping the vampires locate the vampire Godric." The way Leon phrased it, 'the human', Eric doubted the church had any real information on Sookie. Revealing her to them early wouldn't be good in the long run. Though Eric longed to storm the church and kill any and all who stood between him and his maker, he also knew that it would be a political disaster. The Fellowship of the Sun was well known with many members, they were also one of the most vocal about opposing vampire rights. The Authority wouldn't stand by and let their political objectives ruined because of one vampire.

He felt Sookie's anger and heard it in the way she clenched her teeth as she spoke. "Do you know where he is?"

"No, ma'am I do not."

"Leon, tell your employer you succeeded in killing the vampire in the Northman party but that in his desperation to live, he killed the human he was with."

Sookie looked up at him, shocked.

"Do you understand?" Eric continued.

"Yes." Opening the door once again, Eric stepped out and ordered the chauffer to do the same.

"Now, drive to Hotel Carmilla."

Getting back into the back seat, Eric tried to come up with a plan.

"So this church, the Fellowship of the Sun has Godric?" Sookie slid closer to him as the car began to pull out of the airport.

"Perhaps, but we don't know why or how they could have taken him. Or where he is being held. We will meet with Godric's underlings as planned." Sookie nodded, and he couldn't help but want to reach out and touch her. His large hand cupped the side of her face and moved her blonde hair off her shoulder. "Thank you."

The blush that stained her cheeks only reminded him that he needed to feed soon, especially if he was to attempt to rescue Godric.

It didn't take them long to reach the hotel and Eric sent Leon on his way after instructing him once again and ensuring he forgot anything else about them. There was a traitor in Godric's nest and Eric was going to not only root them out but he was going to destroy them.


Again, thank you for your continued support! Don't forget to review. I'm sorry this chapter took longer than usual, I couldn't get the second half down the way I wanted but I am somewhat satisfied with how it turned out.