Chapter Twelve
Sookie's mind was racing. This was unbelievable but then she was Sookie Stackhouse and it was perfectly normal for her to be in yet another supernatural situation. She almost laughed out loud. What were the odds. It was ghosties now too?
On the one hand she could not believe this was happening. On the other hand it made perfect sense to her. Of course the witch wanted her revenge. How was she doing it though? How had she been able to possess Bill? Who else had she been able to get to and how could they find out? Why Bill? Eric should have been affected, he was the last time. Could their bond be the reason he wasn't susceptible to her influence? Damn that Bill! She started to shake with rage as she realized what could have happened had Amelia not called.
A picture frame on the wall behind Eric shattered scaring everyone in the room. Eric leaned backwards pretending it was him that did it. He did not want to call attention to Sookie's abilities yet. Eric sent calm through the bond to soothe her. Sookie had not noticed that she was the cause of the cracked glass. Neither had anyone else.
She looked at Amelia who had gone white as the ghost they were talking about. She felt a pang of pity for her friend. Amelia had no idea how to help them. Octavia would and so would Niall. She touched Amelia's shoulder gently. " You need to wake Octavia and get her out here."
Sookie turned to Eric and took his big hand in hers. She felt his fear earlier, it was so that most people would not have known it, but he was her bonded and she knew it had been there.
"Eric, are you alright?
He smiled at her and squeezed her hand. " Yes my lover I am fine."
Sookie knew there was much more to him just being fine. " Eric please talk to me, I saw and felt your fear. I know what happened with Hallow the last time, I was there too remember?"
Eric looked at her and knew she would continue until he answered her.
" I am not afraid Sookie. I am worried for your safety. Fear is not something I carry with me, it is not something I allow. To feel fear is to lose wisdom in any battle. There is no room for it."
Sookie thought about this statement and realized he was right. But she still felt something there that he wouldn't put into words. He was a Viking warrior after all, and there was a lot of pride in being brave.
"So what's our next move?"
"We need to get everyone together to sort this out. We also need everyone in the same room so we can see who is susceptible to Hallow's influence. We need Niall here as well to see what he knows.
She walked to the window and looked toward Bill's house. She knew how Eric felt about Bill, and that if it wasn't for her Bill would be dead. Really dead and not just undead. Eric would make sure of it. He had not yet done anything out of respect for her and how she felt.
The problem was that she was not so sure she wanted Bill around anymore. He had hurt her so much in the past, maybe it was better if was forced to leave Bon Temps. She wanted to be good. To be the Sookie Gran had raised her to be. It seemed that lately there was another side of her that was emerging, a side that scared her a little. She noticed every time she took Eric's blood, she was stronger and not only in the physical sense. She was emotionally stronger too. It was this side of her that could do away with Bill. It made her wonder what she was capable of and if she could control the changes and the consequences they would bring. There were time she wanted Bill to suffer as she had, but what would that make her? Was she losing her conscience? Her empathy for people?
She knew she needed to speak with Niall for some guidance.
Eric had been watching her as she gazed out the window. He stayed silent and listened to her struggle. He could send her comfort but she needed to work this out for herself. He was wondering if Sookie had also been under the influence of Hallow somehow. He had noticed her getting stronger as well. Like the frame downstairs. She was projecting more often. Was it his blood that was igniting the change in her? Was it Hallow? Or was it simply her time to come into her own? He was not sure what power she would have beyond telepathy but he was sure there was more. She was still so young and power grew with age. It was impressive. Even though she was part fae she was showing powers of one who was closer to pure fae.
She turned then to look at him. How she loved this man. Yes it was strange even though he was a vampire, she still thought of him as her man. Her viking warrior. She knew without a doubt that he would be loyal to her and protect her forever. Was it enough for her? Would she ever stop wondering what the difference would be if he could say he loved her? Would it really be that different or would they just be words? It was his actions that showed her he cared. That she was sure would not change with words of love. He would still do anything to keep her from harm, so maybe there was no difference.
She had not realized it but she was flooding the bond with her emotions, all her love for him. He felt a bright white light flowing through him, everywhere. Unlike before when she had opened the bond with pain that almost crippled him, this gave him strength. He was an old vampire and a strong one, had lived through many things. He had never felt anything like this before. He knew that she loved him, but he never knew that she felt this way. This was in interesting turn of events, could she carry him through dangerous situations with this light within him? Could he brave the sunlight? It felt that way, he felt invincible. It was incredible.
He heard her thoughts and a part of him was sad that he couldn't love her in return the way she loved him.
As quickly as it happened the white light was gone, her own thoughts shut off from him. She was manipulating their bond fairly well. It was something he wanted to talk with her about but that would be another time. He knew this was headed in a different direction. One he wouldn't like.
"Sookie?"
" You know most of the time I can convince myself that I can live with you and love you the way I do. That it's alright that you can't love me back the same way. That you take care of me, and see that I am safe is enough. Our sex life is more than fantastic. I feel that I can talk and laugh with you better than I ever have with anyone. But then I remember."
"Remember what Sookie?" Eric asked.
She looked away and he felt her sadness before he saw the tears.
" I remember what it was like when you did love me. When Hallow cursed you, you loved me. I was your hearts desire. I know the difference between the Eric you are now and the Eric that loved me and was ready to give up everything for me. To stay with me. It makes me sad because had that never happened I would have never know the other true side of you."
"Sookie that was a spell, it wasn't real."
" Wasn't it Eric? Are you so sure that it wasn't real between us?"
" I can't explain it to you Lover, I just know that I care for you but it is not love. I don't know what love is. How can I offer you something I've never felt? I am a vampire, I know that you are my bonded and I am sworn to you. I will care for you, and laugh with you, I want to be with you forever. Is that not enough?"
" I don't know Eric. Maybe I can live this way but what happens if it's not enough? I know that what you felt for me when you were cursed was real. I can't pretend that it wasn't. I don't understand how you can. Don't you remember at all how it was between us?"
He remembered being with her, but he couldn't remember how he felt at the time. How could he explain it to her so she would understand. Bloody witches. They could wreak havoc on a vampire, it was why his kind stayed as far away from them as possible. Most vampires made deals with witches to keep them happy and give them what they wanted. Eric could not give in to Hallow. He was a fool to think she could not affect him. But she had and his while life had been turned upside down because of his pride and foolishness.
"Sookie I don't remember, honestly I wish I could. I remember being happy and incredible turned on, but I don't remember what the love felt like. I know it hurts you my lover, but perhaps it will get better with time."
Sookie smiled and nodded. There were much more important things to be dealing with right now besides her ego.
"Don't do that Sookie, don't brush it off as not important. How you feel is more important to me than anything. I want you to be happy. Are you happy with me?"
She walked over to him, put her arms around him and hugged him tight. " Yes I am happy when I am with you."
He rested his chin on her head and wrapped his arms around her. Softly he whispered in her ear " Then that's a good beginning don't you think?"
He brought her chin up so her lips met his. He kissed her slowly savoring her sweet soft lips. He parted them and deepened the kiss. This was not about sex, although it could always easily lead to that with her. This was just a kiss. To bring them back where they needed to be, where there was no question of who felt what for whom. She pulled him closer, her hands winding around the back of his neck, caressing his hair. When they were like this, she felt adored by him. She felt loved. If she felt loved by him then she knew there was something more there. Even though he couldn't recognize it for what it was, she knew deep in her heart that it was there. Somewhere in him laying dormant was his love for her.
She absolutely glowed then, and the white light enveloped them both. She felt his lips turn upwards into a smile.
He took her hand then. ""Let's go and round everyone up and get Niall here."
He couldn't help but think that his life was so much better with Sookie in it. Was that love? Could he learn to know what Love was and recognize it?
As they walked to meet with everyone, he thought Hallow's curse had been a blessing in disguise.
Sorry it's been awhile since my last chapter. I am already working on the next one and will get it posted soon. Please review. This is my first fan fic story and your review help. These are not my characters, I just want to play with them for a while. Thank you Charlaine!
