Sookie sat in the small cabin and it occurred to her not once even in his anger had his fangs clicked into place. As her eyes took in his few pieces of clothing she noticed all of his shirts were long sleeve. For the first time since she had known him he had pulled away from her touch. She had expected him to be angry and hurt because of her disappearance years ago but this was overboard from anything she ever expected and she was determined to know the truth behind his actions tonight. The old Eric would never harm her even when he was angry yet tonight he had said he would kill her. She would find out what had caused this change although she suspected she already knew the truth…De Castro.

If Eric confirmed her hunch was correct he would soon be a finally dead vampire that much she knew. Taking off in the direction that Eric had went she followed the sound of running water until she saw him from a distance. He was waist deep and the moonlight shimmered off the water on his shoulders. The closer she got she could not believe what she was seeing. His body…his beautiful body was covered in thick deep scars.

Tears ran from her eyes and a sob escaped her lips before she could stop it. Eric whipped around trying to hide himself with his massive arms. Rushing out of the water he grabbed his shirt and pants throwing them on his wet body at vampire speed to keep her from seeing any more. He was a blur as he passed her headed for the cabin.

As she stepped onto the porch her eyes took in the beautifully hand crafted porch swing. She knew Eric had made this during his time here because she had witnessed his talented carving skill once when he made her a Celtic love knot. Running her hands over the smooth wood she sat down and took in the sounds of the night in her peaceful surroundings allowing Eric enough time alone inside the cabin to collect his thoughts.

When she opened the door he was sitting at the table drinking blood from a wooden cup. Never taking his eyes off of the wood in his hands he continued to carve into shape as the shavings fell in his lap she sat down in a chair beside him.

"Eric I never meant to hurt you by coming here. I hope you believe me I only want to help."

The minutes of silence filled the air between them. Finally she heard him whisper. "Sookie I am beyond any help that you could offer. You need to go home…where ever that is. I am not the Viking you once knew."

"Eric I don't believe that." As she reached out to place her hand on his arm in a comforting gesture he once again pulled away. His shirt sleeve pulled back with the quick movement of his arm and she saw up close the thick wide scar on his wrist. Grabbing his arm she pushed the sleeve further back and gasp at what she saw. His strong wrist had a deep scar of about three inches wide all the way around it.

"Eric what or who done this to you?"

Dropping his eyes to the floor the silence grew between them. Placing her fingers underneath his chin she directed his eyes back to her face and ask the question again.

"It does not matter Sookie. Let it go. It is best…it is right."

Hearing the words that he had said to her the first time they had made love but in a different context prompted her to throw her arms around his neck pulling him close to her body as she whispered in his ear. "It matters to me Eric."

She felt his whole body stiffen at her touch and then he began to relax and said. "If you must know it was a punishment."

"Eric did De Castro punish you for my leaving? Did he do this to you?"

"He was my King Sookie. It was his right…I was his property just like you were until you left."

"Eric I want to know what he did to you. I want to know it all before I have my revenge on him and his retinue."

"No Sookie! Promise me you will never return to Louisiana. It is too dangerous. I have paid enough for both of us. Let it go and be safe."

Not saying a word she looked into his eyes at the hurt and slowly began unbuttoning his shirt. As her hands gently pushed it off of his shoulders her eyes scanned his upper torso taking in the damaged skin. Large, fat tears dripped off of her chin while bloody ones fell from his eyes leaving streaks on his cheeks.

Running the tips of her fingers tenderly over the marred skin her broken voice asked the question her mind was demanding an answer to.

"Eric why didn't it heal? I thought vampires always healed."

"Not when they are starved for blood for a long time." He answered in a flat far away voice.

"Is this all of it Eric? Let me see…please."

Reaching down she started unbuttoning his pants. Suddenly he placed his hand over hers to stop what she was doing and shook his head no in a silent response to her question. The fear in his eyes was so alive in that moment that she could not longer hold back the sobs that escaped her mouth.

"Oh baby…I am so, so sorry. If you drink my blood since I am 1/8 fairy would it heal the scars?"

Looking at the floor he quietly said. "No Sookie I no longer have the control I once did. I might drain you."

Taking one of his large hands into both her small ones she said. "Baby you are the most in control vampire I know. To survive De Castro's torture for so long you have exceptional control. Drink from me Eric."

"No Sookie not even your blood can erase the emotional scars. It is something I will carry with me always until I am no more." Dropping his head in defeat the silence became deafening.

"Then tell me Eric…tell me it all. My Gran always said the load was lighter to pack if it was shared. So share with me my Viking."

"Sookie I am ashamed. Once you have heard my tale of humiliation you will never think the same of me again. You will see me as the weak vampire that I am. You will see me as others who witnessed my punishments…as nothing."

"It is late Sookie. You can stay here tonight but tomorrow at sunset I will fly you back to civilization. I know you can not be glamoured but Sookie please tell no one you found me. Please I am begging you…I need to stay invisible to all who ever knew me. The memory of who I use to be is much better than who I am now."

Getting up from the table he walked over to a chest at the end of his bed and pulled out a quilt that my Gran had made. Spreading it over the small bed he told me he always slept in the ground so I could have the bed.

As I lay in bed that night I knew sleep would not come. My pain for all that Eric had suffered because of me kept playing on a repeating loop in my brain. I cried enough tears that night for my Viking to make a river and swore to everything I ever held holy to get revenge for all the wrongs done to the one I love. But first I had to figure out how to convince Eric to let me stay and help him.