I was supposed to go deal with punishing the fledgling but I did not have the heart for torture and Isabel offered in my stead. It was one of the few nights I was alone in the nest except for a few donors. All the other vampires that resided with me had other matters that night. I was secretly happy to have a few hours to myself. The donors would stay in their own rooms or their common room in the far upper east wing. I decided to feed, as it had been many weeks since I last had. Then I was going to go to the patio and lie near the pool and look at the stars. It was a favorite pastime, one I did not get to enjoy enough. The stars often answered my questions without my ever asking. Their ancient light guiding me to the conclusions I came to. I had only just left the donor when the numbness overcame me. I had never felt such a thing and then blackness followed by pain.

I woke on a silver lined table; pain radiated throughout my being and I felt shocking weakness. I quickly shut down the bond. I did not want Eric to share this pain and I did not want to lead him into a trap. I had no idea how I came to be here or how long I had been there. I still don't.

I am in a small cube of a room that is completely lined in silver. I am on a table in the center that is also lined in silver. My arms, ankles, thighs, and chest are strapped with silver cuffs to the table. I cannot move. I have not been so helpless since I was human. I have been melancholy lately and weary of my existence. My current predicament seems to support my notion that I am no longer cut out for this un-life.

The pain erases all sense I have. I am stuck in my own mind reliving each pain I faced since my turning. Each precise memory gives reason to the burning in my being. I hear no one, I see no one, I taste only my own ineptness and shame, and I feel only pain.

She agreed to go. I agreed to all her stipulations. She has a very far range with her telepathy. She will stay by me in my day rest at Godric's nest. The donors and pets will be moving around the house normally and she will be able to read them without danger to herself. Our contingency is always her popping out if things go unseemly but the two of us can handle most things that come our way. Sookie can be quite the warrioress. The first time I saw her fight I nearly got my own head sliced off so distracted and aroused was I by her performance. I try to limit those encounters less I lose my friend and telepath.

This trip is very scary for her because of some fuck wad William Compton. I have never met the vampire and he should pray I never do. Sookie has given me enough information to end him. Also, because we do not know what sort of problems we are dealing with, usually we come in to shed light on a situation then back out of it and let the others deal with the particulars.

We will arrive late tonight and retire early. Sookie does not wish to spend a great deal of time with strange vampires, especially when 'they're all upset' as she puts it. She has warmed to the vampires of my area and them to her but she has been coming to Fangtasia three nights a week and helping me with various problems for about a year.

She has done many kind things for the vampires of area 5 Louisiana that have surprised them and me. Sookie noticed Indira always eyed her fae opal and gold necklace. It is a truly rare work of art. The opal is a creamy orange with burst of red, yellow, amber, and bright orange, as if a fire burns inside. The colors and sparkles churn and swirl inside the stone. The gold shines with its own aura much like the fae themselves do and is warm like the sunshine it resembles. One night Sookie gave Indira a small plainly wrapped box and told her it was just a little something to brighten her night. Indira set it aside until the end of the night. I noticed though that she kept glancing at it through her shift at the bar. Sookie sought sleep hours ago, the bar had closed, the customers were gone, and clean-up was almost complete; Indira opened the package. Her eyes spilled bloody tears and she stared into the box with wonder; tired of waiting for her to speak I intruded. I had never received a 'present' before and I was intensely interested; the current idea of presents was not in practice during my human years and vampires do not give presents to each other. Indira looked her blood streaked face at me and finally spoke and turned the box to show me a necklace nearly identical to the one Sookie wore herself.

"I do not understand. This is amazing; why would she give such a thing to me? What should I do Sheriff?" she was truly perplexed. She must never have received a 'present' before either.

"I think you should wear it."

"What does she want from me?"

"I do not believe she wants anything from you."

"What should I do about this? Surely I cannot just receive this with no recompensing."

"I believe you should say 'thank you', she would wish for no more."

"Truly?"

"Truly."

I cease my musings just as I arrive at Sookie's home. She lives in the most remote back water place you can imagine yet it somehow fits her. The whole place is like a step into the past. Each generation of her family that lived here had left impressions behind. Sookie is no different as you can see her imprint everywhere. I get out of my black Escalade and speed to her door. She sensed me miles ago and opened the door before I knocked. She had few bags and was chatting in the language of the fairies on her cell phone. I loaded her bags while she finished speaking and she stepped off the porch, ending her call, just as I was closing the door.

We got in and headed down her drive. We looked at each other before we turned down Humming Bird Lane, "Here we go, all will be well. We will find my maker and I will be endlessly in your debt. I will not hear the end of this I am sure. Now stop your worrying, I hate to see those lines on your face. You'll be the only fairy to ever need botox." I was rewarded with her laughter and a smile shining from her face.