28
The noises around me quieted. I knew that the battle was over. The fact that I was still breathing boded well for our side.
My head stayed turned to the side, taking in the sight of Eric, standing over the decapitated corpse of Felipe de Castro. As gruesome a sight as it was, I refused to close my eyes. I was afraid that if they closed, Eric would be gone and this would have all been dream.
It was at that moment that my vampire's eyes meant mine. He came to me then, and knelt beside me. I knew it would hurt, but I reached up for him.
Eric scooped me up like a rag doll into his arms, holding me close to his chest as if he would never let me go. This was just fine with me.
"I told you not to come." He whispered into my ear.
"I know."
"You never listen to me."
"Why would I start now? "I stammered, still having trouble breathing.
Eric pulled back a bit and bit down on his wrist, drawing blood. He offered it to me and I accepted. I needed to heal quickly.
Eric held me and rocked me as if I were a baby in need of a lullaby.
"Baby?" I said, pulling away. My bones, still broken, I knew, but I could not wait for all of the healing properties Eric's blood offered me to take effect. "Where is Amelia?"
Eric was at a loss for words. He looked away from me.
"Eric?"
"Sam is injured. He may have lost a few fingers. Alcide was stabbed by one of the guards, but he will survive. Stephan was staked. Agatha, Pam and Bill are all going to be ok."
"Jason?"I asked.
"He is ok too, Sookie. A few bruises, but you should be proud."
"What about Amelia?" I knew Eric was avoiding having to answer this question, I could feel it.
"Tray fell to de Castro. He is gone, Sookie, trying to protect Amelia."
"Oh God, "I cried. "She's gone, Eric. Isn't she?"
"NO, lover," he said softly. "Not yet."
"Yet?"
"She was stabbed by the same stake that Felipe used to strike down her mate. It punctured the lining of her heart. She is bleeding internally. Sookie, she will not live much longer."
I wept uncontrollably.
Eric pulled me close to him again, kissing my hair. "She has fought to stay alive to speak to you. You must be strong."
I pulled away and looked at Eric again.
"I don't know if I can be," I replied honestly.
"You have to."
I nodded to him. Eric stood and offered his hand to me to help me up. He wrapped his arm around my waist and walked me slowly toward the small group a few steps away.
Antony was cradling Amelia's head in his lap, gently stroking her hair away from her eyes. Lois stood with her hand on his shoulder, the other holding onto Jason's. Bill was rubbing one of Amelia's legs. Sam and Alcide, bandaged, stood behind Bill.
Pam sat on the floor, holding Amelia's hand, gently caressing it with her thumb. I could see the bloody tears that were welling in Pam's eyes. For the first time, I saw Pam as a human, not a vampire. Amelia was smiling at Pam.
Amelia's eyes fell on me and she managed a smile. Using her free hand, she reached up toward me.
I fell to my knees on the floor next to my friend. I fought back the tears that hung on the verge of my emotions.
"Hey Sook," Amelia whispered. "I think we won?"
"Yeah," I managed to say. I was watching the life slipping away from her. "Meals, you're going to be ok."
Amelia tried to laugh, but she coughed a little, blood slipping from her mouth. The vampires around me made no movement.
"No," she said to me smiling. "I'm not. Tray. He waits for me, you know?"
I couldn't stop the tears now.
"Amelia, I," I couldn't make the words. I didn't want to face this. I felt Eric beside me.
"Boy," Amelia tried to laugh again, directing her comment to Eric, "You sure a lot of trouble."
Eric smiled gently at my dying friend.
"Thank you, Amelia, "He told her.
"It was nothing," Amelia sputtered. "I had always wanted to go to Vegas." Her eyes rolled back into her head and her chest heaved upward. Her smile vanished as she gasped for the air that she needed.
"Sookie," she gasped, squeezing my hand.
"I'm right here," I cried. Amelia found me again.
"My baby," she said, a tear rolling from her eye.
"Shhh." I whispered to her, using everything I had to try to comfort her. "The baby will be just fine. It has the best parents in the world. Its daddy was, is, the bravest were I have ever known. And it's Mama…"
I struggled, trying to quash my sobbing.
"It's Mama is my best friend. And I love her and I can't make it without her." I pleaded. I knew the time was near I would have to say good bye to my friend.
Amelia sputtered again, her words becoming more difficult.
"You don't have to speak, sweetie." I begged of her. My selfishness was trying to keep her with me.
Amelia nodded, "I do." I nodded back to her, brushing away my tears with my free hand.
"Lois can save the baby, Sookie." Amelia choked out.
"Shhhh," I hastened again. "Please Meals, you need to rest."
"Take care of her, Eric. She is a treasure." Amelia stuttered. Eric nodded in compliance. Amelia looked to Lois and smiled. "It's time."
"Time?" I asked my friend softly.
"I have to say Good bye now, Sookie."
"No Amelia!" I graveled. My tears were like a raging river.
"I love you." She said to me, smiling.
"Meals? Please! Don't leave me!"
Amelia looked to Lois again. Lois moved to Amelia's side and placed her hands on the small baby bump. She began to recite some words in Latin.
"Parvulus prognatus. Quino Spiritus pro tui matris. Acquiro viso vivo."
"Amelia, please," I begged of my friend, trying to hold onto her. "Don't go!"
Lois repeated the words and as she did, I saw Amelia's bump grow larger.
"I love you, Sookie." Amelia said again, more as a soft whisper. Then my friend drew in a breath, closed her eyes, and left me forever.
Pam cried heavily but soundlessly. She stood and walked out of the ballroom and into the foyer. I heard an agonizing scream and the sound of glass shattering. I could see the liquor bottles smashed to pieces.
Lois continued the words as I held my friend's lifeless hand. The bump grew more and more."
"Eric," Antony said sharply, "Get her out of here."
"No," I yelled through tears. "I'm not leaving her! Eric, no! Please!"
Eric picked me up into his arms and cradled me as we ventured toward the foyer. I looked over my shoulder. Lois was still chanting her phrase. I saw Antony with a knife in his hand.
"NO!" I cried. My body shook, my grief was inconsolable. A large piece of my heart was lying on the floor of that ballroom. It wouldn't ever heal.
Eric carried me outside. The night was still dark. The crisp desert air rushed into me, and I felt guilty because I could still breathe.
I cried and cried. My guilt was overwhelming.
Eric said nothing. He just held me in his arms close to his chest, caressing my face and brushing my hair out of my eyes. I could feel how helpless he felt. He could offer me his blood to heal my broken bones, but he could do nothing to repair the emptiness that was consuming me now.
We could have been there on the steps for minutes or days. Time meant nothing to me now. Amelia was gone and I would never see her smile again.
Eric raised his head at the approaching footsteps from behind us. He didn't tense. I could feel him slipping away and placing me on the steps. He squatted in front of me, looking into my eyes. He didn't say anything, I don't know if he even had words for the emotions I was feeling. He gently kissed me, holding my head in his hands.
When he pulled away, he stood and walked inside. The footsteps from behind me grew closer. I didn't turn around. I didn't care who it was.
The feet moved to the right of me down the steps. I recognized the heels. It was Pam. I still didn't look up.
Pam came to a stop in front of me. She didn't move for a few moments and I didn't acknowledge her.
She bent to me.
"Sookie, open your arms." She said softly.
I didn't look at her, but did follow her command. I needed someone, anyone, to tell me what to do at this point.
In my arms, Pam slowly and carefully placed a bundle of Amelia's torn shirt. Wrapped in that bundle was the most beautiful baby I had ever seen.
I looked up at Pam. She made no attempt to hide her own tears. She looked down at the newborn that lay in the tatters of her mother's clothing. , the mother that she would never know.
Pam sat next to me on the steps as my eyes never left the infant. She put her head against my shoulder and softly, we both admired the little girl.
And we wept.
29
I couldn't be sure just how long I sat on those steps, holding the newborn baby girl of my slain friends. Pam had left my side awhile ago.
Pam was taking Amelia's death worse than I could have imagined. I had always looked on Pam as a fierce vampire, cold and unfeeling. Tonight, however, I saw a glimpse of what I could only call Pam's "humanity".
Amelia and Pam had had a tryst for a while, but it wasn't anything serious. They had ended up becoming very close friends. They had little girl's nights once a month after Amelia had moved into my house. They watched movies together and shopped on the internet. I remembered one time they even posted personal ads one of those websites where people are looking for love. Pam had not found it amusing that Amelia had received more emails asking for dates than she.
Footsteps from behind me brought me back to reality. I turned my head to watch Jason sit next to me.
"This step taken?" he asked. I shook my head.
"So," he said, looking at the baby girl in my arms, "some night, huh?"
"Yeah," I replied, watching her sleep. "You never came back."
"What?" Jason asked.
"You had told me we needed to get out of the compound and I told you I wouldn't leave Eric. You walked away saying you would be right back, but you return."
"Yeah," Jason said, looking at his work boots.
"I can't believe that you were so selfish." I went on, becoming angrier with each word. "I get it, though,"
"You do?" Jason asked, still not looking at me.
"Yeah, I do. You are part Supe now and I know how you shifters feel about the vampires. I just didn't think my own brother would walk away to cover his own ass and leave me there to die."
"I suppose, "Jason replied, "that knowing me, how I am, that you would think that."
Jason stood up and walked down the steps, never looking at me.
"Well," a woman's voice stated from behind me. "That was the stupidest things I have ever heard."
Lois scowled at me. She and Eric were standing in the entrance. The female vampire walked past me, down the steps, and met up with my brother. The two walked down the driveway.
"Why don't you bring her inside?" Eric said.
"It is a little chilly," I said, wrapping the little girl tighter. I stood up from my seat and walked inside with Eric.
"You should clean up a little sweetheart," Agatha informed me. It was the first time that I had even noticed that my purple handkerchief dress was a total loss. I could feel the dried blood that clung to my face. At once I felt filthy.
"Yeah," I agreed.
Agatha walked to me and with her arms, offered to hold the little girl. I was leery, but I knew that Agatha and her delegation had fought alongside us this night. I handed the little girl to the plump vampire.
"It's been too long." Agatha remarked, looking at the bundle in her arms. "Eric, show Sookie to a room to clean up and change." Eric nodded in agreement. Taking my hand, he began to lead me down another hallway to a series of closed doors.
"Sookie, "Bill called to me. I stopped and looked at him. He seemed to have trouble finding the words he wanted to give me. "I. I'm sorry. About your friend. I am pleased you are alright."
I gave my best waitress smile to him, and then continued with Eric.
We reached a door and Eric turned the knob and signaled for me to come it. The room was reminiscent of a hotel room. It had a desk, king sized bed, and a small dresser. Off to the left hand side was a spacious bathroom. There were no windows at all. I figured this was to accommodate de Castro's vampire guests when they visited.
Eric walked into the bath and began running water into the bathtub. There was a knock on the door. I turned around and found Sam standing.
He looked like hell and I told him so.
"I'll be ok," he told me. "Are you alright?"
"I'm going to live." With that remark, I began to cry for my friend again. Sam pulled me into his arms and held me close. He did not try to say anything to comfort me, he just held me. I could smell the blood of the slaughtered vampires on him. Sam pulled back from me when Eric stepped out of the bath behind me.
"Get some rest, Sookie," Sam said, looking at Eric. "The baby will be fine. I'll keep an eye on her." With that, Sam turned to leave.
"Sam," I called out to him. He paused and looked back at me. "Thank you."
Sam smiled back in response. "Anything for my best waitress." He pulled the door closed.
"Shall we?" Eric asked. I nodded to let him know that a bath was what I needed right now. I desperately wanted to wash this night off of me.
Eric stood, looking down at me. Slowly, he reached to my back an unzipped the remains of my dress, letting it slide to the floor.
He came closer to me, running his hands from my hips down my legs, removing the last bit of clothing I had on. He lifted me into his arms and carefully carried me to the bubble bath he had drawn for me. Taking a knee, Eric lowered me into the warm water.
My eyes did not leave his as he used the white washcloth to wash the blood off of my face. Softly surrounding my eyes, letting the cloth and water do the work.
He dipped it back into the water to freshen it and returned to my face, washing my hairline. I felt like a child being bathed by their mother, a memory of mine that I held on to from my childhood.
Eric scooped water into his hands and let it run down my shoulders. He used the cloth to wash the soap away. He moved to my back. I leaned forward to let his hands find my skin. His touch was soft.
Eric washed my hair, still remaining silent. His hands running through my hair was somehow peaceful and I shut my eyes to enjoy it.
When he finished rinsing it, he let his hand slide from my crown, over my ear, to my face again. I opened my eyes to find his. The blue I was seeking had already found mine.
We stayed like that, just looking into each other's eyes. I couldn't discern what emotion he was feeling just then. I thought maybe grateful, or sadness.
"How did you know?" Eric asked me softly. "How did you know I was still alive?"
"Your tear," I told him. "When you came to me in my room, after I had passed out. You looked out my window. You wouldn't let me touch you. When I woke up, I was so desperate for you. I traced your steps from my memory. You had shed a tear that came to land on my windowsill."
"Maybe," Eric said, looking at the side of the bath tub.
"Maybe what?" I asked him.
"Maybe," he went on, "if you had never walked into Fangtasia. You wouldn't be here now. You wouldn't have had to go through any of this tonight. Your loss has been much."
"It has," I answered honestly. I reached to Eric's face and brought it back to look at mine again. "But my gain. You. That is far more than this little girl from Bon Temps had ever thought I would deserve."
"Deserve?" Eric questioned. Frustrated, he jerked his head from my hands and stood. "You deserve to lose those you hold dear? Deserve to be violated and injured at the hands of that bastard? Sookie, if I could kill him again, I would."
"I don't deserve you," I told him.
Eric fell next to the bath tub and held my face in his hands.
"Sookie Stackhouse," Eric said to me. His tone was a little scary. "It is I that don't deserve you. I've killed people, some for food, some under the guise of war, and some even for sport. The idea that someone, that you would risk your life to come here to rescue me."
Eric's lips found mine. He kissed me with such passion and fire. I felt tears begin to fall from my eyes. Eric looked at me, his eyes were also leaking.
"I've waited for you for an eternity. You are my dream come true."
I reached and pulled the vampire back to my lips. If I had my way, this moment would never end.
Eric reached into the water and lifted me out. Cradling my, he carried me to the bed, setting me down and without pause to our kiss.
His hands searched my body as if it had never felt it before. I ran my hands up Eric's back and pulled off his shirt. I ran my fingers on his chest then let them come to find his neck.
Eric broke from me a bit, watching me, as he unclasped the button on his jeans. He seemed to be looking for permission to move further.
"I love you, Eric Northman."
Those were the words he was waiting for. His body was on top of mine now. The kissing was electric. As if he had hit the on button somewhere inside of me, I wrapped my legs around his waist, bring my hips up to meet him. Eric grabbed hold of my leg, drawing it up further, and caressed it.
Slowly, his lips found the base of my neck. His kiss deepened, but he did not bite. His free hand sought out my breast, taking it and stroking it. His thumb rubs my nipple, teasing my body. I continued to meet his hips as they cautiously wriggled over my naked body.
Eric's hand that had been holding my leg released it and found its way between us. I felt him take off his jeans and without hesitating, slipped himself inside of me.
I let a moan slip from somewhere inside of me as his thrust enter deeper inside of me.
Eric raised himself onto his hands, watching me grabbed hold of the pillow my head was on.
"Look at me, Sookie. I want you to see what I am feeling."
My eyes opened to see this beautiful creature that was inside of me. His thrusts slowed. I could feel every inch of him, sliding and giving me pleasure. Eric positioned himself onto only arm, using the other to hold my face.
Eric moved quickly, pulling me to a sitting position over his manhood as he sat facing me. I rocked my body over his, tipping my head backward and letting my damp hair fall on my back. Eric's hands held my back and my shoulders. His mouth found my chest and took me into his mouth. I fought the urge to come right then. I wanted this to never end.
Eric grabbed my head and pulled my mouth to his. Our tongues joined in exploring each other and the sensations bordered on release.
"Give in to me, "Eric said.
My body could not contain itself any longer. As the pulsing began, I felt Eric give in to the physical with me.
Grabbing my hair, Eric looked at me. We didn't move from each other. Our bodies shook from the ecstasy we both felt.
"Never again," Eric said to me. "will we be apart. Never."
30
Eric was lying next to me, his arm wrapped around my waist. I hung onto his arm, refusing to let him escape from me.
"Sookie," Eric said in my era.
"Hmmm?"
"You owe Jason an apology."
"What?" I asked, turning to look at him.
"You lit into him when you were outside. You shouldn't have done that." Eric scolded.
"Well, am I supposed to give him a medal for leaving us there and taking off?"
"After Felipe grabbed you and drug you away, Jason returned."
"He came back?" I replied, sitting up to hear what I had missed while being assaulted by the dead king. Eric also sat up.
"I had felt someone pushing at my shoulder." Eric told me. "I had o fight to open my eyes, I was so weak. Jason was at my side, holding onto the fat bastard Robert.
"'Here' Jason had told me, pushing the man toward me. 'You need to get up and help my sister. She came all this way because she loves your dead ass. I'll be damned if I'm going to have your blood on my hands' he said to me. Still holding the man, Jason helped me sit up, even holding me up, as I drank from this Robert to replenish myself."
"Jason helped you?" I asked, shocked that my brother would do anything for a vampire.
"He did." Eric said matter-of-factly. "He even killed one of Felipe's guards when they approached us.
"I had told you r brother to leave me and go help you. He said that the best way he could help you was by getting my blood. It was because of your brother that I was able to come to your aid."
"Oh god, "I said, remembering the words I had with Jason outside. "I am an asshole, Eric."
"No, you're not, lover, "Eric said, trying to make me feel better. "How were you to know what he did?"
"I have to go talk to him."
Eric nodded and we both got up.
"It is two hours until dawn," Eric told me.
I had not even realized how much time had passed. The events of the night had seemed to usurp time.
"Agatha's private jet is at de Castro's runway a few miles down the road," Eric told me.
"He had his own airport?" I asked. Just like his house. Pretentious.
Eric nodded. "I will see if she and the rest are ready to leave."
"Leave?" I asked. "What about Tray and Amelia? We have to…" my voice cut off. Even before Eric spoke, I knew.
"Alcide and Sam are going to burn the house, and all that is in it. Sookie, it's the only way to keep the authorities out. If they were to come here and look into the matter…"
"I," I stuttered. "I understand." I knew he was right, but I didn't have to be thrilled with the idea of my friend and her fiancé being burned with the bodies Felipe de Castro and his minions.
Eric could feel my sadness even before I fully did. He wrapped him arms around my still naked body. I didn't speak, only nodded to say that I knew it had to be done.
Eric pulled on his jeans. "Agatha's plane is specially equipped to handle the transport of vampires," he informed me. "She had offered to take us to Shreveport. Antony and Lois will be flying, too. Sam and Alcide will be flying commercial back to Louisiana."
I pawed through the dresser, looking for something to put on. I was able to find jeans a size too large, but they would work. I slipped on a camisole that I found, as I was without my bra. Over that, I put on a blue t-shirt. I remembered seeing a pair of slippers in the bathroom. I mentioned it and Eric went to the bathroom to retrieve them.
We left the room and rejoined the group in the foyer. Jason and Lois were outside speaking to someone. There was no sign of Alcide, Sam, or Antony. Agatha was sitting in a chair making faces at the baby girl with Pam watching over her shoulder.
"Where is Jason?" I asked to anyone listening.
"Right here," Jason answered, him and Lois coming toward us carrying a large box a piece.
"What is that?" I asked my brother.
"Well," He said setting the box down. "There are a two bottles, some premade formula, a few blanket sleepers, and "he went on, pulling each item out and showing them to us.
"I have a package of diapers and these cloths in a plastic box that I was told you people used to clean those up," Lois intervened.
"Bill called a twenty four hour market that delivers," Agatha went on. "We thought these items may be necessary. It was Mr. Stackhouse's idea."
I looked at my brother. He stared back at me with a simply look on his face. I ran to him and threw my arms around him. He hugged me back.
"I am so sorry Jason," I told him through tears. "I didn't know…"
"Shh," he answered back. "It's okay Sookie."
"No, it isn't. I was so quick to jump to conclusions. By saving Eric, you saved me, too."
"Sookie," Jason said back. "Quiet down. I do have a rep to protect."
I smiled at my brother as we let go of each other.
"Besides, "Jason said, nodding toward Lois, "Vampires don't seem so bad."
I rolled my eyes at Jason and then walked to Agatha.
"Thank you for keeping an eye on her," I told the Queen vampire.
"My darling," Agatha said. "You have no reason to thank me."
"But I do," I insisted. "You helped us, you helped me tonight. You saved Eric's life. Without you, I don't know..."
"Now darling, "Agatha said, shaking her head at me. "I think Eric owes you much more than you owe me."
I noticed Pam wrinkle her nose. "I think she needs to be cleaned up," gesturing to the bundle that was beginning to stir and snuffle a bit.
I reached for her, but Pam beat me to it.
"I've got this, "she said, scooping the baby girl from Agatha's hold. Pam held the baby close to her as she grabbed the box of wipes and tore open the bag of diapers. She made her way across the room to a small settee. "You may want to make a drink for her."
I chuckled at Pam. seeing her with this baby cradled in her arms, heading to clean her up and put on a diaper. Under other circumstances, this would be admissible to Ripley's Believe it or Not.
I walked behind the bar and searched for a can opener for the formula. I could not find one for the life of me. Eric joined me behind the counter, taking the can from me. With one swift movement, he punctured the can with his index finger. The can made a popping sound to signal the air tight seal had been broken.
I removed the plastic from the bottle. As I did, Eric licked the few drops of formula off his finger.
"Urgh!" He said. "They let infants drink this liquid?" He was visibly disgusted by the taste of it. "Hey Bill," he went on. "You'd probably like this. It tastes as bad as that synthetic stuff you love to swill!"
We laughed at Eric's comment. Pam rejoined the group.
"This is crazy!" she pronounced, holding up the diaper. The little girl in her arms was naked and suckling on her fist. "They think people can actually figure these things out? I completed the Rubik's cube in thirty minutes, but this is a real puzzle."
The group laughed again. Agatha stood and took the baby from Pam. With great speed, the heavy vampire had the baby not only diapered, but dressed in one of the sleepers and wrapped in a receiving blanket tightly. She handed the child to me as I tested the temperature of the bottle on my wrist.
We looked to her for an explanation.
"In Massachusetts," she explained, "It is legal for vampires to adopt. Therefore, there has been a need for nanny services. I run an agency that provides such services. I had grandchildren before becoming a vampire and miss the nuances of child care."
I gave Agatha a smile as I fed the baby. I could imagine this grandmotherly looking vampire chasing little children around and feeding them PB &J's.
"My lady," John, Agatha's second interrupted. "The jet is ready to leave. Antony has told me that the two shifters would, as he put it, 'Light this fucker up' when we were safely in the air."
"Very good, "Agatha said. "Shall we then?"
As our group began to make its way outside, I paused, looking back into the ballroom. My heart was heavy, only lightened some by the feeling of the baby's sucking at the bottle.
"Wait," I asked. The group looked at me.
"Before we leave," I said, "I want to name the baby. I had only found out Amelia and Tray were expecting yesterday, so we never talked about names, but it just doesn't feel right to leave her mother and father behind without her having a name."
The group looked understandingly at me and the child in my arms. No one spoke. I assumed they were waiting for me to pick a name. It wasn't me that said it, but Pam.
"Abirah," Pam said, the pink hue returning to her eyes. "It is Hebrew. It means strong and heroic."
"I think," I responded as Eric put his arm around me, "that her parents would love that name."