Calvin Norris turned to look at me, axe poised in mid air. I looked down at my brother, he was looking directly at me. His expression had turned into something resembling hope. At that moment I cursed my upbringing, any other person who's brother had nearly killed them would be pleased to see this sentence. Maybe. But I'd been brought up mostly under my grandmothers rule, she was never harsh but she was strong willed, I think she imparted some of that into me, but I doubt Jason learnt anything from her.
" Calvin, I know I'm not a were and I know that we obviously live by slightly different moral codes but don't kill him, I know he tried to kill me. But I don't want him dead I just want him gone." Calvin looked slightly perplexed. I continued, " And so if what I am about to do will not disgrace your honour, I would like to abjure my brother." Everyone around me sounded shocked, but I felt Eric's cool hand slip into mine and I knew he'd help me with this one.
"Yes, go ahead Sookie." Calvin sounded choked, I doubt he realised I knew how to do this, but I stepped into the circle confidently. I looked my brother in the eyes, for the last time.
"Jason," I said, " This is it, I abjure you, I no longer see you or hear you, I no longer eat with you and I no longer pray with you I abjure you. I looked back to Calvin. I nodded and walked back to Eric.
" I will leave now, you may do what you have to, to protect your honour, but killing people is not the way forward." I wasn't sure what to do now so I turned to Eric and he pulled me out of the congregation.
Eric rode in Sam's car with us on the way back, Pam drove back to Fangtasia in her own car. I have to say it was more than just a little awkward on the drive back to my little house. It was weird seeing Eric sitting in the front seat of Sam's car. I have to give it to both of them, they really tried to talk and sound comfortable but I could see it wasn't going to work. I closed my eyes and drifted off into a light sleep, with all the exhaustion of the day I could definelty do with it. The next thing I knew we had stopped and Eric was undoing my seatbelt. I hooked my arms around his neck and he pulled me lightly from the car. We said our goodbyes and he carried me to the door. My keys were in my pocket, Eric deftly opened the door. In the back of my mind I was aware of another brain in my area but I just let it pass, until we got into the kitchen. Eric growled, he put me behind him. The stocky man in the chair stood up, his hands in the air. I realised pretty quickly that this man was a shifter and he meant us no harm.
"Eric, his okay." I said, I put a hand on Eric's arm, he felt my re-assurance flowing through our bond. He nodded and relaxed just slightly.
" Are you Sookie Stackhouse." He asked, his voice strong like his stance. I nodded carefully.
"I'm Jed." He walked towards us carefully arms still in the air. He outstretched a hand to shake. I accepted and Eric stood aside slightly, realising that I'd just given this man the go ahead. Jed obviously knew who Eric was as he bowed in front of him, I don't think I've ever seen a shifter do that to Eric.
"So, Jed, why are you in my house." I decided to come right out with it.
"I knew your brother and I wanted to just talk with you." He could see now that it might have been better to call if he was one of Jason's buds. I nodded slowly. He didn't quite seem to get it. "What do you need to talk about ?" I asked him, trying not to sound as tired as I felt. He closed his chocolate brown eyes for a second and pulled back his ear. I near enough screamed, Eric made a ghastly guttural sound. I froze in the spot. Jeb the man I had only known for a few minutes was missing an ear. I doubt he was one of my estranged brothers drinking buddies.
I brought Jed in a mug of Amelia's homemade tea. I was pretty shaken by the occurrences of the last ten minutes. He looked up thankfully when I brought it in. He was sitting on the old armchair. I could tell how strange it must be for him having his attackers second victim and sister serve him iced tea. Eric was sat on my favourite sofa, I could tell by the way he was looking that he'd much rather I sort this out later. I had to smile. He was thinking through our bond that ' this Jed bloke was biting into his Sookie-time.' I really did wonder at how my vampires mind worked sometimes. I sat down and tried to make my expression turn more grave.
" I'm so sorry Jed." I said as sympathetically as I could.
" Thank-you ma'am. Jason was a good person he was just easily led. I tried to tell him not to even try and take V but he did anyway. I'm so sorry." I nodded. I honestly felt like giving that kid a hug then. He couldn't be much older than nineteen. But I let him carry-on. " I followed him here, I knew what he was doing. Marsha, the girl he was with, told him about you two and he was just so damn mad after he heard. She's a real piece of work that girl." Jed sighed. " I knew where he was going and earlier this week when he dropped of the firewood I was with him then so I knew where to go. I found him in the kitchen like you did. He got real angry with me for trying to stop him. He fought me hard and eventually he ripped my ear clean of." Jed grimaced when he spoke of this horrific event. I reached out and patted his hand. He smiled though I could see he was welling up. Eric was bored, he started playing with my hair which was just darn right rude to Jed. I carried on listening though.