From Chapter 16

One Thursday evening, about two weeks before Halloween, Ana was sitting in a booth at Merlotte's having a sprite and laughing with Jason and Sam while I was finishing up my shift. The sun had been down for about 45 minutes, and I was surprised that neither of the vampires had arrived yet. Just as I was getting ready to grab my purse from Sam's office, my cell phone rang, and I saw that it was Godric.

As soon as I answered he said, "Sookie, there is no time to waste. I need for you, Ana, and your brother to come to Fangtasia as soon as possible. I'll explain when you get here."

I told Jason I needed him to come with us, and he could tell something was up, so he quickly agreed. We piled into Godric's Audi (my Nova had basically bitten the dust, so I was now driving the Audi back and forth to work) and got to the club as quick as possible. When we pulled in, Pam met us in the lot and rushed the three of us through the employee entrance and into Eric's office. As the door opened, I felt my heart drop into my stomach. There, on Eric's couch with blood-red tears running down her cheeks, sat Jessica.

Chapter 17

SPOV

Seeing Jessica sitting in Eric's office, knowing that she wouldn't have been able to leave Bill, her maker, without his permission, I wanted to run back outside, get in the car, and drive far away where no one could find. Then, my more sensible side kicked in, and I rushed to the couch, sat down next to Jessica, and pulled her into a hug. "Jessica. What's wrong? Are you okay?"

She pushed me back, and hung her head, almost as if she was ashamed of something. Godric came to stand in front of her, crouched down to be eye to eye with her, put his hand on her knee and said, "Jessica, I know this is hard, but we need you to tell Sookie what you've just told us." That was when I knew I should be afraid.

"Oh, Sookie, I'm so sorry. If I'd known…." Jessica began. She wasn't able to finish, because her whole body was wracked with sobs.

"Jessica, it's okay. Whatever has happened, we'll take care of it. Just talk to me, okay."

She took an unneeded deep breath to calm herself, and began. "After you and Bill got back from Dallas, he started acting very strange. He was always on the phone, and I was never quite sure who he was talking to, but I could tell from the sound of the voice that it was a woman. He seemed so angry all the time. The night before we left Bon Temps, he said he had to go to Shreveport to buy some things for his computer, and then he was going to see you, so I shouldn't expect him back until just before dawn. But, he came back only a few hours later. He told me to pack up any essentials that I couldn't live without, and that we were going to New Orleans. I asked him when we were coming back, and he said he wasn't sure. He ordered me to tell no one that we were leaving, and then said it would only arouse suspicion if I didn't at least tell you goodbye, so he stopped by your place so I could," she paused for a moment to try and wipe the tears from her cheeks.

"When we got to New Orleans, he left me in a hotel room and said he had business to attend to, and that I was forbidden to speak with anyone, other than to order more bottled blood from room service. This went on, every night, for a week. Then, out of the blue, he told me that he needed me to call Hoyt, tell him we were going to be staying in New Orleans from now on, and that I should tell Hoyt that you and he had broken up. He wouldn't let me talk to Hoyt about anything personal. When all of our stuff got there, I thought we'd stop staying at the hotel and move into an actual house. But he just put everything into storage and continued to stay where we were. He started staying out all the time, and I wouldn't see him for days, sometimes, weeks at a time." I'd never heard her sound more like a frightened little girl than right now. I realized that in age, she was really quite close to Ana. I didn't think that even after 100 years of life she could show as much depth and maturity as Ana had.

"Then, two nights ago, he came back to the hotel, but he wasn't alone. His maker, Lorena, was with him. Because he had told me I couldn't leave the hotel room, I had to sit there on the couch and just keep quiet as they lay on the bed and had sex." As she said this, she looked up at me apologetically, like she was afraid to say it out loud. She must have been surprised by the lack of shock and hurt in my eyes, because she looked a little confused, and then went on. "After they were finished, he told her that he had only gone to Bon Temps because the Queen had ordered him to. She said that she'd received information that there was a telepath, and she wanted to be have control over her. Since he's from the area, she sent him to 'collect you,' using any means necessary, including force or seduction. He told Lorena that he'd paid the drainers to attack you that night so he could force you to drink his blood and be under his command. He was shocked at how resistant you were, and said he was disgusted that he had to continue to 'play house with a human' while he tried to get a firmer hold on you. He told her that he tried to arrange for you to receive life-threatening injuries several other times so you could get you to take even more blood, but that Eric kept interfering. He said that the Queen had become impatient, and that she was going to be 'collecting' you with her armed guards in a few days time. I was so mad when he said this, that I stood up and started yelling at him for betraying you like that. Lorena told him to 'get rid' of me, and he told me that, as my maker, he was ordering me to leave, and not come back until I was summoned. I know he meant for me to stay close, but, since I was finally able to leave, I knew I had to come to warn you. I'm sure that by now he knows I'm here. Sookie, I'm so sorry. They're going to be here by tomorrow night." She collapsed into sobs once again. I stood, wanting to be closer to Eric, to have him hold me, but as soon as I got two steps from the couch, I felt myself pass out and fall to the ground.

When I started to come to a little while later, I saw that I was still in Eric's office. I was lying on the couch, and Jason was sitting on the end, holding my feet, just staring off into space. Jessica was sitting on the ground next to the couch, and Ana was there, her arms wrapped around her, trying to comfort her. Eric, Godric, and Pam were standing closer to the door, and it seemed like they were discussing strategy.

"So, what are we going to do about this?" I asked quietly, trying to refocus.

Eric turned to look at me, then looked back at Godric, and said, "We won't let them take you, Sookie. Sophie-Ann will not be allowed to touch one hair on your body. If Jessica is correct, and they are coming tomorrow evening, well, then we'll just have to make sure that they find us in a place of our choosing, and we will simply have to kill them all." He said this as plainly as if he was discussing something entirely mundane.

"Eric, Pam, Chow and I will all be there, as well as any other vampires in the area that we can persuade to fight against their Queen," Godric clarified. "Sookie, you will of course be there, and Jason, you are welcome if you wish it. Jessica, you will go back to Bon Temps and stay with anyone who will allow it."

"And what about me? What am I supposed to do," Ana asked from her spot on the floor.

"You will remain home with every single security system engaged. I do not want you at all involved in this matter."

"You can't expect me to just sit by while they attempt to steal my sister, my brother, and my lover from me, Godric. I refuse. I'm going with you."

"No, you most certainly are not. End of discussion." I could tell she wasn't very happy with this answer at all. Godric told Jason to take Ana, Jessica and I back to his place, and said that he and Jessica were welcome to stay in the empty guest rooms if they'd like. As we prepared to leave, Eric walked over to me, pulled me in for a searing kiss and whispered that we would speak again when he got home in a few hours. Ana refused to even look at Godric on her way out.

Once we got back to the house, Ana and I showed Jessica and Jason where they could stay, and helped them get situated. Afterwards, Ana and I went into the kitchen together, and I noticed that she had tears silently falling down her cheeks. "Ana, calm down. Everything's going to be fine. No one's going to get hurt." I knew she wasn't buying it.

"Sook, I realize that, in loving a vampire, I've set myself up to experience these types of situations occasionally. I can handle that. But the fact that Godric is making me stay here while everyone I love most is out fighting? That's just too much for me. I don't know how I'm going to do it." I didn't know how to answer, so instead, I just sat next to her at the kitchen table and we waited for our vampires to return.

Around 3am, Godric and Eric finally walked in through the front doors. Eric came to me, put his arm about my waist and led me to our room. I could see Godric was waiting for us to leave so he could speak with Ana in private.

Once we were in our room again, Eric told me the plans they had made about where they would face-off against the Vampire Queen of Louisiana. "Sookie, I know that you may not be ready, but, I think that you should take some of my blood tonight. I need for you to be very strong tomorrow. And, the stronger a bond there is between the two of us, the less likely that Sophie-Ann will be able to maneuver you away."

I just simply nodded my head, and he came to sit next to me on the bed, and put his wrist to his lips so he could bite. I grabbed his hand and said, "No, not like that." I stood in front of him and began removing my clothing until I was completely naked in front of him. I could see his eyes darken with desire. I reached down and lifted the hem of his shirt and pulled it off of him, and then told him to stand up, and I pulled his pants off. He was now naked, too. He leaned down and began kissing me, and I could feel in that kiss, that although he was confident, he was frightened this might be our last night to be together. He laid me down gently on the bed, and began to take his time touching and tasting every single inch of my body. After a torturous amount of time had passed, he rolled to his back, and placed me astride him. I knew what he wanted, so I lifted my hips slightly, adjusted my position, and crashed myself down onto him, pushing him deep inside me.

"Oh, God, Sookie. Yes. Ride me lover," he moaned. He reached his hands to massage my breasts, and I moaned right back. When I knew we were both getting close, I grabbed his wrist and bit down hard, feeling his blood fill my mouth. I had never tasted something sweeter. It was like a cup of cool water after 5 days in the desert. Once the room stopped spinning around me, he eased me from his lap and laid me down at his side.

"Eric?" I asked, nervous about what I was about to say.

"Yes, lover?"

"I….I love you." There, I said it. Finally. I'd felt it for weeks, but had never had the courage to tell him.

"I know my darling. I know." He held me close to him until we both heard the distinct sounds of heavy crying coming from down the hall. He flashed a look at me, got up off the bed, threw on his jeans, and went down the hallway toward Godric and Ana's room. I pulled on a t-shirt and some sleep shorts, and wondered if I should follow him. Within seconds I got my answer. He walked back into the bedroom holding Ana in his arms. He motioned for me to get back in bed, and came to sit next to me with his back against the headboard, and Ana on his lap. When he finally got her calmed down enough to talk, she told us that Godric and she had disagreed very hotly about whether or not she should be there tomorrow. She told us that he told her she should stay here because she was just a weak child. That cut deep, and I knew that's what had caused the state she was in now. She just burrowed her head closer into Eric's chest and began sobbing again. Eric reached over and gently leaned me into him so my head was resting on his shoulder, and used his other hand to stroke Ana's back. The three of us fell into a comfortable sleep in that same position not long afterwards.

LPOV

I woke the next day lying in bed with Sookie and Eric. I was so grateful that they allowed me to be there with them. I knew that they probably wanted more time together alone, but, since Godric had left after our fight last night and never came back, I knew I couldn't be alone.

I quietly climbed out of their bed, and went back to the room I'd shared with Godric so I could take a shower and get dressed. It was already so late in the day. The sun would be setting in about 45 minutes, and I knew that everyone would be leaving shortly after that.

When I had finished showering and was dressed, I walked into the living room to find Jason, Sookie, Eric, and Godric waiting for me. Jason told me that he'd decided to go with them, so, I would be stuck here all by myself. I just nodded. I couldn't blame him for wanting to be there. He came over and gave me a quick hug and said he'd see me soon. Sookie wandered over next, pulled me into a tight hug and whispered, "We'll be fine," into my ear. I felt a tear slip down my cheek as she pulled away.

Eric slowly made his way to me and without warning, wrapped his arms around my waist and stood straight, lifting me off the ground. I put my arms around his neck and held him close to me. I knew I was close to loosing it. I didn't want this to be goodbye forever. I told him as much. He put me down, kissed my forehead, and smiled as he said, "You can't get rid of me that easy, darling," and winked. He turned and looked at Godric, then nodded and escorted Jason and Sookie outside.

Godric came to stand in front of me. I just held my head down and closed my eyes. I couldn't look at him. I was so frightened to let him go. I knew that he was aware of what I was feeling. He put his hands on either side of my face, and lifted my head until I was looking straight into his eyes. "Do not be afraid, beloved. I will come back to you. You have my promise. I am yours forever." He leaned in and pressed a soft, lingering kiss to my lips. And then, just like that, he was gone.

I walked through the house, trying to find something to occupy myself with. I entered the kitchen, but exited again when I knew I was too nervous to eat. I started towards the dance studio, but knew it wouldn't help either. I finally settled on sitting on the bed and rechecking some of the financial documents Eric had given me for his area. For some reason, my eye caught on something I'd missed before. No, that can't be right. I pulled up a few other records for comparison. My eyes opened wider as the realization as to what I found had sunk in. I knew what I had to do, but I couldn't do it alone. I grabbed my cell phone and dialed the familiar number. It was answered after one ring. "Hey, it's Ana. I need your help."