AN/ I am a few days behind in my writing. Sorry about that. Just a little heads up, there is some blood and gore in here. I tried not to get too graphic but truthfully it was a battle for me...lol. I did remove some though. Hope you enjoy..thanks again for all of your wonderful reviews. All mistakes are mine :)
Disclaimer: Not mine.
She must have dozed for a few minutes. The next thing she knew she was jerking awake to someone tapping on her window. She looked up to see Alcide and Sam standing there. Sookie jumped out of the car and threw here arms around Sam then Alcide. "Thank you so much for coming. The both of you."
"So whats the plan?" Sam asked hugging Sookie back.
"Hey Sam." Jason walked over and offered a hand to both guys. "Alcide."
"The game plan is this, we get the witches to help us in, grab Eric and haul ass out of town." Sookie rushed out. "Its not a perfect plan but I think it is doable."
"When?" Alcide asked leaning back against her car. "And who else is helping out?"
"As soon as the coven decides. I want to hit hard and fast." Sookie smacked her fist into the palm of her hand. "And it's who you see standing before you. We are it."
"Shit!"Sam exclaimed. "That ain't much of an army Sookie. We need more help."
"There's no time Sam. I know its a long shot but its the only way." Sookie reached down and grasped Sam's hand in her own. "They'll kill him if I'm not there by sundown. We need to do this now, when they least expect it. I know I am asking a lot of y'all. If you're not willing then get in your car and go back to Bon Temps. I am not leaving until I have him back."
"Of course we are going to help you , cher." Sam pulled her close and placed a kiss on her brow. "I just wish we had more time to get an actual plan in mind."
"I know Sam." Sookie pulled away from him and stood beside Jason. "But this is what we have to work with. Jason and I have weapons and I am hoping the coven pulls through, lays a stasis spell on them, so we can get in and out with no problems."
"Do you have a lay out of the palace?" Alcide asked. "How many are inside? Any guess what so ever about how many were's we are dealing with?"
"I don't have any answers for you Alcide. I wish I did." She could hear him thinking of how stupid this was and how she was going to get everyone killed. "Go home Alcide. I should have never bothered you with this."
"Dammit Sookie, its not that." Alcide blew out a frustrated breathe. "I just want to know what in the fuck we are walking into."
"I have told you all I know Alcide." Sookie glared at him. "Its more then you have ever done for me. At least I am not making it sound like its just a small favor you are doing for me. Can you say the same?"
"Sookie, look..." Sookie clinched her hands into fist then waved him off.
"No you look. I have been manipulated by you on several occasions. Not to mention, put my life on the line for you." Sookie walked forward and poked him in the chest. "Are you honestly going to stand here in front of me and accuse me of trying to get you killed? Or say I am stupid for wanting to save someone that I love. Get the fuck out of my face Alcide. We are done here. I don't want your help."
"No you're right Sookie. I haven't always been forthcoming with you." Alcide grabbed her finger and held it. "That doesn't mean that I don't care about you or want to see you happy. I want to help you Sookie but you have to come up with something better then this."
"Alright. Why don't you and Sam go case out the palace." Sookie pulled loose of his grasp. "Try and see how many guards he has on the premises. If then you think you can take it, met us back here. If you don't then go back home. I won't hold any hard feelings against you."
"We aren't leaving you here Sookie." Sam said
"You can't decide for him Sam." Sookie smiled at him. "Why didn't you let me know you were coming?"
"You know me, always full of surprises." Sam winked at her. "Then part of me was hoping that you weren't fool enough to do this, cher."
"Well you know me Sam," Sookie snorted. "Always the foolish girl."
"Imagine that." Sam laughed. "Come on Alcide, lets go see what we can find out." Sam opened the truck door then looked back at Sookie. "We'll see you back here soon darlin'."
Bob came out to get them as soon as Sam and Alcide pulled off. Sookie entered her home with confidence that they would help out. She had to physically drag Jason in behind her. The witches made him nervous and she couldn't say that she blamed him.
"Sookie, come in and have a seat please." Sookie sat down on the floor in the middle of the coven with Jason standing behind her. "Thank you." Octavia smiled at her. "After a long discussion we have decided to help."
"Thank God." Sookie said.
"Hold on. We have some rules first." Octavia held up her hand, signaling to Bob.
"First we are not setting foot in the palace. What we can do, must be done from here." Bob stated looking at Sookie. "Second, Amelia is not to be harmed. I want you to know that I fought hard against that ruling. I think she should be put down like a rabid dog but I was out voted."
"Bob!" Octavia cleared her throat. "Amelia will be handled by the coven. It is our right and frankly we should have been watching her closely. She has not been herself since the death of her were. Do you accept our guidelines Sookie?"
"I do." Sookie sighed a breath of relief. "Can you handle her protection spell from here?"
"Oh child, of course." Octavia smiled at her and patted her hand.
"How will you retrieve her?" Sookie needed to know that Amelia would not be allowed to just walk away.
"She will come to me dear." Octavia squeezed her hand. " She will have no choice in the matter."
"I trust you Octavia." Sookie placed her other hand on top of hers. "Please don't make me regret that."
"Child, there is no deceit here. You can go knowing that we are here to help you." Octavia stood up from the circle, crossing the room she brought Sookie back a little glass bottle of murky liquid. "This is for the stasis spell. I need you to shatter it at the entrance of the palace. It won't work other wise. Be very careful with it Sookie."
"I will." Sookie took the bottle, holding it gently in here hands. "I don't know how to repay you for your help. I have nothing to offer you but my thanks."
"We require nothing else Sookie." Octavia held a hand out to Sookie, helping her off the floor. "It should only take us twenty minutes to bring Amelia's protection spell down. You should be able to see it. It will disrupt the air, unsettle things. That is when you move in. May Gaia hold you and keep you safe."
Sookie smiled at her then turned to Jason, signaling it was time to go. She held a laugh in as he practically ran out the door. Jason sure wasn't comfortable around supernaturals, which was funny to her seeing as how he was one now.
Her phone rang as she and Jason got back in the car. She answered when she saw that Sam was calling her. "Hey Sam."
"Sookie any word on the coven yet?" Sam asked sounding out of breath.
"They're in." Sookie smiled. For once something was going right. "How many guards have you spotted and why are you out of breath?"
"Ten so far." Sam panted for a minute. "I am out of breath because I changed so I could spy on them?"
"Crap. They didn't spot you did they?" Sookie asked
"No, I stayed back as much as possible." Sam cleared his throat. "Two of the guards are human. The rest weres. No telling how many or are in the house and out of sight. Sookie there is something you should know though."
"Hit me with it." Sookie motioned for Jason to continue on. She had already programmed the location into the GPS.
"Quinn is one of the guards."
"Doesn't surprise me one bit." Sookie snorted. "All we need is for Bill to make and appearance then the whole Sookie gang will be there."
"Sookie you're alright with the fact that you might have to go against him?" Sam asked concern lingering in his voice.
"Sam, we were over a long time ago. If I find out that he has played a part in hurting Eric, I will skin his ass and gift Eric with a pretty, tiger pelt." Sookie scoffed. "You and Alcide hold up tight. We are on our way there."
"We'll do." Sam grunted. "We're a couple of blocks over from the palace. Down on Melpomene St."
"See you soon." Sookie disconnected the call. It was almost time. She felt a wave of calm wash over her. This was going to work, she felt it in her soul.
It took them less then ten minutes to find Alcide and Sam. They had pulled Alcide's truck in the driveway of a house that was advertised for sale. Sookie didn't say a word as she went to the trunk, placing various weapons on herself. She tucked the silver blade in the back of her pants, wrapped a light weight chain around her neck and a small caliber handgun, loaded with silver bullets in the waist of her pants. She pulled her shirt down around them then placed a flannel shirt Jason had laying in his bag around her, securing their hiding places. She stuffed a stake up her right sleeve then turned to face the three men behind her.
"Any idea how we are going to approach the palace without setting off any alarms?" Alcide asked,
"That's easy. I am just going to walk up there." Sookie cupped the small potion bottle in her hand. "Y'all come in after I have dropped the potion at the door. Octavia said that is all I have to do to activate the spell."
Sookie glanced at the multiple weapons Jason had brought. She cocked an eyebrow at a flame thrower. "Jas where the hell did you get this?"
"You said grab everything I had." Jason shrugged his shoulder. "Just a little something I picked up in Shreveport."
"I don't think we are going to need that brother." Sookie laughed.
"Never know, Sookie. I think I'll hold on to it." Jason smiled at her then pulled her into a tight hug. "You be careful. I don't know what I would do if something happened to you."
"You too Jas. I love you." Sookie hugged him back. She nodded at Sam and Alcide then walked in the direction of the palace. She would not let herself be afraid. She would come through this in one piece and so would Eric.
She glanced at her phone, noting that it was almost time for the coven's spell to take affect. She quickened her pace wanting to be in the vicinity when it happened. She did not want anything hampering her.
Sookie was in luck in her trek over. No one lingered about. She guessed they figured there wasn't much to see at a vampire palace during the day. She sent a silent thank you to who ever was watching over her and took her first step onto the palace grounds. She could see one guard standing at the door. From his jangled brain patterns she knew he was a were. She placed her crazy Sookie grin on her face and moved forward.
"Ma'am." The guard moved away from the door and walked towards her. "Visitors are not allowed on the grounds during the day."
"I'm not a visitor." Sookie smiled sweetly at him. "Victor told me to be here. I'm Sookie Stackhouse. Pleasure to meet ya." Sookie stuck a hand out to shake his hand. The guard curled his lip up at her and backed away.
"You are suppose to arrive at sundown with a female vampire." He reached his hand up to activate a mic. Sookie had to stop him before he could talk to whoever it was he was trying to reach.
"Yeah about that," Sookie walked closer to him, reaching in her pocket for the bottle. "She couldn't bring me. Eric forbid her from following him. He's her master so she had to obey. So here I am all by myself. I just couldn't chance Victor hurting Eric so I came extra early." She hoped he was buying this crap. She read him for a minute. He wasn't sure what he should do but she was by herself and was human. Sookie shot him another smile, wishing she had some kind of super power to blast his butt out of the way.
She was beginning to worry that Octavia's spell wouldn't work when she felt it. It was like someone had set off a bomb. The ground around the palace, shook. There seemed to be a blue aura surrounding it, then a boom echoed in the otherwise quiet afternoon. She felt her feet lift off the ground and her body go flying back. Sookie lay on the ground for a moment, trying to ease air back into her lungs. She scrambled up as fast as she could and ran to the palace door, tossing the bottle against the threshold.
She ran inside, not waiting for the guys to catch up. She had one goal in mind. That was to find Eric and get him out. She pulled her gun from her waist band, searching behind doors, looking for where they could be holding him. She had almost given up when she came across a locked door on the second floor. Sookie tossed her weight into it, trying to bust through. Even with the added power that Pam's blood had given her, it wasn't enough. Sookie pulled back the hammer on the gun and fired at the lock. She shielded her eyes from the blow back, then kicked her leg against the door, opening it wide.
"Well look who decided to pay us a visit?" Amelia came walking through an adjoining room. "How nice of you to come Sookie."
"Where is Eric, Amelia?" Sookie swung the gun in Amelia's direction.
"Oh honey, do you think I am actually going to help you?" Amelia laughed. She waved her hand and the gun went sailing out of Sookie's hand.
"You are going to tell me Amelia." Sookie shouted at her, moving in her direction.
"Really?" Amelia smiled at her. "Pray tell, why would I?"
"Because I promised Octavia that I wouldn't hurt you, which I am fully willing to let go of, if you don't tell me where he is now."
"Octavia? Oh I see." Amelia snorted. "So she decided to help you out. Is that why I feel this incredible urge to run to her?"
"Yeah why don't you do that Amelia?" Sookie asked. "Go see what she wants from you. Please don't feel that you have to stay with me."
"Oh but I want too. I want to see your face, when you find him." Amelia snickered.
"Why are you doing this Amelia?"
"Why not? You are the reason I lost Trey. You have been the cause for all of my pain and I wanted you to feel the same." Amelia walked further into the room, palming something in her hands. "How does it feel Sookie to have your love torn asunder? You two did make it so easy to do."
"Yes about that, thanks for helping me see the light." Sookie smiled at her. "Why without you, I would have never realized how much I love him, or what I am willing to do to keep him with me."
"Sookie, are you trying to sound threatening? Sugar please don't make me laugh." Amelia starting rubbing whatever was in her hand. Sookie couldn't make it out clearly. It looked like fabric of some sort. "I own you both now."
"You own shit Amelia. You can't touch what Eric and I share ever again." Sookie waited, hoping that Amelia would give her an in. She didn't understand how Amelia was fighting the pull of Octavia's calling but she would subdue her, given the opportunity. "You have already done your worse. What more can you do?"
"So much more." Amelia tossed back her head and laughed. Sookie didn't hesitate. She lunged into her, taking her down to the floor. She felt her shoulder make impact with Amelia's diaphragm, a whoosh of air escaped Amelia's mouth from the contact. Sookie sat up, pulling her fist back, sending it into her face. Amelia's head snapped hard to the left, her eyes rolled back into her head before she passed out.
Sookie stood up, feeling a bit disappointed that she didn't get to beat Amelia's ass more but she would take what she could get. She had promised Octavia that she wouldn't hurt her and she had tried not too. She had subdued her instead, hopefully Tavia would understand that. She knelt down, prying Amelia's hand apart and relieving her of the fabric. Sookie gasped when she saw it was the fabric hearts from the spell she had supposedly cast. What had Amelia planned on doing with them?She placed the hearts in her pocket, resisting the urge to wake Amelia and demand she tell her what she had planned to do.
Sookie called out for Jason, asking him to keep an eye on Amelia's still form as she continued looking for Eric. She then caught up to Sam and Alcide who were making sure the rest of the guards where under the stasis spell. So far, Amelia had been the only one to be unaffected. She asked Sam to contact Octavia about Amelia then searched the remaining rooms.
She found herself face to face with Victor Manning's sleeping form. Quinn was also in the room. His still form was leaning against the door. She ran a hand in front of his face, assuring herself that he was indeed out. He was bruised and battered from head to toe. Sookie saw fang marks in his neck, knowing that the proud tiger had been beaten within an inch of his life then forced to be someone's meal. Victor's if she had to wager a guess. She reached up and kissed his cheek. "He doesn't get to come back from this Quinn."
Sookie approached the bed, cautiously. She knew from Eric, that a vampire could wake during the day if he felt threatened. It was the main reason she had left Jason's flame thrower behind. She didn't want to chance some internal vibe letting him know that there was danger, leaving him able to escape.
She let the stake slip into the palm of her hand. She griped it with a steal hand easing up on the bed, praying he couldn't sense her. She straddled his waist then brought her hand up high above her head, holding the stake with both hands. She had wanted to do this since he had tried to kill her and Pam. There was no way around it this time. "Fuck you, you evil bastard." Sookie whispered before she drove the stake down with every ounce of force she had in her. His startled eyes opened up, searing into her before his mouth opened in shock and his body began to disintegrate.
Sookie felt his blood splash onto her as his body erupted into a geyser of fluids. She jumped off what was left of him, pulling Jason's shirt off as she went. She used it to wipe the blood from her face. She wanted nothing of Victor on her. She cleaned herself as best as she could then dropped the shirt on the ground.
She left the upstairs and made a second sweep of the down stairs. She missed something. She had checked every door, not finding Eric anywhere. There had to be a hidden panel somewhere. She opened up the bond, hoping she could sense him. She felt him here but had no idea where to look. Sookie pressed on panels, tying to trigger a release to no avail. She finally gave up and went outside to see if there was a window or a door that led to a basement. They weren't common in Lousiana but that didn't mean that a vampire wouldn't find a way to have one.
She circled the building until she found what she was looking for. There was a ground door with a lock in place. Sookie knew she couldn't fire a gun outside. That was a sure way to have the NOLA PD breathing down her neck. She took the butt of the gun instead and beat against it until the lock gave. She pulled the door open then scurried inside. She didn't want to let any sunlight in to harm Eric. She was surrounded in darkness. There was no sound, nothing to lead her to him. She felt him though. She knew she had found where they were holding him. She gingerly touched her feet to the steps, trying to gauge where the next one fell. Sookie felt along the wall, hoping to encounter a light switch or a flashlight.
Her hand touched a switch half way down. She flipped it on, flooding the room in soft light. She hurried down the rest of the steps, stifling a scream when she saw him. They had chained him, naked to a table with silver. There were sections of his skin missing, his knees had silver spikes through them, running down until they were anchored into the cement ground. His beautiful hands had not faired any better.
Sookie ran to him, wanting to throw her arms around him but scared of the pain that would cause. Tears tracked down her face, falling to mingle with the blood that pooled around him. They hadn't left an inch of him untouched. "I'm here Eric. They can't hurt you anymore." Sookie whispered in what was left of his ear. "I have you my love." Sookie sent wave after wave of love and comfort through the bond. As gently as she could, she leaned over and kissed his bloody mouth.
She knew the reason for the blood on his mouth when she spotted his fangs, pierced through his nipples. "Fucking bastards." She shouted pulling them out. She wished she could kill Victor again. Slowly and with a lot more pain. She pulled the chains from around his neck, upper thighs and feet. Why they were in place, was beyond her. They hadn't needed them to hold him down, the silver spikes would have done that. They had wanted to shame Eric. Humiliate someone that was a much better man than they could ever dream of being.
She tried to pull the spikes out with little success. She lacked the strength. A vampire must have driven them in. She could only hope that Alcide or Sam could move them. She called Alcide, explaining that she had found Eric and where they were.
Sookie pulled one more time on the spike in Eric's hand. She was able to free one of them seeing as how both weren't secured in the ground. She reached for the other, when her hand was grasped. Her startled eyes went to Eric who was looking up at her. "Eric, oh my God. Baby, help is coming."
"Sookie." Eric whispered. His once strong voice sounded weak and garbled.
"I'm here baby." Sookie leaned down so he could see her. He was straining his neck up to look at her. "We are leaving. I am taking you home."
"Have to leave Sookie. Not safe. Can't protect you." Eric fought to stay awake. Sookie could see it in his eyes.
"Don't worry Eric. Victor is dead." She tried to brush her fingers through his once blond hair, now saturated in blood. She pulled her hand away when he grimaced in pain. "We are safe Eric."
"No. Go!" Eric pushed her hand away. "Leave me and go."
"Never Eric." Sookie pulled his hand back into hers. "I love you. I will never leave you here."
"Love me?" Eric tried to smile but it was marred by the pain she could feel radiating through him.
"Always Eric." Sookie kissed his cheek, her fingers grasped his hand, holding it like a life line. "You need to feed baby."
"No fangs." Eric snorted. He nodded towards his chest.
"You don't need them." Sookie pulled the blade out from her back and slashed her wrist, holding it up over Eric's mouth. "Can you push the silver out if you feed?"
Eric shrugged his shoulders, latching onto her wrist. "Pull it out. Strength back."
Sookie guessed what he was trying to say. He should be able to pull it out once he had some of his strength back. She wondered what was keeping Alcide? She wasn't too concerned though, if Eric could only stay conscious. She had to tap his face a time or too to keep him with her.
It was funny, the last time she was in this situation, Bill had almost drained her dry. She never feared that with Eric. Even if he still had his fangs, he wouldn't hurt her that way. He was always so in control of himself. Always safe guarding her. Even now, she had to physically keep her wrist over him. He kept trying to turn away. "Eric more please."
"You taste of Pam." Eric looked at her puzzled. He reached over, pulling out the other spike that held his hand down. His hand sizzled as it made contact but he never uttered a word. "Why do you taste of my child?"
"About that," Sookie forced her wrist back to his mouth. "We swapped blood so we could help each other out. She was opposed to it but I made her see reason."
"Is that so?" Eric inquired, his trademark smirk falling into place. He took her wrist into a freed hand, licking the wound sealing it shut. "I need no more of your blood Sookie."
"I wish you would Eric." Sookie said. "I know its hard for you to remain awake during the day. My blood, reinforced with your child's might help you to remain lucid."
She watched him struggle to sit up. She couldn't stand to see him this helpless. He was speaking clearer but he was so weak. She placed her hand behind his back, pulling him to a sitting position. Her stomach threatened to revolt at the sound the spikes made as they tore at his upright flesh. He was stretching to reach them, the position they were, making it hard for him to grasp. "Alcide and Sam will be here soon Eric."
"Rescued by a wolf and a shifter, oh how the mighty have fallen." Eric snorted. He braced his hands behind him, then forced his legs to bend. She could see flesh pulling away. She turned her head away, instead focusing on his face. She heard a sliding pop, then Eric threw his unencumbered leg to the side. He never made a sound other then to grunt. "We must leave this place soon my lover. We have much to discuss."
"I know Eric." Sookie replied. They did have a lot to talk about. Most of which revolved around their relationship. There was a lot that needed to be addressed. Not to mention, the fallout that was sure to come with her killing Victor. "We will. Lets just get you out safely first."
"Sookie I need you to help me free my other leg." Eric inclined his head towards his legs. Sookie followed his gaze down, placing a hand on her queazy stomach. "Do not think on it, lover. Just grab my leg and pull it free. I will mend."
"I can't Eric." Sookie shook her head. There was no way in hell she could cause him more pain. "Alcide can help."
"Think on it lover. Shouldn't he have been here by now?" Eric bit his lip, straining to pull free. "You must help. Do it Sookie."
Sookie closed her eyes at what had to be done. Eric was right. Alcide should have been here. Something once again had gone wrong. She bolstered her courage up then went to the end of the table. She placed her hand up under his leg, felling it tremble with the force he was placing on it. "I am so sorry honey." She pulled up as hard as she could, shutting out the harrowing sounds it made as it finally slide loose. As soon as she could she placed it back on the table and moved back to Eric who was laying on the table panting. "Are you alright? Let me give you some more blood."
"Sookie, thank you." Eric mumbled. "Love you." Sookie leaned in to kiss him. Her mouth was a hairs breadth away when Eric said her name in warning.
"Ah, now this is so touching. Glad to see you are up and feeling better Eric." Amelia said wrapping an arm around Sookie's neck. "You know you really do look like shit. You should take her up on the offer for blood. But silly me, you have no fangs. I guess I could help you with that."
Sookie felt Amelia press the knife she had used to cut her wrist, against her back. "Where's my brother and friends Amelia?"
"Don't you worry honey. You'll be joining them soon." Amelia snarled in her ear. Sookie caught Eric's gaze. His was full of worry. Hers was full of love for him.
"Fuck you Amelia." Sookie braced herself, sliding her legs out into a wider stance. If she could maneuverer Amelia a bit, catch her off guard, she could free her of the knife.
"Are you honestly thinking off fighting me again Sookie." Amelia scoffed, pressing the knife into her back and drawing blood. "Give up honey. Its over. Look your man in the eye and say goodbye."
Eric sat up, when the scent of Sookie's blood hit his nose. "You are dead witch. I will kill you for what you have done." He swung his legs over the side, his every movement riddled with pain.
"I know you will." Amelia smiled at him, her hand tightening on Sookie's neck. "It won't matter though because you will not have her."
"Noooo..." Sookie caught the look of panic in Eric's eyes as Amelia pushed the blade through her back, jarring it through her rib cage. She felt blood bubble out of her mouth, before darkness threatened to over take her. She heard a sickening crunch as her body hit the cold cement floor. "Sookie do not do this. Do you hear me? Lover no."
"Eric." Sookie felt so cold. Her body craved to feel Eric's arms around her one more time. "Hold me."
"I am lover. I am holding you." She felt his cold tears touch her face. "Fight it Sookie. You stay with me."
"Always. Love you." Sookie breathed allowing the darkness to take her over.
AN/ Please don't kill me. Its not the end yet...there will be a few more chapters. Although they will be a day or two in getting posted.