Sookie heard the familiar beep and reached for her phone. A text from Eric read: Pick you up at 8. Of course he hadn't phrased it in a question, so she flipped her phone closed. She couldn't help but smile at the idea of seeing Eric. But her smile quickly vanished when she recalled Claudine's words from that morning. Claudine first chastised her for taking too long to complete a bond with Eric. Sookie tried to explain that she didn't want to arise suspicions, but Claudine practically accused her of stalling on purpose by pointing out the ridiculously obvious – that Sookie was irresistible to him.
Sookie hated this fact. If her telepathy ruined her chance at a normal relationship with a human man, then her Fae blood ruined her chance with vamps. She felt hopeless. Ever since Dallas, she had begun to see Eric in a new light. She felt differently around him, but she knew that he was only interested because of her Faery heritage and essence.
Then Claudine had said something unexpected. She threatened Sookie that if the blood bond wasn't complete by dawn, she would be imprisoned in the Fae realm and used as bait for Eric. Claudine stressed that this was not the most favorable option for Sookie since the outcome was 'unpredictable' and encouraged her to follow the original proposal. Sookie was beginning to hate Claudine. The Fae felt like a cult she'd been forced to join and now feared, but she felt trapped. She contemplated telling Eric about the whole proposal, but she was ashamed and a little fearful of his reaction.
She painstakingly got ready for her night. She pulled a satiny red dress off its hanger and slid into it. She curled her eyelashes and her hair and dug in her closet for the highest heels she owned, which happened to be red. She had no idea what Eric's plans for the evening were.
Sookie drummed her fingers on the sofa cushion next to her. She glanced at the mantle clock, which read 9:15. She was angry. But she was also suspicious. What if Eric had discovered her alliance with the Faeries? She couldn't put anything past Eric. She had felt uneasy all night, like something bad was going to happen, probably because she was nervous about the last blood exchange with Eric.
She smiled when she finally heard the knock on her door. Checking her hair in the mirror, she pulled the door open, preparing to see Eric. But it wasn't Eric. "Hi Sookie," Jessica said shyly, "I'm wondering if you know where Pam is?" "No, sorry," Sookie replied, "But I'd sure like to know where Eric is. He was supposed to be here an hour ago. Come in." Jessica seemed to be deep in thought as she walked slowly. "Did you try her cell and Fangtasia?" Sookie asked, looking at Jessica, whose brow was now furrowed. She shook her head. "Sookie, I think there's something wrong. Eric was supposed to be here and Pam was supposed to be at my place and neither one of them showed up." Sookie felt her heart speed up. She grabbed her purse and said, "Come on, let's go to Shreveport."
Sookie was panicking now and reminded herself to take deep breaths while she drove. She needed to distract herself. "So how's it going, being adopted by Pam?" "Ok, I guess," Jessica was serious, "She's no worse than Bill. I think it would be cool to be like her." Sookie winced at the thought. How could anyone want to be like Pam?
Her foreboding feeling swelled when she saw the Fangtasia parking lot was empty. "Now why would they be closed? The graffiti is gone. . . ." The girls slowly got out of the car and approached the building. They knocked on the door and waited. There was no reply. They continued to knock. Sookie dialed Eric's cell. Curiously, she heard someone pick up, then hang up. Her stomach felt sick as it dawned on her that something was very wrong.
The girls circled the building, clutching onto each others' arms, their eyes darting around wildly. But there was nothing to be seen or heard. "Where else could we look?" Jessica asked. "I can't feel Pam since she's not my real maker. Can you feel Eric?" "I'm not sure," Sookie replied, frustrated.
As they were rounding the corner, a hand covered each of their mouths. Sookie tried to scream but the hand pressed more forcefully. "We need your help," Pam said curtly but calmly. Sookie and Jessica were so relieved, but when they spun around, their concern rose. Pam's face was black and red streaked from tears and mascara. Her blouse was shredded and welts were visible on her skin. She pulled them flush with the building, in a blind spot of the security cameras. "Oh God, Pam, what's happened?" Sookie was not sure how long she could remain calm.
"It's Eric," and Pam started crying again. "The fucking Faeries have him in there. This guy named Niall was here when we rose tonight and he accused Eric of murdering some Faery princess. They're doing awful things to him." Sookie closed her eyes for a long minute. "Did he do it?" Jessica interrupted. "Obviously not!" Pam blurted, "Why would he do that? But they found her body in the freezer here." Sookie muttered, "Eric's being framed." Pam nodded, still crying. "What do we do?" asked Jessica.
How could the Faeries do this? Sookie knew she couldn't let them see her rescuing Eric. Even if she never wanted anything to do with Fae again, she knew too much and they wouldn't let her just go, they would retaliate. "I'm going back in before they see I'm gone. You have to stop them. They're torturing him in the basement. Sookie? Please? They won't be expecting anyone. Have you got something iron?" Sookie nodded and told Pam, "Give us 5 minutes, leave the door unlocked, and be ready to help." Jessica followed Sookie to the car.
Sookie rummaged through the piles in her trunk for her tire iron, which was old enough to actually be iron, and handed it to Jessica. She pulled a sharp rod out of her jack, also iron. Lastly, she grabbed a small pointed trowel. She handed them both to Jessica. "I can't go in. The iron will debilitate them enough for you to bite them. Don't mention my name. Do whatever it takes, but don't kill them, do you understand?" "Sookie, why can't you go? You and Eric. . . ." "It's complicated," Sookie answered, her voice full of emotion as she guided Jessica toward the door. Jessica didn't seem satisfied, but she turned her attention to the task at hand and slipped in the front door.
Sookie let out a long breath and her tears began to fall, so hot they nearly burned her skin. She sank down, pressing her knees into the asphalt and her lower back into the cement wall. Her sobs became louder until the muscles in her face were sore and then her mouth was opening so widely it hurt but no sound was coming out. She was allowing herself to feel her partially formed bond with Eric. But she was unsure how much was her own sadness.
Sookie bolted up and ran through the bar and down the basement steps. The last time she'd been down here, she'd intruded on a very naked Eric having his way with Yvetta. She had accused him of kidnapping Bill. She'd been wrong. Now the scene that appeared before her caused her to stop suddenly. Jessica was slumped in the corner, like a ragdoll. She had welts covering her arms, legs, face, and just about anywhere that wasn't covered with clothing. Her eyes were barely open, but Sookie could tell that she was going to be ok. Pam looked slightly better, standing in the middle of the room with her legs in a wide stance, shoulders hunched. Her skin was less afflicted but it appeared that her eyes, ears and mouth had been sprayed with silver and Sookie suspected she couldn't see or hear or maybe even feed. She hoped it was temporary.
There were no Faeries to be seen. Sookie regained use of her feet once she saw Eric. He laid motionless on a large metal table with his eyes closed. Her stomach churned when she saw the small surgical-looking table laid with small, sharp instruments. Eric was wearing only black jeans and every surface of his skin bore scratches, burn or prod marks. It was especially awful to see his lips and eyelids. She ran her hand over his body. It occurred to her that she did not know how to tell if a vampire was still undead, but she knew that he now looked worse than when she'd dragged him in from the Fangtasia parking lot. At least then he'd made some movements and sounds. Sookie began to shake her head, "No, Eric, no . . . Pam, is he going to be ok?" There was no answer from Pam, and Sookie turned to Jessica, "Jessica?" After a long pause, Jessica answered with effort, "He wasn't moving when I got down here. He needs blood, Sookie."
Sookie turned to the metal table and grabbed a scalpel. She regarded it in her trembling hand before she sliced her wrist quickly, biting her lip with the pain. She pulled downward on Eric's chin and held her wrist over his open mouth. Seconds that felt like years passed. Sookie felt tears welling up in her eyes. She used her other hand to smooth his hair and bent to whisper in his ear, "Eric, it's Sookie . . . wake up, drink my blood, I want you to wake up . . . I just want to see your eyes and your smile . . . please just swallow. . . ." Sookie searched his throat for any sign he was drinking but he remained motionless. She checked that her wrist was still bleeding. She realized she was petting his hair like a cat and her pace was increasing. She began to shake a little but continued her whisper, "Eric, I don't want you to be gone. Please come back. We're not finished, we were supposed to have a date tonight. I want you to kiss me again . . . Eric, I need you."
Eric's large mutilated hand clamped around her forearm and Sookie gasped. His eyes flew open and he smiled, "I suspected as much." He smirked sexily and brought her wrist to his mouth. Sookie sobbed and smiled, closing her eyes. She leaned forward and rested her head next to his as he drank. She kissed his ear and whispered, "I'm sorry."
Sookie wasn't sure if Eric had heard her because he didn't respond. His eyes were closed and she was overcome with relief that he was going to be ok. Eventually he released her and moved to sit up. "Pam and Jessica need blood. Not as much as I did, but they need it. I'll give you some of mine when you're done. I won't let you faint." Sookie agreed and Eric placed his hand on her chest periodically to feel her heartbeat. He told her when Pam had had enough and she moved to Jessica.
"Eric, I'm really lightheaded," Sookie said, struggling to keep her eyes open. "Enough then," Eric said. "Will they be ok?" she asked as her eyes followed Eric as he carried two cases of True Blood to them. "They'll recover in time," he said easily, then Eric looked directly at her and arched an eyebrow, "You're not injured." Sookie panicked. She was too weak to be interrogated and she didn't want to lie to Eric. "No, I'm. . . ." and she swayed unsteadily. Eric braced her and led her up the stairs into his office. She sunk onto the couch and he joined her, keeping a small distance between them.
Efficiently, he bit into his wrist and brought it to her mouth. Sookie sucked gently and her eyes roamed to Eric, who was hunched over slightly and seemed to be staring at the floor. Could he have been in downtime? She wondered if his fangs were even still extended; he didn't seem to be enjoying her pulling his blood as before. She wondered if he was too weak or if he was just doing this out of obligation.
Sookie knew that these last swallows completed their bond. She felt sadness that it wasn't more intimate and she regretted the circumstances. She wanted to tell Eric about the Fae. She couldn't predict his reaction and she was slightly fearful. Perhaps it was the new stronger bond, but she wanted to tell him the truth. Her exhausted mind fumbled with the words. But before she could speak, he pulled away, not looking at her, and strode to the door. "You can stay here until you feel okay to drive home," he said without turning to look at her.
And he was gone. She quickly followed, out through the bar and opened the door to the parking lot just to see him speeding away.