A/N: This is the aftermath of Eric drinking Payton's blood and the cemetery showdown gets started.

Chapter 13

I

Eric gripped her shoulders tighter and asked again, "What have you done to me?"

"Didn't my blood heal you?" asked Payton.

She passed her eyes over his healed throat and raised her eyes to his. Eric stared back and said, "Your blood was like liquid fire and I can still feel it inside me."

"But, you are not harmed," replied Payton.

"That isn't really the point," asked Eric, letting go of her shoulders.

"Then, what is the point?" asked Payton.

"Drinking your blood caused me to remember things. Memories that were somehow connected with fire," replied Eric.

"But, remembering is a good thing, isn't it?" said Payton.

"I also saw a flash of memories that weren't mine," replied Eric. He stared intently into Payton's eyes and added, "And they weren't human either."

"Well, are you somehow insinuating that your hallucinations are related to me?" asked Payton.

"Who else could it have come from?" asked Eric. "I know what I saw."

"And what was that?" asked Payton.

"I felt as if I were a dragon flying in the sky," said Eric.

"Well, that's pretty freaky. You were obviously weak and it sounds as if you had a bad reaction to my blood," replied Payton. "Perhaps, you would be wise not to drink it again."

"Your blood tasted just fine," said Eric. "In fact, I rather enjoyed it."

He took Payton's hand as pressed it up against his chest. Payton could feel that his usually cold vampire flesh felt warm to the touch. Payton passed her hand over his skin and Eric's eyes closed in pleasure. He tentatively placed his hand over hers and pressed it against his chest where his heart was.

"I haven't felt this sensation since being made a vampire," said Eric. "To be warm from the inside as if I were still living."

"My magic has touched you," said Payton. "Be not afraid. There is not any harm in it for you."

"Are you made of magic itself?" asked Eric. "Were you created from little snippets of spells and lore?"

"I am merely flesh and blood," replied Payton.

Eric pressed her hand tighter, "That so not true. You may be a gifted witch or whatever you really are, but you are a terrible liar."

Eric relaxed his hand and reached out for Payton's necklace. He had seen it many times and noted that it was always hanging around her neck. He held it in his hand and passed his thumb over it. He stared at the dragon symbol for a moment.

"The dragon seems to be entwined with your spells," said Eric.

"The dragon is symbolically a creature of magic," replied Payton. "They were powerful and intelligent beings. It was said that dragons possessed the ability to foretell the future. Is it that curious that it would become the sigil of my family?"

Eric stared intently at her and Payton added, "They are just mythological creatures. They aren't real."

Eric was silent and Payton didn't tell him that there was a myth that drinking a dragon's blood imparted some of the dragon's magic to the drinker. She didn't tell him that there were stories of bargains struck with these creatures. That if the deal was sweet enough, a dragon would give his blood and bestow his gifts of magic and power. Payton always had wondered what the dragon would ask for in return for such a bounty. She had a feeling that it would be a steep price that not many were willing or foolish enough to pay.

Payton smiled and said, "Maybe, you will start to remember everything."

"If I remember, then I fear that your feelings will change towards me," replied Eric.

Payton gently took his hand and said, "You are the sum total of your memories and experiences. They have molded and shaped the creature that you are. You would be less than yourself without them."

Eric looked up in an unguarded moment and asked, "Could you still care for me, all of me?"

"I guess that you were right about me," said Payton. "I wanted so badly to hate you, but found that I could not. My feelings for you might be a tangled mess, but hate was never in my heart."

Eric gently pulled Payton closer to him and softly brushed his lips against hers. Payton tentatively kissed him back and Eric cupped her chin, as he tasted her lips. He pulled back and said, "I still want you. I'm willing to do it on your terms."

"I…..I don't know how to reply to that," said Payton.

"Say, yes," replied Eric.

"When you get all your memories, you might not feel the same," said Payton.

"I would always honor my word," replied Eric.

"I can't make some bargain with you, having only known you this small amount of time," said Payton.

"It is said that in moments of intense crisis that you find out what a person is really made of," replied Eric. "That you should always trust your gut feelings about someone because those feelings are always right."

Eric cupped her chin again and kissed her. He leaned into her ear and said, "What do your gut feelings tell you about me?"

Payton closed her eyes as a shiver passed down her spine from hearing his voice breathe into her ear. She knew what her feelings were, she just wasn't sure if she could trust them.

II

Marnie flung the contents of her desk to the floor when she heard the news that only one vampire had met the true death. The vampires had somehow been prepared and had taken steps to ensure that they didn't fall victim to her spell. Of course, somehow that girl who was their agent had managed to stop the spell. She had power, maybe, more than Antonia. She needed to be taken out of the equation. She had moved her headquarters to a new shop that she had rented with the first payment of the insurance. She had convened a meeting with the rest of the coven and they were inside. Nervous nellies, she thought. Well, she could force a bit of backbone into them.

"Marnie, what's wrong?" asked Roy.

Roy was her strongest ally in this coven and obeyed her with single-minded devotion. He kept an eye on the other members for her, as well.

"We only killed one vampire," said Marnie.

"That's still one of those blood-suckers that won't be seeing another sunset," replied Roy.

"The vampires have their own sorceress," said Marnie. "I can't penetrate her protection spells to even to spy on her."

"What about other methods?" asked Roy. "She isn't immortal like the vampires are."

"You would harm her?" asked Marnie.

"Damned straight I would," replied Roy. "She's a traitor to our kind."

Well, to be honest, Marnie didn't think that the girl was betraying her kind. Marnie had doubts that they were her kind, but she wasn't going to quibble with Roy about the details. It was then that the phone rang. Marnie watched as Roy answered it. He listened a moment and held it to his chest.

"It's a vampire who says he's the King of Louisiana," he said.

Marnie held out her hand and took the phone. "This is Marnie."

"I want to meet with you and discuss your terms to end this conflict," said Bill.

"Oh, really," replied Marnie. "I seem to be winning."

"We lost only one vampire today," said Bill. "That hardly warrants a victory celebration. I would like a peaceful resolution."

"Very well, then," replied Marnie. "Meet me in the cemetery in Bon Temps, tonight at midnight."

"I'll see you there," said Bill, as he hung up.

Bill turned to his four other sheriffs. They were sitting in his office and he looked at them from across his desk. Duprez, Kirsch, Luis Patino and Blackburn. Blackburn was the oldest with Luis next after that. Luis had been around during the Spanish Inquisition and had met Antonia personally. Perhaps, thought Bill, he could offer Luis to Antonia. After all, he was the only one here who was responsible for her fate. Would he sacrifice one of his own to stop her? Bill turned an intent gaze on Luis. It was vampires like that who had instilled fear in the humans. Taking on a necromancer in the first place had resulted in so many lost vampire lives. Bill decided that it was a deal worth offering.

"She agreed to me with me tonight," said Bill. "I want Duprez, Kirsch and Blackburn to accompany me, but I want you to stay in the rear and out of sight."

"Why?" asked Luis.

"I need someone that I can trust to stay back and handle all the communications," said Bill, smoothly.

"Are you forgetting the AVL?" asked Kirsch.

"Desperate times call for desperate measures," replied Bill. "Let me worry about the AVL."

Bill watched his sheriffs file out of the room and smiled when Jessica came inside.

"What's going on?" asked Jessica.

"Just business," replied Bill.

Jessica flashed Bill a slightly annoyed stare that was set off by her long lashes, "Um, I know when you are lying to me."

"We're meeting that witch tonight," said Bill.

"I want to come with you," said Jessica.

"Out of the question," said Bill.

"Why not? I'm a big girl, now. I can help," replied Jessica.

"These witches are dangerous," hissed Bill.

"Hey, silvering myself during the day isn't exactly endearing them to me," retorted Jessica. "In fact, I'm downright pissed off."

Bill gave a sigh and said, "You are to stay in the back and obey orders."

"Don't I always?" replied Jessica with a little smile.

A little later in the evening, Bill appeared at Payton's doorstep. Payton stared at him and noticed that he was dressed much more casually tonight. A sleek, well-fitted leather jacket adorned him. His blue eyes stared into her and she wondered if he was checking to see if she was resistant to glamouring.

"May I come in?" he asked.

Payton really wanted to refuse, but this vampire had power over Eric. Something told her that they were not friends. She had a feeling that it was in her best interest to make sure that Eric remained strong and to not encourage problems between these two vampires.

Payton opened the door and said, "Come in."

Bill walked inside and found Eric watching him with his arms crossed in front. Even in this state, Eric could somehow sense that this vampire was not his friend. It would be a relief for him to just remember who he was, thought Payton.

"Do you know who I am?" asked Bill to Eric.

"Payton and Pam tell me that you are my king," replied Eric. But, he made no moves to show his recognition of Bill's title.

Bill turned back to Payton, "I see that he is no better. I need to know if he is somehow still susceptible to that witch's power."

"She has no more power over him than any other vampire," replied Payton. "As for his memories, they will return in their own time."

"We are having a meeting with Marnie tonight," said Bill. "I would like for you to accompany me since you understand these witches better than I do."

"She is mine," hissed Eric. "You have no right to her."

Payton bit her lips. Normally, she would have issues with being called a piece of property. But, she suspected that Eric's motives had less to do with asserting his rights and more to do with protecting her from Bill. She watched as Bill gave Eric a measuring stare. He then slid his eyes back to Payton.

"Is this true?" he asked her.

Payton wondered if saying the words aloud and in front of a witness would somehow make them binding. Vampires were tricky creatures, she thought. She felt herself being maneuvered into a corner. Payton drew a shaky breath.

"Yes, I…..I am his," she said.

"Well, congratulations," said Bill. "But, that still doesn't stop me from wanting to have her present this evening. " Bill turned and faced Eric and said, "As your King, I request your permission to use your human."

"Only if Payton wishes to help you. And only, if I am there to protect her," replied Eric.

Bill turned back to Payton, "I hope that you will decide to help me. I only want a peaceful resolution."

Payton glanced over to Eric who calmly awaited her decision. She knew that he would not try to sway her choice and that he would stand by her decision as final. Whether he thought of her as really his or not, he still wanted her to have the right of free will. Which was something that she had been wondering about.

"I agree," said Payton. "As long as you are trying to stop anyone from getting hurt."

"Of course," said Bill. "Midnight at the Bon Temps cemetery."

Bill turned and quickly departed, leaving an uncomfortable silence in his wake. Payton glanced at Eric. Was it her imagination or was there a smug look on his face? He resembled the old Eric and seemed to be rather pleased with himself. It was just words, she thought. It wasn't like she just signed her name on the dotted line and bound herself to Eric Northman.

"I'm still not really yours," said Payton.

An amused look came into his eyes and he said, "Whatever you say."

III

Tara sat on Lafayette's couch. He and Jesus had just up and left town, saying that they were going to visit Jesus's crazy grandfather in Mexico. She wondered about Lafayette because that was a downright crazy plan if she ever heard one. She heard a noise outside and she grabbed the handgun and went to the door. The sound came again and she was sure that someone was on the porch. Tara flung the door open to find Marnie on her doorstep.

"I was looking for Jesus," she said.

"He's gone," said Tara. "Left town with my cousin."

"Oh, that's too bad," said Marnie. "Perhaps, you would like to help me."

"After what you did to us?" said Tara. "I mean, thanks for putting a target on our backs."

"I see something in you," said Marnie. "A sorrow that I'm sure vampires were responsible for. Am I wrong?"

"You don't know anything about me," said Tara.

Actually, Marnie had gotten Jesus to give some details about Tara and the things that he had told her were very enlightening.

"I know that vampires aren't your friends," said Marnie. "And that they have done terrible things to you."

"I think that you should leave," said Tara.

"Do you always want to live your life in fear or do you want to take your life back and make the vampires pay for what they have done to you," said Marnie.

"The vampire who did those things to me is dead," said Tara. "He can't hurt anyone else."

"Do you think that the other vampires are any different than he was?" asked Marnie. "They are all cut from the same cloth."

As Tara stared at Marnie, she added, "Tonight at midnight in the cemetery is a meeting with the vampires and us. I can assure you that they will not obey the truce and will instigate something."

"If you think that, then why are you going?" asked Tara.

"Because I plan on being ready for them," said Marnie. "There is a place by my side for you if you change your mind."

Tara watched as Marnie turned and left. "Shit," she hissed as she closed the door. She sat down on the couch and pulled out her cell phone.

"Sam, I need to talk to you," she said.

IV

Payton walked beside Bill into the cemetery. Eric was to her other side and he was keeping a keen eye on the surroundings and looking for threats. It was dark, but there was enough moonlight to see by. Could they have chosen a creepier place? Payton gazed at the old headstones that were visible. Some were incredibly old, she thought. How long had people lived in this town and buried their dead here? She saw an old tree with hanging Spanish moss that seemed to stand guard over a little pond. The water in the pond appeared like black ink and Payton felt a chill pass over her. Something was not right with this place, she thought. Bill came to a stop and Payton watched as Marnie strode out from behind a tree with a male witch by her side. Her eyes widened when she saw that Tara was also present because next to Tara was Sam.

"Payton?" asked Sam.

Marnie looked back at him in aggravation and then turned back to face Bill, "It seems that everyone knows everyone in this town."

Payton felt Eric tense beside her and she remembered that it probably hadn't been such a good idea to bring up Sam's name as someone she might have had daydreams about. How was she to know that Eric and Sam would ever cross paths?

"That saves us from having to make introductions around here," said Bill.

"I see that you brought your creature," said Marnie. She turned her head to Payton and added, "Or, is it the pretty blonde one that you belong to? One of these vampires has marked you as his."

Payton tried to keep from touching the bite marks on her neck. And, she tried to keep from losing her temper which was what Marnie was hoping to do by provoking her.

"Whoever is biting me is really none of your business," said Payton.

"We're here to negotiate, remember?" asked Bill.

"Of course, I'm listening," said Marnie.

"What do you want?" asked Bill.

"That's simple. I want all of you vampires to die," replied Marnie.

Behind her, Payton could hear Eric drop his fangs, which caused Marnie to glance at him and smile. "Don't think that I haven't forgotten about you, blonde one."

"I remember enough to know that you are responsible for my present state," said Eric.

"Hmm, the only reason that you are still alive is because your little pet interfered with my spell," said Marnie.

"I will rip out your heart and eat it," snarled Eric.

"See their true nature," said Marnie to Payton. "Are you really sure that you're on the right side?"

"I believe that you started this," said Payton.

"Did I?" asked Marnie. "Your vampire came into my place of worship and attacked me."

Marnie revealed a pair of healing bite marks and Payton flashed a glance back to Eric.

"The purpose of this meeting was to move on," said Payton. "The King here is willing to promise that no one from your coven will receive any kind of retribution."

"And me?" asked Marnie.

"He has a proposition for Antonia," said Payton. "We need to speak with her."

"Antonia speaks through me," said Marnie.

"We just have your word for that," replied Payton.

Marnie tilted her head, "If she comes out, you will still have to rely on me for what she says."

"No, I won't," said Payton. "I can see her and speak with her."

"You're a medium?" asked Marnie.

"Not exactly," replied Payton.

Marnie began to shake and Bill's eyes widened. He turned back to Eric who also raised an eyebrow. Suddenly, Marnie opened her mouth and Antonia's spirit appeared. Payton stared at her and saw that she was wearing the same sack cloth dress and her long hair was loose. Her dark eyes stared at the vampires with a pain that had not lessened in these long years. Payton had a feeling that neither side was really right. This spirit had met a cruel fate and she could not help but be moved by what had happened to her.

"There is a vampire here that is directly responsible for your torture and fate," said Payton. "The King will offer you this vampire if you cease your attacks on the rest."

Antonia looked to Bill and said, "He would do that? Punish one of his own?"

"Don't' listen to them," hissed Marnie.

"Yes, he would," said Payton. "He doesn't want any more hostilities. People are going to die on both sides if you insist on your revenge."

Payton stared at Antonia and said, "All this hatred has effected you. Are you so willing to cause pain and suffering on others to achieve your desires for revenge?"

"I was a healer," said Antonia. "I saved many lives with these hands."

"I'm sorry for what happened to you," said Payton. "But, you have the power to end all of this now. Be true to your soul and take my hand."

Payton held out her hand and Antonia stared at it. Slowly, Antonia began to cry.

"Your journey did not end with your death," said Payton. "This is just one plane of existence. There are many more ahead of you, aren't you ready to move on?"

Slowly, Antonia took a step to Payton and held out her hand. Marnie hissed and said, "You can't trust her. She's lying to you. Don't touch her, she'll use some black magic to destroy you."

When Antonia did not turn back, Marnie began to utter words under her breath. Just before Antonia's fingers reached Payton's, she was yanked back. A look of fear came into her eyes and she struggled against the force that was propelling her backwards to Marnie. Suddenly, Antonia disappeared back into Marnie who seemed to swallow her down.

"Nice try, demoness," said Marnie.

"For the last time, stop calling me that," hissed Payton.

With a flourish of hands, Marnie revealed the members of her coven while Bill's other vampires moved forward at vampire speed into plain sight. Several members of Marnie's coven visibly shook with fear but they seemed to be more afraid of Marnie.

"It seems that we have a break down of trust, vampire king," said Marnie. "Roy, now."

Roy whipped out a gun and Bill bared his fangs, "You only have one shot before I rip your arm off."

"Then, he had better put that bullet where it will do the most damage," said Marnie.

Roy turned the gun from Bill and aimed it at Payton. The shot went off and Payton stood for a few moments in shock. Slowly, she touched her hand to her chest and it came away with blood on it. She slowly crumpled to the ground and Eric moved to catch her and ease her to the ground. Eric looked up at Marnie and snarled.

"Didn't see that one coming, did you, blonde one?" said Marnie.