Sorry it's a short one but I thought it was necessary. Merry Christmas to everyone!!
RE; swedish translation - I know that is is not 100% correct (thanks google!) but take my word for it that that is what it translates to.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Sam Merlotte locked up his bar after a particularly busy night. It didn't help he was one waitress down. His best waitress too. But that was neither here nor there. He unlocked the door of his trailer and trudged inside. As he slumped down onto his bed he looked at the picture on his night stand. The frame contained a photo of himself and Sookie last New Years Eve. That night Sam had kissed her in his office and he was sure this time it was going to be his turn. But as it turned out, later that night Sookie had found a barefoot Eric on the side of the road and things had never been the same after that. He knew now he should had made his move long before Bill Compton set foot in his bar but something had always held him back. He let his emotions get the better of him and he hastily swipped a tear from his cheek. Now she was gone and he didn't know if she was dead or alive. Sam grabbed the picture and held it close to his chest. He knew he had lost her forever and he knew it was his own damn fault. Despite that, all he wanted was to see her come home again. Alive.
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Every evening Bill Compton walked through the old cemetary that seperated his ancestral home from Sookies home. He made a circuit around the perimeter, checking for unfamiliar scents and tracks. He would check the locks and peer in the windows. He would check her car was still behind the house and then he would collect her mail. He knew perfectly well she wasn't away on vacation or out of town on business. He didn't need to do these things as he was sure Sam Merlotte could have taken care of it. But part of him needed to believe that she would be coming home sooner or later. Bill opened the old garden shed and pulled out a rake. She wouldn't be happy coming home to an untidy lawn. He began raking up the pine needles and dead leaves. This is all my fault. Had I not returned to Bon Temps, Sookie would never have gotten involved with vampires. I led her to this and I will never forgive myself. I am suffering now for all the pain I caused her. I would gladly met the Dawn if I thought it would make her happy but I know that would only cause her more pain. I sincerely hope that Eric can protect her where I could not. Above all, I hope to see happiness replace the sadness in her eyes when she looks at me.
Pam hated the taste of synthetic blood. But unfortunatly it was all she had access to. For the last few nights she had been hiding out in the safe room of a property owned by one of her aliases. She didn't believe in running from a fight but her Master had given her specific orders and she would follow them without fail. He hadn't spoken to Eric since the night in Sookies living room. No news is good news. As a late night re-run of Dr Phil finished her thoughts lapsed back to a conversation she had had with Eric not long after the Nevada takeover.
He had driven them back to his most secure home, making sure they weren't followed. His paranoia had put her on edge. If he was worried, she knew he had a very good reason to be. When they were safely inside his own safe room, they sat down opposite each other on his leather couch. Eric held his head in his hands. After a period of silence he looked up at her. His face was a map of despair.
"Eric is there a reason I should be worried?" she asked
"Probably."
"What's going on? You know you can confide in me."
"It's about Sookie."
Pam rolled her eyes. "This again! Eric I have already told you all I know of your forgotten time with her. If you need to find closure you must speak to her directly." She was beyond exasperation with this subject. Men!!
Eric looked at her sternly. "It's not that. The night of the takeover, after I conceded defeat, I found I was more unhappy than I should have been and I needed to console myself. I found myself in her room, sitting on the edge of her bed. Her scent overpowered me and suddenly it happened. I remembered everything. Sookie came in and I told her what happened but she didn't want to discuss it then and there. I agreed and left.
"That explains your new attitude to the vermin at the bar, but what has got you looking over your shoulder every five minutes?"
"After Sookie foiled Siegberts attack, the King was impressed with what he saw in her. He is infatuated with my....with Sookie and seeks take her to Nevada by any means possible." He paused in thought. "I can't let that happen."
She had sat up straight, her eyes wide. Her face showed her shock. "You love her." Eric gave her a hard look but she didn't look away. She challenged his stare and finally he caved.
"Yes, I do."
"Oh Eric. Den skulle bli mindre pinlig till hugga av en lem." she said, reaching forward to grasp his huge hands in his. "What will you do?"
So many options ran through his mind. "I must bind her to me. As close as possible to make it impossible for Felipe secure her for himself. I must get her to pledge herself to me. We must be covert about this. You know she does not like to feel controlled."
Who is controlling who?, she wondered. "Maybe you should speak to Niall."
"Yes, I will do that also." he said quietly. Sensing Eric had said all he was going to say, she had stood up to take her leave.
"Child, it is close to dawn. Stay for the day." he said. She could see the concern in his expression.
"I will." she said. After a long silence she spoke. "What if it doesn't work?"
Her master stood to his full height and stretched his upper body. He looked down at her and smiled. "There is always a plan 'B'" he said with a wink.
Pamela finished her bottled blood. She checked her phone and email for any messages. None. "Plan 'B' had better work," she said to herself.
Everytime Jason Stackhouse thought about his baby sister, he cursed. He cursed Bill Compton for walking into Merlottes. He cursed his parents for the heritage they gave her. He cursed the people of Bon Temps for making her feel like an outcast. He cursed Sam Merlotte for not taking her on years ago. He cursed Eric Northman for taking her from her home and sending him out to Hotshot. He even cursed her for the neices and nephews he knew he would never have. Finally he cursed at himself because despite it all he still loved her more than he loved himself. And he hated her because of it.
As Amelia and Octavia finished casting the cloaking spell, Amelia sighed heavily and collasped into the nearest chair. She let her thoughts travel back to the day of Treys funeral and the night Eric had come to her window.
The death of her boyfriend had left her numb. She had gone through the funeral on autopilot. Nodding to friends, accepting their condolences. Now she found herself completely alone in her room. Sookie had insisted on saying her farewell to Trey. Exhausted and still healing, Sookie had gone to sleep hours ago. Amelia wanted to worry about her, she wanted to play nurse but she just couldn't look into Sookies eyes and see her sorrow and regret again. Amelia was infront of her dressing table, slowly brushing her hair while staring blankly at her own reflection, when she heard a soft tapping on her window. Dreamily, she turned her head to the window. Floating outside she saw Eric. Her eyes went wide as she sat there.
"Are you going to let me in? I need to talk to you." He said.
She collected herself, walked to the window and unhooked the latch then stepped back. Eric opened the window and climbed in. By now she had her wits about her.
"What do you want? Sookies asleep."
"Sit, please. I have a favour to ask of you." he said.
As she sat on the end of her bed she raised an eyebrow at her guest. "You need a favour? From me?"
Eric sat in the reading chair opposite her. "Yes. I am aware my timing is bad but this favour I wish to ask of you involves Sookie."
"Let me guess. You want me to cast a spell so Sookie will decide to move in with you?" her sarcasm was not lost on Eric.
Eric raised an eyebrow. "Witch do not irk me. What I am about to tell you does not leave this room. Do you understand?
She was taken aback by his stony demenour. He was dead serious and it terrified her. "Yes. I understand.
"Very well. We find ourselves reeling from a very.....unpleasant experience. But it is not over. Not by a long shot."
This got her attention. "What do you mean it's not over?"
"I will not sugarcoat this for you. There are still Fae out there that wish to end our Sookie. Not only that, Felipe de Castro, you remember him?" he asked, waiting to see her recognition before he continued. "Felipe desires Sookie. He covets her and seeks to end me so he can take her without penalty."
"Holy shit, that's bad," she said
Eric smirked. "Here is the favour I ask of you. I require the strongest cloaking spell you are capable of. Soon I will leave here and go into hiding, taking my bonded with me."
Amelia had questions buzzing around her head. She was about to ask him what he planned to do when Eric cut in.
"Do not concern yourself with what I plan to do. Will you do this for Sookie and I?"
"Of course I will. Does she know what's happening?"
"No and I plan on keeping it that way. You will leave here tomorrow morning before she wakes. I cannot risk her reading this knowledge from your mind."
"I can't just up and leave! Where will I go?" she said, more furious than she should have been in her numbed state.
"Your Teacher, Octavia, is expecting you. Here is a plane ticket to New Orleans. It leaves Shreveport at midday tommorrow. Be on it." He said as he pulled a plain white envelope from his leather jacket.
"Okay. I.m not happy about it but I'll be gone before she wakes tomorrow."
"Thank you. I will not forget this." and he was out the window and gone.
Before she fell asleep she worked a little confusion magic on the King of Nevada to keep him away from Sookie as long as possible. Before exhaustion pulled her down into sleep, her last thoughts were not of Trey, but of Sookie.
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TRANSLATION -
"It would be less painful to cut off a limp."