If you've been following this story, I can only apologise for the long breaks between chapters. I am determined to finish it, but I've just been a bit lacking in inspiration. Admittedly I have been distracted by my 'Upstairs Downstairs' story: Lady Persephone's Lover. That is now finished so please check it out. I've also been doing some beta work, including the wonderful new story by AoifeNZ "Viking vs Vampire". Anyway, enough excuses, on with the drama.

Eric had been hiding out at Sookie's, the inevitable happened and they became lovers. Then a booby-trapped Yvetta was sent to curse him, so he lost his memory of ever meeting Sookie, and has now reverted to his most extreme vampire persona.

Now Sookie has had a visit from her fairy cousin Preston:

The Fairy standing on her porch looked every bit as gorgeous as he had when she'd met him in the land of the Fae. His tawny eyes were kind, but there was a hint of menace in his voice.

"I've been waiting for your Vampire to leave. I've been watching you."

So that explained who had been lurking around, Sookie thought. She was surprised that it hadn't occurred to her before. She turned her attention back to Preston, who was continuing his explanation.

"You have taken him as your lover." Preston stated bluntly.

She nodded. Technically he was correct, she had taken Eric even though her new lover no longer remembered anything.

"And you've taken his blood; I can smell it on you."

Sookie nodded again. She wondered briefly if Eric's blood would still offer her protection, or if the effect of Marnie's spell would be to destroy even that bond between them.

"No matter," Preston continued. "Queen Mab has the power to dissolve the bond which has been formed between you. The queen wants you back, cousin, and I have come to take you."

"So what if I don't want to come?" Sookie challenged defiantly. She wondered how much strength the recent infusion of Eric's blood had given her. If Preston decided to take her by force, would she be able to fight him off?

"I hoped you would come of your own free will," Preston responded. "You must believe that I do care for you Sookie, I won't hurt you, but the Queen's anger is powerful and she will send others less …considerate than I." He couldn't supress a shudder. The Queen's rage, when she found that Sookie had escaped the kingdom, had been powerful and terrifying to witness.

Sookie couldn't read his thoughts clearly, but the image he held in his mind was so powerful that she had no trouble picking it up. She saw Preston, and her cousin Claudine, cowering at the Queen's feet while she lashed out at anyone within range. "Is Claudine alright?" she asked.

Preston's response wasn't encouraging, "Her scars will heal. Luckily we are too few in number for the Queen to risk permanent damage to any of us."

"Please tell her that I'm sorry she suffered on my account, but the Queen needs to know that she can't use me as some kind of fairy baby factory."

"This won't be the end of it. I'll give you some advice, but please don't say it came from me. Lemon juice and iron will protect you against the Fae. I would advise you to have one or the other on hand at all times from now on. I have no idea when the Queen will strike, but you can be assured that she will."

"Thank you, Preston," Sookie lifted herself to kiss him on the cheek. "I'm sorry that you'll suffer on my account."

"Think nothing of it," he said with a shrug. "Perhaps one day you'll realise that we are the only people you can really trust and you'll come to us of your own free will."

Sookie shook her head as he made his way down the steps and disappeared from her sight. Could her life get any worse? If, or rather, when, the queen came after her she had no-one to turn to for protection. If she had no other motive to try to break Marnie's spell this certainly gave her one. She would go to Fangtasia tonight, she decided. She and Pam needed to come up with a plan of action.

She slept soundly for several hours, waking to a gloriously sunny early autumn morning. She was due to work the evening shift at Merlotte's so the first business of the day was to tell Sam she wouldn't be coming in. She didn't expect him to be sympathetic, but the audible groan down the phone made it clear that he was not at all happy.

"Sook, I really need you tonight. Jessica didn't turn up last night and no-one has heard from her. Holly's got some problem with her kid so I don't know if she'll be in." Sam sounded desperate, which made Sookie feel even guiltier. "It should be quiet tonight. If it is I can let you go early," he offered as a compromise. Reluctantly she accepted.

She arrived at Merlotte's Bar and Grill to find out that Holly had turned up for work, but it was obvious that something was worrying her. Within the space of five minutes she had mixed up two food orders, forgotten the cutlery for another, and dropped a jug of sweet tea.

"Are you okay?" Sookie asked, as the two of them crouched low on the floor to mop up the mess.

"I'm fine."

"Holly, I know we're not the best of friends, but even I can tell you're not fine. Are you sure you should even be here?"

Holly ignored her for a moment, concentrating on puddle of sweet tea in front of them. Sookie focussed on the other woman's thoughts, glad that she didn't have to look her in the eye.

Something was worrying her, something to do with her young son Cody. "She could help me with my boy, but can I trust her?" she was thinking, "Marie warned me to stay clear of the vamps and their friends."

"Is it something to do with your boy, Cody?" Sookie decided she would have to push it, or they'd never get anywhere. Her intervention had the desired effect. Holly jumped up and pulled her out of the bar and out back towards the store room.

"How did you know that?" she demanded. "Is it true, what Arlene says about you?"

"What does Arlene say?" Sookie responded cautiously.

"Just that you know things…things about other people. She thinks maybe you're psychic."

Sookie laughed nervously, "I promise you, Holly, I'm not psychic. I guess I just pay attention to people, that's all."

Holly looked reassured, briefly, but then reverted to her previous worried expression. After a further moment's thought she launched into an explanation. "You're right, it is Cody. I just don't know what's wrong with him Sookie, but he's not himself. Normally he eats like a horse, but he's just lost his appetite. He won't talk to me either, which is weird 'cos most of the time I can't get him to shut up."

"When did it start?" Sookie asked.

"About a week ago. He'd been having terrible nightmares so I took him to see my friend Marnie, hoping that she'd be able to help. He'd been real upset ever since his two friends were drowned in the Red River. You must have read about it, it was in all the papers and on local TV."

"What did Marnie do?"

"She said she would perform a healing spell. I thought it had worked, as the nightmares stopped, but he's just been different ever since."

"How about you let me talk to him, I'm good with kids and he might find it easier to talk to a stranger." Sookie made her offer sound casual, but she was desperate to get to the boy. Whatever had happened to him might give her a clue about Marnie's powers. She could almost see the wheels turning as Holly considered her offer, but after a minute's thought, she agreed. She gave Sookie her address and they arranged for her to see Cody after school the next day.

Business was slow for the rest of the evening, and Sookie was cleaned up and out of Merlotte's on the dot of one o'clock. She'd planned on going to Fangtasia tomorrow, but she could easily make it before they closed, provided her old car didn't give up on her. Stripping off her Merlotte's T-shirt she pulled on an old grey 'Bon Temps' sweatshirt that she kept in her locker.

Her old yellow Hyundai protested vehemently as she pushed the speed up to the maximum, but she reached the Fangtasia parking lot in record time. She wondered if the day would ever come when she could turn up just for pleasure, for a drink and maybe a dance, but she dismissed the thought. Fangtasia and trouble went hand in hand; that's just the way it was.

Pam was on door duty, looking more bored than ever. Her expression brightened as Sookie approached. "I didn't expect to see you," she said, but she didn't sound too disappointed.

"To be honest Pam, I wasn't sure that I'd ever come here again. If Eric has forgotten that I even exist, that could make things a lot easier for me. The trouble is, I've got some other issues, and I might need your help."

"You'd better come in then, but….." for once Pam was at a loss for words, "you do know what Eric is like," she trailed off, lamely.

That should have given Sookie a clue, but she wasn't prepared for the sight which greeted her inside the bar. A young fang-banger was dancing provocatively in front of Eric. The girl wouldn't have looked out of place in a fetish club, Sookie thought, nastily. Her figure was voluptuous and her black satin bustier did very little to conceal her considerable assets. Six inch spike heels and a very short skirt gave her the appearance of endless legs. Eric's enjoyment of the entertainment was only too clear, and not just from his face.

Pam gave Sookie a reassuring pat on the arm. "They come and go," she said. "He'll have forgotten her by tomorrow."

"I know. I'm fine Pam, really I am." Sookie shrugged unconvincingly. "I see Eric didn't waste any time getting a new dancer."

"Oh, she just turned up this evening. Why pay when you can get it for free?" Pam said snarkily. Eric had made it clear he had no intention of sharing his new treat with her, and she was still pissed about it.

To Sookie's surprise, her arrival tugged Eric's gaze from the dancer, who pouted sulkily as she realised she had lost his undivided attention. The bar was crowded, but for a brief moment Sookie could feel Eric's consciousness linking with hers. The connection was short lived though, and the girl quickly regained his interest.

Pam motioned to one of the other vamps to take over door duty and steered Sookie towards the bar. "Gin and tonic, isn't it?" she asked.

"Just a ginger ale thanks, I'm driving."

"So, do you want to tell me what's going on?"

Sookie scanned the bar. She spotted several vamps, which meant that having a conversation out here was definitely a bad idea. "Perhaps we could go someone more private," she suggested.

"With pleasure, you know you only have to ask," Pam shot back with, a predatory smile on her face.

"Pam," Sookie…..

"You can't blame me for trying. I suppose you'll be wanting the master as well then," Pam looked petulant for a moment, then turned to push her way through the crowd towards the stage.

"Eric, Sookie Stackhouse is here, she needs to talk with us."

Eric scowled. He didn't appreciate having his evening's pleasure interrupted, especially by a human. Pam really should know better, he thought, determining to have words with her later.

"Fifteen minutes." He stated bluntly, stalking off towards the back office with a gesture to indicate that his dancing girl should accompany him. The girl gave Sookie a smug grin as she passed by, which Sookie ignored.

Pam guided her towards a corner booth and they sat to wait.

"You know," Pam said, "I used to think you were a bad influence on Eric, but now I'm not so sure. It's only seeing him like this that makes me realise that he has changed."

The unexpected admission left Sookie quite speechless, but she motioned for Pam to continue.

"I'd forgotten quite what an evil bastard he could be. He may have only lost a few months of memory, but his personality has reverted back about a hundred years. It reminds me of when I first met him."

Any resentment Sookie had been feeling about Eric's dancing girl disappeared. Pam had never been so forthcoming with her and she was desperate to hear more.

"I was working in a brothel in New Orleans when I first met Eric. The House of the Rising Sun, you must have heard of it? He was with Godric in those days, and the two of them used to compete to see who could have the most women in one evening. Eric usually won."

Sookie gave a derisive snort.

"Anyway," Pam continued, "I think I attracted their attention as I was the only one who managed to take on both of them, twice." She couldn't help but look proud of her achievement. "I think that was when Eric decided to turn me."

"You don't look…" Sookie began, then stopped, flushing with embarrassment. Gran had always told her not to judge people.

"It may surprise you to know that my family was one of the oldest in the South, and before the war one of the richest. They backed the wrong side though and lost everything. By the time I came along, there was nothing left. My mother died when I was a baby, leaving my father with five daughters. He managed to get husbands for a couple of my sisters, but he needed money for their dowries so he sold me to the brothel when I was fifteen." Pam sounded quite matter of fact about it.

"Pam, that's terrible, I'm so sorry."

"Don't be. After all, they're all dry bones now, and I'm still here, so I guess I had the last laugh." She smiled unconvincingly.

"Anyway, in those days Eric didn't care about anyone except himself and Godric. Several of the girls disappeared while they were in the city, and I'd be willing to bet that he didn't bother controlling himself and just drained them. He used to love duelling as well. He'd deliberately cheat at cards, just to get called out. There was nothing he loved more than a good fight, and he didn't care who got hurt as a result."

It was hard to square the vampire who Pam was describing with the one she'd spent the last few days with, the one she'd fallen in love with. But then, Godric had changed, so why not Eric.

Her painful train of thought was interrupted by Pam.

"Right, we can go in now, he's finished with her." She indicated the door which led to the back office.

Sookie rolled her eyes, glad she didn't have the dubious benefit of vampire hearing.

"Well Miss Stackhouse, it seems you just can't stay away from me." Eric said coolly as they entered the office.

"Believe me, Mister Northman, I'm here on business, not pleasure."

"That's a shame, I thought perhaps I could interest you in a threesome," he smirked, glancing over at the Goth girl who was slumped out on the couch. Her bustier had disappeared and her skirt was hitched up around her hips. A red thong dangled from one ankle. She had the dazed appearance of someone who had been glamoured, and the bite marks were still visible on her neck.

Sookie wasn't sure which of the two of them disgusted her the most. The girl obviously had no self-respect, she thought unkindly, but Eric was quite happy to leave her in that humiliating position, and hadn't even bothered to heal her wounds properly.

"Wait for me in the bar," he ordered, leaving it to Pam to pull the girl's skirt back into position, giving her just a little modesty.

"So I'm wondering," he said, turning to Sookie, "why a complete stranger is so keen to see me."

Before Sookie could answer, Pam cut in. "Eric, she's not a stranger. You just don't remember her."

Eric looked at her, puzzlement clearly showing on his face. "Pamela, when have I ever forgotten anything, or anyone?" He said, imperiously.

Pam had moved behind the desk and started fiddling with Eric's laptop.

"Perhaps this will give you a clue." She turned the machine around so that all three of them could see it, and selected a folder on the desktop. As she clicked on the first file a grainy image appeared on screen. Sookie could tell immediately it was taken from a security camera, and after a couple of moments she realised it was located inside the Fangtasia bar, probably over the front door from the look of it.

The date in the bottom corner of the screen was a couple of months back, and the bar was busy. A tall dark man entered the bar, with a shorter blonde woman, who was wearing a white dress with some kind of flower pattern. Sookie gasped as she realised the woman was her. It was the night Bill had first brought her to Fangtasia, when she was looking for clues as to who had murdered Maudette and Dawn.

She watched, fascinated, as the two of them made their way to the bar to question Longshadow, then over to one of the booths. Finally they were summoned to sit with Eric and Pam. Sookie shook her head at the thought of the naïve girl she had been back then. Pam just smiled, while Eric looked puzzled. It took him a moment to make the connection between the woman on the film and the one in the room.

"This was you, at Fangtasia?" He asked, clearly unable to remember anything about it. He looked worried as he watched himself on the screen.

"There's more," Pam said, dryly, and clicked to open another file. This time the bar was almost empty as the same two figures walked in.

"Please, Pam, no," Sookie begged, knowing what was to come. A fat, sweaty, white man was sitting at a table, while Eric and Pam leaned nonchalantly at the bar. Longshadow was there, cleaning glasses, looking bored.

"Sorry, Sookie, he needs to see it, it might jog his memory. At least there's no sound, so we don't get to hear Ginger screaming."

Sookie got up and walked over to the shelves, developing a sudden interest in the stock of cleaning products. After a couple of minutes, Pam called her back, "It's okay, all done," she said, moving onto the next file.

Once again Fangtasia was empty, and once again Sookie watched herself arrive with Bill, but this time her clothes were torn and she was bleeding. She felt a stab of pain, as she remembered only too vividly the agony she had experienced at the hands of the Maenad. It was strange to watch the clip, as she remembered nothing else of that evening. What struck her most of all though, was the look on Eric's face as he watched the healer perform her treatments. He had an expression of real concern, and even a hint of tenderness. She exchanged glances with Pam, and they both looked at Eric.

"How many more?" he asked. He didn't look at all happy, but the two women couldn't tell whether than was on account of the memory loss or the evidence that he had so recently been capable of human emotions.

"Every visit Sookie has ever made to Fangtasia. You had them all downloaded from the security system and saved. Don't you remember any of them?"

Eric shook his head. Pam skimmed through the rest of the clips. Eric demanded to see the last one twice; the one where he was burned and bloody, and so weak that Bill had to tear Sookie's flesh to enable her to feed him her blood.

Sookie was surprised to see her own expression. At the time she'd been half crazy with exhaustion and loss of blood. She'd cursed every vamp she knew and rescinded their invitations to her house. Despite all that, her feelings for Eric were clearly visible on her face.

He looked puzzled and, for a few moments, Sookie thought she could feel something of his emotions. Once again the connection between them was short-lived.

"Fine, so I know you, and we have some kind of …" he paused, while trying to think of the right word, "relationship. What is it you want from me?"

Pam spoke first. "You need to know that Sookie is our friend and that we can trust her."

Sookie gave a weak smile. "I've come to offer my help. You're being threatened by the Necromancer, Marnie, and I've some ideas that might be able to deal with her."

Eric gave a derisive snort, and once again it was left to Pam to back her up.

"Eric, we need to take this seriously. She's threatening your businesses, our businesses, and I for one am not letting her take anything without a fight. If Sookie is willing to help us then we need to accept."

Eric turned to Sookie, "I still don't understand why you want to help us – what's in it for you?" he asked coldly.

"To be honest, I'm not sure I do want to help you. I've been thinking about it all day. It would be so perfect if I could just walk away and never see any of you again. The problem is, some of my …uh….relatives, are very keen that I visit with them, on a permanent basis."

"And you don't want to go?" Pam interrupted, anticipated her next comment.

"No, but they have ways of forcing me, and I reckon I might need a bit of extra muscle to protect me."

"You could always ask a Were or a shifter, they have plenty of muscle…" Eric said, his tone derisive.

Sookie could feel the slender grip she had on her temper slipping away. "Fine," she snapped, "if you don't want my help I'll just go."

As she turned to leave, Pam hurried after her. "He has been cursed, you have to remember that," she said as they re-entered the bar.

"Yes, but isn't this just showing me the real Eric. I think I had a lucky escape Pam."

Pam sighed. "Look, Sookie, I need your help, even if Eric doesn't realise that he does. And I'm strong enough to defend you against your relatives in return. So what's our next move?"

"I don't think we should say anything more to Eric. We don't know what the other effects of the curse are. For all we know he could be transmitting information straight back to Marnie. I've got a couple of ideas I want to follow up so I'll let you know when there are any developments."

"Thanks, Sookie, I appreciate it." Pam sounded almost human.

Sookie looked back around the bar. Seeing the security tapes had brought back a flood of memories and most of them weren't good ones. It was so sweet that Eric had saved them all, but that thought just made her feel incredibly sad. It was his casual cruelty towards the Goth dancer that upset her. She knew he was quite capable of tearing a man limb from limb but that was in anger. She'd hated him for imprisoning Lafayette in the cellar, but she knew he'd had his reasons. This was different, it was gratuitous and just plain nasty.

The girl was sprawled over Eric's throne, still half naked. A crowd of men were ogling her, and it looked as if some were surreptitiously taking photos on their phones.

"Can't you get her covered up, Pam, it's degrading."

"You're such a spoilsport Sookie, I was rather enjoying the view."

Sookie's fierce glare spurred Pam into action and she ordered a waitress to get a Fangtasia T-shirt and panties for the girl.

She held it together as she walked out of the bar, head held high. It was only when she reached her car and sat behind the wheel that the tears came. All of a sudden she felt very alone, and very scared.

Author's notes:

In the book DTTW, Holly's son is called Cody, so I decided to use that name, even though it does risk confusion with Arlene's son Coby.

As all bookies know, Pamela was turned in London over two hundred years ago, and although she isn't given a surname in the books, Charlaine Harris has said that her name is Ravenscroft, which most fanfic writers use.

For reasons best known to themselves, the TB writers decided to rename her Swynford de Beaufort, and to make her younger than Bill Compton. Although this is a terrible indignity, I have written her back-story to fit with these details.

Finally just to say that I'm posting this chapter on 1st Feb 2011 which is my first anniversary as a Fanfiction writer - check out my Wordpress blog for more details.