AUTHOR'S NOTE: I forgot to mention Scott's date, Wanda, who changed to saber and headed off into the woods.
"'att, I don' feeel–" Kris collapsed on the blanket on her back, her eyes closed to get rid of the spinning in her head, but that only made it worse. Her eyes flew open and she looked around her in panic and fear.
"Kris, I'm here," Matt said lovingly as he held onto her. "Don't change. Don't change. Scott, I might need you to go get Pam, her Maker. Do you know where Eric Northman's house is?" Scott nodded. "Kris, you cannot change. I won't be able to protect you, especially from Marley."
"I'mm hawt," she muttered as she curled up into a ball, clutching her knees.
"Shit. Fight it, Kris. Be strong," Matt urged.
"I … I cannn't," she whined, tears beginning to escape her eyes. "Gonnn … change."
"Scott, stand back." Matt warned. "I've never seen her–" Matt wasn't able to finish his sentence because Kris had changed completely into her saber form, facing off into the trees, her rear end facing the lake and Matt. "Shit."
The saber planted her front paws into the softened dirt, clawing at it before her body maneuvered back and she stretched her body to get the human kinks out. Yawning, her jawbone cracking and crinkling, she turned her head around and saw Matt staring at her, wide-eyed and extremely frightened. Slowly approaching him so as not to appear threatening, she laid down on her stomach, her chin to the ground and pushed her nose into Matt's thigh gently.
Scott hissed and barred his fangs as a warning not to hurt Matt, though he remained close to his friend. Kris lifted her head and chuffed at Scott, as if he was a true threat. Truth be told, he was far from it. "Scott, it's cool." Matt carefully put out his hand and let Kris sniff it. "I won't hurt you, Kris," he said softly. She bowed her head over his hand until it rested between her ears. Starting to rub her fur, he smiled and relaxed.
"Matt, I've got to go find Wanda. Holler for me if you need me."
"Got it." After Scott left them, Matt said to Kris, "I'm so, so sorry. I should have known she'd pull something like this." He roughly massaged the saber's shoulders, and she began to purr.
Suddenly a noise came from the lake, causing Kris to turn her head toward the edges of the still water in an attack position, not knowing what the threat was. However, there was no threat. As a saber, she recognized the two sabers in the water as Charlie and Karen, who had each just caught a fish and trotting up to shore. Dropping the fish onto the pebbly sand, they began to eat, and Kris watched in awe, her head tilting back and forth.
Karen finished hers first then glared up at Kris, her nostrils flaring as if she were smelling the new saber's scent. Karen shooed her head toward the water a few times before Charlie ran back into the water, and Karen followed him.
It was a moment before Kris understood she was to follow Karen into the water to show her how to fish. Giving Matt one gentle push from her forehead on Matt's chest, to tell him she'd be okay, she stood and went to the water's edge. Again Charlie and Karen stood stone-cold still; their ears twitched occasionally as if listening to any possible food swimming beneath the surface.
Sitting on her hind legs, it wasn't long before Karen pounced in the water with her mouth open and came back up with a fish staked with one of her saber teeth. Flipping her head around quickly, the fish went flying and landed at Kris's feet. Sniffing at it curiously, she sneezed as some water had gone up her nostrils. Not one for seafood as a human, not to mention sushi, she wasn't sure if she wanted to try it. But it would be rude if she didn't at least try it, considering it was a gift, in a way.
Scooting her head forward, her two long and wide saber teeth got in the way of her other teeth that she tried to grasp the fish with. Making a few more attempts, she finally slid the fish into her mouth and began to chew, surprised at how good it tasted on her saber palette.
Matt, being comfortable knowing Kris wouldn't hurt him, stood beside her and smiled down on her. "Hey," he said quietly, not wanting to disturb his friend's food search. "I should get you back home so you'll be safe. I don't need your pissed off Maker draining me dry."
She looked up at him and at first wasn't going to leave, but when she saw the silent pleading in his eyes she thought it'd be best. Besides, he had a point. She liked Matt and wanted to see him again, so she didn't dare press her luck with Pam, or Eric, for that matter.
Matt told Charlie and Karen that he'd catch up with them later then stood over Angus and Tracy, who were still tripping on the Nightshade. She was giggling like a ten year old girl, and he had his hand up above him, trying to figure out exactly what the appendage was; they were so gone he didn't bother to say goodbye. Regarding Marley, his sister, he could have cared less about, as well as her date. He just hoped for their sake they stayed clear of him.
Just as they stepped onto the trail that led them back to Eric's manor, a high-pitched wail echoed around them. Kris's head snapped back in the direction of the sound, while Matt seemed to be glued to the ground, his body frozen. Looking up at the top of the trees, her keen eyesight settled on a pair of bright green eyes that cast down on her, making her fur stand on end. She didn't just sense danger, she tasted the danger.
"Raoghnailt," Matt whispered dreamily as he, too, turned to look where Kris spotted the threat.
The screech turned into a soft hum of an unknown song as a female floated down from the branch of the tallest tree. Her white, wet dress clung to her body, showing every curve, her erect nipples poking out through the material. She was even paler than a vampire, her long, wet hair cascaded down along her waist.
Landing just feet from Matthew, the female said, "Matthew, mo ghrá. Cén chaoi a bhfuil mé caillte agat."
"As I have missed you, my love," Matt replied, his voice was monotone as he stepped to her.
Kris used her huge saber body to keep him away from the woman, but to no avail. The woman held a comb in her hand and flicked it toward Kris, who flew back twenty feet, her body rolled a few times before settling, her fur covered with mud. Getting back on her feet, she shook her body before turning to look at Angus and Tracy, who had gone off somewhere, then to Charlie and Karen, who had come out of the water but stood too far away; they didn't appear to want to help, anyway.
The woman stretched out her arm to Matt, which he promptly took, smiling warmly. Kris didn't like the look in his eyes, nor did she like the way the woman was looking at her date. Taking in a deep breath, Kris snarled and hissed as loudly as she could, anger surging through her. Knowing there was nothing she could do, she sat on her hind legs, not being in the mood to take flight again from the powerful energy the woman exuded.
"I have so desperately needed to see you again, Matthew," the woman said, brushing her free hand against his cheek. "I will have you as my own."
"No, you won't," came a voice from the walking trail. Eric approached them, completely unafraid, barring his fangs and snarling wickedly. "I would highly advise you to stay away from my imprinted, Nixie trash."
"You are no threat to me, vampire," she hissed, the tips of her ears then poked through her damp hair. "He will be mine."
"I will be yours," Matt repeated distantly.
"You see, as I said, leave him to me."
"Afraid I can't do that," Eric hissed.
"I have had enough of this," the woman spat. "Teacht liom, Matthew."
Before Matt could move to follow her, Eric attacked the woman. Their bodies flew halfway up a large, thick tree trunk, Eric using his strength to keep her back firmly against the bark. He wasn't pleased that he couldn't sink his teeth into the Nixie as quickly as he hoped. She was just as powerful as he was, and she had one quality the vampire didn't have. Throwing her head back, the woman protested by allowing another high-pitched, ear-shattering screech escape her lips. The only effect it had on Eric was blood trickling from his ears and nose. The effect on a human was much more dramatic. Immediately Matt screamed in agony, covered his ears and fell to his knees. Kris hurried to his side, shaking her head to rid the ringing in her ears from the siren call.
"Eric, let her down," a male said as he stood below them.
Kris's eyes diverted to the male, which turned out to be Vilgot, with the group of Matt's friends standing behind him protectively. When Eric didn't comply, Vilogt repeated his demand until he did obey.
The Nixie fell in a crumpled heap at Vilgot's feet, blood dripping from the puncture wound in her neck, though he had not drained her. Closing his eyes and holding his arms out, Vilgot said, "Mé a sheolann tú ar ais go dtí an ifreann tháinig tú as, Nixie. Ní bheidh tú ar ais."
In the blink of an eye, she evaporated. The silence that surrounded them was heaven. Turning to the group behind him, sabers still in their form, he commanded, "Who brought the Nightshade?" They all remained quiet.
"Marley," Matt croaked as he got to his feet. Marley hissed a warning to her brother, which he ignored.
Looking at Kris, Vilgot asked, "Is this true?" She nodded. "Marley, I have warned you … This will not be discussed now. I want you waiting in my office when I return. Do you understand?" She nodded, fear etched across her feline face; Bryan took a few steps away from her. "Oh, don't think you get away scot free, Mr. Clark. Go now, the both of you." They raced off. "The rest of you, go home. I will contact you if I have any questions."
"I'm okay, Kris," Matt said as he rubbed the top of her head. She returned his gesture by brushing her head against his thigh.
"Shall we take the kids back to your manor, Eric?"
ENDING NOTE: I will explain what a Nixie is in the next chapter.