The Last Goddess
Disclaimer: Unbeta'd, so all mistakes are my own. All copyrights belong to Ms. Harris and Mr. Ball.
Chapter 24
KRISTINA'S POV:
Last night, Sookie and I had some much needed family bonding time. I was able to tell her a little bit more about our Fae family and she just soaked up the knowledge like I knew she would. All Fae are hardwired to know this information. In all honesty, all the information is there. It is just buried deep and can only be uncovered by hearing about it from kin. It was how many Supernatural's kept their existence secret from the beginning.
After only a few hours' sleep, I decide to give up the fight. Without Fang or my mate here, it is a useless battle anyway. Walking outside, I sit on the porch swing and watch the sunrise.
Sunrises in Louisiana have always been amazing, especially on the homestead. I remember being told that Uncle Fintan picked this property just because of the view of the sunrise and sunset. And I understand why, it's beautiful and so peaceful and quiet.
"It is almost as beautiful as the changing of Suns in Faerun," I hear my father say shortly after feeling his presence next to me.
"I think it is more beautiful. It is a reminder for the mortals that they have been given another day on this realm."
"When the time comes, you will be an excellent ruler. I would like to apologize for my previous comments about your guard. I still have a hard comprehending that you aren't that little 5 year old who wanted daddy to take care of everything."
"But I will always be your little girl, now I'm just grown up and have to take care of things myself. No one will ever respect me or my authority if someone else is always taking care things for me, whether it be my father, my godfather, my grandfather, or my mate." Even just mentioning my mate makes me smile, yet long for him even more.
"Please do not remind me. That is probably what I am having the hardest time coming to terms with." My father says, while I suppress a laugh.
"Will you stay for a while? Sookie says she has missed you. Plus I had planned on us meeting Claudine and Claudette for lunch so that Sookie could get to know them more."
SOOKIE'S POV:
Today has been surreal. I woke up early, thinking that Kristina would still be asleep, but I was surprised to see a full southern breakfast for 3 sitting on the table, and Uncle Michael drinking a cup of coffee at said table.
After catching up with my favorite uncle, Kristina got a call from a lawyer that apparently needed to speak with me, in person. While we waited for him to arrive, I got to catch up with my Uncle. It took a little bit to grasp the fact that he looks exactly the same as he did the last time I saw him.
Getting back to the attorney, apparently he is a half-demon who was best friends with my Grandpa Fintan. He is also the one in charge of my trust fund, which I had no idea that I had. After a quick lesson on the few, but quite profitable, investments that I have, I learned that I have enough money to do whatever the hell I want for a little while. I still haven't decided exactly what I want to do. I always worked because I had to, but now I don't.
After both men left, Kristina helps me pack up what I want to take with me, which doesn't take very long. Then she tells me we will be meeting two cousins for lunch, then she has a surprise for me. We loaded my bags into the SUV that Preston will apparently drive back to Kristina's. Where he had been all morning, I have no idea.
Kristina drives us into Shreveport to a nice looking restaurant that I have never seen or heard of named Mischief. When I commented on the name, Kristina said it was owned by a Faery, and Faeries were known for causing mischief when they get bored.
Once we were seated two women popped in out of nowhere and scared the bejesus out of me, causing them and Kristina to laugh. I am then introduced to Claudine and Claudette, 2/3 of a set of triplets. Over lunch I find out that the triplets are full Faeries and that their mother is a half-sister to Uncle Michael, making them my second cousins. They will also be 2 of the 4 Fae guards that will be at Kristina's house while she is gone and will be helping with my training.
After lunch, we all go down the street to the mall and spend some girl time talking and shopping. I have never been big on shopping, just buying what I had to have, but Kristina wasn't having any of it. After 2 stores and her buying what I put back, I learned to be selfish for an hour or so and let Kristina buy the things I wanted as my surprise. Now, I didn't get anything extravagant, but my items definitely weren't essentials. New bathing suits, shoes, sunglasses, and Kristina talked me into getting a new dress and shoes for tomorrow night. I was also gifted with a new cell phone. It was a new iPhone, and Kristina put it in her name and paid for a full year of service, saying she needed to be able to get ahold of me while she was gone.
After leaving the mall, Claudine and Claudette said they would see us later, we head to Kristina's house. I have never seen it before, even before her and Uncle Michael moved away. After leaving Shreveport, we drive to Monroe. After going past a guard shack and up a long drive way, we come up to a beautiful house.
Where Gran's house, even restored, would be a Southern Plantation home, Kristina's is a Southern Mansion. Well, that's what I would call it anyway. It was a big, 3 story house with balconies and archways. It reminded me of some of the houses I saw on my senior trip down to New Orleans.
Kristina explains that buried underneath the house is, essentially, another house entirely. She explains 'The Bunker' and how that is where the Vampires will be staying, she also explains that that is where she normally stays, but that she will stay in her old room in the aboveground house until she leaves for Texas. I understood the message, even though she didn't want to say it.
I know that Vampires are very secretive, especially when they are as weakened as they are during the day. I took absolutely no offense to not being told anything more about downstairs, and I told my cousin as much.
After ordering in Chinese for dinner, we sit down and watch a movie while we ate dinner. Which brings me back to now, soaking in a nice big tub full of hot water and bubbles, thinking back on the day I've had. Yet again, I decide to worry about it all tomorrow.
KRISTINA'S POV:
Ah, a new day and I am that much closer to going to look for my mate. I get more tired as the days go by, but there is nothing I can do about it right now. Plans need to be set in place for Sookie, so that I can give the search for my mate my full attention.
"Good morning Sookie, Good morning Aderyn, Good morning Hayley. How is everyone this morning?" I ask coming into the kitchen carrying Fang.
"Good morning My Lady, we have just been getting to know Sookie while Hayley prepares breakfast." Aderyn answer instantly.
"I didn't know you had a Lady's Maid or a cook." Sookie prompts.
"Yes, and you will have one as well. I was informed last night who yours would be and she will serve you well. You didn't meet Aderyn yesterday because she was in Faerun doing something for me. As for Hayley, yesterday was her day off. Now, before you say anything about not needing her here while I am gone, you are wrong. Once we start training you in your magic, you will need the help. Trust me, until you fully mature, you will burn through a lot of energy just by practicing your magic. But, for today, we simply relax."
And relax we did. After breakfast we went and got changed into bathing suits, so that I could show Sookie the pool and we could start her training. She wore a new bathing suit that we bought yesterday, which was a pink string bikini with white polka dots. Mine, also new and also string, was hot pink leopard print.
"Ok, I said we would be relaxing today, but this will also be your first lesson. How to recharge. We are of the Sky Clan of Faeries, as such, we gain our energy from the sun. Am I wrong in assuming that you have always loved the sun?" I ask Sookie after leading her outside to the pool.
"No, you are not wrong. I have always loved the sun. Especially just sunbathing, soaking up the sun. It is my one vice, I know I should probably cut back on it, with the chances of getting skin cancer and all."
"Absolutely not! You will not get skin cancer from being out in the sun, just like you will never get sunburnt. Your body absorbs the sun, then turns it into energy. Until you mature, it just keeps your spark alive and healthy, but once we start your training you will be able to feel the way your body craves it."
So, we sat in the sun all day, occasionally chatting but mostly relaxing and soaking up the sun. Hayley brought us lunch out at noon, and Aderyn came out at 2 with her sister Cam.
"My Lady, Princess Sookie, this is my sister Cam. She will be your Lady's Maid. Once you mature, Cam will be able to sense when you need her. And the more you get to know each other, the closer that bond will become." Aderyn explains to Sookie.
"I have tasked Aderyn to teach you about Lady's Maid and what Light bonding is and what it involves. She will be starting that tomorrow. Cam has been helping out with all of our family since she reached her maturity, just waiting for the next of our family to come in need."
"But I don't need a Lady's Maid, I can take care of myself."
Aw, there she is, I was wondering how long she would just sit there passively.
"Sookie, it has nothing to do with need. You are a Princess, this is what Cam's family has always done. It is what they were created for. And remember what I told you earlier about while you were coming into your magic, Cam will help you there. Now, you can make the transition easy, so that you know each other and already have a bond before you mature. Or you can push it away until your maturity. But at your maturity all of that will change, you are hardwired for this and your instincts will take over." I warn as I start seeing tears roll down her face.
"I will never be a normal person will I?" My crying cousin asks as I pull her into a tight hug, surrounded by both of our Lady's Maids.
"No, you will never be normal. But who would want to be? Yes it will take some getting used to, yes at times it will be hard, but this is what you were meant for. Quit trying to fit into a square when you were born a star. This is one of the things Cam can help you with. She has the knowledge to help this transition become easier. Aderyn has been with me since 6 months before my Fae maturity and we have been best friends since 3 months before my maturity. She will understand you, even when you don't sometimes."
"Ok, enough tears, let's get dressed and ready for tonight, then we can grab something to eat while Vlad gets ready. We need some party time."
~~~~9PM that night~~~~
"I think this is too tight" I hear Sookie comment as she steps out of her room in her new dress. It is a tight pink bandage dress with one inch wide straps and white cut outs down the sides and the dress stops about mid-thigh.
"It's called a bandage dress for a reason. But trust me that is how it is supposed to feel. As long as you can breathe and walk, it isn't too tight." I inform her while trying not to laugh. Once her maturity hits, her inhibitions will be close to gone, her subconscious in already trying to break her of her extreme modesty.
I am also in a bandage dress, but mine is pink with black straps that hug the sides of my neck, go down the side of my breast and cross under my chest down to my hips. We both have on black 3 inch heels.
"You both look stunning. I will have to keep a close eye on the both of you tonight and watch out for trouble makers. Michael and Niall would both kill me if I let anything unbecoming happen to you." Vlad says, while extending an arm out to each of us.
We spent the rest of the night, until a couple of hours before sunrise, at Fangtasia with Eric and his Child Pam. We all danced and drank and did exactly what I said we would, relax. I also noticed the connection between Sookie and Eric. No matter how much they each pull away, their souls push them back together. This should be interesting to watch play out.
SOPHIE-ANNE'S POV:
(Same Night)
"Andre, call the Magister and bring the phone into my office." I order my child after having my dinner. Leaving her passed out in the Sun Room, I make my way into my office just as my most trusted Vampire and Child brings me the phone.
"What can I do for you Majesty, I am quite busy." The Magister state. Like I care how busy he is.
"I was just calling to see how you recent visit went. All is well I assume, since I didn't hear anything about any of my subjects being arrested."
"The Northman was not arrested. He had someone in custody when I arrived, with proper proof of 'V'. There have also been other charges brought against him. As all the charges came from a non-Vampire Royal, there was no need to pester you. Unless your subject requested his council to contact you." What, who did they arrest? Why not the Viking?
"And who did Eric have in custody?"
"Why, Bill Compton, apparently he has been up to no good since leaving your court. Now I really must be going." He says being hanging up on me. How dare he hang up on me, I am Queen.
But now what am I to do. Without Compton, how will I get my Telepath? And how did Eric find out about the 'V'? This will require some serious planning.
"ANDRE!"
AN: Here is a late Christmas Present. Only one more Chapter till Kristina and Godric meet.