Sookie's POV
Jesus Christ Shepard of Judea! Not only do I get to meet a supe that sent me in a tailspin but when I got back to my table there is that small teenage looking supe and her very normal friend sitting at the table Tara and I occupied. Weird! Since when did any supernatural being consort with a human is beyond me unless said human can do something for their benefit. These two are bonding like two girlfriends. I wonder if the tall dark blond woman knows she's talking to a creature with razor sharp teeth.
Speaking of razor sharp teeth, I see the strange little supe crawl up onto the stage with a five between her teeth. Obviously Augustine Spark isn't a supe hurting for money. The stripper that went by the stage name The Huntsman gives her a wink as he pulls his string away from his scared hip in which she skillfully deposits the bill. In fact this guy looked like he had been mauled by wild animals several times over but the scars only added to his appeal. It's no wonder Belinda was kissing all over him backstage. This guy resembled Viggo Mortenson from those Lord of the Rings movies although I doubt Stryder would be stripping down to his skivvies for a bunch of screaming horny women.
He caresses Auggie's check while he bumps and grinds before he goes back to his other adoring 'fans.' The Huntsman catches sight of me and gives me a wider smile and a playful wink while a drunken church lady stuffs a dollar down his string. He takes her hand and kisses it. This guy has charisma oozing through his pores and a wonderful Cajun charm. It's no wonder the ladies went all wild when he strutted on out.
I still can't get that Magni Frost guy out of my mind. His hand was very cold, almost freezing and those piercing eyes. The energy bouncing off him went through the roof. If his size didn't intimidate me, it was definitely his power. Unlike a vampire, this guy seemed to have a pulse and this is despite his cold touch. Scary is the only word I can come up with to best describe it. Not even my great fairy grandfather wielded so much power. It must be Magni Frost's scary size from what I can figure? I wonder what such a powerful supe is doing here and doing a striptease of all things? What kind of creature can be more powerful than an ancient vampire and a fairy prince combined?
There is something endearing about Magni Frost even though he frightened the bejesus out of me. It could have been his size or the fact that I couldn't see his face very well under that plastic Viking helmet. He definitely has a gentleness you don't see in most supes if any. I did notice the way he slouched so as not to intimidate me and that he didn't want to let go of Belinda's hand. Belinda seemed to love the man plenty but not in the way she does the hunter. Her love seemed sisterly. She evidently let him near her kids by the comment I overheard her make in the dressing room.
"Come join us Sookie," Augustine Spark waves at me. It's no wonder Pam didn't make the little supe and her friend move. "This is my friend, Brooke Anderson," she motions to her dishwater blond friend. Brooke Anderson gives me a smile. She wasn't what you would call cute or pretty but she wasn't an ugly duckling either. She hardly wore any makeup but she really didn't need it with her flawless skin and high cheekbones. Her eyes so blue they look like the sky before a thunderstorm. She stands up and pulls out a chair for me. Auggie is right, she's somewhere in the neighborhood of being five eight. Tall but not Amazonian.
"Pleased to meet you Sookie," Brooke Anderson says as she holds out her hand. I give her a shake. Her thoughts seem to be blocked just like Belinda's. The cracks in her mental wall showed me Magni Frost wearing his Viking helmet and laughter. Then I saw the blurred image of the very large man without his Viking helmet. I couldn't make out his face but he sounded worried. Brooke lets go of my hand.
"It's nice to meet you too," I tell her and Brooke smiles. Her whole face lights up when she does this making her interesting beauty shine through.
"I hope you don't mind us sitting here. It's just that Auggie is excited to see her nephew preform and we want the best seats," Brooke tells me. My guess is that she's probably kin to that prissy goblin trying to sneak in smokes. I see a family resemblance but Auggie must've ditched the English accent many centuries ago would be my guess.
"Oh, I was just backstage. Which one is he?" I ask and Brooke just smiles.
"I told Mag I like The Immigrant Song better than the predictable It's Raining Men. I hope he sticks to that one. Remy and B totally agreed with me on that one," Auggie tells Brooke just as The Huntsman runs off the stage and all the ladies go berserk whistling and shouting out their admiration.
"I hope it's not that horrid remake. Led Zepplin is the only band that can rock that song," Brooke tells Auggie.
"It better not or I'm going to make him stock Jareth's section for a month or maybe help Ruby with the tattoo parlor. I hope Mag doesn't mind listening to Neil Diamond all day," Auggie said.
"Naw, I heard Ruby is a Fanalow now," Brooke says as she shakes her head and both the women laugh.
"You've met my nephew. He's the hot Euro talent," Auggie casually tells me. Funny, I see no resemblance between Auggie and the super-sized Viking. I'd definitely run for the hills if Magni Frost smiled at me with the same smile as his 'aunt.' "He's quite the cutie. Just ask Brooke."
"Oh Augustine!" Brooke says in her northern tone as she blushes. She looks down shyly at her hands. She then plays around with her silver necklace that looks very old. It is very unusual in its design and lay close to her breast when she let it fall. The pendant looks like something masculine and very Viking. I catch her thoughts again. This time I felt her pleasure of receiving the treasured piece of jewelry. The large cold hands nervously fastening the silver chain to her neck and the gentleness of his touch as his cool hand carelessly swept her hair. She felt very loved and protected as the cold lips gently brushed her cheek. "You are my life," a deep accented voice whispers in her ear as she closes her eyes. Brooke Anderson and the mysterious supe Magni Frost are lovers from what I can gather.
"That's your honey?" I ask to make polite conversation. Brooke nods as she clutches the pendent in her hand.
"He saved my life. That's how we met. Mag is a very honorable man. The modern world still throws him for a loop but I love the big lug all the same," she tells me as she looks down at her pendant for strength. Brooke is an extremely shy woman I'd guess to be in about her early to mid-thirties. She appears to have come from sturdy stock too. She's sort of built like myself if not a little more on the plus side.
"Did you take your medicine?" Auggie asks Brooke out of the clear blue as she reaches for the hand clutching the pendant. The small supe gently holds it.
"Yes I did. I always do. Do you sense one coming on?" Brooke asks as concern fills her face. Auggie nods.
"I'm taking you back to Mag's dressing room. B and Remy are in there. These women are too occupied to notice a little pink smoke. I'll have B make sure Mag stays out. Okay?" Auggie tells Brooke in a very human way you never see supes speak.
"Fine. Not out here in the crowd. I hate having spells in a crowd," Brooke tells the little supe.
"I'll be back in a blink," Auggie tells me as the pink smoke and magic swirls around the two women. They both vanish and Auggie returns two minutes later.
"What was that all about?" I ask the little supe. Auggie's big pale blue eyes look sad.
"She has epilepsy. She doesn't like people to know that because she feels they're likely to treat her differently. Unfortunately I see her point because humans usually do. I've witnessed stuff like it several times before. Brooke wants people to see her as normal," Auggie shares. Since when did supes ever care about human disorders and conditions? Augustine Spark seems like a different breed of supernatural. The only supe I've ever met that acted this way was my fairy godmother, Claudine. How I miss her deeply.
"I won't treat her differently," I say as I look towards the stage. There's a bit of a view of the backstage from our table. I could see the one called The Huntsman dressed in his street clothes consoling the giant Viking. The Viking looks worried as the goblin pats him on the arm. Even The Goblin King looks concerned for the super-sized supe. Magni pulls off the cheap plastic helmet and a curtain of black hair and braids spills out. He runs his hand through it as he brings his head up and I'm very taken by what I see.
I catch a glimpse of what only can be described as the most handsome man to ever walk the earth but his pointed ears are a dead giveaway that he's definitely something more. Full lips, high cheekbones and piercing blue eyes that has sadness in them. A cloud of fog lingers when he lets out a sigh. Like when you can see your breath on a very cold morning. Handsome, stunning, I seriously doubt there's a word to describe what I'm seeing. I think aloud as I muttered the words, "Oh my God." Augustine Spark gives me that sharp smile of hers.
Strangely the big Viking must've heard me over all the noise as he looks in my direction and smiles somberly. Then I see Belinda and Brooke. The Viking's expression lightens up at the sight of his woman. She reaches her arms up and grabs his neck as he bends down and picks her up off the ground and holds her up with one very powerful hand. He runs his free hand through her hair as she wraps her legs around his waist and holds that beautiful face in her hands as they touch foreheads. I can't see her face but I could see him saying something to her before their lips meet and Mag holds her close as she sits on his very powerful forearm with his hand cupping her rear end for extra support. Even Eric's strength is no match for this guy who can comfortably hold his lady like a mother would a toddler while standing. Mag's smile grows wider as their foreheads meet once again. His smile only enhances what really doesn't need enhanced as Brooke throws her arms around his neck and lays her head on his chest. I catch a glimpse of her profile as she says something to him that looks like I love you.
"She didn't want to see him before the show but I guess plans changed. He got his good luck kiss after all," Auggie gives me a wink and a giggle. "Brooke can't get enough of her big Viking but I think it's the other way around a lot the times. My Magni has been a happy little giant since he stumbled upon her. Brooke doesn't look at Mag the way most of the female population does."
"He's a giant? He's not a very big giant," I say and Auggie smirks.
"Only part. You said it yourself earlier. You know, when he took that ugly plastic helmet off," Auggie says as she innocently looks up at me with her hands under her chin.
"All I said was Oh my G..." That explains the power the very big man wielded.
"I usually find it funny when they say Son of Thor but Oh my God is close enough. By Odin you are interesting for a human. I can see why Pam likes you so much," Auggie gives me a playful wink. "He does his best to restrain all his power in a mixed crowd like this. I know you can sense it," Auggie then said in a more serious tone.
"What is he doing here? Why aren't you in faery like all the others?"
"He's here because a friend asked for a favor. He likes Eric, even when the vampire was human and Eric was a boy listening to the elders' sagas. As for Niall Brigant, I know he's your kin and all but I was never a part of his kingdom. Not after he kicked my mother out of Faery for having a Jotunn lover and soon after married a light elf. That was long before I was born. My allegiance is with my father's world of Alfheimr. Faery wasn't the only kingdom around you know. Niall is always so full of himself," Auggie rolls her eyes. "Prince of the fairies my scrawny elven ass!"
"That's my great grandfather you're talking about! He's not here to defend himself," I had to say something despite the fact that I'll never see Niall ever again.
"I'm sorry. We're not here to talk elvish and fairy politics. We're here to save your marriage. Eric belongs in Oklahoma as much as he belongs in sunlight. We can't let it happen," Auggie said just as an electric guitar version of Dixie pumps through the speakers. Lights shine on the Union Jack flag taped to a wall and Bill's shadowy profile holding the plastic rifle with the plastic saber attached to his belt.
"Please don't look away for Confederate Bill," Pam announces in her version of a southern accent. Not a very good one either. I'm too deep in thought to be amused by Bill's little dance as I watch him pumping his hips after he throws off his jacket to the screaming women. No, my mind seems to be on the fact that this strange little supe and her half god nephew and why are they so concerned about the state of my marriage to Eric?
Belinda's POV
Remy just put on his shirt when that familiar pink cloud begins to linger. Auggie appears with Brooke at her side. Auggie would not have brought Brooke back here unless it's an emergency. Remy helps me out of the chair and Auggie immediately guides Brooke to the spot I once occupied. I read an article one time about seizure dogs but those canines have nothing on supernatural senses. Ever since Brooke joined our merry little band of misfits she has more than her share of guardian angels.
"I'll take care of Mag," I tell Auggie and she nods just as Brooke's eyes begin to roll and her body slightly spasms. We've been through this before. Auggie makes no effort to hold her down. We have to let it take its course. There is no magic in the world that can stop it. Auggie instead grabs a blanket while Remy gets a water bottle from the fridge. Brooke wears a necklace under her clothes that gives medical instruction but we don't need it. She wears it in case she is ever alone which is rarely ever.
"I'll go 'Lindy. I'm sure he already senses it. You're more help than what I can be," Remy says as he looks sadly towards Brooke. He's right; Brooke needs a woman's touch. Her mascara smudged a bit and her hair is a mess not to mention the occasional tears that comes from humiliation whenever she has one of her spells in front of strangers. I'm glad Auggie got her out of that pit of vipers in time.
"He'll want to see her. I don't know if she'll stick to her guns about not seeing him before the show but if she does want to see him, I'm not stopping her," I tell my hunter. Usually Mag deals with Brooke's epilepsy but he still gets protective and concerned about her all the same. One time I went over to his place so we could go over a few things going on at the preserve. Mag had been gently cradling Brooke as he sat down on the front porch swing when Remy and I pulled up into his drive. He whispered to her incoherent and shaking form in Old Norse as icy tears ran down his cheeks. Mag at least had the sense to wrap her in a blanket. He knows his coldness comes out whenever he's not in his right state. That little moment told me that Mag truly loves her but we had to educate the big Viking on human conditions. He knows now that he can't hold her when she seizes but afterwards he can hold her all she wants and he usually does.
"Is Brooke alright?" I heard Mag's heavily accented voice. That's another one of Mag's little quirks; his accent thickens whenever his emotions get the best of him. "I saw Aunt Astir disappear with her. I assume back here. I can feel it."
I feel the cool draft the minute Remy opens the door and steps out. Brooke snaps out of her seizure slightly confused for a moment as she takes in the dressing room as well as me and Auggie. She shivers from the draft of air Remy let in that faintly smells like winter ocean breezes. The aroma is comforting to her as she leans back in Mag's supersized throne. To call it a chair would be wrong. Auggie drapes the blanket over her shoulders and gives her the ice water. "Poor Magni," Brooke mumbles like she can sense his every emotion.
"He'll be okay," Auggie tells her as she starts brushing Brooke's long dark blond hair. "Remy and Jareth are out there with him."
"He's wanting a good luck kiss earlier," I said as I sift through the makeup case Jareth brought with him. None of the other guys wanted to put on any makeup except Jareth. Jareth wears mascara and eyeliner no matter along with painting his sharp claw like fingernails. I thank my lucky stars the prissy goblin has all the colors of the rainbow in his makeup case. I matched up Brooke's original colors perfectly as I freshen up her face.
"Awwww, the big lug," Brooke sighs. "I think I'll give him what he wants. Besides I've seen him in that goofy helmet already. I like his real one better. It is way sexier than that cheap piece of plastic."
"Good as new," Auggie announces as she turns Brooke to the lighted mirror.
"I'd say better than before," Brooke says while she plays with her hair. "I don't know what I'd without you guys around to save my face. You're the best girlfriends in the world. Thank you."
"Thank Jareth for being such a priss. That goblin has more cosmetics than Mary Kay and Elizabeth Arden combined," I tell her and she laughs. "We better get you out there so your man knows you're okay."
"Mag's getting better. At handling my seizures I mean. It still confuses him at times but living together he's learning. He doesn't cry like he used to and he diligently makes sure I take my meds. The other day the big sweetie made me breakfast in bed and he had my pills next to the orange juice, right dosage and all. God that man spoils me and he doesn't have to do that. I love him all the same," Brooke tells us as she takes my hand.
I take her out to where Mag is standing, towering over Remy and Jareth even though his shoulders are in a sad slump. The ceiling is much higher near the stage unlike the dressing area. Mag has plenty of room to move which is good by the way he lifts Brooke up to his level.
"I am so worried. I am glad Belinda and Aunt Astir took care of you for me," Mag tells his sweetie as their foreheads meet. Mag knows that Brooke's life is short like all mortals but he tries to make the best of it for the both of 'em. Mag is very passionate and loving. He worries plenty about her and has even expressed his feelings about her in our conversations. He wishes he could be with her forever but knows in reality that it's not possible. Mag and I have even discussed the possibilities of Brooke becoming a vampire but it is not what the giant wants for her. Mag tells me he can't enjoy those hot afternoons on the front porch sipping lemonade and their walks in woods watching the sunlight play on her hair. Mag is also very protective of Brooke. He goes to every appointment she has with her neurologist where he is learning more and more about her disorder. Whenever Mag takes her for a motorcycle ride he makes sure Brooke is always wearing her helmet. He always has her sit in front of him where she fits perfectly between his strong arms. He does this so that if he ever wrecks, Brooke will be safe. Magni Frost prefers having a simple everyday life with the woman he loves while he can have it. For a god, Mag is just an average Joe.
Mag only holds her in one arm as he runs his hand through her hair. "My big beautiful Viking," Brooke mumbles before the two lock lips in one of many passionate kisses I have witness the two engage in. Mag has had a very long time to learn his smooching skills and it shows. Brooke leans into his chest and hugs him breathlessly. She lazily plays with one of his braids and listens to his strong heart as she mutters the words she tells him every chance she gets, "I love you."
"Looks like we're gonna need that hose," Remy whispers in my ear as I stifle my laugh. Mag gives Remy a smirk as soon as he pulls away from Brooke's lips. "Hose won't do much good on him anyway. Mag'll probably like it." This time I did laugh despite the tender moment between Mag and Brooke.
"I love you too my Brooke," Mag tells her as he cradles her head in his free hand and holds her in a way you would hold a tot except Brooke's long legs are locked around his waist. "You put Freya's beauty to shame."
"Charmer, speaking of your Aunt Freya, did you invite her and Odin to the barbeque? Modi already said he's coming. Remy and B are in as well as Jareth and your Mom. Maybe we can invite Eric?" Brooke tells her mountain of god as she slides down his tall bod clad in cheap stripper garb. Mag holds her by the waist and grabs her hands when her feet touch the floor.
"You know they will never come but I will keep telling them all the same. Maybe one of these days they will grace us. Stranger things have happened. I never thought father would be so quick to forgive Modi for going to rehab. Modi is a much better fighter now. I thought father's silent treatment would last at least five hundred years this time. I don't know if vampires like barbeques?" Mag says as he touches her cheek. Brooke leans into his hand.
"We'll invite him all the same. He can bring Sookie. She looks like she would enjoy a good barbeque. We'll have to make sure Uncle Vaft behaves. You know I caught him naked again. At least we don't need any gator repellent but I still don't like seeing him airing it all out there. At least he wasn't on B and Remy's property. He's going to scar those kids for life by doing that," Mag laughs but Brooke sees that something is bothering him as she takes his hand in both hers. "You had a moment with Sookie, didn't you honey?"
Mag turns away from her but Brooke touches his cheek and Mag stops. He always knows that looking down never did him much good when he's trying to hide his face. Even though Brooke stands a little taller than me, she can still look straight up at the big man. "She doesn't like me. I frighten her," Mag mumbles while Brooke gives him a compassionate look. Brooke is one of the few people that never looks at Mag in fear or lust. Even when Mag held her in his arms for the first time, Brooke was never afraid. She looked at him with glazed curiosity after suffering from exhaustion trying to heal a boy sick with a very bad case of the flu. The child survived and so did Brooke with the help of a very big and very kind guardian angel.
"Mag, she'll come around to seeing what I see and what Belinda and Remy see too. You can't help that you frighten people. If she doesn't like you, shame on her. You still have me, Belinda and Remy. Not to mention Jareth. He's been a good friend of yours for a very long time. Don't let one measly human bother you. You have us," Brooke tells him as he takes her hand. Remy pats the big man on the back and gives Mag a smile. Mag means the world to Remy and I. He is our closest friend aside from his aunt and mom. Mag and Brooke became fixtures at Remy's old restaurant. At first the regulars weren't quite sure of the big man ducking through the door but after a while they all grew to love him. Remy handed his apprentice Daryl the deed to Daddy Joe's after the preserve started showing profit and going between both places proved to be exhausting. "Besides if she thinks you're scary, wait until she sees Jareth bare all," Brooke then said with a smile that caused Mag to laugh and Jareth to playfully growl.
"You sound like mother. She told me almost the same exact thing. It's just that I try not to frighten people," Mag sighs out a cloud of icy breath. God bless him, Mag tries his best at being human but his great size seems to get in his way. Unlike some of the Asgardians I have met Mag has the hardest time disguising himself as human. Thor pretends he's a biker. Mag's brother Modi pretended he was a rock star at one time. Odin is the most conservative of the bunch. He likes tweed and gabardine suits with argyle socks. Odin lets off that scholarly vibe in the one time I met the father of the gods plus unlike his kids, Odin isn't a very big man either but he is well respected and loved by all his children.
"Your Mom is a wise woman. She knows what she's talking about. Now give me that smile I love so much," Brooke tells Mag and Mag does as she says. "You got some girls out there ready to see a hot Viking god. I want to see sexy, you got me?" Mag nods. "Remember that you are my sexy god and you go home with me, got that? I want to see all those marriage proposals and phone numbers in the trash. You're my big man! Got that?" Mag's smile turns into a laugh and he gently kisses Brooke on the forehead before holding her chin up and making his way to her lips again. Brooke stands on her tiptoes with Mag bent down. They both seem to work around their physical differences.
"Goblin King! You're on in five!" Pam barks out. "We are going to give those crazy bloodbags some time to get more money between Goblin King and Son of Thor. Make sure our boy here is ready Belinda," Pam tells me as she takes in the sight of Mag and licks her fangs. Brooke looks like she wants to punch her face. Brooke is as protective of her Viking as he is of his fragile human.
"Pam, we got a problem out front. There are a couple of strange bikers wanting in. They're too strong for us to restrain," Maxwell Lee reports.
"Good God! Let me come with you. I think I know these clowns. Does the one have flaming red hair?" I ask the business like African American vampire.
"Yes he does. He's a pretty big man too. They're both wearing sunglasses. Where the fuck is Eric?" Good question.
"Father and Modi," Mag whispers in my ear. "I told Modi not to tell him."
"Well I guess that brother of yours can't keep his big mouth shut. I'll go take care of damage control," I tell the big lug. Who would've guessed that Norse gods are like big oversize children? Modi I guess is typical for a little brother. Thor never taught him that nobody likes a tattle tale.
"I'm coming with you. You might have to restrain me from smacking the bejesus out of Modi," Brooke tells me before looking up at her sweetie and saying, "You're right. I think he's your Uncle Loki's son." Mag, Remy and Jareth all laugh. Brooke is normally shy except when it comes to handling Mag's family. She loves them all dearly or at least the ones she has met but she is not afraid to hold her ground. I think that's why Thor likes her so much. The two can share the same temper at times even though I have a feeling Thor lets her win. He's grouchy and hot headed but I have a feeling good 'ole Thor has a soft spot for Brooke. I wouldn't be surprised if Thor approached Odin and Freya about his son's sweetie's condition. I've been witness to the thunder god's gentlemanly behavior towards her. Thor has actually smiled at Brooke on more than one occasion, a gesture I didn't think he was ever capable of.
"Be careful 'Lindy. That crowd out there is nuts. I'd go but I don't feel like getting molested anymore tonight," Remy says with that lovely smile of his.
"You still got one more fan you need to do an encore for. You wouldn't want to disappoint Essie," I said playfully which only caused that lovely smile to shine.
"Mother likes you?" Mag says surprisingly.
"She promised 'Lindy that she has a crisp bill for me. I can't let down my number one fan," Remy looks up at Mag who shakes his head and laughs. He gently pats Remy on the shoulder and goes back to his dressing room while Brooke and I make our way to the front and through the crowd of screaming women enjoying the sight of Bill Compton in his little gray G-string. They didn't care that Confederate Bill has the slight build of a farmer. I think they were more fascinated by the fact Bill's a vampire using his speed to make his way through each admiring fan. From the looks of it, Eric is going to get quite a bit from our dear Mr. Compton as evident by the wads of cash hanging from his hips. Fangtasia Ladies Night is a hit. I just wish the boss man could see this instead of moping in his office.