Hello Sweethearts!

See? I told you I'd be a lil faster than usual.

Thank you so much for all the support. I can't express how much your kind words mean to me. Thank you all for all the encouragements both on the writing and the baby. It means a lot to me to know you're there for me. Thank you!


SPOV

I could tell that what happened just half hour before had scared the beejesus out of Eric and I really couldn't argue with him at that. I blacked out.

That was enough to worry me as well. This "gift", or whatever it was that had me seeing things,was pissing me off on one side and enthralling me on the other. Somehow I felt like it had been enough over my lifetime to have heard so many things that I shouldn't have. Now I was seeing stuff as well. I was aware I would have to learn to master it, because having blackouts wasn't in anyone's interest. Blocking it wouldn't be in my interest either. Who knew what important detail I'd see. Until we knew for sure if they were random dreams or visions, I think it was safer to take them at their value.

Right now I knew that somehow, sometime, I might get abducted and Eric would come save me. There was something off about that vision though, but I couldn't put my finger on it.

I also knew that Jason might get his revenge or at least kill someone we considered a threat. Obviously, I couldn't be sure, but Michelle's death might have been a warning to Jason or simply a way to hurt him. I didn't want to think the world revolved around me, but when something nasty happened in Bon Temps it was usually directed at me in a way or another. Now, a threat against my brother was a direct threat against me and I think that had been pretty clear over the years. You didn't mess with the Stackhouse family without getting what was coming to you.

I don't know if it was due to my change or because of I was simply done with being everyone's doormat, but I was sensing a change inside me. My need for revenge was more prominent and my bullshit tolerance was at an all-time low.

I wondered if it was a vampire thing and if Eric always felt like this. After living a thousand years I assumed you either had more patience than normal or you became sick of it all and you simply didn't allow shit to gather up. I could now really appreciate the things Eric had done for me. If he felt even remotely as I did, it meant he suffered a lot over the years because of me.

Looking back at my life since I met my first vampire I realized a lot didn't fit together like it should. Starting with some of the things Bill has said or done and up to these political schemes that involved high amounts of backstabbing.

I felt like I could see things from another perspective now. Better, clearer. There are decisions in my past that I knew I wouldn't have taken if I had this clarity of mind. Most of them revolved around Bill, some around Quinn and some around my telepathy.

I would have thought twice about taking Bill back after he raped me or after he lied to me, instead of finding excuses for him. I'd have searched Quinn's mind to see if there were any ulterior motives to his attraction to me. I would have publicly offered my services as a telepath, making it hard for enemies to come at me while I was out in the open. Maybe putting a fee on my services wouldn't have been a half-bad idea. You wouldn't crave that badly someone that is willing to travel all over creation to help you out, right?

Eric must have sensed my musings and he tightened his grip on my hand. He didn't push to ask what was going on in my head and I was grateful for that. He knew I'd tell him when I was ready, if there was something really bothering me.

It wasn't necessarily how our relationship had gone in the past, but we were on another level now. There was a tacit understanding between us. We were partners, we always had been, but there was a difference now. I trusted him completely. Any doubt I had about him turned to ash and I knew he'd do anything to keep me safe. He didn't live a millennia by putting himself in danger, but he'd done it in the past few years. I knew that he'd only done it for my benefit, for me, for keeping me safe regardless of the consequences on his own life.

And that only made me love him more.

Since I'd been so lost in my own thoughts I didn't even realize we were almost at Russell's compound. The way I met him was anything but ordinary. I saved his second in command's life and then he saved mine, by taking care of me. Sure, the kudos went to Eric who fed me his blood then, but Russell could have killed me just because I was a nuisance to him. Then, when I went and helped Bill escape, instead of being furious at me, he was impressed. Impressed by a twenty something barmaid in nowhere, Louisiana. That had to say something since I knew he was older than Eric and vampries that age weren't easily swayed.

We landed in front of the house, scaring the shit out of Russell's guards. I chuckled lightly as they moved to form a wall.

"Stand down, gentlemen. The king is waiting for us," Eric said after he released Jason from his arms.

"Name," one of the guards demanded.

"Northman."

"It's ok, Ramon. They're my guests," came Russell's voice as he opened the door.

"Your Majesty," Eric bowed and we mimicked his movements, albeit Jason's was awkward and done after he looked panicked from left to right.

"Rise, rise. No need for this type of things. Really, Northman," Russell urged.

"Of course," Eric said as he straightened. We folowed suit and found the king smiling brightly.

"Miss Ravenscroft, Mr. Stackhouse and Mrs. Northman, right?" he winked at me. I would have blushed. Really. It was true, we were married under vampire law and I guess that's what mattered. Jason looked surprised but wisely shut up.

"I do like the sound of that," I grinned, winking at Eric. It wasn't the normal response you give to a king, but hey! we were buddies of sort.

"Glad to see your cheekiness wasn't lost in transition," he rolled his eyes, but a smile still played at his lips.

"Oh, I thought the personality traits ingrained in the human are only enhanced. Maybe mine has as well," I offered.

"Maybe, my dear. Maybe. Shall we?" he directed us inside.

I walked beside Eric, Pam and Jason folowing us behind.

"I'll lead you to your quarters. You are welcome to stay here as long as you wish, of course. We'll see how things evolve and we'll contact whoever it is necessary to help your training my dear. I expect you'll develop quite the powers if your telepathy is any indication," he said, studying me.

I said nothing of what has already come to light since we hadn't discussed among ourselves exactly how much to share.

"I'm not going to get anything from you for now, am I? Very well, very well. I know you'll tell me whatever you can when you can. I do love mysteries," he mused.

"Your Highness, it's not that we want to keep things from you, it's just that we don't know exactly what's what," Eric said.

"I understand that you need to keep your mate safe, but I'm only here to help," Russell smiled. "Also, none of that formalities here".

Since I had been reading his mind since we entered the compound, I gave Eric's hand a light squeeze and a slight nod.

"We'll discuss everything tomorrow. There are a lot of steps to be taken to ensure her safety and ours. We're dead for all Felipe and Victor know. We're safe for a while, but I'd rather be vigilant than play with our safety."

"I understand. This is your room and the next two over are Pamela's and Jason's. I'll see you at first dark," Russell said before turning towards his own quarters.

Instead of retiring to our respective chambers, we all went inside mine and Eric's room. He did a quick sweep of the room, looking for any listening devices and when he was satisfied there was nothing hidded, he returned to our side.

"Sookie?" he asked in a shushed tone. Just because there was no one recording us, it didn't mean that sensitive ears couldn't listen in.

"Everything good as far as I can tell. He's honest. He really wants to help us. I think we can trust him. I'll keep an eye on him further on to make sure. I think we can tell him what's happening."

"What of the guards?" Pam asked, in the same hushed voice.

"They're loyal to Russell. They knew to expect us, but nothing more. I'll do a sweep of the donors tomorrow evening just to make sure."

"Will ya'll tell him about the mind reading thing?" Jason asked, reffering to her ability of reading vampire minds.

"I think that'd be better kept between the four of us. If it comes out, I think he'd be able to keep the secret. He likes observing me. He's never met a telepath before and my "spit-fire" ways are entertaining to him. I can't predict how he'd react to knowing I can read his every thought, though. Eric?"

"We don't say anything. We'll tell him about the visions and I think it's best if we talk to him about your heritage. Niall is someone Russell's known for a lot of centuries. I don't know any of the details, but I do know of their relationship."

"Good. Then it's settled. We'll meet tomorrow. Jason, please, try and stay in your room. I'm sure Russell let some kind of instructions to the staff to see to your meals, but don't wonder around. At least, not untill we have everything settled tomorrow, ok?" I asked of my brother, knowing he was one to snoop around.

He nodded his consent and was thinking that he didn't feel like doing anything anyway. His remorse over Michelle's death was heavy in his mind and he missed her. He was conflicted if it was the right thing to do to leave Bon Temps so soon after her death, but he was sure he'd find her killers if he was with us. My vision from earlier gave him hope on that front as well. He was picturing himself as he looked like while he shifted. He was seeing himself in a shine of a pond and the reflection was nothing like I saw him in my mind hours before. But I knew it was Jason… I was sure of it. It wasn't another panther, it was him, my brother.

The image in Jason's mind showed a mangy looking panther, with patches of hair missing, with diformities and lumps on his back. In my vision Jason looked all like the panther he should be – shiny black coat, clear, pretty eyes, paws the size of his hand and threatening fangs. The two images were nothing alike and yet, I knew it was the same man.

Pam and Jason retired to their own rooms and I was left alone with Eric. He left m thinking of everything I had on my mind and instead took upon himself getting rid of my clothes. One by one, my clothes fell to the ground and I was left bare in front of him.

I felt his lust through the bond and it fired up something inside me. Something that couldn't posibly have enough of him, something that could never be close enough to its soulmate. I wanted to be closer, that much closer. I bared my fangs and jumped in his arms. His arms wrapped around me just as my legs tied around this waist. I was hungry, I was horny and I thirsted for Eric. I kissed his lips before and, sensing my needs, he tilted his neck in offering to me.


Sooo, guess there's a lemon next. :D What do you all think? Let me know!

xoxo

Gaby