Hey everyone! Yes, I know, I suck. I don't even have an excuse anymore. Big thanks go to my lovely beta, BelleViolette. Go read her new update for Soulbound!

As a side note, please check my website (gabrielleblue dot wordpress dot com). THis chappy's been there since yesterday, since FF didn't log in for me and I couldn't upload. Plus, I spent like an entire day working on it a few weeks back and I'm really proud of it. :D xoxo


SPOV

His blood on my tongue, his hands on my hips were enough to put me into a frenzy. My skin felt electrified again and I remembered for a split second that I was no longer human. My need for him blended with his own and it fired back and forth between us.

My back suddenly hit the wall and I hadn't even known we were moving. His fingers found their way inside me just as I was licking clean the wounds on his neck. He kissed me then, his tongue battling with mine as I ground on his fingers, desperate to get off.

His thumb pressed on my clit just as his tongue pierced on my fangs. The combined sensations sent me over the edge, screaming his name.

I heard a ripping sound and felt the head of his cock brushing through my folds. I had no idea where his pants had gone, but I wasn't going to complain. I groaned at the sensation and tightened my hold on his shoulders. He entered me in one quick thrust and I cried out at the feeling. I don't think I'd ever get used to the way he felt when he pushed inside me for the first time, and I don't know if I wanted to.

"Fuck," I cried out, throwing my head back as he pumped in and out of me.

"That's right Sookie. Scream. Scream my name, for everyone to hear. You're mine," he growled into my neck.

"Eric!" I whimpered in pleasure, spurred on by his words. I bared my neck to him, further offering myself to him. He was my past, my present, my future and I was his with all I had to offer – heart, body and soul. Everything I am, belonged to him.

The bond between us sang as his fangs pierced my throat. The intensity of his feelings flooded me just as my blood spilled in his mouth and I was climbing rapidly that steep hill towards bliss. His hips moved at vampire speed and I felt his thrill at not having to slow himself down. I was vampire, I wasn't breakable anymore; I felt invincible.

I pulled at his face, willing him to kiss me. His lips slid perfectly with mine and I pulled him closer. I needed more of him. Eric's tongue caressed mine and his movements hastened, bringing me to a sweet climax. He swallowed my moans and screams and let out a loud groan as he joined me. His weight pressed me further into the wall and I felt loved and secure.

Eric's arms moved around me as he pushed us away from the wall and moved towards the bed. He threw me on the mattress playfully and jumped after me, but stopped, a few centimeters away from the sheets, and levitated.

"Smartass," I said with a smile.

He was content to just smirk. Eric lifted his fingers to my face and gently caressed my cheek. His affection filled the bond once more and it made me smile. To think I'd been so stupid for so long, thinking I could live without him. I had been so, so wrong. He'd been so patient and loving and I regretted every snarky remark and ill tempered hissy fit I had because of something I thought he meant.

"None of that. We're together now," he thought to me. I just nodded and leaned forward, pressing my lips to his.

"I love you," I said out loud.

"Forever," he smiled and kissed me once more.

I cuddled closer to him, settling in the nook of his arm, my face on his chest. His arm tightened around me and the last thing I felt before I let myself slip into my day slumber, were his lips on my forehead.

I could feel the sun had set and I opened my eyes to find Eric watching me with a smile. I kissed him briefly, but soon found myself slipping back, fading away from reality.

My vision clouded. It turned red. I was breathing heavily and there was a growl coming from my throat. It was dark outside and I was angry. Angry as I'd never been in my life. The claws at the end of my paws were bloody and they pressed heavily in the body that lay under me. There was blood on my fangs as well and I looked down to find a vampire with half his throat ripped out, his face mangled and contorted in pain.

Victor. It was Victor.

I felt my anger spike once more and I dove for his throat. My paws hit the ground as his body turned to ash.

I awoke with a start, finding a worried Eric looming over me, Pam at his side.

"Another vision?" he asked more calmly this time. Poor Eric, it must be terrible for him.

"Yeah. I think it was Jason. He was a panther and he had attacked a vampire. He had him pinned and he'd already ripped half his throat. And then, before I could think, he ended him. It was the same as earlier, just more detailed."

"Who's him? Did you know him?" Pam asked.

"Victor."

"What?" Eric asked.

"It was Victor. Jason kills Victor. Well, at least if things go as I'm imagining or daydreaming, or whatever the hell I'm doing," I said frustrated. I really wanted to know what the heck was going on with me.

"We'll get to the bottom of things. I swear to you," he promised me.

"I hope so. I really want to know how to control this thing. What if it happens when we're flying again or when we're in the middle of something important?"

"I'll protect you no matter what," he said and I knew he meant it. I could feel his determination and a wave of protectiveness wash over me.

"Pam, will you please let me get dressed? I'll be out in a minute," I said, silently thanking Eric for covering me with a sheet.

"Still shy? My, my, little fairy, aren't you a prude," she taunted and I stuck my tongue out at her.

"I didn't become another person when I became vampire, Pam. Out," I told her.

"Yeah, yeah. Hurry up for that meeting. I'm sure Russell's waiting," she called over her shoulder as she headed for the door.

As soon as it was closed I got off the bed and walked towards the closet. I rummaged through the items when I felt Eric's strong arms wrapped around me.

"Want to talk about it?" he whispered in my hair.

"Not now. I feel like I'm missing something, but I have no idea what it is. Let me mull over it awhile," I replied.

He simply nodded and released me.

We both found our clothes and I burst into laughter when we turned to face each other. Black jeans, black tank top. We already were that couple.

Eric took my hand and led me downstairs, towards Russell's office. The King of Mississippi was waiting for us with a smile on his face.

"Ah, the Northmans. I'd thought for sure I'd be seeing you earlier, but then I remembered you are only days old, my dear. It must be my old age," he proclaimed in a dramatic tone.

"That's silly, Russell. You don't look a day over a thousand," I said.

"Oh, how you hurt me," he replied, his hand going to his unbeating heart. I snorted and Eric smirked at our interaction.

"So, tell me, where is the lovely Pamela and Mr. Stackhouse?"

"On their way," Eric replied.

"Very well. Shall we wait or shall we start?"

"We can start," I said. There was no point in waiting. Pam knew everything and Jason really didn't have to.

"I thought, at first, it would only be the two of you and Pam. Why is Jason here? I'm merely curious," he added in a defensive tone.

I glanced at Eric and he gave me a short nod.

"Someone murdered his fiancé. They had just found her the night I rose. It appears to have been supernatural. He said he doesn't recognize the scent, so it's not someone from town."

"Her scent? I noticed there was something supernatural about him. I'm guessing it's more than just the fae in him", Russell asked.

"No. He's a werepanther. He got bit a few years ago and he actually turned. It was a slim chance, but it happened," I told him. "I'm surprised you didn't know since you've been monitoring me since Jackson."

He raised an eyebrow and I could feel Eric's surprise.

"You knew?"

"Of course I knew. One of your men was an open book for me," I tapped my temple. "I figured they didn't mean me harm and I knew they came from you so I just relaxed."

I could feel Eric's disapproval, but he didn't show anything. He sure didn't like that I hadn't told him, but I felt safe and it slipped my mind after a while.

"Their job was to make sure you were safe, in a way. If anything happened, they'd have intervened. There was nothing my man could do when Victor and Felipe came to your home that night, but they were there when you were alone. However, they couldn't intervene in other situations…", he trailed off.

I simply nodded. There was no way I was gonna thank him, since that was completely high handed of him, but I wasn't going to diss him either, knowing his intensions were good.

"Did we miss anything," Pam's voice asked as she entered the room with Jason in tow.

"Just catching up," Eric said in a tone that let Pam know she'd find out more later on.

"Please, take a seat," Russell said. As soon as they did, he leaned in over his desk, joined his hands and cleared his throat.

"Now, let's get down to business. Go over the situation again."

Eric went on and told him about the last months under the new regime and how Victor was quickly becoming more and more involved in Area 5 politics. He expressed his concerns that Felipe would try to take me if he found out I was turned after assassinating Eric.

"Well, you're safe here as long as they don't figure it out. I promise our help if anyone comes after you. You'll just say you've sworn fealty to me and that little bitch can suck it if he doesn't like it. I'm sure Indiana will help as well. He's always a sweetheart when it comes to Eric since he's the one that married us," Russell pointed out.

"Thank you."

"You're most welcome dear. Now tell me, how are things with you? Any ability you've developed yet?"

I could read in his mind that everything he'd said this far had been true and I knew he was really just curious. I felt like there was something hidden in his mind, but I couldn't get past that wall.

"I've been having visions, I think. I see things in my mind and I go into a sort of trance while this happens. It kind of scares me since it can happen anytime and there's no way to prepare for it. I had a vision when we were coming here and I crashed from the sky," I told him about my… our concern.

"I see. What were the visions about?" he asked, leaning forward once more.

"First one I was being kept somewhere, silver was burning my skin. And then, suddenly Eric was there. The second one I was a werepanther and I was getting ready to kill someone, a vampire. When I rose tonight I had another one, the same one actually. Same panther killing off the vampire. It was Victor," I said.

Jason gasped behind me and his mind was filled with questions.

"You still think it was me, sis? You said it was a full panther and I only shift in a mangy, ugly thing," he said. He was feeling sorry for himself for looking like that as a panther. Can't say I blame him since he's good looking in his human form, but really… vain much?

"It's more of a gut feeling, yes," I told him as much. I'd come to know my brother inside out ever since we were kids and I knew how he "felt" due to my telepathy. In those moments, as a panther, I felt like home somehow. It was too familiar to be someone else. Plus, if we were going to figure this shit out, I needed him to know what's going on.

"Sookie, is this… foreseeing gift of yours ever manifested before you were turned?" Russell asked and everyone looked at me.

"Nope. Ever. I've always been able to read minds, but that was it. And we don't even know if I'm not dreaming stuff up," I said.

"Vampires don't dream, Sookie," came Eric's soft voice from beside me.

Shit. I knew that. I had to have known that. I was just stupidly hoping it was a fluke.

"Maybe this is happening just because I'm a newborn? Maybe my human features are still there and that's why I'm still dreaming." I really didn't want any of the stuff I was seeing to come true.

"That's impossible my dear. However, this ability of yours is not unheard of. I'm sure we can find at least some information in old books or from old vampires. I'll make a few phone calls and try to stay vague, although I'm certain she'll already know what I'm talking about," Russell said.

"Who are you talking about?" Eric asked. I could feel his concern in the bond.

"The Ancient Pythoness, of course. I'm sure she already knows about Sookie and everything that's happened and I know for a fact that she won't say anything to anyone."

Eric simply nodded. His trust in the ancient vampire was easy to see, as was the high regard in which he held her.

"Alright. We're burning moonlight. Do you want to start training?" Russell asked me.

"What kind of training are we talking about?"

"Well, I was thinking you need to learn to properly protect yourself. I'm sure the Viking will agree with me on this. Also, you need to learn to control your abilities."

I didn't need to think about it. I could feel Eric's approval in the bond and frankly, I wanted this too. I wanted to be able to control my urges, my strength. I wanted to know the limitations of my abilities, to test them out, to spread my wings. If I was going to be able to properly protect myself and my loved ones I needed to know myself as much as I knew my opponents.

"I like the sound of that."

Russell was suddenly standing and we all followed him to the upper level of the mansion, where a huge training area lay.

"How will we do this?"

"I can help you with your physical training, weapons. I know various techniques that will come in handy", Eric said, his hand on my shoulder, squeezing reassuringly.

"And I'll help you with your other abilities," Russell said.

I raised an eyebrow at him, wondering how he could help me with my telepathy and visions. I tried looking in his mind, only to hit a brick wall. I tried and tried and I couldn't get past this shield. I gave up.

"I need you to be focused first, so I want to do a little relaxation exercises, to help along", Russell said.

Eric sent me courage and pride, encouraging me to trust the man in front of me. I took his waiting hand and let him drag me to a set of mats in the corner of the room.

He sat down, legs folded and I mimicked his position.

"Close your eyes and breathe deeply. I know you don't need it, per se, but it will help."

I did as he asked and I could feel myself calming down, reaching a state of tranquility. I smiled softly.

"Now let your mind expand. Let it search as far as you can, but don't read the minds you encounter."

I wanted to open my eyes and check his features and see if maybe he knew about the recent developments in my telepathy, but couldn't risk it. If he didn't know then he'd certainly suspect it then.

Instead, I did as he said. I let my mind scan the building, letting it flow farther that it even could when I was human. I felt it expanding and expanding, until I was sure I'd covered the entire estate, since I encountered weres and I knew for a fact that they were guarding the walls. From previous experiences, that is… like saving Bill's ass.

"How far did you get?"

"I just found Maxwell, your head were guard."

"I told you not to read them," Russell said.

"I didn't. I recognized him from before. Every mind has a signature."

"How about vampires?" he asked and I wasn't sure what he was asking exactly.

"Vampires too," I replied. Let him figure that one out.

I could feel Eric's amusement. He'd been sitting along with Pam and Jason and he watched carefully what we were doing. He was trying his best not to interfere with our session.

"Now the other way. Look inside yourself. Search for the place where your abilities are."

"You mean like my heart?"

"No. I mean your core, Sookie. Your Light. Find it".

I opened my eyes and studied him.

"What Light?" I pushed.

Russell's eyes flew open. "Your fae light, Sookie."

"How do you know about it?"

"I have my ways and now is not the time for talking. Do as I say," he said, irritation clear in his voice.

I tried to read his mind again and I felt like a force was pushing me out of his mind. I suppressed a gasp and retreated. I closed my eyes and tried to calm myself, looking for that tranquil zone again.

Once I reached it, I tried doing as instructed, but couldn't grasp it.

"This is frustrating", I huffed.

"Try putting an image to it. Try visualizing your energy core, Sookie," Russell said, his voice back to the kind tone I knew.

I looked again, until I found the core, imagining it as a big pulsing Sun.

"What now", I whispered, somehow afraid that speaking louder would make it disappear.

"Now image you can manipulate it, image you can change its shape however you want. Let it expand through your body."

I couldn't help but wonder once more how he knew all of this. I let it slide and tried doing as he asked. Now was not the time.

I delve inside again and pictured the little ball of sunlight as an inflatable balloon, letting it grow and grow and fill me from the inside out.

I heard gasps around me and I immediately lost my concentration. Everything shattered away.

Eric, Pam and Jason were looking at me, eyes wide open.

"What?"

"Sookie, you were glowing…" Eric said.

"You're all fucking with me. I can't glow."

"Yes, you can. That was the fae in you making itself known, Sookie," Russell said gently. "Right now you can't control it, but when you will, you'll be a force to be reckoned with."

I looked at him like he'd sprouted another head.

"How the hell do you know all this Russell? What are you keeping from me, from us?"

"As I said, little one, this is not the time."

Eric felt my frustration and came to join me in a second.

"While we're grateful for your help, Russell, I will not stand for you hiding this kind of information from us. We'll be leaving at first dark tomorrow," he said firmly.

The King raised his hands in a defensive stance.

"I promise you, I will tell you everything when the time comes. For now, it's not important how I know all this, it's important that I do and that I can help Sookie. You will need to trust me if you want me trust you back, yes?" he said.

With that, he was on his feet and walking towards the door.

"Please, carry on. She and Jason need to learn how to fight. That is your expertise, Viking. I hope you decide against leaving. We have much work to do."


Much love! Let me know what you all think!