AN: Thank you all for an amazing feedback! It means a lot to me.
Big thanks to my beta, keiman and kei for fixing my mistakes.
Enjoy!
DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN TRUE BLOOD OR SVM. MOST CHARACTERS WON'T BE MINE. THEY BELONG TO HBO AND CHARLAINE HARRIS
Chapter 9
Should I Be Scared?
EPOV
The Dallas vampires were overjoyed with a small gift which took the form of Mister Clint Perpall. The poor bastard was looking around a dark room and he was close to peeing himself. I was pleased by such a turn of events.
"Stan, Mr. Perpall attacked Sookie. And Sookie Stackhouse is mine," explained Godric in the same way some people were used to listing what to buy for dinner. "For obvious reasons, me and Eric will speak with him first. When we have finished, you are welcome to continue the questioning."
"Of course, Sheriff." The Texan vampire doffed his hat to Godric and then he collected the other four other vampires with him. I glared when Isabel, instead of walking outside, walked closer to us.
"Sheriff, would you mind if I question him as well? He may have some information about Hugo. I cannot sense him, he must be outside of the state and maybe…"
"Yes, Isabel." Godric was indifferent as usual but I could sense his irritation. The dawn was coming and we wanted to get back to check on Sookie. Isabel was wasting our precious time.
"Thank you." The Spanish vampires left us and I turned to Clint.
He was hanging from the ceiling, his toes barely touching the floor. Such a position was extremely uncomfortable but he wasn't here for a spa treatment.
"So, tell me Clint, was that you who shot my lover?" I asked but he only clenched his jaw tighter. We could glamor him but there would be no fun in extracting information from him that way. "I will take that as a yes. Your scent was all over the parking lot and…" I inhaled deeply. "… you definitely were doing the shooting earlier. Not at squirrels, I assume."
"No, not at squirrels. At some fangbanging whore!" he spat with satisfaction.
I turned to Godric and raised my eyebrows. My maker nodded, giving me a sign that I can start. Clint tightened his muscles, no doubt bracing himself for a punch. It would help to relieve my frustration but with my vampire strength, one too strong of a punch in the wrong place, could cause internal bleeding. The point of torturing someone was not only to cause them as much pain as possible, it was also to keep it up as long as possible. It was an art to know how to give a person a blinding pain without damaging him or her too much.
After what he just called our Sookie, I would have surely killed the bastard too damned soon!
I moved to the box Stan had brought with him. It contained every possible tool, from scalpels to hammers.
"What should I choose?" I asked myself. I made a scene with measuring Clint from head to toes and making a thoughtful face. "With a scalpel, we could decorate your body with artistic patterns. This hammer is perfect for breaking your bones but that…" I pointed at his painfully twisted left hand. "… we have already covered."
"How about pincers?" suggested my Maker. Godric was standing with his arms crossed, leaning against the wall.
"For pulling out fingernails?"
"I would suggest starting with teeth," grinned Godric.
"Excellent!" I exclaimed. "A thousand years and my father is still teaching me new things." I whispered conspiratorially to Perpall. "To which teeth are you not too much attached? Front? Back? Sides?"
"Go to Hell. You will surely end up there eventually," he spat at me and I moved away at the last second to avoid his spittle.
"How many people have you killed?" I asked, patting his lower lip with the pincers. "Hmmn? How many fangbangers have you shot, kidnapped and delivered to Fellowship?" He didn't answer. "Do you think you and I are any different? We are both killers. At least I don't hide behind made up religious bullshit to justify myself, Clint. I kill because I must. I kill to protect myself and my people. I kill because sometimes I truly enjoy it. And why do you kill, Clint?"
He jerked his leg and tried to kick me but he made such a sudden movement that it made him scream with pain when he stretched his broken wrist.
"You are so uncooperative!" I scolded him.
"Child?"
I turned to Godric who was looking horribly bored. "Just start on him already. We do not have much time."
"You're right," I admitted. "We have to get back to our lover." I tried to looked apologetic but a bloodbag wasn't impressed by my acting skills. "But don't worry." I patted his cheek. "I will be visiting you very often. You are not going anywhere for quite some time."
For the very first time, something akin to fear appeared on his face. If he had hoped that he was going to die quickly, now that dream had disappeared. "So?" I waved the pincers in front of his face. "Back or front?"
SPOV
After taking a cold shower and cursing myself again and again for how horribly I had lost my cool with Eric, I drank a glass of whiskey. I am not a drinker but I was in a desperate need of some alcohol. I was sure that I wouldn't be able to fall asleep without some liquid dormitive.
Eric was right when he had said that Godric's blood was different from Bill's. It was like I'd consumed a magical elixir. I was amazed at how fast my wounds were healed. This horrible need and lust that my body felt was rather terrifying.
I belted down a second glass quickly.
When I had emptied it, I asked myself why, in God's name, Godric is keeping alcohol in his rooms? It's not like he was drinking it…
I eventually fell asleep only to be woke up some time later by the sound of material being torn. I moved carefully on my bed, raising my head and listening carefully. Lights in the living room were on and I saw shadows moving.
Godric and Eric were back, I realized, feeling an unpleasant weight in my stomach.
I could just cover myself up, close my eyes and pretend stubbornly that I'm sleeping. It would be an act of cowardice though. I was not a coward so I took a deep breath, bracing myself to stand up and face them. That's true - I had acted indecently but they both knew that was what would happen. The worst thing I would probably have to face were Eric's teasing remarks. Nothing I haven't dealt with before.
I put on a kimono I was now calling 'mine' in the 'head', not stopping to consider who had left it there. I walked on tiptoe to the next room even though my sneaking was pointless because, whoever was there could no doubt hear me waking up. Yet still, there was something troubling in the shadows moving around the room that was making me act this way.
I stopped at the doors and opened them slowly. I sighed with relief when I saw Godric kneeling in front of the fireplace and putting some scraps of material on the fire.
"Hi," I whispered but it took him a moment to notice me.
"Hello, little one. I apologize if I woke you up," he said softly and something deeply sad sounded in his voice. I felt my chest tighten instantly. I didn't like the fact that he was upset. I remembered very well how he'd tried to kill himself not too long ago and surely, it was foolish to think that he was completely fine. Someone who was willing to end his existence just like that couldn't heal in just a few days.
I walked closer to Godric on slightly shaking legs and sat down next to him in front of the fire. I saw something that looked like jeans burning there and I frowned.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm burning the evidence," he answered without any emotion and I felt fear surrounding me.
"You…" I had to clear my throat to get rid of a lump that was growing in my gullet. "Did you kill him?"
"That would have been too easy. We will torture him for so long that he will be begging us to kill him." Godric's voice was flat and empty and it was more terrifying than a fury. "That's how monsters like me act."
"You are not a monster!" I said with conviction, ready to argue with him. I gasped when Godric turned to me at vampire speed and crushed my throat in an iron grip. I instantly lost the ability to breathe.
"I am. I was trying so hard to be better and you ruined it!" Each of his words was so full of venom and hatred that I felt tears filling my eyes.
He could kill me now if he only tightened his grip a little. I had no chance to fight him and my body wasn't even trying. Instead of feeling a rush of adrenalin that would encourage me to fight for my life, I felt nothing but shame.
As fast as I was attacked, his assault ended. My whole body was shaking and I was afraid to open my eyes. I could still feel Godric's body hovering over mine. I almost screamed when I felt a soft peck on my lips.
"What are you doing to me?" he murmured and I slowly opened my eyes. There were bloody tears flowing on his face and I fearfully reached for his cheek.
"I'm sorry… I didn't wanna. I'm sorry…" I stuttered quietly and started to sob.
Godric leaned closer and captured my lips in a hard, almost bruising kiss. I didn't know if I should fight him or allow him to relieve his frustration. I ought to be terrified by his attack on me but right now I wasn't mad or scared. I clung to him with all of my body. There was a burning feeling in my chest that was telling me to comfort him and to apologize for what he had to do for me.
"I'm sorry..." I murmured again, turning my head aside and a second later, the piercing pain struck me in the place he had bitten me.
I screamed and sat bolt upright.
It took me a moment to realize that I was not on the floor, lying under Godric who is trying to suck the life out of me. It was only a dream. A very unsettling and ominous dream.
I was expecting my night fantasies to be solely erotic but clearly, the burning feeling of guilt that was inside me caused me to dream other things. There was no doubt that I was feeling guilty. The logical part of my mind knew that the shooter chose his own fate. It had been nothing but his own actions that had led him to pissing off some old and dangerous vampires but I still felt responsible. Maybe I should have been firmer when I had spoken with Godric and Eric? Maybe if I had been more persistent, they would have decided to hand Clint over to the police?
I almost screamed when I saw a light wink on in the next room. I stayed on my bed listening to the bathroom door being opened and closed. I was waiting for Godric or Eric to finish his shower and when I heard steps in the living room, I got out of bed. I was still wearing a hilariously embarrassing hospital gown but that didn't matter. I needed to know what had happened to the shooter.
It was Eric who greeted me. Godric was nowhere to be seen.
"Well, hello lover." He winked and I almost groaned when I saw some scraps of material burning in the fireplace.
"Did you kill him?" I asked, feeling a horrible feeling in my stomach.
Something in my voice must have caught Eric's attention because he turned to me and frowned. He measured me from head to toes and back as if I was some mystery to be solved.
"Why do you smell like fear?" he asked me instead of answering. Eric walked closer to me and I turned my gaze away from his form. The fact that he was wearing nothing but a small towel around his hips wasn't helping matters.
"I had a bad dream," I murmured. I forced myself to look him in the eyes. "Did you kill him?" I asked again.
I had to wait a very long minute for Eric's answer.
"No, we did not," he told me simply and I felt some of the tension leaving my body.
"Did…" I cleared my throat. "Did Godric hurt him?"
Clearly that wasn't what Eric had expected to hear. He stood up ramrod straight and something akin to fear appeared on his face. As fast as it had flashed on, it had disappeared. I wasn't even sure if it had ever been really there at all.
"No!" His answer was sharp and rude. "You are worried he will be upset. Your thinking is foolish." Eric's voice had become so cold and annoyed that I actually took a step back. His fangs were down and even if he had bared his fangs on me once, he wasn't even half as terrifying then as he was now. "My maker isn't weak."
I felt some anger bubbling up inside me. "You are an idiot!" I spat at him before I had thought through my actions. Eric growled at me quietly but I decided to stand my ground. "He wanted Fellowship to burn him on the pike! He may not be weak but he is tired!"
I screamed softly when my vampire's face appeared right in front of me. Viking looked wild and vicious. " You don't know him…" he began but I interrupted him.
"I don't but I want to have a chance know him. I don't want him to die."
My words somehow calmed him down. Eric moved away from me, clicking his fangs back into place. We stood like that in silence, both of us watching the carpet like it was the most amazing thing in the world.
"I don't…" Eric was clearly struggling with his words and his accent became more prominent. "I don't want to think that he was willing to leave me." His voice was quiet and weak and when I looked at him there was the expression of a beaten person on his face. I even thought that I saw a drop of red liquid in the corner of his eyes but just as fast as his melancholy had come, it was gone. Eric's eyes started to burn with barely hidden fury. "It's not what he promised me. He promised me forever and… and…" he stuttered for a moment sounding disgusted "… he wanted to leave. To escape!"
This time I couldn't pretend not to notice a drop of blood flowing from his left eye. I remembered how sad, angry and guilty I had felt when my Gran had been murdered. It was hard to imagine what a person who had lost her beloved one to suicide felt. I could see betrayal and guilt in my Viking's gaze.
My heart was breaking at the sight of someone as proud and strong as Eric looking this way. Slightly afraid of how Eric would react, I took a step forward. I felt like the person who was about to pet a lion but as I said before – I am no coward. My Vampire was watching me cautiously but he didn't reject my touch. His eyes stopped at my hand that slowly trailed along his biceps.
"I would like to hug you…" I whispered. "May I?"
"I'm not doing… hugging," Eric growled.
I wanted to laugh at his statement. His tone reminded me so much of Arlene's son when he was saying that he was too old to be tucked into bed by his mom. "I won't hurt you." I promised him, smiling gently.
Eric snorted at me and shook his head. "We both know you want to do it only because I'm half naked, lover…" he whispered and I almost sighed with relief when I espied those lewd sparks in his eyes. For a moment, I had been missing this carefree Eric. I knew though that his worries had to be addressed.
"Eric, about Godric…"
"Stop right there." He raised his hand and I huffed.
"You can't just hide…"
"With all due respect, this is between my maker and me."
We were looking into each other's eyes for a moment and eventually I gave up. He was right that it was not my place but I wanted him to know that he is not alone with his fears.
"I'm just worried about him. In my dream he was so sad and he was blaming me…" I said, focusing my sight on Eric's chest.
"Now you are talking like an idiot." I just glared at him. What an ass. "Godric will never blame you. He…" Eric shut up. "… likes you. Godric wants to protect you and I believe it to be a good motivator for him. I admit, I'm afraid of his psychic condition but I can see a few solutions."
I wriggled a little and watched him seriously. "What solutions?"
"Come," he just took hold of my hand and led me to the couch. I sat there being careful not to touch Eric. When a his tension had subsided, I became more aware of the fact he was barely covered. And of how well-shaped his body was. "Godric feels a need to protect you. We both know your track record – you will keep both of us busy." I smacked his arm and I felt annoyed; Eric the Jerk was back. He remained completely indifferent to my attack and continued. "Now that you have taken his blood, you are believed to be his. Godric even said it to some vampires tonight... and Sookie," Eric shook his head. "He was so proud when he said it. He needs such emotions in his undead life."
I moved uncomfortably when Eric propped his head on his hand. He was leaning comfortably on the couch and I noticed his arm sneaking across the back of the couch, right behind my head.
"Emotions like?"
"You know- human nonsense. You should be more fluent in that stuff than I am."
I fought down the need to smack his smug pale face and I took a deep breath. "I can try to keep Godric busy with this human nonsense." I told him bitterly.
"Good!" Eric smiled at me. "That will make him happy."
The resoluteness and determination in his voice was almost scary. It was just so strong.
"We will make sure that he will not think about leaving us ever again." Eric added with a gentle smirk and his gaze was burning holes right through me.
God, what have I gotten myself into?
AN: I am a pacifist by nature, describing tortures is extremely hard for me, so I decided to leave something to your imagination. Hope it wasn't half bad though :)
Please, leave a review.
Till next time!
