Paradise Within…Happier Far
Chapter 8
There was a time when it was hard to see
A future out in front where I am free
But then I found the fire
The strength, the heart's desire
Bring it on, can't go wrong, I am strong.
I am young, hear me cry
Tell the world that I can fly
I believe, we have the strength to carry on
I will say, hear me pray
Now I'm free, I am on my way
I will fight, I am brave, I am strong.
I said one day that I would show them all
And now I've shown the world that I stand tall
And now I've found the fire
The will to go much higher
Bring it on, can't go wrong, I am strong.
I am young, hear me cry
Tell the world that I can fly
I believe, we have the strength to carry on
I will say, hear me pray
I am free, I am on my way
I will fight, I am brave, I am strong.
I Am Strong, North
Two weeks later…
Sookie was working the night shift. After the work on the house started in earnest, she felt more comfortable NOT being around all those people and the noise. There was scaffolding surrounding the house, painters, shutterers, electricians, the iron people, etc. So much for being discrete, she thought wryly. But it was almost done, and while Eric had mostly been staying nearby during the day in the hidden storm shelter, soon he would be able to stay inside with her. That made her smile on this busy night.
When she worked nights, Eric spent that time at Fantasia. Sam watched over her all during the day, and until Eric took up his watch. The three of them had found an uneasy groove to the whole 'protecting Sookie' thing, and surprisingly enough Eric and Sam had found something of a friendship forming between them. To avoid suspicion Sookie took up more shifts so that Sam didn't have to be away from Merlotte's and she made more money anyway.
While Sam and Sookie had said nothing of the relationship between Eric and Sookie to anyone, it had become practically the unilateral piece of gossip in their small town. Sookie ignored any references to it and Sam's threatening glaze kept the buzz at a minimum, especially around Sookie.
"Hey guys," Sookie said energetically as she got ready to take an order from Hank's table. There were three of the biggest mouthed bullies in town, Hank being the biggest. She hated it when they sat in her section, and while her shields were stronger than ever with Eric's teaching and blood, some of their repulsive thoughts still made it through. She just plastered on her happy smile and wrote down their order.
Before she walked away Hank snidely said, "And I'll take a piece of you too, Sookie. Make that with whipped cream."
Sookie stopped and spun around. "Excuse me?" She was stunned he would actually say something like that out loud to her. His friends' guffawed at Hank's daring quip.
"I know you heard me sweet little Sookie. You must be some nice tight little piece of ass and have some kind of sweet blood for that vampire to keep coming back to you, over and over again. I want my own taste. Or don't you do humans anymore?" Hank had stood by this time towering over Sookie.
She felt Sam coming up and waved him off. She was strong enough with Eric's blood pulsing through her veins she could handle this punk. And she had been waiting for the chance for years, after having to listen to his mindless, sexual drivel about women in general and her in particular. Sam stopped approaching but stood close by. The bar had grown silent.
Sookie laughed at Hank, her sharp bark telling him in no uncertain terms he was repellant and hardly worth her time. "I never had swine, Hank, pigs like you. As for the rest, it is none of your business. You will get no taste of anything, including food or drink served at this bar, ever again."
"You BITCH! You're mighty proud of yourself landing a powerful vampire to protect you. Well, he's not here, and if you think Sam can take me on, you are so wrong bitch." Hank grabbed Sookie by the neck, lifting her tiny frame off the ground by four inches. Her eyes went from dark brown to black, and there was no fear in them at all. That should have scared Hank more than anything else. The whole bar was silent watching this shocking scene unfold around them.
Sookie looked at Hank and smiled, a quiet deadly smile. She had never smiled a smile like that before. Never taking her eyes off of Hank's, she swung her arm under his, hitting it directly at his elbow, breaking his elbow backwards, shattering the three bones making up his elbow and tearing every tendon. Instantly, his arm became immediately and forever useless as he dropped her to the floor.
Hank grabbed his excruciatingly painful arm as he sank to the ground, screaming bloody murder. His friends stayed in their seats, while Sam approached Sookie standing beside her while she looked down on Hank. She calmly spoke to him through his screams. "Calling me a bitch and talking all nasty to me was stupid, which I would expect from you. Touching me was a very bad move Hank. I don't think you'll ever be touching or holding anything with that arm again." She leaned down to his ear, so only he could hear her. "And I'll make sure you live with your useless arm for a nice long time. Next time you touch me, or your friends come near me, you will feel blessed if all that happens is that you die." For a moment Hank was absolutely silent and then started to whimper loudly again.
Arlene approached, annoyed and bored with Hank already. "I called an ambulance and the police."
Sam continued to stare at Hank daring him to move. "Thank you Arlene." Sam could of course hear everything Sookie had said to Hank, and was proud of her, if a little scared too. Maybe she couldn't take care of herself against a vampire, but against anyone else, he had no concerns about her abilities.
The screen door to the bar slammed shut as a blast of angry wind blew through the bar, lifting napkins off the tables and ruffling clothing. Eric. He was dressed for Fangtasia, black jeans, black silk shirt, and black boots. His hair was ruffled since he must have flown here when he felt the excitement, agitation, and strength flow through the bond. He took in the scene while the bar patrons took him in. Before anyone could see, he was beside Sookie's side checking her over for wounds. He could see the bruises from Hank's hand around her neck, but knew those would be gone within a few hours. Long enough for the police to see them, but gone by the time he got her home. He looked down at Hank, still holding his arm, screaming in pain and fear again instead of just whimpering.
Eric bent down to him, placing a forefinger and thumb on either side of Hank's face, everyone in the bar knowing he could crush Hank's face with a simple squeeze. Eric took his other hand and wrapped it around the hand that had touched Sookie. While Eric leaned into Hank, telling him in a falsely soothing voice he needed to calm down and be silent, hypnotizing Hank into a much welcome silence, he squeezed Hank's hand just slightly hearing every one of the 27 bones in the hand that had dared touch his Sookie break and crumble. Hank would no longer ever be able to use his arm or his hand again. Too bad, so sad. Hank felt the agonizing pain, but under his hypnotized state could not scream out, so the screams just resounded in his head, over and over again. If his agony wasn't enough, having the screams of that agony kept locked in his head would drive him crazy.
Eric stood to his full height and pulled Sookie to him, holding her briefly and then leading her to a corner booth. There was a couple sitting there but as Eric approached with Sookie they scattered taking their drinks with them. Sam brought them a True Blood and a gin and tonic and left them alone to await the police. Hank sat where he had fallen blathering and drooling in his silent agony, his friend's unmoving to help him, terrified as they were of even being associated with Hank. The rest of the bar went on as before, if a little more nervously.
Sheriff Bud and Andy Bellfleur arrived soon, not a full set between them Sookie thought. They looked over Hank, tried to get a statement from him, which proved impossible. They spoke with the other bar patrons, saving Sam and Sookie for last. Andy hostilely asked if Eric had been there when the incident all went down, which Eric could honestly deny which was also backed up by the bar patrons. Sookie told her story. Sheriff Bud and Andy looked at the still visible bruises on her neck, and having heard that Hank had lifted her at least four inches off the floor in their previous interviews with everyone in the bar, without exception, declared that Hank would be charged with assault after being treated for his wounds, and declared it self-defense in Sookie's case.
"Just one more question, Sookie," Andy said trying to be sneaky like Columbo, but instead came across more like Scooby-Doo.
"Yes, Andy?" Sookie hadn't moved from Eric. She tried to be respectful of Andy Bellfleur, but it was just so hard, given he was such an idiot. He proved her point right at that moment by scratching his balls and lifting his belt buckle. It was all she could do not to laugh.
"Just when did you get strong enough to break a grown man's elbow? Not just break it, but completely destroy what looks like the whole joint from what the EMT's say. And then every bone in his hand is broken too."
"Well, Andy. I guess all those home workouts I've been doing have been working. Either that, or I must have been very lucky." Sookie smiled at him, dismissal all over her face and he turned and left.
Thirty minutes later, after a brief conversation between the Sam, Eric, and Sookie, Eric took Sookie home in her car. She was surprised to see the scaffolding down from the house and the yard debris was completely cleaned up. It looked to her like the job was almost complete.
Eric smiled at her enthusiasm as she walked around the house in awe of how beautiful it looked. Eric had even had the crew plant additional plants in various gardens in the back with a couple of beautiful arbors and a water feature. There were window boxes hanging from each front window, all prepared to be planted as she chose. She ran back to Eric leaping into his arms, her legs wrapping around his waist.
"It's all so beautiful! And when did you decide on the waterfall? It is an excellent touch. Oh, Eric. Thank you so much. I love it all! And I love you most of all."
"And I love you, baby. Randy has just a few things to go over with you tomorrow and then they are complete. He'll come shortly after dusk and show you how everything works and I can be here for that part too. Ok?"
"Fine, fine. Now, Eric, take me inside and make love to me. Hard, fast, rough, just like tonight has been." Sookie was already ripping Eric's shirt off and it was on the ground. She struggled with the key and once they were inside and the doors locked, Eric pushed her against the back of the sofa, clothing ripped and torn off, taking her from behind with no foreplay, but they hadn't needed any. The whole night had been a form of foreplay for them both. They laughed, growled, and bit at each other as they made their animalistic form of love.
Later, lying in bed completely sated after several more times of lovemaking, more fucking actually. Both were scratched and bitten, bruises developed and disappeared on Sookie's body. Their blood exchanges ripped at each other's bodies and then healed. It was a perfect end to a violent night. But Sookie was proud of standing up for herself and being able to seriously defend herself, and Eric was thrilled that Sookie had found her fire,the will to go much higher than she had every gone before. No matter what, together, whatever others could bring it on, they couldn't go wrong, they were strong together, forever.
Eric's private phone rang, as they lay together talking quietly. He rolled over lazily expecting it to be Pam, but instead a different voice was on the line. Eric immediately sat up, spilling Sookie to his side. "Your Majesty!"
Eric listened quietly to the voice on the other end of the conversation, his body tense and his face grave. "Of course, Your Majesty. As your loyal servant, I can only do as you bid. Miss Stackhouse and I will be at your court in two nights. Thank you Your Majesty."
Sitting up with the sheet held up to her chest, Sookie stared at Eric, fear all over her face. "The Queen. She wants to see us."
"Yes, Sookie. I do not want you to worry though. I believe I know what she wants and I know what I need to do. We will not be parted, I promise. She will be sending her private plane for us, and we will be staying at Hotel d'Morte in New Orleans. I will have Pam buy you the appropriate clothing tomorrow night. We will both come tomorrow to make sure we have everything covered."
"Eric, I'm afraid. I cannot be without you. What if she wants to keep me for her 'pet'?" An image of a gerbil in a habitrail came unbidden to her mind, and her stomach lurched.
"Lover, I have lived a very long time, and understand vampire politics better than almost anyone. You will leave with me that night. You do not need to worry. She will feel our bond and know it is too great to be divided. We will both die then and she knows it. Dawn comes close, lover. Let us make love again, really making love this time (he smirked) and then after you have fallen asleep I will leave you for the day returning shortly after dusk tomorrow."
Eric leaned into the clearly fearful Sookie and kissed her tenderly. He made love to her like the first time, taking his time, taking their time, and when he left her she was in a dreamless sleep, having forgotten for the time being about the Queen.
TBC
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