Chapter 13
(Sorry utter balls up, I had to change the character relationship if I were to continue trying to be true to the books. Eric's PoV once again, sorry I haven't updated in a while. Hoping to get my Pam/Rachel/Sam short story up soonish, as well as Hoyt and Holly's wedding short. Thanks for the reviews you guys rule. x)
Harmony's was an interesting bar, it seemed to be broken up into areas from different times, and yet there was cohesion to the place. The lighting was subtle, and the furniture was an eclectic mix, just like the clientele. I was pleased to see a small corner near the back of the bar which resembled a log cabin, there was a small fire with a wrought iron surround and a couple of wingback chairs, it reminded me of home for some reason. I wanted so much to take Sookie to Stockholm, it was a nostalgic notion, and possibly it was a result of being in my lovers' body for so long. I glanced up at my woman although she was in my body she still looked like her, to me at least. Amelia and the female shifter from the bar were already there, as soon as Sookie mentioned such a place she decided she had to go. I did not mind the witch, but this mess was still down to her and as such I felt my lip curl a little when I saw her. My child was not as pleased to see the other female as Sam was, Pam's eye's narrowed, unusual.
"When you said mixed" Sookie began in a whisper, "I didn't know you meant this mixed" she said as she looking in awe at the beings in the room. On the dance floor a demon in true form was dipping a beautiful fox woman, whilst a Were, was spinning a vampire dressed in a nineteen eighties Madonna inspired getup.
"They may seem different on the surface my dear, but inside they are all united by a common ideal of peace and tolerance" The look on my lovers face was sceptical, as mine would be if I did not possess her gift, but the minds I could read enabled me to sense their simple joy at having somewhere safe to hang out. I myself felt my slightly sombre mood lifting, we came here to rally troops, but that did not mean we could not enjoy ourselves as well. The night was young and as a bar owner I knew it would be a couple of hours until the club was busy enough for our purpose. Sookie and I walked arm in arm to the bar, I ordered a grasshopper (a pale green cocktail which I was informed tasted like melted mint Cornetto, although I had no frame of reference) which was surprisingly enjoyable, Sookie got an AB positive.
"Hey guys" Amelia said nervously, she still didn't know how to be around us.
"Hey, where's Tray?" My lover asked Amelia. She was the more forgiving of the two of us, and she was currently sending calm thoughts through the bond. Amelia's mind was full of worried thoughts, worried about Tray, worried about the fellowship, worried about Sookie and myself. The last part surprised me, I didn't think she gave a damn about me, I delved deeper into her thoughts and discovered that she was worried about what losing me would do to Sookie. That made sense.
"Uh he says he's working on a surprise for me" she blushed, but I could sense a small part of her was sceptical, he was a fine looking man, and due to an series of cheating ex's, she was scared of losing him, but wasn't willing to admit to that. I went to the bar and got her a sea breeze. She accepted it with slightly raised eyebrows, blushing her thanks. Amelia noticed the look I was giving Sookie so she made her excuses and walked over to rescue Sam who was looking trapped, stood between Pam and the female Shifter, who I learned, from Amelia's mind, was called Rachel.
"Did you dream my lover?" I asked Sookie who was watching Sam being surrounded by a sea of oestrogen, with a smile on her face. When she glanced down at me, I indicated the wingback chairs. We sat down, both entranced by the fire. It was moments like this when I understood the phrase "companionable silences" she was enjoying the warmth of the fire, and I was just enjoying being warm, I could feel the blood in Sookie's body keeping me warm, I resisted the urge to cup her breast's (they are her warmest parts) I moved her hands nearer the fire instead and smiled to myself. Taylor Swift's "Love story" was playing through the speakers which were subtly dotted around the room. Apt I thought, our own relationship of late felt like a love story, I worried something would go wrong, but perhaps the Gods were feeling generous.
"Yeah" she seemed lost in thought, as though she we're still dreaming "I never knew dreams could be so vivid, is that a Vampire thing?"
"Yes, our senses are sharper even in dreams" I smiled, it didn't seem like she was willing to tell me just yet, but perhaps I could tease it out of her at a later date.
"How was your day at work?" She asked, I could sense that she was as always frustrated at not being able to read my mind.
"It went well, no disasters and I helped Holly select her bridesmaid dresses" Sookie gaped at me.
"No way, and she had no clue I wasn't myself?"
"Not a one, but do not worry my lover I think you will like the dress I have selected" I wiggled her eyebrows suggestively, and she looked suitably worried, she wasn't the only one who liked to tease. Rising above it she asked.
"Were there any fellowship goons?"
"No they were conspicuously absent" Sookie's expression was questioning.
"So isn't that a good thing?" she asked. "No goons no trouble"
"That would seem logical, but then you have to ask, if they're not causing trouble at the bar, where are they? What are they doing elsewhere? I think that it is most likely that they are preparing to attack, from what Claudine said, I think that their threats were more than merely drunk talk".
"Great" she replied sarcastically, fangs out in her annoyance, she lisped a little, then scowled as she saw my smile.
"Do not worry we shall prevail, we will make them sorry they ever trifled with forces they cannot comprehend".
"You're still not fighting in my body" Sookie smirked, I gave her a pained look, surely she must realise how leaving me out of a battle would make me feel, I hadn't backed out of a fight in a thousand years, well, except for that time in the fifties in New York, and Pam had dragged me out of there, I hadn't willingly backed out.
"What if I use your brother's gun?" I asked trying to find a compromise that she could live with "I'll keep your body out of harm's way, and pick off any stray psychopaths".
"I don't know" she smiled. I knew she would agree but she wanted to play with me a little longer. I told her more about my day at her work, and she listened attentively, I felt absurdly like a nineteen fifties husband with the perfect wife, all be it a gender switched one.
The others came to join us, Sam looked flustered and Pam and Rachel we're shooting each other glares, neither of them would back down. I felt sorry for my new friend. Amelia tried to distract them by asking "so what are we going to do about getting our own troops ready?"
"We could recruit some of the fellowship of the Fang" Pam said looking slightly pleased with herself.
"The who?" Sookie asked confused.
"They're pro Supernatural, they're the exact opposite of the sunshine boys" Pam answered, she didn't seem surprised that Sookie didn't recognise the name.
"But who are they? Supernatural's themselves or enthusiastic human's?" Sookie asked intelligently.
"They're a bit of both" Amelia answered, a fair few witches, a couple demons, most stay away, but some of us, myself included, agree that if we can gain support for the more dangerous Supes that if we ever come out, we'll get a better response".
"Will they be any help in a fight though?" Rachel asked.
"She has a point, it's all very good them turning up and protesting against the fellowship of the Sun, but if they can't fight, they're just going to become casualties" Sam added quietly.
"Then we ask them to come only if they are prepared for thing's to turn ugly, like all organisations I'm sure that they will have a more hardcore sector to their group". I said taking charge, "firstly I would suggest we see how many Supernatural's we can get on our side. No matter how well intentioned the Fang's are, this is Supe business, we should handle it ourselves". There were murmurs of assent around the table. I never thought I would live to see a war council discussing strategy with "Audience of one" by Rise Against, playing in the background.
An hour later and Sookie and I had taken to the dance floor, this time we were slightly more co-ordinated.
"Are you happy?" my lover asked me looking down at her own form.
"Of course, I have everything I have ever wanted. This is the closest to contentment I have felt in so very long". I put her head on my chest. The lack of heartbeat must be disconcerting to her, I noticed my chest was rising and falling, she was "breathing" as young Vampire's tended to do before they realised they didn't have to, but it was oddly comforting. I smiled at her, but it was dawning on me that we were never in the same state, one day I would find a way to put us on an even keel.
Sookie smiled, picked me up and spun us around laughing happily, a few of the other dancers turned to look, let them, my love looked wonderful, so I laughed too, to show her at her most magnificent. We moved back to an alcove where there was a magenta loveseat lit by a small flickering candle above. We watched the couples, and laughed at our co-conspirators antics. I opened Sookie's mind so we could both have a better idea of what our friends were thinking. Sam and Rachel were talking quietly but my enhanced hearing and Sookie's telepathy made their efforts pretty irrelevant. Sookie and I would make quite the spy team. "Perhaps we should work for the government" I projected at my love. She smiled and chuckled quietly.
"Why did you come back?" Sam said quietly to Rachel.
"I thought you'd be happy to see me" Rachel replied, looking up into Sam's eyes, her own golden eyes bright and lined with the smallest amount of eyeliner. The left side of her face was partially hidden by her luminous red hair, which gave her a mysterious look, she was quite beautiful, for a Shifter, she was wearing a flattering leaf green dress which made the most of her hour glass figure, Sam viewed her favourably.
"Of course I'm happy to see you, but you never showed an interest"
"Well I'm showing an interest now" she said seductively as she nuzzled his neck. Sookie choked a little on her TrueBlood as she saw Pam glowering from across the dance floor a smashed bottle in her hand. Sam looked over at Pam as well, concern and indecision crossed his face.
"Pam uh, you're bleeding" Amelia pointed out, taking a wetwipe from her purse, she grabbed Pam's hand and removed the glass shards. "Ignore her, she's just here for a visit, she's not even American how Sam could look at her over you I don't know".
"Thank you for that, but may I remind you that I'm also not American and she is the same breed as him, I'm also seventy years his senior at least" Pam hissed through gritted teeth. The two of them walked off to the ladies room to continue their conversation. I was pleased to see Pam had a good human friend, I was concerned that Pam's brief fling with the witch would leave her feeling uncomfortable going to Sookie's because of her roommate.
"Poor Pam" Sookie murmured. That was my beloved, always empathetic.
A couple more hours passed and the club was getting as full as it was going to get, it would be time to rally the troops soon, but first there was someone I wanted Sookie to meet. It had taken a long time and numerous favours, but I had learned as much as I could about Niall Brigant and his tangled family tree, including an unusual surprise. It was as I was pondering how best to approach the Supes in the club, when she walked in.
"Who is that" Sookie asked as a gorgeous ethereal looking woman glided into the bar from the spiral staircase at the furthest corner of the bar.
"That is Harmony" Pam whispered in Sookie's/my ear. "Owner and Fae".
"Then why aren't we drooling?" Sookie asked.
"She's..." I began, as Harmony looked over at our party, her large turquoise blue eyes looking at us and seeing more than just our outward appearances. She moved towards us smiling at all of her patrons on her way, they nodded to her and looked at her as though she was a queen bestowing a great honour upon her subjects, even the way she carried herself was regal.
"Hello Sookie" she said quietly to my lover, who was staring open mouthed peering out from my body.
"How do you know me?" she whispered hoarsely.
"I always know my kin" she replied, I looked more closely at the woman, she was wearing a classic long red dress and red lipstick, her skin was pale and pristine, I looked at Sookie's hair reflected in a small mirror. Sookie's was the same identical colour as Harmony's but not as long or thick. Harmony's was worn loose, but with a thin braid on each side beginning at the temples that met at the back of her head holding her hair back from her face. She had a remarkable resemblance to Sookie, but her lips were fuller and eye's larger.
"You think we're related?" Sookie asked bewildered. I wish I had managed to tell her sooner. She felt my guilt through the bond and rounded on me "you knew?" She asked furiously.
"I knew you had some blood family but I didn't know where to find them" I replied, raising my hands in a peaceful gesture. Sookie scowled, whilst Harmony smiled fondly at her.
"I knew you would come child, Niall has seen you, it is only right that I should get the same opportunity". Harmony moved closer to Sookie's body and breather in her scent.
"You know Niall?" Sookie whispered wonderingly. Amelia ushered the others back towards the dance floor so we could talk privately.
"Of course, you wouldn't be here if I didn't" she smiled mischievously.
"You're my great grandmother?" Sookie asked shocked.
"Oh No, but I did save my brother during the Great War, and I did know your great grandmother, a sweet mortal, you have her temperament. Niall and I can never spend too much time together, it would have been dangerous for us both, and things were not so peaceful when we were young..." she seemed lost in another time for a moment. Sookie was in awe of this new relative, and she was full of questions but we could not forget our mission.
"Speaking of peace" I interrupted stirring the Fae from her thoughts. "We would like to maintain it, but I am afraid we have a problem".
"I know" she replied simply still looking at Sookie as though she was trying to see her very soul, a rare Fae gift, but it had been heard of. Sookie smiled shyly at her.
"How?" I demanded, Sookie shot me a look that told me I was being rude. I had the good sense to look contrite, my love smiled knowing how difficult that was for me.
"I saw it" she answered, so the Fae was a seer as well, a powerful ally to be sure, but other than Sookie's obvious and instantaneous affection for her, we did not know if she was to be trusted. Harmony now addressed her kin directly. "He cares for you very deeply and quite rightly is protective of you. I am glad you have chosen well dear child". I glanced at her wondering if she had read my thoughts, as I tried to read hers my mind hit a wall, her mind was well protected. "The telepathy is a gift of my clan, it tends to only affect one child a generation. It is a rare but treasured gift". Harmony smiled stroking Sookie's hair. She turned abruptly and jumped onto the pool table a few feet from us.
"Friends!" she cried looking more alive somehow, although she was a regal and wise woman who inspired peace amongst her patrons, it was clear from the look in her eye's that at one stage she was a fierce warrior. "You have enjoyed a safe haven for many years, but now there are those who wish your kinfolk harm!" She wasn't speaking very loudly but her voice somehow carried to every corner of the club. There were murmurs of distress around the club, one of the larger demons' eyes glowed red from a dark corner. Well, that was a start at least. Sookie's great great aunt was quite a woman.
"How can we help?" One of the Were's bellowed questioningly. Harmony beamed at him.
"There is a bar in Bon Temps, Merlotte's, the Fellowship of the Sun" here there were growls from the attentive crowd "has decided to torch the place, we cannot let that happen!" The crowd cheered and many vowed their help, but one Vampire near the back asked.
"Why? That's Bon Temp's surely we are safe?" I have never been so ashamed to be a Vampire and I glared at the man, he looked young, even without my enhanced senses I could tell he hadn't been turned long.
"It will spread, if we do not nip them in the bud now they will think it is acceptable to attack us anywhere, better one battle with minimal casualties, than a war, because believe me child you have never seen war!" Once again she seemed to be looking out at her own past than at the crowd. I decided to interject.
"Tomorrow night they will try to torch Merlotte's, if you wish to fight be there just after dark, those of you who can, come before" I smiled at the crowd and wondered what I looked like standing before them in Sookie's body bold as brass "thank you" I added remembering my manners. Sookie was beaming at me, I was enjoying the prospect of the battle, and part of that battle lust was making me lust for other things, Sookie was going to have to prepare for a busy night.
We left the bar arm in arm, a team, allies and friends, the cool night air enveloped us. We were all filled with an excited buzz, even Pam seemed more at ease. I don't know what Amelia said to her, but it seemed to have calmed her, I just hoped that the witch hadn't put a spell on her too...
(Next Time: Battle time! Sorry I haven't uploaded in a while, will upload again soon, hope you liked it so far, I'd like to know what people's favourite chapters have been and why? If that's ok. Also what people think about Harmony? Anyway thanks very much for reading and reviewing x).