Chapter 13
He smiled as she pointed at all the different sights on the strip. He kissed her in front of the Bellagio Fountains. She slid her hand down and pinched his perfect behind as they passed New York, New York. He bought her a snow globe and she thought it was the sweetest thing in the world. They wandered down the street and just enjoyed being together.
"This is the coolest place." She said as they strolled down the street.
"We can come back anytime you like."
"Really?"
"Of course. We will schedule a vacation every year if that would make you happy."
"You wouldn't mind watching me win a bunch of money at the tables?" He playfully smacked her bottom at her teasing.
"I concede that you are a much better gambler than I." They laughed comfortably until Eric noticed she no longer kept in step with him. He turned to face her and he immediately felt her terrified emotions flowing through the bond. Her face was paler than he had ever seen and he gripped her shoulders to try to capture her gaze.
"Sookie?" She looked right through him. He could feel her start to tremble. "Sookie, what's wrong? Look at me. What is it?" He followed her gaze and tried to see what she was seeing. They were standing directly across the street from the Hard Rock. He turned her away from the large Pyramid and opened his mind to her thoughts.
It's on fire! We're going to die in here! The bombs are going off! OH MY GOD! Eric! Where's Eric! I can't breathe! There's too much smoke! Eric won't wake up! He can't die. There's no way out! We're not going to…
He could feel her heart rate quicken and pulled her close to his chest as she started to breathe heavier.
"Sookie. You're safe. We're in Nevada, darling. Not Rhodes." His voice didn't filter into her brain. Her senses were suddenly filled with the smell of ash and burning flesh. Eric felt her trembling hands dig into his sides as she held on to him. Every muscle in her body was rigid and he feared if he didn't calm her breathing she would hyperventilate and pass out. He held her tightly and started to whisper in her ear.
"Lover, you are safe. It's Eric, darling. You are safe with me." His soothing fell on deaf ears as the memories of that horrifying day assaulted her brain. She suddenly jerked and pulled away. Sookie whirled around and faced the large pyramid shaped building. The building she saw in her terrified mind was burning and crumbling around her. She was back in Rhodes and could smell the burning vampires and blood. Eric reached for her. She couldn't breathe. Her shoulders heaved as she tried to breathe. His large hands circled her upper arms as she gasped for air. Then his fear turned to reality. She fainted.