Chapter Forty Eight: Begin Again
I wasn't surprised at all at how busy Fangtasia was now that Eric was back on his rightful throne. Victor may have been terrifying, but he certainly didn't know a thing about how to run a business. The bar was jammed back with humans and vampires, all looking pleased that things had gone back to how they used to be. Though as my gaze lingered on the bar, expecting Chow to be taking orders and delivering them in super fast speed, I was saddened to find a new employee chatting up a human girl. Chow was just another victim that had fallen to Victor. There had been one too many deaths in this war, and I was more than glad that I had killed that bastard, burning him alive and causing him the same suffering he had put us all through.
I was surprised however, when the moment I stepped onto the floor, the crowd parted like the red sea. I raised an eyebrow as the humans and vampires just spread apart, creating a path between me and the stage where the throne sat with a smirking Eric Northman. I could feel all of their eyes on me, and it unnerved me to a point. But after a few hesitant steps forward, I shrugged and enjoyed the fact that for the first time, I was able to walk through the bar without having sweaty bodies brushing up against me. It was a nice change.
"I feel like the Queen of the Castle." I joked as I stepped up onto the stage and grinned at Eric. His eyes however, were drawn down to my legs. I had specifically worn this dress just for him, knowing it would drive him absolutely wild while we sat here in Fangtasia until it closed. And that was still hours away. The dress was the colour of blood, matching the interior of the bar perfectly. There was only one strap that fell over my shoulder, the neckline diving lower than I was usually comfortable with. The dress itself was skin tight and felt like a second layer of skin. The hem only fell to mid thigh, and with every step I had taken, it had slowly but surely ridden up. "You like?"
A low growl emitted from the back of his throat in lust as he held out his hand, expecting me to take it. I gladly did so, letting the vampire tug me right into his lap. I had to hold onto the bottom of the dress as I shifted into a comfortable position or else the whole bar would have gotten a show. Not that Eric would have cared at all.
"The things I wish to do to you..." he whispered huskily into my ear.
A shudder ran up my spine as he nipped at my earlobe. I squirmed on his lap as his lips brushed downward to my neck, gently sucking on the sensitive skin over my pulsing vein. I was sure my face was a deep shade of red as I gazed out over the rest of the club. Every single pair of eyes was on us, some sending me dirty looks, and others looks of lust and hunger. The desire was mostly from the vampires, and I knew they could probably smell my growing arousal the longer I sat there in Eric's arms, his lips teasing me into a frenzy. The humans, both male and female, looked like they were trying to scorn me with their dark glares. And I was certain that if looks could kill, I'd be 6 feet under right about now.
"E-Eric...we're in public." I rested my hands on his chest, pushing him away as best as I could while I leaned back out of the reach of his lips.
Eric pouted, his arm wrapping securely around my waist in an attempt to draw me closer. I chuckled and shook my hair out so it spilled over both of my shoulders, shielding my neck from view. Of course, Eric's fingers began dancing across my bare legs, slowly growing higher with every passing second. I had to close my eyes as he paused on my slightly parted thighs, tracing invisible designs as my face grew an ever darker shade of red.
"Am I exciting you, my love?" he sent me a knowing smirk.
"Oh stop it." I shoved at his shoulder, squirming once again on his lap, only to freeze once I felt a bulge in his pants. "Leave it to you to sporting a nice tent in your pants in the middle of your own bar."
"Would you like to take this somewhere more...private?" he licked his lips hungrily, his eyes darkening as his fingers reached the hem of the dress, teasingly pushing underneath the fabric.
"You're supposed to be entertaining the customers, not yourself." I jumped as the dress began riding up even higher for access to the aching between my legs. I let out a soft moan as my eyes fluttered back close for a brief moment. I wasn't sure how far Eric would actually go while we sat there as every single patron in the bar watched our every movement. I wasn't so sure I cared very much. The feel of his fingers dancing across my skin, leaving a mixture of warmth and coolness surging through me in the most pleasurable ways, made it feel like I wasn't even there, trapped in my own body. I felt like I was floating, like not even gravity was able to keep me down. It was a fantastic feeling, one that I never wanted to end.
"As entertaining as this is, you have guests." Pam's voice interrupted our exhibitionist escapades.
My eyes snapped open, my cheeks flushing red as I remembered where we were. Eric was smirking widely, winking at me as I straightened the bottom of my dress. I hid my embarrassment, diving my face into Eric's shoulder, hiding the rest of the bar from view.
"Mr. Northman." An unfortunate familiar voice spoke.
I felt Eric tense, his mood shifting almost instantly. I frowned as I slowly drew my head up and was surprised to find Nan Flanagan standing before us, two of her men flanking her on either side.
"What do I owe this pleasurable visit?" Eric raised an eyebrow, the sarcasm just dripping from his voice.
"Cut the crap Northman." Nan didn't look pleased at all, her cold gaze falling on me. I squirmed uncomfortably, and I wasn't surprised to find Eric's arousal had disappeared. I couldn't blame him, no one would be happy to see Nan Flanagan, the cold hearted bitch, especially not Eric's manhood.
"I...er...I think I need to...er...be anywhere else but here." I hopped off of Eric's lap and went to move around Nan and her guards, hoping to escape whatever lecture she was going to give Eric now. She never seemed to be around when we needed her, like when Victor was running amuck and killing everyone. But now that the war was over, now that the trouble had passed, she just waltzes in and acts like the world revolves around her. I wasn't sure how old she was, but I was certain Eric was older. If I could have it my way, I'd give Eric the order and have him rip her head off. I don't think anyone would mind.
"You," she pointed at me, freezing me to the spot. "Stay."
My face fell, my shoulders slumping forward as I turned back towards Eric. He sighed but nodded, motioning to the seat beside him on his left. I pouted but took the seat, my hand finding Eric's for comfort. He squeezed it, silently assuring me that whatever Nan wanted, we would get through this together.
"Would you like to take this into my office where can have a bit more...privacy?" Eric glanced around at the rest of the bar, and while everyone looked away quickly, not wanting to catch Eric's gaze, I could tell that they were all listening closely.
"This won't take long." Nan narrowed her ice cold eyes into slits. "Do you know the whereabouts of Victor Madden, the regent of Louisiana, and Bill Compton, the Sheriff of this...shithole?"
"No." Eric answered swiftly, his face a blank mask. I tried to follow his lead and masked the sudden fear that was surging through me. Eric had felt it however, and squeezed my hand once again. "Have they gone missing?"
"Have you not noticed?" Nan didn't seem like she believed Eric for one minute.
"I haven't. Oh no, what a shame."
"Everyone seems to be disappearing around you, Eric, funny how they all seem to rank above you."
"Are you accusing me of anything, Ms. Flanagan? Is there any evidence to prove that I'm linked to the disappearance of these two?" Eric raised an eyebrow. He was good, he was oh so good.
"How about you?" she turned her cold withering stare on me.
I couldn't think straight as I just stared up at her. Funny how I could kill Victor no problem, but then this bitch comes around, and I'm rendered speechless. I was just too afraid that I wouldn't be able to hide the fear and concern if I were to speak a word. I could only mask so much at a time. I wasn't practiced at this like Eric was. Yeah, alright, so I had some faults.
"Well?" she planted her hands on her hips firmly, her foot tapping impatiently. "Have you lost your ability to speak since the last time you mouthed off to me?"
Eric growled, rising to his feet immediately. He towered over Nan, his fangs clicking out in defence. I tried to hide my smile at his protection, even if it was just from a cold hearted bitch like Nan Flanagan.
"Do not speak to her like that." Eric hissed in her face, ignoring the two guards that had tightened their holds on their rather large guns. I looked around the bar and found that everyone had stopped what they were pretending to do and was now just staring directly at the scene unfolding before them. I couldn't blame them, I would be interested too if I wasn't in the fray of it all. I gulped as I looked between the guards with the guns and Eric.
"As of right now, Northman, you're absolutely no one." Nan reminded him. "You hold no authority here, and if I had it my way, you would be silvered and put in a coffin for a hundred years as punishment for talking back."
"I would kill you." Eric threatened, drawing closer, his hands curling at his sides as he tried to control his bubbling anger. "I would rip your head from your body and enjoy doing so."
"If I had it my way, you and your little human would be put on trial." Nan sneered. "But unfortunately, as it is, the Authority has the final say. And they've mistakenly reinstated your position as Sheriff of Area 5."
"Well then fantastic, you can show yourself out." Pam was standing off to the side, her eyes narrowed at the bitch threatening her maker. Her fangs were extended, and she looked ready to snack on any one of the guards.
"Stay out of this blondie." Nan snarled at Pam before glaring down at me. "And you...you're the last known witness to the whereabouts of Victor Madden. Where is he? Where are all of them?"
I inhaled sharply before answering, praying that my voice held steady. "I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about."
"Look, you annoying little bitch." Nan was suddenly in my face, her hands curling around the arms of the chair, her face only an inch from mine. Her fangs were out, and I scooted as far back in the chair as I possibly could to put some distance between us. "I want answers and I want them now. What did you do to Madden and Compton?"
"You have no proof of anything, Ms. Flanagan." I answered in a sickeningly sweet voice. "You have no evidence to link either Eric or I to anything."
"You know something, I can feel it." the arms of the wood chair began splintering from her tightening grip. "Tell me what you know, now."
"I can't tell you what I don't know." I was surprised with myself. Maybe it was Eric, sending me waves of calm and assurance through our bond, or maybe I was just tired of this bitch harassing us. But I felt more confident than I had only minutes ago. "Now if you'll excuse us, Eric and I were in the middle of something."
Nan growled, but before Eric could rip her apart, limb by limb as he appeared he wanted to do, she rose, her gaze catching the sparkling ring on my finger.
"Engaged?" she raised a perfectly plucked eyebrow at Eric. "I'm surprised; you don't seem like the type."
"Get. Out." Eric was fuming; I didn't need to be an expert on his emotions to know that. If he had been human, his face would have been beet red, his knuckles a pasty white. But as it turns out, he wasn't human at all, and I think his angered pale face, the sharp incisors baring at Nan, ready to rip right through her, just made him seem more dangerous than any human ever could.
"One day, Northman, one day I will find a reason to sentence you to the true death." Nan clenched her teeth, but as she had no solid proof that Eric and I were behind the sudden disappearances of Victor and Bill and all of their followers, she had no reason to arrest either of us. And she must have known this as she looked anything but happy to be walking out of the bar empty handed. She detested Eric, that wasn't hard to notice. She couldn't wait for the day she could find a reason to sentence him to death, I truly believed her when she said this. But that would never happen. Eric may be an idiot about many things, but he was an expert at keeping his name as squeaky clean as possible.
A hush fell over the bar as Nan strutted towards the exit. The patrons parted much like they had for me, but this time it was out of fear rather than obligation. The moment the bar door was closed behind Nan and her guards, I let out a long and heavy sigh, feeling as if a weight had just been lifted from my shoulders.
"Are you..." Eric turned his concerned gaze on me, his eyes searching my entire form to find one hair out of place for him to blame on Nan. But other than being a bit spooked and irritated, I was perfectly fine.
"I'm fine." I assured him, smiling up at the vampire. "You're amazing, you know that?"
Eric's body relaxed as he simply nodded and returned back to his throne. He sat there silent for a moment, Pam and I exchanging worried glances before the smirk slowly began to appear on Eric's lips. He spoke a few words in Swedish before suddenly I was up and out of the chair and thrown over Eric's shoulder. I let out a yelp of surprise as I slapped Eric's back, begging him to let me down. I was just imagining what the customers thought, and I knew if they looked long enough, they would see a whole lot more of me than I wanted to share.
"Eric!" I whined. "Let me down!"
"We're in need of privacy. Now."
"Well I can walk to your office." I pointed out. "Let me down, please?"
"But this is far more convenient." I could just imagine that wide smirk of his as he began down the steps of the stage and through the path the humans and vampire once again created. I gazed up and found Pam sharing an identical look as her maker, winking at me as Eric carried me into the back hallway and into his office. Once I felt myself being lowered down onto the leather couch. I squirmed onto the opposite side, sticking my tongue out at the vampire.
"You are such a horny teenager sometimes, I swear." I snickered as I attempted to stand up.
Only Eric grabbed me by the hips before I could make a single move, dragging me down beneath him. He hovered over me as his lips dipped down to capture mine, the love and passion flowing between us.
"I'm going to ravish you all night long." He vowed, his lips parting from mine, the lust returning to his orbs as he stared down at me hungrily.
I couldn't stop my own smirk from appearing on my lips as my hands ran up his chest and to the back of his neck, pulling him back down, my voice vibrating against his lips.
"Bring it on."
"The house is beautiful." I looked up at the nearly rebuilt house in awe.
"I still can't believe Eric is paying for it all." Sookie commented.
"As he says, someone has to fix what I broke." I rolled my eyes as I turned towards the blonde. "And if Eric hadn't stepped up to offer, I would have. I just feel so guilty that..."
"Don't." Sookie stopped me, shaking her head as she laid her hands on my shoulders. "Your life is more important to me than some silly house."
"It's been in your family for generations though." I pointed out with a frown. I couldn't help the guilt that was eating away at me. I felt guilty for causing Quinn's death, and I felt guilty for having Sookie's family home destroyed by hose bastards. If it hadn't of been for me, Quinn would still be walking around, brightening the world with his contagious grin, and Sookie would have a house to live in again. But I had taken both away, I was responsible for the death of a friend and destroying the house that I knew meant a lot to Sookie. She had grown up here; she had lived the majority of her life within those four walls. And I had just taken that away from her. I felt terrible.
"Please don't blame yourself." She pulled me in for a tight embrace. "I would rather my best friend be alive than to have some house. You're like a sister to me, Ellie. We're family as far as I'm concerned."
"If I hadn't been so stupid, if I had just..." I trailed off, tears forming in my eyes.
"This isn't really about me and the house, is it?" Sookie guessed right away, putting me at arm's length as her eyes searched my face. "This is about Quinn, isn't it?"
"It's all my fault, Sookie." I couldn't stop the tears from slipping down my cheeks one by one. I tried to brush them away, but it was useless. A small sob escaped my lips as I hid my face in my hands. "He's dead because of me."
"Oh don't say that." She pulled me in for another hug, rubbing my back soothingly. But nothing she could say or do would rid me of this guilt, of this pain. Quinn was gone, he was really gone. And that was my fault. "Don't do this to yourself. Don't let the guilt eat away at you."
"How can I not?" I sobbed into her shoulder, unable to control the emotions racking my body. I had tried so hard to keep my emotions at bay around Eric. I knew he would comfort me, I knew he would hold me in his arms and say the exact same thing that Sookie was. But I also knew that Eric despised Quinn. He thought Quinn had taken his place in my life, and that would just never be true. It was for that reason that I didn't want to break down in front of him. I didn't want him to think that I loved him any less because I was mourning the loss of such a close friend. It was stupid, but it was obvious that I wasn't exactly the smartest one around. If I hadn't gone through with my stupid and idiotic plan, then Quinn would still be here.
"You said it yourself that Quinn doesn't blame you. He told you that when you saw him. So don't hold onto this guilt. It wasn't your fault. No one blames you, Ellie."
"But I blame me!" I exclaimed, pulling away from Sookie and rubbed at my eyes. I couldn't rid myself of the tears, but I needed something to do. "It's my fault he's gone. It's all my fault. I always have to come up with these stupid plans and I'm never the one who has to pay the price for them, it's always the people that I love. I'm the one to blame, I always am."
"Ellie." Sookie reached out to me.
I just shook my head and stepped back however, turning away from her as I let the tears spill over my cheeks. My legs were growing weak as the sobs began growing louder. I would have crashed to the ground if a strong pair of arms hadn't wrapped themselves around me. I was pressed against a hard but warm chest and the memory of Quinn just came crashing down around me.
"Hey, come on now Ellie." Alcide's smooth and comforting voice met my ears. "You know that's not true. You know it's not your fault. He died protecting you. That's how he would have wanted to die. That's who Quinn was."
"I killed him! I killed him!" I clutched onto Alcide's plaid shirt, scared that if I let go, he too would just disappear. We haven't spoken since we parted ways in Mississippi, and a part of me had been angry that he hadn't cared enough to help us through this war. But he had his own demons to battle. He had his own war to rage inside of himself and with Debbie. I could understand that, and it didn't mean I didn't consider him a good friend. He had put his life on the line for Sookie and me enough times. He had thrown himself into wars that didn't concern him. He may not have been here this time, but he had been there every other time in the past. And that meant something to me.
"Shh." He stroked a hand through my dark hair with one hand while his other pressed into the middle of my back securely, assuring me that he was there, that he wasn't letting me go. "Don't do this to yourself, Ellie. You need to forgive yourself."
"I can't. I killed him." I shook my head, my legs threatening to give out on me again.
But Alcide held me against him, holding me up, using his strength when I no longer had an ounce of it. It had been two weeks since Quinn died, but it felt like it had only been two days. Why had the universe been so cruel? Why had God allowed another loved one to be taken away from me? I had lost so many that I cared about. I had lost too many souls. Was I being punished? Was this some cruel punishment for the deaths I've caused by my own hands? It just wasn't fair. My parents had died long before their time, and my brother had just passed so suddenly that I just hadn't been prepared. And now Quinn was gone. He was here one minute, and the next, he had been taken away from me. It just wasn't fair. Why did this keep happening to me?
I didn't know how long we stood there, how long I cried into Alcide's chest, how long he kept his arms around me, whispering soothing words into my ear. Eventually the sun began to set, the sky turning pink. I knew Eric would be awake soon, if he wasn't already, and wondering where I was. I had promised him I would be home by the time the sun set, and it didn't look like I was going to be keeping that promise. He'd come looking for me soon, and I was certain that he could feel the emotional pain that was cursing through me.
It was for that reason that I slowly drew away from Alcide, my tears drying on my cheeks. I kept my gaze on the ground, part of me embarrassed by my sudden breakdown, while another part of me was scared that if I looked up at Alcide, I would start breaking down again.
"I'm sorry." I mumbled, wrapping my arms around myself. "I didn't mean to..."
"Hey," he clasped a finger under my chin and forced me to look up at him. His eyes held warmth as he smiled down at me. His dark hair flopped in the wind, and it was only now that I realized his shirt had been undone, his perfectly toned torso out on display. "No one blames you Ellie, so don't even think for a minute that any of this is your fault. If anyone's to blame, it's Victor, and you've already taken care of him. Quinn wouldn't want you living your life like this."
I could feel another batch of tears forming in my eyes and I had to look away, blinking rapidly to force them back.
"I know things have been messy between us lately, but I'm always around if you need to talk." He leaned down, his lips brushing over my forehead. "Whether you're dating Northman or not..."
"Engaged." I whispered, my gaze dipping to the ring on my finger. "We're engaged."
"Oh." He sounded surprise as he straightened, running a hand through his hair. "I guess congratulations are in order."
"Thanks." I kept my head bowed. "I should go, Eric will be wondering where I am soon."
"He's keeping you on a tight leash, isn't..."
"Not now, Alcide." Sookie cut him off, her hand falling on my arm. "Do you want me to drive you?"
"I'll be fine." I assured her, though I wasn't so sure of that myself. Maybe one day I would forgive myself. Maybe one day I would be able to move forward and put that horrible night behind me. But for now, it was just too soon, the memories were just too fresh. Right now all I wanted was to curl up in Eric's arms and have him tell me everything was going to be alright, for him to ravish me until I could no longer think straight. "I'll see you later."
I turned before either could say another word, and hurried to the red corvette. I fumbled with the keys before slipping into the car and starting it up. I barely gave the two or the house a second glance before I was pulling out of the driveway, the sky turning darker with every passing minute. I drove through the back roads before finding the exit to the highway. I rubbed at my eyes, ridding myself of the tears and hoping Eric wouldn't notice once I got home. But if knew that would only be wishful thinking. He always knew when something was wrong, when something was troubling me. Maybe that was another reason I loved him as much as I did. He always knew the right times to comfort me.
The sky was completely black as I exited the highway and began through the countryside to Eric's and my home. It felt odd to think of it as our home. I had always considered his Shreveport house home, but in the back of my mind, I always knew that it never truly was my home, that I was only a guest in Eric's house. But living with Eric was different this time around. Maybe it was because we were engaged, but it felt like this was truly our home. While we may travel all over the world in our centuries to come, that house sitting in the middle of nowhere would always be where we came back to, where we would curl up together after a long day and just be with one another. And that's what I loved most about it. It felt simpler this time around with Eric, like I didn't have to analyze every little thing. And that's how love was supposed to be. It wasn't supposed to be difficult. It wasn't supposed to be hard. It was supposed to be easy. We would always have our arguments, that would never change. But this time, I knew that no matter what we may say or do, this was it. We were stuck with one another, this was going to last a lifetime, no matter what.
And that brought just a tiny bit of happiness into my life at that moment. I did know Quinn would be happy for me. He had always known that I loved Eric all along, no matter what I might have said or done. And while he may have thought Eric was an asshole and didn't deserve me half of the time, I knew he would be ecstatic that we were finally happy together, finally moving forward with our lives.
I was so deep in thought that I never noticed the dark figure standing in the middle of the road until it was too late. I tried to swerve around the form, I tried to avoid them. But the roads were slick with the rain that had fallen out here not too long ago and the car slid from side to side until it slid right into a ditch, the front of the car slamming into the trunk of a tree with such force, my head hit the door window with a sickening crash. I groaned as the world suddenly grew dark for only a brief moment, my vision wavering, everything around me growing still.
I was slumped against the steering wheel when I came to. My body ached as I slowly drew myself up, the seat belt digging into me. My head swam, and as I lightly touched the side of my head, I could feel the familiar sticky substance of blood coating my fingers. I leaned my head back against the headrest as I stared at the wreckage around me. The front of the car was wrapped around a tree, the windshield completely cracked and destroyed.
"Eric is so not going to be happy." I mumbled to myself as I turned my head to glance out of the side window, trying to ignore the blood that was stained there from my head collision. My heart just about stopped when I found the dark figure standing at the top of the ditch on the side of the road. I couldn't tell who or what it was, but I wasn't so sure I wanted to wait and find out. Warm and inviting people didn't just appear out of thin air in the middle of the road, causing you to crash. No, usually that was the job for the baddies. "Can't get a minute of peace can I?"
I fought with my seat belt, only to find it stuck. A cry emitted from my lips as I pulled and pulled until finally, I held my hand around the seat belt, the warmth spreading from my chest to my one hand. I heard the sizzling and I tugged forcefully at the fabric until it had been burned enough that I could pull it apart. Once the seat belt was taken care of, I slowly began climbing into the passenger seat and pushed open the door, wanting to put as much distance between me and the mysterious figure.
I yelped in surprise however, as the moment my feet touched the ground, the figure suddenly just appeared before me. I pressed my back against the car, my hands outstretched before me in an attempt to keep him at a distance. It was a him, I saw that now. On any other occasion, I would have thought of him as handsome. He was tall, though not nearly as tall as Eric. His posture however, made him seem taller, and it felt like he was just towering over me. His skin was caramel, his eyes dark. His hair matched his eyes and was cut close to his head. It was the hint of fangs that alerted me to what he was. That and possibly the cape that he wore. I would have giggled if I hadn't been bleeding from the side of my head. I knew just how dangerous that was. My blood was intoxicating; every vampire desired it after only a whiff of it.
"W-Who are you?" I demanded to know as I slowly began inching around the car.
He followed me with his eyes, not saying a word. His gaze rose to my bleeding head, and I saw a flicker of hunger in his eyes before he masked the emotion and dropped his gaze back down to mine.
"Who the hell are you?" I growled, at the back of the car now. I held onto the truck with a firm grip, too afraid that if I let go, then I would fall to the ground, unable to hold myself up. Why was I always getting myself into these situations?
"I mean you no harm, Miss Cole." The vampire stepped forward, his head tilting to the side. His accent was thick with a Latin flare.
It didn't take me long to put two and two together.
This wasn't just any ordinary vampire. This was the new King of Louisiana. This was Felipe De Castro.
Somehow that didn't make it any better. Was he pissed off that I had killed Victor, his second in command? I was pretty certain he wasn't thrilled to lose his comrade. Is that why he was here, why he had suddenly appeared to me when I was alone? Was he waiting to strike, to exact his revenge? I was beginning to think I should have let Sookie drive me home. I quickly shook that thought away though. If she had, she too would be in danger, and I couldn't let another loved one die because of me.
"What do you want from me?" I braced myself against the back of the car as Felipe grew closer. I tensed as he came within only a foot of my form, his hand rising to the gash in the side of my head. I winced as he lightly ran a finger just below the wound, collecting the blood that was pouring out. I couldn't breathe as I watched him lick the blood from his finger, a satisfied smile crossing his lips.
"You are as delectable as I imagined the Phoenix to be." His eyes closed as if he was savouring the taste of my blood.
"That's great and all, but if you're going to try and kill me, you should know it won't work." I slowly began inching away from him again.
"Ah yes, I have heard the rumours." Felipe's dark eyes opened, his gaze falling to my neck. "It's all very...intriguing."
"For you maybe, not so much for me." I gulped as I took another step back, only to catch my foot on an unexpected dip in the ground and found myself falling backwards. Before I could meet the ground however, a pair of arms caught me, steadying me back on my feet once again. My eyes grew wide as I stared up into the face of the man I loved. I sighed in relief as he pushed himself in front of me, his fangs baring out at Felipe who still had that calm look on his face.
"Elizabeth?" Godric's soothing voice rang in my ears and I felt his arm circling around my waist, holding me upright. I let myself lean against the vampire, the pounding in my head beginning to become nearly too much.
"I'm fine." I whispered to him, my gaze catching his quickly before watching the scene before us. The two vampires were sizing one another up. And while Felipe looked impressive, I would bet my money on Eric any day of the week.
"If you so much as lay another hand on her..." Eric growled dangerously low.
"I had no intention of harming your..." Felipe gazed at me once again. "Your wife as it seems."
"Fiancée." I glared at the king.
"Congratulations are in order than. A vampire and the Phoenix. Truly remarkable." His flashed what could be categorized as a charming smile to us all. "It's an hour to make your acquaintance, Miss Cole."
"No offence, but I'm not exactly happy to meet you." I pursed my lips together before adding sarcastically, "my King."
"Ah, but how did you know?" he sounded so innocent.
"Your accent. And the cape." I shrugged. "You seem to fit the description."
"You are a perceptive one." His smile only seemed to widen. I noticed the difference between his smile and the smug grin that Victor always wore. With Victor, you knew there was an ulterior motive to everything he ever said or did. But with Felipe, he genuinely looked happy. A smiling vampire, who would have thought? If he hadn't caused me to crash the car and completely freak me out, perhaps I would have even liked him.
"What are you doing here, Felipe?" Godric spoke, an edge to his voice as he tightened his arms around me.
"I am King of Louisiana; it's my duty to oversee the lands that I rule." Felipe answered honestly. Not that I could exactly tell if he was lying, but something told me that Felipe rarely lied.
"Perhaps you should have arrived two weeks ago when your second in command was terrorizing the state." Godric retorted coldly.
Felipe didn't answer at first, and as I looked closely, I could see the sorrow in his dark orbs.
"I was horrified to learn of Victor's doings." Felipe shook his head sadly. "To learn of Sophie-Anne's death...I was devastated. She was good friend to me."
"You pulled the trigger." I accused, my eyes narrowing. However he may be acting now, he was still the one behind all the murders in my mind. He had been the insistent one. He wanted Louisiana and Mississippi so desperately that he had let his dangerous second in command run amuck and kill many innocent lives. And not just here, but also in New Orleans and Jackson with the two bombings that took place. Innocent people died all for some silly little reason. This wasn't a game, it was reality. And many good people had died because of it.
Felipe stared at me for the longest time, his gaze boring right through me. I shifted uncomfortably in Godric's arms, but didn't break eye contact.
"Yes, perhaps that is true." He nodded. "I wished to merge our territories together. I had offered Sophie-Anne a partnership. But she was stubborn and refused. She enjoyed her power; it was a quality of hers that I admired. She was not afraid to rule over others, to be ruthless when she chose to. Most thought of her to be weak since her progeny met the true death. But I never thought as much. She was a warrior. I myself have lost a child, and it is truly a pain that is unbearable. Those that live through such a thing, they deserve to be held on a pedestal."
"They why did you kill her? Why did you bomb New Orleans and Jackson and kill all of those people?" my eyes narrowed as I thought of the destruction I had seen at both bomb sites. It had been horrible, truly horrible.
"It was never my intention. I wished to persuade her, but never with such extreme measures."
"You sent Victor; you had to of known what he was capable of." Godric pointed out.
"I was...as you humans say, naive. Victor is a very dangerous warrior; it was why I held him at my side for so many years. But he had grown restless as of late and I..." Felipe trailed off, as if searching for the words to continue.
"You didn't want him to mess up in Nevada so you sent him to take care of us." I finished for him.
"Yes." Felipe admitted. "I had hoped that Victor could procure the state until I was able to come myself. But I did not expect Victor to go to such lengths to do so. I gave him free reign when I should not have. He had taken the laws in his own hands and has killed many that did not deserve to die. For that, I will forever feel remorse."
The funny thing was, he sounded like he actually meant it.
"Did you send Victor here to collect me?" I questioned, knowing that had been Victor's goal, to be able to control me, to use my powers for his own benefit.
"No." Felipe shook his head, a hint of anger in his tone. "Victor sought you out on his own, against my orders. I am old, Miss Cole. Perhaps not as old as your vampire friends here, but I am old enough to know of the stories. The Phoenixes are gods that walk among us, and for too long have they been lost. You have returned to us, the great god of the sun has returned and it a pleasure to have met you. Such beauty, such power, it should be protected, not exploited like Victor wished. He sought out power, it was why he had come to me decades ago, joining my ranks. But the power had become too much for Victor. He was driven mad in his search for the ultimate source of power."
"Essentially me." I frowned, knowing that I was exactly what Victor had been seeking. He would have been more powerful than any vampire or any other being alive if he had me at his side. Now I was even gladder that he was dead. "I guess it's a good thing I killed him then."
Felipe didn't look surprised at all, like maybe he expected Victor to meet that fate. "Victor was too eager for his own good. I feared he would meet that fate in some capacity if he did not control himself."
"So...you're not angry at all that I killed him?" I raised an eyebrow in confusion. "You're his king. Shouldn't you be raising hell because I killed your second in command?"
The smile returned to Felipe's face, and I had to say that it looked odd when he wasn't smiling. It was such a natural thing that for him not to smile, it just wasn't right. Damn him for being so friendly. Felipe the friendly vampire. Had a nice ring to it.
"I believe you were the one to raise hell, my dear." His smile grew. "You have incredible power. I am amazed that you withheld yourself for so long. He had terrorized you, as Godric spoke of. You have great restraint."
"No, I just didn't know how to kill him any sooner." I shrugged. "But I had great enjoyment in watching him suffer, in causing him the same pain that he's caused me."
"You've lost many close to you in this war." He mused, tilting his head to the side. "I was aware that you were close to Sophie-Anne. She had always been fascinated with those she couldn't understand."
"Sophie-Anne was a good person. She was...she was murdered for no reason."
"I agree with you. And if you had not killed Victor, I would have punished him myself." He agreed. "You also lost another, I was told. John Quinn."
"John." I spoke softly. I had never known his full name. He was always just Quinn to me, to everyone I knew. I had always assumed there was more to it, more to his life. He knew everything there was to know about me, and yet when I truly thought about it, I hardly knew a thing about him. Did he have a family? Who were the ones that would miss him, that would mourn his death?
"I knew of him well. His family resided in my territory. I will assure that his death will not be in vain. He will be remembered as a brave warrior, one that stories will be told of."
I felt tears form in my eyes for a second time that night. I turned my head into Godric's chest, the tears threatening to spill as the paim and guilt ate away at me. Quinn had a family out there, a family that would no longer have Quinn in their lives. And that was all because of me, because of my stupidity, because of how selfish I was. How could I possibly forgive myself?
"Don't cry." Eric spoke for the first time since threatening Felipe when the two vampires had both arrived. He was at my side in an instant, replacing Godric as he wrapped his arms securely around me. I tried to hold myself together, not wanting to break down before the king. But the pain was becoming nearly unbearable. I would rather be tortured by Victor a thousand times over than to deal with this raw emotional pain. I was tired of mourning the loss of loved ones. I was tired of grieving. "You know I hate it when you cry. I'd rather you yell or hit me. Or anything else. But don't cry."
I don't know why I laughed. Maybe I was just exhausted, which could have been the truth. Breaking down in Alcide's arm, it had taken a lot out of me. And now I had just been in a car crash and was chatting with the King of Louisiana like it was friggin tea time. I needed to crawl into bed pronto and just sleep for a couple dozen years. I was immortal, I could swing it. So I just did whatever came to me, and that was laughing. There was nothing particularly funny what Eric had said, or about this situation at all. But after everything I've been through, I could plead insanity and could get away with it.
"I...I wasn't expecting you to laugh." Eric stared down at me with a stunned expression on his face.
"You said no crying." I pointed out. There was a smile on my face, but it was a forced one, the smile not meeting my eyes. I turned my gaze back to Felipe, who had been watching us in interest, and caught his gaze one again. "No offence, but I would really like to go home right about now. I've had a long day and..." I waved at the still bleeding wound on the side of my head."
"I am truly sorry for causing such destruction here tonight. It was not my intention to bring you any harm. I merely wished to meet the rumoured Phoenix. And I must say, you do not disappoint Miss Cole."
"I'll take that as a compliment." I rubbed my forehead tiredly. "But is that all? You don't want to shout or punish us for what we did? You're our king; you can do whatever the hell you think is appropriate. I'm sure Nan Flanagan would just love for you to kill us."
"I have no such thing in mind." He shook his head. "But you are correct; I have come here for a reason."
"Well..." I waved him to continue.
"There is no question that many look to you two for guidance." Felipe directed this comment at Eric and Godric, and none of us could deny it. They were the oldest vampires around after all. "I've come to offer my peace, my hand in a truce. I've already spoken with the Authority, and you have been appointed as Sheriff of this area once again, Mr. Northman."
"So I've been told." Eric's expression hardened as he spoke to Felipe. He still didn't trust him, and I could understand that. But oddly enough, I did trust him. Maybe I would come to regret that later. But as I looked around at the vampires beside me at this very moment, I realized that I seemed to have a good sense of character. Felipe was the exact opposite of Victor. He didn't wish for cruelty, for a war to be had. He reminded me of Godric even. He wanted the piece. He wanted to live in harmony. And I could respect that.
"I have many kingdoms, and I'm afraid I cannot be everywhere at once." Felipe clasped his hands behind his back. "It would give me a peace of mind if a strong business man like yourself, was my eyes and ears, Mr. Northman. I respect you, whether you believe that or not. I do not wish to...stomp on your territory, as you might say. I wish to work alongside of you, not over you. We will go nowhere in these times if we don't work together. Victor didn't believe this, and for that, he was destined to meet the true death. I can only hope that we can work together, that we can put aside the past and move forward."
I watched Eric's expression as Felipe said this, but I couldn't tell what was going through my Viking's head. I glanced at Godric, and he looked calm. He didn't look like there was a reason not to trust Felipe. He would have attacked the vampire at the fight sign of distrust. But he just simply stood there, as if we were just old friends catching up. And maybe that's all this could be. Felipe was not Victor, that much was obvious. Perhaps if Felipe had come to Louisiana on his own, without sending his psychotic second in command in his place, none of this would have happened. But we couldn't change the past. God knows if it was possible, I would have brought Quinn back in a heartbeat. But I couldn't. All we could do was move on with our lives and hope for a better tomorrow. And Felipe was offering us that. Eric would never approve of being talked down to, of being overpowered by those ranking above him. He had always disliked Sophie-Anne for her childlike behaviour and failure to rule Louisiana like he thought it should have been. But Felipe was offering a partnership with Eric, to help improve Louisiana together, not apart. Honestly, after the war we had somehow walked out of, this sounded like the best idea I've heard lately.
"Felipe would not offer such a thing if he truly did not wish it, Eric." Godric spoke up, offering his progeny an assuring look. "What he says is the truth."
Eric frowned, glancing down at me as if I would have all the answers. I merely shrugged, wrapping my own arms around Eric.
"I just want peace and happiness Eric, just for a little bit. I think working with Felipe can give us that. I want to marry you; I want to have a future with you. I don't want another war like this."
He sighed, raising a hand to caress my cheek. I closed my eyes, turning into his comforting touching until his fingers were lightly dancing across my bottom lip. I could have kissed him right then and there, but something told me it wasn't exactly the time or place. Instead, I opened my eyes and waited for Eric to come to a decision.
"I will accept. On one condition."
"Of course." Felipe nodded.
"No surprises. If you break your word, I will kill you myself and I will enjoy doing it. I can snap you like a twig if I wanted to. Do not betray my trust, Felipe. We've gone through hell; I don't wish to do so again."
"I offer you everything that you've ever wished for." Felipe assured. "I only want peace, Mr. Northman. I only want to move forward and put these painful weeks behind us."
Eric's arms fell to his side as he moved from beside me and to where Felipe stood. Eric glared down at him for a moment before slowly raising his hand. It was an odd greeting, as most vampires looked down upon humans trying to shake hands in such a human fashion. But Felipe grasped his hand, his smile never wavering. It was a true smile, one that I wouldn't mind seeing every once in awhile.
"No tricks. No more Victor's." Eric's voice held a hint of malice that would frighten most into running away.
"No tricks, Mr. Northman."
And just like that, our future seemed just a little bit brighter. Felipe and Eric shook hands, a parting goodbye being spoken before Felipe took off into the trees to wherever his destination may be. Godric turned to us then, a smile forming on his lips, his orbs holding the same relief that I was feeling. It was Eric who spoke first, saying the words I wasn't expecting, at least not after what just happened.
"You crashed my corvette...again."
A/N: the first official appearance by Felipe! I like writing his character. he didn't have much written about him in the books, so I just sort of made him how I saw him to be. and all is well in the world! this is actually the last chapter before the two part finale...and yes, you can expect the wedding to be taking place...and it's absolutely adorable and sweet, and everyone nagging me for a happy ending will be overly happy lol. As my original idea for what I was going to move onto next after this fic was finished was crushed because of stupid rules and crap, I'm going to be concentrating on my Godric fic for a bit, maybe coming up with some other great true blood ideas. but have no fear, there will be another Eric and Ellie adventure at some point in the future!