A/N: Thank you Kitkath for nominating my story to get reviewed in the Sookieverse website. I never knew that site existed and it's an interesting page with lots of great info about SVM. Okay so for the next chapter it will be from various POVs (hint Eric,Marius,Sookie). I don't know when I will start writing it, maybe in a few days. Take care!
Sookie's POV:
Since the first time that I kissed Marius I feel as though I have been walking on air. Cheesy, I know, but there is no other way to explain it. We have become even closer during these past several weeks since the night that I laid one on him to say the least. I don't know what went through my mind at that moment but it was definitely something that I wanted to do for awhile and I couldn't let him leave without doing it. When his lips touched mine it was a wondrous experience. They were soft and cool and I could taste the water from the springs. We kissed a little while longer afterwards before he left the cabin to go to his underground hidey-hole. I was on the verge of asking him to stay with me but he was the one who said we shouldn't do anything more. I felt a little rejected but the next morning I knew he was right. To make out with him was one thing, but to sleep with him was another thing. I wasn't ready to take that very intimate step. Yet my decision to not starting a new relationship so soon was thrown out the window the second our lips touched. Then again we haven't exactly defined our relationship yet.
But not being intimate hasn't stopped us from being in a constant state of bliss. When we're together we can't go five minutes without touching each other. When we walk we hold hands, we hug each other constantly and did I mention that we make out even more? Boy did he know how to kiss! I couldn't help but compare his kisses with Eric's and although I could never internally agree, they both rate high up on the scale.
I enjoyed the affection between us immensely. When we went up to our special places I always sat between his legs and leaned against his chest while staring out into the sky. Sometimes he would lay his head back on my lap while I stroked his hair just laughing and talking. I would tell him jokes that Jason told me when we were younger and we would laugh as it took him awhile to analyze and understand the meaning of the joke.
We even went fishing a few times at a river nearby. The first time we used spears. He was getting all of the fish while I was only getting frustrated from constantly squinting my eyes to look for them in the dark. The second time I tried using a self-made fishing line and a hook since I had no pole. That wasn't successful either and I gave up on fishing after that. I could tell he was trying to hide his smile and laughter so I glared at him afterwards. We also continued with my sword training. After awhile I upgraded from using sticks to the real thing. He told me that I was a faster learner than Marten. I was proud of that compliment.
Tonight we just relax and enjoy the warm refreshing water of the hot springs. I swim around in the small pool of water until a pair of arms wraps themselves around my waist. I close my eyes and relax against him enjoying the light pecks against my neck and cheek. He turns me around and I wrap my legs around his waist and start making out which I never got tired of doing.
We haven't talked about sex yet. Probably because it seems that we are both shy to bring it up despite the fact that I'm an adult and he's thousands of years old. And probably because he is waiting for me to bring it up. It's not that I don't want to do it with him but I am still not quite ready to go any further. Marius knows this as well and hasn't tried to touch me in inappropriate places or pressure me. We also haven't completely viewed each other's bodies though I am certain he has seen mine with his enhanced vampire vision.
We continue to kiss and he presses me tighter against him. Things start heating up and I rub my body a little up and down against him.
"Sookie we should probably slow down," he says breaking off our kiss.
I gasp for air, "Yeah, you are probably right," I give him a demure smile and rub my heel against his luscious ass. Hey, just because he didn't touch me inappropriately didn't stop me from doing so.
Marius chuckles and gives me another spine-tingling kiss. "We've been here for over an hour, let's go back." He starts to make his way to the shoreline with me still attached to him.
He sets me down and gives me another quick kiss before wrapping my towel around me. I put on my sandals and watch him spin around in his vampire speed to dry himself off.
"I feel dizzy just watching you do that," I laugh.
We walk back to our cabin and he waits for me outside as I take off my wet clothes and put on my nightgown. Afterwards we sit in front of the fireplace and play scrabble. After losing two games in a row I finally win. I jump out of my seat and do a victory dance.
"What makes you think that I didn't just let you win?" he says pulling me into his arms.
"Ha! Only sore losers would say something like that," I reply putting my arms around his neck.
We start kissing for a few minutes until he lets go and leads me to the bed. He pulls back the bed spread and climbs into the bed. I get in after and cuddle against him, laying my head against his chest.
"Sookie?" he asks me, stroking my hair at the same time.
"Hmmm?" I respond.
"When did you want to go back? Back to where everyone else is I mean," he says.
Startled, I look up at him. "Did you want to leave?" I say panicking a little. He's probably getting bored of me, I think to myself.
He caresses my cheek, "No. I just thought that maybe you would want to be around other people since you are alone during the day."
I breathe a sigh of relief and think about what he's just said. "Yeah you're right. It is kind of lonely during the day by myself with no one to talk to. But then the night makes up for all that."
He smiles, "What about your family?"
I exhale sadly and twirl a curl of his dark brown hair around my finger. "I miss them a lot. I wish that I could see them, but I'm not ready to go back out there to the real world. I'm happy just being here with you. Are you happy too?"
"More than you will ever know," he responds, sealing his answer with another kiss.
I lay my head against his chest once again. "Could you talk to me as I fall asleep?" I ask.
"Of course." Marius complies and begins talking to me in his ancient dialect. I recognize most of the words he is saying but some are still unknown to me. I don't quite understand how strongly I feel about him, but I know that is close to something like love. I fall asleep listening to his voice.
I wake up alone the next morning. I make breakfast and go about doing my usual daily things.
Later in the day I start thinking about Eric and wonder what he has been doing lately. He is probably in France or New Orleans with his wife doing god knows what. He is more likely enjoying himself; too busy to miss me. The thought of it makes me sad. I think about what I've been doing and a hint of guilt starts to creep up in me about letting myself become so close to Marius while still bonded to Eric. I push that feeling aside. Eric and I aren't married or engaged. As far as I'm concerned we are no longer together and he was the one who cheated on me and ruined our relationship. Sometimes I think about opening up the bond for a few seconds just to see if I can feel him from here. But eventually I dispel that idea because he could use that moment to locate me.
I want to see my family. I miss Jason and Tara. I miss my god daughter and my nephew. I miss home. But at the same time I am happy here. This place in a way has also become my home, my sanctuary from all the evils and stress of the outside world. Here I don't have to worry about rogue fairies, weres, vampires, and especially politics. But if I want to see my family again, I would have to leave and go back out there. I know that I can't hide here forever. Sooner or later I would also have to face Eric. I hope that he will just let me be happy.
The sky gets darker and I turn on my ipod. The last time that Marius went into one of the nearby towns he brought back an ipod for me as a gift. There was already over 1000 songs on it. I tried asking him where he downloaded all the songs and he said that he glamoured the saleswoman into doing it. Her taste in music was eclectic. There was rap, hip hop, country, pop, 70s, and other variety of tunes. He even bought me a little solar powered recharger for it.
I hum and dance to my music as I sweep the floor in the cabin.
"You dance very well," a voice says.
I gasp and turn around. "Geez Louise, you scared me," I sigh.
"Don't stop on my account," Marius says walking towards me.
"You want me to continue dancing for you?"
"Yes," he replies.
"Well I will only continue if you join me," I say holding out my hand to him.
He looks hesitant and I swear that he is blushing.
"I confess...," he pauses looking towards the bathtub, "I confess that I do not know how to dance."
I stare at him in disbelief. This man, this perfect man who had thousands of years of experience, that I have known for several months has just told me he doesn't know how to dance. Here I thought there wasn't anything that he couldn't do 110 percent.
After my initial shock wears off I say, "But you asked me to dance the first time we met."
He still looks embarrassed. "Yes, but I had no intention of dancing with you. I just wanted to hold you in my arms and afterwards take you with me," he replies. That's a pretty blunt statement.
I laugh lightly, "You're such a brute! A true Viking, were you just going to toss me over your shoulder?"
He laughs too. "The thought crossed my mind. But what I really going to do was knock you out first, then toss you on my shoulder," he jokes. I laugh even more.
"I never found the need to learn how to dance since I have not been around others that often," he tells me. "But since I know you enjoy dancing, I would be honoured if you would teach me."
My heart melts. I smile and nod. I decide to teach him how to waltz. I look through my list of songs in my ipod and settle on a Billy Joel song. He puts one hand on my waist and I put my hand on his shoulder. We joined hands and twirl around the small room. I teach him some basic moves that Gran taught Jason and me while growing up. He moves his body gracefully and catches on quickly. He even twirls me around a few times.
Hours later we settle for the night in bed just talking about what we should tomorrow and other things. Eventually I fall asleep with him holding me.
The day goes by and night comes. It gets dark and I wait for Marius because we decided to have an outdoor picnic tonight. I decide to get my things ready by bringing my portable stove and cookware outside.
"Lovely night don't you think?" he says behind me.
I get excited at the sound of his voice and spin around. I run to him and jump into his arms kissing him for all its worth and my fingers through his hair.
Suddenly he breaks away from our kiss and stands immobile, still holding me. I look at him confused. He finally speaks and tells me in his Old Norse language to go into the cabin and lock the door. Without a word I comply and walk inside trying to rein in my fears. A million thoughts go through my head. Did Eric find me, was it a dangerous animal? At this point I have no clue.
Marius' POV:
I smelled his scent even though he was at least five miles away. Normally I scan the area in search of unfamiliar scents and noises but tonight I was too eager to see Sookie that I skipped that task. I fly up into one on the taller trees and wait for the culprit. Several minutes later I hear him approach. I can see his figure hiding behind one of the water barrels forty yards from the cabin. He slowly walks forward and pierces through the small window. I continue to watch him as he makes his way to the door. As he tries to open the doorknob I fly from out of the tree and land right on top him knocking him to the ground.
He struggles to free himself from my release but he is no match for my strength. When he realizes this fact he barks out and yells, "Sookie!"
I keep him pinned down with him lying on his stomach and his face planted into the ground. He continues to call out Sookie's name in a muffled voice. I look around the area to see if there is anyone else but I don't sense anything. Finally Sookie speaks from behind the door.
"Marius?" she says. I can feel that she is fearful and confused.
Knowing that my hold on him poses no danger to her I tell Sookie to come out. She unlocks the door and gradually comes out. She looks at me with fear in her eyes and down at the man. I lift his head so that she can see his face and right away I can tell she recognizes him as her eyes widen.
"Etienne, what are you doing here?" she says.
"I was so worried about you. After I heard you disappeared in New York I came from Bordeaux to come and find you, to make sure that you were alright," he says in a strained voice. "I was worried about my friend."
Sookie looks at him, her tense body eases up a bit. "Marius, you can let him go. I know him."
In Old Norse I tell her that I don't trust him. He tries to glance over his shoulder. From what I can tell he appears to be shocked. I look at his nostrils flare up.
"You smell like Sookie and Marten, the king of New York. Are you his elusive maker?" he says.
I don't answer him but Sookie speaks. "Marius, I know him. I met in Bordeaux and he is my friend. He is Rosamund's child."
Right away her words give me the indication to not trust him at all. I contemplate where I should kill him. I know that I should not in front of Sookie, so I decide to take him at least several miles away.
Almost knowing what I am thinking, Sookie says, "Please don't kill him!"
I look up into her pleading eyes and think about my next move.
Once again in my language I tell her that I don't trust him but I will not kill him. I tell her that I will bind him in silver and put him in one of the many underground chambers that I have built over the years. She nods her head in agreement.
I put my hand over his eyes to hinder his eyesight and drag him to one of my chambers. We reach the chamber and I open the door hidden underneath the earth. He continues to struggle from my grasp. In one instant he tries to bite my arm but I break off one of his fangs in retaliation. He whimpers. I throw him into the lair and in my speed I grab a hold of the silver bindings on one of the shelves. I have always been prepared in case of immediate danger. I bind him in the silver securely against a solid steel column. After I am satisfied that he is unable to escape I smack him across his face. I wait for him to heal. He looks at me with fear in his eyes.
"Why are you here?" I ask him.
He doesn't say anything and I smack him again. I ask him the same question.
"I can't answer that, I really can't," he says. I probe him deeper. It is apparent that his maker had given him an official command to not tell the truth to anyone.
"Is there anyone else with you?" I ask.
"No I am alone," he replies. He appears to be telling the truth.
"Other vampires will come for me," he says. "Because I will not have called in. I call my maker everyday to tell her of my progress. If I don't call in tonight then she will know something is wrong. If you kill me then she will definitely come after you with an army."
His attempt to threaten me is pathetic. I fight the urge to rip his head off his body.
"You think you can frighten me little boy?" I say in a callous tone.
His eyes are still fearful but he says in a clear voice, "No I don't think I can, I don't think nobody can. What about Sookie's family? If I meet my final death then her family will die as well."
"You are bluffing," I counter.
He chuckles. "Are you willing to take that risk? I can see it in your eyes that you care for her deeply. I know that you don't want to do anything that will hurt her. She seems to have that affect on all the vampires that she meets."
"You will live for now," I tell him.
I hit him hard on the head enough that it will knock him out until he rises the next evening. Checking his pockets, I find the satellite phone and some other items. I smash the phone into pieces. I make sure the bindings are securely fastened around him that he will not be able to escape. I head back to the surface and cover up the hidden door. I start to think about what to do next as I burn his other belongings.
Our location has been compromised and we have to leave. That is the certain fact. My mind wanders to Sookie. I have known for weeks now that she needs to see and be with her family. She has missed them deeply. I also know that I need to keep them safe in order to secure her happiness. If we head back to the real world then she will also have to face Northman if she is move on. It is a painful reality to me but my first concern has always been her well-being.
I have sheltered myself from the outside world throughout most of my existence. For many years I thought I would be satisfied with this lifestyle but now I know I was wrong. If I could have it my own way Sookie and I would live together alone free from the constraints of society. But after this vampire's arrival I now accept that it is impossible for now and that she must go back.
I still cannot believe that in just a few short months this not entirely human woman has changed my life and the path that I had taken for centuries. In order to be with her I know that I must come from out the shadows and into the light so to speak. I have to go before the vampire council and deal with the politics in order to make my claim for Sookie. If they refuse and try to take her from me then they will leave me no choice but to destroy them. But if she wants to leave me on her own free will then I will let her go even though it will cause me pain.
I head back to the cabin to find Sookie pacing the floor. As soon as she sees me she runs, embracing me with a hug.
"I was so worried about you," she says relieved.
I rub my hands against her back relishing the warmth and wonderful scent of her skin.
"Is Etienne a danger to us?" she asks.
"Yes. There will be more of his people coming in perhaps a few days. We need to leave as soon as possible."
"You mean Rosamund will sense he is hurt through their bond?"
"No, she won't be able to sense him at all. His undead life force yes, but his emotions will be shielded from him. This is another one of my gifts. Apparently I hinder the bond between those who have shared blood."
"Oh," she says. I can tell that she has more to say on the topic. I raise my eyebrow. "It's just that when I first met you, I wondered how Eric couldn't tell that I was with you, you know by what I was feeling at the time."
She starts to blush. "But now I know. Did Etienne say anything about Eric?" she says quietly.
"No he didn't mention his name. But I can ask him tomorrow night."
"No," she says quickly. "I don't want to know. Where will we go next?"
"To New York. I will call Marten and tell him to meet us tomorrow night with his jet."
I head to the underground chamber that I rest in and grab the emergency satellite phone. I go back to the cabin and call my child. He answers the call right away. I speak rapidly instructing him to meet us in one of the towns tomorrow night. I also tell him to ensure the safety of Sookie's family and friends that she has told me about and to make arrangements to bring them to New York. Knowing his reaction, he is surprised by this new development but obeys my orders. He says that he will be in Fort Nelson tomorrow night.
I hang up the phone and see Sookie staring at me with worry and sadness.
"We're leaving," she says despondently wrapping her arms around my waist. "I guess I shouldn't have expected this to last forever."
"You are unhappy about this, as am I," I respond.
"Yeah it's sad, but hopefully I can see my family again."
I give her a chaste kiss on the lips.
"Are you sure that it is safe to rest during the day with Etienne in your hidey-hole?" she asks in a worried tone biting her lower lip.
I smile at her. "Probably, but I don't rest in the place where I put him. He will be there securely until tomorrow evening."
I look around the cabin. The cabin that I had built many years ago. "We have to burn this place Sookie. We have to burn almost everything, especially the items that bear your scent heavily."
She hesitantly nods. I take most of my valuable items and store them in my underground compartment. She gathers up the things that she wishes to keep. I tell her that I will only be able to take a few things since I have to fly with her and the other vampire attached to me. She leaves her clothes in the cabin. Once we have taken everything we wish to keep I set the cabin on fire.
We watch the home that we made burn to the ground. Sookie leans on me her head resting against my shoulder. The flames are extinguished and there is nothing left but ash. The sky is getting lighter and I take her to my 'hidey-hole' to rest and hide for the day.
Thankfully I spared one of the blankets and take that with us as well.
Once we go down I flick a flashlight on and she looks around the small room. Most of the space is now filled and she looks at my bed which is just a long narrow wooden table.
"You sleep on that?" she asks incredulously. I make sure the door is securely locked.
I smile at her, "Yes." I lie down on the table clutching the blanket in my hand.
She looks at me with a furrowed brow. "There's not enough room for me."
"Yes there is. I will be your mattress," I respond with a smirk.
She blushes. She looks around for a few moments and climbs on top of me.
"Don't try anything," she says in an amused tone laying her head on top of my chest. I put the blanket over her.
"I wouldn't dream of it," I respond.
She yawns, tired from our long evening. "Goodnight Marius."
"Goodnight Sookie," I reply back. I hear her breathing slow down. She is fast asleep. I let death take a hold of me for the day.
Sookie's POV:
I slowly awake and my eyes flutter open. For a brief second I forget where I am but then I recall all of last night's events. Etienne found us. We were no longer able to stay here and we had to burn the cabin. Well, Marius burned the cabin as I watched. I rest my head against him for a few minutes longer and stretch out my legs. I need to pee but I can wait. I reach out my arm to feel around the dark enclosed space and find a flashlight. It flickers on and I look up at him to see that he is dead, still resting.
I run my hand across his face and smile. Somehow my hands run down further and go down his chest as I straddle him. They stop below his navel, dipping under his shirt. I debate whether or not I should go any further. I look at him again and see that he is still asleep.
I lean down and place small kisses along his neck as my hands underneath me start to go down further.
"I could get used to treatment like this," he says quietly.
Immediately I stop kissing him and remove my hands. I blush furiously embarrassed at being caught fondling him as he slept.
"I'm so sorry, I couldn't help myself," I say lamely. I try to get off of him but he holds me.
He sits up and holds me around my waist. "There's no need to apologize. I cannot say that I have not thought about doing that to you as I watched you sleep."
I laugh nervously. "Well still, I shouldn't have done that. I don't know what came over me." Yeah you do, you're horny, my inner voice tells me.
He smoothes some strands of my hair and kisses me. We make out for several minutes until I need air.
"Do you know what time it is?" I ask.
"It is almost dark," he says leaning his head against mine.
He tells me about the place where we are supposed to meet Marten. Soon the sun goes down and we head back up to the surface. He covers up the door and we walk through the forest to collect Etienne. I stop somewhere to relieve myself along the way. I carry a backpack full of things that we want to take with us. We stop somewhere and he opens up another hidden door. He goes down and brings back up a broken looking Etienne. His mouth is gagged in silver as well as his hands and legs.
Marius rechecks Etienne's bindings to make sure that they are secure. He goes down the hidey-hole again and brings up some rope.
"I will use this rope to carry him as we fly," he tells me.
He fastens the rope around his waist and Etienne's. He lifts me into his arms and soon we are off flying to our destination. I look back at the place we had made our home. I am overcome with sadness about leaving it. Feeling this, Marius kisses my temple.
A few hours later we finally reach our destination. We arrive at an airport hangar. He sets me down on my feet and I look behind us to see Etienne lying on the ground in pain from landing hard.
I look back towards the plane and see Marten coming out flanked by four bodyguards. They all stare in awe at Marius.
Marten kneels down in front of his maker, "Father it is good to see you," he says in Old Norse.
Marius tells him to rise and Marten looks behind us, shocked to see Etienne on the ground. "Is he coming with us?" he says in English.
Marius nods his head and his bodyguards pick Etienne up and take him into the plane.
Marten looks at me, giving me one of boyish charming smiles, "I am glad to see you again Sookie, though I can't say that I am surprised. I had a feeling that you were with my father."
I blush a little. "It's good to see you too Marten."
"Well should we make our way out of this one horse town?" he says looking at Marius.
"Yes," he says holding my hand and leading us to the plane.
We settle into our seats. I don't see Etienne so I assume that he must be in the back somewhere with a couple of the bodyguards. I continue to hold Marius' hand looking around the fancy private jet. Afterwards I lean my head against Marius' shoulder. I don't notice Marten observing us.
"You know Sookie, I am feeling quite jealous at how close you are with my father," he says with a smirk and amusement in his features.
I smile at him about to reply but suddenly I think about Eric and my smile disappears.
"Do you know if Eric knows that I have been found?" I ask him.
"Not that I aware of," he says glancing at Marius. "He is still in Louisiana."
"Oh", I reply. I stare out the window. The plane begins to takeoff and I close my eyes.
Once we are in the air Marten speaks again. "I have arranged for your family to come to New York tomorrow."
"Are you serious?" I exclaim feeling ecstatic and excited.
He smiles and nods, "You should thank Marius. He was the one who told me to arrange for them to come meet you."
I look at Marius beside me and jump out my seat and into his lap. I hug him, whispering thank yous into his ear and crying tears of joy.
We all chat for a couple of hours, laughing and enjoying each other's company. I soon start to feel tired and I fall asleep with my head on Marius' lap and smile on my face.
Marius' POV:
I caress Sookie's hair as I watch her sleeping. Marten is watching at us curiously.
"What are you going to do next?" he asks.
"Now? Now I am going to make myself known," I respond.