For the next day or two, I kept low and went over to Sophie-anns for a break. I didn't care what was going down, and had no interest to be involved. Especially since it involved helping Soo-kayy.

Something that dropped me into the heart of the shit happening... but that was just my luck.

It was as Sophie braided my hair, talking about pretty much everything that the doors bashed open, and she tied my hair off, getting to her feet, snarling. "How dare you bar-!"

But I was looking past the man that walked in first to the other. Eric.

He was taken aback when he saw me, but then the man before him chuckled. "And who is your pretty little friend Your Majesty?"

I got to my feet, staring at him-

Why was he... familiar-? Like an old dream?

"Who are you?"

He stopped before us, then scoffed. "Run away little girl. This doesn't concern you."

I raised an eyebrow, knowing that this man was hell of alot older than myself. I could feel it. At that, I glanced to Eric who said hastily. "This is Freya."

"You know this vampire?" The other vampire said, looking round to him, and Eric nodded, saying, almost reluctantly. "She's my mate."

Now he understood, then laughed, looking to me and said. "How could you end up with such a fine piece of vampire like this Northman?"

"Well, whoever you are." I started, smiling more than sweetly. "That would be telling."

He just said. "Russell Edginton my dear. King of Mississippi." He stepped forwards and took my hand in his, pressing his lips to it, then just said. "Please vacate the room love. I have business with the Queen, not you."

I glanced to Eric, and he nodded the tiniest of fractions. "Of course... Sir." I added the last bit hastily, going outside, glancing once more to Sophie as I did so.

The other room where I waited was dark, and the soundproof walls meant that I couldn't hear what was going on. But nothing good, I could tell. That look on Erics face meant he was up to something.

Something bad...

I regretted keeping out the loop now, and when he came in the room, I got to my feet and demanded. "What the hell is going on-!"

He just flashed over and clamped a hand over my mouth, saying quietly. "Later. I swear."

At that, he let me go, and I frowned. But before I could say anything else, he said. "His Majesty has permitted me to bring you with me. Which also means he wants you to come. An order."

"What the hell would a King want with me?"

He shook his head, then just went over to a table, grabbing a sheaf of paper and pen, writing.

Do not tell him what you are at all costs.

I stared at it, then just nodded, watching him toss it into the fire where it curled up into ashes. Ok, I was feeling worried now- Eric was taking steps to make sure I was safe, and that wasn't him.

"Right, shall we head off?" He asked me, and I nodded, letting him take my hand.

What the hell had I just stepped into-?

-WEIGHTOFTHEWORLD-

When we got back to Russells mansion, I wanted to ask Eric what was going on, but he just kept shooting me a look that meant shut the fuck up. Charming, but I knew him well.

A man young in looks, not in years met us in the entrance hall, then went. "Finally! Russell, I'm bored."

"Go and amuse yourself then Talbot." Russell just said, and he pouted. But now he saw me and just said. "And who is this?"

Russell looked back, then chuckled. "This is our here Erics mate, Freya."

The one named Talbot looked to me, then chuckled. "Oh, I did wonder." He stepped forwards and took me in, going. "What a beauty you are."

"Umm, thank you." I said, feeling a little nervous- who was this? He made me flinch a little as he stepped forwards, grabbing my arm and took my scent in, frowning a fraction. "You smell different. Does she not, Russell?"

Russell frowned, then stepped forwards, taking me in himself. He stepped back, then went. "Hmm, you're right... she does smell different."

A silence, then Eric laughed. "Have you been mixing blood and vodka again?"

I followed his lead and chuckled, nodding. "Yeah. I guess it changes my scent."

Russell seemed to buy it, and he put his hands together, going. "Right then, I'm off. Do show our new guest to a room she can share with her mate."

Talbot led me and Eric to a room, then said. "I shall be downstairs in the drawing room when you are settled."

When the door was closed, I turned to Eric and just hissed. "What is going on-!"

He sighed, then just said quietly. "I'm onto something."

"Oh-! What the fuck with this butch prick do to me if he knows what I am-!"

Eric rolled his eyes, then just took my hands and said, voice still low. "It's him."

"I don't follow."

He shook his head, then nodded to the door. "I'll show you. Just don't react."

"React-?"

He led me downstairs, then into the main room where Talbot was waiting, and Eric said in a light voice. "Why don't you show Frey here your extensive collection?"

Oh-?

Talbot chuckled, then asked me. "You like artifacts Freya?"

"Uh, I do-?"

He just led me forwards to another room, showing me around. I didn't get it, and why Eric was looking at my expression.

When we got to the crown, I soon realized, my eyes widening-

No wonder Russell seemed very slightly familiar. That last night I spent as a human, both of us. We'd been in bed together when the wolves came. A vampire too.

Oh my god it was his fault our home had been destroyed...

I stared at my relection in it, then chuckled. "A very nice collection you have."

"Viking, isn't it dear?" Eric said lightly, knowing full well that I understood by now. Bastard, this Russell... he'd killed the only father and family I'd known all my life.

But I had to thank him too- if he didn't... we never would have met Godric. We would have been a married pair, Eric leader of the clan, probably hoping that I gave him a son or something.

A life that could have, and would have happened.

"It's lovely." I smiled, setting it back down on its stand, then sighed, looking back to Eric. "I need some air. I'll be back in a moment."

Eric nodded, then said. "Don't be too long."

I left the place and went outside, fighting back tears. God... what was happening-?

"Now, I knew I recognized you from somewhere... Queen Freyr of Georgia."

I flinched at that, then turned, frowning as I stood before Russell. He chuckled, then I shook my head. "I was never a Queen."

"Oh, but so very nearly. I've heard about you, the vampire that kept wandering the Earth, making friends with Kings. Sebastian mentioned you once."

I frowned, then he nodded. "Yes, I knew him and his maker Riley. Lovely fellow, then the Fellowship made him meet the sun. Such a shame really."

At his words, I was silent, then he chuckled, cocking his head. "But there was something else. Stories that you... are not just a vampire."

"What are you talking about?" I asked, and he laughed. He continued for a moment, then in a flash, he flashed forwards and ripped into my neck, making me scream. But he clamped a hand over my mouth and laughed, shaking his head as he said.

"What do you know? The stories were true!"

The last thing I saw was his smirk before he knocked me out...

-WEIGHTOFTHEWORLD-

When I woke up, I groaned lightly, then hissed as I felt silver chains around my wrists and ankles, pinning me to a wall.

I gasped, then yelled. "Help!"

"There's no one down here my dear."

I stopped dead, then the lights flicked on to reveal Russell with my blood on his face. He cocked his head, then asked, curiously. "What are you exactly? A thousand years old... and part something else?"

"I don't know! Wh-? Let me go!"

"Not until you tell me what you are sweetie. You intrigue me young Freyr."

He raised a hand to my neck where the blood was dried on, then just said. "Come on. It'll be our little secret. Does Eric know?"

"No. And I wasn't planning on telling him."

"Ah, true love. I love it." He laughed, and I shook my head. "You're insane. Let me go or Eric will tear you apart!"

"Oh, your-" he looked at my hand and smirked. "Your fiance is under my oath. He works for me."

"He'd still never let you harm me. Bastard."

"Little minx." He smirked, then looked to the door, going. "Now... I have business to attend to. See you soon my little enigma."

The door closed and I was plunged into darkness once more...

It was whispering that woke me up, and my eyes snapped open. I found myself on the floor, my bindings gone.

A prickle on the back of my neck made me look up, and I met deep dark sapphire eyes. Almost glowing in the darkness. The man stood there was dripping wet, and as I watched, strange twisting midnight blue symbols started to appear on his face, stretching across and going down his neck.

"Dorian-?" I gasped quietly, then he smirked slightly, but I blinked, and he was gone. The water was gone too, and I wondered if I was seeing things...

Or an ancient Sirens true appearance.

But why did Dorian run-?

I got to my feet now, feeling something burn up my right arm, and as I looked, I saw some sapphire blue symbols shooting up on it, but then they were gone. I felt the water on my ankle now, from a tipped cup of water it seemed.

"What the hell-?" I just muttered, then went over to the door and yanked the handle off, making my escape. It was daylight, and everyone would be fast asleep.

After looking, I found Eric gone.

I just left and went back to Shreveport, finding it closed as usual... and my fiance under it asleep.

Not for longer.

"Eric-" I muttered, shaking him awake. But it was the middle of the day, and he was pretty out of it. I rolled my eyes, then went upstairs, getting some water. Back down in our room, I tipped the water onto my arm, not caring that it went onto the floor. But I bit my wrist and let my blood drip onto his lips. After a second, his eyes snapped open, and he coughed violently, sitting up and just went. "I-"

Sure, I'd just burned his throat, but what else would wake him up?

But now he realized it was me and just went. "Frey-? Where the hell have you been-!"

I slapped him, snarling. "Your fucking bum buddy Russell tied me up and-" but he cut me off, kissing me hungrily for a moment, going against my lips. "It's been two days my dear."

I hugged him tightly, then he groaned, raising a hand to his head, going in another groan. "Is it afternoon or something-?"

"Yes sweetie. Sorry I had to wake you... but what is going on? Where is Russell? I'm gonna fucking kill him-!"

"Ok."

I was taken aback by that, and Eric just said. "I was given permission to kill him." At that, I buried my head in his chest, then sighed, closing my eyes- I'd missed so much, and... god, so much was going down.

Eric now lay me back with him, telling me what had happened- he'd killed Talbot, and Russell was going to want revenge.

"Then it's a good job I escaped before he returned..." I muttered, and he nodded, looking sleepy.

I had one more surprise for him. But he figured it out first.

"Just... how did you get here all the way from Mississippi-?"

A silence, then I sighed, tugging on his arm to his feet, and he frowned, keeping to the shadows as we walked into the main room. He stopped in the doorway before the sun began, eyes heavy with tired. I carried on, and he went, eyes widening as I stepped into the sun. "Frey-!" but he soon shut up as he saw me standing in the sun, and his eyes widened. "How is that-? Your Siren side?"

"Mmhmm." I nodded, then bit my lip a little, holding out my hand for him to take. He hesitated a second, then hissed as the sun burned him, but as soon as he took my hand, he stopped and went. "Seriously. I love what you are."

"Thank you. But... it was only theory. Like water- I thought it might flow to you while I touch you."

Eric blinked at the sunlight, then sighed. "It's been a long time."

"Indeed it has." I said, raising a hand to his hair, that one thought coming back from the moment I found out I would never see the sun again. I wanted to see Erics hair in the sun one more time at least, all those golden tones that I'd grown up with and loved. I chuckled, then looked to his eyes- god did he look tired.

"Come on. Bed." I told him, pulling him out the sun and back into the darkness where I let him go. As I went to go back down, I glanced back where Eric stood next to the sun, then raised a hand, touching the sunlight where he recoiled as it burned him.

He looked back to me, then nodded.

"You don't have to live in the shadows anymore." He told me as we lay in bed together for the first time in a good while.

"Yes... but why would I bother living in the sun on my own?"

He was silent, then sighed. "Russell is much older and stronger than us both, Frey."

"And?"

"I don't want you to try and kill him. Leave it to me."

I gaped, then growled, climbing up onto him where he tried to sit up, but I pinned him down by his shoulders, going. "This quest for revenge... they were my family too. You think you can try and pull this off, dream on."

"I don't want you getting killed." He sighed, gazing up at me. At that, I scoffed, letting him go. "You're getting way to soft, Eric. Seriously. Stop trying to protect me all the time!"

"Frey... I may meet the true death tomorrow or in a week. I just... don't want to die with unfinished business."

"Oh?"

"Tomorrow before anything else... I'm making you marry me."

I was taken aback by that, and laughed weakly. "What?"

"You heard me." He told me, then pulled my form closer so he could kiss me. I sighed, kissing him back.

I let him pull me into his arms, fast asleep before he even got to pull the covers over himself. Hell he must have been tired.

He was wrong though-

We could die tomorrow. Not just him.

This was my revenge too.

And the next as promised;) wow, in such a writing mood lmao! Hope you like and review! x Nic