Part 41

I walked Jessica home: I needed the trip to clear my mind so that I could try to make some sense out of what I had just learned. Another supernatural being had taken up residence in Bon Temps; not terribly surprising given the track record of the place, but not terribly convenient either. It seemed that the thing had killed Sam: the blood in his ears made me lean towards that possibility. But according to Jessica, it had keened for three days prior to the event. I wondered if it was trying to terrify him first, perhaps into providing whatever it was searching for, or if that was just the way these things worked. She had started her wailing again, this would have been night one. I wondered; if two and three followed, who was to be the next to shuffle off their mortal coil. A very uncomfortable feeling in my gut told me that it might be Sookie. But of course, it could just as easily have been myself; Sam's death orchestrated to draw one of us back to Bon Temps. A great many puzzle pieces lay before me, and I was getting some semblance of the hidden picture, but not nearly enough to act on yet.

Jessica provided me with several bottles of Tru Blood, which I took, needing the strength. I left her on her porch, still shaken, but feeling a little better for my presence I imagine. She had offered me her blood, but I had declined, there were so many reasons to say no, practical and impractical. She told me that Jason usually checked in on her before sunrise when he wasn't staying at the house that was, she was going to text him after she locked the door behind herself. She also said that she would call either Sookie, or myself should she think of, or discover anything else. I didn't know that she would. I didn't think she'd be going near Merlotte's again for a very long time, if ever. I made a mental note to inquire the next time we spoke, as to her finances. I had no idea what Bill had left her with and if it had been nothing then I was going to make certain that she had a proper job somewhere in my scope of organizations and a means to support herself. I would take over where Bill had once again failed if necessary.

I sat on the porch at Sookie's house for a few moments, moments that actually got away from me and became hours before I knew it. If I was to get to the bottom of this mystery I needed to know what the Banshee had spoken to Sam about in the days before his death. Since it seemed that no one but she and Sam had been in that office, I could think of only one way of sorting it out. It was going to involve witches, a thought that did not please me. But I fortunately knew of one who was what I would consider a white witch; at least one who had no ax to grind with me because of my other interactions with their kind. It was too late to call that evening, and since I needed to have the call made with some haste, I knew I would have to ask Sookie to do it, as soon as the hour was decent for a proper Southern Lady. I debated simply leaving her to sleep, she needed the rest, but decided that not only had I told her that I would give her my blood before the day came, but that simply leaving her a note, without explaining anything properly would add another stress to her overloaded mind just then. And when I was back close to her, and not engaged in other matters our bond began to become more evident to me once again. Even in her sleep her thoughts were unsettled, and they transposed to me just then, when I had nothing else to push them away with.

I re-entered the house and had a quick, warm shower so that when I crawled into bed beside my beauty for those last few minutes, that my cool skin would not startle her to wakefulness. I preferred to do that with my actions. I was able to move very carefully, and slipped in beside her so that I was facing her. My beauty had pulled a pillow close to her chest and was clutching it for whatever comforts it gave her. Her face was not peaceful and I could not help but reach out to caress her cheek, sharing her sadness right then, unable and unwilling to shut down the bond. I wanted her to feel the great love I felt for her then, the need to protect her from all hurt that had sat in my chest since the day I had met her. At my touch the tension in her eyes and jaw relaxed and I leaned in to kiss her. Her eyelids fluttered, I felt the subtle motion against my own and deepened my kiss.

"I am so sorry to wake you my beauty." I whispered, I wasn't completely sorry to do it, I had missed her, and I wanted her. I always wanted her. A soft smile grew on her lips.

"I missed you too Eric." It never failed to astound me how much she could pull from our bond, as if she really could read my mind. Her voice was beautifully lazy. She pushed the pillow from her arms and reached for me, I was only too happy to fold her into mine.

"Did you find out anything else?" She asked as I caressed her back, letting my hands wander down to her waist.

"I spoke with Jessica. She was very helpful."

"Tell me?"

I debated for a moment how much I should reveal to Sookie. Not that I wanted to lie to her, no good could come of that, but I didn't want to cause her more distress. She seemed to see it in my eyes, or perhaps read it from my thoughts.

"The truth Eric. I need the truth."

"Do you know what a Banshee is Sookie?"

"You mean like that old movie, Darby something or other and the little people?" I was not familiar with that particular movie so I expanded.

"A spirit woman, who wails to foretell death?"

"Yeah, that was it, with Leprechauns." She was so terribly adorable when she was still half asleep.

"They are a serious creature these Banshees." She sighed deeply; I could feel her pulling herself reluctantly to wakefulness.

"And let me guess, we have some in Bon Temps?" Her resigned tone was nearly heartbreaking.

"At least one Sookie. The red haired woman who went to see Sam? I believe she is one."

She sat herself up on her elbows to look at me a little more closely, sleep fading from her body.

"And what do we do about it Eric?"

"I need you to make a call for me." She nodded. "Do you remember my friend Papa B?"

"I do."

"I need you to call him, and ask him to speak with Octavia Fant. Now this is very important Sookie. I need her to do an ectoplasmic reconstruction for us."

"An ecto what what?"

"It is called an ectoplasmic reconstruction. Some witches, if they are very talented, as I know Octavia is, can pull on the energy left in a place and replay activities like a old silent movie for the living to watch."

"It sounds amazing, but where did you want to do this?"

"In Sam's office, I need to see what his meeting with the Banshee was about."

"You don't want to see who killed him?"

"I am quite certain it was the Banshee, or one of her kind. I need to see what she wanted from him that he was unwilling to give up to her."

"Why do you suspect he was holding something back from her?"

"She must have wanted something or she would have killed him on her first visit I expect." It was logical, and one of the things I had been considering on the porch.

"I am sorry that I am adding to the difficulty of your day my darling Sookie." I added, beginning to stroke her hair, as if that might somehow make things better. It was an honest gesture. She closed her eyes, seeming to appreciate my effort.

"I'll call as soon as I get up Eric. When do you need it done by?"

"Tell her that I will cover all her expenses and triple them if she can be in Bon Temps this evening."

"I'll ask."

"I appreciate that very much."

"Hey," She opened her eyes to look at me again in the half-light of her bedroom. "We're a team Eric."

"We are at that my beauty."

I felt her hands run down my chest and saw the smile on her face. I could deny her nothing at that moment, not my body or my blood. I went to my daytime sleep flush with the scents of her.