And one more quick scene before the confrontation of Supe vs Banshee. I wonder who is going to show up for the party? Stayed tuned, and send me your guesses.

Merick

Part 45

Sookie was quiet for the entire ride back to her home, I hadn't expected her to offer anything out loud, I could feel the thoughts racing around in her head. The hurt of being called an abomination, hearkening back to the teasing that had known no real source except the barely concealed outbursts of a child who could see into people's heads, not knowing society didn't want to hear about it out loud. It throbbed within her like a migraine. When her eyes were opened, she stared ahead blankly, but mostly they were closed, her head hanging limply from her shoulders as if she had already been defeated. Of course there was sorrow, the pointless loss of her friend, all as part of some vengeful spirit's insane game, and there was fear. And when that surfaced I reached over to take her hand and hold it.

"I will not let any harm come to you Sookie. I promise you that." She did not answer me.

She walked like an automaton into the old house, and sat herself heavily on the couch. I checked over all the doors and windows again; just to assure myself that there was nothing sinister newly arisen, and then I sat with her.

"Octavia has told us some helpful things Sookie. Please, do not believe that we are without any resources."

"Tell me about her, the Banshee. Tell me what happened between you?"

I did not get the impression she was questioning whether or not I had slept with the thing, but if I had somehow offended her. Not that there was an ounce of blame in Sookie's voice, there never was. I told her the story of Liam, and of the happenings in Ireland all those years back. She listened thoughtfully, nodding every so often.

"And she wasn't able to hurt you?"

"She was exhausted by her one burst of power, now it has been many decades since then, and it is reasonable to assume that, like me, her power has grown. But back then I didn't know that she was a type of Fairy. And I certainly know how to deal with fairies Sookie."

"How?"

"Iron, and lemons. It's an odd thing, but both will kill. And we will certainly have iron at our meeting tomorrow. I have seen to that. And do not forget Sookie, you have powers of your own. Do you remember what you were able to do to Bill, back at Fangtasia?"

"The lights, from my hands?"

"Yes."

"But I don't know how to control them."

"They came when you felt threatened. Perhaps they will surface again if you should have need?" I offered.

She nodded again, seeming just a little more confident then.

"We will not be alone Sookie. We have Pam, and we have Jessica. Some of the Were's may even show up."

"You have spoken with them?"

"Not the Weres, but word does have a way of getting around in the two natured community. They may come to pay respects to Sam, and if they do it will not take much to enlist their help against his killer."

"She cannot fight us all at once can she?"

"I do not believe so, not from what I have seen."

"What if she brings friends?"

"Then we will have more targets my beauty." And I pulled her into my arms, finally feeling as if it would be all right to do so. The tension had gone out of her shoulders, and as I kneaded my hands gently against her back she did relax into me.

"Can I do anything else to help you relax Sookie?"

"Come to bed with me Eric." She whispered. And I knew exactly what she meant.

Again I let her lead, I was glad to do so. She said nothing as she undressed me, and I lay back onto the bed as she similarly disrobed. She used her hands, touching every part of my skin, her eyes closed for most of her exploration. It seemed as if she was committing everything to memory, as if she was afraid that it might be the last time; I could feel it coming through our bond, as hard as she tried to hide it from me. In truth I didn't need the bond to know what she was feeling. Her closed lids were rimmed with tears, ones that glistened in the low light of her bedroom. I made no move to brush them away, for even though I know they were there to convey sadness they made her look even more enchanting, more like the fairy that I knew rested in her genes. I simply whispered 'I love you' to her, and watched the diamonds slip down her cheeks.

Her fingers stroked my face, receiving kisses from my lips as she rocked herself over my hips. She was beautiful, never more so than when she was naked, with me, absorbed only in us as she was just then. It would not have mattered to me a whit if she had done nothing else but sway there atop me, it would have been enough, but she brought me to her body and took me into her with such grace and care that I could not help but arch for her, and close my own eyes and moan with the overwhelming joy of it all.

She took me slowly; rocking against me in a dance whose music was shared between us. I let my hands rest on her hips, but did nothing further to guide her. I watched her chest rise and fall in staccato silent sobs, her hands resting on my chest, trembling. I moved my hands to cover them and began to thrust my hips against her.

"I love you Sookie." I whispered again and then I came for her. Tears ran down her cheeks and she collapsed onto me, my body still engulfed in hers and I held her as she sobbed.

I had asked her not to go out without me the following day, but I knew that she had to, she needed to have things perfect for Sam, and I knew if she didn't go out to Merlotte's that she would spend the day building herself into a complete frenzy, so once she fell asleep I made one of the hardest calls I had ever had to make. I called Alcide Herveaux, and I asked him to come to Bon Temps, and to stay with her for the entire day, to watch her and keep her safe when I could not. I had woken him from his slumber, I could certainly tell that much, but he calmed himself quickly after he understood who was calling and why.

I knew the Banshee could come for her during the daylight hours, and I shared everything I knew with Alcide, and everything I planned to do. For her I took him into my confidence, perhaps that was the hardest thing. It was not that I was at all worried that her heart would stray to his, but I hated that I failed her in this regard. Every word stuck in my throat as I spoke them; but I must give Herveaux credit for agreeing to attend to her, without even bargaining for anything in the process. He was a gentleman, and an honorable one. It gave me comfort that he said he would rise immediately and begin his drive down so as to be there for her as soon as he could. I didn't know if he would make it before I was forced into my earthen prison, I rather doubted it, but I knew that any threat to Sookie would make me rise without hesitation to defend her. As I went back to her bed she woke and I asked her to wait for Alcide, before she left and she promised me she would, kissing me again on the mouth. I would have made love to her again right then, but for the fact that I could feel the fatigue rolling off her in waves. I contented myself in the kisses, and then left her to sleep again. I needed to move, to walk, to run, to fly, and so I did, round and about her home, tearing through the woods like a madman, listening for any sounds out of place, any scent or thing that would lead me prematurely to my enemy. It was not forthcoming and so I moved myself into sheer exhaustion like Sookie, checking in on her once more as the pink began to fill the sky, before the earth took me.

Mr. Cataliades would also be in Bon Temps after sunrise, I had called him as well, and he also had answered, but of course, I didn't actually know if demons needed to sleep so it had likely not been as great an interruption as Herveaux's call. I had told Alcide to expect him; he would be leaving things for me, and he was not unfamiliar to Sookie. For as fast as Pam could travel, she could not bring the implements I wanted in my hands as soon as the sun set. And when I did rise, hardly feeling rested; they were there, the leather wrapped parcels, lying just at the door to my crypt, my black suit laid out on the guest bed with a crisp white shirt and polished shoes. Otherwise the house was empty, as silent as the grave I had risen from, and while that silence did not usually bother me, just then it made my cold heart feel even more frozen. I looked over the parcel carefully. It had been a great deal of time since I had held that particular item in my hands. The blade was not so sharp as it once had been, but a cutting edge was not what I desired. I washed, dressed and took up what I needed and made my way to Merlotte's as the final glow of the day disappeared behind the treetops. It was time.