A/N: Sorry about the wait! This is another monster of a chapter! It was completed Thursday evening, but as I went back and was checking it, it just didn't feel right. I ended up scrapping nearly everything, and though I'm still not 100% happy with it, I didn't want to make everyone wait any longer. Sorry for any mistakes I've been over and over this, but its like my eyes are just glazing over it. Anyway, as always I hope you enjoy it!

Chapter 10

Sookie POV

"Hadley!" Sookie's arms quickly wrapped around her cousin. "Where in the world have you been? We've all been so worried!"

"Is Gran here?" Hadley asked, her eyes searching the dark and empty kitchen. "I need to talk to you, but I wanted to apologize to her, tell her how sorry I am for not callin', for runnin' away from that rehab, for well everything." Since Gran's passing Sookie always felt a hollow sort of pain whenever she was mentioned, but this time there was also a scorching hot fury. It came on so powerfully and unexpectedly Sookie nearly stumbled under the onslaught. Sookie realized at that moment that Bill's manipulation had taken so much more than what she'd previously thought. A broken heart, possibly her ability to have children, and nearly her life, that was all devastating enough, but she now understood that most painfully of all it had also cost her her Gran. In the absence of Bill's blood Sookie could see that without it there would have been no relationship between them, and if there had been no relationship. . . Sookie's heart smashed to a million bitter shards.

"Hadley, Gran passed away almost a year and a half ago. She . . . she was murdered." Sookie's voice wavered at the end and she watched as Hadley's face filled with sadness and disbelief.

"Gone. . . murdered, but how?" Tears fell from both women's eyes as they embraced again. Sookie couldn't explain just then, it felt as though the pain she'd originally experienced had returned, and multiplied exponentially.

"I'm so sorry Hadley. I wanted to call and tell you when it happened, but we had no idea where you were. Come on let's go sit at the table." Sookie said ushering Hadley into the kitchen while flipping on the lights. Hadley slumped into the chair closest to the door, with her face pressed firmly into her hands as she sobbed. Sookie sat in the still pillow covered chair, and rubbed her cousins arm until the sobs lessened somewhat.

"I hate that she went to Heaven, not knowing how sorry I am for the things I've done. I always thought I'd have time."

"Aw hush now, Gran knew you were sorry, and she never loved you any less, not for one second you hear me?" Sookie said stretching out her good arm clasping Hadley's hand in hers. Hadley stared down at their joined hands for a few moments before she finally raised her eyes, and really looked at her cousin for the first time in over six years. Hadley sucked in a ragged gasp, as more tears spilled down her already drenched cheeks.

"Oh Sookie! I'm too late again aren't I? You're right Gran would forgive us almost anything, but I think even she wouldn't be able to forgive me for this." Hadley motioned with her head to where Sookie sat.

"Hadley I don't understand, you're not making any sense!" Hadley squeezed her eyes shut causing more tears to fall and laid her hand, the one not clenching onto Sookie's like a life line, against her breastbone like she was in pain. "Hadley are you alright?" When she finally replied Hadley's voice had lost all of its power, and Sookie could only just barely make out her words.

"I'm not, but after what I've done I don't exactly deserve to be. After all it's my own fault." Hadley seemed to be looking everywhere, but at Sookie, and Sookie worried at the implication of her inability to make eye contact. "I know I said I wanted to apologize to Gran, but that's not the reason I came. Truth is I wouldn't have come at all if I hadn't been forced to." Sookie's mind swam as she tried to grasp just what her cousin had done that was so terrible that she would be afraid to come home.

"Who would force you to come here and why?" Sookie couldn't help the uncertainty in her voice it seemed absurd that someone would force her, I mean why would someone even care about Hadley's relationship with her family.

"Eric Northman sent me Sookie, he needed me to bring you a message. He says Russell's comin' for you, and not to trust Bill."

"Eric! How do you even know Eric Northman? Wait. . . Eric is at Russell's mansion! Why in the world would you be there?" Sookie wrenched her hand away from her cousin's as it began to tremble. "Hadley how are you mixed up in all this?" Sookie tried in vain to predict a positive spin for what all this could mean.

"I was staying there with the Queen, Sookie. I'm hers." Sookie's whole body began to tremble, and she struggled to rise from her chair, as an inexplicable need to get as far away from Hadley as possible washed over her. Sookie kept a clear distance between herself and her cousin, but she cou;dn't leave. She'd been searching for answers for a while now, and it seemed her cousin was finally going to be the one to give them to her.

"You were there with the Queen?" Sookie asked in a halting whisper. "The Queen of Louisiana?" Hadley nodded, but remained silent as puzzle pieces began to unite in Sookie's mind. "And Bill, Bill Compton, do you know him?" The tears that streaked down Hadley's face were the only confirmation Sookie needed. She dropped her shields completely. "Show me, Hadley." Hadley had always been a really clear sender. Almost instantly more tears fell from Hadley's eyes as she complied, and strong undeniable images began to assault Sookie's mind.

Hadley was lying naked on the dark crimson chaise that filled one corner of Bill Compton's run down living room. A stunning redhead was feeding languidly from Hadley's neck, watching as Bill rutted on top of her. The Queen (Sookie assumed) paused from her meal to roughly pinch at Hadley's breast's, causing her to arch and moan in appreciation.

"Isn't my pet responsive Bill?" Bill grunted his agreement absently as he continued to pound into Hadley's very willing body wildly. The Queen grasped his chin firmly between her fingers, and Bill froze as her nails bit into his skin. "How does she compare to the oh so sweet Sookie?" Bill seemed unsure how to answer, but it seemed the Queen hadn't really expected a reply, as she continued almost immediately. "How long until I find out for myself hmm. . . You say you've given her more than enough of your blood, and yet she is still not completely under your power. You see, I'm having some trouble understanding how both could possibly be true. I've poured over the ancient text on their kind, and never is such a situation mentioned, which leads me to believe.. ." Her vicious nails dug in even deeper before she savagely tore them down his face "you are keeping her from me, trying to save her all for yourself!" Bill grimaced in pain, and spoke O' so carefully as her nails were still embedded in his flesh.

"It was Northman your Highness, his blood seemed to wash away my control over her. She started asking questions, refusing to do as I willed. I had every intention of handing her over to you when we returned from Dallas, but the bonds I had on her were very clearly slipping. She went off to try and stop that ancient idiot from killing himself, even after I clearly implanted emotions of fear in her for him. When she returned from the roof I could sense that almost all of the considerable shackles I had placed on her emotions had somehow been released. The only explanation I can come to for this is that Eric's blood, it being so much older, had overtaken mine." The Queen seemed to settle somewhat at his reasoning, and eased her fingers away until they were only dancing across the damage she'd inflicted.

"I will not be thwarted in my possession of Sookie Stackhouse, Bill. I need her blood and you will do whatever it takes in order for me to have it. Do You Understand?" She emphasized each word of her last statement by digging her fingers into the bloody wounds that were now beginning fade.

"I do my Queen. I already have a plan in motion to once again secure her devotion to me. In the next day or so I plan to propose to her. Sookie's biggest weakness is her desperate need for acceptance and love, and if she is offered her heart's dearest wish, well the fear of losing such a thing is truly powerful. That diamond ring will become a manacle, one with which I will be able to force her to come to heel. Have no fear your Highness, it will all work out just as you planned, and you shall have what you have dreamed of for all these years. She will be yours, my Queen, you shall hold a real life fairy in your hands." The Queen laughed cruelly and devoured Bill's mouth with hers.

Sookie didn't think she'd ever been more furious or scared in her whole life. Even having seen the mask slip and knowing what kind of monster Bill was, hadn't prepared her for when she'd heard the callousness in his voice as he'd laid out his plans for her, like he was speaking of a speck of dirt, not a human being with thoughts and feelings. How could anyone be so cruel and heartless? But as mad as she was at Bill, it was nothing compared to her fear of the Queen. The demented gleam in her eyes as she spoke of her need for Sookie's blood made the telepath's blood run cold.

"Hadley do you know why the Queen seems to want my blood so badly?" Hadley's face paled.

"I never meant for it to happen this way Sookie, I want you to believe that. Never in a million years did I ever think. ." Hadley paused seeming to need to gather up her courage. "After I left that rehab Gran sent me to, I got into even more trouble, and like I always do I ran. I ended up in New Orleans, strippin' at some dive. One night when I was walking home Bill approached me. I knew right away that he was a vampire. He said he was a procurer for a real powerful vamp in the area, and I could make some real good money if I was willin' to let her drink my blood, and maybe have sex. I'd done a lot of crazy things in my life Sookie, I ain't gonna lie, but sell my body, my blood! Still though I was really down on my luck, and I figured it wasn't much different than latching on to some boyfriend.

He took me to the Queen's mansion, but there were so many donors there I knew I'd have to do somethin' in order to set myself apart. When the night finally came that she chose me, I did whatever I could think of to try and make myself one of her favorites. Ya know sexy undies, naughty sex things I was willin' to do whatever, cause the Queen's favorites were I mean, like really taken care of. Anyway, I don't even think any of the other stuff mattered once she tasted my blood. Afterward she was askin' all these questions about where I was from and my family. I thought she was just trying to get to know me better, and I was still tryin' so hard to impress her that I talked about you, about what you can do. She picked me every night after that, always asking me more and more questions about you.

She told me how special we are, how we are descendents of fairies. Honestly, I thought she was crazy, but she insisted that she could taste it in my blood. She swore that if I helped bring you to her that I'd be takin' care of for the rest of my life. I'm ashamed to say I told her everything I knew, even helped Bill create this file of your history, our family, things you did and didn't like, oh god I even told them that Grandaddy was like you.

But every second, every minute I spent talkin' about you I was so insanely jealous, you weren't even there, and you were stealin' her attention from me!" She stopped and angrily swiped her hand across her face. "You know that's one of the reason's I left Bon Temp all those years ago. I was tired of being compared to the sweet, pretty, and kind Sookie. And still, somehow I ended up right back where I started." Sookie stood rooted to the floor of the kitchen, her nails biting into the flesh of her palms, as her blood pounded in her ears.

"Do you have any idea what you've done! The damage and pain you have caused our entire family?" Sookie screamed. "And all you have to say for yourself is that you were jealous. You petty, stupid bitch!"

"You're right Sookie I was petty and jealous and stupid, and I set something loose that I had no concept of, but whatever I was thinkin' or feelin' I swear I never wanted you hurt."

"But locked up and enslaved, that was acceptable as long as you were taken care of right?" Hadley's tears continued to fall, but Sookie was no longer able to feel any sympathy for her cousin.

"I. . I never thought. . ."

"Of course not, you never think Hadley. No that's not right,what I should say is that you never think about anyone but yourself! You've really outdone yourself this time though, I think you were right before not even Gran would be able to forgive you."

"I'm so sorry Sookie, I really am! I know that what I did was wrong!" Seeing how genuinely upset Hadley was, calmed Sookie slightly.

"If you really are sorry, Hadley, then you need to help me. Tell me Hadley, why does the Queen need my blood? Why is she so obsessed?"

"She's got this ancient book on fairies, that she reads over and over again like it's the Bible or somethin'. In it it says that a fairy's blood can allow a vampire to walk in the sun. I guess it's like that sayin' only wanting what ya can't have, or whatever, cause she's absolutely fanatic about it. Anyway, for a real long time I guess everyone thought that fairies were extinct, and Sophie Ann believed that too, until Bill brought me to her. When I told her about you. . . she just knew that you had the light. She didn't explain what that meant, so I can't tell ya', but even though I have fairy blood too, I don't have it. That's why she needs you. Only blood from a fairy with the light will work.

I understand now what people saw in you that they never saw in me. You're special Sookie. You just are, neither one of us can change that. She's comin' for you Sookie, she's wants you too much to just let you go, and now that Russell's involved too. . . You gotta get away from here, run away somewhere and hide!"

"That's the difference between you and me Hadley, I'm not gonna spend my life runnin'. That's no kinda life! I'd rather stay here and fight, cause if the Queen and Russell want me as bad as you say, they're gonna find me no matter what. I won't sneak away like some coward, leaving behind those I love to wonder what happened to me, like you did."

"If they find you Sookie they're gonna do terrible things to you, there are things in this world worse than death! I don't expect you to ever forgive me, but please just don't let my mistake cost you that." Hadley rose from her chair. "I have to go Sookie, I've already stayed too long. I wish I could take it all back but. . ." She shrugged helplessly and quickly walked out into the night. Sookie rushed as much as she was able to try and follow her, but she only made it as far as the door before the pain of her hurried movements became too much, and she collapsed against the doorway.

"Hadley!"

"Do you wish me to stop her?" Asked a strange voice. Sookie screamed, and scrambled back to shut the door between them. The man didn't come closer or try and stop her which made Sookie pause as she was turning the lock.

"Who the hell are you?"

"I'm Waldo princess, your grandfather sent me."

"Princess! You listen here buddy that's no way to. . Wait my grandfather Niall sent you?" Sookie's face burned as she realized her mistake. "I'm sorry you just took me by surprise, um . . my grandfather sent you, does he have a message or something for me?" Waldo didn't look like what Sookie would expect of what she assumed was a fairy. His sandy brown was was cut short on the sides and left moderately longer on the top in a rather stylish, jagged mess. His eyes were a grayish blue, and he had a slight growth of facial hair that Sookie thought looked very good on him. Maybe most interesting of all was that he was dressed rather normally. As in up to date, and he looked very. . . well human in his worn in jeans, white t-shirt, and military jacket.

"No pr. . Er Miss? He sent me here as a guard for you and your brother. I was told that I was expected."

"Just call me Sookie please. I wasn't aware that you were coming, but my brother Jason might have been. He just left for a few minutes to go and pick us up some supper. He should be back any moment."

"I. . I am truly sorry if this is out of line miss, but are you alright? You appear to be injured has there been an attack?"

"It's okay, I'm fine really." He bowed his head and scuffed his boot on the step. "Really!" Sookie exclaimed at his perceived disbelief. When he still didn't meet her eyes Sookie let out an exasperated huff. "This happened yesterday alright? And I would guess it's the reason my grandaddy sent you." He raised his head and gave her a small smile. Sookie couldn't help but laugh at him. "That was sneaky of you." He shrugged his shoulders in response.

"I'll be wandering around the property and beyond, keeping an eye out. If you need me just say my name." Sookie watched bewildered as he strolled away casually. She really was having the strangest week of her whole life. She carefully made her way back to "her" chair and sat. She blew out a whimpering breath as pain lanced through just about every part of her body. It had only been a little over an hour since she'd been awoken and she was already exhausted. She debated on whether or not she felt up to making the long walk to her bedroom, but decided that she was fine right where she was until Jason returned to help her. Her eyes scanned the cluttered tabletop and noticed a paperback she'd forgotten she'd borrowed from the library. She flipped to the first page and began to read, but it just didn't keep her attention. Her focus continued to wander from the pages and after several attempts she finally gave up. Bored as the seconds ticked by, she opened her shields to see what she could learn about her new guard. She scanned the grounds with her "hearing" until somewhere far off in the distance she discovered a single solitary mind. His appearance might be totally normal, but his brain sure wasn't. It was a void kind of like what she experienced with a vampire, but there was also a crackling sort of electricity to it. She sighed as she realized she couldn't read him. She sent out her feelers again to see if there were any other minds in the area, she told herself she was being cautious, but really it was just something to do. It was just a whole lot of nothing until. . .

Shit, shit, shit I hope Sookie's still asleep. If not she's probably freakin' starvin' and scared. Meant to be back, but it was just one damn catastrophe after another. Ugh, dammit we need to get these fuckin' potholes in the drive way fixed. Sookie laughed out loud and decided to have a little fun with her brother as she waited, with her face propped on her hands, for him to make his way in the back door. Sookie pasted what she hoped was a truly pathetic expression on her face as Jason's key slid into the lock.

"Jasonis that you I've been waiting forever for you to get back, I need you to help me! I'm starving to death and I've been so scared." Sookie wailed in her most plaintive voice. Jason swung open the door quickly and made his way inside.

"I was just thinkin'. . . dammit Sook. did you hear me comin' up the driveway?" Sookie nodded and giggled happily.

"Sorry for teasin', but you do realize I'll be alright if your not at my side every second?"

"I know, but ya can't blame a guy for worryin'. I just thought since it was the first dark since. . . well ya know, you might like someone there with ya."

"That's sweet Jason, but I'm alright. Well except for when my new guard showed up, and I nearly screamed my self hoarse that is." Sookie cocked her eyebrow, and gave Jason a playful glare. "Something you forget to tell me Jason?"

"Shit, sorry. I saw Granddaddy this afternoon." Jason replied sheepishly as he unpacked their dinner. Sookie perked up and waited anxiously for Jason to explain. He told her everything he could remember of their meeting, and even let her watch his memories as Niall performed his magic all over the property. All the while they talked, they ate. Sookie cried as she heard Niall's explanation of his absence from their lives, and found his description of the power he used endlessly fascinating. Sookie told Jason about Hadley's visit, and Jason was down right enraged. Sookie was trying to understand her cousin, but she found herself failing. To be so desperate, to be willing to sell out you own family, that was something Sookie just wouldn't ever be able to comprehend. A wolves howl could be heard from the woods, breaking her from her thoughts, and just seconds later there was a gentle knock at the back door.

"It's Waldo." Sookie told Jason shakily, and he got up to answer the door.

"Miss? There are two vampires in the wood, along with nearly two dozen werewolves." His voice was so calm Sookie thought for a moment that she must have misheard, but when Jason exclaimed something about getting suited up, Sookie felt her heart drop clear down to the floor.