She didn't get very far. Within minutes I found her tangled in some briars, yelling and screaming and pulling desperately at her ensnared clothing.
"Shhhh, little one. Calm down and I will help you." If possible, she began to struggle more. "Look at me Sookie. Everything will be fine. Hold very still and I will free you."
"Everything will not be fine! You are taking me back to that terrible place so I can listen to crazy people's thoughts all day and night!" Tears were streaming down her face. Blood was oozing from various cuts on her hands, face, and feet. Somehow her hair had gotten caught as well. I tried again, turning her to face me. "Sookie, stand very still. You want to go back to your warm bed. I will untangle you and take you back. You will remember nothing of my visit."
She stared at me. "What are you doing? My mind feels all tickly." She couldn't be glamoured! Good thing I had answered so many of her questions. My first impulse was to end her. Then I looked down into those big, trusting blue eyes. Well, who would believe a little girl in a nut house telling tales about a vampire flying her off into the woods AND bringing her back (mostly) unharmed. I guess my secrets were pretty safe.
"I am trying to glamour you." Just in case I hadn't divulged enough information tonight. "Vampires use it to help them stay hidden from humans. Often we use it on people that we feed from." Big scared eyes – again.
"Are you going to bite me?" Sookie asked in a tiny voice, then wiped her nose on her sleeve.
"Not now," I answered nodding at her mucous sleeve. She smiled. "Although," I added sniffing in an exaggerated way, "you smell very yummy – minus the boogers." She giggled and I started untangling a very wiggly Sookie from the undergrowth.
"You should take me home with you."
"Sookie…."
"I won't be any trouble. When you sleep I can read or watch TV. I can cook my own food, bathe myself. I can clean your house for you. My Gran says I am a very good house cleaner. I can fold laundry. I can bring in the mail and the newpaper….."
"Sookie, I can't take you home with me."
"Please, please!" she pleaded, with big doe eyes. Seriously? A vampire sheriff reduced to goo by a pleading girl. I took her in my arms and she wrapped her arms around my neck and snuggled into my chest. I swear my undead heart almost started beating. Then she – for a lack of a better word – bawled. Tears, snot, heaving breaths… I shooshed and patted her the best I knew how. I don't deal very well with crying females.
Suddenly she stopped and looked into my eyes. "You,.. you could drink my blood," she suggested trembling.
I wiped the tears from her face and kissed the top of her head. "How about a deal?" She quirked an eyebrow. "I can't take you home with me, but I will make sure you don't have to stay in the 'sylum for more than a day or two."
She looked at me warily, then nodded. "Will you fancy my doctor into sending me home?" she asked.
"Fancy?" I laughed. "Do you by chance mean glamour? That is a very good plan, my little Sookie,"I said ruffling her hair. " Let me clean you up a bit, then I will take you back." I pricked my finger with my fang and traced it over the scratches on her hands, face, and feet. Did she run into every briar in the forest? I found a stream and used my handkerchief (yes, I know they have fallen out of style but a well prepared man should really always carry one) to clean off the dirt and any remaining blood. I hated to waste the blood –she did smell quite "yummy" but she had just about reached her weirdness quota for the evening.
I flew her back to the "sylum" and deposited her in her tiny, bare room.
"Will you read me a bedtime story?"she asked. I tucked her in and began reading a small, worn book about a zebra who was lost from the zoo and spent the night in a coal yard. Then everyone thought he was a donkey until it rained. "Do you think I might be a zebra?" Sookie asked drowsily.
"Yes, you just might be," I told her. "Or maybe a swan." I began to make my way to the window.
"Wait!" She looked like she was in pain. "When I touch you, the voices are almost gone. Will you stay until I fall asleep?" So the Sheriff of Area Five laid his 6'4 body in a 6' bed beside a very small telepathic girl who could not be glamoured (fancied!) and stayed until almost dawn.