A/N: Jaysus! I have been sweating this chap for realz. I have edited and gone through it a thousand, okay maybe ten, times. I think I got it as close to what I want as possible. This chapter originally came out as literal Sookie thoughts, instead of first-person narrative that is much more readable. An example, the first couple sentences, when she's taking her surroundings in, came out like this:"Dark, smell is familiar, can't identify, no decor, Alberik mumbling, must quiet him, cannot alert anyone." And that pattern continued on (or wanted to, but I wouldn't let it) through the whole scene. It reminded me of when tv/movies make the camera pov of the person. You watch "through thei eyes" as they take in/process visuals with no or very few words. Like, "lamp, doorway-locked, one window, boarded up." Does that make sense? Anyhoo-I wasn't sure I could pull it off to where it made sense to read, so just changed it and I think that's throwing me off, because it's not quite how I picture her in the situation. But this way is okay too, it's just fighting me a little. So, enjoy and I'll hustle my buns to get the next one out. As per usual-I own nada, except Alberik and I have no beta, so if I fudged, do forgive. Love peace and pickle smooches to you all. I hit 400 reviews, so whoopee! ***confetti, balloons, dog dressed as a clown*** Thanks so much, you guys rock. Even though you boss me to hurry up with my updates, I secretly like it. Special thanks to sluggysmom for her support through my doggy crisis, and all is now well. I'll see if I can post a picture of her to my profile. My dog, not sluggysmom lol.
Ch 22
As quickly as I possibly could, I took in every scrap of my surroundings. Dark, smells familiar but couldn't yet identify it, no decor to speak of other than the chair Alberik was in. He was mumbling incoherently in German about Eric and fairies torturing him and the light.
Staying where I was, I barely whispered, "Alberik, my name is Sookie. I am here to help. I belong to Eric and we are trying to get you out of here. Please stop talking so you do not alert anyone nearby." I repeated it in German, just to be safe. He quieted. I continued assessing the situation, not wanting to move in case that attracted someone as well. No windows, there was a large square piece of furniture across the room I hadn't seen at first glance but now that my eyes adjusted- dammit what was the smell? Stale air, blood, burnt flesh and-? It was going to make me nuts.
On the far side of the room, was a large...I willed myself to see it without moving an inch or even squinting...It was a wooden cabinet. It looked like an armory cabinet and there were large, identical markings on each of the doors. It was really hard to discern a color in this light. I closed my eyes, resting them for a second from strain, then opened them again. The marking was clearer now; all the blood left my face, I felt my heart rate speed up and my stomach drop to my feet. Nononono...then the familiarity of the smell hit me. My flux in emotions must have shifted something in me. My magic summoned all around me of it's own accord as rage filled me like bile in my throat. My body lit up, the way it had before I left Eric and my cousins.
Rather than waste another minute in this wretched place, I immediately called my sword to my side. My fairy sword. Made of iron. I allowed myself the hopefully, small movement of gripping the handle, enough to console me slightly. I felt better having it with me. There was only one reason I would be able to call that sword, in particular, to me here now. Deep breath, don't think about that now. Let's think about getting these chains off Alberik. I was going to have to start moving about, at some point, lets just get this over with. I took a step toward him and his eyes lifted, met mine widened in surprise at my glow. He narrowed them, then quickly darted his gaze to my left.
"Oh, no you don't!" I heard directly behind me and a cloth bag halfway landed on my head and I was pushed forward in an attempt to get me on my knees. Too little too late. Alberik had warned me a split second sooner than my attacker, so it was an awkward failure. The bag went only half my head, I stumbled forward, I balanced then steadied myself on my knees. While the idiot behind me scrambled trying to grab my free left arm to subdue me, I had already unsheathed my sword and swung 'round, aiming for the money shot. I must have found a suitable mark as my hands were released and I heard my enemy screech in pain, then felt him fall forward, almost on top of me, but I dodged and he slumped onto his belly on the floor, minus an arm.
Ripping the bag off, I put one foot on his lower back, and pressed my sword into the upper quadrant, where his heart would be. I pressed hard, letting him know I would run him through if I needed to. I could smell more burnt flesh, different from Alberik's, sweeter, that meant I had injured a fairy. I looked at his arm, discarded a few feet away and it was burning, as was the severed part still attached to the body. His blood curdling screams were annoying me. I grabbed his hair and wrenched his head back, while pushing in a little more with the sword. "Oh,no YOU don't!" Then I gasped and almost fell backwards.
"Preston! You fucking traitor!" Once I recovered, I almost pushed my sword in and finished him right then and there but I heard shouting and footsteps. Someone was coming and there was no way to know if they were friend or foe and I didn't think I would trust anyone anymore at this point anyway. There was no time to question or torture him slowly, as I so desperately wanted. I settled for giving him a bone deep gash on his leg to ensure he couldn't get up. While he screamed and writhed in agony, I spat at him "Enjoy the iron eating it's way through your flesh, you repulsive, pathetic excuse for a man and fairy. I will finish you, have no doubt."
I sheathed my sword and ran to Alberik, who now eyed me in lust and terror but was too weak to do anything. I quickly made as much of the large link chain disappear as I could, that was wrapped around his neck and torso. I climbed onto his lap, praying he wouldn't gnaw at me with his human teeth, wrapped my arms around his chest and summoned my magic with every fiber of my being. I tried desperately to recall that foreign energy I had felt before I teleported here. I pictured Eric and how desperately I needed to get back to him. I thought of how weak Alberik was, he looked like he might not make it even a few more days. I felt it swirl and whirlwind around us, then, just as before, rush over me and absorb into me from all sides. Wrapping my legs around one of his, as added measure I couldn't leave without him. Or so I I hoped.
"O mŏr dreil Eric, O mŏr anirohn Eric! O mŏr Muintire, Eric!" I heard a door being battered, then break into pieces, more shouting and the sound of metal and swords, but we were gone. This time the process was painful. There was a huge "SHLOP" sound as we left. It felt like we were being stretched through a never-ending wormhole between two worlds. I could see parts of the darkly shadowed room we just left but also the bright light of my living room. We were both screaming. I squeezed my eyes shut, and let my magic flow through me and into Alberik, hoping to sooth him. I felt like I was going to pass out. Mentally, I repeated "O mŏr Muintire, Eric!" and tried to give us one last push, before blackness took me.
I woke to feeling like every bone in my body was broken and I couldn't breathe from the immense pressure on my chest. I tore my eyes open, trying not to panic. I saw Eric, still chained as I had left him. Oh, thank you! We made it. His mouth was moving but I couldn't hear him-my ears were ringing. I tried turning my head but I couldn't, something was weighing down on me, preventing it. Interrupting him "Eric, I can't hear anything you're saying, and I can't move." I tried to take small breaths, as much as I was able, and use my peripheral vision. I smelled burnt flesh and dried blood, neither of which were Eric's, so that was good. I strained my eyes as far to the left as I could, just then a piece of medium blonde, blood soaked hair fell across my face. Alberik!
He was unconscious, planted on top of me! Okay, I could deal with that. At least we both made it back and weren't melted together, like some episode of The X-Files. The ringing in my ears died down somewhat. I checked all my limbs, though they were pinned and hurt like fuck, they seemed to all be able to move. I calmed myself and tried to shimmy and slither out from under the dead weight of the vampire above me. I had freed a leg when suddenly the weight was gone. I gasped and looked up, completely surprised at the sudden release of pressure on my chest.
Alberik was now seated in the chair he'd been in when we left Fairy. Shit, I brought the chair, too? If I had the energy, I would have laughed. I looked past him. Claude had lifted him and now he was looking repulsed, trying to put as much space between himself and the vampire. I lifted myself up and rest back on my elbows. "Gee, thanks, Cousin, think you can wait a little longer to help next time, till I am completely crushed?"
"Be glad I helped at all. This is a vampire mess and you have put us all in danger by putting us smack in the middle of it!" He hissed.
I raised myself up, being re-energized by anger. "Excuse me? You are fucking joking, right? I'm not sure if you're just joining in on our little soap opera, here, Cousin, but" I stalked over to him and poked my finger into his chest "do NOT forget, I was sent here by our grandfather! Alberik was abducted by Breandan, while he blackmailed Eric in order to use him in the fight against us. All to help OUR KIN avoid or win this stupid 'war' with him and his crazed factions. So that, to me, dear Cousin sounds like you have an issue to take up with the Council and Grandfather. I'll be sure to let them know of how inconvenienced you've been." He looked nervously down at the sword on my hip, then his mouth fell open in shock.
I heard a telltale pop and I swung around, ready for a fight, not knowing if someone had followed me from the torture room. "Sookie!" Claudine dropped the huge book she had in her hands and ran to me, hugging me tightly-too tight given how much my body hurt.
I squeaked "Claudine, ow, I'm fine." Over her shoulder I saw Eric, quiet this whole time, staring between me and his brother, concern for both of us etched in his face. I broke out of her grip and her eyes were immediately drawn to the sword. She let her mouth fall agape. I waived my hand at her to get her attention. "Claudine, yes, I have my sword. We need to talk about everything that happened. There is a serious traitor in our ranks and probably even worse than that, but I want to get Eric out of the chains and let him take his brother somewhere safe. Can you two pop somewhere sort of far-ish, so I can unchain these guys and then I'll call you ASAP?" She nodded, still speechless, her eyes now sad. "Give me thirty minutes or less. Wait-will you walk out of here, then pop. There's a whole lot of fairy and magic stinking up the place about now-"
Eric finally spoke, interrupting me, "Sookie, I am under control, if that is what you mean. And I can control my brother." I believed him. All this magic and two full-blooded fairies flitting in and out, and he looked completely normal. Hm.
"Okay. So, sound like a plan?" I looked back expectantly at Claudine, she nodded, a little worried but gestured for Claude to come with her. She reached for his hand and he went to her, giving me a wide berth, but not escaping without a scathing look before they popped out.
"Whew." I felt like I could take a breather. I ran over to Eric and threw myself into his arms, while calling the silver off him. It disappeared in an instant and he wrapped his arms around me.
"Gods, Sookie! I thought I'd lost you!" He ran his hands all over me, as if to ensure I was real. "Are you unhurt?" I nodded, feeling a stinging behind my eyes, not able to talk just then. I was happy to be back in his arms, happy that he felt the same, sad at the betrayal I felt by my own people. "You were so brave, Sookie. Your grandfather was right, at least about one thing: you are a warrior. And your magic is great." He was cupping my face between his big hands and was leaning in for a kiss when, behind us, we heard a low moan.
I gasped, "I need to unchain him! I got some of them off, but didn't have time to get them all."I stood up. And turned to tend to poor Alberik.
"I know." My head whipped around to look at Eric. He was rubbing his wrists and flexing his ankles where the silver had been and he looked back at me, knowingly. "I know, Sookie. I saw it all."
My brows furrowed together. How had he seen it?
"I swear to you, I will tell you all I saw, later. As you will tell me." I nodded in agreement and made towards Alberik again.
"Do not unchain him yet. I am sorry for his pain but I don't want to have to kill him for attacking you, now that we just got him back." He gave me a crooked smile. "I will fly him to Fangtasia for blood first, then one of my homes to heal." He took a step and kissed me, hard and passionate.
He made a move to step past me, but I grabbed his hand. "You need to heal before you fly yourself and your brother into the side of a building. You've been chained in silver for some time, now and though I know you will deny it, I know it took it's toll."
"Absolutely not! I will be fine. I have withstood much worse torture than that and flown under much more dire circumstances! You have used too much magic tonight and you yourself look weak. No way."
"That's great but the difference here is that I don't have to fly myself, plus one, anywhere. And as soon as my cousins return, I can regenerate my magic and strength. I am offering it to you to help you help your brother." He had such a steely-eyed look, I knew I wasn't going to get my way, unless "...maybe I need you to take it. I need the closeness we both feel when you do." I said shyly, "Just a little."
He immediately caved. I stifled any feeling of victory, because I really did want him to have his strength. For all we knew, an army of Water Fairies could show up and attack, having put some kind of tracking device on Alberik, and I told him just that. "Again, I am impressed with your foresight. Fine." He sighed, exaggeratedly, though with a smile on his face.
"Good because, I was just going to make a wound" I gestured to my wrist "and if you didn't take it, I was going to offer it to Alberik-"
He growled, grabbed my hand and kissed my wrist, roughly. "Never. You will always only be mine now, Sookie."
How could I not feel a thrill at that? I waggled my eyebrows at him, "I'm okay with that."
The other vampire in question made more noises, indicating he was rousing a little more. I looked over. He was growling and his eyes were burning a hole into me. I gasped, taken aback-they looked so much like Eric's! His silver burns, where I had removed the chains had healed up-not completely, but they were closed. He looked less gray. He obviously needed more blood. From the look on his face, he wanted mine. I had seen that look before-nostrils flared, pupils dilated not too long ago from my own vampire when he caught scent of the faeness.
He observed me with Eric and seemed to try to shake himself clear of his fog but the instinct was too strong and he growled much more intensely, and pulled at the restraints on his wrists. I inwardly cringed as I saw the wrist where his hand had been cut off. It had tried to grow back, but didn't get very far. I swallowed back my rage at who had been responsible for this. He had done nothing to deserve this, other than his association with Eric.
"Brother, you will curb your instinct now. I know you are injured but this woman is mine." I looked back to my vampire. He was still holding my wrist to his mouth, rubbing his lips back and forth across my veins. I nodded my permission for him to bite me there, both of us preferring him to bite my neck, but knowing what kind of trouble that would start if he did. He bit, as gently as possible and it did hurt a little, but the second he drew blood from the wound, the pain was replaced with pleasure. We kept our eyes locked on each other as he fed. He was making low moans against my skin as he nursed the wound and I fought the warmth I felt between my legs. Thankfully, Alberik's growling and straining against his restraints grew stronger, making Eric stop. He reluctantly sealed the wounds and I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. He gave me that knowing, devilish smile that made me want to slap him then sex him up. "Did you take enough?"
He closed his eyes and gently kissed my wrist one last time, then gently placed it at my side. "Mmm...perfect." He was still doing The Look, "Ugh, you. Stop that. You do look pinker though." He laughed at that.
"Okay, let's do this. I think I can just remove the chains off him in a poof, as long as you can keep him from attacking me." I edged closer and he got even more crazed-it was making me a little nervous. This wasn't Eric, after all and he had been tortured and starved for weeks.
"Poof?"
"Call them off, wave them away, magic, whatever." I shrugged.
"Yes, I saw you do that for him earlier. I am impressed. I thought you only had some magic, Sookie. Your words, by the way, not mine."
"I do only have some. I seem better dealing with inanimate objects-calling things to me, making them go away, spells on an item. I have a much harder time with people, hence needing my cousins to teleport far, or so I thought until tonight. Okay, ready?"
He walked to Alberik and grabbed both arms. "As soon as you remove them, I am getting us out fast. You will come to me tonight?"
"I will deal with my cousins and call you immediately. It may be a short talk with them, I'm confused, hurt and feeling short-tempered with my family as of now." He gave me a tender, understanding look and I kissed his cheek, then took several steps back, as far from them as I could get and still be in the same room. "Okay, here goes." I whisked my hand in the air in a horizontal swiping motion. The chains were gone and the vampires zipped off in a blur.
I sighed, got myself a water and gulped it back, picking up the phone to call my cousins. It only rang her number once. Immediately there was a pop and they were right there in my living room, as though they had never left, just stayed paused in some limbo land.
I was pacing before their forms even solidified. Claudine opened her mouth but I held up my hand. "So, who all was in on this?! Everyone? Am I the only one that didn't know? And if the whole fucking family is on it, is there even a threat of war between the Sky and Water Fae, or has this all been a huge ruse?"
"Sookie, slow down! What are you talking about? None of what you're asking makes sense. Where did you go and what did you see?" She looked the picture of innocence, concern and confusion. To her credit, she really seemed to have no clue and I got no indication when I read her. Claude, however, looked...less so. I stared at him, blinking a few times, trying to read him but he was blocking me hard.
"You saw what happened. I tried to bring Alberik here, but ended up going to him. It took me a second to figure out where I was. But I did, much to my dismay. Preston was there, obviously fully aware the vampire was being held captive, if not actively involved in it. He tried to capture me, as well."
"Preston?! He couldn't have been involved! He isn't bright and seems...off, but I can't imagine-Wait, where is 'there'?"
"I was somewhere on the grounds of The Palace."