A/N: Bloody. Hell. I tried, guys, I really did. *Hangs head in shame* I tried to move this fuggin story ahead, but got snagged on a large Gracious Plenty, the fresh fellow. I had to wrap up the whole chase thing and it seemed Eric was a little full of himself and a little fluffed that she kept popping out on him, so he had to make her squirm a bit. Oye, so I inched forward on the bottom half in regards to plot. Next chapter, I SWEAR will have Pam, Alberik and others and more plot. I love your guys' witticisms and conjecture about plot. Some of you are spot on about some things. They (reviews) always make me laugh or smile, especially when I'm at work and not supposed to be reading them lol. So, the usual humdrum:I own nada, except Alberik and I made him look a lot like Eric so I can use him at my disposal. *tweedles moustache evilly* I have no beta. I have thought of finding one, but it seems like it would slow the process of posting a chapter up. Hugs and kisses. You guys rock. If you get a hankering for Eric as a Viking, just google "Eric Northman as a Viking". You'll see the one I used for inspiration. You'll know it when you see it. Yessss...

Ch. 26

He was behind me in an instant. "What did I tell you about winking at me, Sookie?"

"Mmm...that you'd fuck me where I stand?"

"Precisely." He brought one hand around to my breast, another between my legs and began to rub them both in torturous circles. "Do you want me to fuck you right here, my little minxy fairy?"

"Maybe..." I panted out, turning my head toward him and pulling his head into my neck.

"Well" he scraped his fangs lightly across my skin, causing goosebumps, "normally I would be more than obliging, but in this case, you are mine now, to do with as I please." He circled his fingers over my nub several more times, and teased my nipple, making me mewl out and my knees shake a little. "And I have decided, not here."

"Argh!"

He chuckled and picked me up, in the same position we had been in-him behind me, and flew us up. Once past the canopy, he inverted us, so I was face up to the night sky and he was floating us on his back. I gasped. It was stunning-the feeling of floating, and being up so high in such a vivid night sky.

"It's so beautiful."

"Remind me to do this on a full moon. It's even lovelier." He began his ministrations between my legs again, but this time he used both hands. When I gasped in protest, he silenced me. "Sshh, you're safe Sookie. I promise, I won't drop you. Now just turn off your mind and enjoy what you feel."

I trusted him. He wouldn't let me fall or any harm to come to me. I was safe. I took a deep breath and let the calm wash over me. His sigh behind me let me know he felt it as well. He resumed his movements. One hand was around the front, and circled my nub, the other came from behind and slid through my folds. If we had been on solid earth, I probably would have come up off the ground at the almost invasive, yet delicious feeling. I sucked in a huge gulp of air and brought my hand around to the back of his neck. He continued his onslaught, very slowly, very gently, one hand sliding up and down through my folds, the other surrounded my clit with two fingers, making small circles.

"Open your eyes, Sookie. Keep them open." I didn't realize my eyes had closed; they popped open and the canvas of the black sky freckled with so many bright stars loomed before me so close I could touch it. It was a surreal feeling-like I was encased, surrounded on all sides. His fingers showed me no mercy. Teasing me with intense pleasure, but never giving me more. I grew restless. I rubbed my legs together and tried to reach behind me to grab his cock, "Ah, ah, ah, Sookie. You are not to touch me there unless I give you instruction to do so."

"Damn you." I growled out between clenched teeth.

"What's the matter my fairy, is this not pleasurable enough for you?" He sped up his hands and I cried out, arching my bottom into him. "Answer me, Sookie." Dirty talk in the heat of the moment was one thing, but to specifically say what I wanted required confidence I wasn't sure I had. "Answer me, or I won't give you what you want." He slowed his movements way down. Gah! I forgot the question, so I asked him to repeat it.

"I said, is this" he went back to his fast paced motions "not pleasurable enough for you?"

"Ahh, it is v-v-verry pleasurable."

"Then why do you wiggle and try to grab at me, as if you need more? If it were enough you wouldn't be able to think or move, you would be too busy coming for me." He ran his lips along my ear. "Tell me, Sookie, do you need more?" He teased my entrance with his fingers, running the tips along the outside, then paused with two fingers, right there, but not penetrating. "Sookie?" He pushed his fingers in one millimeter, then pulled them out again. I wanted to scream. "Do. you. need. more?" Each word was punctuated with the same millimeter finger tease.

"Yes. Yes, Eric, p-please. I need you inside me." I was rewarded with his fingers pushing deep inside me and his front hand continuing the circles on my clit. I cried out and grabbed at his hip, needing something to hold on to, as he plunged in and out of me.

"Is that what you wanted?"

"Mmm hhhmm." Wasn't he the one that told me to turn off my mind? How the eff was I supposed to do that with all his questions and talking?

He began whispering his old language in my ear and though I couldn't understood what he said, the tenderness in his voice contrasted the torture with his fingers. I let his sweet, husky timbre envelope me. I could feel my muscles clench and the spiral building up in my stomach. "Are you close, Sookie?"

I nodded. He stilled his hands and I whimpered in frustration. "No, not here. You aren't ready yet." He spun me to face him and he had the most vindicated, obnoxious look on his face, so pleased with himself for torturing me. It took everything I had not to slap him. Instead I clenched my jaw and silently vowed I wasn't going to break under this little teasing game he was playing. "Let's go to the cabin." How was this cocky monster the same man who just whispered tender things in my ear?

I seethed. He flew us down to the deck. When he came back for his Viking helmet, he must have turned the hot tub on, because the lights were on and it looked ready to go. He deposited me into the water and slipped in behind me. He rubbed my shoulders. "There, is that better? You seem so tense." I could hear his voice dripping with smirk, so I stayed silent. Admittedly it felt wonderful, so I enjoyed and relaxed into it while I plotted my revenge. He slipped a hand under the water and began massaging my lady bits again but used one hand to work knots out of my neck. Fine. I enjoyed it, moaned, panted and thrust into his hand, maybe a little exaggeratedly, for show. "Sookie, you didn't answer me. Is this better?"

"Mmm...yes. It feels heavenly."

"Are you getting close?"

"Yes." He stopped the hand beneath the water. I made no noise of protest, I didn't move.

"You're so quiet, my fairy. Are you mad?" He ran a hand over my breast, massaging it's weight and teasing the nipple, while running two fingers through my folds.

"Mmm...mad? No, why would I be mad?" Pinch, slide.

"I imagined maybe you didn't like your punishment."

Don't stiffen up, Sookie, do NOT stiffen up. Just bite your tongue, don't let your heart rate spike, he's toying with you. My fucking punishment?! I played gently with the hair on the arm that was extruding it's sweet torture on my breast, but resisted the urge to gouge his muscle out with my nails. "Punishment? No...I just thought you were tired from the chase, or maybe didn't feel up to it tonight and-"

He spun me to face him and impaled me on his full length, to the hilt, and I cried out in surprise, pain and pleasure. He growled at me, pulling my hair back. "Now that is a falsehood, my sneaky fairy. You have felt 'IT' ", he pulled me up and sat me back down on him. Hard. "Many times tonight." I cried out again, rendered to jelly at his rough yet delicious handling of me. "Tell me, Sookie." He pounded into me twice more, then brought my head forward to look him in the eyes. "Did you say that just to goad me into giving you what you wanted?" Pound, pound. I didn't answer. Not on purpose, I just couldn't. He ground me against his pelvic bone several times, I almost came right then but of course, he stopped. It must have been some kind of sensory overload from an hour's worth of teasing, but my head was swimming. "Answer me, Sookie." Thrust thrust grind.

Wait-what was the question...oh yeah, did I? I wasn't sure. I thought I had said it just to be spiteful and hit below the belt, but maybe I had said it to have just this outcome. "It's possible." I mumbled out thickly, barely recognizing my own voice. He was making the tiniest thrusts in and out. I heard a strange rasping sound that I couldn't identify. Oh, it was me, breathing.

" 'It's possible' ?" He chuckled. How the fuck was he so in control right now? "Now, I know truly just how Fae you really are. Can never answer a fucking question directly." More slight, maddening thrusts. "You said it because you knew I would take you just. the. way. I. did." He slammed into me to emphasize each word, each time making sure he ground my clit against him, just so. I wanted to scream, but was captive to this sweet torment. He stilled his thrusts, but pressed my hips against him, so there was constant pressure on my nub, but I was powerless to move. "Didn't you?"

Oh hell, this was getting ridiculous, just give in and he'll make you come, you stubborn mule. "Yes, I suppose I did" I smiled sweetly at him. He raised an eyebrow at that, put his thumb on my clit, massaging it in a circular motion, latched on to a breast with his mouth and pounded into me no more than five times before I came unhinged. I came like a freight train, screaming his name, sobbing and gripping at his neck and shoulders, riding out the waves and rocking against him in what was officially the longest, most powerful orgasm I had to date. He held me to him while I shuddered, twitched and slowed my breathing.

He kissed my forehead, "I'll be back in a flash." Like I could move anyway. A second later, he picked me up out of the water and lay me down on the blanket he had spread out. He lay on top of me, supporting his weight and looked down at me. I reached up to touch his face as he placed himself at my entrance, pausing for permission. How he had hung on the last hour was a testament to his stamina. I nodded, then gasped at the feeling of him entering me, still super sensitive from moments before. He thrust deeply into me, never taking his eyes off mine.

Lifting my legs up around his shoulders he reached even deeper and I felt his head rub up against that magical spot. Again, I felt that mind-numbing, sensory overload wind it's way up through my core. His beautiful, smoldering eyes, trying to burn holes into mine and that feeling of each deep thrust he made, filling me so completely-It was like I was getting it from top to bottom.

I fought off the climax he was trying to give me because I knew he was close. Letting one leg slide down around his waist, I bucked up into his thrusts and pulled his face into my neck. Weaving my fingers into his hair, I breathed "Eric, drink from me." He groaned and I arched my neck. I felt it the second his fangs slid through my skin like butter. I immediately and violently came, clenching around his length, and I felt him swell up and explode inside me. He moaned out against my skin, gripping me around my shoulders and pulling me down onto him hard as he rode the last waves. He dropped his weight forward, pulling from the wounds, still making small thrusts. Every bit he drank from me only elongated my pleasure, so I was in no way wanting him to stop. He tried after a moment but I wouldn't let him. I willed him into continuing, though I wasn't sure if he felt it. I didn't feel weak at all, in fact, I felt better the more he took, but I wasn't sure if that was mental, physical or if it was some dopamine based delusion.

Finally, after I felt he had taken enough, I released the death grip I had on his head. He licked the wounds and lapped any missed blood. He kissed where he had punctured then pulled back to look at me worriedly, "Are you well?"

I gave him a rosy smile, "Mmm, yes, quite. Why?"

"I took more blood than I should have."

"Meh, I certainly feel fine, not weak at all." He gave me an odd look, but said nothing. He carried me into the house, placed me on the couch, zipped back out and was back, holding his helmet with a goofy grin. I couldn't help but laugh at him. He put it on.

"So, you cannot track me, mentally when I wear it?"

I closed my eyes, "Move around." I assumed he did, and other than sense his proximity through our whatever bond, I could not sense him. He must have taken it off, because suddenly I picked him up, upstairs.

"Now?" He called down.

"Yep." It disappeared so I assumed he put it back on. "Gone again."

He flew down the stairs, helmet on, a very old leather and metal belt, with sword attached around his waist and...black socks. Nothing else. I almost peed with laughter while he attempted to look innocent. He came closer as I rocked back and forth, holding my stomach. I wanted so much to call my phone to me, so i could take a picture, but couldn't stop laughing enough to do it. I wiped a few tears and settled down. The closer he got, the heavier I felt and my laughter died down. He stopped, understanding why I stilled. "These were mine, in my human life."

"They're lovely. Beautiful actually." I could see the intricate scrolling on the metal work. He held his sword out and I stood up, though kept my distance, and examined it. Wow, it really was stunning. I had a feeling I knew the answer to my next statement, "You made this."

"Yes." He smiled with pride at his sword and at me, for knowing, I thought.

"Solid iron?"

"Mostly. Some copper and tin, as well." I looked up and edged closer to his helmet. It had a matching detail, though not as intricate and I raised my hand to run my hand near it, but was compelled back. If I had really pushed it, I probably could have touched it, but I wasn't trying to go there.

If I blocked out the fact that he was naked and wearing black socks, he looked very much the Viking he was. He was ancient and rugged-I could picture him in battle, sword drawn, swinging his sword 'round in a fury. He would have been frightening and a formidable foe. I must have been giving him a strange look, because he gave me a sexy smile.

"What thought makes such a lusty look cross my woman's face?" When he talked old-fashioned like that, it did things to me.

"You look like a warrior." Apparently that made him a little lusty as well. He tossed his garb to the chair a few feet away and crushed me to him, kissing me. We had a little moment, but I broke it off, refusing to get sucked into another round of dirty, awesome, warrior sex-Knock it off, Sookie! I shook myself.

"Eric..." I practically whined.

He gave me that cocky look, "Is that you're way of saying you have a headache?"

"Psht-not hardly. You'll never hear me use that excuse." He was appeased by that. He sat on the couch and patted next to him, so I sat. He was still giving me a predatory look, "You would have made a wonderful Viking woman. You have all the attributes. You are fierce, loyal, strong, dangerous, loving."

"Thank you." I did feel honored. I knew he took his heritage very seriously and he was very proud, as he should be. For him to equate me to something he held in such high regard...was meaningful. We must have stared at each other like moon-eyed tweens for a minute. I broke us of our reverie and cleared my throat. "Phaedra."

He sighed and ran his hand through his hair, tensely. "Fucking Phaedra." My eyebrows shot up at his anger. "First tell me what you know of her, why you are asking me."

"Claude said, in Preston's ramblings he mentioned a Phaedra. But he had no clue who or what that was, neither did Claudine or I."

"She has had no business with fairies through the centuries, that I am aware of, which is why you have not heard of her. Though often, her reputation precedes her and I would imagine Niall will know of her."

"Okay. What's her reputation?"

"She calls herself a demigod, the illegitimate child of Pasiphaë and Dionysus, though historically her father was Minos, King of Crete. She is a follower of Dionysus, which is why it is believed she claims him as her father, though he is not.

More than likely, she had an affair of some kind with Dionysus when he sent a bull to kill her lover. The story becomes quite hazy and there are several versions. Regardless, after her introduction to Dionysus, she became quite mad and has stayed so since. She dabbles in every kind of magic and sorcery that crosses her whimsy. Most of the gods and demigods of the Pantheon have died out, the few that remain are solitary. They stick with their followers and no one else. She belongs to no one, and has no loyalties other than to Dionysus, herself and to chaos.

Often, she will appear to those worshiping him and lead them on of his second coming through her, then drive them to destruction. Her favorite, in the last thousand years has been rallying them, then exposing them to Christian fanatics- hence The Crusades, The Inquisition, The Salem Witch Hunts."

Just then, my phone rang. It was Claudine. I answered, excited but nervous. "Sookie. Claude is back."

"Okay, and?"

"Grandfather and everyone else is fine, but Preston is missing."

I let out a huge sigh. "Thank you. Did you mention Phaedra to anyone there?" I heard her ask Claude. "He said, no. He didn't know he was supposed to."

I sighed. "Okay, well I have some information on her and we may have to send Claude back to talk to grandfather. I have a theory about what could be going on." I thought about asking them to pop here, but I didn't want them knowing Eric's secluded hideaway, unless absolutely necessary. "Let Eric and I get ready to go back in to town and I'll get back with you."

I could hear her smirk over the phone. "See you next week then."

"You, hush. Give me a few hours though, because I want to make sure his brother is okay."

"Okay, bye."

I looked to him, to make sure he heard all of that and he nodded. "What is your theory, Sookie?" he asked, though I had a feeling he had the same one.

"Phaedra has probably, for whatever reason, latched on to Breandan and his people, during their time of disorder and struggle for power, and is fueling their fire against us."

"Unfortunately, I think you are right. She is probably enthralling him with her madness. If not all of the Water Fae."

"Why can The Council not control her?"

"She has never threatened the Supe World specifically, so has not posed a threat, I am guessing. Maybe now they will have to."

I rose to go grab a bite to eat before we left. He gathered his weapons and I gave him a wide berth. Once he stored them in a hidden safe behind a panel near the fireplace, I summoned my Fairy sword to me and handed it to him. He looked pleasantly surprised and looked it over. "This is iron." I nodded, my mouth full of yogurt and granola. "How are you able to wield it, then?"

"My trainer, Kvelin had it made for me, on my 16th birthday. He is Britlingen and had it made in his realm." The moment I said "trainer" and "he" Eric's hackles went up. He got steely-eyed and he clenched his jaw. I pretended not to notice and bit back a smile. "In fact he looks a lot like you. Isn't that odd? Anyway, he trained me for many years in all things physical, all the moves you've seen me do and many you haven't yet seen. And weaponry, he has taught me-"

He huffed. "I can teach you many more and more effective ones at that. I have a room with hundreds of swords and weapons."

I smiled gently at him and stroked his ego a little, "I would love that and I am excited to learn from you. I am always willing for a little sparring." I waggled my eyebrows at him and he calmed down.

"So, in reward for doing well, he had the sword commissioned for me. He always said I would be the most vulnerable from my own kind-well, he meant the Water Fairies. He was very intuitive, but he is Britlingen, so of course he would be." I hadn't meant that to irritate him, I meant it as a statement about their kind, but his ire went up again. I continued on, to distract him, "The iron nature of the sword, obviously could not be made in my realm. He took my blood, as well" At that, I thought he might come unglued. He held my sword outward now, as if mentally challenging an imaginary Kvelin. I touched his arm to calm him and he relaxed his pose. "And had it forged with a magic spell on the blade so that I could hold it and it could never be used by another Fairy on me. He would never say what or who made the spell so that it could never be broken. Smart."

"I would like to meet this, Kvelin" he practically spat his name.

"Now, now, Eric." I wound my hands around his waist. "You are my first. And only. You know that as a fact. Do you really need to beat your chest and challenge him, when I so clearly choose you?" He kissed me possessively and I submitted to it.

When I came up for air, "Okay, let's get going? Ooh and I need to bring the laptop. I want to show you and Pam the work that's been done on the bar. Or should we go there? I would rather do that, I hate feeling like I'm hiding."

"Let us see how Alberik is doing, first."

"And, do you think you could get a hold of Dr. Ludwig? I would love to ask her questions about us."

"I will call her. I am sure she will maker herself available."

We made our way upstairs and I made him swear we would only shower, nothing else. Surprise. He didn't keep his word. But I made him pay for his earlier "punishment".

A/N 2: Mythology refs are loosely based on some truth, some I fudged for relevance.