A/N: Quick mythology lesson: Daemons can be defined as "good or malevolent supernatural beings between mortals and Gods, such as inferior divinities and ghosts of dead heroes". They served as a link between the human and divine spheres. The Latinized spelling was purposely adopted from the Greek word daimôn, to distinguish daemons of ancient Greek religion from the Judeo-Christian demons.

I apologize for the delay in this chapter. Now that the holidays are past, I should get back to my normal speed. Thank you, as always, for the wonderful reviews! I wish all of you a very happy 2009.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or stories from The Southern Vampire series. I can only hope that Ms. Harris does not mind me taking them out to play with.

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To say that I was in shock would be an understatement of epic proportions. These visions could not possibly be telling me what they seemed to be. That I was a distant descendant of a divine child? Oh, and not just that, but a divine child who was the Grandson of a God and a mythical, snake-like, child devouring, vampire monster? A descendant who had picked up the DNA and blood of dozens of other supes along the way? Oh, and let's not forget, was now blood bonded to the only vampire child of the Mother of said Grandson? Did someone slip acid in that honey mead?

Eric had gone completely still. He had seen it all with me, and his shock was no less than mine. There was one notable difference in our current thought processes, however. Eric actually believed in what we'd seen.

I vaguely heard a laugh coming out of my throat, but not one of humor. I sounded... crazed. "Heh... heh... heh... The divine barmaid. Heh... heh... heh."

"Sookie..." Eric said, trying to still me with his touch, though there was no admonishment in his tone.

I snapped my head around to him, seeing uncertainty in his eyes, like he was looking at someone he barely recognized.

"Eric, stop it! Stop looking at me like I'm an alien! This is absurd!" I hissed, scrambling out of his lap. He didn't try to keep me there, which just upset me further. I plopped down with a huff in another pile of pillows. Eric remained motionless, just staring at me like I had the plague.

Suddenly a deep voice filled the room, commanding attention.

"I told you this was a mistake, Phemonoe."

He stepped out of the shadows as if he'd emerged straight out of one of the statues. Hovering behind the Sibyl, arms folded across his chest, those glowing green eyes leveled straight at me. Victor.

"Oh great, just great," I grumbled.

Eric was up like a shot, sword drawn, before the words finished leaving my lips. He moved protectively in front of me, his blade held at the ready. I gleaned from Eric, through the bond, that despite his appearance, this was definitely not Victor the vampire.

"Sit down, Viking, lest you wish your final death," the impostor hissed, taking a step forward.

Eric growled, "Was it you the entire time, daemon, or only when Sookie was being led to the lion's den?"

"Enough!" the Sibyl shrieked.

The room fell silent.

"Now you," she said, pointing to Eric with her walking stick, "Sit. And you," with a point to 'Victor', "Quit with the dramatics."

I almost giggled at that one. Eric waited until the daemon had moved silently back behind Phemonoe, then went down on his haunches near me. His sword remained unsheathed.

Phemonoe sighed, taking another sip from her goblet. "Avel," she began, and I realized this must be 'Victor's' true name. "Where is the fairy?"

"Hiding in the ether like the coward that he is," the daemon hissed.

I had no idea what they were talking about, of course. The only fairies I knew were my Great Grandfather and cousins, and I couldn't imagine anyone referring to any of them as cowards. Well, maybe Claude, I don't know enough about him to say one way or the other. I began to wonder how many 'hours' I'd actually been awake. Since this night seemed eternal, I imagined the vampires could stay awake an indefinite amount of time. Oddly enough, I wasn't feeling tired. Romania felt like light years ago, but my body seemed not to sense any passage of time.

The stress of it all was beginning to get to me, though. Without Rachal's calming presence, and with Eric tensed up from Avel's arrival, I was left to the musings of my mind. How does one even begin to try to process the sheer volume of information that had been thrown at me? I could barely comprehend it, much less attempt to analyze any implications of it. I'd always given Eric such a hard time when he wouldn't just answer all my questions. Be careful what you wish for.

Phemonoe grumbled her dissatisfaction at Avel's answer, "We must proceed without him, then. I had hoped to give him the chance to explain himself to the child, but no matter. Avel, Eiríkr; leave us." She waved her hand dismissively.

I could tell Eric wasn't pleased, but he made no argument. Once Avel had faded back into the shadows, Eric sheathed his sword, and turned on his haunches to meet my gaze. His eyes were gentle, but I could still see and feel traces of his new discomfort with me, and I bristled.

"I will not be far, Dear One," he said softly, kissing my cheek. My eyes followed as he disappeared silently out the doorway.

"Come. Sit nearer to me, child," Phemonoe beckoned.

I had no reason to fear her, as far as I could tell, and so I did as she asked. I knew Eric wouldn't have left if there were any possibility of danger. At least, I hoped that was still the case. I settled myself on some pillows near her stool, tucking my legs up Indian style. We sat in silence for a time, and I welcomed it, allowing my mind to slip back into a calmer state. The firelight danced across her pale face and stark white hair, but the blackness of her sightless eyes seemed to remain untouched.

"In ancient times, the species all roamed the Earth, seas and skies together, though certainly not always in harmony. Very few hid their existence from others, there was no need. Over time, banality began to creep into the world, casting a shadow of fear. The humans became greedy and arrogant, desiring to rid the Earth of those they now perceived as their persecutors. Through force of numbers alone, they succeeded in making their war, both in body and mind. Over the centuries, some of the species were annihilated, others driven back to their own planes. Those that remained faded into the shadows, no choice left to them but to live behind a mask, the only proof of their existence contained in the myths of old."

I listened to Phemonoe, hugging my knees to my chest. My renewed sense of calm was fleeting. I felt a chill creeping across my skin, and tension returning to my body.

"As with all things, the cycle is once again coming round. The very things that humans used to dismiss our existence, their logic and science, is what has allowed us to begin to re-emerge. It started with the vampires, but they are only the first of many to come. Many are weary with their long absence from the world, and desire to reclaim what was once theirs. I fear war shall rage once again. If compromise cannot be found between us and the humans..." she trailed off with a heavy sigh.

I rested my chin on my knees, feeling the weight of her words pressing down on me. The Fellowship of the Sun may only be the beginning. What she hinted at sounded no less frightening than the apocalypse. Many feared the end of the Earth would come with nuclear weapons, and no doubt, humanity would utilize them if they felt it necessary. Add to that supernatural powers and forces I'd only begun to scrape the surface of, and it's enough to make you want to just crawl in a hole and hide.

"Do not fret, child," the Sibyl said gently. "It is the way of the universe to follow this cycle of rebirth. Creation and destruction are dependent upon each other for all to thrive. The Gods are infinite in their wisdom, and set forth the forces to allow our survival long before we walked this Earth. You, dear child, are but one of them."

Somehow I had already known where this was leading, and was too numb at this point to succumb to further shock. I'd already begun trying to convince myself this was all just some bizarre dream. Maybe I had food poisoning. I'd been reading too many fantasy novels lately. I had a fever. I'd finally gone well and truly crazy.

"Well," I said, standing up. "This has all been so interesting, and I do thank you for your hospitality, but I really need to be waking up now. No more time for dreams. I have to work tonight. Y'know. I'm a barmaid. A crazy, telepathic, human barmaid from a backwater town in Louisiana. So, I'll just be going now," I said, closing my eyes tight, and smacking my face a few times in the hopes I'd bat myself out of sleep.

Not surprisingly, nothing happened. I peeked out one eye, huffing a sigh of frustration at the lack of change in my surroundings, and began to pace around the room. The Sibyl stayed quiet.

This is ridiculous. It's beyond ridiculous! There's a logical explanation for this somewhere, I just have to find it. Stress, maybe. Eric is sitting awaiting a tribunal somewhere, who knows if it's even Romania, and I'm just afraid. My mind is creating this dream to help me sort through it. Well, now I'm getting just plain frustrated. Enough already!

Oh... hell. Not again.

I looked slowly down at my hands. They were clenched in fists. My jaw was so tight I thought I might break a tooth. I knew what was coming seconds before the pain began searing into the back of my eyes.

"No no no no no!" I screamed, jerking my head to Phemonoe as the glow began building around my hands.

Why the hell is she just sitting there? Do something!

My knees were starting to give out. The pain was building behind my eyes, and my brain began to pulse with the impending explosion. So bright... maybe this time I'll die.

I heard Eric call my name just as I was collapsing to the ground. Then I felt him. His arms wrapped around me from behind, his hands sliding down to meet my glowing fists.

The bond flared from both ends as Eric seemed to absorb some of the energy threatening to explode from me. It poured equally from both of us as we fought together to contain it. It swirled in vibrant colors, humming with the vibrations of an impending sonic boom.

Let go, Sookie. I have you.

Somehow... I understood what he wanted of me. I swam out for the tendrils of the bond, trying to focus my entire being toward its center. With every ounce of control I could find, I released the energy to it, like slowly letting the air out of a balloon. The colors and light danced along the tendrils from both ends as Eric let go with me. The pressure valve was released.

The world was still. Our minds glimpsed each other across the fathomless depths of the bond, which now held in its center a brilliant light. It shimmered and glowed there, calm and serene, as if it merely awaited direction. Eric's deep voice echoed in the ether.

All I could think, when you dove on top of me in Romania, was to wish you were home safe in Bon Temps.

And I was wishing I had just pursued you once Hallow's curse was broken, thinking I'd wasted so much precious time.

When your body collided with mine, the light coming from you was so intense. In that instant I felt myself merge with it. I believe that, somehow, our errant thoughts directed an outcome. Thus we found ourselves back to the night it all began.

Eric... how is that possible?

All things are possible, Dear One. With the new state of our bond, we now appear to have some control over the outcome.

Then... what do we do? What should we... wish for?

Time. Time to understand and choose which path to take.

Our silent wish was made. The light of the bond whirled and spun, ripples of energy flowing and fusing, becoming one. I vaguely became aware of my body collapsing with Eric's to the floor, still cradled in his arms. The light at the center dimmed to a soft glow, as though it were resting, awaiting our return.

I slipped under into a dreamless sleep, held securely in the arms of my other half.

TBC