Truth, Lies and Misnomers
The next week brought sun and total boredom. Matt had tried to convince his father to let him go to school for the upcoming year arguing that Shreveport and the surrounding area had enough schools that he could attend each for two years and never be detected. Eric wasn't swayed but Pam was all for it; anything to get him far away in fact her she had even proposed boarding school.
Matt had found daytime television boring and had already read two books that week. He had spent much of the time alone and mourning his father's maker. He had nothing but fond memories for Godric and missed him immensely. He was pushing his father's keys around on top of the bar when he decided it was time for a little fun. He tiptoed into the back and saw the coffins closed up tight and decided to go for it. He had been told more than once he was not to go outside in the daylight, but he just couldn't stand it anymore. He grabbed the keys and slipped outside locking the door behind him.
He made his way to BonTemps the air conditioning battling the searing heat. He had practiced driving on the quiet roads when he was still in Europe. He had thoroughly mastered it, but was trying to remember now to drive on the right side of the road. One thing about being fifteen for five hundred years is you have lots of time to learn.
He pulled into the driveway of a modest house that looked as if it could use a thorough cleaning. He felt as if he was in the right place and that the person he was looking for was awaiting his arrival. He parked and shut the car off locking it and cramming the keys in his pocket. He was all the way up on the porch when Sookie came out to greet him.
"Well young Matt how are you? How did you get here?"
"I drove, it's okay I'm good at it. I just needed to talk to somebody; I'm going nuts at Fangtasia."
"Well you come on in. You have great timing since it's my day off. Do you want some lemonade?"
"Yes please," Matt answered his throat parched from the drive over.
"Have a seat," Sookie said directing him to the kitchen table. Matt smiled at her as she placed the cold beverage down in front of him. "Do you eat? How did you know I have fairy blood in me? Who exactly are you? Where did you come from?" She asked firing questions as if they were bullets from a clip.
"Whoa one question at a time and you have to promise me you will keep my secrets. I know people will find out but I just need my anonymity for as long as I can get it. But I have found I need to talk to somebody, somebody human."
"You can trust me Matt, I have kept many secrets and have many of my own," Sookie assured reaching out and touching his hands.
Matt gave a gentle smile and though he looked unsure he plunged on. "Yes I eat and drink as you can see, I am aware of things that cannot be seen, I am Eric Northman's son and I am from everywhere."
"Wait a minute Eric Northman's son? How is that even possible?"
Matt sighed heavily ready to allow all that he had held in for five centuries to rush forth.
"Nobody thought it was I am what you call an enigma, an embarrassment."
"You are not an embarrassment, who told you that?" Sookie asked her face still wearing the shock from learning that Eric had a child. "Are you a vampire? Is that why you don't age?"
Matt shook his head no. "How could I be here in the middle of the day then?"
"Hmmm good point. So what are you?"
"A one of a kind. I was born in 1595 in the woods somewhere in Europe. We moved a lot. As I told you Eric is my father though it took some convincing for him to believe it."
"What was your mother?" Sookie asked breathlessly.
"Human, but she was a witch a very powerful one."
"Shut-up, there were real witches?"
"There are real witches and they are everywhere."
"Well I'm not sure how I feel about that."
"You and a whole lot of others. Vampires and witches hate each other."
Sookie got up and walked around the kitchen for a minute and sat back down. "Why? Why do they hate each other?"
"The most powerful witches are into necromancy."
"And that is?"
"Communicating and summoning the dead to control them," Matt said picking at his nails.
"Shut-up," Sookie repeated.
"How many dead people do you know?"
"Nobody, cause when you die you're gone," she said suddenly realizing that wasn't completely true.
"Except all of the vampires that are around," Matt pointed out. "If I understand it all correctly and those that I asked told me the truth the story that surrounds my beginning goes like this. My mother, well had eyes only for Eric and it's not hard to seduce a vampire, they kind of go along for any sexual ride. But she wanted more of a lasting relationship and Eric wasn't ready to be a maker yet so she had to share him and only be with him while he was in town so to speak. She began to work on a spell that would keep him close and perhaps in a monogamous relationship. The next thing she knew she was pregnant, he denied me as his an impossibility he said."
"She used a spell to get pregnant?"
"She used powerful magic and got pregnant. I don't think that was her intent, apparently magic can have a sense of humor. I don't know maybe she didn't measure her herbs quite right, hard to say. As I grew and looked more like him, acted like him, was stronger, faster than any man in the area he had to give the possibility a thought."
"Do you have special powers?"
"I'm shall we say very athletic, I have a lot of stamina I heal quickly and have never been sick a day in my life; oh and I'm over four hundred years old. People got sick and died all around me but I never even sniffled."
"How are you still alive and still so young?"
"That's the big question. I stopped aging one day when…" Matt trailed off.
"When what?" Sookie asked leaning closer.
"When my mother died." Matt leaned back and exhaled putting his hand up palm facing Sookie. "You have to understand a few things first, I caused him nothing but humiliation, he was lorded over by a human, a witch you recall how I told you they hated each other already. So he finds out he was seduced by a witch and then impregnated one; not good times. By default I was not his favorite being. He would have never even acknowledged me if it wasn't for Godric. He saw me as a blessing, an opportunity for Eric to find something to love. But I don't think that worked out. He knew I could be in the daylight and began to ask if he could taste some of my blood thinking maybe it would give him some kind of immunity to the sun like your blood does. My mother continued to tell him no and I could tell she was worried that he might show up and take me one day. We moved to the north one summer where the sun was up nearly all the time. The traveling and stress began to take its toll and she got sick and I could tell she thought she wouldn't live much longer. I knew she was working on a big spell, but she wouldn't say anything about it. Witches have always had to stay out of the spotlight; the world has never been safe for them even if they practice white magic. One day Eric found me while my mother was away. You have to understand I knew he was my father and I wanted him to love me, deem me worthy. Perhaps take me away when my mother died. I didn't have a lot of options. He was kind and gentle when he asked if he could have some of my blood. He told me I was very special and that my blood could make him stronger. Those words to any fifteen year old from their father are hard to decline. I offered him whatever he needed. He began to feed when my mother showed up, she screamed and jumped on his back. He jumped up and threw her through the door. I was dazed and could barely get up. When I finally made it to the door of our little hut I could only make out her shape near a tree. No streetlights or flashlights back then. My father picked me up and rushed me away and I never aged again."
"Did you know she was dead then?"
"I felt it in my heart; I imagine she broke her neck when he snapped it sideways."
"He killed her?" Sookie gasped.
"Yes, and that is the only reason why he feels the least bit responsible for me."
"Did your blood allow him to be in the sun?"
"I don't know it was fairly dark already and he wasn't taking any chances. He was going to have to step out of the woods to test it out. We stayed under the canopy until the sun was well on its way to the other side of the world. He has never had my blood since. I don't know if her death directly caused me to cease aging or if she was working on an enchantment that went wrong or was disrupted and never finished. All I know is that I am forever fifteen and the only known son of a vampire."
"Wow, so can you ever die?"
"I have no idea," Matt said sadly. "Dad told me about Godric, were you with him for his true death?" he asked changing the subject.
"Yes I was, he seemed like a good guy, man, vampire," Sookie stuttered.
"One day I thought that maybe I could ask him to help me die, but I guess that's not an option now. If it wasn't for him Eric would have denied me from the beginning and I think it is only respect for his maker that he has me with him now. Godric hoped we would grow close, but I don't think Eric is capable."
"I think he is you just have to give him time. You have called him Eric throughout your conversation but you did say Dad a few times, there is a kernel there you just have to let it grow."
"Or it pops and explodes in my face."
"Ahh you are a clever boy," Sookie said putting some cookies out on the table.
"I am nothing but a reminder that one day long ago a human woman who practiced witchcraft and got the better of him." Matt sighed as he finished his explanation one that was familiar to him but suddenly didn't seem quite right, but he had no idea why. It was if the puzzle piece didn't quite fit that the past had blurred into something he didn't recognize.
"You are more than that and don't you ever sell yourself short." Sookie said bringing him back to the present.
Matt smiled and thanked her. "Can you read my mind?"
"No, there are very few that I can't read but I can't read you," Sookie admitted.
Matt inhaled and a stoic, focused look came over his face. Suddenly Sookie got bits and pieces then it became clear. "I am so glad that you listened to me, just telling somebody made me feel so much better, but I have to go soon before it's discovered that I'm gone."
"I heard that, I heard you, can you hear me?" She thought clearly looking at Matt."
"Sort of, it's kind of like a bad cell phone connection. I know Fairies are the best at reading minds. But full blooded ones can be untruthful have tricks of their own. Don't let them deceive you." Changing the subject he quickly said, "I can let you read my mind but I have to focus."
"Well you let me in only when you want to," Sookie said with a kind smile.
"Thanks, I appreciate you letting me talk to you. Do you think he will ever accept me, do you think he will ever love me?"
"I not only think it, I'm sure of it. You just have to give him some time to adjust; Eric can be something of a paradox."
"You're telling me. I'm not quite sure what my mother saw in him," Matt said staring off once again nagged by something. His memories just didn't seem to have the foundation that they once did. It seemed as if they were beginning to crumble before his eyes.
Sookie gave a dense smile knowing exactly what his mother saw in Eric. She had to admit as much as he pushed every button she had, betrayed her trust and scared the hell out of her there was something about him something inside that was worth the effort.
"I like it here," Matt said breaking Sookie out of her thoughts. "But it's too small they would figure me out too fast. Do you think I could ever be accepted? I mean vampires are out in the world and werewolves and werepanthers, shapeshifters and witches. My mother always said this world was simply the devil's playground, perhaps I am the devil."
"Whoa wait a damn minute, what the heck is a werepanther?" Sookie then shifted gears. "You are not the devil," she admonished Matt.
"You're right I'd never be accepted, I don't even rate a name. Freak, chief freak, I don't fit any category. I should just go back to Europe." He lamented.
"There you are my wayward waif," Eric said suddenly appearing in the doorway to the kitchen.
"I had no idea it was so late, I was going to be back I swear," Matt said jumping up so quickly he knocked the chair over.
"But even if you had come back in a timely manner you will still have disobeyed me by being outside and driving my car I might add."
"Eric he just needed a break, he isn't a vampire that needs to be locked up in the darkness all day. He was safe with me."
"I see and for that I'm glad. Matthew get in the car." The boy hesitated for a moment looking at Sookie. "Don't make me say it again," Eric said his fangs threatening to come out. Matt scurried out as Eric turned and yelled, "I better find you in the passenger seat!"
Sookie was nervous but when Eric turned back towards her she saw a very familiar look that her grandmother often wore. It said a variety of things one being, go out and get me a switch because you are in big trouble, but the look also was filled with love. And it was at that moment as his face held the duality of love and discipline Sookie knew that fatherhood was slowly seeping into the vampire.
"I do understand what you are saying and perhaps I can grant him permission in the future to come and visit."
"Eric just don't be too harsh on him, he's a good kid."
Eric stood quietly before he gave a small nod. "He is isn't he? This whole parenting thing is confusing and I fear I will never get the hang of it."
"Sure you will," she encouraged.
"Hmm, I think there's a reason vampires weren't meant to be parents, but I will do my best."
"Just think how lucky you are to have him. He is truly a gift."
"I will try and remember that. And Sookie please keep him our little secret, the world isn't ready for him and he comes with a lot of baggage."
"Mums the word, I promise."
"Don't trust anyone even humans, witches can be very manipulative to get what they want."
"Are there witches here?"
"If not now soon, Matthew is their prize and they will want him close."
And with that Eric was out the door and she heard the car turn over and some yelling in Swedish. Matt looked contrite but before they pulled away Eric winked at Sookie before returning to his Scandinavian tirade. She smiled and went back into the house.