And The Blood Will Flow

The vampires and witches were lined up and ready to kill. The night was black, the moon hovering but refusing to shine down on the festivities. Matt took in a deep breath suddenly feeling as if it was hundreds of years in the past. The primal emotions of creatures that were thought not to exist were primed and ready for release. There would be casualties Matthew just hoped he none would be from his side.

It began as many previous battles had with the typical trash talk a moment of complete silence then the two sides hurtling themselves at each other in full force. Matt was on the fringes hoping Eric wouldn't sense his presence; his father definitely didn't need to be distracted. The Eric of old in true Viking fashion would have already mopped up half the participants by now, but the current softer Eric was tentative and unsure. He had already ripped the hearts out of a few witches and bitten another but Matt didn't think he had what was needed to protect himself from Antonia. Matt stepped back into the shadows when he sensed Sookie was in trouble. He ran to where he felt her presence and saw her lying on the ground blood leaking from her lower abdominal region. Her face reflected the shock both physical and emotional as he began to walk towards her. Sookie saw Matt coming her way relieved that somebody had discovered her fallen body when she heard motion from a different direction. When she looked back Matt was gone; he had simply disappeared.

The teen slid down the stone, feeling its smooth coolness on his back. The moon was now full and sharing its light with him as the darkness crept into his heart. Sookie had been shot, his father was most likely still in danger and he had run away. He had to stop and think put all the pieces together, something wasn't making sense. His memories had been coming back fast and furious and none of them matched what he had believed for years and there is only one being he knew that was capable of that. He recalled the off handed comment he had made to Sookie days earlier and it all fit together. He had a date with a witch who had clouded his mind for far too long.

He ran in the darkness adjusting to the lack of light as the moon no longer befriended him. He saw Antonia showing an evil grin as Eric was down on his knees. "He's mine now Matthew, all mine."

"He'll never be yours, you may get him to do your bidding but he'll never by yours. You aren't going down tonight but you will not win I'll be sure of it. What you're doing is wrong and you know that but you can't stop anymore you have become worse than any vampire. If it's me that you want stay here and I'll be back, we'll end this tonight," Matt yelled.

"I have what I want," Antonia said looking down at Eric. "He'll do just fine."

Matthew looked down at his father who was motionless and took no notice of his presence. "You can't have him he's mine and I'm his and somehow I'll break your spell. I know what you did to us, I had no idea you were capable of hating those who have done nothing to you. You made me believe my father had no love for me; for hundreds of years I thought he had nothing but contempt for me but finally I have been able to see the truth." Antonia cocked her head unsure of what he was saying. "Yeah apparently when you wiped out his memory you broke your previous spell. I now know the truth, more of it every day. You stole my life from me."

"And now that you know the truth I'm stealing your father," she said her smile arrogant.

"I won't let you win; you have taken enough from my family."

"Big threats from such a little boy," the witch said smiling.

She was right they were merely threats, though he would find a way to make them come true but right now he was needed elsewhere. He looked back at his father, "I'll figure something out." He walked over looking down at the top of Eric's head, Matt then leaned down and with his mouth by his father's ear he whispered, "fader älska du, Jag frälsa eder" in Swedish meaning; father I love you, I will save you.

"What did you say to him?" Antonia hissed.

"The truth," Matt said confidently. He then took off running at full speed towards Bills house and Sookie. "So who are we going to pray to?" Alcide was asking.

"Finally I'm the answer to someone's prayers," Matt said rolling up his sleeve as he stepped into the room.

"She won't take it, I've tried besides my blood is more powerful than yours," Bill explained.

Undaunted Matt slid in next to Sookie shoving his forearm in Bill's face. "Bite me."

"I just told you," Bill continued.

"Trust me," Matt said widening his eyes.

"Try it what else to we have to lose," Alcide implored.

Bill shook his head but sunk his teeth into Matthew's wrist. "Make sure you explain this to your father," he said after he finished.

"You'll have a lot more to worry about than this," Matt said placing his wrist on Sookie's lips. "Come on, take it," he encouraged.

"I'm telling you she won't," Bill stated.

But suddenly a drop found its way into her mouth and she began to slurp up Matt's offering. Alcide stepped closer to get a better view. "Well I'll be, she must like the unleaded better."

"I'm a half-breed too; it's like matching blood types. I'm her favorite flavor," Matt said a satisfied look on his face.

Sookie drank and then continued to doze but her color looked much better and everybody relaxed for the moment. "I think she'll be okay," Bill said after checking on her again.

Matt sat down and sighed. He closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. "So what can you tell us?" Alcide asked.

"Way more than you care to hear," Matt began. He explained his epiphany as best he could and what the ramifications might be.

"So you're saying Antonia placed you both under a spell so that you didn't remember your past together." Bill stated.

"Exactly, she twisted our memories into something unrecognizable; she basically tore our relationship apart. Separate we were much more vulnerable or easier to keep track of, I'm not sure what her motivation was. I think she just hated the fact that we had love for one another. She couldn't bear to see what she never had."

"So when she wiped out Eric's memory, you started to remember the truth?" Alcide asked.

"Slowly and then more and more, it came much faster to me but my father began to remember things too. I wasn't certain what was true at first but now I'm sure."

"How?" Alcide asked.

"Ever since I was reunited with Eric my past began to feel like a story that I had been told over and over but had lost substance. Once he lost his memory I suddenly saw my true father again and my past seemed real, true for the first time. He began to see it to, recalling things as I was. I know what is real."

"But now Antonia put another spell on him?" Bill asked getting up and pacing the room.

"Yeah, he is totally under her control, I'm not sure what Eric you'll get but I do know one thing; he will do whatever she tells him. And that your highness places you in danger."

"Yeah I would imagine it does." Bill said looking out the window.

"It won't be tonight; she'll wait and gauge his allegiance before she puts him to the test. But I would watch your back," Matt said getting up and heading to the front door.

Bill got up and blocked his path. "I think it best if you stay here."

"Sookie will be okay she just needs to rest."

"I promised your father that if anything were to happen to him I would take care of you."

Matthew stepped back and then smiled. "Sign of a good father, in case you still had any doubts."

"Yes it is a sign of a good father," he agreed. "And it is something I intend to honor."

"I have school tomorrow."

"I'll write you a note," Bill stated clipping his words. "You can have the first bedroom on the right," he said pointing to the stairs. "I'll be taking the first watch and Alcide will have the daytime shift so don't get any ideas. We need to stay together right now; all of us."

"Okay then, but I have a history test the day after tomorrow," the teen said as he spun around and headed up the stairs.

Two mornings later as Alcide drove Matt to school he kept giving him sideways glances. Matt sighed and looked over at his chauffer. "You don't believe me?"

Alcide shook his head, "I do believe you, love changes a man in many ways, gives him a purpose."

"But makes you wonder if the spell is totally responsible for him being such an asshole?"

Alcide couldn't keep his smile in. "Yeah actually."

"I doubt that's all the spell, it just manipulated our memory. All those years I thought he despised my existence, wanted little to do with me. I felt like such a burden. But it wasn't true," Matt said still giddy with his discovery and realization all his recent memories were in fact true. "But he has been through enough tragedy and that has affected him, turned him bitter and angry. Our last family moment wasn't one to be treasured."

"What happened?" he asked as he pulled into the school parking lot.

"That my friend is a story for another day," Matt said suddenly looking serious and saddened.

Quickly changing the subject the werewolf leaned across the seat as Matthew climbed out. "Did you study for your test?"

"Nah didn't need to, I was there," the boy said his smile creeping back to his lips.

"Hey, I'll pick you up after school; 3:15."

"I can walk."

"I'll be back," Alcide confirmed sternly."

"Fine, just go back and be with Sookie," Matt replied. He then slammed the car door and made his way to the school.