Love is a Battlefield

Sookie had healed quickly and nearly completely but was also being held hostage by the vampire werewolf duo. Matt had spent much of yesterday explaining everything to her; the first spell, the effect of the second spell and finally the latest invocation that came the night before. She took it all in stride but like everyone else wondered just what Eric was now capable of.

Alcide picked Matthew up who grudgingly got into the car. The werewolf couldn't help but smile at the teens contempt. Life is complicated enough but being a non-aging immortal half vampire teen couldn't be easy. "How much longer do I have to stay imprisoned? I mean Bill can't enjoy having me around."

"He's fine with you staying at the house and I don't think he'll allow you to go off by yourself. He stands by his promises."

"What if something happens and my dad doesn't…well come back?"

"Eric will come back; Sookie has been trying to figure out a way to help him."

"No offense but Antonia has been yanking chains for hundreds of years. It isn't going to be simple to outsmart her or outduel her. First we have to figure out how and where she is going to use my father."

"Don't forget about why," Alcide said easing the car around the corner.

"I know why…she is going after Bill."

"You're certain?"

"Sure, you start at the top, take out the king of Louisiana with his sheriff doing the honors and the whole pyramid will just sort of fall apart. How can anyone feel safe after that? Panic ensues and its easy pickings. I've been around long enough to notice patterns."

"Bill is supposed to speak at some damn thing Nan cooked up to show alliance between the public and the vampire community."

"Well then I would say that would be a great place to start," Matt explained leaning his head against the head rest.

"You won't be starting anywhere, you can't be a part of this," he clarified.

"Au contraire my fuzzy friend, I have too much to lose if anything goes awry. I don't want my father to kill anybody and I don't want him to die so since my investment is rather large I plan to be front and center."

"We can't let anything happen to you, what if Eric happens to kill you. He is under a very strong spell."

"I'm well aware of what he is capable of; I've seen him in action before."

"What does that mean?"

"Same story as before and it is still for another day." They rode the rest of the way in silence both afraid of what the other might say so they stayed quiet. When Matt walked in the front door he found Sookie sitting on the edge of the couch deep in thought.

"Hey kid," she said smiling. "How's your wrist?" She asked nodding towards his bandaged arm. He had wrapped the bite wound up with gauze and then placed an Ace bandage over it so it merely looked like a sprain which was much easier to explain than a bite to the wrist.

"Nearly healed; another day or two and it will be fine. How are you feeling?"

"Trying to figure out a way to get Eric back unharmed."

"I think it's doable," he said quietly so Alcide wouldn't overhear. "We just have to work together."

Later Alcide who had been working outside came in to find Sookie and Matt sitting on the floor facing each other Matt having one hand palm side up with Sookie's hand on top of it with their other hands doing the exact opposite. Their eyes were closed and they seemed to be in deep concentration. He stood motionless and discreet. "Just picture your light as a ball of energy that you can control. It will work fiercely for you but you must use it wisely. Let it build up and then keep it there," Matt was saying. "Do you feel it?"

Sookie pulled her hands away and laid them on her stomach. "I think I do."

"You have to know it's there, make it be there don't take no for an answer. You are in control not Antonia."

She nodded and took a deep breath. Al noticed Matt's lips silently moving. More spells he feared but he was in no position to say the boy didn't know what he was doing. Finally they seemed satisfied and parted slowly standing up.

The scene was complete chaos as humans and vampires running amuck Bill continually flying over Matt's head and Eric doing his best to follow the letter of Antonia's demands. Matt tried to fight his way through the crowd and get to his father but he was just too small to compete in the pandemonium. He looked up at Marnie who housed Antonia and he glared the best he could. He could hear her whisper in his ear to join his father and join her. Suddenly he heard Sookie yell and looked over to see Eric ready to stake Bill through the heart, the next thing he knew Sookie had shot her energy at Eric breaking the spell.

Eric saw his memories fly by including his parents, Godric, holding his newborn son his wife and making love to Sookie; all of the most important things in his life. He shook the cobwebs out as he looked over at the woman who broke the spell and his mirror image staring back at him.

"That was fantastic Sookie, see I knew you could do it," Matt complimented.

"Oh no, I'm sorry Matthew," she said her words laced with disappointment causing Bill to look confused.

"The plan was for her to do that to Antonia, hopefully it would at the very least incapacitate her at best kill her but either way it would have broken the spell. The primary objective was to break the spell and save you and others," Matt said looking around.

Nan was hissing at Bill about image as everybody began to get up and dust off. Humans and vampires were scattered everywhere and the debris field was huge. Matt stepped over a fallen microphone stand and looked over at Eric who appeared as if he had gone twelve rounds with Satan.

Sookie made her way over to Matt and looked saddened. "I just reacted, I didn't think," she said touching his arm. She looked up at the blue eyes that seemed to instantly soothe, she felt a distinct tingling in her hand where she touched him.

"You did great, we'll leave Antonia for another day," Matt assured her.

She quickly pulled her hand away and turned to check on Bill as Eric stepped towards his son. "You okay?"

Matt nodded. "You?"

"I guess, I feel like I've been in a blender."

"You kinda have, we have a lot to talk about," Matt explained.

Eric looked puzzled but pulled his son close and the boy suddenly knew everything would be okay.

The next few days were time to get reacquainted with each other as personalities and memories were finally real. Eric seemed to come out with a somewhat loving center coated in crusty outer layer. It was clear he loved his son very much but it was also clear that didn't mean he didn't have high expectations. His severity was still clearly carried proudly on his shoulders but Matt could see beyond it and knew he had a place in the non-beating heart.

"She isn't going to give up ya know," Matt said one evening.

"Ya? Since when do you say ya?" Eric asked.

"Sorry, you know," he adjusted.

"Yes I'm aware that she isn't going to go away."

"What does she want?" Sookie asked.

"Me, Matthew, you…take your pick," Eric stated. "I doubt she cares much anymore, she wants some kind of trophy, she has dedicated too much to go home empty handed."

They soon realized that Eric couldn't have been more right.