Eric's Demons
Chapter Eleven
After nightfall Pam roused Sookie. There was a look of affection and concern on her face which she quickly hid when she saw that Sookie was finally awake.
"Where's Eric?" her first waking thought was for her magnificent viking hero.
"Just awake, he's with Ulrich and the others, somethings happened," Pam told her.
"Is he alright?" Sookie felt panic rise like a fist in her throat.
" He is," Pam told her cryptically.
"What's going on?" Sookie demanded, fully awake now, and noticing for the first time that she was naked but for a blanket.
Pulling the blanket tight about her Pam just shook her head, "They'll tell you. But you must shower first, and eat. Eric seems to forget that you are not one of us."
Refusing to answer any more of her questions Pam helped Sookie through showering and dressing, made sure that she had something to eat. After a while something that had been bothering Pam would wait no longer.
"What's different about you Sookie? You seem changed. Has he bonded you? Has he hurt you?"
"None of those, my friend. I've just grown a little since last you saw me. I'm fine, really," Sookie felt fine too, but she knew that the girl who had gone to see Nula was gone, at least for now.
Dressed in a simple black shirt and jeans, again Pam's, Sookie was finally ready to face Eric and the others. Pam's hand lingered, clinging on to her own hand a little longer than was comfortable.
What had happened that made the normally tough Pam act so odd?
In the club Sookie found Eric seated at a table near his throne. At his side was Ulrich, the captain with the scarred face and rasping voice. Sookie was struck again at how dangerous the ancient vampire looked, his eyes flitting constantly around the room as he spoke, never landing anywhere for more than a few seconds. For the first time she noticed the great curved blade he wore at his hip, his calloused fingers always touching the hilt. She shuddered, glad he was on their side.
There was another vampire at the table, the tall dark haired Sheriff she had noticed asking all the questions during the Magister's visit. Sookie wasn't sure, but she thought he was one of Sophie-Anne's lieutenants, although she couldn't remember his name. Around the room she counted six of the warriors who had come with Ulrich, veterans of the first war with the Watchers. They made no effort to blend in with the Club's patrons, as they were obviously guarding the entrances.
Eric's handsome face lit up when he saw Sookie.
She's so beautiful.
Approaching him Sookie had to concentrate hard not to grin, he didn't need to know she had a new gift. She took her place at his side, placing a hand on his shoulder.
Mine, she thought.
Through her fingertips she could feel his anger in his firm shoulders. Whatever had passed here had made the big viking mighty pissed.
"Go through that again," Ulrich rasped.
"She's trying to do a deal with Satarel, she sent Compton to set up a meeting for her. As far as I know they've already made contact," the big Sheriff told them.
"What kind of deal?" Eric asked.
"You know Sophie-Anne better than I, Northman. But we can be sure it will be for the good of Sophie-Anne, and the ill of the rest of us. I don't think she rates your chances, so she'll try to save her ass any way she can. As soon as I was sure I came to you, she'll be pissed if she suspects me," he shrugged, as if that was nothing new.
Looking straight into the Sheriff's eyes Sookie was sure he was telling that truth.
Sophie-Anne's a fool, Eric's the only one who can stop the Watchers. Damn glad that telepath doesn't read vamp minds, she's some shape though. I can see why Eric wants her where he can see her.
"What do we do, War Chief?" Ulrich asked.
Sookie got nothing from the Captain. It was as if he was closed to her, or had found a way to keep her off his surface thoughts. Her new gift seemed to be a little hit and miss, but Nula had assured her it would get better with practice. The key seemed to be to make eye contact.
"I'll need to go see the Magister, I could do without the distraction," Eric told them.
"Why not just trail her here, in our youth we would have dealt with the traitor on the spot," Ulrich assured them.
"It's different now," Eric told them, "politics and power games. Anyway she'll distract them for us. I'll need to see the Magister, but I think I already know his mind on this kind of betrayal."
"I'll come with you, can't wait to see the old bastard's face," Ulrich gloated.
"Haven't you got preparations, you'll have to make sure the men are ready," Eric told him.
Ulrich looked deeply offended.
"My men, your men, have been ready for a thousand years. It's the rest of this soft rabble that calls itself vampire that I fear for. Soft shite one and all, hope we never need to conscript any of them!"
"What about me," the other Sheriff asked.
"Brother you have got to come, your testimony might be about to hang a queen!" Ulrich laughed.
Outside the club two large black Chrysler cars waited, engines running. Eric and Sookie climbed in to the back of the first one, the Sheriff and Ulrich into the other. It was the first time they had been alone.
I hope she's strong enough for this, it will break my heart to lose her.
"Where to?" the driver was Olaf, beside him Conal. Eric had fought side by side with both men, trusted them with his life.
"Take me to that bitch Sophie-Anne," he told them. The second car pulled out behind them, following at a not very discrete distance.
Both cars arrived together at the queen's residence. Every light in the building and grounds was on, and even from outside they could see the place must be packed. Ulrich and Eric stood side by side at the gate, Sookie and the Sheriff behind them. Four warriors, Olaf and Conal, and the two from the other car brought up the rear.
"How do you wish to proceed?" Ulrich asked.
To answer Eric strode up to the main gate and kicked it in. Inside the yard was packed as they had expected. The commotion made those inside look around, to see Eric and his companions striding towards them. Some seemed surprised or annoyed to see the viking, others frightened. When he strode through them, as if they were in fact not there at all, they all became frightened.
Andre met them at the main door, his protests were silenced when Ulrich head butted him, threw him back to the other soldiers. With a grin Olaf hit him hard once, laying him flat out on the ground.
At the door Eric took a deep breath then threw it open wide.
Sookie felt the danger immediately.
"Eric, they're here."
If he heard her he never acknowledged her, but behind them four blades were pulled free of scabbards as Olaf and the others armed themselves. She didn't protest when they moved past her to stand behind Eric and Ulrich.
Beyond the door the sight that greeted them brought Eric's blood to the boil. Sophie-Anne was on her throne, fawning over the most beautiful man Sookie had ever seen. Many of the vampires here were familiar, regulars at the club. She took a step further back from Eric as she felt his rage.
Looking up the queen saw them for the first time. Like a tall mass of knotted muscle, a terrifying force of unnatural energy, Eric stood in the doorway, commanding the attention of everyone present.
The beautiful man started to laugh, his hysteria traveling further than mere vocal chords would permit.
Sophie-Anne looked like a rabbit caught in the headlights of a speeding truck. Only when she saw the Sheriff at Sookie's side did she suddenly realize she was betrayed.
You'll die for this.
Sookie doubted the queen would get to act on that promise though, she would have Eric to deal with first.
"Kill them!" the beautiful man commanded.
No vampire made to move against the intruders, but there were plenty of the Watchers' pet humans in the room. As one they charged the intruders in the doorway.
"Where's the other one?" Sookie asked Eric. She could feel another of the beautiful men, but she couldn't see him.
"Behind you, pretty!" a voice like steel scraped over stone told her.
Frightened and caught off guard Sookie lashed out as she tried to dive away from the source of the voice. Eric saw too late as the second of the beautiful men grabbed Sookie's arms and pinned her despite her struggles.
"Unhand her!" he commanded.
"This your woman?" Sookie's attacker asked.
"Unhand her!" Eric commanded again, raising his blade and tensing himself to charge.
What happened next took them all by surprise.
"Shouldn't have touched a girl without asking first!" Sookie told him. Then she opened one of the little doors in her mind that Nula had showed her how to find.
With a little pop her attacker dropped to the ground, lifeless. Across the room the beautiful man looked suddenly afraid. He had felt the massive surge of power before his companion had fallen. Sookie stumbled and almost fell when her assailant was suddenly gone.
But then they came, a rush of screaming attackers hell bent on killing the vampires in the doorway. Ulrich and Eric danced among them, blades whirling and twisting, the other warriors flanking them, cutting the attackers to pieces. Brutal and savage it was over in a heartbeat.
Enough time for Satarel to escape. The Nephilim simply dropped the host he had been wearing and fled.
Sophie-Anne looked afraid, but she had regained enough of her composure to look Eric in the eye as he approached her. When he stopped beside her he casually examined the beautiful body that had fallen at her feet.
"How dare you?" she spat at Eric with venom.
Turning to face her, eyes cold and dead, Eric looked at her like something he had seen for the first time. Without speaking he waved two of the soldiers over to join them.
"Arrest her, and if she struggles, kill her!" he told them.
"What happened to the Watchers," Ulrich asked at Eric's side.
"I don't know he said," looking at Sookie.
What did you do?