There was no dedication for the last chapter because it was to me. I put that out while I was sick as a dog. I have scored some vampire blood and I'm all better!

Without further ado here is Chapter 28 it goes out to you ClubEric. For two reasons one I love your screen name and two I believe you are my 400th review! So this is all yours but um…we'll virtually read over your shoulder :D

Thank you for all the support and words of encouragement. They keep me going!

Eric

Chapter Twenty-Eight

One Down

I was eager to find out how Cohan ended up with our people. It took us close to a half hour to walk less than five blocks but finally we made it to the business house where the others still remained. As we walked vampires bowed to Cohan. He felt the need to acknowledge each and every one of them his presence alone was doing for the atmosphere was nothing short of astounding. He smiled at all who he passed. It evoked everything from jubilation to tears. He seemed to be inspiring them without saying anything particularly profound. I was grateful dread had been hanging in the air as of late.

In the last week we had all feared that the vampires we sent out were being tortured for information and that they would break. None of them carried crucial knowledge but we could not afford the loss of numbers. Times were critical.

Ateyo was gone and so was his child. Erah remained and she was once again in deep conversation with Bill Compton like she had been the first night they met; much to Judith's dismay might I add. Bill had inspired an interest in computers and all things digital in the princess. They used the word "programming" a lot.

Gideon, Negy, Tristan and Demetrius were missing. I looked to Pam she was calm so I was certain there had been no problem. Cohan looked to Erah probably asking the same question.

"Negy needs a lesson in modesty and his child volunteered" Eráh answered the unspoken question and gestured to me before returning to her conversation with Bill. Cohan laughed. Gideon was behaving as overly familiar as they were and I did not approve. I called him to me.

There were no empty seats when we arrived but everyone sitting at the table offered their chair to Cohan in a single synchronized gesture. He smiled and thanked them all. He moved to where his daughter was and took a seat on the floor at her feet. It left the other royals at a loss of what to do they looked at Pam and I. Neither of us knew how to advise them. Ordinarily it would be a sign of disrespect to hold a seat higher than someone of his stature. In the end Isaiah went with what was safest. He moved his chair aside and sat on the floor pulling Pam down with him. The others followed suit. Including me even though I knew Cohan cared nothing of the show.

It could be the proximity forcing an attraction but I was beginning to think Isaiah cared for Pam. He looked at her differently and seemed to want to make her happy. Making her happy meant saying less idiotic things or nothing at all; he was doing both.

Gideon returned followed by Tristan. They looked perplexed by the fact that we were all sitting on the floor. To his credit for once Gideon remained quiet. The fact that he knew I was dissatisfied with him made him more apt to behave. He came and folded down silently by my side. Tristan went to Pam and fit his frame in the small space between her and Isaiah. The only child of Kováll that returned was Demetrius. His eyes were lit with excitement and he was wearing a bright smile. Apparently he had not learned any sort of lesson in modesty.

"Where is your sister?" Cohan asked him as he took a seat on the other side of his sister.

Demetrius laughed and Tristan smiled. Gideon bowed his head hiding a smile. "I won my first match against her" He declared. This meant more to his family than it did to us. They appeared stunned and somewhat skeptical. It was my understanding that Negy was at least nine hundred years older than him. I knew how he managed that victory and I was even more disappointed in my youngest child. He was forgetting himself; what he was and he was forgetting the gravity of the crisis here. "You should have seen her face" Demetrius laughed a hearty laugh.

Determined to be more than a mute this time around Russell joined the conversation.

"You are older are you not?" he asked. Demetrius was all too eager to declare that she was eleven hundred years his senior and has been besting him all his long life. The other royals except Pam offered him congratulations and he basked in it. His father watched with indulgent eyes his sister looked bored with his antics. Pam on the other hand had had enough.

"His majesty is most kind for coming to the aid of our people" She said with a deep nod of her head. Cohan waved her away regally with a smile. I was confused and that was how the debriefing finally began.

"I remembered her face" Cohan said pointing to Thalia. "She has acted in defense my youngest son once before" All the vampires that did not know the exact happenings the night I became king turned and stared at her. She did not scowl or show outward signs of her usual hostility instead she shrank and tried to make her already tiny figure even smaller.

"Thalia, tell us what happened from the last time you made contact" she looked…uncomfortable so much so it took the natural hostile edge out of her voice.

"We were in the last house that was on the list in Minneapolis. It must have been bewitched somehow. Only the weres could enter but they could not be in their wolf forms. We searched feeling like there had to something but we found nothing. We were told to come home that same night" It had been the same night the states of the Narayana territory fell. "So after we fed we began the journey. It wasn't until Iowa that one of the weres told us he suspected we were being followed. As a precaution Nicolas and I separated into the original teams. He ran east hoping to reach Bertrand's kingdom I ran west as a distraction but hoping to find friends of Stan"

"Why didn't you call?" Gideon asked. They were instructed to report anything they found that was amiss. Having a tracker on your tail was definitely reason to call.

"It was a suspicion" Nicolas said. His voice was a lot more concrete than that of my enforcer. It sounded as though he was defending her. "We wanted to make sure but once we had proof we didn't want to risk them tracing our calls. Last contact I had with Thalia was two days ago. We had been maintaining radio silence but whoever was at our heel moved with great speed. I did not think we would make it. I told her to follow the last orders we were given. I destroyed the phone, radios and scanners and told her to do the same" Their last orders was the request from Stan to travel though some of the states in his territory and warn the kings and queens whose paths they crossed. "Doing that gave her a better chance to gain sanctuary and means to contact base and reported what happened" His actions under pressure were very well thought out. I had to admit that if they had called for instructions we would have probably given the same orders. "The next night we woke to chains. While we rested the elves had given us their blood" Elf blood was poisonous to vampires. It made us extremely weak and depending on the quantity of blood and the age of that vampire it could be fatal. "The weres had been tortured for most for most of the day" There was a note of something in his voice as he divulged that bit of information. It wasn't pity but as he spoke his tone was not entirely inflectionless. It held respect. There was no trust when they had all departed on this search. I would have never thought I would see the day when a were would choose torture over giving up a vampire. "None of them broke. They would not even volunteer I was team leader so the elves didn't know who was valuable and who wasn't. That was what kept us all alive."

"They closed in on us this far from Alex's kingdom" Thalia said with a small shake of her head. She pinched her thumb and index finger together to indicate just how close she was from Nebraska. "Vampires attacked us the same night he was attacked. We were outnumbered and did not resist we were bound. They must have already known we would not talk. They transported us. They worked on us during the day. Tonight when I actually came around I was in Tennessee along with Nicolas and all his people. Eliza came and she could only identify Nicolas, Sarah and I from her assault on Pam and Isaiah" She need not say more. I knew they got it worse than anyone else.

"My son has not been able to see much as of late. I think it because there is peril everywhere" Cohan continued his voice was low and a look of sadness was heavy in his eyes. "We were already on our way when he saw her final death" again he pointed to Thalia. "He sent me and so I went" He shrugged his shoulders as if that was all the justification he needed to do anything; a request from a child of his. It was ludicrous but I knew that was exactly the case.

"Eliza and her people are no more" Russell asked. His tone was one of poorly restrained jubilation.

"Not all of them" Nicolas answered. "While they had us I talked to some of the vampires. A few from Eliza's ranks wanted nothing to do with what she was doing. They stayed out of fear and they lived in terror of her" That was not a surprise. Not all vampires were warriors or war mongers. Some wanted to completely mainstream and have a life free of politics that absorbed out world. Others respected the hierarchy and its advancement but wiping out an entire territory was too much violence. Eliza was abetting Sophie-Anne in decimating our numbers there are few vampires that would abide that. This news would work to our favor.

"What did you do with them" I asked.

"They were sent to deliver the warnings throughout the different territories" Nicolas answered. Next to him Pam was nodding her approval. I could see what she saw in him. Injured he was not able to complete his final assignment but found a way to get it done.

"Your youngest" Stan asked cautiously. "What outcome does he see?" They all now knew what Anthony was. They coveted him greatly but they were wise enough to keep the desire suppressed.

"I do not know" Cohan said. "I doubt he sees the end. All pieces have not been set an outcome cannot be predicted by him or anyone at this point"

"I guess everyone is psychic now" Demetrius muttered to his sister. His father laughed and stood as did Erah.

"I thank you for the hospitality" Cohan said to me. He nodded his head to me as did his children. Indira had already taken care of their housing arrangements. The house had been stocked with everything from human food to royal blend bloods. It was located adjacent to that of the fairies and not far from my own.

"It is my honor" I replied.

"I will retire now" He said. Demetrius wanted to remain but when his father extended his hand out to him he took it with very little grace. We had serious matters to discuss. I was grateful he left no doubt he had plans to regale us with many lost battles against his sister. A vampire his age should be less…excited about mediocre things.

We had reclaimed chairs after the kovalls had left. The only people that now remained in the room were the royals and their personal guards. No one spoke each one of us was deep in thought.

They had assumed I would ask Cohan to fight for us I wanted to right that misguided notion. "I will send my wife to France with Cohan" I said. When I spoke they were all wearing the same expression; they looked lost. Ordinarily I would have not told them this because the decision was mine alone to make. While I have made the decision I felt it was fair to inform them of it. I expected outrage and anger but nothing prepared me for my fellow vampires to plead.

"If she is here and Cohan fights with us she will be safe" Stan said. "We all will be" He was missing my point. I wanted the length of the world between Sophie-Anne and my children. It had been my selfishness that had allowed me to keep Sookie here for so long. I had to make her safe and I could not be certain of that if she was here no matter who was fighting on our side.

"Eric please we know you love her" Russell said in a placating tone. "We know what she means to you" For once I felt they did. No one has referred to her as my human or "the telepath" They used her official title.

"He will not separate his family to fight with us, Eric you know this" Stan said. "You are sentencing our people to fight and die needlessly"

"Be reasonable" Bertrand urged. "She will be safe here we will leave behind however many you deem necessary to guard her"

We all looked to the door when someone knocked interrupting the heating discussion.

"Enter" we all said. It was Anthony and he was followed by the eldest of the Koválls: Atéyo. The look Anthony now wore was serious but he no longer looked as anxious as he had earlier tonight. It made me hopeful that he had seen something hopeful or helpful to say. It was neither. He walked into the room and stood in a place where we could see him. His brother found and empty seat and watched with interest.

No one was surprised by his timing or that he was aware of the topic we were debating. "I know what is it you want to ask of my father" He said without preamble. "It would solve your problem but it would be a mistake" I had already made my decision to send Sookie away but I was interested in what he had to say nonetheless. How could something that could solve a problem so colossal be a mistake?

"My father cannot help in the fight that is coming. He only has one setting when it comes to threats" Stan and Russell looked as though that suited them perfectly if it was anything close to the stories we all knew. Anthony was struggling with words. "He is…" His brother explained what he could not.

"Our father is like all fathers. He over reacts" I would challenge his choice of words and say some of the things Cohan had done in the name of his children were a tad more than an overreaction. He has slaughtered masses, decimated armies and dismantled empires when his children had been threatened or harmed. "Any threat to those he loves is met with the same amount of force every time"

Anthony nodded. "Yes"

"The problem is what exactly?" Isaiah asked and for once no one gave him a look implying he should shut up.

"He can help you win but the victory will cost you so much more" Anthony answered calmly. "This fight must yield more than winners and losers" As he spoke his eyes were now on me. "It will define the world you children will live"

His words brought me back to the night Sookie and I wed. I felt something I hadn't in a long time the need to explain myself. It caused me to make an admission that no one but my blood and some fairies knew. "The children my wife carries are mine…biologically. Conceived through magic, they are part vampire. I know the risks it poses to do this without Cohan but it is the choice I am able to bare" I did not take the time to see how my words were received. Anthony continued speaking and it interrupted the many questions I knew were about to arise.

"While this is the enemy I spoke of I was mistaken Eric when I said this was your test. It is not only your burden to bear I see that now. I see each and every one of you with a role to play in shaping this new era" His stare was profound as it meandered over all the other royals present. We were all quite trying to understand his message. "The battle that looms will define all your destinies and so together you are forced to walk a razors edge" He continued; his eyes boring into Stan with intensity that I did not think he could conjure. Stan was attempting to shift his eyes but couldn't he appeared immobilized "Stray but a little and there will be nothing left of vampires in these lands" Anthony walked slowly to Stan and knelt in front of him. "I know you mean no harm and you are acting out of hopelessness but don't do it. You know of what I speak" Tears escaped Stan's eyes he did not move to wipe he was still transfixed in Anthony's gaze. Anthony wiped them for him and took his hand. "Have faith" Stan nodded slowly and more tears fell. "All that you need will come. You will see" Stan hugged him and we were all taken aback. It was impossible to guess what he was planning but Anthony said he meant no harm I would not hold it against him. He also looked as though he was now unswerving in his commitment but I did not believe in faith or hope solving my problems. However I took comfort in the fact that Anthony had not yet led me astray. I have trusted him before and it kept me alive. This time would be no different. I had to believe that.

It was very late into the night when I returned home but Sookie was awake. She had taken a bath. She did this to relax the children when they got over exuberant and kept her awake.

"Hi" she said with a bright smile.

I kissed her. "Hello wife of mine" I took the comb from her and ran it through her wet hair.

"Are you okay?" She asked there was a smile in her voice but she looked concerned.

"Yes"

"It's just that you've been combing my hair for almost ten minutes" I had been focused on the task and got lost in the feel of her body against mine but I also didn't know how to tell her what I needed to say. She would fight me like she always did but I needed her understand. The seconds ticked past and she saw the somewhat peaceful expression on my face become tumultuous. She felt the loss I was trying to bury with my body. It worried her.

"It's okay. There is no need for you to be anxious" I pulled her to lie on the bed and I wrapped my body around hers protectively. "It's okay" I repeated.

"Stop saying that and tell me what's wrong" She said.

"I am sending you to France" Her body tensed and her breath caught. I held her and rubbed soothing circles on her stomach. I knew she was afraid but she was also furious. I spoke quickly because I had a few seconds before she "had a fit" as she often described her outburst. "You know what will happen. I cannot have you here. I won't risk that. It is just a precaution. This is what is best" I said firmly.

"You aren't sending me anywhere. I won't go" Her tone was level and it matched mine with ease. She tried to pull away from me I would not let her.

"I won't be able to focus if I can't be absolutely certain you are safe" She drew in a deep breath.

"Come with me" She said softly. Her tone tore at me. I held her tighter.

"I cannot. You know that. You know I would. I am needed here" She felt many things as she made her request of me; selfish; guilty and uncertain. I was already resolved and so there was no struggle within me. If my end would bring about a safer world for my children and her than so be it. I would meet the true death with no regrets. She was a strong woman and I knew she would be brokenhearted if I did not return but she herself would never break.

Anger had been serving to restrain her tears but now then fell. "I need you. Our children need you" I kissed her head and took deep breaths of her scent. This was the hardest thing I ever had to do.

"Please lover" I begged fighting my own tears. "Please, for me say that you'll go"

I knew she had realized and accepted the truth that when she left she may never see me again; she would give birth without me; I would never see our children grow. "Okay" She sobbed and her body shook.

"Hush" I whispered while rocking her gently. Her sobs were raking into my heart and I wanted her to stop so badly. I couldn't take much more. "Stop, this is not good for them" As I begged her to stop crying my own tears stained the pillow underneath my head. "Do not be afraid. Come what may I am with you always. Never forget it. Never doubt it" Those words were as much a reassurance to her as they were to me.