A/N: What is that I hear? A collective gasp at the fact that I've managed two updates in quick succession? LOL!

Once again, I wanted to thank you all for your incredible support of my story. I'm am touched, and overwhelmed.

If you are enjoying this story, and if you're here for chapter 25 you must be, and if you're reading House of Flesh as well, please check out E v. E, a little story put together by Gallathea and I (or as I call it, a Far-Thea production). You'll find the link in my profile. It's what happens when Galla's brilliant wit, my diet-addled brain, and CTL's Eric and House of Flesh's Eric all collide.

Thank you to Kristin and Gallathea, as ever and always, for their help, support and fantastic beta work!

Chapter 25

I tilted my head slightly to the side as I watched him try to hold still, my face expressionless as I listened to his screams.

"The Middle Ages were quite an inventive time for torture devices, as you can see. You are not as old as I am, so you may be unfamiliar with this particular one. It is called a Judas Cradle, or culla di Giuda, in Italian. Of course, I have modified this one slightly with some silver, as I am sure you are aware."

I flicked my gaze to Pam, and she slowly pulled the chains to raise him up slightly. His screams abated, but bloody tears rolled down his face, and I could see the effort he was making to control himself. I watched as blood trickled out of him, and then slowed as his body began to heal itself. I gestured to Pam again, and once more she lowered him, impaling him on the pyramid-shaped device, which I had tipped with silver to ensure that his body did not heal around it. She tethered the chains, leaving him suspended there. The beauty of this device was its simplicity. The way he was tied, if he moved one leg, the other moved with him and increased the pain. No one, not even a vampire, could remain still indefinitely.

Hot Rain's trial had been quick. Felipe, understanding the nature of the bond, turned him over to me for punishment, "in any manner you see fit, including final death." It was not simply because he had caused hurt to a human. No, that would never have been a sufficient reason. It was because Sookie was under Felipe's official protection, and that made Hot Rain's actions a direct affront to the king. I didn't care what the reasons were; I just wanted to be given free rein to avenge Sookie, and myself . . . and Ian.

I looked back over at Longshadow's sire, and lover. "Did you really believe you could get away with it? I am over six hundred years your senior! Did you really think you could best me?" The questions were rhetorical, really. It wasn't the first time I had asked them. Obviously he had believed he could best me, but more importantly, he was not really capable of answering me at the time. He was too busy screaming in agony. I only hoped it was more painful than anything Sookie had endured.

Dawn was fast approaching, and I still had some work to do upstairs. "Leave him," I instructed Pam. She removed the gloves that protected her from the silver chains, and came to my side. I had a sudden thought, and walked to the corner, where an old iron ball and chain were sitting. They were very handy when interrogating fairies, but at the moment, the weighty ball was on my mind. I brought them over to Hot Rain's outstretched stumps. A bit of the bone below the knees had grown back, but since I wasn't making much effort to feed him anything but a few bottles of poor-quality synthetic blood, the process was incredibly slow. I lashed the ball on top of his legs with the chain, increasing the weight on them, and pushing him down a bit further. His screams redoubled. I smiled at my handiwork, and told him to enjoy his day. I knew he would get no rest while in this much pain.

Pam and I made our way back up to Fangtasia. The bar had been closed for a couple of hours, but I made forced myself into the office to finish up some paper work. Despite the fact that I had no interest in the bar for the last two months, and despite the fact that much of my free time was spent with Hot Rain, payroll still needed to be dealt with, and bills had to be paid, specifically Sookie's. I did not mind it. I had always offered to take care of her needs, but her pride had always pushed me away. I felt this was the very least I could do for her.

My phone rang, and I knew without looking that it was her. I had felt her emotions get ragged a bit earlier, and hoped she would call me. "Hello my love," I answered softly. Our conversation proceeded with the same awkwardness as many of our others. I asked her about her day, although I already knew from Batanya that they had planned a morning of training. Sookie asked me about Amelia, Sam, Bill and Sandy. She asked after Pam, and finally she asked me how I was. I wanted to tell her how much I missed her. I wanted to ask her when she would be home, but I promised to give her time and space, no matter how frustrated I was with the situation—and I was very frustrated. Then she said, "I love you Eric. I really need you to know that."

I closed my eyes and reveled in the words, and allowed all my feelings of frustration, and worry, and anger, but mostly my love, to flow across the bond. "I know Sookie. I love you too." Despite my earlier resolve not to ask her when she was coming home, I nearly asked her anyway. I wanted her back with me. God, I needed her back with me. When I first met her such a thought would have frightened me, and if someone told me I would feel this way, I would have laughed at them. However, she had changed me. No, that's not really right. She found me. She saw past the vampire, to the man I once was, the man I had buried deeply over the course of the millennium.

As if she read my mind, and maybe she had; I no longer had any idea of what she was capable of, she said, "Soon, Eric. Soon." Then she was gone, and I went to my rest for the day.

The next night, after I rose, I went to check on Bill. He was in significantly better shape than Hot Rain, since I was providing him with a string of willing donors. He was staying in one of my safe houses, and Clancy and Pam were taking turns caring for him. I was actually surprised by Pam's willingness to do so, but I think it was because she felt grateful to him for helping Sookie, and she truly did consider Sookie a friend.

I entered the house and heard ...[EDITED] SEE CHAPTER 1 NOTE

After she left, I asked, "How is it going?"

"As well as can be expected, I suppose. Dr. Ludwig said it shouldn't be too much longer before I have full use of them again. The bones have almost all grown back, and the tendons and muscle are beginning to in some places as well."

"Good. That's good to hear," I replied. "Sookie will be glad to hear it as well. She asked about you today when we spoke."

A slightly pained look passed across his face. He still loved her, and I couldn't fault him for that. "How is she?"

I shrugged. "It's hard to tell. I know what I feel through the bond, but when we talk . . .," my voice trailed off. I wasn't sure I wanted to confide in Bill, but then again, he knew her better than anyone else, other than me. "She doesn't tell me much. I know she is training with the Britlingens, which is good. They are the best. She tells me how she spends her days, but she isn't telling me how she is doing, or what she is feeling. She won't tell me when she'll come back, either." I ran my hand through my hair, and growled lightly.

Bill chuckled. I looked at him, my irritation growing. I may be grateful to him, but I wasn't about to let him make fun of his sheriff. "Sookie has a knack for driving us crazy, doesn't she? Honestly, she can be downright infuriating, particularly when her pride is at stake." He laughed a bit more, and after a moment I joined him.

"She does test my limits, especially when she refuses to see reason," I agreed with him. "And she is stubborn. It's probably what kept her alive," I added, and with that, the mood turned a bit more somber. I walked over to the small kitchenette, and heated up a blood.

"Eric, can I give you a piece of advice?" Bill asked. When I nodded, he continued, "I know she asked you to give her space and time to figure everything out, but don't give her too much. Go to her as soon as it is possible. She's far too independent for her own good, and her pride will get her killed one of these days. I know mine cost me Sookie, and it is something I will have to live with for the rest of my days. Don't let yours get in the way."

I looked at him, and frankly I was surprised at his little speech. Bill was never so verbose with me. "I don't intend to let her go, Bill. She is mine." I paused. "I have to say though, I thought you would relish the opportunity to get me out of the way?"

Bill smiled, but it was a sad smile. "She loves you, Eric. I had my chance, and I lost it. You make her happy, and she deserves to be happy. I told her once that the two of you were very much alike. You share a certain joie de vivre, as if you are both absolutely content to be in this time and place. Even in my human life, I felt the weight of my existence."

I took a sip of True Blood, and smiled at Bill. "You think too much, Bill." I clapped him on the shoulder. "Now ...[EDITED] SEE CHAPTER 1 NOTE

He grinned at me, and I helped him out of the bed. After I left, I headed back to Fangtasia. I spent a couple of hours enthralling the tourists, and then Pam and I returned downstairs to check on Hot Rain.

After Pam took him down from the Judas Cradle, I tossed him a bottle of the crappy synthetic blood. After he drank it, and his wounds had healed, I had Pam chain him upright, in a spread eagle position. I could tell that he expected another whipping with the silver-tipped lash, but tonight I had a different plan. I produced a razor sharp knife, and with quick and precise movements, I started to flay him. I began with his face, and worked swiftly, so as to prevent any healing. I ignored his screams. When his entire skin had been removed, Pam and I unchained him, and then she lifted the lid on a large barrel that was sitting by the far wall of the basement.

"I know you did not know her well, but my former queen, Sophie-Anne, had a favorite method of punishment for those who betrayed her." We lifted Hot Rain, and lowered him into the waiting liquid. "She pickled them in salt water," I said as I dunked him under the liquid and resealed the lid. The screams were instantly cut off. I knew that in the salt water, his skin could not regrow, and the pain would be constant.

"Leave him there until I return."

"Are you going somewhere, Eric?"

"Norway," I replied.

"Well it's about time," she said, holding up a hand to forestall my argument. "I know you promised to give her time, but she has had plenty of time. I also know that you can not go directly to her yet, but she will feel you. More importantly, the instant the sun finally sets, you will be able to get to her. Your ticket is in the bottom drawer of your desk, under the extra calendars. It is an open ticket. Go bring her home, Eric."

I quirked a small smile at my child. "Thank you," I said. "You are in charge in my absence."

By the next evening I was on a flight to Trondheim, and for the first time in months, I felt hope.

A/N: Yeah, nasty huh? I've put a link in my profile to the site I used for research on medieval torture devices/techniques. Honestly, my stomach was rather upset by the time I was done reading it. That said, it is soooo Eric. What do you think? Is Hot Rain getting what he deserves?