Chapter 20
Again, I bend a knee and give thanks for the multi-faceted, multi-talented, and multi-tasking skills of my most beautiful and gracious beta, the ever loyal and lovely, NorthmanMaille. Much and more is owed to the wielding of her red pen.
XXXXXXX
As the veil of death slid away with the setting of the sun, Eric felt the familiar rush of renewed strength surge through his body.
Something was different. His beloved Sookie was safe and atop him; her own body in the process of reanimating, but that wasn't it. Something was missing, a tightness at the base of his spine, a constant nagging ache reminding him his life was not his own. Ocella was gone, gone from this Earth and gone from him. He was free.
Sookie stirred and his response was immediate. He let out a long, low sigh and wrapped his arms around her. He felt her lips curl into a smile against his chest. He found himself wishing she would laugh. How he loved the sound of her laughter. When he had satisfied the rising needs of his flesh, he would make her laugh.
He had almost decided his need to hear her giggle outweighed his need to be inside her when she lifted her head and looked at him. The brilliant blue of her eyes rivaled any blue a northern sky could produce. She was his. His by right, by law and by consent, and he would have her, now.
In a single movement he reversed their positions. He loomed over her and absorbed the delectable sight of her. Her lips parted in anticipation of his kiss and a hand made its way to the back of his neck. Her knees brushed his hips as they rose slowly at his sides, a silent invitation.
His world compressed to this singular space and time. There was nothing but Sookie, the sight of her, her soft moans as she received his caresses, the taste of her mouth on his and the yearning to taste her blood, the delicate scent of her hair, and the always exhilarating feeling of how eagerly she accepted him when he entered her.
XXXXXXX
With his mind blissfully uncluttered for the first time days, things previously relegated to the periphery of his thoughts began to slowly creep forward, seeking their share of his attention. He absently stroked Sookie's back as he sorted and prioritized.
Tell me about Alexei. "Tell me about Mina," he said softly. "Has she spoken to you of her time in captivity at all or did she simply mourn the loss of her Maker?"
"I don't think it was losing her Maker so much as it was the pain the loss was causing," she answered, her voice sounding as if she'd just been roused from an overly long nap. "She was in a lot of physical pain. As far as Alexei himself goes, I think she actually felt sorry for him, at first anyway. By the end she just didn't understand why he wouldn't let her come back to us."
"The bond between Maker and progeny has many complexities. For the progeny, the need to be close to his Maker is powerful, and immediate upon rising. For the Maker, the bond is triggered by sight and physical interaction. There are vampires who have produced many progeny, only to abandon them before their first rising. Few of these progeny survive. Most end up wandering aimlessly, nursing their agony before being unwittingly swallowed by the sunrise."
"How horrible," Sookie said, as a shiver ran through her.
"What makes you think she felt sorry for him?" Eric asked, nudging the conversation back closer to his preferred topic.
"They tortured him horribly. They kept him chained to a wall and would come in every few nights with trays loaded with silver knives. Then they would sit outside the cell and throw knives at him until he was cut all over and looked like a pin cushion." She shivered again.
Eric reached down to the foot of the bed and pulled a blanket up over them. "Why every few nights, I wonder? If they wanted to break him, why not every night?"
"Blood loss. They gave him time to build his blood back in between, and she doesn't think they were trying to break him. She thinks they were trying to see how much he could take."
Eric considered this for a moment, his hand still moving, apparently of its own volition, up and down her back, as she lay snuggled next to him. "That seems an unlikely assumption. It is common knowledge in the supernatural world that owing to our superior healing abilities, vampires possess the highest known resistance to physical damage known." He wanted to ask if Mina had told her Saaset had not been chained to a wall as Alexei had, but he was enjoying having her so relaxed at his side. If their conversation were anything other than completely casual and unimportant, she would want to sit up and face him.
"It was the silver. They wanted to see how much silver he could take. How many knives he could have in him before he was disabled enough to not be able to fight."
"And did they find an answer?"
"No," she replied, rolling over and looking up at him. "It seems weird, but she said he could take all the silver they threw at him, but they would have to stop because he would be in danger of bleeding out, because he didn't heal like the rest of us do. He had that blood disease when he was human. You know, the one where you can't stop bleeding?"
"Hemophilia," he provided.
Of course he'd known Ocella's other progeny was a hemophiliac, but it never occurred to him to consider possibility of this crippling human foible imbuing a vampire with any potentially valuable benefit. The specter of forever was somehow made more palatable by the knowledge that surprise was still possible.
He thought of the sharp pain at the base of his spine when Ermessen staked Ocella. The ache was still there, but it was already beginning to fade. While his Maker lived, their connection was strong, but his long life made the breaking of the bond a matter of small consequence.
If I meet the true death, will I live on as a mere pain in her spine? Perhaps something which plagues her when the weather changes?
The thought was more than he could bear. With tremendous effort, he pushed the distasteful idea aside and listened as Sookie continued relaying what she'd been able to piece together from Mina's mad ravings. Coupled with what he'd learned of Saaset's tale of her captivity, an intriguing portrait of Alexei was being painted.
"Yes, that one, and apparently he still had it as a vampire. Mina said it took hours and sometimes a whole day or more for his cuts to heal, even the small flesh wounds."
"How curious," he said, leaning for a kiss.
"Curiosity killed the cat," she said with a teasing smirk.
She is so beautiful when she's playing. "Then every cat in Spain is safe tonight, because the object of curiosity has been killed." He touched the tip of her nose and gave her a huge grin before getting up. "We should dress for the evening's engagements. With any luck, our obligations here will be completed tonight and we will be free to move on tomorrow."
Free, Sookie thought. What a beautiful word. "Are we going to Milan?"
"Anywhere you please, my love. The world is yours."
"Well, I don't know about the world, but someone has to go to Milan. Claude gave quite a list in exchange for contacting Niall for us."
"Then, Milan it is," he said with an exaggerated bow. "We can't have your faerie cousin going without the latest fashions. If would reflect badly on us, I'm sure."
XXXXXXX
The small group gathered in Don Perdigo's excessively warm study to witness the rarely performed Transuma Caerimonia. Don Perdigo himself sat in his usual chair appearing more regal than some might consider polite, considering his present company included a King and two sitting Queens. Such was the privilege of the ancients. They deferred to no one unless it pleased them to do so.
Don Rafael stood to Don Perdigo's side wearing a dour expression and Saaset was thoroughly enjoying the rare opportunity to be hostess. She flitted happily from one guest to the next, making them welcome and encouraging interaction with others. Ermessen stood with Sookie, since the attempt at sitting was incredibly awkward with the quivering Mina, clinging so closely to Sookie's side she appeared to be attached by some sort of invisible tether.
The ancient Pythoness was seated very close to the fire. Her bearers were relegated to the hallway along with Oliver, Heller and an assortment of other guards and servants. Eric had bent to one knee before Pythoness as if he might be proposing. It wasn't much of a royal position, but it did prevent the elder vampire from having to crane her neck upwards in order to face him as they spoke. Whatever their topic, she seemed pleased with the conversation.
Rounding out their party was Sookie's faerie great-grandfather, Niall Brigant. He alone occupied a small alcove in the furthest corner of the room. He offered Sookie a smile and a polite nod when she arrived, but waved her away when she approached him. "Let us not draw unnecessary attention to my presence," he'd said. Don Perdigo was to deliver the vampire answer to his suggested resolution to the Aednat problem after the ceremony. In the mean time, he intended to merely observe the proceeding and keep his scent fully masked.
With everyone assembled, Eric kissed the small hand extended to him and rose to rejoin Sookie. "Come," he said to her. "It is time to begin."
Eric led Sookie and Mina closer to fire. Fear flashed in Mina's eyes, but when Eric raised a finger to his lips, she managed to keep from squealing. With Niall looking on from the shadows of his alcove, the Pythoness stood and began to speak.
"Queen Sookie of Arkansas, Louisiana and Nevada, in the American Territory, you have chosen this night to assume the position of Maker over your subject and former pet Mina Carter." The ancient one paused, more for dramatic effect than any real need to slow down. Having honed her craft at Delphi, she could hold an intimate gathering such as this, or a crowd of thousands in the palm of her tiny frail hand. "Is this true?"
"It is," Sookie answered as soberly as if she were in church.
"The bond between you is strong already. It is evident in the way she cleaves to you. Do you understand your bond will be magnified through the sharing of blood, each with the other, and once established, this new bond will be breakable only by final death?"
"I do."
"And you accept this responsibility willingly, consciously and with full knowledge of your actions?"
"I do."
"Raise your right wrist to your mouth and cut your vein. Taste the blood therein, so you may recognize yourself."
Sookie did as she was instructed. She nicked a vein in her wrist and caught the trickle of blood on her tongue. She licked the small wound and it healed almost immediately, leaving only the flavor of her own blood in her mouth.
"Now offer the same wrist to Mina," the Pythoness instructed.
Sookie did and at first Mina simply stared stupidly at the bare wrist in front of her, as if she couldn't quite make out what was happening.
The Pythoness placed a hand under Mina's chin and raised her face. When Mina's eyes shifted to look up at her, the old woman spoke. "Do you know what we are doing, child?"
After a momentary pause, Mina answered in a trembling voice. "Sookie is going to be my mother."
"Your Maker, dear, yes," the Pythoness replied. "Do you want this? Do you want Queen Sookie to be your Maker?"
"Oh yes!" Mina responded with tears forming in her eyes, but without hesitation. "I want to have a mother again, and Sookie has always been so kind to me."
"Then it will be so. Take the vein she freely offers you and drink until you are filled with her."
Mina closed her hands around Sookie's extended wrist and brought it to her lips. Her strike was quick and efficient, her fangs small, but sharp.
Eric must look like a keeper of balance sheets, Pythoness mused inwardly, and perceiving how he watched as Mina drank greedily from his progeny. "There is no need for a full accounting of every drop she takes," she whispered to him with a sly smile on her lips. "There will be plenty left for you when this is over."
"There will be nothing left for me if she drains her," Eric snapped back. "She draws too quickly."
"There is no greed like that of a suckling child," the Pythoness said, glancing back at Mina, who still held Sookie's wrist to her mouth. "We give so much to our children. We strive to give them everything, but it is never enough."
Sookie swayed slightly and a short moaning escaped her. Eric gripped her with one arm and reached for Mina with the other, but Sookie raised a hand and stopped him.
"No," she managed.
Just then, Sookie's arm was released and it dropped with a slap against her thigh. Eric continued to support her in order to keep her upright.
"Now give your vein to her, Mina," the Pythoness directed.
Mina obeyed by raising her left wrist. Sookie was not timid. She took Mina's offered wrist and struck immediately.
"Good, good, regain your strength. Drink until the taste of your own blood comes back to you."
"Why does everything come down to bloodshed with your kind?" Niall asked from the corner.
Though his query was not asked in a disrespectful tone or manner, it was met with some level of surprise by all present, except Sookie, who was focused on Mina's wrist.
"A good trader always wrests the highest price for his most valuable commodity," the Pythoness answered with businesslike frankness. "A bargain struck with blood is far more binding than one struck with gold. We do not spill blood frivolously. It is done with the highest reverence."
"I see," Niall said, not really sounding as if he did. "Sometimes, some of you show a lot more reverence than others."
None of the faces looking back at him were smiling, though thankfully, none were attacking either. He was present with the consent and protection of the Pythoness and at her invitation. So long as his scent remained masked, he was in no danger.
"It is so," the Pythoness responded to him before turning her attention back to the matter at hand.
Sookie felt Mina's blood course through her. It was rich and thick and as she drank she began to feel a sort of jealousy she'd never felt toward Mina before. She'd always felt a need and obligation to protect Mina and look after her, but this was something more, something she couldn't quite identify. Just as she felt herself almost able to give it a name, the taste of her own blood filled her mouth, causing her to retract her fangs and push Mina's wrist away at once.
"Curious how our own flavor repulses us, isn't it?" the Pythoness asked without really expecting an answer.
"The pain stopped," Mina said, no longer sounding like a lost and broken creature.
Sookie smiled, overwhelmed with happiness at hearing of the end of Mina's suffering.
"Yes," the Pythoness said. "Your severed bond has been reformed. You are made anew, being henceforth the progeny of Sookie, Vampire Queen of three American territories and chosen wife of King Eric, the Norseman. May you truly be immortal."
Mina turned to Sookie with tears welling in her eyes. "This is the second time you've given me a new life. How will I ever repay you?"
Sookie couldn't be calm and proper for another second. She felt as though she would burst with pride and happiness. She reached out with both arms and scooped Mina to her, locking her in a firm embrace. "You have given me something I thought I would never have; something I thought I was giving up when I gave myself to Eric. You have made me a mother."
There was a short burst of applause before the Pythoness silenced the room by raising her hand. "Mina, step back, child, there will be time enough to celebrate. I have a question for your Maker. Sookie, take my hand."
Despite their confusion at the requests, both Mina and Sookie complied.
"Your contentment with your new title is clear. Would you have it doubled?"
Sookie's confusion only grew. "What? How?"
Pythoness smiled the smile of one who had already foreseen the outcome of this line of questioning. "By taking another progeny, of course."
"But who? Um, I don't want to turn anyone," Sookie said. She was half afraid she would offend some or all of those present by saying it out loud, but at least so far, she had no desire to make any humans into anything else.
The Pythoness lifted her remaining hand. "Eric."
Eric was standing at Sookie's side and holding the ancient's extended hand in an instant.
Pythoness offered her smile to Eric, and returned her unseeing gaze to Sookie. "Your King has given you a crown. He has given you authority over all his material possessions, offered you his love and fidelity and tonight has borne witness to you having a fondly held wish fulfilled.
He comes before this company now in hopes you will accept the one gift which was not possible for him to offer you until now … equality. As your Maker, he has authority and control over you, which can only be ended by his ultimate death, or yours. With his Maker now deceased, he is in a position to offer you the same authority and controls over him, by asking you to consent to participating in a Transuma Caerimonia with him and becoming his Maker."
"Eric?" Sookie sputtered, trying to think of something intelligent to say. Surely the occasion called for an intelligent remark? "Whose idea is this?" Brilliant, Sookie, just brilliant.
As if his expression were not enough, the absolute sincerity in his voice confirmed that he'd clearly given the issue a great deal of serious consideration. "It has never been done before, my love. We will be the first. Ours will be the first union of true equals. My dominion over you will not be superior to yours over me. It is my greatest wish and my gift to you."
She couldn't believe what she was hearing, but when she looked into his eyes, she knew it was true. She'd given up everything to be with him and now in a strange, twisted sort of way, this was Eric giving up everything for her sake. How could she refuse?
Her smile was his answer. She beamed as she extended her hand to him and together they faced the Pythoness for the second Transuma Caerimonia of the evening.
At the conclusion of the ceremony the Pythoness took her chair and turned her face to the corner where Niall remained. "Will you join me by the fire, Brigant?" she called across the room. "As the years pass, I find more solace than fear in the flames. You may bring a chair to assure your comfort as we speak."
"Your consideration is generous, Oracle. I am quite content to stand, though I confess, I do not share your enthusiasm for being so near such a hearty blaze." Niall walked across the room, his eyes never deviating from the Pythoness. He stopped when he reached her right side, the side furthest from the fireplace.
"You have my word, none will attempt to throw you in," the old vampire said with a crystal clear childlike laugh.
It was lost on no one that the ancient had said 'attempt'. Though she spoke to Niall, her choice of words was a warning to any vampire who might have felt the temptation to try something, which would only lend its self to their embarrassment. Niall Brigant was an old and powerful faerie. There was no knowing what abilities he might possess. Better to not provoke him into a demonstration.
"I prefer not to end as ash," he replied in a lighthearted manner. "And not tonight by any means."
"Then it is good you are not a vampire, for we all end in ash, one way or another. But enough talk of our own ending. We have a war to prevent. The present King and Queens, along with Don Perdigo and I have discussed your proposal and we agree in principle. I feel certain we can arrive at an amicable agreement on a few minor details, in order to formalize the pact."
"What conditions do you suggest?" Niall asked.
The Pythoness shifted in her chair and turned her face toward the great stone fireplace. "If it does not offend, I will face the fire. I find my mind is most clear when I can feel the warmth of the flames."
"I would, of course, have you comfortable and clear for our discussion, and I feel certain no one else present has any objection to your position." With his brightest smile pleasantly positioned on his face, Niall glanced around the room.
Clever, Sookie thought, sitting flanked by Mina and Eric standing to either side. He pretends he is verifying there are no objections, when he is actually checking to make sure no vampire has moved close enough to threaten him. She gave him a smile when his glance landed on her and her newly reconfigured vampire family.
The Pythoness seemed to sense when Niall completed his accounting of his surroundings, as she spoke as soon as his gaze returned to her. "We are pleased with your willingness to accept responsibility for Aednat's confinement and future actions. The veracity of the Brigant is not unknown to us. We believe it is your intention to act in good faith and your word is its own assurance.
This said, I'm sure you understand you have us at a distinct disadvantage, in that none of us have seen Aednat and few of us have seen any of her living followers. We would be remiss, if we were to leave ourselves vulnerable to further attacks, which might occur in the unlikely event she is able to elude your custody. For example, what if she should outlive you? Do you have a named successor who shares your commitment to Aednat's endless confinement?"
"You raise a valid point," Niall replied calmly. "I confess, I had not considered the fact Aednat and her associates were unknown to you by anything other than name. Perhaps a series of pictures of the personages in question, still and moving could be provided to you, for your archives, or to be distributed amongst your kind as you see fit.
As for my succession, at present it is not settled. Whoever comes after me will be honor bound to adhere to any treaties and contracts entered into by me. However, I cannot give you an absolute guarantee for actions which will take place during the time beyond my own."
"I feared as much," the ancient said sadly.
"If I may make a suggestion," Niall offered. "Your Spanish Queen currently holds two hostages."
"Two? Hostages?" Ermessen questioned. "You have been misinformed." If she was not actually affronted, she was giving a pretty good imitation. "I hold no hostages, sir. I have a faerie prisoner, who was captured while impersonating a human member of my staff in order to provide information to Aednat on potential kidnap victims.
The second I believe you refer to is the faerie Gawain, who is an esteemed guest at my villa. His movements are not restricted, nor is he being confined against his will. It is my understanding he has formed an attachment to one of my maids, and has extended his stay on her account."
"The mistake is mine, Your Majesty," Niall said with a deep bow to Ermessen. "I am of course aware of Gawain's most amiable situation. Your Majesty has been most gracious in permitting him to remain on your estate in order to pursue personal interests.
If Gawain's presence has not been burdensome for you, and it would be agreeable to you, it could be he could provide us with a resolution for our problem."
Niall returned his addresses to the Pythoness. "Gawain is among my most loyal and trusted partisans. I have no doubt of his willingness to carry out any instruction I give him, without hesitation.
I propose he remain in the care and under the protection of Her Majesty the Queen of Spain until the time either Aednat or I have departed from the land of the living. If Aednat should precede me in death, Gawain's commitment will be fulfilled and he will be free to leave Spain and return to the realm of the fae.
On the other hand, if the opposite should happen and I should meet my death while Aednat still lives, Gawain will return to Faerie and kill Aednat, regardless of the disposition of my successor on the matter."
Pythoness turned her face to Niall as if she could glean further information from him in doing so. "Will this Gawain, the faerie who remains in a vampire villa for love of a human servant, make for a competent assassin? And will he consider his situation at Ermessen's villa quite as amiable upon learning he has been obliged by you to remain indefinitely?"
"Gawain has my complete confidence. He will not falter. You may depend on him."
"I depend on no one," the Pythoness retorted. "I choose to spare myself that particular disappointment. I more disposed to simply hope. Barring objections from those of knowledge of Gawain, I am willing to accept your assurance of his dependability."
Niall took another sweeping glance around the room. Finding no one voicing any opposition, he took a deep breath and broached his last request. "Which leaves only the question of the faerie prisoner."
Ermessen stepped forward. "The ancient Pythoness is revered by our kind and she honored us by agreeing to speak to you on matters concerning all of us, on our behalf. The prisoner you refer to is my prisoner, not ours. Any discussion of his fate will be had with me and I tell you now, I will not relinquish him."
It was plain from her expression; Ermessen did not intend to negotiate. Whatever her reason, she had decided to keep her prisoner. Niall took a deep breath and spoke in the most conciliatory tone he could manage. "If I may respectfully remind Your Majesty, retribution in kind has already been more than adequately satisfied. If it is your intention to execute Oran for his part in the kidnapping conspiracy, five faeries have already lost their lives for their participation, four at the farmhouse and one at the river."
"I have given my say over to others to decide the fates of the conspirators," Ermessen firmly asserted. "The silversmith breached the security of my villa on repeated occasions. He has moved among my staff and been made privy to information which I cannot risk being repeated outside the walls of my dungeon. He will not be released; not even into your care. I cannot allow it without endangering everyone in my household who ultimately depend upon me for their safety."
"I cannot dissuade you from executing him?"
"If you are solely concerned with the preservation of his life, I offer my assurance he will remain living and cared for. If you like, Gawain may provide you with regular reports of his health and wellbeing. He will, however, remain a prisoner." With that, Ermessen had said all she had to say. She took a seat near Sookie, turning to Mina and commenting on her dress.
Niall had shared a universe with vampires long enough to know when he'd gotten as far as he could go with them. There was no point in attempting to press the point any further. "The Queen of Spain is most generous in sparing the life of Oran, the silversmith after his egregious crime against her. I trust her generosity will continue toward him." He took two steps back to make a single overstated bow serve as farewell for the Pythoness, his hosts, and the assembled royalty. "If our business is concluded, I will take my leave."
"It is good there can be agreement between us Niall Brigant. I bid you good night." The Pythoness stood and offered her hand.
Niall took her hand and bowed again, touching his forehead to her fingertips. Not exactly a kiss, but it was more reverence than she'd expected from the faerie.
As Niall turned to leave, Sookie was tempted to block his way, to prevent his going and demand he speak to her. She knew to do so would only provoke Eric and the others into supporting her actions, so she resisted. Instead, she moved to his side as he approached the door.
"May I walk out with you, great-grandfather?"
Niall suddenly seemed older to Sookie than he ever had before. His mouth curved into an odd sort of smile as he crooked his arm and offered it to her. "It has been some time since a young beauty has offered to see me to the door."
Sookie laughed softly as they walked through the door arm in arm and she pulled it closed behind them. Neither spoke until they'd passed through the assortment of guards and servants waiting in the hall outside the study.
"I was afraid you were going to leave without speaking to me at all," Sookie said as they neared the staircase. "Have I made you angry?"
After a short pause, he stopped on the second stair and responded. "Sad, disappointed, perhaps, the road you chose is not the one I would have chosen for you."
"It was difficult, and when I made my decision I think I surprised myself more than a little. Sometimes things get scary, but most people have scary things in their lives, and every time I look into Eric's eyes, I know I made the right choice." She gave him her most charming smile and a reassuring pat on the arm. "For me," she added.
"And for Sookie?"
This time she wasn't certain how to respond. She was stunned by his question, yet she didn't know whether to be offended or sympathetic about its implications. She took a moment to compose her thoughts, during which time she restarted their slow walk down the stairs. "It is true, everything about me has changed. I'm as different from what I used to be as two things possibly can be, but I'm the same too. Every memory I ever had, every feeling I ever had, every thought about all the people I ever loved," she squeezed his hand, "It's all still here." She placed a hand over her heart for emphasis. "I haven't forgotten any of it. In fact, everything, and everyone, is dearer to me than ever, because I know I will eventually lose you all. Even you, great-grandfather."
"Yes," he agreed. "The fae are gifted with long life, but we are not immortal." He looked her in the eye and gave a hearty chuckle. "At least not most of us."
"I hope this won't be the last time we see each other," she said as they reached the bottom stair. "I don't want to have to pay the full price for my choice all at once."
"I have always kept a watch over you. I see now I was wrong to think there might not be any further need for it. We will see one another again."
Sookie felt a pair of thin lips brush lightly against her cheek and without warning; she found herself alone in the foyer of the fortress. Her fingers touched her face, where his lips had been. "I love you," she whispered into the stillness.