I know I said a week, but I just couldn't help myself. I got myself an editor as well, to make it as good as possible for all of you. But I need encouragement to keep going (so review)... And Jökull's coming soon. Don't you worry.

Note (11-Sep-2010) - I reposted this chapter (reformatted) because of some reading issues. There's no change in content!

Notes (16-Apr-2011) - Corrected some mistakes.

Brotherly Love

Chapter 4: Vampires are Useless

"I take it that means that you're unable to protect me? As you promised that you would?" I said, giving him a withering stare which was probably ruined by the crack in my voice. I knew what this entailed. Thanks to Eric's desire for me, I was the prey of a vampire with more power than most. Eric was only a Sheriff – his power couldn't rival a king's. And since he was the King of an entire country as opposed to a state, I assume he was more powerful than Sophie-Anne Leclerq, current Queen of Louisiana – especially after the events of the Vampire Summit. Sophie had survived, unlike her bodyguard and child, whom I saw murdered by Quinn (my ex-boyfriend who I had to dump after we realised it just could never work – I still blame Eric mostly) but he did it to protect me. Had Andre survived, I'd have been controlled by the Queen and I'd have lost my freedom completely. As it is, it might have put the entire State in danger because Sophie-Anne was weak. She had lost her legs (though Mr Cataliades – the demon lawyer – had told me that her legs were healing slowly) and was without many of her most faithful servants. Katrina had been devastating to the entire state of Louisiana, but a Were-Vampire that my cousin Hadley accidentally turned, along with the Fellowship of the Sun (an anti-vampire church which publicly decried violence but everyone knew they supported it), had further damaged the Vampire community by blowing up a Vampire hotel, during the Vampire Summit. It hadn't been just Louisiana to suffer, but Sophie-Anne had come out very badly. Without Barry (a bellboy and the only other telepath I know of), Mr Cataliades and me, Sophie-Anne would have had a final and permanent death. Despite this, Louisiana has still become a very weak state, with a weak ruler, and thus I couldn't rely on Sophie-Anne's help. So I'm stuffed. The Were community might be willing to shield me because of my past relationships with several notable Weres and my status as 'Friend of the Pack', but I couldn't risk their lives to save mine. Not against Vampires. I haven't the support of any other powerful Vampires and certainly none would be willing to risk internationally War over one silly Telepath. But I'm not defenceless.

"Okay. So you're unable to help me," I said in what I hoped wasn't a petulant or angry voice, "and I wouldn't pit you against your brother even if neither of you held rank or were vampires. I don't want to be responsible for that. I'm not risking your life and I'm definitely not going to let you cause an International incident... Even if it is my life."

"It's not going to be like that. You're too pessimistic, my dear" came his startling reply. True, I had immediately assumed without proof that this would end in my death, but he had implied that. Didn't he?

"Of course it is. It always is. Whenever I get involved with you, I seem to flirt with death. And honey, he really ain't worth it". That bought me a slight grin, and left me slightly heartened. "Besides, you-all might think I'm weak, but I've met a lot of Supes able to help me. I'm a friend of the pack -"

"Werewolves won't be any help"

"And my Granddaddy IS a Prince among fairies, and he did assign me a fairy Godmother", I continued as if he hadn't spoken, "Surely that counts for something". Claudine called herself my fairy godmother, although she looked more like a Guardian Angel (which was what she was trying to be, funnily enough, by racking up good deeds), and she had saved my life on more than one occasion. I was certain that she'd be able to do it again. Then again, my luck is bound to run out sometime soon and Fairies aren't much good around vampires – their blood is intoxicating to them and the Vampires just can't help themselves, they simply have to have them.

"You know as well as I..." he began with a condescending look.

"I know. I know. But it must be helpful in some way. And Witches! Amelia must be able to cast some strong spells – enough to protect me during his visit, surely?" I knew I was clutching at straws. Amelia was powerful but could she really protect me all the way from New Orleans?

"Sookie," Eric said gently, putting his hand under my chin and lifting my head enough to force me to look into his eyes. He was ensuring that I wouldn't interrupt him. "You aren't in any danger. Listen to me. You are safe." His hand dropped and my gaze followed.

"You can't promise that" I whispered, quieter than a human could have heard. But he heard, as I knew he would.

"No, you're right. I can't" – drive a knife in why don't you, "But I'll try my best to keep it true. After all, how could you sleep with me if you die?" I knew it was a distraction but right then, I needed one.

"Sleep with you? You wish!"

"I really, really do" he replied with a leer. I know I should've felt dirty, but all I felt was wanted. I'd been alone for far too long. He wanted me, and worse, I wanted him. I had to stop thinking like this. If I didn't, I'd probably give in to Eric. My loins were burning hotter than my boiler and I had to get him away from me. His fingers were descending again.

"I really need to..." I began but he wouldn't let me finish before he tenderly pushed his lips onto mine. His warm and weirdly soft lips gently brushed again mine as he gently tried to pry them apart with his questing tongue. I like to think of myself as a strong woman but this brought back far too many pleasant memories; there was no way I could resist. And I didn't want to. I just closed my eyes and let go of control.

Eric won... I couldn't fight it anymore.