Holy shit! This site has not been working for me for quite some time now, so I apologize for my lack of an update. I'm working on this a lot now, so expect a few more chapters soon!

Sookie dropped to her knees beside me on the cold floor and slowly ran her hand over my shoulder; her attempt to console me. I jerked away from her and rose to my feet, eyes focused on the blood that stained my body, a mix of both Alistair's and Riggs'. The metallic scent wafted up to my nose and I felt my fangs descend at the luscious smell, at the bloodlust. The rage.

My body shook uncontrollably as I stared at what remained of the vampire. Tears burned my eyes and I wiped them away with the back of my hand.

So many images flashed through my mind; the night we met, our time together. All of the love we made. The peace I felt with him, in his arms. The night I was taken away from him….and now this. Forever burned in my memory.

The muscles in my jaw twitched as I ran my fingers through the viscous liquid, through Alistair. I fought off the tears and took a deep breath, calmed myself. Desensitized myself.

"Are you okay?" Sookie asked. She said the words slowly as if she were afraid to speak.

"How do you think I'm doing," I said flatly. "Two people are dead. One of which I loved, the other an old friend. I'm dandy," I rolled my eyes.

She pushed herself up off the ground and grimaced at the specks of blood that dotted her knees and shins. "How did you find me here?"

"I had help. We need to get you back to your vampires," I gripped her arm and led her toward the staircase leading to the main floor. "Wait outside with the others. No one will hurt you. I promise."

"Aren't you coming, too?" she questioned.

I hesitated a moment. "I have something I need to do. You wait outside. Look for Dante; he's tall, blonde hair, shaved head. Chances are he'll find you before you find him."

"Alright," she said reluctantly and bounded up the stairs.

Once the basement door shut and her footsteps faded off into the distance, I began to unleash my fury upon this damned church. With my fists clenched tight, I walked to the center of the room, my feet soaked red with blood.

Blood bubbled and boiled on the ground around me as my internal temperature rose. My skin began to smolder, thick grey plumes rising from my flesh. Slowly, my limbs became engulfed in flame, beginning at my core, and spreading downward to the tips of my toes. And upward to the top of my head.

I opened my eyes and looked around me as the blood burned into a black patch on the hard floor, and the flames rose to the drop ceiling. Burning the material, scorching it, setting it ablaze. The fire spread, and with it, everything that I had been holding back in Sookie's presence.

A scream erupted from deep within me, and the louder my voice grew, the more intense the inferno became. The paint, now charred, peeled and dropped to the floor in flecks, ashes. The lumber beneath the wall exposed itself and burned along with the rest of the room as the fire rose to the main floor of the church.

I moved about now, my throat hoarse from the screaming. Sulfurous tears streamed down my cheeks, and violently I swung my fists, punching hole after hole into the walls, collapsing them.

Those very walls began to crumble around me in a fiery heap. As I made my way toward the pews, I turned around to watch the large crucifix at the front of the room fall to the ground, Christ coming undone from the nails securing him to the wood. The rug burned underneath me with the wooden seats, bibles and tapestry placed around the room.

Above me, the roof caved in and fell around me, smoke rising through gaping holes and masking the star filled sky. I concentrated hard, and with one burst of energy, increased the intensity of the flame, setting everything on fire. Nothing was left unscathed.

Wood crackled and snapped, flesh burned, and walls collapsed, forming a pyre Satan himself would be proud of.

Through the smoke I saw the Hounds surrounding the perimeter, Dante with his arm around Sookie's shoulder whispering something into her ear. Red and golden eyes stared at me, and I rose from the still burning ashes and stepped onto the grass, the ground hot. Soot covered my skin, mixing with the dried blood that had caked onto my hands, feet and chest.

I pushed past the group, never making eye contact, and retrieved my clothing from the pile I had left them in before making my shift.

After pulling on my shoes, I motioned for the group to leave. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Sookie and Dante approach me, their feet crunching on the dead leaves strewn about the grass.

"Would you like to bring her back?" Dante asked me. "She's yours to deal with, Adrian."

I gave a quick look at Sookie and grabbed her, pulled her onto my back. Dante leaned in and spoke to her.

"If I were you, I wouldn't open your eyes," he stepped in front of me. "Thank you for helping take care of that. I'm…sorry about your vampire. Take care, Adrian."

I nodded my head and took off, holding Sookie's legs and arms close to me.

. . .

Within minutes we arrived at Fangtasia and I set the blonde down, grabbing her arm to steady her as she wobbled on the pavement. The front door opened, and Delilah burst outside, embracing us both and expressing her happiness about our safe return.

If only I could share her enthusiasm.

She led us both into the night club and ordered the others to leave, leaving Delilah, the vampires and I.

Bill ran up to Sookie and hugged her tightly, the centuries old vampire looking as if he were on the verge of tears. Sookie wrapped her arms around his frame, nuzzled her nose into his neck. I scowled and met Eric and Pam's eyes, an amused look in the female's eyes. Concern in his.

"You look like hell," Pam remarked. "What happened to you?"

"Nothing," I cracked my neck. "My job is done here," I said to them all. "The Hounds are dead, Sookie is safe. And I'm leaving."

I averted my gaze to the ground and began walking back in the direction of the door.

"So, what, you're just going to leave here?" Sookie asked. "Save the day and move on?"

I glanced over my shoulder. "It's what I do, kid."

"But you can't leave. You're still bound to me," Eric said. "Only I can grant you permission to leave."

"What reason do you have to keep me around?" I asked, facing the tall Viking. "I did what you wanted. Now I'm leaving."

For a split second, pain crossed his features. He didn't reply.

"You can't just walk out like that. Look at all the relationships you've made. The friends you have now-"

I cut Sookie off. "I have no friends. Never did. Never will. The same goes for any relationships." I spat.

She winced. "You can't walk out."

"Watch me," I said curtly and headed for the door again.

No one ran after me. No one called out for me to stop and come back. No one told me how much they needed me, how much they wanted me here. And I didn't realize until I was blocks away how much that hurt.