CHAPTER 17
Something warm slid down my throat. It was like the elixir of life. If I had been more aware than I was now then I would have laughed out loud at the analogy. I would have known that it was blood and it probably would have amused the hell out of me. I could feel no more pain, either in my body nor my neck. The animal instinct for survival took hold of me and I grabbed hold of the arm supplying me with the life giving nourishment I needed. I felt my fangs drop and I dug them into the soft flesh and drank hard. Somewhere in the back of my mind I heard a soft intake of breath.
I somehow sensed the heart slowing down and I thought I should probably stop drinking, lest I kill whoever it was. I didn't want that on my concious. It was a struggle. I didn't want to pull away. "Come on Sook. That's enough." I heard a voice say. I opened my eyes and was looking up at Tara, my best friend. NO! I couldn't kill her so I pulled my head back. I had seen Bill once heal one of my wounds with his blood so I broke the skin on the end of my finger with my fang and I used my blood to heal Tara's wound.
"Why did you do that?" I asked her. I knew she hated vampires and it probably made her uncomfortable so I had to know why she did it.
"I couldn't let you die." She replied with a smile. I smiled back and hugged her.
"Thankyou." I whispered into her shoulder.
"Anytime."
"Sook? You ok?" I heard Jason say. He was kneeling next to me and had the most concerned expression on his face. He was covered in blood and had cuts all over himself.
"I'm fine but you look like you've been put through a paper shredder." I said. He looked down at himself then back up at me with a shrug.
"It's nothing. I'll heal soon enough." He informed me. Jason grabbed me and held me in a bone breaking hug. "I though you were gonna die!" He moaned. I had to chuckle.
"Jason, you always worry that I'm going to die. I'm a lot more sturdy than you give me credit for." I chuckled. Jason flushed and scratched his head.
"I forget what you are now."
"I know, it's going to take some adjusting."
"Sookie?" I heard Eric and I turned to find myself looking up into his eyes. Concern and worry were evident in them. "Are you alright?" He asked, holding out his hand to me. I took the offered hand and allowed Eric to pull me up into his arms. We simply held each other for a time and I just enjoyed the simple beauty of it.
Sighing I pulled away and let Eric check me over. "I thought we turned me so everybody wouldn't be so damn worried about me anymore, so I could take care of myself."
"I didn't count on Bill stooping so low he would use silver." Eric confessed.
"I don't think anyone believed he would go that far." I replied. I looked around the room at the mess and choas. I frowned as I noticed a gooey, bloody mess on the floor. "Was that...?" I began. I found I couldn't formulate the words. Eric looked behind him at the mess then he returned his gaze back to me. He was unemotional when he answered.
"Bill? Yes."
"You killed him?" I breathed out in barely more than a whisper.
"I did."
"Why?" I knew what Bill had done was wrong and I hardly expected it to go unpunished. Especially not by Eric, it just wasn't his nature to leave things gone unpaid for. But this? This was too far, surely.
"He deserved it Sookie. The AVL agreed."
"So that's what the man from the AVL meant?"
"Yes." Eric answered.
"Isn't that a little... excessive?"
"I say the fucker got exactly what he deserved." Tara interjected. I noticed Lafayette and Jason nod their agreement.
"Sookie, Bill did a lot of things that are not tolerated in vampire society. He trashed my club, costing me money. He killed my human, he rigged his ascension to the throne, he worked with were's, he attacked you, and a number of other unforgivable things. I couldn't let them go unanswered." He said gently.
"You'll make a far better king than him at any rate." Pam said as she hopped up to us. One of her three inch, pink heels was broken, the whole heel was missing and she looked very angry. "Another pair of pumps to go to the trash. I loved these shoes." She snapped.
"They were great." Eric agreed. Pam glared at him.
"That's what you said the last time. It didn't make me feel better then and it certainly doesn't make me feel better now." Eric rolled his eyes. It took a minute for Pam's word to fully register in my brain and I did a double take.
"Wait! Pam what did you mean Eric would make a better king?" I asked. Pam clicked her tongue and I felt Eric's uneasiness.
"Really, Sookie. You need to learn vampire laws, you really know nothing about them and it is rather embarrassing."
"Pam." Eric warned but she charged on ahead regardless.
"Vampire laws state that if a vampire legally kills another vampire then the estate of the deceased automatically hands over to the vampire who killed him." Pam said. She waited for a moment letting me digest this news. "Meaning that all of Bill's possessions and estate now go to Eric."
"Meaning he's now the king of Louisiana?" I finished. Pam nodded with a smile.
"Exactly."
"Does that mean Sookie is the Queen?" Jason asked.
"Yes."
"No." Both Pam and Eric said at the same time. Jason looked from Pam to Eric and back, frowning.
"Either she is or she isn't." Jason replied. "Which is it? It sure as shit can't be both."
"Sookie would be the Queen if I chose to be King." Eric said. I frowned, confused by what the hell this meant. It seemed I wasn't alone in this, the whole room seemed to be scratching their heads, Pam included.
"Eric, you get the rights to all Bill's estate, making you King and your wife the Queen. Last I checked Sookie was your wife, unless something happened that I wasn't made privvy to."
"Sookie and I are still married, that has not changed." Eric said. "I have, however, turned down the role of King. I defer that to you Pam."
"You can do that?" I asked and Eric smiled down at me.
"Yes."
"Eric, no. I am not ready to be Queen." Pam said. Eric let go of me then went to Pam, taking her face in his hands.
"That's where you're wrong. You'll do fine. You are strong willed, tough and fierce. You'll be a kick ass Queen." He informed her. Pam got bloody tears in her eyes and Eric hardened his features. "Pam, you know I like you better when..."
"I know, I know. When I'm unemotional and ruthless." She swatted away the tears and Eric kissed the top of her head.
"You'll be fine." He assured her and she glared at him.
"It's an honour to be King, what I don't understand is why you would turn it down." She said. Eric sighed and stepped away from Pam, turning his attention to me.
"I turned Sookie with the promise to hide her from the fairies. If I became king I wouldn't be able to hide her. Either I would have to let her go, which I am not willing to do." He said as I opened my mouth to protest. "Or I have to step down from the throne in order to go with her and hide her. Stepping down was the best option, besides I promised I would take care of you Pam and I could think of no better way to ensure you have everything you would ever need."
The room was silent for a time. Finally Jason spoke up. "So, uh, you're really takin Sook away?" He asked.
"Yes. I am." It was a simple statement and it cut straight to the heart of at least three people in the room. Jason. Tara. Myself. We held each others gazes for a handful of heartbeats, saying nothing, sharing the pain and accepting the loss. "When?" Jason managed to stammer out.
"Tonight." Eric replied. I turned on my heel to glare at him.
"Tonight?" I hissed. Eric regarded me unfazed for a while before responding.
"The plane is ready to go." He said.
"Do I get no time to say goodbye?" I asked.
"I told you, we need to get you out of here, it's not safe. Mab can find you as long as you're here. I assumed you'd already said goodbye to Sam and the people at Merlottes. As for Jason and Tara, they will be able to come and visit when its safe and we're settled into our new home." Eric turned to glare at Jason and Tara. Tara instinctively moved to hide herself behind Jason as best she could. "That is if Jason and Tara can swear they won't give away where we are to anyone." He hissed.
Jason, who had been shielding Tara, narrowed his eyes and stepped forward. "Are you tryin' to say I would tell some psycho bitch who wants to see my sister dead where she is? Fuck you're stupider than a pig in mud." He snapped.
"Oh, Jason." I breathed. Knowing full well that it was not a good idea to antagonise Eric. "Shut up." I finished.
"I just need to know she'll be safe." Eric snapped. I could tell he was holding back his anger and I was proud at him for doing so. The two boys simply stared each other down and the whole room seemed to be holding its breath, waiting for them to snap and attack each other. Finally a small voice broke the stalemate.
"Wh... what, happened?" Marnie stammered. Eight pairs of eyes swivelled around to stare at her as she pulled herself into a seated position.
"Do you remember anything?" Jesus asked. Marnie bit her lip in thought and then slowly shook her head.
"No." She said, quietly. With a moan she put her hand to her head. "I have a headache worse than you can possibly imagine."
"What's the last thing you remember?" Jesus continued, crouching down near her. I could see that everyone else in the room was alert and at attention, ready to move on her should Antonia rear her head.
"I..." Marnie began. "I remember wanting the spirit to come into me. I offered her my body to allow her into this world."
"Motherfucking fool." Lafayette breathed, sitting himself onto a small stool in the corner of the room. Marnie continued.
"I remember a feeling of cold taking hold of my body, feeling like something was squeezing my chest and making it difficult to breathe, then nothing." She looked at Eric and I and her eyes went wide. "I remember seeing you." She breathed, pointing at Eric and scampering away from him, trying to put as much distance between the two of them as she could with the wall preventing an escape from him. Eric was amused I noticed as he raised his eyebrow.
"Ain't that sweet." Pam mocked. Eric nodded at her, sharing the amusement.
"There are images." Marnie continued. "I... I did things..." She looked at me and a tinge of red crept into her cheeks. "I didn't mean any of it. I... am so... sorry."
I nodded. I forgave her. "It was Antonia, not you." I offered and she hung her head.
"I know. Everything she did was awful and I will have to live with that for the rest of my life." She moaned. Finally she lifted her eyes to Eric. "What are you going to do with me now?" She asked.
"Give you to the Vampire League." He replied. I felt my stomach fall down into my toes.
"You cannot be serious?" I snapped. Jason, Jesus, Lafayette and Tara all jumped up, yelling their opinions.
"Shut up!" Eric snapped and the room went silent. "It's not up for discussion. I was sent here to take Marnie to the AVL to answer for her crimes. Even though she is no longer possessed by Antonia she is still a necromancer, do you deny it?" He asked and Marnie shook her head. "Necromancers are dangerous and need to be dealt with accordingly. It is not by my choice and I have no control on what they will do to her."
"Will they kill her?" Jesus asked. Eric got that look that meant he was done dealing with humans.
"I can't say. I guess it depends on how dangerous they feel she is." It was at that moment that the front door to the shop burst open and armed men dressed in bulletproof vests burst in, trailed by the man I met and Fangtasia earlier this evening. I knew this was not going to go well.
"Mr. Northman I see that things have progressed quicker than we anticipated." He looked around the room and his eyes fell on what was left of Bill. "I see Mr. Compton is no longer with us."
"He attacked my progeny and chained her in silver. I had to repay the act in kind." He replied flatly. The man nodded his head.
"Understandable." He looked at Marnie. "I assume this is the witch then?"
"Yes."
"Gentlemen escort the witch back to headquarters and put her in a cell for questioning." As those words were said two men picked up Marnie and walked her out of the building. The AVL rep turned back to Eric. "Well you have had a busy night. We'll sort out your coronation within the next few days, congratulations your majesty."
"No." Eric said, shaking his head. The man frowned and cocked his head at Eric.
"No?" He asked.
"My wife and I are leaving the country and may not return for many centuries. I put forth my Progeny Pam as Queen."
"I see." The vampire thought about it for a moment and looked to Pam. "Do you accept?"
Pam looked at Eric for a while then back at the man. Slowly she nodded. "I accept."
"Then congratulations your majesty. You will make a fine Queen. We will organise your coronation and get back to you with the details. It is almost dawn and I'm going to ground, I suggest you all do the same. Good day." Then he turned on his heel and was gone. There was so much to digest. So much had happened tonight and I was drained from the whole ordeal. I needed sleep now more than ever.
"It's time to go to ground Sookie." Eric said gently. "I will make the arrangements and we will leave tomorrow night. If you like Jason and Tara can meet us at the airport to say goodbye." Eric kissed me and stepped back. "I'll meet you at your place in thirty minutes." Then he was gone, taking Pam with him, leaving me with Alcide, Jason, Tara, Lafayette and Jesus.
"I need to be getting home." Alcide said and I nodded. He wrapped his arms around me and I got a whiff of the smell of werewolf. It was like wet dog, oddly enough. Alcide stepped back and nodded at me, we both acknowledged this would most likely be the last time we would ever see each other. We bade each other goodbye then Alcide left.
"I'ma miss you Sook." Lafayette said as he held me. Luckily humans smelt good, maybe a little too good. I smiled and held him before I held him at arms length.
"I'll miss you too. Be good to each other." I said, nodding to Jesus. Jesus smiled and nodded.
"I promise." He assured me. Finally I was alone with Tara and Jason.
"Come on, let me drive ya home." Jason said. Tara and I followed him out of the shop and we climbed into Jason's monster of a truck. On the ride home we were all silent. It seemed there wasn't anything to say, not to mention I was so exhausted I doubted I had enough motor function left to hold an intellegent conversation with anyone. Jason pulled into my drive and I noticed Eric's car was already in the drive.
"Will you come to the airport tomorrow?" I asked the two of them and they both nodded.
"Wild cats couldn't stop me." Jason said and I smiled at him.
"Good." I replied. "How about you?" I asked Tara.
"Yeah, I'll be there." She said. With a nod and a sigh I climbed down out of the car and went to the house. I went to the old cupboard and climbed down into the hidey hole. Eric was lying on top of the black satin sheets, wearing black slacks and his long legs strectched out in front of him. He was leafing through a car magazine and I laughed. It was true, all men loved cars. He raised his eyes to me and tossed the magazine on the floor. Then he motioned for me to come to him. I lay in his arms and as the sun rose we both allowed the sleep of the dead to claim us.
NEXT NIGHT
I stared out the window at the clear night. Lights sparkled like little glittering gems beneath me. It was a bittersweet farewell tonight. I had to say goodbye to everything. Jason, Tara, Merlotte's. My whole life was somewhere behind me. I had no idea when I would ever see it all again. How much would Bon Temps have changed by the time I got back there?
I knew that I would see Jason again soon. He had argued and yelled with Eric right in the middle of the airport, demanding to come and see us in two weeks and not a moment later. Eric had argued back that it wouldn't be safe, but at Jason's insistance (and threats of shifting in the middle of the airport) Eric had finally agreed. I still had no idea where we were going. Eric wanted it to be hard to track me. I was led to believe that we would be changing planes at all kinds of places before finally getting on some private planes with cash so nobody would know where we were.
I was nervous and excited all at the same time. I heard a woman snore from the seat behind me. I glanced over my shoulder at her and shook my head. She was asleep on the poor man beside her and he didn't look impressed. I only hoped she knew him or it would be completely awkward. Eric, I noticed, had disappeared. I assumed he was up the front talking to one of the stewards.
I was alone for now and I allowed myself to think back on the events that led me to this moment. How in the space of a few weeks ones whole life could be rearranged and uprooted. Returning from the Fairy relm and walking up to my house I knew life had changed, things were different and I didn't really understand it at all. Six o'clock came around and the sun set. Minutes later Bill was on my doorstep. Eric was not a moment later. "Where have you been?" Bill asked and it taken all my will not to hit him. The pain had still been there, raw and painful.
Bill had taken me to Fangtasia where I had recounted everything that had happened in the fairy relm and how I only been there for fifteen minutes. I remember Bill and Eric arguing about my safety and how they both felt as though it was their jobs to protect me. How I had just about had enough of it all and the words that came out of my mouth, beginning the whole saga... "I fucking hate you!"