Ch. 40 wanting and receiving
I was really glad to leave Miami and to just get back to Louisiana. A war was brewing and the whole world was depending on me to save it- with or without them knowing it.
It was kind of weird sitting in Fangtasia at a booth while Eric was at his throne being marveled at by fang bangers and tourists. I wasn't feeling any jealousy, but instead I was thinking about the dance studio and such. While sitting there I decided I was putting my students too much at risk because of who I was and that I was going to need to shut it down.
What are you thinking about? You look upset.
It was Eric's voice in my head that popped me out of my little world of worry.
I have to go take care of something.
Where are you going?
His voice was a little demanding but I brushed it off while I headed for the door.
I'm going to the studio, I said sadly and blocked the connection.
Ava was at the magic shop when I arrived and gave me a huge hug. We talked for a little bit longer and she whistled once she saw the engagement ring on my finger.
"Damn you could kill someone with that."
"I'll take that as a compliment." I laughed but then I got very serious. "Ava listen, I need you to get out of town, or really out of state for awhile. Is there a place you can go to?"
She looked absolutely shocked and began to feel scared. I explained what was going on and surprisingly she was taking it pretty well.
"I know this is a lot to take in but-"
Ava pulled up a chair and sat down. "So that's what they were talking about. What they were feeling…"
I had no clue who Ava was talking about. "Who are you talking about?" I asked and pulled up a chair as well to sit in.
She took a deep breath. "A coven I'm friends with. Really powerful witches. They live in England. Recently they have been telling me something big has been going on, something bad was coming. This makes perfect sense now."
"Do you think you would be able to talk to them for me or something? They're good I'm guessing?"
"Oh hell yeah. They're the best fucking witches you could meet, and yes I'll talk to them. They'll probably will want to come over now. Help getting forces together." Ava explained and my ally list was hopefully going up.
When Ava left I went into the studio and pulled out my lab top. After writing the excruciating letter to all the parents that I was closing down the studio for awhile I clicked the "send" button and cried my eyes out. I couldn't do anything but lean against the wall and slide down to the floor as I looked at all the pictures with my students up on the walls. They looked so happy and there I was balling like a baby, but I couldn't let another one of them get hurt because of me. Rosie was the first and last I would ever let that happen to, not to mention her mom.
My phone buzzed and I saw there was a text from Eric.
When are you coming home?
I replied, "Soon."
I'll wait for you then.
You don't have to do that babe, I texted back and tried to block all of my emotions and thoughts away from Eric. I didn't want him to worry about me and I hated it being sad around him.
I must have fallen asleep because when I woke up the sun was shining through the window.
"Oh fuuuuccckkkkkkk…Eric is going to be slightly pissed." I exasperated and got up to stretch.
For the rest of the day I took down the dance pictures and cleaned the now empty studio so it was spick and span. It deserved it. For it wasn't just a room, it was a place where little girls and teens blossomed into beautiful dancers.
I'm doing this to protect them, I reminded myself over and over again.
In fact by the time I packed the last box the sun had set and I screamed out of fright when I turned around. Eric was standing there in a leather jacket, white t-shirt, dark grey jeans, and the nice pair of dark boots I had got him. Thankfully he didn't look pissed and I didn't pick up any angry vibes.
"I waited for you. Why didn't you come home?" My vampire asked and I looked away while biting my lip.
"I had some stuff to take care of…"
Eric looked around and then back at me. My skin vibrated from being nervous and my face began to heat up. "Were you crying? You're eyes are red."
He didn't give me time to explain and zipped right in front of me. I looked down while I nodded and felt like I was five years old. In a sense I guess I was embarrassed to admit to Eric that I had been crying. I mean out of all the things I could cry over, I was crying over a dance studio and maybe he might think that was pathetic.
"My love I know how much you loved teaching. I don't think it is pathetic one bit." Eric said gently and pulled me into his arms. They felt cold but I ignored it as I realized I let down the walls.
"I know I just, I just don't want anyone of them to get hurt like Rosie and her mom. Ever." I cried and buried my face in my love's hard chest.
Eric pulled me closer and stroked my hair while I wept and didn't complain one bit.
"Can we just do something normal? Please?" I asked and looked up through my teary eyes into Eric's ocean blues.
An instant grin spread across his face and his hands traveled down to my butt. Oh great… "Like have primal sex till I make you pass out?"
I hit my horny vampire's chest playfully. "No! What about grocery shopping?"
Eric raised both his eyebrows at me. "Seriously?"
I shrugged my shoulders. "Well I need to go anyway. All I want to do is feel normal with my fiancé…" I had a little bit of a hard time spitting the last word out and that made Eric's face harden.
"Do you not like that I am your fiancé?" He asked peeved.
Oh shit. "What? No! I-I-"
"What?"
"Eric I love you, but a lot has just happened in the past few months. NO way in hell did I ever imagine my life would turn out this way. You know?"
He mulled it over for a minute and nodded but asked, "Do you still want to marry me?"
I grabbed Eric's shirt around the neck and pulled him down so I could kiss him. Everything I could muster I pressed into that bad boy and when I let go, lets just say there was no longer any confusion.
Waking up the next morning I really needed my coffee, but even that wasn't going to prepare me enough for when I answered the door in my cloud pajama pants and matching shirt.
When I opened the door it was a Fed Ex guy with a clip board in his hand. He looked a little older than forty with grey hair, none the less he looked cheerful. "Are you Ms. Knight?" He asked and I nodded.
"Yes that's me."
Fed Ex guy turned and gave a whistle. I noticed his ears were a little pointed and I stopped mid sip from drinking my coffee. "Alright boys unload the truck! It's her!"
"Unload the truck?" I asked nervous and watched as present boxes of all shapes and sizes came into the house.
"Whoa! What is all of this?" I was becoming frantic as the living room was filling up.
"They're engagement presents for you and the Viking!" Fed Ex guy cheered and asked if I could sign the form.
"From who?" I was looking around and thought I saw a box even move. "Is there anything alive?"
"Oh no! No animals or anything. As for your second question, they are from the supernatural community! So vampires, fairies…oh Annabelle says hi! Oh and some witches and wizards-"
"You know Annabelle?"
"She's my cousin."
"Oh." I responded and placed both of my hands on my cheeks. "I hope Eric doesn't have to work tonight. There is no way I'm going through this all by myself!"
"Well good luck and congrats!"
"Gee thanks!" I fake smiled and off the pointed eared fairy went leaving me gob smacked at all the gifts.
The clock read 6:30 p.m. and I yelled for Eric. "Honey please wake up! You need to see this!"
I didn't open any of the gifts that still crowded the living room and even some of the kitchen was covered.
I felt a slight breeze and turned around to see Eric in nothing but a pair of sweat pants.
"Wow." I whistled and he grinned at me before he looked around and his mouth dropped open.
"Violet, I know you like to shop but this is a bit much…"
"You think I did this? Dude these are presents in honor of our engagement from the supernatural community! There are presents from fairies, vampires, witches, wizards, mermaids, even gnomes!"
"Have you opened any?"
"No. I was waiting till you got up."
Eric was about to say something else until there was a loud popping sound and we became surrounded by my mom and other people.
"Violet." My mom, Athena smiled and gave me a hug. I hugged her back but looked around to all the other people in the room.
"Who are they?" Eric asked tense and his fangs dropped while he zipped to my side.
"Retract your fangs night walker," A gorgeous man in Grecian clothing with the most luscious locks of brown hair that I had ever seen said gently. In fact all the people around him were in Grecian clothing. No! They couldn't be!
"Honey I think they're ok." I tried to sooth Eric and he put his sharpies away. He still wrapped his arm firmly around my waist and I gave him a reassuring smile.
"Violet, my darling. These are gods of Olympus. Let me introduce Apollo, Aphrodite, Artemis, Poseidon, and Hermes."
I nodded at all of them and continued as my mom spoke again. "We are here to give you your gift. The gift we are giving you is to make Eric human for one day. During that time you will not be attacked or in any danger. It will just be a day for the both of you to enjoy each other."
I was in total shock as my mom grabbed my hand and walked me to the study with her. How she knew where it was, I have no idea. Maybe she just chose a random room?
"You seem pretty shocked Violet. Is there something wrong with the gift?" Athena asked me.
"What? Wrong? Are you kidding me? Of course I would love it for Eric to be human! It's just he'll be human! The man hasn't been human in over a thousand years!" I rushed and rubbed my face while walking in a circle.
"Darling why don't you sit down. I think you're going to be sick."
Sure enough I did start to feel a little queasy and sat down in a comfy chair.
Honey are you ok?
Violet, I'm surrounded my Greek gods in my kitchen that's filled with presents and you're mom is giving me the gift of being human for a day with you. Yeah I'm great. How are you doing? What does your mother want my love?
I could hear the sarcasm loud and clear at the first part and giggled a little.
I don't know yet. I'll tell you when we're done.
"Violet there is something I would like to discuss with you. I know this should be the most happiest time of your life right now with Eric but I haven't told you everything. But in my defense I did not know of the new information, or rather old, until just a few days ago. I wanted to make sure it was correct or else I wouldn't have waited."
The shit was getting serious already. Great. "Lay it on me mom."
The legendary goddess in front of me smiled at the last part. She always did when I called her 'mom'. "A long time ago, everything that is happening now was prophesized by a woman named Sahara. She went to the temple of Zeus, my father, to warn him of what Eris would be up to. It took her several days for him to finally come to answer her but when she did, she told him everything. The Sookie Stackhouse woman is the only body that Eris could take control of. There have been many occurrences when the Stackhouse woman should have died, but due to the friends she has made, it seems death kept on getting pushed aside. Sahara saw that if the woman wouldn't die, then Eris would be able to take over her body." It was a long spiel so far but I continued to listen.
"As far as you, and how you come into this is a little rough, but it makes sense. I am the goddess of war and wisdom and what better warrior to defeat Eris if I can not? My child. You."
I nodded. "Ok that makes sense."
"You possess the ability to handle fire, which is more great than I could have asked for. You Violet have the strength and skill to defeat Eris. However there is more to the prophecy. It is said that Eris will open the door. She will use someone with the blood of Thor to open it. Now I do not know who that is. You and Eric must be careful even more still because Eris is gathering even more followers across Louisiana and even down to Mississippi and Alabama. She is also trying to bring forth a type of demon that has long been in a slumber for thousands of years. They are supposed to be some of the first monsters that have ever walked the Earth."
I sighed and tilted my head back against the chair. "Of course they are! God why is she doing this?"
"No one is quite sure why except for the obvious reason that it is in her nature."
"Is there anything else?" Man I had a lot to take in and I was just hoping there wasn't any more info right now.
"Yes. It's about the end of the prophecy. The only way the door can be closed is if you can get the one to open it, to close it. It takes the blood of Thor. And since Thor can not due it himself, it will take who ever Eris finds that has Thor's blood in them to do it."
Once everyone was gone and it was just me and Eric, of course Max would pop in.
"Hey Violet! Sup Eric? My fair demigod you have got to check out these bad boys that I have finally finished!"
I looked at the pair of guns Max was holding. They were shiny, black, and lethal looking. On the side there were the initials "V.K." in scripty lettering on each.
"Are those for me?" I asked taken back.
"Hell ye-uh! I have finally come up with the right chemical magical compound for the bullets that can kill just about anything that goes bump in the night! I'm talking about your badass, slimy, icky, crawly, razor sharp, sparkly things!"
"So will these work against gods?" I asked stoked.
"No, but they will slow them down a bit. They will for sure kill vampires, but it's not like you need a gun for that. You can just light them on fire." Max explained and I thanked him before telling him through our minds if he could go. I explained how I needed some alone time with Eric but told him I would fill him in on everything tomorrow morning.
"Holy shit! Is that the time?" Max exclaimed and said he had to go. With a little pop he was gone.
I walked into the kitchen to get a glass of water and Eric followed. He knew what I was about to do and beat me to the punch by using his vampire speed.
"Thanks." I smiled and took a sip of the H20.
"So what did your mom have to say?"
I yawned as I sat at the bar at Fangtasia while Eric was doing business in his office.
Pam came up to me. "Why so tired? Eric keeping you up?" She grinned and I couldn't help but shake my head.
"Always in the gutter Pam, always in the gutter." I smiled.
She leaned against the bar. "Well give me some details."
"To your dismay, no it is not because of Eric."
"Well that's no fun to hear." Pam pouted. "I could make you tired if you want?" Her fangs were showing a little as she said that and I got real up close to her face. She paused for a second unsure of what I was going to do.
I smiled and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Pam if I were a lesbian, there would be no doubt I would go after you. Sorry though, I'm kind of engaged." I chuckled and held up the hand with my big ass engagement ring on it.
"You little tease." Pam smirked and gave me a half hug before dealing with a fang banger that came out of the bathroom with bite marks on their neck.
"Note to self, get more sleep."
I turned to see Max walk into the bar. He was in all black, from leather jacket to shoes, and made his way over to me.
"Hey V. I found a hide away house where rogue vampires on Eris' side are staying. I think we should check it out."
"Let's go."
The house wasn't too big and I was glad I was wearing pretty dark colors tonight too. Max and I circled the house and saw about thirty vamps inside.
"That's kinda a lot." I stated. "I think we should get out of here."
"Yeah I don't see Eris, let's go." Max agreed and we began to sneak away.
"Well what do we have here?" A deep voice cackled behind us. We turned around to see that it came from a biker looking guy with fifty more vamps behind him. They started to spread out and surround us.
"Oh hi. We were just in the neighborhood. Thought we'd look around to see what houses are for sale! My your's is quite perty!" Max said in a southern accent. I kept my laughter inside and tensed.
Who the hell do you think you're fooling?
Well I thought of something! It wasn't the best but hey!
"They must be the demigods." Biker dude said and I cringed when I saw his gross teeth. "Do you know where you are little girl?"
"We're in bum fucking you gotta perty mouth." I snorted and someone from behind kicked me in the back.
I fell to the ground and felt a nice cracking sound.
"That's gunna leave a mark," I winced while Max helped me up.
"Two against fifty. Now that doesn't seem too fair does it?" Max asked cheekily.
"You two won't live to see another sunrise." Biker dude slyly said and fifty pairs of fangs dropped.
I scoffed. "The feeling is mutual biker bitch."
Max held onto my arm a little more tightly. "Love I know you're a little hurt right now, but I think you need to let loose."
"Let loose?" I asked and held up my hand to Biker dude who was about to cut in. His face was in disbelief but he stopped to stupidly listen to what Max was talking about.
"Make it hot!" He hinted and I finally got it.
"What if you die? I know I won't- or I think I won't, but what about you?" I was scared what if I killed Max with the rest. Or hopefully I would kill the rest of the vamps. That was the plan after all!
"You'll only kill me if you really want me to die." He reassured and gave me a little push forward.
"What the fuck are you two mother fuckin' demigods talkin' about?"
Ok so Biker bitch was getting pissed and I really wanted to get out of here. I turned around to Max and told him to stand behind me. He gave me a nod and I closed my eyes.
It's a very weird feeling to produce flames out of your skin, but you look cool! When I opened my eyes the vampires were hissing and roaring at me but I paid no attention.
"I'm not just the little demigod you think I am."
I lifted my arms up above my head causing my back to bend backwards a little. My breathing was becoming intense and the massive fireball above my head was building and building. I could hear Max step back a few more steps. One of the vampires started to run but I threw down my arms and watched as the deadly fire ball turned into a sea of flames in front me killing all of the vampires. Their bodies instantly were a pile of dust and then nothing as they blew into the wind.
When the last one disappeared I let out a breath and turned around to face Max.
"Holy fucking gods…" Was all he could say.
I looked at the both of us and saw that I had singed our clothes pretty bad. Our faces were both covered in some type of black soot from the fireball I was guessing and Max had a little singed spot on his hair.
"Oops." I apologized and Max felt with his hand where the missing spot was.
"Let's go to Fangtasia and fill in the big guy."
Once we got to Fangtasia Eric and Pam were by my side in a minute.
"What happened?" Pam asked and got a cloth for me to wipe away the soot.
"Gee thanks Pamela, you didn't have to get me cloth." Max sniped sarcastically. Pam just rolled her eyes and said I was hre first concern.
We went back to Eric's office. I explained what happened and said that we needed to call Bill, Sam, and Jessica.
"Pam close down the bar." Eric ordered she zipped out of the room faster than you could blink.
"Sorry we couldn't bring back smores." I joked and Max cracked up.
Eric was on his cell phone and called up Sam, Bill, and Jessica. Jessica was Bill's child so I guess he only had to make two phone calls, but then I saw him make another.
"Who are you calling now?" I asked.
"Alcide. He's a werewolf. A top ranking one."
After Pam closed down the bar and Eric making the phone calls, we just waited till guests arrived.
Right away I noticed who Bill, Jessica, and Sam were but when Alcide walked in I was like "DAMN!"
Eric looked at me and cocked an eyebrow. "My ribs really hurt!" I stated covering my ass with the first thing that came into my mind and rubbed my side.
Eric came over and lifted my shirt. Sure enough almost the whole side was purple.
"Nice one." Alcide said. His voice was deep and had that southern twang to it. It completely matched his looks. A nice thick head full of dark hair with the slightest wave, muscular body, probably a good six feet plus tall, and he looked mighty fine in a flannel shirt and jeans. Good ol' southern boy indeed.
"Let me fill you in." I stated and everyone took a seat where they could.
"Well that was fun." Pam stated bored after everyone but Eric, myself, and her stayed.
"Triple the security around the house." Eric spoke fiercely into his cell phone and my stomach rumbled.
"Pam is my sandwich still in the fridge?"
"Yeah." She said and started to look through her purse that was on Eric's desk.
"Mmmmkay. Thanks."
I went out in search of my sandwich I brought earlier and stashed in the little refrigerator behind the bar. "Bingo. Prepare to be eaten." I half growled like a pirate and took a big bite.
"Don't you look ravishing."
I turned around to see Caine slither his way in. "We're closed." I spat.
"Why wasn't I invited to the little meeting earlier?" He asked while faking he was hurt.
"Gee it must have slipped my mind." I gushed innocently.
"I'm sure it did." Caine smirked playing along.
"Beat it spock." Eric growled coming into the room. Pam trailing behind him looked at me with curiosity as to why Caine was here.
I shook my head at her to let her know I didn't invite him over.
"You heard the big man." I chided and finished my sandwich.
"Fine, fine." Caine held up his hands and started to walk back towards the entrance. "I'll be seeing you later Violet. We have business to discuss."
"Why don't you use your ever so old and wise skills to gather some followers or Intel." My mouth flapped and Eric came to my side.
Caine just winked at me before leaving. "That doesn't sound all too good if you ask me." Pam sniped.
"I agree. Though right now I really want a hot bath and a good nights sleep." I yawned and Eric picked me up in his arms.
"So shall it be my fiancé."
"You like saying that don't you."
I felt like a little kid in a way as Eric ran my bath for me and stripped me of my clothes. He didn't join me in the bath but instead bathed me. Gently he massaged the shampoo and conditioner in my hair with his fingers and made sure to not get soap in my eyes. When my hair was rinsed he went to work on massaging my shoulders before he dropped the bombshell on me.
"Something has really been on my mind for a little while now." He spoke slowly.
I sat still and waited for Eric to continue as he worked his hands on my shoulders still. "Hmm?"
"The night you dreamt I was human with our son, and you with another child growing inside you. We were at the beach."
His voice was so quiet but my heart was pulsing so loud through my ears. "You saw that one?" I managed to choke out.
"He was so beautiful. You were so beautiful." I turned around to see that Eric was crying silently.
I wiped the bloody tears away and kissed his forehead. "Do you miss being human?" I whispered before looking into his eyes.
"All the time."
"At least with the gift, you will be again for a whole day." I smiled and kissed Eric's quivering lips. "And we'll make it the best day of our lives."