I am so excited about being so close to 1,000 reviews that I feel like I need to give you all a second chapter today to celebrate! What an amazing feeling! Thanks so much for reading and all the reviews, alerts, and favorites! As an author it means everything to me. Really, everything! I hope you all enjoy this chapter and see what the AP has to say!

Chapter 49: Bad Moon Rising

Eric

Eric looked down at Sookie. The Pythoness was fair and even generous. Especially to Eric and Nora. They were part of her line. She was Godric's maker and so she always held a soft spot for her 'grandchildren' as she often joked with them.

He knew he would be safe with her and that he could trust her, but he was terrified what the all-knowing Seer would see for Sookie and Eric. It had to be significant for her to call for them. Could Sookie handle it? Could he?

Sookie could and would handle anything that came her way. She was a force of nature. She was a whirlwind of fire and passion. She was the sun itself. She could conquer anything. But if the Pythoness prophesized Sookie's end or her being taken from him, he knew he couldn't handle it. She was his only weakness.

Sookie squeezed his hand and said, "Eric? What's wrong? We should go shouldn't we?"

He nodded and squeezed her hand back, raising it to his lips and kissing her knuckles.

Nora's eyes darted between them and Eric could tell that Nora was confused by his indecision and anxiety. She turned though and led them towards a set of private elevators and Sookie was confused. "The Ancient Pythoness has her own private elevators and her own floor. She is afforded the utmost respect and is an honorable presence here at the Summit. Although you should know you have nothing to fear, Sookie, darling."

Sookie gave Eric a small smile at him and nodded. Each smile his way made his dead heart flip flop still. He never believed he deserved her or her smiles and each time she took pity on him and gave him a kiss, a smile, an embrace he felt like he had been redeemed from hell. And by Sookie.

Sookie blushed and mouthed, I love you. She had felt his emotions and he was amazed to feel them back from her.

She wrapped her arm around his waist and he copied her and kissed her forehead and then her lips. "Pam, is quite right, you know? You both can be nauseating," Nora teased.

Sookie and Eric smiled and looked down at their shoes.

The elevator dinged and the three made their way across the small expanse of hallway that led to her room. Outside the doors there were vampires and weres stationed. They relaxed their position when they recognized both Nora and Eric.

They eyed Sookie strangely and Eric said, "She is mine and the Pythoness requested her presence. Stand down."

They nodded, sensing the warning in his tone. Nora knocked and before she could pull her hand away the door opened. The woman who answered looked to be in her mid-forties and wore a long wide gown that was Greek in style. Her hair hung down her back in long dark curls and her eyes were a pale green. They seemed haunted and held knowledge. She was one of the Pythonesses prospective Seers.

Eric could feel Sookie getting excited and her mind whirring with everything she seemed to hear in the woman's head. She suddenly froze as the green eyes focused on Sookie and she shuddered lightly, seeing something she didn't like.

Eric gripped Sookie tighter and wanted to get them away from the pale eyes. "We are here to see her, please escort us at once," he ordered.

The woman smirked slightly at him and Eric had a mind to rip her smile off of her face, but remained calm when Sookie squeezed him and Nora shot him a look that asked if he had gone mad.

The woman led them into the room and Eric spotted her sitting in the corner of the room near the window looking out over a portion of the city. Sookie glanced quickly around the room amazed at the size and grandeur of the place.

It was swathed in lush fabrics in various rich jewel tones and candles were everywhere in various sizes. Also scattered around the room were dozens of women sitting on large pillows on the floor and on various pieces of furniture. Many were mumbling to themselves and about half had their eyes closed, but Eric could see their eyes moving beneath their lids. They were dressed like the woman who answered the door and Eric had to admit that they all freaked him out. The knowledge they held and the things they saw was a terrifying idea.

Sookie mind was whirring a hundred miles an hour and various emotions were shooting off inside of her as she read them, not all of them good. Eric leaned down and said, "Sookie, I think you should pull your shields up for your own good. Please."

She nodded, realizing it was for her own good and Eric was concerned for her.

"Your Highness," Eric said. "You sent for us?"

The Pythoness didn't even turn from where she was looking out the window. "Yes, I did. Thank you Nora, you may leave. So may all of you. We need to speak in confidence."

All twenty seven women filed out of the large room and Nora looked slightly offended at having been dismissed. "Nora, dear, it's not that I don't trust you, but the information I am relating is the business of these two alone. They will share it with you if they feel comfortable."

Nora nodded and turned and followed the last of the women out, closing the door behind them.

"Sit dears, I have much to discuss with you," she said, turning her blind eyes towards the pair of them. Sookie started and he squeezed her hand to reassure her.

"It's alright, my dear. I am quite the sight after all these years. And so are you, but for different reasons. The rumors of you are true. You are lovely. Eric is lucky to have you."

Sookie cocked her head to the side trying to understand what the AP had heard and how she was able to verify the rumors upon knowing her only within the minutes she had known her. She didn't understand that she knew Sookie through her many visions. She had probably been watching Sookie longer than Eric had known Sookie.

"I am very lucky, Highness."

She waved her hand dismissively, "Tosh Eric, you have called me Py in the past, you shouldn't change for Sookie or for anyone else. You are also welcome to call me Py, my dear."

Sookie nodded and said, "Thank you, and thank you for your compliments though they are exaggerated I am sure."

"I assure you, they are not. I have watched you grow in my mind since you were born into this world. You are a beautiful candle in a coal mine."

Eric liked that. Sookie truly was a beautiful light the lit up the darkness around her. "Are you here to discuss a vision with us, Py?" he asked as he ripped his eyes from Sookie.

"Yes, thank you Eric. I am here to warn you against bringing up charges against this William Compton. I know you only want to address the assault involving the tiger, but you must understand the danger in bringing this forth. And I may not be able to control where it would take us. Which, if my visions are correct, would be in very dangerous waters."

Eric began to argue, already mad, but she waved him down again and continued. He had learned long ago from Py and from Godric for arguing and interrupting her. He would be listening.

"Eric, just listen. If you go through with this, you will bring this forward to me and to a panel of the Authority that will not include Nora because of her tie to you. I have seen that the Authority will ask where the feuding between you and Compton started, tracing all the way back to Sophie Ann and the rumors of her already. Then it will lead to questions about the girl. If you, Compton, Sophie Ann, Russell, and Franklin can find her origins there are many more who will be able to as well, making it even harder for you to protect you."

That shut Eric up. He hadn't seen that, but he could see it as an obvious outcome now. Sookie tensed at his side and he turned to her. "You were planning on pressin' charges against Bill?" she asked.

He nodded and she squeezed his hand. "Thank you, Eric."

He smiled and pecked her forehead before turning back to Py. "Py, I will drop this now. I thank you for your guidance. Was there anything else?"

She seemed to hesitate, but shook her head saying, "No, I will be leaving a few days early from the Summit, so if you wish for me to preside for anything, I would suggest sooner rather than later."

"You are leaving early?" Eric asked, understanding the subtext of her comment.

Sookie was listening and glancing between the two ancient vampires as they held a conversation loaded with hidden meaning. Of course his cunning girl had caught on. No doubt she would ask for the explanation later.

"Yes, early. My group and I feel we should depart earlier than anticipated. I hope you enjoy the rest of the summit though, grandson," she said with a wink. He smiled and nodded.

"We will try to enjoy it without you, Py."

Sookie asked, "What are y'all talkin' about? I can tell there is more being said, I just don't know what."

"Sookie dear, you will know soon enough. Trust me that all things happen and all knowledge learned at a specific time and for a specific reason. I have taken a shine to you my dear and will plan a visit to see you very soon," Py said sweetly to Sookie.

Sookie smiled and nodded, knowing she wasn't going to get anything out of her for the rest of the trip. She replied, "Trust me, I will be lookin' forward to that visit."

Sookie and Eric said goodbye and Eric led her out of the grand hotel room. She smiled at the guards and three of the women heading back into the room. As he followed her sight, he saw the Ancient Pythoness had turned back to the window, staring at the city skyline, seeing the future of them all flash before her sightless eyes.

Okay, impressions of the AP? Thanks for the reading everyone! It means the world to me!

Next time I post I should be at 1,000 reviews! How should I thank you in the story I wonder…? Suggestions welcome!

***Oh and Py is supposed to sound like 'Pie' for some of those who are wondering.