Hello Readers, Sorry to deliver you a short chapter. Life has been busy and I don't want to leave you hanging. Thank you for your comments, favorites, and followers. I'd appreciate everything you do. Your love and encouragement keeps me writing.

Characters belong to Charlene Harris and Alan Ball.

Chapter 10

" Vinctus est, ut maledicat: Benedictio sit liber a nocte!" Eric said out loud in front of Godric's painting. Like Eric, Godric magically came out the same way he did. Sookie is still in amazement for how they go in and out of the paintings. Godric came out with the feeling of temporary relief from his prison. He looked tired and drained. "You don't look so good." Eric commented.

Godric shrugged "It's been a bad day."

"There's a good and a bad day in the demon world you're in?" Eric asked with sarcasm.

"Yes. The good day is when they don't find me and leave me alone. The bad day is...well you can imagine what they do when they find me."

"So today is a bad day." Eric said with sadness.

"Indeed." Godric then looked at Sookie. "Hello, Ms. Stackhouse it's nice to meet the woman who rescued me."

"Eric rescued you, not me." Sookie said sincerely.

"Yes, but if you didn't take your chances on summoning up Eric with his painting, I'll still be stuck in there." Godric smiled as did Eric. "So what's happening with the switch paintings spell?"

"Sookie has found beautiful painting replacements, and you may choose which one is ideal for new 'home'.

"Despite how beautiful the painting maybe, it's still a prison."

"At least you'll get to relax instead of worrying about your life at every moment. Don't worry I'm still looking for a spell for us to be permanently out of the paintings."

"I'm going to help you."

"Actually it'll be best if you pick a painting that can help you relax. I need you to rest. Especially dealing with those demons from your painting." Eric advised. While he was talking to Godric, Sookie was looking at Godric all over. She had a feeling that it was more than just a bad day in there. He was very dirty and tired, like he'd been running for days. Then she saw it...claw slashes on his right shoulder, bleeding and oozing.

"Eric! Look at his shoulder!" she pointed.

Eric moved around to see it. Some of the scratches were very deep. "Oh Godric, you should have said something!" Eric said in frustration.

Godric looked over his shoulder "I didn't realize it was there. I guess they really got me."

Sookie looked at him in question "How can you not feel that?"

"My dear, when your running for your life. You ignore any pain coming your way."

"Why don't you use magic to fight them off?"

"You can't use destructive magic on demons, it'll backfire like a mirror. I can't even do any positive magic on them because, if it's not strong enough; all it would do is make them angry and I'll suffer deadly consequences because of it.

Eric held Godric's good arm and took him to the herb room. "Come on let's take care of this. Sookie, why don't you make all of us something to eat."

"Should I pay attention to the healing magic that you're about to perform?" she asked in confusion.

Eric looked at her with a smile "Not today. I'll show you some other time." Sookie nodded and went into the kitchen. Then there was a silence between Eric and Godric as Eric was healing his shoulder using aloe and magic. Except this was going to take time, more so than Sookie's scrape just because of how deep the cuts were.

Godric looked at Eric with a smirk "Alright, it's obvious you want me alone because Sookie should be learning this."

"According to Sookie, someone was following her. She doesn't know who this person is or what he or she looked like. Other than she had a uncomfortable feeling in her stomach." Godric nodded as he was listening. "Also there was an officer here this morning."

"I know, I saw him through the painting." Godric confirmed. "Was he suspicious or putting his nose into something that he shouldn't be looking into?"

"As far as I know...no." Eric's jaw tightened.

"You don't look happy about it though."

"He was too close for my liking."

"Too close? To what?"

"To Sookie."

Godric chuckled "Oh my goddess, Eric! You got it bad if you have jealousy issues now."

"I don't know if I should even pursue her or if she even likes me."

"Did I just hear the great Eric Northman have insecurity? Then the world is coming to an end if that's the case." Godric chuckled. "You never had these issues before."

"Her grandmother did tell me to look after her."

"Did Adele tell you to stay away from her? As in a lover sense?" Godric said showing him some loopholes.

"No."

"So what's stopping you? When it comes to women, you never stop going forward."

"I haven't stopped, I'm just being cautious."

"Well I'm glad you are being cautious. Sookie probably went through a lot at the orphanage, still having the sense of loss of her grandmother, getting to know you , me, her family history, and learning magic. That's a lot. So far she's taking it well."

"I think so too." Eric smiled warmly.

"Just don't be surprised if you bump into a wall. Her personal wall that she made for herself."

Eric nodded. Sookie maybe playful with him in her way, but they haven't talked about the deep stuff...yet.

"How do you think I should warm my way into her heart?"

"For a gentle touch...take a bay leaf and a picture of yourself and put it underneath her pillow."

Eric questioned it "A dream spell?"

"The safest place for anyone to give in to their desires is in their dreams. Any secrets she wants to reveal to you...or should I say any desire for you. She'll perform it in her dreams."

"Do I get to see the dream?"

Godric smiled "Not only you'll get to see it, you will get to be a part of it. You'll be able to see, touch, hear, taste, everything. So will she."

Eric smiled for he felt like this was going to be fun.