All Hell Breaks Loose
Chapter 20: Bleed and Die
Sookie just stared at Alcide for a couple of minutes, unmoving and not saying anything. She was digesting the werewolf's words. There are now two cars and Jason was in one and Jessica was in the other.
"How can we rescue both?" Steve asked. He had gotten out of the car and was kneeling and sniffing. "There were a lot of people here."
"You do have a stronger sense of smell than a human," Alcide told him. "Still don't compare to a werewolf."
"I can't," Sookie said. "I just can't decide on choosing one and giving up on the other. Jason is my only family. He is the only one I have left, but if I give up on Jessica he would never speak to me again and neither would Bill."
"How strong is your brother?" Alcide asked.
"He's tough. He works out and he is good with a gun," Sookie answered and glared at the wolf. He could not be choosing for her.
"Good?" Steve said it as if he just heard the punch line to a joke. "He's outstanding with a gun. I never had seen anyone who could shoot like him."
"It doesn't matter," Sookie said as she paced around. "I don't think they let him have a gun now."
"Jessica is stronger than him," Alcide said. "She can resist better."
"What are you saying?" Sookie asked. She could not believe he would be this way with such calculations.
"I'm saying we rescue Jason first," Alcide said.
"I can't believe you." She shook her head at him. "By the time we rescue Jason and go after Jessica she might already be dead."
"And if we just stand here and do nothing then both will be dead."
"He's right," Steve said. "We can't just sit here and Jason is human. Jessica might have better chance at survival."
Sookie rubbed her head. "I can't believe you are saying this."
"I know it feels like a Sophie's choice," Alcide said softly. "But this is more logical."
"Bad way to phrase things," Steve told him.
"But I do have a point."
"Jason," Sookie said as she thought of her brother being bound and mauled by several different werewolves. She wasn't sure how she was able to find the strength to climb back into the truck.
"Turn left," Alcide instructed after he climbed in.
Steve muttered some curses and gunned the engine once again.
The one good thing about traveling with a vampire and a werewolf was there was no need for headlights. Steve's vision was perfect for the night and the dark and Alcide can see better at night that Sookie can.
"Stop," Alcide shouted. "Pull over. We are close."
"Why shouldn't we keep driving?" Steve asked but pulled the truck over along the side of the road anyway.
"Gotta keep the truck at a good distance," Alcide explained. "Can't have them hear us coming." He jumped out of the truck and shifted.
"Kind of fascinating to see them change," Steve said. "Even if it is so fast."
"Talk about it later," Sookie told him.
They ran through the untamed land and Sookie ignored the multitude of tiny grasshoppers jumping on her, the way the tall grass tickled the backs of her knees and the feeling of the thorns and other brambles that occasionally cut into her.
The trail led them to what looked like an old fashioned church that was long abandoned and covered in kudzu. Sookie's eyes widened when she saw the van in question.
"Their scent is stronger," Steve said. "I also smell something else, something that-"he was interrupted by the sound of his fangs extracting. "Dang it."
"I am bleeding," Sookie admitted. "Just remind yourself that you can sink those into a nice big juicy werewolf."
"I hear you. Shouldn't I give our friend here some of my blood now?" He was right. Now would be a good time.
"Alcide it's time." She coaxed the wolf over to them and watched as Steve bit into his wrist and let Alcide lap up the blood. That would not be enough. They were also going to need some form of a plan and she would be able to think of one if she could see inside and what was going on.
There were five people inside the church walking around. The place was lit by only a few electric lanterns and flash lights. Four the men walking around were gorging on what appeared to be fried chicken.
"Gregor," Steve whispered and pointed at the one lone man walking around.
"Vampire?" Alcide asked and nodded towards the direction of beefy man with hair like a tumbleweed.
"That's one of the ones who tortured me."
"Where is Jason?" Sookie asked. She was looking for him.
"His scent is very strong here," Alcide said.
"I think I see him," Steve whispered and pointed at one of the pews. It was wiggling back and forth and the top crown of honey colored hair appeared now and then. "There is also might be a back entrance." He dashed off.
"How are going to get them out?" Sookie asked.
"Can you use your gift?"
"Sure," Sookie answered.
"What gift?" Steve had returned. "There is a back entrance."
"Sookie can read minds."
"Oh," Steve gasped. "That would explain a lot. Are you reading right now?"
"Alcide is keeping his thoughts covered," Sookie explained. "I can't read the minds of vampires, but I can hear the wolves." She concentrated on what they were thinking.
This chicken is shit. We should have stopped for Popeye's.
I wonder where the hell we are going to sleep. This vampire can sleep beneath the floor boards and in the ground but what about us? Are we just gonna try on these old wooden pews?
I don't think all this V is worth it. Justin, Toby, and Declan is dead for this?
Hope we get to kill something soon.
"Nothing that we can use," Sookie said after getting a good read.
"Steve you said there is a back entrance," Alcide said after a few minutes.
"That's right."
"You know this vampire. We need you to distract them. Go and talk to him." He grabbed Sookie by the arm. "This way."
She followed the werewolf to the back of the church and Steve was right. There was a small door in the back. She gently pushed against it and saw it led into a small room that contained a few old ratty robes, and a candle lighter. The room had another door and she carefully opened a crack and peeked out.
Jason was tied up and on one of the pews and in plain site. He was covered in scratch marks, bruises ad other cuts. Even with all his injuries he was still trying to struggle and slip free from the ropes.
"I always love coming across these," Steve said loudly as he stepped in through the doors. "Always a bit like coming across a treasure." He looked around. "You just have to love this architecture."
Sookie slipped out of the small room as the werewolves ran up to Steve.
"Stand down," Gregor commanded. "Well, well look at what the cat dragged in."
"Tried cat," Steve said and shook his head. "Just not as good as human."
"What are you doing here?" Gregor asked as he circled around the younger vampire. "You left us and now you told your sob story to the whole fucking country."
"Can you not use such language in God's house?"
Sookie kept her eyes on Steve and the group while she came upon Jason. Her brother's eyes widened in recognition but he kept quiet.
"You aint with us," Gregor said while Sookie worked on untying the rope and while Alcide chewed through. "You never were one of us."
"I actually am one of you brother," Steve gave Gregor a light pat on the shoulder. "We just gotta win these Lessers over, let them think we want to be friendly and think of us not as blood thirsty monsters, but as Care Bears with fangs."
"Now why would we want to go and do that?" Gregor asked.
"It leads them into a false sense of security," Steve answered coolly and with that proud smile.
Still silent Sookie and Alcide led Jason to the back. She kept her eyes on the two vampires and the werewolves that surrounded them.
"And how did you find me, child?" Gregor asked.
"Tracking skills. I was in boy scouts," Steve answered.
"Boy Scouts?" Gregor asked in disbelief. "That is your answer. Reverend you were a pathetic human and you are even more pathetic as a vampire." He bolted to the back, slammed the door as Sookie was trying to open it and stood in front of it. "I am 483 years old. I can't believe you would think that I would fall for this."
Sookie ignored the growls from the wolves and blasted Gregor with a burst of light. Out the corner of her eye she watched as Alcide ran up to face the wolves on his own.
"Four against one aint fair," Jason said as he raced up to them. "Come one and fight me like a man."
One of the wolves shifted into his human form. "If that is the way you want it."
Steve had pounced on another wolf and managed to subdue him while he tore into his throat.
"Is this really worth it?" Sookie asked. "Is your own lives worth working for an insane vampire just for the V?" She watched as one wolf paused and backed up. "You don't have to do this. You can always change packs." She continued to watch as Alcide tore out the throat of the one wolf that was fighting against him and Steve continuing to enjoy his meal.
Painful grunts from her brother's direction brought her focus to where one of the wolves was beating on her brother. Sookie threw another blast and knocked that wolf off.
"Jason," she gasped and would of ran to her brother if she wasn't grabbed from behind by the neck.
"What they do to that other Lesser is no concern of mine," Gregor whispered. "Our majesty just wants you."
"Russell," she choked out.
"He says you are special." Gregor sniffed her. "He is right. Your blood does smell delicious."
"I think you forgot something," Sookie said as both Steve and Alcide came running to her defense.
"As did your friends," Gregor said as the one wolf that Sookie stunned had returned to his senses and ran up to them. Alcide tackled that one. "Steve, what are you doing?"
"You remember how you asked me how could someone like God allow me to be turned?" Steve asked. His bottom lip and chin were covered with blood and he still had his fangs out. "This is why." He tore off a section of one of the pews and ran up to them.
"Did you not forget how old I am?" Gregor asked as he spun around, throwing Sookie to the ground in the first place and grabbing Steve by the chest and living him.
Sookie threw another blast at the older vampire. "Now Steve!"
As soon as the light had stuck Gregor, Steve slammed his stake into his chest, causing the vampire to explode in a big gooey mess.
"God wanted me to be turned," Steve said as he pointed to the pile of goop that used to be Gregor. "There is true evil in this world and God wants me to fight it. He wants me to be strong and fast enough." He dropped the stake and used his fingers to wipe off the blood on his mouth before he licked them.
Sookie breathed easy. Alcide was scratched up but he had taken care of the other wolf. He was going to be okay. The fourth wolf was in human mode and curled up in the corner and did not look like he would be a threat. Her eyes sought out Jason and she found him on the floor, motionless.
"Jason," Sookie gasped.
Replies:
TheLadyKT: You do have a point. Sookie always did have that Pride thing working against her.
Cacalle. Thank you and Coot did have some good lines.
AudraLeeony. Thank you. I love Steve and Michael McMillian.
ncmiss12. Thanks. I love writing action Sookie.
ashmo2000 Alcide might not be a match in the physical sense but he is smarter than most of those guys.
Desireecarbenell. Thank you. They do have some plans for Jessica and it wont be pretty.
Anonymous: Thanks. Patrick is a bit of a side plot and I kinda like writing Sookie at work, they really don't show her waitressing much anymore on the show but then there are multiple story lines and POV's.