All Hell Breaks Loose
Chapter 40: Back in Black
Eric had felt Sookie grab onto him when the snap was heard and he heard the gasp from both Cassidy and Jason while Anya stared with her mouth open. Isabel looked embarrassed by the member of her nest and Area behaving in such a fashion.
"Oh little one," Ismene said as she ran inside and approached Steve who didn't fall, but just stood there.
"Ow," Steve said and adjusted his head and neck until they were facing the right direction. "That hurts like the dickens."
"Did you forget?" Eric asked.
"Or do you not watch TV?" Jason asked. "Or read the news or anything like that?"
"I knew what he was," the one vampire said and continued to glare at Steve. "But did all of you forget who he is?"
"Who he was," Ismene corrected. "I had a beautiful entrance planned and now it is ruined." She placed a few fingers in her forehead and feigned pain. "Oh Isabel please forgive me."
"I should be the one apologizing to you," Isabel said before giving the vampire under her a disappointed glance. "Honestly Phillip, do you have to behave this way in front of our guests?"
"He is no guest," Phillip said as his fangs popped out. "Did we not forget how he and his flock planned to hunt us down like animals?"
"You might not forget that," Steve said in a low and menacing tone. "And I will not forgive how at least one of you killed my family."
"I remember," Phillip said in a smug tone. "I was there with Stan when he drove into their car. I believe I heard a baby cry."
Eric felt his own fangs extract when Steve shoved Phillip into the wall and bared his fangs at the other vampire.
"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't rip out your spine?" Steve asked.
"Well for starters I'm older than you," Phillip said and shoved him off.
"Hey," Jason said and stood in front of Steve. "Calm down and back off."
"Stand down, Phillip," Isabel ordered.
"He's not going to like why we are here," Sookie whispered.
"They won't but you said Isabel would agree to it," Eric told her.
"Steve you need to stay calm," Anya was trying to calm him down.
"I can't," Steve said, never taking his eyes off Phillip. "Not after what he has done."
"Revenge will never bring you peace," Anya said and grabbed his hand.
"She is right," Eric added. "It will not bring anyone peace. I sought revenge after Russell Edgington for what he had done to my family and that caused him to rip out the spine of that news anchor."
"This way," Isabel led them inside to the living room where there was a microwave on an end table and several small metal wash bins filled with ice and bottles of Tru Blood, beer, and soda. "Help yourselves to anything we have to drink. Shall we warm up a few bottles of Tru Blood?"
Eric and Ismene did not need to drink any but Anya and Steve needed another bottle. Jason had selected a beer and Sookie and Cassidy chose Diet Cokes.
Eric scanned around the room. He was able to find and identify the other vampires that were in the old nest before it was blown up by the suicidal bomber. There were also a few new pale faces. There were also several humans and Eric would not classify them all as fangbangers. They were humans that were claimed by some vampires, unclaimed lovers and friends. There was also a tall man with his hair tied back.
"Attention everyone," Isabel said trying to get everyone's attention. "You may want to know why I have asked you all to come here." She waited until everyone had quieted down. "You have been witness to and experienced the backlash from when the vampire terrorist known as Russell Edgington murdered a human on television."
Everyone muttered an agreement or nodded their head.
"I fear as do my friends from Area Five that another attack may happen soon," Isabel continued.
"Another televised attack?" One of the humans asked. She had a shirt with Equal Rights for the Living Impaired.
"We are not certain," Isabel continued.
"Who is the target?" The man with the ponytail asked.
"The Fellowship of the Sun."
"So?"
"Big deal."
"Why should we care?"
"Let them become living juice pouches,"
"Every last one of them deserves to die," Phillip said and raised his fist. "Why should we try to protect those pathetic flesh ba-" He was interrupted by the sound of a glass shattering.
"Sorry," Steve said as he held the broken remains of his Tru Blood bottle and watched as the liquid drip onto the floor. "I don't know my own strength sometimes."
"I still can't believe we are allowing their leader in here," Phillip said as he pointed at Steve.
"Former," Sookie blurted out. "Former leader."
"They would not allow him to continue to lead them," Eric said. "He would be seen as an abomination, a monster like the rest of us, yet he still wishes to save them. It has been a while since I have seen such kindness."
"PR," Jason brought up. "Isabel just said we got to think about PR. You have the whole church slaughtered that aint gonna stop the hate. There are other branches of the Fellowship and other groups who hate vampires and if Russell's goons end up killing them all then the haters are going on the air and say uh...they were right." He did have a good start and impressed Eric until he had lost his momentum.
"I could give y'all an example of what they might or actually will say," Steve said. "And there are many convincing speakers out there."
"Russell wants to lord over all vampires," Eric continued. "He wants us to fall in line and follow his rules. He thinks he can unite all of those who are supernatural either by birth, by transformation or by learning."
"He has become deluded," Ismene continued. "He feels he owns the planet that everyone should bow down to him. He may have wolf packs under his thumb because he gives them V, but he will not have everyone bow before him."
"Travis how do you feel?" Isabel asked and pointed to the tall man with the ponytail.
"My pack has encountered a fringe group of his wolves," the tall man said. "Try to convinced some the cubs to leave our pack and join his by V bribery. When they refused they were beaten. I know several packs refuse to get involved out of fear, but I feel if we refuse to fight out of fear then will we end up bowing out of fear."
"Alcide feels the same," Sookie said and Eric placed his hand on her shoulder. "The Shreveport pack has already took a stand against those who serve Russell."
"I still don't see why shouldn't we align with Russell," Phillip said. "I remember cheering him on during his speech."
"Phillip," Isabel started.
"Don't talk me down," Phillip said. "These humans are not our equals. We feed from them. They are food and servants and should be treated as such."
"As your Sheriff I demand you stand down," Isabel said with her usually calm tone turning stern.
"Maybe I don't want to be part of your area, Sheriff. I wish Stan was still alive and running things. Godric only named you because you as big amount of pussy as he is."
Eric bolted forward and grabbed Phillip behind his neck and held him firmly. He felt and heard his fangs extract.
"Thank you, Eric," Isabel said. "As much as I hate the paperwork that will come up tomorrow I still have to do this. Phillip for rebelling against your Sheriff and willing to align yourself with a known terrorist I sentence you to the true death."
Eric grinned when he heard the verdict and turned to Steve. "Revered. I believe you should be the one."
"As tempting as it would be I must decline," Steve said. "Killing him won't bring me peace. Protecting my flock will."
"Claire?" Isabel asked.
"Gladly," a female vampire with blond hair said. She rushed off and returned with a wooden stake and shoved it into Phillip's chest before running to a young human male who embraced her.
Eric had tried to jumped back away from Phillip before he could explode but didn't get away fast enough. Blood and bits of flesh splattered on Eric and anyone else was within range of being painted with dead vampire.
"I hate having to do that here," Isabel said sadly. "That will be hard work to get the stain out of the carpet."
"You just need to pour club soda on it," Ismene offered. "Get up the chunks and then soak it in club soda."
"Thank you ancient and honored guest," Isabel said as a few people ran off. "Tell me how do you feel about the situation?"
"Russell needs to be stopped," Ismene said in a sad tone. "He might listen to me since I am his Maker but he is quite insane and might fight me off for not agreeing with his ideas, but I will stand up to him and stop his madness and I will save those people."
"Thank you, Ismene. You can imagine what kind of damage to our movement if he is a success with his attack." Isabel took a step back away from the people who returned with a roll of paper towels and a bottle of club soda. "I cannot force you all to fight. I only ask you to think of what would be best for vampire kind and what would Godric do if he were in my place."
"Sheriff, you have my pack," Travis said.
"Thank you," Isabel said. "I suggest we all get cleaned up and those who wish to fight meet here before dawn on the 18th. Those who are human or werewolf meet here around dusk of that day."
Eric approached Sookie. "Do you think you candle this fight?"
"I know I can," Sookie said.
"That is my girl" He reached down to hug her but she took a step back.
"I'd hug you but you are covered in dead vampire. You even got a piece in your hair."
"Ah," Eric said and wiped away the strand. He definitely needed another shower.
A/N: Happy Valentines all and Happy Half Price Candy Eve.
Replies: Anonymous, thank you very much. I like keeping people on the edge of their seats.