A/N: As promised! One chapter with the works delivered on time. Next chapter is already with my Beta and will be up on time next Sunday. For those of you who actually speak and understand written Swedish my translator said I should tell you that the translation for Eric was done on purpose. She and I both feel an old style of speaking would be what he would fall back on when emotional. So no more from me until the bottom. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I own none of the characters or anything else here. I'm writing purely for shits and giggle purposes. Please don't sue.
One last thing, big shout out too my totally awesome Beta, slcurwin, for putting up with me. She laughs and all the right places and makes me feel so smart. Thanks! Also lets not forget my growing number of helpful interpreters, 94larkla for the Swedish and my Scottish sweetie Senga!
Chapter 23
Steve Newlin was incensed. He'd been held for hours in the small bath after being abducted from his own hotel room at the Motel 6 several blocks up from The Pyramid of Gizeh. Six large men had broken into his room while he was planning the last stage of his glorious 'unveiling' of the vampire menace. They'd thrown his two co-conspirators in the back of a van and driven off. They blindfolded him and next thing he knew he was in this tiny bathroom. He yelled for help and screamed in outrage at his captors behind the locked door. After what felt like hours, he stopped his shrieking in favor of prayer. He had faith God would get him out of this mess.
By the time the oddly dressed woman came for him, his legs were stiff from kneeling for so long and his voice was hoarse from the frequent shouting he did during his 'prayer'. "Who are you? Where am I? What is happening? Don't touch me!" His struggles were in vain against the deceptively petite woman. She was dressed and an odd black suit that looked like liquid but felt hard like armor. She hoisted Steve up by his bound hands that now felt numb.
She touched something that Steve couldn't see and spoke, "Batanya, I have the human in my possession, we will be downstairs momentarily."
"Good, the trial will begin shortly, Clovache. They are just now finished with the queen." The unseen communicator cut out but it just fueled Steve Newlin's indignant fire.
"I refuse to go anywhere with you, demon spawn! I demand you release me at once!"
"I am not a demon, I am Britlingen. Your futile insults will do you no good. You will come with me by choice or by force. The decision is yours to make." Steve was unsure what to make of her comment but he knew she could take him by force if she needed to. So he bowed his head and began to declaim the Lord's Prayer, Psalms 23:4.
"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me…" he continued his recitation with as much bravado as possible as the devil woman, Clovache (must be a foreign name of some sort, possibly a negro name) escorted him downstairs to one of the ballrooms. No one seemed to bat an eyelash as he was being led hands bound in front of him in clear view of anyone they passed.
Half way through the lobby, he finally decided he would find out once and for all what was going on. He wasn't even sure where he was. He kept looking for some sign or name of the hotel. They'd taken the stairs so it was hard to pinpoint a location. That's when he saw it. Just as they rounded the corner to enter one of the small Ballrooms, one of the employees walked by. It was the uniform of the Gizeh staff, he knew this all too well because he had personally arranged for several of his people to be hired in order to plant the explosives around the hotel. Shit! The blood suckers must have found out some way!
As they entered the room he began his fruitless attempt at escaping his fate. "You have no right to hold me! I demand to be turned over to human authorities! You have no proof of these heinous allegations against me! It's slander! I'll sue!" He pulled his righteous indignation around himself like a shield. He refused to show these Godless, soulless creatures an ounce of fear. His only chance was getting them to hand him over to the police or maybe he could provoke one of them to lose control and kill him. He would be revered as a martyr.
Then he saw her, the little blonde bitch that had utterly ruined his plans in Dallas that had him on the run in the first place. She also completely botched his plans in Mississippi. He was about to bellow his vehemence of her presence when the small guard turned, grabbed him by the collar, hoisted him over her shoulder slamming him into the floor of the stage and knocked the wind right out of him. The fear he'd been fighting since he walked in the room full of vampires, was suddenly gripping him like a vice. He had no hint as to how she would 'silence him' but he was sure he didn't want to find out.
Once in the small boxy pen he'd been thrown into, he attempted to compose himself and steel his nerves as much as possible. He listened as a queer vampire droned on and on about his attempt to 'murder' his second in command at that creepy vamp bar they'd found in Jackson. Through his entire speech, Steve tried to remain focused, appear unaffected, and stifle his fear. He told himself repeatedly that line from that book he'd been forced to read in high school, 'A Tale of Two Cities'. The only thing in the entire book that had any impact with him was the last line of the book, 'Tis a far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; 'tis a far better place that I go to, than I have ever known', or something like that. He knew he would be going to heaven. Saint Peter would welcome him at the gates and he would once again be reunited with his father, whom had been killed by the same soulless beasts that held him now. He would spend eternity in God's holy light and bask in the riches of heaven's kingdom. He slowly came to realize after the second fanger mounted the stage, that Bill Gates wanna be from Dallas (where everything got fucked up to begin with), that he would not be turned over to the proper authorities. Like mobsters, these monsters were determined to dole out their own brand of justice. He was as good as dead.
During this entire inner monologue of self validation, he completely missed that in-between each 'testimony' given by the accusers, the 'blonde tart' would bend slightly to her left and whisper something in the ear of the old woman sitting in the throne. He had no clue that Sookie was in fact relaying his inner responses and to each allegation and confirming his involvement. Nor was he aware that every single being in the room, save for the few humans that weren't telepathic, could hear everything she said clear as a whistle.
Once the testimony from the witnesses was over, Steve readied himself to speak and was rudely cut off by the ancient woman in the overly embellished chair. "There is no need for you to speak. Remain silent."
"I have a right to speak for myself against these unsubstantiated lies!" He barely was able to get the sentence out before a very long, shiny and sharp knife was pressed to his throat by Clovache.
"Oh, but you already have." Her thick, slow speech clearly confused him so she elaborated. "Miss Stackhouse here is a Telepath. Now I know that simple minded humans such as yourself find the idea of telepathy unbelievable, however I assure you that those of us in the supernatural community find such gifts rare, valuable, and very useful. She has been enlightening all of us on your thoughts of each incident reported, as well as a few that came directly from your own mind. Every victim in your crusade of hate, fear, and general animosity has been accounted for and will be avenged." While Steve reeled from this information, the Pythoness asked the 'jury' if they'd come to a decision.
Isaiah stood after quick glances at his fellow royals, "Yes, your Grace. We find the human known as Steven Newlin guilty on all accounts. We recommend a swift end."
Every vampire present in the room could smell the fear wafting off of the guilty Newlin almost as strongly as the stench of urine he had just released. However, as the King of Mississippi approached him with a wooden stake in his hand to give true meaning to the words 'an eye for an eye', the Ancient Pythoness simply raised one aged hand to halt his progress.
"Hold. I have a much more fitting punishment in mind."
Several of the younger vampires in attendance began to shout recommendations. Steve nearly fainted when one of those was to have him turned. He would never see heaven if he became a monster like them. The transformation would destroy his soul.
Sookie gave a very unlady-like snort, "You have to be in possession of a soul before you are in danger of losing one and I doubt anyone in this room would care enough to turn you."
A cackle rose from the AP's lips. "Turn him?! He thinks someone would turn him?" After a few more hearty laughs she composed herself enough to respond. "No. No one will be turning you this night or any other. Nor will you be killed. I am not feeling at all kind enough for either option."
Steve couldn't think of anything worse than either of those choices. Thinking he may get out of this yet he grabbed onto that sliver of hope. You see, Steve Newlin grew up in a privileged home, surrounded by wealth, and in a country that values freedom and democracy (and the right to sue people…a lot). He was used to getting what he wanted, when he wanted it and from whoever possessed it. He couldn't fathom a worse fate than death or turning even if he'd been responsible for worse.
At his hopeful and curious glance, the AP decided to clue him in on his impending fate. "I believe you are due for some reeducation, or in your case just a healthy dose of firsthand knowledge. As one of your kinds most brilliant authors once wrote, 'Ignorance is the curse of God; knowledge is the wing wherewith we fly to heaven'. That William Shakespeare of yours had a truly remarkable mind. It's a shame he died before any of us had a chance to turn him. He truly deserved it for his brilliance alone. Speaking of authors, are you familiar with the works of Charles Dickens?"
Steve could only shake his head no.
"Really? This is interesting, since Miss Stackhouse informed me that you've been quoting him repetitively in your mind. Yet another insightful human, whom I do believe we did get to in time. But I digress. Are you familiar with 'A Christmas Carol'? " When he nodded his head (he'd seen the movie every Christmas) she continued. "This is good, because you will be experiencing your own version of those events."
Before he could manage to stop himself, he blurted. "But that's just a story. Fiction. There's no such thing as ghosts!"
Another chuckle rippled through the crowd as the vampires began to see where the Pythoness was going with this.
She shook her head, "'There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy'. Another fitting quote from the Bard, but do not worry I have plenty more, since you are so fond of quoting from works of fiction."
"The word of God is not fiction!" He screamed before he was silenced one again by that deadly blade.
"The severing of your vocal cords would not result in your death. Keep this in mind before another of your outbursts." Clovache said.
The AP simply shook her head. "I see…how do the younger generations say it… 'I have my work cut out for me'. I am several millennia older than your 'God', your Jesus Christ. I have seen countless religions come and go in the fickle nature of the human faith. Yours is but the most recent. Now, as for you punishment, you will become my pet." Steve's eyes nearly bulged from his head. "You shall accompany me in your quest for enlightenment. Observation will be important so you will not be permitted to speak unless spoken too and even then your words will be limited. Oh yes, limited. 'When words are scarce they are seldom spent in vain.' It has been many years since I've kept a pet, so I've had one of my handmaiden's do a little research on how Humans keep theirs. I did not want you to feel as if I would be neglecting your needs."
With a wave of her hand, the smaller cloaked figure to her right stepped forward and removed her hood. Senga then pulled what appeared to be a leather dog's collar from inside her cloak. In a blur of speed she had attached it to Steve's neck and was standing beside him holding the chain attached to it before he could blink. "You will wear this to ensure others are aware of whom your owner is and it will also act as a safety device, to keep you from running into traffic."
There was another chorus of laughter coming from the audience now and Steve's cheeks burned with humiliation and righteous anger. 'How dare she', he thought! Yet the gleam from that ever present blade kept him from voicing his indignation.
"Now the first step to completing your education is to expose you to new and different perspectives and communities other than the human one you are so accustomed to. We will begin by traveling to the Britlingen home dimension where your lovely guards are from." Steve just now noticed the presence of Batanya, who was far fiercer looking than her companion. He jumped a little. "It is there you will begin working on you perception and surveillance skills, which are sorely lacking. There are several Demon and Daemon communes we shall visit that will help you learn not to 'judge a book by its cover'. Of course we will spend ample time in the Vampire circles. The only supernatural race that I'm disappointed I won't be able to share with you is that of the Fae realm. It is there you could learn the true meanings behind the words malicious, conniving and monster. I would let you go alone if I thought you had a chance in returning but alas, you will have to settle for a few were-packs instead. I understand picking a new leader can get exceptionally brutal. Not quite the same but we will just have to make due."
Steve was dumbstruck. Even if he was allowed to speak he couldn't. The overload of information had rendered even his mind mute. Demons and Fairies were real?! Like really real? And what the hell was a Were? Unfortunately for him, the Pythoness wasn't quite done. "Now I'm sure you are wondering how long all of this 'learning' will take. Well, it is completely up to you if you learn anything at all. I cannot make you learn and accept, just expose you to the right environments. However the term of your sentence will be fifty of your years, after which you will be allowed to return to your home…if it is still there."
He simply couldn't help himself, "FIFTY YEARS! I'll be so old by then…my family…my friends, will all be…."
"Dead. They will all be dead. As the final term of your punishment, you will experience what many of my kind have had to endure. Being ripped from your life, home, family, and friends and in many cases the world as you know it now to be. For you see, in many of the places I plan to take you, time works differently there. For instance in several demon villages, for every hour spent there, equals decades here on earth. By the time your fifty year sentence is over many hundreds if not thousands of years will have past. You'd be surprised how many simple notions, such as national borders, change during that span of time. Your glorious state of Texas will no longer exist. It's even possible the land it's self may change and be alien to your memories of it. I have seen entire nations swallowed by seas, burned by fires and war, consumed by earthquakes, and buried by volcanic ash. You may think I am being kind by not allowing your death or turning but by the time you return, the world will be an unfamiliar place to you and you will be too old to do anything more than to die naturally in it."
The vampires in the audience, who had been sitting in rapt attention like a child with a good bedtime story, rose to their feet in applause. Now these were still vampires, so the applause was more of a golf clapping than a Super Bowl hurrah, but you get the point.
One lone voice rang out from the front row. "Ooooooooooooh, you are so screwed!" Pam. Sookie rolled her eyes before focusing back on, a white as a sheet, Steve Newlin. As soon as his fate truly began to sink in he broke down into a blubbering mess as he slumped to the floor.
"Great, I think you broke him." Pam again.
"Not yet, but I will." The devious old crone cackled.
Senga, pulled on his collar and said, "Get up, ye braggart. Tis time fur ya tae become more acquainted with yer new Mistress." She pulled a whimpering and still sobbing Newlin off the stage and half dragged him out the door so he could wait back in his bathroom inside the Pythoness' suite.
Once he was gone, the King of Kentucky slammed his staff yet again to gain attention and silence. Many in the crowd were eager to see what other surprises awaited them that evening. It wasn't yet midnight and already the atmosphere in the room felt like a party. Once silence was restored, he announced there is one last order of business. "Due to an unfortunate incident last evening, the marriage of Mississippi and Indiana had to be postponed until tonight. Will the two parties please step forward?"
Quinn advanced and placed a small decorative table in front of the Ancient Pythoness and set an extremely ornate dagger and cup on top. The tall cloaked figure finally stepped forward and took position in front of the table. As the two Kings came forward they had draped on ornate cloaks embroidered with the colors of their respective states. They knelt and took the pledge that bound them and their kingdoms together for a hundred years. They each brandished a forearm over the cup and let their blood mingle together after the figure sliced both wrists.
While the lawyers for each realm finalized the contracts and the two kings kissed to another round of golf claps, nobody noticed the dagger disappear from the table. Neither did anyone notice that Sookie was no longer on stage but had made her way unseen to the back of the room and was now wearing a white cloak with the hood pulled over her face. It was elegantly embroidered with gold, purple and light blue metallic thread so they reflected any light to catch their surface. The needlework had been cleverly done to include symbols from the royal house of the sky fae as well as Norse runes detailing the union. It was unfortunate for the majority of those in attendance, that only three beings in the room were both old enough and educated enough to decipher the stitching. Sookie came to the end of the aisle holding before her a cloth covered pillow signaling her readiness just as Russell and Bart departed the stage.
Quinn was just stepping forward to remove the table when he noticed the ethereal specter seemingly float down the aisle. Her dress and cloak seemed to float behind her as it was suspended several feet off the ground. (Bill seemed to be the only one to notice the disappearance of Sookie's grandmother and children from their seats.) Noticing the tiger frozen in mid-step the eyes of every vampire in the room (save for two) followed his gaze and watched in awed silence as this mysteriously beautiful creature made her way slowly toward the stage and ascended the stairs. She came to a stop in front of the table and knelt. Her hood slid from her head just as inexplicably as her train had floated behind her and she raised the pillow toward the black cloaked figure that had been standing in the same spot the entire time.
"Please accept this humble offering as a symbol of my loyalty, strength and heart. I present it to you as I proffer myself." There was a collective gasp as Eric lowered his hood to reveal his face and stare into the eyes of his chosen mate. The vamps in the crowd were awestruck as they realized they were witnessing yet another marriage ceremony only this time it was between a human woman and one of their own.
Following the gasp were several low growls. Eric could tell that at least one of them was coming from Bill and it made him smirk for just a moment before he reached out and took the cushion from Sookie and removed the cloth to reveal the ceremonial knife he had used just moments before. There were a few murmurs and whispers about how the knife could have magically made its way across the room to her pillow. Eric lifted the knife reverently from the pillow to his lips and kissed it, accepting her offer. Then in a move completely unexpected by anyone not already aware, he cut his wrist with the dagger and let the blood flow into the cleaned chalice before him. When his wound healed he handed the knife to Sookie and she, to the further astonishment of all, repeated his actions. This was a risk, knowing how potent her blood was, of doing this here but she made sure to take a dose or two of the scent inhibitor just before she entered the room. The Pythoness had assured them they needed as many witnesses as possible.
Eric raised the goblet into the air as if to make a blessing or offer a prayer when a gnarled old hand took the cup from him and said, "May your mingled blood forever mark the uniting of two souls as one, αδελφές ψυχέςεπανενωθείγια μια ακόμη φορά!" (Soul mates reunited once more.)
There were not many in the audience that understood ancient Greek (or even the modern version of the language) but for those that did the significance of the blessing was not lost on them. Vampire mates were rare enough but a fated pair, substantiated by the oracle of Delphi herself, was like seeing the reappearance of the Dodo. Several of the ancient ones in attendance immediately fell to their knees in reverence and shock. This included all the Kings and Queens in attendance except for Iowa (she was less than 800 and was ignorant to the language and significance) and Sophie-Anne. She was silently seething under a mask of neutrality. The rest of the crowd could have been blown over by a stiff breeze.
The AP handed the chalice first to Sookie. As she raised it to her lips she had to brace herself. The ick factor was high for her and she had protested it initially. However she couldn't deny the arguments against her and in the end she acquiesced. The moment the blood touched her lips something happened that had not since they had first completed their bond. She saw herself through Eric's eyes, literally. She watched as he raised the remainder of the mixture to his lips and she knew the moment it happened.
They stood alone in that field in the middle of nowhere and yet somewhere specific all at the same time. Eric saw the splotches of what looked like mud smeared haphazardly over Sookie as he did before. When he reached out this time to wipe them away the stains began to fade. He was not aware that Sookie had seen the same black scars covering him and she too was wiping them away. One touch and they faded to reveal a beautiful shining aura glowing just as much as hers. 'Is this real?' As one they thought it and as one they answered it. 'As real as the love we share.' In perfect synchronicity they came together and shared a kiss that transcended time.
When they finally broke the kiss, they were back on the stage and even the AP looked slack jawed. She recovered with a smirk and said, "If I knew there would be a light show I might have suggested a more private setting."
As one, Sookie and Eric asked, "What light show?"
She raised one eyebrow and gestured toward Sookie's skin. She was as luminous as a vampire.
"What does this mean?" They said again.
"It means the party's just starting." She then faced those gathered. "Let the festivities begin!" Nobody moved until she said again, "You may greet the happy couples in one hour at the Ball. Now depart." Finally the crowd slowly broke up. Some lingered for a few moments to see if anything else would happen but soon most were making their way to the Grand Ballroom.
At the back of the room, Bull closed the camera and removed the memory card. 'Did you get all of that?' Tray thought at Bull.
Bull simply said, "Yep," popping the 'P' as Sarah loved to do.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Two hours later the Ball was in full swing. Sookie and Eric had just excused themselves from the throng of well-wishers (ass kissers) to get in at least one dance before they would inevitably be interrupted again. 'Dust in the Wind' by Kansas was being covered by the band and the atmosphere of the room changed slightly as they began dancing slow and close. They waltzed still completely in sync with each other, like one entity. To those that watched as they twirled around the dance floor, it was like watching poetry in motion.
'Do you think she knew this would happen?'
'No. She once told me seeing the future was like watching the surface of a pond during a rain storm, constantly in flux, with even the smallest of decisions making large ripples.'
Sookie smiled at the memory. The AP frustrated everyone in her vague elusions and love of riddles. They could feel the eyes of everyone on them but it didn't matter. They knew there would be fallout from this. Enemies had been solidified during the ceremony, yet so had allies. Neither knew what was to come, but they were now joined in a way they knew only death could separate, and even that was temporary.
Once the song came to an end, Adele and Lafayette came onto the dance floor each carrying a child. As "Where's the Love" by the Black Eyed Peas began playing and the children paired off with their parents, Pam approach with the AP on her arm.
"North Man, we must speak." Eric nodded and passed Sarah back to Lafayette as he kissed Sookie on the cheek and went to the ancient one. No words were spoken between Eric and Sookie. It was simply no longer needed. They weren't sure how long they would share each other's thoughts or what the limits were but for now they simply accepted it.
The Pythoness beckoned Eric to escort her from the dance floor. She directed him into a small alcove of the room that had been especially warded for privacy at the AP's request. Others could see only shadows and no noise entered or exited the space, they however, could see the entire room quite clearly. The ancient one began by turning her milky eyes toward the direction they had come. Eric followed her gaze to Sookie dancing with Lafayette, as Adele, Sarah, Hunter, and Pam danced in circles around them.
"It is a beautiful family you have amassed for yourself." She paused, her milky eyes never leaving the sight of the group. She spoke her next words in a voice so gentle he almost didn't grasp the gravity of the words meaning. "Det är dags för dig att betala din skuld, Eric. Jag har bestämt att betalningen skall vara 'den du kallar Din'. Jag kommer att ge henne den respekt hon förtjänar, och ge henne ett val, men i slutändan kommer hon att bli 'Min'. Min yngsta, min dotter och min efterträdare, för jag ska värna om henne och lära henne allt jag vet." (It is time Eric, for you to honor your debt. I have decided to collect 'the one you claim as your own' for payment. I will do her the honor she deserves of a choice, but in the end, she will become 'Mine'. My newest, childe and successor, for I shall cherish her and teach her all I know.)
Eric's world crumbled around him, for all he could see was his love, his heart and soul, his Sookie. After struggling for many minutes to gather the will to speak, he finally asked, "Varför? Varför tillät du vårat giftermål om du ändå tänkte ta henne ifrån mig i slutändan?" (Why? Why did you allow us to be married if you were just going to take her from me in the end?) His voice was rough with barely suppressed grief. She wanted his Sookie.
A/N: Don't kill me for the evil cliffy! Just review and I'll send you the tease that will ease the heart attack some of you may be having...remember to breathe in threw the nose and out though the mouth. Okay there are a few points I need to share.
#1 For any who speak Greek, I apologize because I used Google translate and I'm sure there's probably something wrong with the translation.
#2 I do not share Steve Newlin's bigoted POV. It was creepy getting into his mind and I had to take a hot shower right afterward to rinse the ick off.
#3 We're getting into the meat of the story now! Next chapter will be stuffed full of info! So don't forget to review for your tease! Oh and Thanks to all my Guest reviewers. I do appreciate every review but if you're not logged on FF won't let me respond to your review and I can't send sneak peaks! So keep up the good work my minions and I see you all next Sunday!