Author's Notes:
Keep in mind that this is an epic that will span two to three individual stories. As I get closer to the end, I'm adding things that will tie this story to the next.
I thank you for enduring this far and hope you give me feedback. Enjoy.
*The characters in this chapter belong to their respective authors, mythologies, and CH, & AB.
**I OWN NOTHING**
Chapter 63
SPOV
"Right this way" she says and heads toward the temple.
Translucent bricks and sparkling pools are scattered throughout as are various rooms on either side of the main aisle leading towards the throne room. Normally I would be engrossed in the beauty of my surroundings, but I've got tunnel vision and can think of nothing but my children.
We enter the throne room proper and I immediately recognize it as the same room from one of my accessions. Surprisingly, the room is empty at the moment. A table with benches on either side appears as we move to the center of the room. My mother sits on one side as Eric and I face her with confused looks.
"They're coming now" she says, nodding to the right of us. We both turn to see a woman carrying our babies. But this is no ordinary woman. The power she is emitting is equal to my mother's, but darker. She is almost completely black; her eyes, hair, nails, cloak, and the humongous wings at her back are obsidian in color. The only lightness is her skin, which is pale if not a light gray. With one of our sons in each arm, she coos at them as their little hands glow their father's blue flame at her.
She gets within 20 feet of us before their little heads turn in our direction. The second they see us, they pop out of her arms and into mine. I would be lying if I said I wasn't angered by this dark creature holding my babies, but I also know that Gran would be disappointed in me for judging a book by its cover. So, I take a deep breath and put my big girl panties back on.
"My friend, it is an honor to introduce you to my daughter and heir, Sookie. And this is her protector and mate, the Northman." Gesturing to the figure with a sweep of her hand, "This is my dear old friend, the Morrigan." I'm not sure if I should be on guard or impressed by the woman in front of me. If memory serves me, she is like the Celtic equivalent of my mother with a worse temper.
"She is quite impressive, Freya. She'll soon be more power than you." She steps closer to me and I feel her aura touch mine. The clash is almost palpable as her dark and my light seize up the other.
Her eyes leave mine as they land on Eric. She licks her lip, which makes my anger flare up again. My mother snickers as Morrigan pays no mind.
"The Northman. Your reputation precedes you." She studies him for a moment, moving close enough to sniff him. "My, my, my. I smell Odin in him. No wonder these precious beings are so powerful. And this is their father?" She turns to my mother, but I'm the one to answer.
"He is. And he is mine." I state.
"There is no doubt about that, child. Those beauties are a gift to our entire universe. I thank you both for creating them." She bows to Eric and me with a flourish of her wings.
"My children tell me that someone interrupted their journey here by sending them to Muspelheim. I wonder who would have the power to do such a thing." My mother says to Morrigan. She had moved to the opposite side of the table and joins my mother. Eric helps me sit as he takes Agni from me. Erik looks up at me with those blue eyes as he sends me love and happiness. I can't help the tears as I let his feelings wash over my entire being. Agni seems to be trying to tell his daddy everything that he's seen so far as Eric showers him with kisses and nods as if he understands. Maybe he does.
After a few moments, I realize that the Goddesses in front of me are deep in discussion. I put Erik to my breast to feed him and focus on their conversation.
"I am telling you, Freya. Hela does not have the power nor does anyone under her have the power to do such a thing. This has to be someone with intimate knowledge of the hatred between Surtr and Odin. It would have to be someone who would benefit from Surtr potential starting Ragnarok early by striking down Odin's son." My mother is silent as she contemplates her friend's words. Then, it dawns on me who it could be.
"Mother" I call to get her attention. When she looks into my eyes, I ask the question that will lead to much discourse. "Where is Loki?" Her eyes flash bright as a fierce wind sweeps through the temple.
GPOV
Having now replenished the blood that Jessica took from me with her recovery, we lay in post coital bliss. After Eric, I did not think I could love another as much as him. Although I made another child after him and before Jessica, Eric has remained my favorite. I cannot say that she has replaced him, but I love her as much. The very thought of someone hurting her fills me with incomprehensible rage. And the closer I get to hitting 3,000 years existing in this universe; my wrath would be of epic proportions.
"What has you so tense, my love?" she asks as her red hair forms a curtain around my face.
"Just imagining what I would do if someone harmed you."
"None of that" she admonishes as she places a soft kiss to my lips. Just as I am about to deepen it, an intense pain shoots through my body. Jessica jumps off of me in defense mode, looking about us as if we are being attacked.
"BROTHER!" I yell as I vamp from the bed, putting on my pants, and exit to find Eric. Jessica immediate goes to Pam and Tara. Soon, I have the three of them on my heels as I follow my blood to Eric. We enter what looks to be a throne room and witness the Goddess Freya is livid about something. All eyes turn to me at my interruption.
"Something is wrong. Alex is hurt." Eric stands immediately, handing the baby he'd been holding to Sookie. A moment later, one of his ravens flies into the room to perch on his shoulder. Without any sounds, they communicate with one another, and then the bird is gone.
"Fangtasia is being attacked we must go and put an end to this threat. They will not take another of our nest nor will they keep us away from our children again!"
Like the Queen, wife, and mother she was meant to be, Sookie places a kiss on both babies and passes them to the dark figure I just noticed was also in the room. My instincts tell me to be cautious of this creature, but if they trust her, then so must I.
"I will protect yours as if they were mine. Your mother and I will have answer for you both once your return." Sookie nods to both the creature and the Goddess before grabbing Eric's hand to approach us.
"We don't have time to waste." We all grab hands and we pop back to the earth realm.
EPOV
Sookie takes us to the highest point in the wooded area behind the club. It is at this spot where one could see the entire structure, the parking lot, and the rest of the complex which hold it. It is for this reason why I have cameras hidden in the trees to prevent an enemy from capitalizing on the only weakness in the club's location.
As we look on, we watch as Fangtasia burns to the ground. Since I had withdrawn from its limelight years ago, this sight does not bother me as it would have before meeting my lover. The same cannot be said for my child. Her rage, similar to my own, begins to boil as the flames consume what is left of the building's framework. A growl from the parking lot pulls our attention away from the fire and onto the fight that initially brought us back here.
Alex is doing his best to protect a wounded vampire on the ground as four assailants try to eliminate them both. It is not until this moment that I realize that deep feelings have developed between my child and my maker's brother. Seeing the enemy using their strength in numbers to defeat her grandsire's vampire sibling is her undoing.
Moving with a speed I cannot recall ever seeing her use, she vamps down to assist. Through her eyes, I learn that the wounded vampire is Rasul and he has lost an arm. She kills two of the attackers by ripping off their heads in rapid succession. With his attackers distracted, Alex is able to kill those who remain. When he turns to see who helped him, they both fall into bloodlust. Crashing like waves onto rocks, they kiss and rip at each other's clothing. Before they can get too lost, my maker clears his throat. This gets the attention of his brother, but not my child as she takes him into her mouth.
"We have to get the silver out of your blood before you let her drink from you." Alex growls at Godric. "Brother would you knowingly want to hurt her?" he asks, trying to appeal to his logical and caring sides. Alex grunts as she pulls Pam off his cock. She bares and snaps her fangs at him, unaware of anything but the burning lust coursing through her veins.
"Pamela, as your maker, I command you to control yourself and return to your room in the palace until otherwise order." It has been quite a while since I have had to issue a maker's command on her, but it is imperative at this moment. Within seconds, she is gone. Alex turns his eyes on me and they are black with anger. Sookie walks over to him and places a hand on his shoulder. With a quick look of relief at her touch, he crumples to the ground.
"Once we get him to the safety of the palace, Carlisle can extract the silver. I have sedated him so his pain can't affect anyone else. Godric, if you would." My maker nods and picks up his brother. Tara has helped Rasul to his feet. Fortunately, Jessica was able to find his severed arm. And with that, we form a circle, touching the person next to us, as Sookie pops us all to the palace.
At the palace…
Once we arrive, everything moves at vamp speed. Rasul and Alex are taken to the basement for medical attention. Drs. Cullen, Ludwig, and Mayfair move in a synchronized effort to heal my vampires of their injuries. After get Rasul on a gurney and hooking him up to an IV of donor blood, Carlisle holds his arm to his stump so it fuses back to his body. Ludwig and Mayfair work together as one hooks Alex up to the dialysis machine and the other applies Godric's blood to the wounds on the surface of his body. My maker gives his blood because due to the silver, the wounds are not healing on their own. Knowing they are in the most capable hands on Earth, I pull Sookie back upstairs.
We immediately make our way to Pam's room. Hearing the crashing of furniture and glass shattering makes my undead heart clench. I feel her frustration and unease at my command, but it was necessary in the moment. She was out of control; and with one swallow of his blood, she too would have been poisoned. Knowing that the head start I given her to return the palace did not cool her head, I am dreading walking through her door.
Squeezing my hand as she sends me strength, I turn the knob and allow my wife to enter first. As soon as the door closes, a vase soars toward my head. Sookie freezes it in midair before letting it crash to the floor.
My child is a mess. Her hair is wild, several bald spots clearly visible. Her face is smeared with her blood tears. Her clothes are rags that are only on her body because of a few strands. We watch as she pulls her Louis Vuitton curtains down, and then tries to put her head through the UV glass.
"Something's wrong with her. Not simply being denied to indulge her bloodlust." Sookie tells me mentally. I am now even more confused. Slowly, my wife moves across the room, stepping over the debris.
"Pam? What's wrong with you? Why have you destroyed your beautiful room?" Her voice is tender. She just makes it to my child's side as her blood splatters against the window.
I am about to issue another command for her to stop, but Sookie sends me a warning through our bond, so I do not proceed. Sookie puts her hand in between Pam's forehead and the glass. Pam begins to cry in earnest now that she is unable to hurt herself.
"Tell me what's wrong" Sookie begs.
"He took him from me. Just when I finally found my own love, the bastard commands me not to be with him and takes him away!" she screams the last, shocking us both.
"What do you mean by 'took him away'?" my lover probes.
"You know what the FUCK I mean. HE KILLED HIM!" It is at this moment when I feel pure hatred from Pamela for the first time in her existence. It makes me take a step back, bracing myself against the door.
As Pam glares at me, Sookie grabs her face, turning her so they can only see one another.
"Eric loves you, loves us. Why would he do such a thing?" she asks.
"He doesn't love me anymore! He says he does so he won't make you mad. If it weren't for our friendship, he'd thrown me to the side long ago." Her voice grows low with her pain.
"Then why would he hurt you if he doesn't care?"
"He is a spiteful control freak, Sookie! He wants to punish me for our connection and it taking your attention away from him. Please. Get away from him. Take me with you. I can't live now that my only chance for love is now dead." She puts her own hands over Sookie's to emphasize her words.
Without hesitation, Sookie says to unthinkable. "Ok, we'll go. Let me go get my stuff and we'll leave as soon as you rise tomorrow night. Will you promise to stay her and not hurt yourself anymore?" Pam nods emphatically. Sookie kisses my child and rises. At her mental signal, we both pop out to our bedchamber.
"She's been spelled and it's unlike anything I've ever seen before. I want you to stay here while I handle this." She sees that I am about to object. "I know she is your child, but whoever did this made you the object of her fury. I'm going to have Rowan look at her and, if this is what I think it is, then I'll call the Gods here to save her. I'm begging you to trust in me and let me handle this. It would kill you both if any harm falls on either of you."
Her plea makes me pause. I sit on the end of the bed, sadness taking me over at this turn of events. We have not been home six hours before the lives of my bloodline are threatened. Everything in me wants to fight her on this, but I hear the Goddess' words once again.
"Bring my child back to me…to us." I tell her. She lifts my chin and kisses me deeply. Then, she leaves me with my worries. I lie back on the bed and let my thoughts drift to my sons.
SPOV
Feeling Eric's sadness and Pam's emotional pain is unnerving. And I'm determined to get to the bottom of this immediately. I instruct the guards at our bedroom door not to let Pam enter under any circumstances. I order them to restrain her, with silver if necessary, to prevent her from getting to Eric. Their confused looks are expected, so I waste no time in explaining as I know my orders will be followed to the T.
I pop back to the basement to check on our patients. As I arrive, the dialysis machine is just finishing and Rasul is testing his reattached arm by trying to hold a glass. Although I'm relieved by this, I still need to know who attacked us and did this to Pam.
I walk over to Godric and Alex. Both look up and know something's wrong. They both come to me and I grab their hands, popping us to my office.
Instead of asking Alex to recount what happened, I look into his mind.
With a single purpose in mind, a group of vampires storm the club. There were only a few donors and area vampires inside. With everything that had been going on, the club was closed to the public. Therefore, it was used only as a meeting place for the vampires without established feeding arrangement to feed. Rasul and Alex went to the club to retrieve some items from Pam's office safe to be stored in her one at the palace. She'd decided to close up for good. When the vampires rush in, the guys grab weapons and fight their way out into the parking lot. The four we came upon were the last as they two of them took out a group of almost 30.
I pull out of Alex's mind, trying to figure out how he got poisoned. As I replay the memory over again in my own head, it hits me. Alex felt a pinch in his neck right before they engaged the enemies. He remembers touching his neck and pulling out the needle, though the prick was now healed no doubt.
"Someone not only poisoned you, but spelled the silver with a curse that has latched onto Pam. I don't believe you were to be affected, but one of us were." I tell him as I motion between me and Godric. His eyes widen as his mind works through the repercussions.
"Is she alright? Can I see her?" Alex asks me.
"I need to find out the depth of the spell before I use you to break it." It's now that I take a moment to look into his soul. He hasn't loved a woman at this level since his mother. I don't mean in an incestuous way, but a mother is the first woman any man loves. Normally. This tells me that they were counting on someone closest to him to help him. It didn't really matter who it was. They got luck that it happened to be his mate, though neither one knows it.
"I must go and find out what I can about this magic. I ask that you both go see Eric. He is heartbroken at the moment and needs whatever strength you can give him to endure this." Both men nod and leave the office.
Using my mind, I summon Rowan to my office. As I follow her mind through the building, I call out to my mother and the Morrigan. Knowing the babies will be with Odin in their absence puts me at ease, so I don't worry or have to ask them about it as they appear before me. I hold up a finger to wait just as Rowan knocks on the door. Once we're all seated, I fill them all in on the attack and Pam's current condition.
"Rowan, you have much magic in you and I would like your opinion on what is happening you Pam. I ask that you go check her out. Act sympathetic to her plight and reassure her that I'm tying up loose ends so we can leave at nightfall. Don't try to make her see reason." She nods and leaves to make her assessment.
"I'm sorry I couldn't wait to return to you for whatever information you have. With this new development, I need to know Loki's whereabouts."
"He hasn't been seen in Asgard since your resurrection. Do you remember that day? He was the only God that didn't greet you or give you their blessing. Odin and I thought nothing of it because we figured he was upset that he wasn't the center of attention at that moment and chose to entertain himself elsewhere." my mother tells me. This isn't looking good.
Morrigan adds, "I have consulted Taliesin and he tells me that Loki has been searching and has found his descendent here in this realm. She is a vampire and has gained much power within the European factions. You find her, you find him."
Trying to figure out why he would take such offense to my momentary presence, I'm stunned by my mother's next sentence.
"Loki is Hela's father. He may be the one pulling all the strings." The anger that fills me is so powerful that I have to close all my bonds as to not affect them. Both Goddesses flinch as a pulse of my power surges through the building.
"She's quite on her way to surpassing you in power Freya." The Morrigan says to her friend.
"Indeed" is my mother's only response.