So here comes a short update. Right after this one, you'll finally have lemoooooooon! :)
Thank you again for all your alerts and the reviews!
"I'm sure it won't be as easy as he thinks." Sookie whispered to herself as she sat in the car.
The streets were calm and to her own relief she didn't see any Humans. She was too afraid to hear their minds.
As she approached the Castle, she could see Vampires guarding the streets and checking the guests.
Sookie got out of the car and gave her card to the guard.
"Your name please" he asked.
"Northman"
The Vampire nodded and Sookie entered the courtyard.
As she walked in, a woman came close to her.
Sookie looked up and her blood froze.
"Nice to see you again. You're the girl from the tearoom."
"Freyda the Witch of Waste" Sookie whispered to herself.
"Thank you for bringing my message to Eric."
Sookie said nothing and fixed the way in front of her.
"By the way, how is he?"
"He's a coward." Sookie replied.
"And can I ask you what you're doing here?" Freyda asked her.
"I'm looking for another job. I'm tired of Eric. What about you?"
"Me? The Queen herself invited me. In the end, this stupid Pythoness has finally realized how important I am."
Sookie turned towards Freyda and stared at her with anger. "Then maybe you can free me from the spell."
Freyda laughed. "My dear girl, that is not possible I'm afraid. I cast spells, I don't remove them. Goodbye" she said before disappearing in the castle.
The ballroom was full of Vampires, some of them were dancing, and other were talking or drinking from Humans. Sookie felt out of her place. She tried to be as invisible as possible and it seemed to work since no Vampires were paying attention to her.
It was until a man approached her.
Sookie was astonished, knowing how she really looked like. The man in front of her had dark hair and long sideburns that looked very old fashioned. Suddenly she realized that it was certainly Eric using some kind of spell.
"The High Pythoness would like to meet you. Please follow me."
Sookie stared at him and followed him becoming nervous. They left the ballroom and walked through a corridor. As Sookie passed an opened door, she noticed Freyda the Witch of Waste standing in the middle of the room.
The man with dark hair guided Sookie to another large door and opened it. They entered an old and beautiful glasshouse with tropical flowers, plants and trees all around. Sookie looked up and she could see the stars shining above them.
In the middle of the glasshouse, an old woman was sitting on a throne.
The man stopped beside the woman and nodded.
"You must be Sookie" The old woman said in a raspy voice.
"Yes Ma'am." Sookie could tell the woman was blind.
"I am the High Pythoness, the Queen is at my service." Sookie felt her heart jump with anxiety.
Sookie's eyes moved from the old woman to the man standing next to her.
"This man is Bill, the Queen's messenger." The High Pythoness answered as if she'd heard Sookie's thought. "He guided you to me."
Sookie exhaled with relief, knowing it wasn't Eric.
"Does your relief mean that I won't meet Eric?"
"No and he even send me to meet you. It shows that he won't be of any help to the Queen in this war."
"This is unfortunate" the High Pythoness said with sadness in her voice. "I had chosen him as my apprentice centuries ago. He was my strongest and most gifted follower." She turned her head towards the side and paused. "I was relieved to have found in this world such a talented Vampire by my side. But unfortunately a Demon took his soul and after that Eric left my side. He uses his powers only for personal purposes." She added in a serious tone.
She turned her head back towards Sookie.
"Eric is dangerous. His power is too strong even for a Vampire as old as him. If he keeps this path, he will know the same fate than the Witch of Waste."
The High Pythoness turned to Bill "Bring her in here."
He nodded and disappeared. Sookie started to feel really nervous. She never thought that Eric would be in such trouble. He was just supposed to stop the War.
Bill came back followed by a young Vampire pushing a chair where Freyda was sitting.
Sookie gasped as she recognized her.
They stopped the chair next to Sookie and she almost felt sorry for the Witch. Her face was the one of a very old woman. Her nice features were now hidden by layers of wrinkles and the skin on the rest of her body was completely burned.
"What happened to her?" Sookie asked the High Pythoness.
"She received the punishment for her crimes. She also lost all her powers. She used to be a wonderful Witch but she entered into a pact with a terrible Demon too. She lost her soul and mind and did terrible things during many years. She chose the dark side and I cannot accept Vampires like her in this world. If Eric decides to come here in the attention of serve me, then I can help him to break his pact with the Demon. If not, then he will have the same fate as Freyda or worse."
Sookie felt anger rise. She made a step forward.
"It's my turn to talk now!"
Bill who stood beside the High Pythoness looked at her completely chocked.
"I understand now why Eric refused to meet the Queen. What is this place? You invite people and catch them to torture them! And then you pretend that Eric doesn't have a soul? I can agree that he's selfish and unpredictable but he's honest, generous and fair. He only wishes to live as a free Vampire."
As Sookie spoke, her heart felt lighter and without knowing it, her face slowly returned to her normal one.
"He could never become an evil Monster and he needs no one to find the way of his freedom. And I trust him with all my heart!"
"You are blinded by your love for Eric, young girl."
"Eric!" Freyda suddenly repeated grabbing Sookie's dress. "Where is he? Is he coming? I want his soul, I want his soul! Eric, give me your soul!" She pleaded holding on Sookie desperately.
"Freyda please calm down. Eric is not coming." Sookie said trying to move away from Freyda.
"He will come!" The High Pythoness proclaimed. "I know it, because now I know his weakness."
A man dressed in a black cloak like a monk entered in the glasshouse followed by servants.
"Your Highness." A dark and raspy voice said. "The Queen is ready for the ceremony." He added, showing a silver knife resting on black velvet.
"Thank you." The High Pythoness said with what seemed like suspicion.
Sookie stared at the monk then back at the High Pythoness. Just then another monk entered.
"You Highness, the guests are waiting for you."
The High Pythoness smiled knowingly. "I'll come, just leave us." She turned to the first monk. "Eric, I'm happy to finally see you."
Eric let the hood of the cloak fall to reveal his face. Sookie gasped as she watched him come close to her, putting an arm protectively around her shoulder.
"Your Highness." He said bowing.
"I knew it was you." She answered.
"I respected my promise. I don't want to fight with you, your Highness. So now Sookie and I will leave."
"I won't let you go!" She exclaimed.
Suddenly the air around them changed and was charged with strong energy until they were plunged in a total darkness. Sookie felt terrified but Eric's strong arm was still holding her close to him, while Freyda was clutching her legs tight. With fright her face had returned swollen.
"Sookie don't look down, you could fall into the darkness." Eric told her.
"It is time to show her your true face, Eric." The voice of the High Pythoness echoed in the darkness.
Flames appeared from the shadows and surrounded them. Sookie saw them turning around and she could distinguish eyes in the sparks of fire that reminded her of Cataliades' ones.
Eric started to growl and as Sookie looked up at him, she could see his skin burn and his fangs growing.
Sookie saw something move on the side and she put her hands on Eric's face so he could focus on her.
"Eric no, it's a trap!" Just then a lightning shot through the air and Eric jumped just before it hit Sookie.
Eric flew through the roof of the glasshouse, breaking it in tiny pieces. He was holding Sookie in his arms and Freyda who was still firmly attached to Sookie's legs.
They landed in the garden of the Castle. Eric turned towards Sookie holding her shoulder.
"There's a car right this way." He showed her with his finger.
"What about you?" Sookie asked with worry.
"I will distract the guards while you drive to the Dead Castle."
"The Dead Castle? But I don't even how to find it!"
"Don't worry Sookie, everything will be fine. The ring will show you the way. You just have to call Cataliades from your heart." He told her warmly.
"Cataliades?" Sookie asked as she stared at the ring. The red crystal suddenly started to shine and a thin line of red light appeared in the air. "It shines" She whispered in awe.
"If you follow the light you will find the Dead Castle." He told her.
"If I'd known you were coming, I wouldn't have done all this for nothing!" She told him with anger.
"It's your presence there that gave me the strength to come." He whispered in her ear. "You saved my life Sookie and you don't even know how in danger I was." He added staring back at her with sincerity, leaving Sookie totally speechless.
He stepped back and jumped in the air.
"Eric don't leave me!" She called after him.
"Don't worry, you will be fine! Follow the light!" He added before disappearing in the sky.
Sookie looked down at the ring.
"Come on Freyda" she said to the old woman and started to walk towards the car.
As they sat inside, Sookie stared at the ring and thought of Cataliades. The thin line of light appeared and showed her the direction.