THE DAY
In and out, in and out, nice and steady, the words paced in their minds, a silent mantra of attempted calm that seemed to lack the desired effect. Each paced, half dressed and anxious with anticipation, the hours ticking away slowly, painfully. Miles away, they sensed the impatience the other felt, wished that time would move just a little bit faster.
'I want it to be time already,' Sarah sighed as she reached to fiddle with her hair, her hand batted away, Sookie offering a muffled growl around the hair pins that she clenched between her teeth, 'I want to go now. I don't want to wait any longer.'
'I'm sure that a near naked wedding would cause quite the scandal in this town,' Sookie said, 'but after all the effort that has gone into getting you ready I'll be damned if I let you walk down the aisle in your knickers, even if they are fabulous.'
Finally a laugh bubbled within her, escaping her lips as she said, 'okay, but that doesn't mean I'm going to stop considering it.'
Sookie turned Sarah around on the swivel chair. 'I felt the same sweetie,' she said, brushing at a small smudge of eyeliner from Sarah's eye, a reminiscent smile on her lips, 'I couldn't wait to be Bill's wife. I was ready to cancel the celebrations and head to Vegas, but unless you want a shotgun wedding so that you can't share one of the happiest days of your life with those that you care about, you have to be a little more patient. It's only a couple more hours away, and I promise you that it'll fly by once we get you in that gorgeous dress.'
Sarah couldn't help but smile. 'I suppose having my girls here with me is better than having to go through all of the waiting by myself,' she said as the door to the bedroom opened, Pam, Tara and Jessica bouncing in, smiling as they presented themselves.
'We look hot,' Tara exclaimed, hands proudly on her hips, 'damn hot.'
Sarah allowed Sookie to slide the last hair pin into place before swivelling to look at the three women as they posed. 'I'm sure the groomsmen will agree.'
Pam rolled her eyes. 'I'm not interested in the groomsmen, not when my choices are between a human, a shifter and a werewolf,' she said, nearly sneering at the thought, 'nor would I consider Bill.'
She was almost glowing with a rare moment of genuine emotion, despite the harsh remarks. It was rare to see her smile, to bounce with excitement, but smile and bounce she did, Sarah filling with glee at the sight.
'Good, because Bill is mine,' Sookie said, mimicking that smooth Southern accent of his as she stood, grabbing a can of hairspray. She allowed Sarah a moment to hold her breath before unleashing a cloud of spray on concrete, coating the perfectly arranged locks in a fine but strong mist before stepping back for a final look, making sure no stray hairs escaped.
The grin that lit her lips said it all, Sarah leaping up to embrace her best friend, a stream of gratitude falling from her lips. The embrace turned to a group hug, a silent show of support that took the edge off the impatience that clawed within her.
Just a little longer.
The night before at the dress rehearsal she had not truly come to terms with the fact that they were so close, that after a year of planning and preparing less than 24 hours remained before the wedding. With excitement bubbling within, Sarah took the last garment bag from Tara's closet, hanging it over the door. They barely contained their excitement as Sarah lowered the zip, ivory peeking out from the black that surrounded it.
As the bag dropped her heart raced. This wasn't another fitting, another adjustment, this was the moment. She was finally going to walk the aisle in the dress she had envisioned so clearly in her mind.
He tugged at his tie, running his hand down the ivory silk, perfectly matched to the dress of his bride to be. He breathed slowly, trying to imagine the dress she had designed. He knew it would be elegant, beautiful, but not flashy. No, when it came to dresses she had been looking not at the flouncy, overly puffed dresses that so many women seemed to favour these days, but at the classic styles, ones that would be flattering, vintage sexy.
She would pick a corset bodice, one that would show off the flare of her hips and accent the hourglass curves that made him wild. There would be not sequins or beads, but soft lace, and a moderate train would flow behind her, one that she could tie up to dance.
A smile took his lips, one that made him feel warm as he continued to imagine, to wonder. Despite the company of his closest friends the hours had slowly ticked by, the anticipation becoming near unbearable as the clock ticked closer and closer to nine. He knew he was lucky though, having slept through most of the day, but Sarah had stayed with her girls in Sookie's old house, the house that Tara now rented. She would have been up early, the daylight hours spent getting ready for the day they had been planning for, well, a year to be exact.
She will glow.
Eric was forced from his mind's musing by a solid nudge, a sharp elbow connecting with his ribs. He looked to Bill, nearly growling before he realised that his best friend was smirking.
'What?' he said, the look a little unnerving, coming from the vampire.
'Oh nothing really,' he said, that southern drawl filling the limousine, the rest of the groomsmen glancing between the two, 'it's just such a rare sight to see Eric Northman daydreaming.'
Eric threw a glare at Jake as a snort of laugher escaped before he returned his gaze to Bill, 'I wasn't daydreaming, just thinking.'
'Yes, you've been following every word of the conversation, haven't you?'
Eric settled back in the seat, folding his hands in his lap as he made himself more comfortable despite that gnawing knot of impatience within him, 'maybe you're conversation just doesn't interest me.'
That earned him a laugh, Bill, Jake, Alcide and Sam all muttering, 'oh sure, of course.'
Eric gave Bill a shove, kicking the rest of the men, all of them in reaching distance.
'It's okay to be impatient, Eric,' Bill said, settling back as well, 'don't worry, you'll be a married man soon.'
A smile broke over his lips, Sarah filling his mind once more. 'It's only taken me a thousand years.'
They laughed as the limousine pulled up, Bill and Sookie's home acting as not only the venue for the ceremony, but as the reception hall. A slight breeze cooled the muggy night air, rustling through their suits as they filed out, a grin on Eric's lips as he surveyed the flood lit area that brimmed with decorations.
The aisle was defined by tall poles, red and white ribbons twisting high above their heads. Chairs stood on either side, bows draped over the back, red for the groom's side and white for the bride. The decorations were simple but elegant, perfect for the celebration about to be enjoyed.
How much longer? He found himself thinking, wishing he had a watch, though he knew that would have been a bad ideal: he would have stared at it all night, willing time to speed up. The drive from Shreveport had been long. They had left earlier than they had intended due to Eric's impatience. The limo driver had taken a longer route to waste some time, further increasing his frustration.
Eric greeted the celebrant, a preacher who had been turned and abandoned. Eric had met him in the 1870s and taught him how to survive. There was no other he trusted to make the ceremony run smoothly.
As the guests began to arrive from all over Bon Temps, Eric felt a spark of nerves within him, but the fever of excitement overpowered his anxiety as family and friends came to greet him. They congratulated him, chatting for a moment before finding a seat. Soon the night was filled with talking and laugher, the guests mingling as they waited for the bride to arrive.
Eric glanced to his best man, watching as Bill pulled his vibrating phone from his pocket. Eric did not even need to see the message to know that it was Sookie texting him. He led the way, each of his groomsmen taking their places beside him after offering a grin. Jake gave him a double thumbs up and a wink before he headed in the opposite direction, preparing to walk Sarah up the aisle.
He heard an engine, his head turning to see a pristine black limousine glide along the driveway, pulling up, the driver climbing from his seat. The few steps it took the man to reach the back of the limo seemed to drag an eternity, Eric wishing that the bridesmaids would get out of the car faster, but their floor length gowns hindered them slightly, each of the women having to pick up their skirts.
If it could still beat his heart would have raced as he saw an ivory heel appear, a slender leg following. Sookie reached back into the limo, gathering armfuls of ivory silk in her arms before offering her hand to help Sarah from the limo.
He swore he felt a thud in his chest. Her beautiful dark hair was the colour of rich chocolate, pulled back in an intricate bun, locks of it brushing over blushing cheeks. She glowed, her skin perfection, her shoulders covered in the finest glitter. Her dress began with a corset bodice that showed off those curves that he loved so dearly, the sweet-heart bust keeping her modest but just a little naughty. His eyes followed the line of her ample breasts for a moment before they lowered, taking in the lace rose detailing of the bodice, sheer like gossamer as it flowed down the silk skirt and into the train that Sookie carefully laid behind his English beauty.
Through the fine lace veil he saw her smile, and he knew that the love he saw in her eyes was reflected in his own, his quiet heart swelling as music filled the air.
No time was wasted, the chattering guests becoming quiet, turning to stare as Jessica took her first step onto the red carpet of the aisle, a shy smile on her lips as Hoyte caught her eye. Tara was close behind, radiant, her dark hair curling around her shoulders. Pam was devilish as ever in the blood red dress, a wicked smile on her lips as she followed her fellow bridesmaids into place. Sookie was bouncing, her golden locks mimicking the spring in her step as her eyes landed on Bill.
Murmurs started, Jake grinning. He took his sister's arm as she took her first step, ivory heels peeking from beneath the silk and lace, the train of her dress unfolding behind her, the lace skirt flowing, a beautiful web that surrounded her, the material glowing in the lights.
An eternity passed but time no longer mattered when she took her place beside him, her tiny hands sliding into his.
The perfect fit.
The world seemed to go quiet, the excited murmurs lulling. The only sounds that could be heard were the insects as they sang in the night, seeming to encourage the celebrant as he began the ceremony. Eric could do nothing but stare at her, the brightest smile he had ever worn on his lips. He only half listened to the words that were said, his eyes mesmerised by his blushing bride.
They said their vows – ones they wrote – and heard a few sniffles in the crowd at the words filled with the love and promises their hearts had longed to say for far too long.
'…do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?'
'I do,' said without hesitation and a proud fire in her eyes.
'And do you, Eric Northman, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?'
'I do.'
Excited murmurs drifted through the crowd; everyone knew what was to come as he lifted the fine lace veil, revealing her beautiful face, her eyes sparkling as she gazed up at him. The minister said, 'I now pronounce you man and wife,' as Eric cupped her face, leaning so close that he could feel her breath fall on his lips.
'You may–'
The shriek of metal broke the quiet night, screams erupting as the front half of the limousine flew over the chairs, the wooden posts that lined the aisle bursting at the force. Splinters of wood rained down as the guests ducked for cover. The bridal party dropped to the ground, the archway that had stood behind them exploding in a cloud of splinters.
As the cloud of wood shards cleared and the dust settled, the vampires stood, baring fangs with menacing snarls. Eric tucked Sarah behind his shoulder, automatically shielding her, though he did not stop her hands from creeping around him, palms open and ready.
'It would seem that I have arrived just in time for the best part.' An accented voice flowed over the crowd, frightened gasps sounding as Lucian touched down on the red carpet, dressed in a pristine suit and matching red tie, as if he had picked the outfit especially for the occasion. He smiled as he clapped, pausing to brush dust from his shoulder.
Every vampire stood tensed, Eric stepping forward, fangs in full view as a feral growl ripped from deep within, a dark place that should have made the King of Arkansas tremble. Instead he laughed a sound of deep amusement, of a pleasure that sent shivers down Sarah's spine. She reached for Eric, her hand on his arm as she came to stand beside him.
'This is our last stand,' Lucian said, strolling down the aisle as if he were part of the ceremony, even bowing as he offered his hand, 'this is the moment where you must make a choice, Sarah, where you must decide if you can truly stay with Eric, a mere Sherriff. Can you live with the knowledge that every day you spend with him, is a day that I take a life, a life of one of the many people you have come to know and love during your time in Bon Temps.'
'Sarah is mine, Dimitru,' Eric growled, an aura of rage wafting over the crowd that collectively shivered in fear.
'On second thoughts,' the King said, a smirk still lighting his lips, 'I suppose starting with you would be a strong motivator for her, wouldn't it?'
Shots sounded from every angle, the humans dropping to the ground, quickly followed by the vampire guests as bullets pierced them, releasing liquid silver. With weapons raised more vampires appeared from the surrounding trees, all alert, their rifles raised and trained.
Bill, Pam and Jessica were forced back, Alcide quickly pinned down before Sookie, Jake, Tara and Sam were made to kneel and huddle in a group. Sarah gave Sookie and Sam meaningful glances, signalling to her friends to play along as the helpless humans that Lucian believed them to be. If he were to discover other rare gems within his midst, his obsessive nature would only be fuelled.
'Just stop Lucian,' Sarah said, standing beside Eric, 'why can't you leave us alone?'
'I must have you,' he said and she saw the madness in his gaze, rich and dark as it swirled, 'I must own you.'
'But don't you see that taking me by force does not mean you own me, it will merely be keeping me. You will never own me as Eric already holds my mind, heart and soul. I won't be yours, I'll just be there, existing.'
'You will come to be mine in time,' he said, just out of reach, daring Eric to attack, as he looked to his men, 'seize him.'
Eric shot forward with a growl, his fingers grazing Lucian's throat, but the bullet that tore through his hand ripped it apart, his growl turning to a roar as Lucian wrapped silver chains around his neck, gloved hands protecting the King from the dangerous metal. As a scream ripped from her throat Sarah was pulled back by rough hands that clasped her arms, their vice like grip stopping her in her tracks. She was forced to watch as Eric was kicked to the ground, again and again as he tried to stand despite the pain that burned through his veins as he was injected with silver.
'You bastard!' she screamed, managing to land an elbow in the side of one of the vampires that held her, but to no avail. Her physical strength was nothing compared to a vampire, no matter how strong her supernatural powers had become. Still she kicked and fought, screaming, 'let him go!'
'Sarah, you know I will do that happily,' Lucian said, reaching to caress her face only to have a heel land on his foot, a pained grimace turning to a glare. 'Say you will be mine, that you will side with me, and this stops. We will leave and these people will continue with their lives, peaceful and alive.'
She stared at him for a moment, but her eyes were drawn to Eric, her gorgeous, loving vampire as he dragged himself to his knees. He looked up, his fangs bared in anger as he met her gaze. 'No,' he growled, 'no, Sarah.'
She felt tears burn in her eyes, tears not of sadness, but of anger.
'If I come with you, there are things I want to know.'
'Like what?' Lucian asked, curiosity sparking in those maddened eyes.
'How did you keep finding us?'
A smile lit his lips. 'It wasn't hard, really, not after piecing together the information that my man in the Fellowship of the Sun had seen a vampire matching Eric's description with a little Englishwoman. I knew that somehow Eric Northman was involved,' he said, looking so proud of himself, 'from there, I put a loyal servant in each town within the fair state of Louisiana, and one of them reported seeing Northman with a small Englishwoman matching your description in Merlotte's.'
'Who was it?' she asked, feeling a few growls of her own rise within her.
'Me,' called a voice in the back, the skinny lad standing with a smirk on his lips, 'bet you didn't see that coming. Little Alex, the bumbling new bus boy who you could boss around, finally having someone lower than the dirt that you all are, you freaks.'
'Oh, you are in the deepest shit you ungrateful little prick,' Sarah growled, feeling a spark ignite in her eyes, 'we were training you, looking out for you and covering up your clumsiness so that Sam wouldn't fire you, and this is how you repay us? Repay me?'
'I love it when you're feisty,' Lucian said as he walked around Eric, Sarah lurching forward as he landed a kick in Eric's face. The grip on her arms was too tight though, desperation welling in her.
'Stop!' someone yelled in the crowd, 'why are you doing this to her?'
'Because she is rare, and I love to collect rare things.'
'What do you mean she's rare?' Arlene called, clearly shaken even as she stared over the back of a chair, 'she's English. I wouldn't call that rare.'
Lucian turned to Arlene with a smile, 'she hasn't told you?' he asked, his smile widening as the woman shook her head, 'oh you cannot imagine how excited I am to present to you the only living True Druid in existence, the first for centuries, a being who can control the natural elements as is she were mother nature. She was created to keep the peace, to keep other higher species from getting out of control, but instead she chooses to hide, to keep the treasure that is her power hidden.' He turned, holding out his hands. 'Come Sarah, why don't you give your beloved town a good show, let them see what you truly are. I'm sure they would love it.'
Anger and hatred welled within her, fury twisting knots in her gut as they all stared so expectantly at her. This was the last straw: he had interrupted their wedding, hurt their friends, tried to turn her town against her, and worst of all, he'd hurt the man who she loved, the man she was seconds away from calling her husband.
Time's up, asshole.
'Okay Lucian,' she said, feeling her hands spark with the power that curled within her, fire crawling up her arms as a feral smile lit her lips, 'we'll play it your way.'