Oh my god - two chapters in one day!

I just had so many ideas that I had to write this today and I completely ignored all my studies (#noregrets).

So, this chapter is far far longer than any of the other ones I have written and it has far more action!

Rated M: strong language, brief mentions of suicide, violence, a small bit of gore.

Disclaimer: I had to lift a lot of the lines from the show to fit the scene and of course, these lines do not belong to me nor do I take credit for them. Again I do not own any of the True Blood characters, apart from my own.

As always, constructive criticism is always welcome!

Enjoy!

Chapter Six

The new man rushed into the room, stopping before Godric.

He was clearly a vampire, a powerful one, by the looks of it. Sookie and I could only watch as he murmured Godric's name almost reverently before, get this, kneeling in front of the shorter vampire. Godric just stood there like this was somehow totally normal. I swear to god, if I had known vampires were this weird and this much trouble, I would've avoided Godric as much as I could in that cage.

Sookie stared at this new vampire in shock, looking really unnerved at the display. What, was this vampire dangerous or something? A threat? Sookie evidently knew a lot more about vampires than I did and if she was unnerved, I sure as hell was following her lead.

"You were foolish for sending humans to find me." I jumped as Godric spoke but was relieved when some of that darkness that had ben radiating off him seemed to dissipate and he spoke in a far more gentle tone.

"I did not have a choice," the new vampire replied. His voice was deep and lightly accented, although I couldn't place where it was from. "These… savages seek to destroy you."

Well, I mean, he phrased it rather melodramatically but he wasn't wrong. This vampire must be one of Godric's loved ones – one of the people he didn't bother saying goodbye to. I felt sorry for the dude; he clearly had no idea that Godric was here willingly. I felt hopeful, however, because this guy obviously had a much better chance of convincing Godric to live than I did – he actually knew him.

"I'm well aware of their intentions." Godric gazed down at the vampire with a slightly haunted look in his eye, which appeared to deeply trouble the new vampire.

Stupidly, I felt like this was the perfect opportunity to ambush Godric about his questionable decisions.

"Yes, Godric, why don't you tell him just how aware you are?" I scowled angrily, marching towards the two vampires and pretending like I wasn't terrified and fearing for my life.

The other vampire growled angrily and there was a blurred motion that was too fast for my eye to see but when he settled, Godric was holding an arm out in a gesture that suggested he was holding the vampire back from me. I flinched backwards, well aware of my mortality and fragility in the face of them.

"Milia," Godric said, resting his hand on my shoulder soothingly, "this is my child, Eric Northman."

I gaped at them. "… But you two don't look anything alike!"

The Northman guy gave me the single dirtiest look I have ever received in my entire life before turning to Godric, "who is this idiot?"

I tried to feel offended but all I could feel was relief that he was no longer looking at me like he wanted to rip my poor, delicate throat out.

Godric eyed his son? Child? … His whatever with disproval, "This is Milia, she was kidnapped by the Fellowship of the Sun and trapped here with me."

Sookie stepped forward; her blonde curls brushing her face. "Why? What do they want with you?"

I shrugged, "I have literally no idea – that Steve Newlin dick just said that it was something to do with how I saved this vampire or whatever."

Sookie stared at me in shock, and Eric eyed me with reluctant interest.

I sighed, throwing my hands up in the air. "Why does everyone always give me that look? I'm a fire-fighter – it's my job!"

Sookie looked mildly confused, eyeing my height (which was the same as hers, thank you very much) and obviously wondering how on earth I did my job efficiently. I couldn't really blame her – you had to see short fire fighters in action before you could really believe we were good at our job.

She opened her mouth to say something but was cut off by loud, blaring alarms. Well shit, this could not be good.

Godric straightened at the sound of the alarms and I tried not to flinch away; he had gone back into Terminator mode and I couldn't help but be scared by it. Although, Sookie barely reacted to it so maybe this was just normal vampire behaviour? I prayed to God it wasn't.

"This was one betrayed you," Godric said to Eric, jerking his head at an unconscious man lying in the corner. I yelped, not having noticed him before that. He had a nasty gash on his head and was lying face down behind a heap of boxes.

"Is he ok?" I rushed forward to help him but was held back by Sookie.

She gave me another shaky smile. "Don't worry – he will be fine. He betrayed us to the Fellowship – they shouldn't do anything to him."

I raised a brow, "shouldn't?"

Eric snarled. "We don't have time for this. Godric –"

Unfortunately for him, Godric didn't have time for this shit either. I tried not to feel too smug when he interrupted Eric.

"Save the humans. Go on." He demanded, eyeing the staircase wearily.

"I am not leaving your side until—"

"I can take care of myself," Godric hissed, clearly not in the mood for this Eric's bullshit – I had only just met the guy and even I could tell he had a lot of bullshit.

Sookie rushed forward urgently, like a startled doe, wide-eyed and afraid. "We need to go. Now." The alarms were still blaring in our ears.

Clearly, this concussion of mine was still pretty bad because I failed to feel as alarmed (Ha, get it?) by the alarms blasting our ears. It seemed like that trip from the cage had taken everything I had because all I really felt like doing was curling up in a corner and taking a nap – that unconscious dude had the right idea.

No, Milia, I chastised myself, trying to find the energy and willpower to go on. I had pushed through life and death situations with bad injuries before and was weirdly thankful for it now, without it I doubt I would have had the ability to get through this. Its different when you're on the job – its easier to push through when you have teammates and civilians relying on you, and your life isn't the only one on the line; its much easier to give up when you're only responsible for yourself.

Eric eyed Sookie and I with slight boredom and a lot of irritation. He looked really put upon, like saving us from a raving group of religious fanatics was really inconvenient. I was getting the feeling that this guy was really going to get on my nerves. He started to leave the basement, Sookie and I scurrying after him in an effort to catch up with his long strides.

Wait – "Godric, aren't you coming with us?" I asked, turning back to him.

He smiled reassuringly, "No, I am finding my own way out."

I eyed him suspiciously, and a little angrily if I'm being honest. "We will see you outside?"

He sighed, stepping forward and holding my face between his hands, which was kind of strange but not exactly bad – I quite liked it. "Yes. I promise."

"Pinky promise?"

He looked amused again. "I am not child, I refuse to make a pinky promise."

I scowled at him, fighting to get out of his grip and he sighed again, this time a little more deeply. "Fine, yes, I pinky promise."

I smiled in satisfaction and turned back to Eric and Sookie, who had turned to watch us. Eric was staring at Godric like he was an alien, or at least insane and then turned hateful and accusing eyes on me. Fuck – that look cannot mean anything good for my future.

I hurried up the staircase after the two blondes and heard Godric's parting words.

'Spill no blood on your way out, Eric."

Eric, Sookie and I made our way swiftly through the church, thankfully not encountering anyone. I stared at our surroundings curiously as we went, anything to take my mind off my exhaustion and pain; the way I couldn't seem to shake off this sluggishness in my movements or the strange fog clouding my mind.

"We're close to the exit," Sookie whispered as we walked down a large hallway.

Eric reached the end first and stopped before he could turn the corner, motioning us to stay behind him and keep quiet. Sookie and I ignored him and cautiously peeked around the corner anyway, seeing three guards blocking our escape. I was beginning to really like this Sookie.

Overhead, we heard the voice of Steven Newlin through the speakers, going on about evacuation and some warrior bullshit. God, I hated him.

"What are we going to do?" Sookie whispered worriedly, staring at Eric expectantly.

"I could have us out of here in seconds." Eric murmured as he stared around the corner. I doubt he meant it peacefully.

"There are women and children in here!" Sookie warned him angrily and I mentally high fived her, yes, I was really liking this lady.

I peered around the corner and a metaphorical light bulb flashed over my head.

I turned to the two blondes, "I have an idea!"

They eyed me doubtfully, obviously well aware how bad my concussion was. "Don't look at me like that – you two aren't offering any!"

Eric shoved past me dismissively, about to step around the corner when Sookie grabbed his arm.

"Eric, no!"

He eyed her hand like it had offended his mother or something and Sookie quickly let go. Eric came forward and leaned into her face almost seductively, which was a little weird, not going to lie.

"Trust me."

He started around the corner again and I grabbed him as well, praying to every deity I knew of that he wouldn't rip off my hand. Thank fully he didn't, but he did shove it off rather aggressively and gave me a look of pure disgust.

"Look," I pleaded with him, "whatever your plan is, it won't work! Look at you – you look every bit the vampire they are expecting. You can't get around them without hurting them."

"Oh, and I suppose you think you can?" He asked, raising an eyebrow coldly.

"Yes – look, if it doesn't work you can just swoop in and try your idea but if they see me instead of you they will be far less suspicious."

"Fine," he bit out through gritted teeth, looking like it was almost painful for him to make that admission. I was surprised. He must really be taking Godric's orders seriously.

I looked down at myself, realising my current appearance would give me away. I was still wearing Godric's shirt; it looked like a short but very strange dress. I looked up and realised that Eric was giving me a slow once over. My jaw dropped – was this guy serious?

"Are you- are you checking me out?" I asked incredulously, feeling very exposed.

All he did was give me a smug smirk in return. I could feel steam coming out my ears – this guy was a real ass! Unfortunately, now was not the time to berate him.

"Sookie, I need your dress!"

She eyed me uncertainly.

"We don't have time for that," Eric snapped, rolling his eyes.

I sighed. "You're right." I eyed his outfit. "Give me your jacket."

He gave me a look that was very decidedly unimpressed.

"Don't worry, you'll get it back in one piece." I stomped my foot impatiently.

He rolled his eyes again (rude) and quickly stripped the very nice leather jacket off, looking like he was giving up a limb instead of an item of clothing. I tried not to eye his biceps as he handed it over; he was still a jackass, albeit a beautiful one.

I slipped the jacket on and asked Sookie if she had a hairband I could borrow. She nodded eagerly and quickly slid one off her wrist. I tried to force my hair into a messy bun to make it look more like the wreckage that my hair had become was deliberate, instead of the result of being dragged, unconscious, through a park.

I looked myself over again and sighed, this was as acceptable as I was going to look – hopefully it appeared as though I just had a strange sense of style. Eric's jacket absolutely dwarfed me.

Taking a deep breath and summoning fake tears to my eyes (which was not that hard to do given our current predicament), I raced around the corner, giving small, hysterical sobs.

"Help me!" I gasped, staggering up to the guards, who immediately looked concerned and rushed to my side.

"There's a vampire – you have to save me! I was trying to evacuate after going to the bathroom and it just flew around the corner!" I was giving big, hysterical sobs now, clinging to the jacket of the man closest to me, who floundered at having a sobbing woman in his arms. "He- he slammed me against a wall and I hit my head! I just – I ran away as fast as I could. Oh god, oh God, I could have died! Thank the Lord you three, strong men are here to save me!"

I was worried I was laying it on too thick, but when I looked up, the three men were eating it up. They all puffed up proudly and tried to look important at my words.

"Where was this, ma'am?" The one holding me asked. I waved my hand in a vague gesture away from the corner Sookie and Eric were hidden behind. Shit, I didn't know this church at all – what could I say? My mind raced and I bought myself some time to think by sobbing some more. This church was run by Steve Newlin right? There had to be an office or something he worked in?

"It was right by Mr. Newlin's office!" I exclaimed, crossing my fingers behind my back and desperately hoping his office was far away from my companions' hiding place.

To my immense relief, the three men ran off in the opposite direction, after giving me clear instructions to get out of the church and to find the other women and children. One of the gross little gremlins took the opportunity to stroke my thigh as he went past and I had to hide my shudder of disgust and clench my fists to stop myself from acting out and giving away my cover. I glared after them.

Sookie and Eric rushed around the corner, Sookie giving me a wide smile and a small high five when she reached me.

Eric eyed me with slightly less distaste than he had been before. "I guess you are not entirely useless."

"Thanks, I'm so flattered," I drawled sarcastically.

Eric rushed forward and opened the door, peering outside. I felt a flash of terror as a large group of well-armed men marched right towards us.

"Eric," Sookie gasped, "through the Sanctuary!"

I had no idea what she was talking about, but followed after them as we ran into the heart of the church, where all the congregations took place.

I could see a small door at the end of the room and assumed that was our exit. I raced towards it, panic welling up in my throat. I could almost taste our freedom – we were so close!

"Where's the exit?" Eric asked Sookie briskly, which was actually a pretty smart question. There were several doors in this room and I had just kind of picked one at random.

Sookie pointed at the door I was headed for, "back that way."

I didn't have the energy to feel too pleased with myself.

Just as we reached the end of the pews, the door opened and to my horror, Steve Newline appeared.

He was wearing a ridiculous yellow suit, with his hair perfectly gelled and didn't look anything like the monster I knew him to be.

I was going to be sick.

"There are several exits, actually," he called, a sick smile on his face. "For you, the easiest one takes you straight to hell."

I couldn't help but snort. Really? Was that the best this guy could do? That had to be the cheesiest thing I had ever heard. That's right, Milia, I thought to myself, hide your fear and bury it. I always hid behind a mask of sarcasm and humour when I was afraid, to the occasional irritation of my superiors.

It was difficult to stay humorous though, when every door in the room opened and heavily armed, fanatical men and women marched in. Fuck fuck fuck, what do we do now?

Sookie looked around in frustration and panic. "Let us leave!" She demanded. "Save yourselves, no one has to die!"

It was hard to tell who she was protecting: us or them. On the one hand we were heavily outnumbered, on the other hand we had a deadly vampire with us. Either way, this would probably end in bloodshed. Sookie's way of thinking might be the only way to get us out of there without anyone getting hurt.

"Please, listen to her," I pleaded. When I was ignored, I stood with my back straight and head held high, trying to draw on some of my authority. "I am a member of the Dallas Fire-Rescue Department and I am telling you to let us go."

My words had a small effect and some of the people surrounding us looked hesitant; some even took a few steps back. People felt uncomfortable about hurting a fire fighter – it didn't tend to sit well with their conscience.

"Well, what a coincidence – so am I." A man stepped forward and any support we had vanished. He was in his early forties with salt and pepper hair and had a very large frame. I felt my heart stop with stone cold dread. Then it restarted again, pounding with fury.

"You," I hissed, stepping towards him. "So that's what this is all about!" I laughed mockingly, if a little hysterically. "Is this some revenge thing? Trying to get even with me? You're pathetic," I spat.

His face contorted with ugly fury. "You little bitch! You got me fired – did you really think there wouldn't be consequences?"

I laughed again. "I got you fired? You did that all by yourself, hotshot," I sneered his nickname mockingly, viciously, knowing it would get a rise out of him.

He roared with fury and grabbed me by Godric's shirt, breathing heavily into my face. I gagged at the rancid smell of his breath – he had clearly been drinking beers all day. "Laugh all you want, cunt, but I'm going to wipe that cocky little smile off your pretty little face."

I spat in his eye. "Go ahead and try."

His face twisted into a grotesque snarl and he reared back, swinging his fist down into my face. I felt it hit my cheek and grunted at the impact. It hurt but it wasn't unbearable and I was relieved it hadn't broken any bones – it seemed that he hadn't been keeping up with his strength training after losing his job. Distantly I heard Sookie screaming, telling him to let me go and calling my name.

I only had a moment to recover, however, as he dragged me backwards by the hair, pulling me up onto the altar and slamming me against it. I momentarily blacked out from the pain. My poor, still concussed head had hit the corner of the altar, right where I had been hit two days ago. I definitely needed to see a doctor after this, if I survived that is.

"Eric, why aren't you doing anything?" Sookie's voice demanded, sounding upset. Oh yeah, I had forgotten he was here.

"I cannot do anything when he is holding a gun to her head," Eric's voice bit back furiously. Huh?

Oh. I hadn't noticed the man the man behind me, holding a small handgun that was trained to the centre of my forehead. I noted, with disgust, that it was the same man who had stroked my thigh earlier. He winked at me. I bared my teeth at him.

These guys were smarter than they looked – by having the gun trained on me, Eric couldn't make a move to help me without risking my life. I doubted Eric would have made that move anyway – he would probably be glad to get rid of me –one less responsibility. Regretfully, I noted that instead of helping the situation, my short temper had rapidly escalated it. Oops.

I didn't really have time to think about Eric or my mistakes though, as the man who used to be affectionately known as 'Hotshot' grinned viciously at me, enjoying my pain as he laid me down flat against the altar as I struggled against him, tying me tightly to it with spiked bits of rope, the vindictive bastard. I could feel the spikes digging in to chest and wrists, my poor swollen ankles. Blood dripped down by body, staining the carpet beneath me and Godric's really nice shirt. Damn – I was supposed to keep this.

My captor leaned down into my face, laughing quite psychotically. "Don't worry, Kent, I'll make sure to say goodbye to dear Jesse for you. What will he do when one half of the DFD's Dynamic Duo is dead? Do you think he will find a replacement for you?"

With his face so close to mine I could enact a little bit of my own petty, fury-fuelled revenge. I leant up as quickly as I could and sunk my teeth into his cheek, clamping down as hard as I could. Blood filled my mouth, which was just, ugh, ew, gross but, to my satisfaction, Hotshot screamed in pain, flying back from me with blood streaming down his face.

"You crazy bitch!" he roared, flying forward to land two heavy blows to my chest that drove the air straight out of me. I felt a rib snap and I lay there, gasping for breath.

"Stop it!" I heard Sookie cry, "Please, leave her alone!"

If I tilted my head up I could see Steve Newlin standing in front of me, his yellow suit reflecting the soft lighting so he looked almost as if he were glowing. I scoffed quietly to myself – I can't believe people fell for stupid tricks like that.

I zoned him out as he droned on and on about war and God, blah blah, blah instead focusing on freeing myself. I wiggled around a bit, trying to see if I could loosen the ropes tying me down but it was futile – they were too tight. There was no way I was getting out of here without help. I sighed and grimly resigned myself to watching the shit show unfold.

I had missed quite a bit of Sookie's and Newlin's conversation but it didn't take a genius to figure out what was going on.

"I'm not concerned with Godric. Any vampire will do for our grand celebration. And we got one right here." Newlin pointed at Eric with almost giddy excitement.

Then to my shock, Eric slowly stepped forward, offering himself up to the crazy man in front of me. My jaw dropped. Who knew, Eric Northman had a heart after all.

He walked up to the altar and I stared at him with wide eyes.

My tormentor rushed forward eagerly and tried to push Eric onto to the stone slab, but it was as though he had tried to shove a solid wall. Eric turned and bared his fangs at him and Hotshot jumped back, scared.

The blonde vampire slowly laid down on the alter next to me, letting the room know that he would not be rushed and that he was there by choice – he still had a good deal of control.

That control vanished as one of Newlin's excited followers draped silver over Eric, in the same way I had been tied up. The vampire next to me hissed as the silver touched him and, for the first time that night, I didn't have any negative emotions about him. I looked at him in sympathy as he suffered almost the same wounds I had and, it was probably one sided, but I felt a good deal of camaraderie. The small moment of sympathy vanished however when he turned to look at me.

"You moron," I hissed, "you were the only chance we had of getting out of here!"

He gave me another dirty look, which was still really effective when he was in pain, especially, when he was in pain. I could see his fangs up close and personal, because we were essentially squished together, and they weirdly fascinated me but that didn't mean I wanted them anywhere near me, especially when I was dripping blood all over the place.

"Do you really think I am that stupid?" he whispered quietly, still glaring at me.

"Um, yeah?"

He growled and I flinched back, yelping when it jolted my wounds. "You foolish girl, did you not hear what Sookie said?"

I gave him a dirty look of my own, and from the dark look in his eyes he really did not appreciate it. "No, I didn't. I was distracted by my broken rib and the stakes currently stabbing my body. So, no, I didn't hear your nice little conversation over there – sorry for being distracted by a bit of light torture."

Our whispered conversation went completed unnoticed by Newlin, who was somehow still droning on.

Eric rolled his eyes at me. "Humans. You're all so melodramatic. If you had listened, you would know that Godric has escaped and is bringing reinforcements as we speak."

While this may have been comforting news to Eric, it didn't really inspire a lot of confidence in me, because I knew something he didn't. Why would a man who was planning on dying due to the cruelty of vampires towards humankind invite a load of them into a human church? Exactly, he wouldn't. We were so so screwed.

I jumped when Eric's pained voice spoke up next to me.

"I – I offer myself in exchange for Godric's freedom," and then reluctantly, "… and the girls'."

"That's noble," Newlin replied, pretending to look impressed, "but they are just as culpable as you are. They are traitors to their race – the human race! They hardly deserve mercy." His voice took on an excited tone. "Maybe we should tie the pretty little blonde one to you so you can meet the sun together. I bet this marshmallow would roast up nicely."

"You leave her alone!" I yelled, feeling the same urge of protectiveness Sookie had felt for me. Sookie didn't deserve this – she was kind, brave, sweet and had done nothing but try to help people since I met her, which, to be fair, was not that long ago.

Loud crashes and screams outside the room saved me from having to hear what was no doubt a very corny and misguided reply from Newlin.

The doors of the church burst open and a handsome dark haired vampire rushed in, shouting Sookie's name in a panicked voice. Newlin grabbed the gun from the man who had previously held it to my head, now pointing it at Sookie's and warning the vampire that if he made any move to save Sookie, she would be dead before he could get to her.

To my shock and horror, the vampire threatened the life of everyone left in the church, including the children if Sookie was harmed. What a nasty piece of work.

I turned to Eric, who was rolling his eyes at the theatrics of his fellow vampire. Nice to see that its not just humans who annoy him.

"I take it that's Sookie's boyfriend?" I asked him in a low voice.

He nodded.

I scoffed, "she could do way better than that."

And, to my shock, Eric gave a pained chuckle, although the laugh didn't really reach his eyes.

"I finally agree with you on something, human."

I gave him an irritated look. "My name's Milia, dickweed."

He ignored me. Typical. I really did not like Eric Northman and I was pretty annoyed that I would have to spend the last moments of my life shoved up next to him.

I turned back to the horrible events happening before me, watching as a short man walked up to the dark haired vampire with a bundle of silver chains. A small pop echoed throughout the room, making everyone but the vampires jump, and Steve Newlin dropped the gun he was holding, yelling in pain.

"Let her go, fuckwad!"

I couldn't see what was happening but from what I understood, someone had shot Steve Newlin with a green paint ball.

It was so ridiculous and so unexpected that I couldn't help but giggle and although he tried to hide it, I could see Eric's small smile.

I outright laughed, despite the pain, when the strange new hero shot Newlin smack dab in the forehead before it sounded like he was restrained.

Sookie took the opportunity to rush forward and pull the silver chains off of Eric, urging him to help her remove the ropes from me. Eric, the complete asswipe that he was, instead decided to attack Newlin. Great, thanks for all your help, Eric.

Sookie rushed up beside me, looking helplessly at all my wounds and the way in which the spikes of the rope were digging into my skin. We ignored the commotion around us as Eric decided whether or not to kill the reverend.

"I'm sorry, Milia, I don't know how to remove these without hurtin' you!"

I laughed mirthlessly. "Don't worry about it – just yank them out. It can't hurt any worse than when they were stabbed into me."

Just Sookie shakily reached for the rope around my ankles, the doors to the so-called Sanctuary (how ironic) were shoved open again and this time I was filled with terror. Sookie was so shocked she went completely still, never reaching the rope binding my feet, which sucked for me.

An assortment of vampires blinked into the room, surrounding all the exits as their leader strode in, making what was no doubt a dramatic speech to go with his dramatic entrance. Unfortunately for him, I was too distracted by the giant cowboy hat on his head to pay much attention. Was this guy serious?

However, he did manage to grab my attention when he demanded that the vampires under his control killed everyone. Yeah, that certainly got a girl to listen.

I couldn't tell whether or not it was a good thing or a bad thing when I started to fade into the world of the unconscious. It looked like my double concussion, broken ribs and blood loss had taken a massive toll on me as I my eyes slipped shut. As I heard the terrified screams of the humans around me I decided that it was good a thing.

Drama!

Sadly, I had to cut this chapter off here, otherwise it was just going to go on and on.

So, sorry to those of you who wanted Eric and Milia to have a good introduction - sadly, they have both made terrible first impressions and they rather hate each other (those idiots).

Next chapter: Godric saves the day then has what has to be the worst house party of all time, oh, and we get to meet some of Milia's good friends and Firehouse!