Spellbound

Y'all are so great. Thank you so much for your support and the time that you've given to this story. The story is my idea but the characters do not belong to me. They belong to Ms. Harris.

As the bodyguards parked the car, Sookie realized that after last night, her only choice was to move on. She'd given him every opportunity to tell her that she was mistaken; that he has always loved her and that he'll always be in love with her. But he did none of that. He stood before her and looked completely dumbstruck. Obviously, he hadn't always loved her and he isn't going to always love her. He didn't knock on the bedroom door. He didn't knock it down and profess his undying love to her. He did nothing.

He walked away.

Her guards got out of the car and headed into the salon. She stayed behind and waited. She waited and continued to think of her new possibilities.

When he left her alone, it gave her a chance to think about what she wanted to do. She had no desire to marry another vampire. She didn't want to marry Godric or Stan Davis. She didn't want to get into another marriage that was loveless and lonely. She was going to weigh her options tonight at the party but she realized that if she ever wanted the sun to shine on her face and in her heart again, she would have to get out of the vampire marriage altogether.

Her people could survive in the Fae realm. There was no need for them to have to be in the human world. It was safer for them to be in their own realm anyway. They've survived in Fae many, many centuries before. They could do it again. They'll understand. They'll have to.

She didn't have any other choice. She doesn't want to marry another vampire. She wanted out. She wasn't made for politics.

"It is safe, Princess Brigant," her guard said through the window.

"Thank you," she said as she got out of the car and walked to the salon. The guards surrounded her. Two of the Fae guards stood outside and the other two came inside with her. Her grandfather didn't have anything against the Were guards that Eric hired but he felt better knowing that his granddaughter was being protected by her own kind. They swept through the place before she was allowed to enter. Once they'd established that she was in no danger, they deemed it safe for her to go inside.

"Hey, LaLa," Sookie said as she entered the beauty salon.

Lafayette Reynolds looked up from looking at his appointment book and smiled. There was no one in the world like Mr. Reynolds. He is the best at what he does. He is arrogant and conceited. He is also flamboyantly gay and he is the absolute best hairdresser she's ever known. Lafayette owns the most successful hair salon in the state and Sookie is his most important supernatural client. When she became his client, he stopped charging her for his services. Hell, she didn't even have to make appointments anymore. If the fae princess thought that he was good enough to do her hair, every supernatural within a thousand miles wanted him. She would get free service for the rest of his life.

"Sparkles," he said with a snap of his fingers. "You are in for a treat today. The new polishes came in and I have the most exquisite colors already picked out for you. With your skin tone, girl, you are going to be fierce," he added with a snap of his fingers.

Sookie tried to look happy but the smile felt out of place. She didn't have to put on a front for Lafayette because he already knew what was going on with her and Eric. She told her favorite human everything … almost everything. When she didn't say anything, he pulled Sookie into his cubicle and hugged her.

When the fae guards saw him touch their princess, they went on the defensive. Their swords were out and ready. Louisiana's most sought after hairdresser was surely going to meet his end.

"Stand down," Sookie warned them.

Lafayette stared at them as if he was waiting for them to do something. He had one hand on his hip and his other hand wrapped tightly around a very hot curling iron. "What?" he asked with that a little extra bass to his voice. "I know karate, bitches."

Lafayette didn't faze them one bit. The look on Sookie's face did. "Stand down," she repeated. The guards returned to the outside of the cubicle and held their positions.

Lafayette looked at Sookie once more and said, "Wait a minute. You look different. What's going on with you? Is there something wrong? You don't shine like you used to. Your eyes don't …"

"I'm fine," she said as she cut him off.

Something was going on with her but she had no intentions of telling anyone. There was nothing to tell. She wasn't exactly sure about what's going on anyway. It could have been heartbreak or homesickness. It was hard to tell. So to keep him from asking so many questions, she told Lafayette about last night.

"I told him."

He stood back and looked at her. "Is that it?

"Yeah," she answered halfheartedly.

"Hmm," he said. "I don't believe you but go on. How'd it go?"

"Better than I'd expected it to," she said.

Sookie went on to tell Lafayette about how Eric told her that she wasn't leaving him and how he kept saying that she was his wife and she was his. Lafayette laughed when Sookie told him how Eric behaved when she changed rooms. She told him about how Eric ripped the draperies from the windows and ripped the pillows in half when he saw that her side of the bed was empty.

"He was about to the throw the nightstand but I came into the room," she said. With a simple shrug of her shoulders, she added, "Other than that, he handled it pretty well."

Lafayette giggled. "He'll get over it. You did what you had to do."

"I know," she said. "That doesn't make it any easier."

LaLa looked at her as he shook his head. "Look here, honey. You are an amazing woman. So what if he's handsome and rich and handsome and has body that looks as if it's been chiseled out of marble. He is so handsome. You don't have to deal with someone that doesn't appreciate you. Sister girl, you deserve the best because you are the best."

Sookie flopped down in the salon chair and turned towards the mirror. "I am quite an original, aren't I?"

"Yes, you are." The two friends laughed.

Looking seriously at reflection Lafayette, she said, "I do love him. I can't stop."

As Lafayette ran his fingers through her hair, he looked at Sookie's reflection and said, "I know that but you know what? Love is a bitch, Sookie, but what can you do? We love being in love no matter the pain that comes with it."

"I can't blame it all on him. I let it happen." Sookie covered her face with her hands. "Oh to the gods, I can only imagine what people are saying about me. Everyone probably thinks that I'm so stupid."

"So what, Sookie?" he asked. "People are going talk no matter what you do. We all do stupid things for love. I'm not going to even try and understand the supernatural marriages. They are way over my beautiful head. But from what I can see, they're no different than human marriages. Hell, women stay with men for twenty years, getting their asses kicked. They stay with men that cheat on them. Some men are brave and bold enough to bring their side pieces home and fuck them in front of their wives."

Sookie's mouth fell open. "Shut up! I've never heard of that."

"Look at this sexy face. I speak the truth. We stay with men that don't work. They don't take care of their children. Women do it too. Love is a confusing thang, honey. It will kick your sexy ass. I've been there. Done that and will keep doing it because it's love and I likes it. You don't give up. You fight for what you want or you move on."

"I wish that he had given us a chance."

"You tried."

"I did, didn't I? I tried including him in my life."

"Yes, you did and that's…"

"La-fay-ette!" a sing songy voice rang out.

"Shit," he said. He left his cubicle and went out to greet his client with a huge, fake smile plastered on his face. "Mrs. Fortenberry, how are you this fine morning?"

"Just wonderful, Lafayette, just wonderful," she replied.

"The dress that you have on is just divine. I'll bet your husband didn't want to let you leave morning and who could blame him. You look absolutely scrumptious," he said to her.

The old lady giggled like a school girl. "Oh, Lafayette, you people are so funny." She then put her old hand on his arm and said, "I don't mean black people. I'm talking about the gays." She whispered the words black and gay as if they meant death to anyone who said the words aloud.

If she wasn't one of his best clients he would've kicked her fat ass out but he decided to do her one better.

Whispering back to her, he said, "I know what you mean and I am not offended. People your age usually say things that they don't find offensive but I've learned to ignore them. I find it to be right humorous myself. And I must say; you people are funny too. And I don't mean white people. I mean oldsters. You were born during the '30s, weren't you?" He'd thought of adding the 1830s but decided against it.

Mrs. Fortenberry was taken aback but didn't say so. She didn't have to say anything. The look on her face spoke volumes. She was born in the 30s but she's always fancied herself to look younger than she really is. Right then, she decided that she needed to make an appointment with Dr. Greenberg. She needed to get another face lift as soon as possible.

"Are you okay, Mrs. Fortenberry?" Fakeness oozed from Lafayette's voice.

She, too, had a fake smile on her face. "Yes dear, I'm fine."

"Do you need something to drink?"

She shook her head and said no. "I'm here for my 9:30 with Amy."

"You do love your spa days, don't you old girl?"

She ignored him. "Is she in her cubicle?"

Pointing to the back, Lafayette said yes. "You can go on back. Take your time now. I'd hate for you to slip, poor thing. She's waiting for you. And sweetie, it is always a pleasure to see you."

Mrs. Fortenberry thanked Lafayette and walked away.

When she was out of earshot, he said, "If she talked anymore shit, she'd be shaped like a turd."

Sookie laughed as she hadn't laughed in a long time. She loved her visits with Lafayette. They have been the highlights of her days lately.

Lafayette continued fussing about Maxine Fortenberry. "If she wasn't one of my best clients, I'd run her old ass off." He looked at Sookie's reflection and said, "I hate that bitch but I love those checks. Now, where were we? Oh, how long have we been friends, Sookie?"

After she'd gotten over her bout with the giggles, Sookie was able to answer his question. "About four years."

"How many times have you invited him to go out with us and one of my insignificant others?" he asked as he brushed her hair.

"More times than I can recall," she said.

"And what does he do?"

Sookie shrugged her shoulders. "He never wants to go or he has something else planned."

"So, there you go."

"There you go what?"

"Hookah, he doesn't know what a prize he has and what I'm saying has nothing to do with who you are. You are a great person. Your sense of humor is priceless. You have the biggest heart of anyone that I know. Oh, and your style; you have such great style. That's why I hang with you. We looks so good together. If I was a straight man, you'd be my perfect ten."

"You're too much." This time Sookie's smile, didn't feel out of place. It felt right.

"Better than not enough," he said with a snap of his fingers. "Why is it okay that he doesn't love you the way that you deserve to be loved?"

"He wasn't always like this, Laf. He used to be so sweet and wonderful. He took me out on dates. He bought me flowers and chocolates. We danced and talked. We laughed and enjoyed each other." She turned around to look at Lafayette. "I thought that I was the luckiest woman in the world. I just knew that he'd be just as great as a husband."

"What happened?"

She couldn't tell him that she didn't know. She didn't want to go on about how he'd made a fool out of her. She didn't want to be anymore embarrassed than she already was. She already felt bad. There was no need in feeling any worse than she already did.

"All that I can say is that he changed."

"Is it okay if I ask you something? You've never really elaborated on it much so I'm curious."

Sookie smiled at reflection Lafayette and said, "You can ask me anything."

"Do you know for sure that he's sleeping with the fangbangers?"

She didn't expect that question but she answered it anyway. She shook her head no. "I haven't any proof but why else would he have them in his office? They come out telling the others that they've had a great time with him. They come out of his office grinning like idiots. What else could it be?"

"Does he feed from them?"

"I don't know," she said as she shrugged her shoulders. "I just assumed that he did. He doesn't feed from me as often as he should. I know that he's not starving himself. He can't be living off of that nasty Tru Blood. If he's not feeding from me, he's feeding from someone."

He thought over what Sookie'd told him. He wanted to tell her to find out what's going on before making rash decisions but he didn't. He didn't want her to think that he was turning into her grandparents. He wanted to be a good friend; even if it meant he had to say what she wanted to hear. So, being the good friend that he is, he said the next best thing.

"Fuck him." Lafayette then kissed the top of Sookie's head. "You do what you have to do for you."

"I will," she replied as happily as she could.

"I've got something to tell you." He quickly added, "It may be nothing but I think that you need to know."

"What is it?"

"A red haired vamp came in here a few nights ago. She was with some Were bitch. She got a mani/pedi. She said that she's in town for a big party that's being thrown at the bar called Fangtasia; your husband's bar."

Sookie looked at Lafayette's reflection. "Who was she?"

"I don't know, girl, but she was fierce. The bitch had it going on … or so she thought. She ain't got nothin' on you, though. She ain't half as pretty you are and she ain't got nearly enough class. She is complete rachetness with a capital rachetness."

"Did she mention what she is to Eric? How she knows him?"

"No," Lafayette said as he continued to brush her hair. "She didn't even say his name but she was talking about meeting a powerful vampire there. The only powerful vamp that I know is yours. And if I hear any bitch talking about my friend's husband, I am on alert. I just know that she's going to that party."

"I'm going," she blurted out. Sookie hadn't decided until that second that she was going to the party. She wanted to know what the red haired vamp wanted with her soon to be ex-husband.

"What?" he asked with a crooked and up-to-no-good smile.

Sookie looked up at Lafayette and said, with a little more power in her voice, "I'm going."

Lafayette stepped back and smiled. "Stop it!"

Sookie's smile faded. "I shouldn't go? Do you think that I should stay at home? If you think that I'll look like a fool, I won't go. Maybe I shouldn't go."

"Bitch, naw," he replied. "You get your sexy ass together and go to that party! Shit, if I didn't have a date tonight, I'd carry my sexy ass with you."

Sookie looked at her watch and said, "It's 10:00 now. I'll have to go shopping. I need a new dress and some new shoes. It's a black and white ball. There's so much for me to do." Sookie reached up and touched her hair. "If you do something elaborate with my hair, I won't have time to …"

Lafayette snapped his fingers. "Uh-huh, bitch. You are not going to make up a bunch of excuses. You are taking your fine ass to that party and you are going to own it. Do you hear me? You are going to OWN IT."

A bubbly feeling began to build inside of her. "You think?"

"Honey, My name is Lafayette Reynolds and I don't think. I know. You will be the fiercest woman at the party. You will own that place. You hear me? You will put every other woman there to shame. I promise."

Sookie looked up at him as her smile broadened.

With both hands on his hips, Lafayette said, "Every man in that place is going to want to spend some time with you. Child, you are going to look so fucking good that Eric is going to regret the day that he let you slip through his cold, dead fingers. He's going to see what he's missing and he's going to work hard to get you back. He is going to see that you are more than worthy of his love and of his loyalty. Do you hear me? You game?"

Sookie nodded like a little girl. This was the night that Eric was going to see her differently. He was going to realize that she is much more than someone that he could use as a sex toy or a political puppet. She was more than an opportunity. She wanted him to see her as the one that he let get away.

"I hear you," she said as she nodded. "I'm game."

Lafayette squealed, jumped up and down, and clapped his hands. "This is going to be so much fun but first, there's something that I have to do."

Sookie turned around in the chair and looked at him. "What?"

"Like you said, you are not going to have time for shopping. So, here's what we're going to do. The boutiques are coming to you. I'll call some fashion houses and have them deliver some dresses and shoes here for you. I'll do your hair and nails. Girl, you are going to be the baddest bitch at the ball. Tonight, you are going to be Cinderfuckingrella."

Just as Lafayette put the phone to his ear, Sookie said, "Hey."

He turned to look at her as if she was bothering him but she knew better. His colors were beautiful. They were always beautiful. "What is it, hookah? I'm on the phone."

Sookie filled the cubicle with laughter. "Thanks."

Lafayette winked at her and started talking a mile a minute.

"Tonight, everything changes," Sookie said. She turned around and looked at her reflection. Maybe she could turn Eric's head ... or maybe even Godric's and Stan's. Who knows? It didn't matter much anyway.

Looking at her reflection, she said, "Tonight things are going to change."