Spellbound

I want to thank you all for reading and reviewing. The main characters do not belong to me. They belong to Ms. Harris. I own the side characters and the story idea.

Eric and Sookie left for New Orleans as soon as their claiming session was done. Though André said that they could use his jet, they decided against it. They didn't think that it would be in their best interest; especially since they didn't know why he needed to see Eric so urgently. They also didn't take theirs. Instead, they borrowed Sal's. Since they have a compound in New Orleans, they didn't need to pack anything. They arrived at their home with forty-five minutes of darkness to spare.

As they traveled to their destination, they discussed André, the dream (which Eric calls the vision), and the phone call from the unknown caller. They even discussed the possibility of the meeting that they may have to have with the council if things don't go their way. Their entire marriage will be seen as nothing more than a sham … to the faeries. They will seek revenge for Pixie's death and another faery/vampire war will definitely ensue. The lovers didn't know what was in store for them but they knew that they had to stay at least three steps ahead of what awaits them.

When they got home, the lovers walked along the cobblestone walkway hand in hand in silence. They reached the front door and placed the palms of their right hands against the hidden panel. The green light flashed its approval. Seconds later, they were allowed in the house.

When the door opened, they were greeted by a broken, monotone voice. "Welcome home, Mr. and Mrs. Northman," Via said.

Sookie rolled her eyes. "Really, Eric? Do we really need a computer greeting us in our home? Why don't you hire human servants to work at night? I can read them if you're concerned about security. Via is so impersonal. Having humans here would be so much more practical."

"Did you hear that, Via? Sookie doesn't like you."

"Yes, Mr. Northman. I heard her. It is okay that she does not like me, Mr. Northman."

"Really, Eric?" she asked again.

Eric shrugged his shoulders as he closed the door behind them. "I kind of like her. She's cheap labor and she never gets sick. She's the best security system we've ever had. No one can get in or out without her knowing it. I think she's perfect. Did you hear that, Via? I think that you're perfect."

"I heard you, Mr. Northman," Via answered. "Thank you for the compliment."

She looked at him and shook her head as she thought of what a hypocrite he is. He's always saying how technology has ruined a capable world. The computers made the humans dependent on them. He couldn't understand how a group of people could let something that can malfunction at the drop of dime, control their very lives. He speaks as if he is appalled at the very idea of a computer operated world but he's the first one to buy any new computerized security system or any new computer for that matter; regardless of whether they needed it or not.

"If you say so," she replied. "Unbelievable."

"What?" he called after her.

She fanned him off as she walked down the hall to their bedroom. She tried calling Andromeda once more. Just like before, there was no answer. Before she tried calling her, Sookie knew that Andromeda wouldn't answer her call. If she wanted to speak with you or to you, she'd be the one making the phone call. If it was meant for her to speak with you when you called her, she'd answer the phone. Otherwise, she made you wait. Sookie was lucky that Andromeda had taken her call when she spoke of ending her marriage to Eric. If she hadn't, who knows what state their marriage would be in right now?

She chuckled. "Andromeda."

After the tenth ring, Sookie hung up. She placed her phone on the nightstand and began undressing.

"No answer?" Eric asked as he entered the room.

"No answer."

The lovers undressed in silence as they pondered the events of the night. They knew that something was wrong; they just didn't know what it was. Pixie is dead and she is dead because of vampires … possibly. The phone call was a warning but for what? Eric believes that it was a warning for Sookie and the baby. She believes that it was for Eric and that he's in danger. They both believe that Pixie's death could be the catalyst that tears them apart. Eric believed that Pixie's death is what could put him and Sookie at odds. Question after question popped into their minds.

Is Fintan behind this? Would he condemn a full blooded fae woman to death in order to end the marriage of Eric Northman and Sookie Brigant? Would this be his way of getting her home to breed pure fae children? Is this part of Fintan's plan to show that Eric and Sookie's marriage has changed nothing for their kind? Or is Freyda behind all of this? Is she mad because Eric will no longer protect her crimes? There were so many questions with very few answers.

"Lover?" he said.

Sookie never saw him get into bed. She looked at him and tried to smile but failed. "I'm worried, Eric."

"Come to bed, Sookie." He was under the covers as he patted her side of the bed. He could see the fear in her eyes. The uncertainty of their future filled the bond. When Sookie slid her warm, naked body into his cool, naked body, she rested her head on his chest. Eric sighed and said, "The first leg of our plan will work. We will defeat this."

"We will," she said.

They'd decided that while Eric dies the day away, Sookie will investigate as much as she can without putting herself in danger. She's going to have to find out as much information as she can before Eric goes for his meeting with André. She will question any and all people that are associated with Pixie. She would learn as much as she could about Pixie's daily life. That will give them more time to figure out what's going on. And she could only do this with the stipulation that she'd return home before first dark.

"Our plan will work," she said as she changed her position. She tried to sound convincing but she could hear the hesitation in her voice. She pressed her back against his chest and wrapped her arms around his as they held onto each other.

"It will; just so long as we follow it to the letter. I know how independent you are and I know that before we were pregnant, you could take care of yourself but with the way things are, we can't risk it. If faeries are in danger, I can't have you running around the streets of New Orleans without me and," he added with emphasis, "you will keep your guards with you at all times."

Sookie promised. "I won't go anywhere without my guards. Will Marco be here but conveniently out of sight … even though I fired him last week and the month before that?" Sookie asked. She heard him make the call while they were on the plane.

"He will and he wasn't fired. Selene will be here tonight at first dark and she will be here on time." That has never been a concern when Selene's on the job. He's known Selene for centuries and she's never been late for an assignment.

Sookie nodded her okay.

"If you feel ill, you will return home," Eric stated.

"If I'm not too sick, I can still …"

"You will return home."

Sookie tried once more. "I can call …"

"No. You will return home."

Sookie agreed to return home. "I'll be safe. I'll not argue with Marco and I'll be sure to not eat too much chocolate, daddy."

Sternly, Eric said, "Sookie."

"Okay, Eric. I'll come home if I feel sick. When I'm finished sleuthing, I won't leave again until it's time for you to rise. I promise. I will not go anywhere by myself."

"Sun's coming," Eric said as the security latch to the bedroom door set into place.

He could feel the urgency of the new day in every part of his body. He wouldn't succumb to the effects of it just yet because he was strong and old enough to fight it. He wanted to hold his wife a little while longer before the sun took him under.

Sookie yawned. "I'm taking Antony and Chelsea with me tomorrow morning when I go to Pixie's house. Will the papers be delivered here or should I send Antony to get them?"

"They'll be delivered," Eric replied as he inhaled the scent of her hair. He pulled her in closer to his body and said in a hushed voice that he loves her. "Conserve your energy, lover. You may need it if you find yourself in danger. Please, come back to me."

"Nothing's going to keep me away," she said as she reached over her shoulder and placed her hand on his cheek. Sookie then inhaled and said what they were both thinking. "You know what this will mean if Pixie's death gets out; if they find that she was murdered by a vampire. Our marriage will be condemned and I will be sent home. Never to return," she whispered.

Eric answered by wrapping his arms tighter around her. The contract is iron clad. There's no breaking it. If it is discovered that vampires are feeding on faeries again, Sookie will be gone from this world forever; from his life forever. The portals will be closed. He will lose his wife and his child. His life would be over.

He closed his eyes and rested his forehead against the back of her head. "Sookie," he whispered. All he can think is that he'd just gotten her back and now...

"I know," Sookie whispered through tears. "I know." She held his hand to her lips and kissed it. "I love you."

"I love you."

"Always?" she asked.

"Always," he repeated.

As the lovers drifted off to sleep, they knew that their love would and could survive anything. They were only unsure of one thing. They weren't sure if they would or could survive without each other.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Sookie went to the sunroom to have her lavender tea and to read the newspapers; New Orleans Daily and the All (Super) Naturale. The human newspaper had a full list of the girls that have gone missing; five human girls frequented a vampire bar and haven't been heard from since. There were pictures of four girls; two blondes, a red head, and an African American girl with blonde streaks in her hair. Pixie's picture wasn't in the paper. They didn't have one. Sookie knew that they wouldn't have one. Pixie hated pictures. She believed that they captured pieces of one's soul. She always used to say that she wanted to keep her soul intact.

Sookie's eyes widened and she did a double take. Pixie was mentioned in the human paper but not the supe paper. If anything, she should've been mentioned in the paper that catered to her kind. "Hmmm," she said as she read over the supe newspaper.

The supes have always been a private group … but only when it comes to the humans. Humans know that supes exist but they don't know anything about their lives. They have a newspaper because it's politically correct. Since the council caters to all supes, the newspaper keeps them updated. It's been a means for the supes to communicate with the each other. They were updated on summits and governmental changes in the supe community. It wasn't always seen as such a good idea.

Many supes believed that the circular would be an unwise decision. They didn't like the idea of a newspaper but soon agreed to it once they understood that their secrets would remain secret to the humans. The newspapers would be spelled by the most powerful witched in their world; Octavia Fant and her warlock lover, Adolph Step. It's not legible to human eyes. The words are nothing more than a jumbled mess to them. If they so much as touch the paper, it turns to ash. Octavia and Adolph made it possible for the supe community to stay abreast of what's going on with the council and the secrets within the human world that even the humans knew nothing about

…like Pixie.

This morning's headline in the All (Super) Naturale read that four human girls are missing.

"What are you hiding?" Sookie whispered as she read over the supe article. She began comparing both papers with the information that was provided. The humans gave a lot more information on Pixie where the supes gave none.

According to the humans, one of those human girls is named Bridget Langston; known to Sookie as Pixie. The brown haired, green eyed girl didn't show up for work at Baristas last Tuesday. Her friend went to her house to make sure she was okay but Pixie didn't answer the door. Because she'd always been a little flighty, her co-workers assumed that she'd gone on another one of her many vacations. Only when her roommate, Amelia Broadway went missing, did they realize that something was wrong. Amelia had a lunch date with daddy yesterday and didn't show up. She's never missed a lunch date with daddy.

Copley Carmichael, Amelia's father, went to the girls' house and found the place in impeccable condition. Nothing was out of place. Anyone that didn't know Amelia would have believed that nothing was out of the ordinary … anyone but daddy. He knew immediately that something was wrong; dead wrong.

When Amelia's mother died, she kept her mother's silver locket with her always. In the locket was a picture of her mother holding her and her father leaning down and kissing her baby face. Amelia swore that she remembers that day and she vowed to never let the locket out of her sight. She'd wear it always. She never went anywhere without it. Her daddy knew that. He also knew that someone had taken his only daughter from him.

"Copley Carmichael," Sookie whispered. As soon as she said the name, she remembered where she'd heard it.

Everyone knows him. He is the most powerful human in the state. He comes from old Texas money and he knows how to use it. He's a close friend to POTUS as well as the governors of at least forty states. He's also a very good friend of the police commissioner. His pockets are extremely deep. Though the world knows that he comes from old money, he claims to be a self-made billionaire and he's not afraid to pay for what he wants. He's never let the law get in his way.

"I will do anything, pay anything to get my baby back here with me," he said to the newspaper interviewer.

When Sookie read the last page of his interview, she gasped and placed her hand to her chest. "I know that a vampire is involved with this. If any of these blood suckers have my daughter or her friend, I swear on all that I love, I will not stop until they pay for what they've done. And I, Copley Carmichael, will not stop until I get to the truth. My Amelia will be returned to me or there will be hell to pay."

As Sookie read over the human and supe articles a couple of more times, she began to realize that it is a good thing that Amelia went missing. Copley can get information that she and Eric can't; especially Eric. A vampire asking questions about a missing girl would put more unwanted attention on the supe world; especially with Copley already stating that he believes vampires to be involved. One thing bothered her, though.

"Why is the supe paper hiding the fact that Pixie is missing?" she whispered. She stared at the paper a little longer as if she expected the answer to suddenly appear. "Hmmm," she said.

"Your highness?" Antony said from the doorway of the sunroom.

Sookie placed the newspaper on the table and stared at the faery. He smiled at her so easily. He said all of the right things but something inside of her told her that he isn't at all what he pretends to be. Since she had nothing to back up her beliefs, she did what she's supposed to do. She smiled at him as brightly as possible. "Good morning. I hope that you slept well."

"I did, thank you," he stated. "Pardon me for intruding but I've come to see if you're ready to go out today. Marco has driven the car to the front walk. I will escort you if you're ready."

She looked at the newspapers and then at him. "No," she answered. "I'm not going to go out right now. Will you please let Marco and Chelsea know that my plans have changed?"

She didn't wait for him to leave. She went back to the news articles. They couldn't go to Pixie and Amelia's house … not today. It's been ordered that no supe go near that house. They couldn't go there; alone or as group. They would definitely get caught. If it's under surveillance by the human authorities, Sookie could damn well guarantee that the council has some supes scattered about as well.

As she thought of the human and supe authorities watching Pixie's house, a sudden need of home overcame her. She missed the warmth of the suns as they bathed her skin, her hair. She missed the feel of the waterfalls. She missed riding the unicorns through the honey fields in the springtime. The scents from Adele's garden suddenly filled the room. The sweet smells of honey and vanilla surrounded her. She could almost hear the laughter of the fae children as they ran through the Faery Fields. Sookie closed her eyes and basked in the memories because now, that's all she'd ever have.

"Home," she whispered. Her shimmer brightened at the thought.

"Your highness?" Antony said.

Sookie opened her eyes to see Antony standing over her; concern on his face, in his eyes. He kneeled down before her and asked, "Princess Brigant, should I call Elvin for you? I will take you to him if you prefer. You are the Princess of the Fae. If you are not well, you must go …"

"No," Sookie answered with a shake of her head. "No. I'm fine." She frowned at him and asked, "What are you doing here? You were told to tell Chelsea and Marco …" She placed her hand to her head. She was beginning to feel lightheaded.

"Are you sure you don't want to visit Elvin? I know that he will more than make time for you, your highness."

"I'm fine. Did you do as I asked you to?"

"Yes, ma'am," he answered. "It's done. I've returned to let you know that they've been told. Marco said that he will continue to keep an eye on you. He made it a point to let me know. He said that I should also make you aware of his plans. As far as the other guards, they are at their posts. Please, your highness. I'm worried for you, Princess Brigant."

With her voice firm and proud, she corrected her fae guard. "Here, in this realm, I am Princess Northman and as I've told you before, I'm fine."

He bowed to her. "Forgive my slight."

Sookie tried shaking the uneasy feeling off. As she did, realized how rude she must have sounded to the guard. Her grandmother would have been very upset by her behavior. "And forgive me for my earlier rudeness. I had no right to snap at you and for that, I apologize."

"There's nothing to forgive."

She smiled at him. "You may go back to your post. I won't need any of you to go anywhere with me."

Standing slowly, Antony nodded. "Okay. If you say so, ma'am, I will pester you no more. If you decide otherwise, I will be close by."

"Thank you."

He stood there and stared at her. He'd always heard their people speak of her beauty but their words have done her no justice. Yes, she's beautiful to look at but she's so much more. He could see the beauty underneath the surface. He could see the goodness that lies within her heart, her soul. If only she …

Before dismissing him, Sookie tried reading his thoughts but got nothing. His mind was free of mischief and wrong doing. He wasn't concerned with doing her harm. His only concern is her safety. Smiling up at him, she said, "You may go."

Antony blinked several times and bowed before leaving.

Once she was alone, Sookie thought about the guards watching Pixie's house. She knew that she couldn't get in there by walking through the front door. She also knew that she couldn't take Antony and Chelsea with her. Once they realize that a faery is missing, they'll report it back to Fintan. They're obligated. There was but one choice. She was going to have to deviate from the plan that she and Eric had discussed last night. She was going to have to go alone. Eric would be angry but he'll understand.

"He has to," she said.

She stood up and readied herself to visit the home of her kinswoman. Before she could get her shimmer going, she was interrupted.

Pop

"Where in the hell do you think you're going?"