Spellbound
Here is the second part of the last chapter. I hope that you all enjoy. Just as always, the characters belong to Charlaine Harris but the story idea belongs to me.
When the vampires entered André's compound, they walked in unison. Just as planned, Sal, Clancy, and Chow stayed close the front of the house. André's underlings looked at the vampires with pure respect and fear. When the vampires posted at the doors and stared the weaklings down, they humbled themselves and bowed to their superiors. Sal puffed his chest out with pride and power. He'd hoped that one of the underlings would try him. He would have loved nothing more.
Eric and his group continued down the hall. His vampires followed him fearlessly and without question. As they walked down the long hallway to André's office, Eric stared down the vampire known as Elijah as he stood in the way of André's office. The vampire was bound and determined that the visitors were going to wait until they were announced before they would be allowed to just walk into André's office. They'd already bombarded their way into his home. He felt that they had no right. He believed that André deserved the utmost respect and they were going to give it to him whether they wanted to or not. He wasn't going to give them a choice.
With his chest puffed out, Elijah said, "This is my master's home. You will respect that. Don't come any further." He then stood in the path of Eric and his retinue. "You will wait until you are called by the master."
A slow and deadly smile appeared on Eric's face. "Stay there and you will die there."
The vampire saw the gleam of a promise in Eric's eyes. He also noticed that Eric didn't stop walking and neither did his retinue. He looked as if he didn't know what to do but when he saw Eric's fangs drop into place and his hand claw, he did what he knew to do. He moved and he moved quickly. The visitors respecting his master was no longer a concern of his.
Claudette giggled. "I knew that you'd see it his way." She winked at the coward vampire as they continued on.
While they walked through the home, they walked through with respect. They'd planned it to be no other way. They didn't come into André's home and cause turmoil or discord. They didn't break or destroy any of his property. They just walked through as if they had the right to be there. They also dared anyone else to tell them otherwise ... in a respectful manner.
The vampires that watched the visitors walk through the house, could feel the loyalty and power that surrounded them. They could feel their strength. They could see that the supes that followed Eric were standing with him out of respect and loyalty. And because they weren't all vampires that were following him, they knew that they more than respected the vampire. They honored him. They revered him. They could also see that they would have killed them all if they'd made one mistake; one misstep. Their strength and power alone caused André's underlings to cower to the visitors, the warriors. They bowed to them and didn't look the visitors in their eyes.
And the visitors loved it … each and every one of them.
When they reached the closed doors to André's office, Eric didn't barge in. Though André was expecting him, he still did as he was expected to do. He knocked. The door came open with the assistance of two of André's underlings. "Good evening, Eric," André said. Glancing over the Viking's shoulder, he said, "I see that you didn't come alone." He noticed the Weres and shifters as they stared the elder vampire down.
Eric gave the Weres and shifters that were to remain outside of the door a slight nod before he, Claudette, and Quinn entered the space. Looking at André, he said, "If I'd known that I was expected to come alone, I assure you André, I would have."
Eric couldn't help but notice that André was looking quite healthy. He wasn't as strong as he usually is but he's better just the same. It was more than obvious that he'd accomplished his goal when it came to synthesizing the blood of the halflings.
André stared at Eric as he stroked the head of the young man that was kneeled at André's feet. The human had his arms wrapped around the vampire's leg as André stroked his head. The young man was kissing and licking André's leg as any good pet would.
"You weren't," André assured him. "Just so long as you arrived, there are no issues. Get out … get him out of here too," he ordered his underlings as he pushed the boy away from him. He stared longingly at Claudette as he walked to where she stood. "Ms. Brigant, it's always a pleasure to see you; though the times have been very few and far between. And as always, you look quite delectable. And your scent," he said as he inhaled. "It is quite divine. And stronger," he added with a surprising look on his face.
Glaring down at the diminutive vampire, Claudette said, "Why, thank you, André. It's always nice to be missed."
André reached out and began to trace his finger along, Claudette's arm. The very feel of his touch sickened her. Needless to say, it angered Quinn. He took a step in the direction of Claudette as to move her but he was stopped.
Before he could let his anger get the better of him, Eric placed his hand on Quinn's shoulder. A false smile appeared on his face. "I must agree with you, André. Claudette is quite beautiful. Isn't she Quinn?"
Staring at André, Quinn answered, "Extremely. It must be hereditary." Quinn hoped that the vampire had caught the hint. He was made aware of what André had done to Claudia. He wanted the vampire to know that it is known that he is quite familiar with the beauty of the Brigant women.
"Indeed it is," André purred.
He didn't catch the hint. He had the audacity to trace his finger along her jaw line.
Claudette laughed graciously though she was boiling inside. She wanted to rip every finger from André's deceitful hand. She then wanted to cram them up in fucking ass but she's promised Eric that she was going to behave and she was going to behave. With false modesty, she said, "I can see that you all are trying to flatter me and at any other time, I probably would be flattered but may we get to the reason why we're here? I have other plans."
André walked to his desk and sat down. He pointed at the seats in front of his desk as to offer them to his visitors. Quinn didn't sit. He remained standing behind Claudette's chair.
"I apologize that your plans had to be postponed, Claudette," André began. "You wouldn't have had to break your plans if your princess would stop avoiding me. This is the second time that I've set up a meeting and Sookie was to be here and she's stood me up. I'm beginning to feel insulted," he said. "It makes me wonder what is going on with that wife of yours, Eric." A knowing look appeared on André's face.
Eric crossed his long leg and said, "Nothing is going on with her. Something came up that required her attention. She sends her sincerest apologies. And because she was unable to attend so she sent cousin in her stead."
"As I can see," André said. "I'm not surprised that your wife is not with you. I figured that you would come to me with some type of excuse from her. That's why I sent for her as soon as you'd left your compound but since she has not arrived, I can assume that she wasn't there." He looked at the clock on the wall and said, "She should've been here by now."
Eric dropped fang as he sat tall in his seat. He knew that André had sent for her but he didn't believe that he'd admit to it. "What right do you have to send for my wife?"
"Put your fangs away," André ordered. "Do it now."
Eric slowly and deliberately retracted his fangs. Remaining on the edge of his seat, he asked again, "What right do you have to send for my wife?"
Steepling his fingers underneath his chin, André said, "I have every right. She works for me. She is my underling. When I call, she is to heed. She knows that just as well as you do. Sookie is mine."
"You are wrong," Eric said. "Sookie is mine. She will always be mine. You have no claim on her. And she heeds to no one."
"No one," Claudette repeated.
André glanced at the faery but stared at Eric. Amusement flickered in his eyes. "Not even to you?" he asked.
"Not even to me," Eric said. "I wouldn't want that from my wife. She is my equal but know this, André. She doesn't answer only to you. She answers to the council; which in turns includes more members than you. You didn't need her here in order to get an update. That is why she is here," he said as he looked at the faery. "And as long as the Lady of the House of Brigant is present, she is more than able to answer your questions. Read the contract, André as to be better educated on her status."
He growled and he growled loudly. "And your wife may not heed your call but she will mine," André said. "You tell her that if she misses another meeting, she will be brought before the council. And I promise you, Eric, she will be punished."
Claudette stood from her seat; her power swirling around her. "You will die before you touch her."
"Sit down," André ordered.
"Know your place," she said to him as she sat down. "You have no authority to touch her." Quinn placed his hands on her shoulders to calm her. She leaned into his touch and sighed. She squeezed his hand in thanks.
"Fair," André said. "But this, if it happens again, she will be taken before the council." He then looked at Eric; anger and hate filled his eyes. "Also remember to mind your insolence, Eric," he warned; his mouth tightening with irritation. "As you can very well see, I'm not as weak as I have been. I'm almost at my best."
Glaring at his superior, Eric said, "I would have it no other way."
The anger was rolling off of Eric in droves. It was so thick in the air that it was enough to choke the very power out of the were-tiger and the faery. Quinn was fidgety and Claudette could feel her power rising.
Claudette reached over and placed her hand on Eric's and Quinn's. She looked at them and nodded. "It is fine. I do as my princess asks of me without pause," she said. "We must calm ourselves and do what is expected of us." She then looked at André. "There was no need for you to send for Sookie and there is no need to request her punishment. There is no need to act rashly."
Looking around her, she said, "We've all been a little rash this evening and for this we apologize." She looked at Eric as she wanted for him to cosign on her apology.
"What?" he asked.
"We apologize," she repeated.
He only stared her. He'd rip his fangs out before he apologized to André.
She rolled her eyes before giving her attention back to their elder. "We know why you sent for her. You wanted to make sure that she was safe. To me, it's more than obvious that you sent for her because her safety was a major concern for you; especially with Eric not being there to protect her. Maybe you didn't think that our fae guards were sufficient enough to keep her safe. The vampires and Weres may not have been up to the task of keeping her safe ... in your mind. That has to be the only reason you would violate the laws of the council by trying to kidnap her. You were ashamed in your desperate need to keep her safe. Am I correct?" She flashed a silvery smile at the conniving vampire.
Nodding slowly, he said, "Yes. That was my only reason for sending for her; especially with what's been going on in the area. I only wanted to make sure that she's safe."
"I knew it," Claudette whispered. She wanted to finish what her sister Claudia could not but she did not. She remained calm and easy. "But rest assured, André," she said, "Sookie is always well protected."
"Obviously," André stated. "And you are right, Claudette. I was being rash with my decision to possibly have her punished. I will do no such thing. I do have your forgiveness, do I not?" he asked.
She gave him a slight nod … very slight.
"Tell me," Eric said. "The underlings that you sent for her, have they returned?"
André used to be able to hide his anger quite easily but not tonight. It angered him beyond epic proportions that it was obvious that Eric was already aware of what he'd done. It pissed him off to no end that the Viking was always three steps ahead of him. He couldn't wait to be back to where he used to be; strong, powerful and domineering. As soon as he was able, he was going to destroy the Viking and everyone that stands with him … including his wife.
Hiding his anger behind a look of boredom, André said, "They have not. I can only assume that they've met their end at the hands of the faeries." He shrugged it off as if he didn't care. "Now, tell me what I want to know about the missing girls."
"As you know, the girls' bodies have been found," Eric said. "All of them but one; Amelia is still missing. We know that the girls were tortured but we don't know by whom. We know for sure that it was a vampire that is behind this. Sookie and I feel that we should be able to close this out pretty soon; especially if we can speak with Compton. We feel that once we speak with Bill Compton, he will be able to help us with finding her. From what I've heard, she was his for quite some time. We need him."
André nodded. "As I told you, as soon as he reports back to me, I will set up a meeting for you." A menacing frown appeared on the vampire's face. "Are you questioning me about Compton's whereabouts? Do you believe me to be involved with what happened to those poor girls?"
Eric looked all but surprised. "I am not," he said as he let his eyes widen with surprise. "It's just that we need him. If I've insulted you, André, that was never my intention."
Claudette's eyes gleamed. He'd played his hand.
"We have been working very hard to solve this case, André," Eric persisted. "I'm more than positive that we will get to the bottom of what was going on and I promise you. I will personally kill the monster that has betrayed our race. Don't worry. I will make sure that they pay for their crimes."
A look appeared on André's face that was gone just as quickly as it had appeared. "I'm sure that you will do what you have to do in order to get justice for the girls."
"And their families," Quinn added without even looking in the direction of the were-tiger.
"Yes," André said. "And their families. You will let me know what will take place before anything happens."
Eric nodded. "Yes, André and never fear. We will take care of everything."
Claudette was enjoying André's discomfort.
"You," André said as he pointed at the faery. "Show me what you've found out." He held out his hand and waited for her to show him the progress that they've made.
Claudette placed her hand to her chest as she looked around the room. She then looked at André and asked, "Are you speaking to me?"
"Yes," André barked at her. "You're the only faery in this room, are you not? Now come to me and show me what I want to know."
She shook her head and chuckled. "Oh, dear one," she said. "I can't do that. I don't have the ability to transfer thoughts. That's a gift that's only bestowed upon Sookie. She and our grandmother were the only ones that are capable of doing that."
"Prove it to me," he said.
Claudette stood from her seat and took André's hand. She couldn't help but think that he is stupid. She only needed to block him out and he would see nothing. 'Yes,' she thought. 'It is time for him to die. Stupidity should only be allowed to take up so much space.'
Anger filled his eyes. He saw nothing. "Sit," he ordered.
"I'd rather stand," she said.
"I should've gone and taken Sookie myself," André announced. "I then wouldn't have to deal with her." He looked at Claudette with disgust in his eyes and laced in words.
"It wasn't a cake walk for me either," she replied. She looked at her hand as if was riddled with disease. "Disgusting," she said as she stared him down.
"Mind your fucking manners, faery," André growled. "Or I'll fucking drain you."
Images of Claudia bounced through Claudette's mind. Her sister life and untimely death consumed her. Her magic was strong and it was fierce. Good manners be damned. "Or you'll try," she said. A ball of fire appeared in her hand.
André looked afraid. Fire has never been a friend to the vampire. He soon backpedaled. "Forgive me," he said. "I let my anger get the better of me. You can put that away."
Eric stood from his seat as he looked down at André. He was going to reprimand Claudette but thought better against it. She deserved to have a little edge to her. She'd gone above and beyond when it came to controlling her anger. What was a little spitfire attitude going to hurt?
He patted her on the back before speaking to André. "As you said me only moments ago, calm down, my friend. He meant no harm," Eric reassured him. "He has apologized … again."
As her anger dissipated and her ball of fire flickered into a lowly flame, she glanced at Eric and nodded but said nothing. She knew that it was best if she remained quiet.
"Good," Eric said. "If you come to the meeting Friday night, I'm sure that Sookie will show you what you need to see; along with everyone else, mind you. You will be there, won't you?"
"I will," André replied.
"Good," Eric said. "The other council members have been quite restless without you. It wouldn't surprise me if they're gathering in order to overthrow you. Well, if I am to be honest, it doesn't surprise me. That's exactly why they've called the meeting."
André slammed his fist into his desk with such anger and fury that it splintered in two. He stood from his seat and eyed Eric as he spoke. He knew why the meeting had been called. He'd watched it from his office. He knew that Eric was trying to goad him. "I run this fucking council. I am the leader of our world. It is I that built the council to be what it is today. So whatever grumblings you may have heard, underling, they are simply that; grumblings."
Eric laughed menacingly. "I don't know about that, André. In the words of my old nemesis, Godric, are you sure that you run the council? You've missed so many meetings that it's hard to know what you're doing anymore. It seems that Sophie Ann is the one that runs it … not you. From what we learned from the last meeting, your seat is up for grabs. But you didn't hear any of this from me."
Quinn chuckled but covered it quickly with a cough.
Looking in André's eyes, Eric asked, "You seem to bit a disconcerted about my little revelation. Did your second not warn you of the reasons for the meeting? Did she not tell you that Godric and Shiloh are the ones that have requested it?"
"She told me nothing," André growled. How could she have told him? She was supposed to meet with him afterwards but she never showed up. As a matter of fact, he hasn't seen her since the last meeting. Since Eric has decided to snidely inform him of the possible coup, he could only guess that Sophie Ann was finally dead but that's okay. He'd already accepted her fate. Life goes on.
Eric's face was as stoic and emotionless as ever. It pleased him to see that he'd put André on edge. He could see the wheels as they turned in the elder vampire's mind. Now that the seed has been planted, they needed only to wait to see how André would handle the grumblings.
Keep his focus on one while ignoring the plans of the other, Eric thought.
Feigning concern for his leader's plight, Eric said, "I pity you, André. After all that you've been through, you now have to deal with this." He began to shake his head as if he was at a loss for what to do. "Whatever are you going to do?"
He tried ignoring the smart ass comment of the Viking's but he couldn't. "I don't need your fucking pity, Eric. Now take your grunts with you and get the fuck out of my house," André growled. "All of you."
"Good evening, André," they said.
"And André," Eric began. "Threaten to take my wife away from me again and you will regret it. Know that this is not a threat but a promise. You will never touch anyone that belongs to me and Sookie is mine."
André knew that there was nothing that he could do. He'd made a huge mistake. He never should've said anything about taking Sookie in front of the were-tiger or the faery. They are witnesses to his treason. Eric could kill him with pure justification and there's nothing that he can do about it.
"Fuck you, Northman," André hissed.
The vampires, Weres, shifters, and faeries left André's compound without saying a word.
When they were in the car, Eric looked at Claudette and said, "You are a little sneak. You were more than capable of showing André what we'd learned, what we'd done." He began to nod at her as he cranked his car. "I'm very proud of you. I do believe that my influence is rubbing off of you."
"Puh-lease," she said. "The faeries are the inventors of deception. You vampires just like to claim it as your own. Fucking thieves," she said as she playfully rolled her eyes.
Eric filled the car with laughter as they drove off and into the night.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
After meeting the others of his retinue at the warehouse and filling them in on what happened with André, Eric hurried home. He was driving like a mad man, skimming through red lights and barely missing pedestrians. He was speeding around the corners so quickly that at one point, he believed that he was driving on two wheels. He'd let the vampire get into his head. The vampire was using his weakness against him. Throwing him off guard. At least he'd remained calm in his presence.
"Fucking André," he mumbled.
How dare he threaten to take his wife?! Eric knew that if André had so much as brushed against Sookie, he would have killed him without a second thought.
Eric took another corner without putting on brakes; tires squalling and horns blaring. He didn't care. He wasn't going to stop. He needed to see his wife. He needed to make sure that she was safe. He made it home in less than ten minutes but before he could go into the house, the fae guard Arayleaha, stopped him.
"I've killed two of your kinsmen," she said as she appeared in front of him. "They tried sneaking onto the property. They never made it to the house. Thalia claimed three of them. The kills were sweet and satisfying. Your wife hasn't lost her touch. She is quite magnificent with a sword; even in her condition." She gave him a deadly smile before she faded away into nothing.
Eric blurred into his home and went directly to their bedroom. When he went into their room, he found Sookie lying in bed naked and waiting for him. "Thalia, Arayleaha, and I were sitting out in the gardens when we heard them. Thalia and Arayleaha were able to get a majority of them. But two of them made it past them." She then propped herself up on her elbows as she looked at her husband. "It was as if I'd used my sword every day. The feel of the blade as is sliced through their flesh; their bone, the feel of their blood as is splattered all over me was glorious." A dazed looked appeared on her face. Lust filled the spacious room completely.
Eric closed his eyes and inhaled deeply.
"Look at me," she ordered him.
When he did, he received the best surprise of his life.
She slowly opened her legs and said to her husband, "Claim me."
She is his.
His fangs fell from his gums slowly. They ached at the anticipation of piercing his lover's skin. Her scent passed over him as she opened her legs wider; begging to be taken, owned, and claimed. The sweet and delicate scent of his wife is his greatest joy. He grew hard and heavy; his cock pressing hard against the denim fabric of his jeans. He growled softly. He was about to rip his clothes from his body but she stopped him.
"No," she said as she shook her head. "Remove them slowly. Let me watch you as you prepare to take me."
He did as she ordered him. She watched as the muscles in his arms and chest moved underneath his cool skin as he removed his shirt. His jeans were hard to remove. His hardness was making it hard from him to pull his pants down but he with much effort, he did it. He then put his fingers in the waist of his boxers but didn't pull them down. He stood and waited.
Sookie reached up and began to roll her nipple in between her finger.
He growled as he watched her. He slowly began to remove his underwear. Though she'd seen him many times before, the sight of him would always impress her. She watched him as he began to stroke himself. She licked her lips as she watched him. She then let her hand trail over her thigh as she opened her legs wider.
"Feed from me," she ordered him.
She never saw him move. She screamed out as his fangs sank into the skin of her inner thigh. Her moans of pleasure took her over. With each pull of her blood, her orgasm caused her body to go limp. She cradled his head as she held his mouth to her thigh. Her body shuddered uncontrollably as she whispered his name over and over again.
Eric soon lifted his head from her thigh as he licked the wound closed. He then cupped her ass and pulled her wetness to his waiting and hungry mouth. He gave her no time to recuperate as he nibbled and licked at her nub. He slowly licked her clean as he inserted two of his fingers inside of her.
Once again, her hands were cradling his head. He buried his face deeper into her as she moved her hips rhythmically against his mouth. Her juices were flowing and Eric was making sure that he didn't miss a drop. He loved her with his mouth as orgasm after orgasm washed over her once more. She screamed out his name as her fingers threaded through his hair.
It was torture. It was glorious. He was loving her with his mouth and pleasing her with his fingers. "Oh, Eric," she moaned.
He began to slowly kiss his way from her wetness and up her body. He smiled at the sight of her breasts. He flicked his tongue over the pretty, pink nipples. He lowered his head and wrapped his lips around them; never sucking, only licking. He traced his tongue around the nipples as he looked up at her. The look of ecstasy was all that he could see.
"Claim me," she whispered. "You must claim me."
He slid up her body and placed himself perfectly in between her legs. He gave her a slow and satisfied grin. He slid into her with a slow and easy thrust. Even after so many years together, she was still tight for him. She fit him perfectly. She would forever fit the length of his cock because she was made just for him.
She gasped as her hands gripped his arms. She immediately began to squeeze him with the walls of his personal heaven. Soon he began to move carefully in and out of her … going deeper with every thrust until she gripped his ass as to pull him deeper inside of her.
That simple gesture caused him to thrust hard … sink into her to the very hilt. He began to drive in and out of her as he watched her … as she watched him. He'd never seen a sexier woman in his life. The fire in her eyes was driving him mad. The way that she was holding his gaze was sending him over the edge.
"Fuck me," she said as she spurred him on. "Take what's yours," she growled as she reached behind her and gripped the headboard.
He looked at her glistening body and did as she ordered. He licked her neck as she placed her legs on his shoulders. She cried out and threw her head back as she tightened her grip on the headboard.
Eric growled and groaned in pleasure as he drove harder and deeper. He looked to see her perfect breasts as they moved to the rhythm of the love making. He leaned down and bit and that's when her arms fell from the headboard and to her side. Her body had gone completely limp as he claimed her. Her blue eyes were now black and a long and wonderful sigh of pleasure left her sweet mouth.
Because he couldn't take anymore, his orgasm rippled through him and it was something that he'd never known. It felt as if she was moving through him … massaging his very soul. He threw his head back and roared out in pleasure as he filled her with his essence.
Seconds later, he rolled her onto her side and held her; never withdrawing himself from her body. He could feel her heart beating. He pulled her against him; holding her against his chest. He stroked her hair as he listened to soothing rhythm of her breathing.
"If I weren't pregnant," she said. "I would have loved to have claimed you properly."
Eric looked at her with a frown on her face. "That wasn't proper?"
"Oh, it was more than proper," she said. "But the fae have a ritual that they use after a good fight. I can't wait to use it on you."
He could feel himself harden once again as her words replayed in his mind. He couldn't wait to see what that ritual is. "Sookie," he said. "What happened to you during that last orgasm?"
"You," she said. "You moved through me. I could feel all of you." She turned to face him. "Your every story, your every wound. All of your happiness and your sadness; everything that you are moved through me," she explained. She touched her heart and said, "You're forever embedded here. Could you feel it?"
He nodded but it shamed him to know that she now knows everything.
She wrapped her arms around him as she kissed his neck. "Don't feel shame, my dearest love. You are an amazing and powerful vampire. Your past has only made you stronger." She then pushed away from him and said, "Use it and take what it is that you want."
He rolled her underneath him, spreading her legs with his hips and sliding deep inside of her once again. He stared to slowly thrust in and out, withdrawing until only the tip of his cock was inside of her and then plunging deep once more. She wrapped her legs around his hips; her cries of pleasure urging him to fuck her faster, harder. He felt her orgasm as it began to claim her once again. Her felt her body pulsating around him, sucking him deeper inside of her. She was soon screaming out incoherently. Eric then threw his head back and cried out her name.
He began to nuzzle her neck and kiss along her jaw line. "You are mine, only mine," he said.
She smiled as she wrapped her arms tightly around him. "Forever, I'm yours," she said.