Spellbound
Here is a second chapter. I hope that y'all enjoy it. I know that y'all are probably anxious to get to the ending of André and I assure you, we are almost there. It may be the middle of next week before I can get another chapter posted because I have a hectic work schedule coming up on me but if I can, I will get as much editing done as I can.
I hope that you all enjoy and let me know what you think. The characters are not mine but the story idea is.
Enjoy!
She sighed as she sat in front of the fire. She was anxious to get home. She could feel the bond strumming with need but she knew that it wouldn't be too much longer. Eric was coming for her. And he would be there soon. She could feel him, his fury. His need. His love. She knew that he wasn't far away either. The idea of seeing her husband in battle was something that she'd been anticipating for quite some time. She knew that he was going to be glorious and magnificent. She wished that she could've been there when he found Johan. She wanted to see him die.
With her face turned up to the ceiling, she closed her eyes as her magic and power flowed through her. As soon as Johan died, she could've left. She could've killed every vampire in André's house but she didn't want to do that. She knew what had to be done. She had to bide her time. She had to wait her turn. She knew that it wouldn't be too much longer. Eric was coming and pretty soon, all would be right in the world … in their world.
When she heard the click of the lock, Sookie's attention perked up a little. It was time. She looked around the room and almost everything was just as it was before she'd entered it. Andromeda's handmaiden made sure of that. She then stood up from her chair and turned to face her pending visitor. Her arms were crossed modestly in front of her as she waited for him to enter the room.
"Come with me, Mrs. Northman," the little man said when he opened the door.
Giving him a slight nod, Sookie did as the little man instructed. He held the door open for her as she walked out before him. She stood next to him and waited as he closed the door. He looked up at her and nodded as he walked ahead of her.
She quietly followed him down the long hallway. As they walked to her impending meeting with André, she looked at each of the vampires that were lined along the wall. Some of them looked down at the floor as she walked past. Others; they stared her in her eyes. They were letting her know that she was the visitor in their home. She had no power there ... or so they believed. Never one to show weakness, she returned the glares.
"Here," the little man said as he stopped in front of a door.
Sookie looked around her and then at the little man. "We won't have much privacy out here in the hallway, will we?" she asked.
Before he could he stop himself, he almost smiled. He held the door open for her. "He will be in here in a moment but please make yourself comfortable until the master arrives," he said. "Is there anything that I can get for you?"
Looking at him, she politely answered him. "No, thank you. You may leave."
He bowed to her as he left the room.
Sookie walked into the room and stood in the middle of it. The room was decorated differently than the other room that she's just vacated; including the couches. There were three oversized couches; each one of a different color. There were several multicolored pillows thrown over them. The fireplace was crackling and there was music playing lightly in the background. The room looked as if several different decorators worked on it at the same time but no one could decide on which period they would use. Whoever decorated the room had no sense of style.
She chuckled as she walked to the couch in the center of the room and sat down. "Pity," she said. "It could be quite beautiful in here with the right touch."
She closed her eyes as she felt the life force of her husband flowing through her. She could feel his anger and his need for her as it caressed every inch of her body. She could almost feel him touching her, kissing her … tasting her.
"Good evening, Sookie," André said as he entered the room. "You look extraordinarily beautiful; though you have picked up a little weight but that's okay. It suits you. I've never seen you look so stunning." And he wasn't just saying that to get into her good graces. He meant it. She had picked up weight and she does look good. The changes that her body has gone through have made her even more tantalizing than ever. She looked absolutely divine. She smelled even better. "Being with the Viking has worked wonders for you; especially since you two seemed to have renewed your relationship. Or have you been a very naughty girl?"
She opened her eyes and stared her sworn enemy. "It has," she agreed. "And I've never been naughty a day in my life. Everything that you see is all Eric … only Eric … and will always be Eric."
André growled at her words as they washed over him. If only he …
"You're looking healthier," she said as her voice interrupted his thoughts. "I see that your bout with silver poisoning is fading away. Slowly but surely. I'm sure that it pleases you to be feeling better. Whatever did you do to fashion such results?"
Smiling, he said, "I don't know. I guess I'm just a very lucky vampire. I'm quite fortunate to not have succumbed to its affects."
"Quite," she agreed. "Especially since it's been said that the silver that penetrated your skin was the purest form of silver; you are extremely fortunate." Looking at him through hooded eyes, she said, "I've only heard of vampires being poisoned with pure silver when they've attacked another species; particularly the fae. The magnitude to which you were poisoned, you should've died. I must agree. You were quite lucky."
André said nothing.
"You never told us what happened," she said. "Was it a faery that attacked you?"
Glaring at her, he said, "To answer your question, no. I've never heard such mythical nonsense."
Her eyes widened. "I find that rather hard to believe; especially with you being as old as you are. I'm sure that you've come across some angry fae with silver fangs in your lifetime. Come on," she goaded. "You can tell me the truth or do you not know how?"
"Watch your fucking tongue," he hissed. "I'm still your leader and you will respect me."
Smirking at him, she said, "Forgive my insolence, my liege. Even after you've had me taken against my will, you deserve nothing but my utmost and undying respect." She didn't try to hide her sarcasm.
He ignored it. "I'm glad that you've decided to visit with me."
She laughed at his choice of words. "Did you not hear me? You kidnapped me," she replied. "You took me from a restaurant and had me brought here by some warlock that you've claimed as your own. I wasn't asked if I wanted to see you. What I wanted was not considered. I was kidnapped while waiting for my cousin to join me for lunch. So don't be glad that I'm here, André. I don't want to be here."
André sighed as he walked towards her. "I'm sorry about that. I never wanted it to come to this. I'd hoped that you'd come to me on your own. I know that it's against the rules to take you without your or your husband's permission but I had no choice. It is of the utmost importance that we meet before the final council meeting. I need to know where I stand."
Frowning at him, Sookie asked, "Where you stand? What does that mean?"
"You misheard me," he said.
"No," she said. "I heard you. Maybe you misspoke."
"Maybe I did," he said. "What I meant was that I need to know for certain where we as vampires stand. Anyway," he said with a hint of an attitude. "Your husband told me a little of what you two have learned but not quite enough. That is why I need you. That is why I had no choice in having you brought to my home."
"You had a choice, André. We all have choices. You just choose to do as you please because you believe that you are above the law … above our laws." Pointing at him, she said, "You know that once it's learned that you've taken me, you will be put to death. And I will bring this before the council."
He fanned off her comments. "I'm not worried about that. I've got a very powerful warlock on my staff. No one will know that you're here or were here. You'll be returned home in due time."
"Oh, yes," she said. "Mr. Johan Glassport; the idiot that I'd mentioned earlier. He told me of his powers. He's quite powerful to be able to halt my gifts. He was able to get rid of my guards without my knowledge. He delayed my lunch date with my cousin. Does he live close by? Is he safe?" she asked.
André smiled at the gleam in her eyes. He could tell that as soon as she was able to, she was going to hunt the warlock down and kill him. He would have none of that. He needed the warlock. He's a very important part of his retinue. All of the powerful and oldest vampires have witches and warlocks on their payroll. He's in no different.
He fanned of her comment. "There's no need for you worry about the safety of Mr. Glassport. I always keep my staff safe; not that I'd have to. Johan is very powerful is more than capable of protecting himself," he said.
"I'm sure that he is," she replied.
He then clapped his hands together. "Where are my manners? Would you care for something to drink?"
Sookie rolled her eyes and chuckled. "I would not. I would take nothing that you have to offer. You'd have cause to poison me." She then added, "Though I thank you for the offer."
"Always so polite," he mocked. "But suit yourself, Sookie; while I would never do that to you. Poisoning you wouldn't get me what I want." He then sat on the couch next to her, close to her. He looked at her and smiled.
She returned his smile as she got up and removed herself from his side. She went to the couch opposite his. As she sat down, she said, "It's not becoming for me to be sitting so close to a male vampire when my husband isn't in the room. Come to think of it, I shouldn't be in the home of any male without having my husband at my side. It's not what a respectable woman would do. You do understand that."
He looked amused by her action but his eyes told a different story. He was furious. He was tired of being disrespected, treated as if he doesn't matter when he's all that matters. He is the ruler of their world and it was time that they all realized it; especially those Brigant bitches. They've always been under the impression that they are better than he is but they are wrong. He's shown Claudia. He didn't want to have to show the others. He'd tolerated their disregard of him for far too long but no more. It was time for him to put them in their places and in their place they would stay … but in time.
"Let us not argue, Sookie," he replied. "That's not what I want. I want you to know that you and your husband have done a wonderful thing for our world. I want to thank you and your husband for the hard work that you've done in finding those missing girls. The sacrifices that you and your husband have made; being away from each other for possibly long periods of time, you having to spend countless hours alone with your fae guards; especially the male ones."
He glanced up at her through hooded eyes to see if she got his meaning.
From the look on her face, she did.
He knows, she thought.
Smirking as he continued, he scooted to the edge of his seat. "The sacrifices that you both had to make in order to find those poor victims; they are so much more than we, vampires and other members of our community, could ever expect from both of you."
Before she began to speak, she made sure to look him in his eyes. "Though we didn't have to make any sacrifices; especially not with each other, it was our pleasure. Eric and I would never sacrifice our relationship for anything of this world. We will fight for our relationship against all others but never will we sacrifice it. If anything, Eric and I are stronger than we've ever been. It will do you well to remember that. You clearly understand me."
She wanted to make sure that he realized that she wasn't asking him a question either. It was a blaring statement that she'd hope André heard loud and clear. Obviously, he did.
"I more than understand," he said.
"I knew that you would," she replied. "Now, back to the subject at hand; it was hard to do but we did it. We were more than determined to find them. They needed to be found. They needed to go home. Their parents needed closure."
André agreed by nodding. "It's a sad thing; what those poor girls went through."
"It was," Sookie whispered. "From what we'd discovered, those girls appeared to have been subjected to some horrific things, unspeakable things."
Bowing her head and shaking it in despair, she said, "It's a shame that I couldn't read them. They were so decomposed that I couldn't even touch them but Eric and I are unwavering in that the deaths of those girls will be paid for in blood. Our laws state that if any supe is involved in the death or endangerment of any human, we are to do what is expected and obtain justice for the victims. That is what my husband and I have to do. That is what we will do." Shaking her head no, she said, "Until we've completed our job, there is no need to thank us."
"I see that abiding by our laws is very important to you," he said.
"Very important," she repeated. "Without our laws, we would have chaos and chaos in the supe world is never a good thing. You should know that better than anyone."
He leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees and said, "I do, dear child. I do. Chaos is a cruel mistress. But it's nice to hear you say that the girls will be avenged but I'm quite surprised by words because of your actions."
"How so?" she asked.
André smiled. He believed that he had her by the tits and because of it she would do whatever he told her to do. "You didn't tell the council members that the missing girls are your kinsmen … especially since you abide by our laws. You knew that as soon as you learned the truth, you were to bring it before the council. You are the representative for your people and you have failed them."
Again, she asked, "How so?"
"If vampires are killing your kinsmen and you knew of this, you have broken our laws. You have put the vampire race in danger by keeping this private. What if your grandfather learned of this and brought war upon us? It would be your doing. It would be your fault."
Sookie cocked her head to the side and said, "I don't know what you mean. Your revelation is foreign to me. I'm also sure that it'll be news to Eric. There is no way that we would've known. There's no proof that those girls were my kinsmen. They were never registered with the supernatural board. Eric and I checked. We went through all of the proper channels."
She innocently began to shake her head. "As you know, we are to always check to see if victims are affiliated with the supernatural world by blood and we found nothing. No one in our retinue found anything. All that we'd learned of those girls is that they frequented The Coffin and nothing more."
Heat and anger filled André's eyes as she defied him with her words. She could almost smell it.
She rested comfortably on the couch as she threw her arm over the back of it. "Their blood was never checked. They were never put through any of the tests to be sure of their status in our world. So," she said as she shrugged her shoulders. "Your comments about being surprised that I didn't report their status as faery to the council surprises me. We didn't know.
"From where did you get this information, André? I hate to even think this, but were you somehow involved with their abductions to even make such a statement? Is that what you're saying to me?" A frown soon appeared on her face. "Are you saying that you've tasted the victims and against their very will? Are you saying that you killed them? Are you confessing to me? Are you the vampire that has betrayed us? Is that what you're saying? Is that why I'm here without my consent? Are hoping that the council will show you leniency since you've come to me with your wrongdoings? Is that it? I'm sure that I can put in a good word for you when the time comes."
André stood up from his seat and dropped fang on Sookie. "Your comments to me are treasonous," he hissed.
"I don't understand your anger, my friend," she replied coyly. "I haven't accused you of anything treasonous. I wouldn't do that without just cause. You are the one that has taken me against my will and told me that the girls are my kin. I'm not an accusatory person. You should know me better than that. No need to get all upset," she said sweetly. "My only concern is that you seem to have firsthand knowledge of information that Eric and I were not made privy to. No treason has been committed here. I haven't reported you to the council."
Yet, she thought to herself.
"If you're really concerned that I and Eric are being deceptive, why didn't you turn in your new found information to the council? You are the one that started the investigation. You are the one that called Eric and me into your state to solve the mystery. We are only here to help you. Just as we could've reported it; if we'd known, so could you. You were duty bound to report it. You're more obligated than we are. You're supposed to be our leader. You are to lead by example." Her voice rose an octave as she said, "It's a law you'd written. If you'd gone to the council, you could've finally gotten what you wanted."
Retracting his fangs as he sat down, André asked, "What do you mean?"
She laughed a melodic laugh. "Don't play coy with me. I know you better than you know yourself. You could've ended my and Eric's marriage. You could've sent me back to Faery; never to return but you didn't do that. Why haven't you?" she said. "What do you want from me?"
"I don't know what you mean," he spat.
"You do," she said. "You could've sent me back to Fintan. You could've reported back to Fintan the information that someone must have slipped to you about the girls. I can only guess that you didn't because ... Never mind. You have your reasons. It surprises me that you haven't sent me back to Faery. What do you want from me?"
A devious smirk appeared on his face. "There's no need to send you back … not yet. I'm sure that we have other options available to us if it comes to sending you away."
He definitely knows, she thought.
He plans on bringing her pregnancy before the council and using it against them in order to void out the contract but she wasn't worried in the least. He'll never get the chance to stand before the council.
"You never answered my question. How would you know if those girls were my kinsmen or not?" she asked.
André gave Sookie a heartfelt and humbling look. "I figured that they had to have meant something to you because of the hard work that you'd put into finding them. Even Eric had gone above and beyond to find those girls. He called in every member of his retinue. I figured that he was so active in the investigation because it meant so much to you. Plus I'd heard that there was a girl that used to hang out at The Coffin. She was called Bridget but her real name was Pixie. It was believed that she was fae."
"What do you mean that she 'was' fae?" she asked. "She still is, isn't she?" Sookie feigned concern. Worry clouded her eyes. "Has something happened to her? She went home awhile ago from what I understand. And she'd even gone to the police to tell them that she wasn't missing as the papers stated. She was being stalked. She'd spoken with Detective Bellefleur and he said that she was fine. As a matter of fact, my dear Detective Bellefleur even let it be known that Pixie wasn't missing. Why do you mention her? Do you know her?"
Though his face was calm, André's eyes told an entirely different story. "No, I was just concerned. Her picture was in the paper," he said.
Sookie shook her head no. "It wasn't. Pixie doesn't like to take pictures. When we were children, she didn't like taking them so I'm pretty sure that as an adult her feelings didn't change. She believes that they take a piece of her soul."
He'd never counted on Sookie knowing the faery personally. "I know that I've heard of her from somewhere but that doesn't matter now," he quickly added.
A look of concern then appeared on his face. He rested his elbows on his knees and stared sadly into Sookie's eyes. "There are a couple of things that I want to bring you up to speed on. I hate doing this to you but I'm going to go before the council and let them know that I'm going to request to have the marriage between you and Eric dissolved."
She just sat there and stared at him.
He expected Sookie to become hysterical. He expected to see her crying and begging to stay with Eric but he got nothing. There was a look of ease on her face. Her eyes were as relaxed as he's ever seen them. She didn't fidget. As a matter of fact, she acted as if she didn't care.
"Didn't you hear me?" he asked.
"I did."
He decided to go further with his so-called plan. "It appears that you have been unfaithful to your husband; especially for you to be pregnant. Don't look so surprised," he began.
"I don't," she answered.
His nostrils flared with anger. "Don't look so surprised," he repeated with a hint of anger and frustration. "I know that you are with child. I can hear the child's heartbeat. It's very strong. I know that Eric has to be devastated to know that you've lain down with one of your fae kinsmen; especially while he was working so hard to find those poor girls."
Frowning, Sookie said, "Earlier, you were praising me and Eric for working together to find the missing girls but now, it was just him. My, how fickle you are."
"No need for your anger or your snide remarks," André said. "I can understand your embarrassment. It's been found that you've cheated on the Viking … and we all know how possessive he is when it comes to you. It surprises me that he didn't kill you or the baby's father once he'd learned that you are with child. His love for you must be astounding."
Sookie placed her hand to her baby belly and said, "It is unconditional."
"I can see that," he replied. "Now, let me ask you. Would you do anything to stay in this world with your husband, your soul mate? It would be a pity if he never got to see you again."
"It would." Shaking her head, she said, "I can't live without him."
"From what I've learned, I know that to be true," André said. "I have a proposition for you. Let me taste you and your pregnancy will remain between us. You can tell the other members of the council that you were implanted with the seed of another by medical means because you and the Viking wanted a child. No one has to know that you've been unfaithful."
Sookie's mouth fell open from surprise. She expected to be blackmailed but she never expected him to ask to feed from her.
"With the new life that lives within you, I'm sure that it will kill the last remnants of the silver poisoning. Let me taste you and your secret will remain safe; just one drop and I will let you go." He held his arms out at his side and said, "No one will ever know your secret."
Draping her arm over the back of the couch, Sookie said, "No, you will never taste me. No man other than my husband will ever taste me. That is a pleasure that is meant only for Eric. Your threats of exposure mean nothing to me." With the flick of her hand, she said, "Go before the council if you must. I don't care. Do as you wish but my blood and soul belong to my husband."
She then began to laugh at him. She began to laugh long and loud.
The sound of her laughter made him think of Claudia and how she ridiculed him in front of his underlings. It reminded him of how she denied him pleasure. And just last night, that fae bitch Claudette did the exact same thing. But tonight, he was going to be shown respect. He wasn't going to let another Brigant make a fool of him.
He stood slowly from his seat and stared at Sookie. "You laugh at me?" he asked angrily. "I'm your fucking superior! I own you! I am the reason that you are even a part of this world! If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have the Viking! You owe me everything! Now kneel before me and give me your loyalty and your blood! Bare your neck to me!" he commanded.
Sookie was no longer sitting in her relaxed position. She stared André in his eyes and said in her calmest voice, "You amuse me, André and I laugh at things that amuse me. And I will never kneel to you. Neither will my husband. You are beneath us. If anything, you should kneel before us. We're more powerful. We garner more respect from our peers. We should have your loyalty." Shrugging her shoulders as she returned to her previous sitting position, she said, "I believe that's the least that you owe us."
Though her voice and words were calm, the smell of her anger was like heaven for André. Her words almost made him kneel before her but with much willpower and determination he stood his ground; not saying a word … only staring.
"Why should we, as a community, give you what you so apparently lack? You have no honor, no loyalty. Therefore, you don't deserve ours," she said as she stood up from her seat and walked to where he was standing. "I know what you've done to those poor girls … those fae girls." She trailed her finger along his cheek and said, "You're a coward, André. You prey on the weak and the helpless because you are weak. You are helpless."
He stepped in closer to her body … glaring at her. "I am your greatest fears," he hissed.
"Oh, no," she said as she stared into his eyes. "My greatest fear is not in this room. Don't flatter yourself, André. You will be quite disappointed."
André laughed at her. "You speak such harsh words to have come into my home with your powers and fae magic tamped down to nothing. I would think that you would the sense to cower before me. I'd always assumed that you were a very smart, young lady. It appears that I was wrong about you."
While in the first room, her magic and power returned to her. She'd felt it. Just as she'd earlier felt her husband's anger. The very smart, young lady had enough sense to not show André her hand.
He stepped in closer to her and growled, "Fear me."
"Tsk, tsk, tsk," she said as she shook her head. "I will not. I fear no one and that includes you. You should fear me and my husband because tonight, you will fall. Your reign of terror is over. Tonight, we will celebrate your death."
André's hearty laughed filled the room. "I'm centuries older than your Viking. I will rip his fucking head from his neck. There is nothing that he can do to me."
Sookie grinned as four easy words left her mouth. "Tonight, you will die. Everything that you've done will be exposed. We. Have. The. Girl."
Within seconds, he had his hand wrapped around her pretty little neck.
She didn't struggle.
She didn't scream.
Sookie laughed as she looked over her shoulder.
At that precise moment, the door to the room flew from its hinges.
"Eric," she said as she smiled at her husband.