Disclaimer: the characters depicted herein are the sole property of Charlaine Harris and HBO. And you can take that to the bank.

A/N: All I can say is "Help I'm Alive" by Metric.

Chapter 25

I was not at all prepared for the gruesome scene in front of me as Eric and I reentered the banquet room. Obviously Preston's assistant had been warned in advance that blood donors and sexual playthings might be required, and to be prepared with many willing humans in case that need should arise, because vampires were feeding, fucking, and in some cases fighting in a completely chaotic manner throughout the hall. It was kind of like walking into a vampire Woodstock. From Hell.

I wasn't sure where the humans came from, or if they had already been interspersed with the vamps earlier and I simply hadn't noticed. If that were true, and my telepathy was in fact so strong that I was picking up both types of brainwaves on the same frequency, well, I would have to talk to Niall about that when I got back. I couldn't believe my growing fairy abilities could enhance my existing disability, as I had always called it, to such a degree so quickly. Then again, it could just be that the humans came in from some kind of back door. I was so astonished by the scene in front of my eyes, however, that trying to figure it out right this minute wasn't really a priority.

Skimming the room for faces I recognized, I quickly identified Pam, Preston and Bill. It seemed like Pam was trying to help Preston up; from this distance it appeared as though he was unconscious. Bill was standing in front of them, guarding them, while apparently trying to scan the crowds for the best possible way to get him out of the room unnoticed. I guess Pam decided to listen to Eric after all. Either that or she changed her mind when she saw Preston.

I quickly looked over at Eric, and saw a look of relief pass over his face. Obviously Preston was important to him. I made a mental note to ask him why. No more than a second later, however, Eric's entire demeanor changed. He seemed at once exhilarated and anxious. He turned to me, his eyes betraying his excitement about the impending battle.

"Sookie, you will be stronger as a result of my blood, and you are a definite threat with that weapon. However, you do not know how to fight. Now that you see what we're dealing with, are you sure you're going to stay?" He asked, his entire body vibrating with the need to join those who were fighting. At least it's not vibrating with the need to join those who are fucking. I thought.

Even though terror was beginning to grip at my insides, adrenaline and determination forced me to nod. Eric's expression became one of fierce determination.

"Then you will stay by my side. We will be a formidable team, dear one, and no one will forget this night." He said, and darted towards the middle of the room with me following not far behind. As we ran, I realized that I couldn't see Felipe or Brady anywhere. He must have only shown up because he knew it would start a war. It made sense, he would be far too weak to do any damage, and by staying he would have become an easy target. I guess he figures his retinue is either completely expendable, or totally unbeatable. I thought to myself.

I wasn't sure how I felt about either of those two concepts, and I wondered how Felipe had gotten out of his cell and where he was now.

Regardless, it was abundantly clear to me that De Castro feared the jury would have convicted him, and so decided not to let it get to trial. The lingering resentment towards his takeover of Louisiana would be his downfall and he knew it. Sophie-Ann, it seemed, must have been a popular regent. Furthermore, trying to drain Pam who I now knew was bonded to Preston, would also be a grave offense. Lesson one: don't kill another vampire regent. Lesson two: don't drain yet another regent's bonded. I didn't really think my kidnapping stacked up to those two. At that thought, I wondered if after this was all over I'd actually face charges for killing Victor, as that seemed to be a separate matter. One thing at a time, Sookie.

Suddenly Eric came to full stop near a group of about twenty vampires who were fighting a group of about thirty-five. As I didn't recognize any of them, I looked at Eric a little sheepishly to indicate I didn't know which side we were on. He actually laughed aloud, and pointed at the smaller group. Murphy's law I thought to myself.

I did have one small advantage, though: I was armed. I didn't worry too much about Eric, being over a thousand years old and a Viking made him a dangerous enemy; he was well known for his physical strength. As soon as the thought crossed my mind, I saw him grab a discarded short sword from the floor. Evidently the owner was already dead. While many of the Nevada vamps must have been anticipating a fight and armed themselves, and many of Preston's retinue was armed in the event of a fight as well, Eric had seemingly led us to a somewhat less prepared cluster of vampires. For some reason, I found it sweet.

Finally getting my bearings and positioning myself beside Eric, I crouched into a battle- ready stance and let the currents of fae energy roll over me from the dagger, giving in to its need for blood. Just as Eric started to become a blur of speed and skill (vampires were falling at his feet, dead or seriously wounded, in an almost impossible number) I started to pulsate with newfound energy. My fingertips buzzed with a strange electrical current, my body felt lighter, more agile and quicker. Deep in my chest, I could feel my heart pounding and my blood pumping as though all the life and feelings inside of me were desperate to overwhelm the death in my presence. I was no longer fighting nameless, faceless vampires. I was fighting for every single moment in my life wherein the supernatural world had taken some kind of toll on me for reasons I did not yet understand. In a single moment, I was transformed. Looking over at Eric to see him fighting four vampires single-handedly with an almost painful grace, I leapt towards them and brought down my blade with no remorse.

* * * * *

That night, with Eric and vampires loyal to him at his side, we fought through the crowds with frightening ease. I found myself physically stronger than some of the vampires I encountered, which I never would have imagined possible. I took down one, two, three vampires in no more than a few seconds and I was almost capable of keeping up with Eric's speed. My lack of training was evident, but whatever fae essence was contained within me seemed to make up for that. Eric's skill, of course, was unmatched by anyone else in the room, and when the Nevada vamps started to become aware that they would find no victory, many pledged fealty to him and fought by our side.

Felipe's losses were devastating; Eric and Preston's gains were numerous. Not that Preston had been present to witness any of it; he and Pam had left hours earlier. I was certain he would be none too pleased with the devastation left behind from the fight. The banquet hall was no longer the beautiful, ethereal place it once was. Instead, blood and gore and ash were spattered all about the walls and ceiling. The fountain has been struck on one side with some kind of force and was spilling water over corpses on the floor. Rather than cleaning away the rotten flesh, the ground had become a shallow pool of blood. It was both horrifying and totally surreal. Looking at a vampire who had seemingly been killed while feeding on a young human woman, I could no longer resist the nausea I had been feeling and began vomiting uncontrollably. The cruelty of the vampire world hit me now, after the battle, imagining all the humans who had died unnecessarily tonight. This was not their fight.

Sensing my distress through the bond, I felt Eric's fear and looked up to see him running towards me from the other side of the room.

"Dear one, let me get you far away from here. It will do you no good to reflect too long on the carnage of battle." He said gently, and picked me up in his arms. Although I was still nauseous and was undoubtedly covered in blood and vomit, Eric held me to him with reverence and flew us out of the room and down the corridor.

"Am I right in imagining you would like some fresh air? Or would you rather return to our room?" Eric asked me quietly, setting me down.

"Outside" I choked out, while straining to breathe and regain my equilibrium.

"Of course" he said with a little smile, and before I knew it, I was in his arms again.

Finally, it seemed, Eric and I were lying on the beach alone. I had been dreaming about this since we arrived: moonlight, sand, warm air with a light ocean breeze. I had pictured Eric and I holding each other, making love, swimming, kissing, and being happy.

As it was, I couldn't get the smell of death out of my nose, the taste of ash from my mouth, the look of horror on so many faces out of my mind.

TBC