Chapter Eleven
An awkward silence filled the air between them and then Sookie winced as the silver continued to burn her.
"I hate to see you like that." His voice was filled with guilt.
"The only way they are going to let us out of here is if you apologize to the witches and make amends." She glanced at him as he kept looking up at the ceiling. "Please, Eric."
"Only if we leave right after."
"What? You want to leave? Everyone is there." She couldn't imagine leaving her family at a time like this.
He looked at her now. "Listen it's not safe for us here."
"It's not safe for us out there. I think I would rather take my chances here under the protection of a spell." She moved over to the bars and groaned. He moved over too.
"This isn't like last time, Sookie. We won't be able to rebuild from this. It will only get worse." He had such a grave tone about him that she felt physically ill. "It's every man for himself. It will be that way here soon enough and I am not waiting for that to happen."
"My friends are here. Tara is back. Jason is a father. I am not just going to walk away from that." She spoke softly. "I'm sorry that Godric is not here."
"Who cares if he is here or not? He wouldn't be able to do anything anyways." He stood up now. He was clearly uncomfortable and trying to hide it.
The fact of the matter was that he had hoped to see Godric as soon as he realized that the dead were coming back. The moment he saw Tara, he knew Godric would be back. He would have a second chance with his maker but days turned into weeks then months. There was no sign of Godric anywhere. The bitterness Eric felt was all-consuming. The world was literally going to shit, Sookie had been missing and he wanted more than anything to speak to Godric.
He hated to see all the vampires that came back. Hell, even some witches were back but Godric wasn't? What the hell made them all so goddamn special!
"Fine. We will stay." He sighed dramatically. "But at the first sign of shit going south then we are leaving."
"Not without Jason and his baby. Oh, and Tara. Jessica too."
"We're not running a shelter, Sookie. It will be hard enough for us to stay alive on our own."
The sound of footsteps made them both look up. Eric stormed over to the bars of the cage.
Tara walked in and Eric rolled his eyes as he sat back down.
"How are you doing?" She was incredibly uncomfortable as she looked at Sookie. She hated seeing her this way. "They just need to make sure that everything will be fine. You trust me, right?" She ignored Eric and stared forward.
Sookie sighed. "Listen I get it. I can't control my powers and I put everyone at risk." Suddenly she started to think that maybe Eric was right. Maybe they should just leave. She wouldn't be able to forgive herself if something happened to them because of her.
"I know you would never intentionally hurt anyone." Tara smiled softly. "I have someone who wanted to say, Hi. I know you don't like surprises but..."
Sookie looked at the door as Alcide came strolling in. Her eyes got wide with shock.
"Oh, and it gets even better." Eric stood up and walked over to the bars.
"Hey, darling. I would ask how you are doing but it's pretty clear." He smirked as she got up to the bars. He looked just like she remembered him. His hair was a bit longer but his beard was neat and trimmed. He had a patch of silver in his hair, but it somehow made him look even better. He wore his typical jeans and t-shirt, all covered in flannel. Emotions filled her as she remembered the day he died.
"You know just your typical Thursday." She smiled with tears in her eyes.
"Is this really necessary to have her silvered like this?" Alcide looked at Tara.
"I don't make the rules."
"It's fine. I'm good as long as I don't move a lot." She forced a smile.
He put his hand through the bars and touched her finger.
"It's good to see you, Sookie." He smiled that radiant smile that she had fallen in love with. Tears filled her eyes.
"Are you fucking kidding me right now, Sookie. I mean I get it, you dated a lot of men but really? Him?" Eric rolled his eyes with annoyance.
She decided to just ignore his tantrum. She was happy to see Alcide.
"Oh darling, don't cry." He rubbed her hand.
"You know I think that is enough of a reunion." Eric snapped bitterly. Sookie rolled her eyes. "I am ready to talk to Nan." He looked at Tara then back at Sookie. "It's about time we get out of these cages."
Sookie smiled softly at Eric as he paced back and forth. Jealous Eric was hot! She hadn't gotten a proper introduction to that side of him, and she liked it.
"So, a fairy vampire, huh? You just couldn't help but outdo yourself." Alcide got her attention once more.
"You know me. I always have to be different."
"I'm going to get Nan." Tara quickly left.
"How did you end up here?" Sookie couldn't help but ask.
"After I came back, I went to your place but it had been ransacked," Alcide spoke with pain in his eyes. "Rumors began to go around about you and Warlow." He shook his head with a smile on his face. "You attract trouble." He glanced over at Eric.
"You should probably keep your eyes to yourself, wolf," Eric warned.
"Like I was saying. I ended up running into Tara and she told me about this place. I was out patrolling when you first got here."
"Well, I am so glad you are here." She wanted nothing more than to just hug him at that moment, but she was literally in chains.
"I'm going to be physically ill if I have to listen to this any longer." Eric groaned and then Tara came back with Nan. They all turned.
"I hear you are ready to talk?" Nan put her hands on her hips as she walked over to Eric.
"I want to apologize to the witches and make whatever reprimands you ask of me." Eric sighed in defeat.
"We could use another guy on the patrol. We lost two men in the last week." Alcide interjected.
"You want me to work with you?" Eric laughed dryly.
"We could use your strength and agility. Every day more of Lilith's army is coming to close for comfort." Alcide had a seriousness to his tone. It actually touched Sookie that he was willing to put aside their arguing for the greater good. Alcide was always good for that. He was a good leader and apparently the apocalypse had only improved that quality about him.
"I'm going to pass on that. I'm not putting my life on the line for any of you." Eric snapped.
Sookie sighed heavily and he looked at her.
"Fine. Whatever. I will be on this so-called patrol." He huffed and Sookie finally looked up at him. Nan looked between all of them.
"Ok, I will see what I can do. Sit tight." Nan turned from him.
"I want Sookie to be let out too," Eric added as Nan stopped walking.
"Now you are pushing it." Nan turned and looked at them all. "We still don't know the extent of her situation."
"I agree." Sookie shocked them all as they looked at her.
"Sookie, no." Eric walked over toward her.
"I don't want to hurt anyone, but I also don't know how to control these powers I have." She spoke softly and then walked over to the side of the cage where Eric was. "This is the safest place for me, and you know that."
"Then at least remove the silver." He looked at Nan.
She sighed heavily. "I will see what I can do." She walked away.
"I will see if I can help." Alcide turned and followed Nan.
"Once I am out, I will talk to them about releasing you." Eric reached across the bars and touched her hand. He hated that the wolf's scent was on her.
"Please don't cause trouble when you get out. Do what you can to help. I am ok."
"Sook, I will see if I can get you some blood. We don't have a lot. Mainly left-over true blood." Tara interrupted them.
"I can eat food too," Sookie interjected and Eric looked at her with surprise. "Yeah, I was in shock too, but I can eat."
"Well, let's see if we can get you some burgers then." Tara smiled.
"I know you are worried that you will hurt someone, but I know you won't." Eric brought her attention back. "I will keep you safe always, even if it is against yourself."
Before Sookie could say anything, the sound of heels was heard. They both looked as a pissed-off Pam walked in. She looked like a hot mess. Her roots were growing out and she hadn't had her nails done. Her makeup looked like it was days old.
"I should have fucking known!" She stomped her way inside and then her eyes fell on Sookie. A look of surprise crossed them. "Oh, joy you found her and surprise, surprise you are locked in a cage." Pam rolled her eyes and then looked at Sookie. "You know you suck as a vampire."
"Pam, enough." Eric walked over to the bars.
"What did you do, Eric?" She sighed dramatically. He just stared at her, and she huffed. She walked over to Sookie. "Every time you are in trouble someone gets hurt."
"Pam, I said that's enough," Eric warned.
"Why? It's true. Even her own friends have died. Her grandmother for god sake!"
"Pam." Eric's fangs came out.
"No, you're right. I have gotten a lot of friends and family killed." The words were barely above a whisper.
"Don't listen to her, Sookie. Pam is just in a mood." Eric glared at Pam.
"No, she knows I'm right." Pam stepped back and then looked at him. "I've had your back for years. Just remember that." Pam wiped a lone tear away before she left. Eric walked towards Sookie's bars.
"She is right, Eric. I am constantly in danger. I don't think I have had more than a few months without something life-changing happening." She laughed bitterly. "And now I am just this ticking time bomb that could go off at any moment and all I want to do is curl up on the couch and watch Grey's Anatomy." Tears began to fall down her face. "Now I can never do that because we're in a fucking apocalypse!"
"Sookie."
"No, Eric. I don't want you to make excuses for me. They are not safe around me." She looked up at him with blood tears running down her face. "If you can get me out of here then I will leave and go far away so I won't hurt anyone."
"You don't really think I would let you go on your own."
"I could hurt you too. I don't even know what I am capable of."
"Do I look scared?" Eric rolled his eyes playfully. "I am getting you out of here, one way or another."
"I'm not breaking out." She sighed.
"I wouldn't dream of it." He smirked devilishly.
"I'm serious, Eric. I need to stay calm. When I start getting anxious it goes off."
"Dangerous, Sookie. I like the thought of that." He got her attention off the burning of the silver. "So where do you want to go? We have the whole world or what's left of it."
"How would we even get anywhere? It's not like we could hop on one of your planes and head to Norway as we planned."
"You remembered?"
"Eric, it felt like I was gone an hour, tops." She playfully rolled her eyes. "And yes, I remember." She smiled sweetly. "Last time I checked there was an ocean between us."
"And a little water hurt no one." He looked unaffected as she blinked in shock. "Come on, I'm a thousand years old. There weren't always planes, trains, and boats to get around in."
"So, you went in the water? We can do that?"
"Our bodies are not alive so we can't drown."
"But there are sharks and other things out there." The idea of going across an ocean to get to Norway seemed unfathomable. She didn't care about the swimming part. She cared about what was swimming with them.
"I have never been attacked by a shark, on purpose." He smirked as she shook her head. "Listen you may get the occasional nip here or there but for the majority of the time we will be moving so fast they won't be able to catch up to us."
"I'm sorry but everything you just said sounds awful, Eric. You may have been around during the caveman days."
"Actually, I was a Viking." He smirked.
"Yeah ok, whatever." She rolled her eyes playfully. "I am not getting in the water and swimming for god knows how long. My body would literally forbid me from doing it."
"I can be very persuasive." He licked his lips seductively.
"You will have to try a lot harder than that, Mr. Northman." She smirked.
"Oh, I can assure you Miss Stackhouse that things will be very hard."
"I am going to pretend I didn't just hear you say that." Jason walked into the room and looked at Eric then at Sookie as he walked over to her. "I am never going to understand your obsession with this guy."
"I am not obsessed." Sookie flushed with embarrassment.
"Yes, you are," Eric added.
"I am going to fucking throw up." Jason huffed then he looked at his sister. "How are you holding up? Tara said that Nan is going to see if they can let you go."
Sookie was half tempted to tell Jason her plan but then she decided against it. He would never go for it. Not in a million years but the longer she stayed around, the more dangerous she became to those she loved.
"Yeah." Her voice was low. She held back tears. Images of their childhood played in her head like a movie.
"I told them to take off those chains. Fucking Nan and her political bullshit."
"You fucked her, didn't you?" Eric laughed and Jason shot him a look. "I know that look. Trust me I've been there!"
"Eric! TMI!" Sookie huffed loudly.
"Listen it's like a rite of passage or something. She sleeps with everyone." He laughed just as Nan walked in. They all got quiet, and she rolled her eyes.
"I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that only because we could use you out there." She walked over to his cage. She had a small device in her hand.
"What's with the dog collar? Very reminiscent of the old days." Eric's tone was dry.
"It's the only way I can let you out." She sighed.
"Are you fucking kidding me, Nan. A fucking collar. Is this that wolf's idea because I swear..."
"Eric, stop it. Just take the collar and get out of the cage!" Sookie snapped and they all looked at her in shock. No one had ever talked to Eric that way in front of them.
"Just give me the fucking thing." Eric huffed and now Jason smirked.
"Holy shit, you have Eric fucking Northman wrapped around your finger." Jason laughed.
"Jason, grow up." Sookie huffed.
"Well now, what about my sister? You're going to get her out as well." Jason looked at Nan who opened the cage for Eric. She placed the collar on him as he rolled his neck uncomfortably.
Nan looked between them all. "I can take off the chains but that's it. She has to stay in there for now."
"This is bullshit. My sister wouldn't hurt anyone!" Jason yelled.
"Jason, it's fine. I'm sure they will come around." Sookie forced a smile.
"I don't like it one bit. I want to talk to Russell." Jason huffed.
"Russell?" Sookie and Eric said in unison.
"That fucking prick is alive again?" Eric snapped angrily.
"He's changed now. He has seen the error of his ways plus Talbot is back too so they are living their happily ever after." Nan seemed completely unenthusiastic.
"This is fucked up, Nan and you know it!" He began to pace with agitation. "He's back in charge too?" When Nan didn't answer he shook his head. "You all have lost your mind."
"It was overwhelming when the dead came back to life. You would have known if you weren't on a crusade looking for her." Nan rolled her eyes.
"I wanna see Russell."
"Now Eric, I don't think that is a good idea at all. I mean you killed him and Talbot."
"And now they are living the dream as you said." He huffed loudly.
"Eric, just relax." Sookie stood up and groaned in pain.
"Let me get the chains off her." He looked at Nan.
"I want an appointment with Russell too." Jason huffed as he left the room.
"So, everyone is back? The entire authority as well?" Eric couldn't believe this was happening. When she didn't answer he sighed heavily. "Can you open the cage?" He walked over towards Sookie.
"Just make it quick." Nan unlocked it and Eric pushed against the bars as his skin sizzled. He didn't flinch as he made his way over to her. Nan backed up and watched.
"I'm going to take these off you and it's gonna hurt." He touched the side of her face.
"Ok." She braced herself for the pain. Since they were wrapped around her, he had to move continuously around her body. She cried out in pain as her skin got pulled off. She nearly fell to the ground out of sheer exhaustion but he caught her.
"I will never let you be in pain like that again." His words held so much truth.
He carried her over to the wall and slowly put her down on the ground. He knelt in front of her. "I'm going to get you out. I promise." He leaned in and his lips touched hers in a soft kiss.
After a few moments, Nan cleared her throat. "I hate to break this up but we have people to see, Eric."
He took one last look at Sookie and then stormed out of the cell. "Let's get this over with!"