AN: Sookie succeeds in changing one thing from the past, and the ripple effects begin to manifest

I'm so excited I finally finished the next chapter! This one was never abandoned, I got real stuck on my inspiration for how I wanted the earlier parts to go me obsessing over my other fics put this one on the back burner for a bit. I still love this story and I'm excited to continue playing it out!

Songs for this chapter:

You Don't Know Me- by Ben Folds

Bodies- by Drowning Pool


*Sookie*

When Sookie followed Russell Edgington and the Magister into the day room, it was easy to tell out of the eight parties sitting in attendance which one was the queen. Queen Sophie Anne was absolutely beautiful with vibrant and fiery red locks in sweetheart curls pinned to the side. It framed her heart-shaped face perfectly. She was sitting at a stone table where a board game was taking place, clad in an elegant silky robe that was loosely tied to reveal a leather bralette underneath. Long, milky and smooth legs were crossed to her side and she donned a pair of pointy-toed heels, white like the rest of her outfit. She was playing Yahtzee with a young but sturdy and muscular male, a dark-haired young woman, and - Hadley!- all of whom were dressed in beach wear.

Without looking at Russell's evil grin, the queen exhaled a bored sigh. "You didn't have to kill my guards. And what is she doing here? I wasn't expecting her until next month,"

"My dear, I come bearing gifts! Wedding gifts, that is," he handed her a bouquet of white roses that she grabbed and discarded on the game table. "Besides, I only killed a handful of them. The rest were unsurprisingly not willing to die for you and fled on their own. Now, dismiss your humans. We have much business to discuss," he placed a suitcase on her table.

"We certainly do," the queen said as she stood up. She waved Hadley and the human away. "Why the fuck am I being blamed for slinging vampire blood while you have a whole pack of dogs doing your bidding for the sacred blood, in Mississippi? The Magister and his sanctimonious entourage have already descended on my favorite trashy vampire bar in my queendom, you know,"

"Oh hear now, my pet! I've issued a generous donation to the IRS on your behalf. Consider it a down payment, I'll be settling all of your debts. If you accept my hand and tell me why you wanted Sookie Stackhouse here,"

Russell had already revealed on the way to the queen's lair the files Bill had on her. He explained that he'd been a procurer for the queen for many years and that Sookie was his latest assignment. It hurt all over again with the detail he'd explained it in. He painted Bill out to be a callous, inhumane but calculated henchman. That wasn't who Bill was at his core, sure he was doing the job he'd been assigned but he wasn't commissioned to love her. That happened on it's own, naturally and organically. She'd breathed life once again into his dead heart and he'd awakened a passion in her she'd never before held. The sort of thing some people never get to experience. Sookie considered it a blessing they'd found that with one another and nothing was going to change that, not if she could get to him before the queen did. The queen wanted her and he'd never delivered her! Somehow, he'd changed his mind, dethroned her, and kept Sookie safe. Sure it was late in the game but there was time to make things right now! Especially since they were true loves.

That was if Lorena didn't finish him off. Holy fudge, she couldn't wait to drive to a stake through the cold bitch's heart if that was what was going to keep Bill safe from her fixation. Her hurt over the initial way it all played out helped Sookie give a more authentic reaction.

"Why did you send him for me?" She asked sharply.

Russell rubbed his chin and hummed. "You know, I would be questioning Mr. Compton's procuring methods were I in your throne, my prurient little monarch. Did you know, he very strategically arranged for your human to be beaten within an inch of her life in order to heal her with his blood? I'd say that was a pretty close call, he can't very well procure her if she's not breathing, can he?"

Queen Sophie Anne raised a brow. "He saved her life, Bill's no fool,"

"Oh really? Tell me then, why was it necessary to scope out Mr. and Mrs. Rattray in order to determine how far they'd go if someone, shall we say, a tempting little barmaid provoked them? V addicts can still be glamoured, my dear,"

Her heart sank. Sookie knew it was Bill's mission to assimilate her into his life, but would he really have planned an attack on her? Just to save her? She thought back to that night and how he'd offered her his blood. There was nearly a whole damn gallon full.

"He didn't!" The queen gasped in mock disbelief, pressing a palm to her chest. "Are you suggesting that Bill Compton, the epic love of Sookie's life, actually glamoured that couple into their brutal throttling of her for interrupting their little side hustle? Ha. What a way to get rid of the blood draining pest's in town," she smiled a sneer. "That's what we call street justice,"

Sookie stomped her foot. "Y'all vampires are soulless! Even trash like the Rattray's didn't deserve to be taken out so brutally! They'll be tortured in hell enough as it is,"

What was it with vampires and their need to terrorize humans? What was the need with their sick power plays, like Lorena lording her influence and intimidation tactics over others, or Pam and her blatant disregard for human life? Humans weren't just food, and vampires were once human. Surely there were things that were still dear to them. Eric and Bill couldn't be the only ones. They each had families that they were proud of, they'd loved and cherished long ago, and those lingering emotions and memories still haunted them over their losses. Their origins were part of their humanity, Sookie knew because she'd seen it! She had to presume the king and queen were shit people if they were shit vampires.

She was so livid she almost let it slip that she wasn't the only one who knew vampires themselves (namely the two ancient ones in the room) were a huge source of V suppliers. Instead, she clamped her mouth shut and shook her head, dismayed.

"Hell is a welcome reprieve from the atrocities vampires are capable of subjecting them to," The queen shrugged. "Why did I want you? Obviously, there's something different about your blood. But what, is the question? Why do you smell and taste so damn good?"

"But more than that, my dear. Did you know she can-" in an instant, Russell rushed at Sookie, who blasted him once again with her light. Landing across the room, he laughed as he recovered, pulling himself to his feet. "You ought to try it sometime. It tickles!"

"So she's a weapon," Queen Sophie Anne stroked a contemplative finger across her chin as he rejoined them. "You must taste dee licious," she paused in front of Sookie, who gasped. "I'll accept your proposal. As long as I get first bite," her eyes gleamed with mischief as she eyed Sookie. Then she turned to Russell. "Book? We'll sign it now and take it up later with the Magister,"

He grinned and pulled out a device from his suitcase, a device similar to an iPad. It had a hollow, digital pen attached to it, on each side. He handed one to the queen and grabbed the other. She pressed her finger against it as if she was in a writing position and it sent an erotic shiver through her. The pen filled up with blood and she scribbled on the device with her blood ink, then watched as Russell did the same.

He replaced the digital pens and put the device back in his suitcase. "That will reach the Authority within minutes,"

"So Lightning Fingers, you can knock a vampire on their ass,"

Russell snapped his head towards her door. "Talbot!"

"But how many attacks can you fend off at once?"

Suddenly, the queen's day room was swarmed with guards armed with fangs and rifles. Fury coated Russell's expression as he realized the rifles were pointed in his direction. Callously grabbing Sookie in his arms, he sped through a few of the queen's men, tearing their hearts and heads from their body as he passed. When they crossed the threshold to outside, a silver net shot out and wrapped around him and Sookie. She squeezed her eyes shut as she heard shots finally being fired and something hard clamped onto and scalded her left shoulder. She cried out in pain as she heard Russell yelling in his native language before she heard an audible pop, then a gushing sound. A moment later, she was screaming as she was covered in vampire goo, the ancient blood of Russell Edgington.

The clicking of high heels tapping against the floor reverberated off the marble walls. When Sookie opened her eyes, pointy toed white shoes were in front of her. The queen stood tall before her. "You've been hit. But you'll have to swallow Russell's blood if you want to be healed,"

She shook her head. "No way in hell I would ever drink from him,"

"Let all his ancient and powerful blood go to waste?" She shrugged. "Gladly," Queen Sophie Anne rolled her eyes and bit into her wrist. "Drink this, the bullet is still lodged in your shoulder,"

She accepted the offer of blood and pressed her mouth against the queen's cold skin, who grinned as Sookie's eyes rolled back while she fed. "It's intoxicating, isn't it?"

After dislodging her mouth from the wrist, she felt the wooden bullet being pushed out of the wound site, and then it fell out of her body hitting the ground. She looked around at the vampire goo that was Russell Edgington's remains and shuddered. Fortunately, he was out of the way, but how would that affect the future of everyone she loved? Immediately, she thought of Bill.

"Bill! I wanna see Bill,"

"Hold that thought, I need to make a phone call," she dialed a contact on her cellular device and examined her nails. "It's done," she said with a blase intonation. "She wants to see Bill," she paused as she listened to the response. "You do realize that Bill is my subject, as are you. I am now queen of two territories and we all know Lorena will take her time tormenting him before she ultimately issues him the true death. Kill her if you have to, just get him back. And don't forget the dogs," she disconnected her device and held out her hand. "Now, Sookie. Would you like to watch the sunrise with me?"


*Tara*

Pam tossed an outfit in Tara's lap. It looked like a Fangbanger get up she wouldn't otherwise be caught dead in. But since her prisoner's gown was stained with the blood of Franklin, Tara figured it would do. She squeezed into a black cut out crop and pulled a long sleeve fishnet over it, then pulled on a pair of skin tight, black ripped jeans.

"How'd you know my size?"

"I came prepared, damsel," she looked over Tara's form, pausing on her midriff.

She sucked in her stomach self-consciously, flexing her muscles. "Don't call me that, I'm fuckin traumatized. I almost had to give up my- me!"

"We've all had to give up something for survival,"

"Why the fuck is he going back for Bill? That fucker lifted not one finger to help me when I was clearly a fucking hostage," Tara snapped as the car turned onto the highway. After a moment of silence, she decided Pam didn't give two shits about anything other than her immortal looks and blood, and probably being up Eric's ass, as well. It was more than useless trying to relate woman to woman. Any injustice she'd experienced at the hands of a man, she'd probably killed him for, a luxury that wasn't available to Tara since she was a sane human.

The Barbie vamp released an attempt at a patient sigh. "You know as well as I do that Bill was playing a role in this twisted little 'keep Sookie safe no matter what' game. The only person he'd step out of character for is…?"

"Sookie,"

"Right! Gold star for you," she replied with lackluster enthusiasm.

"Sure, sure. So again, why the fuck is Eric going back for him?! He's liable to let us all get slaughtered!"

Pam attempted a patient breath. "The queen called for his release,"

"Y'all have to know your kings and queens are completely fucked up and they lead like a kid in candy store! Russell's crazy and I heard the queen is no better! Is there anyone they actually answer to? Isn't there some sort of vampire government because if that's the end all-"

"Tara," crimson lips crooned seductively as her gaze captivated Tara. Everything about Pam seemed to intoxicate her and pull her in. How had she not noticed this before? "Stop talking and enjoy the ride,"

To disappoint the vampire Barbie would give immeasurable aches in Tara's chest, so she felt the best course of action was to keep quiet, especially if she was going to relish in the time of day she chose to afford her. A smile curved the matte red lips before Pam faced forward and sat back.

Hopefully Sookie was okay, because Tara was in need of girl talk.


Pam opened the door so hard the doorknob broke off. She hummed lightly as she stepped across the threshold and turned to smile at Tara. "Come in,"

"Is this your house?" She asked as she stepped forward.

"Pretty much," she took a few steps then disappeared, zipping further into the house. In the cramped but cozy living room, Tara observed pictures of Ginger, aka the blonde bitch with the banshee lungs as Lafayette identified her, and people she could only perceive as her family over the years.

She rolled her eyes and clicked her tongue. "This is Ginger's house,"

"Same thing, Ginger's like my pet. You can consider this my house,"

"What the fuck are we doing here?" She stood in the middle of the living room and crossed her arms over her chest.

Pam cocked her head and narrowed her eyes. "Right now, I'm wondering if you're half as stupid as your townsfolk or if you've really got the common sense you claimed to have when you came to Fangtasia to beg my Maker to risk all of our lives over your little hocus pocus medium shit,"

"All I did was relay a message. Sounded like all of our lives were at risk anyways unless action is taken,"

Tara was met with a hard, deepening glare. She didn't understand why Pam saved her life, only for her mood to significantly sour during their trip back to Louisiana. True, Eric had decreed that his little lapdog would protect Tara as a favor to Sookie, but no one asked for this shit! All she did was give him a warning and went to save her own ass, somehow she was going to find a way to escape Franklin if he caught her and she did! She had a plan in place.

A vampire was using her for her blood and she intended to use him for his blood as well. It would give her an advantage that would last at least a couple of days.

She didn't owe Pam shit! "I know you think you're doing me a favor, and it's not that I'm ungrateful,"

She scoffed and a sneering smile spread across her hypnotic crimson lips. "Yes it is,"

Tara pushed her fists into her hips. "Fine, I'm fuckin ungrateful, I don't need you at all and I don't even wanna fuckin, so what the fuck am I doing here?!" She demanded, glaring up at her sneer.

"Look around, Tara. We're in a human home. I need to know if you drank of lonely obsessive freaks blood,"

"I didn't. What the fuck does a human home have to do with me drinking blood?"

"You can't tell me you didn't consider it. Seducing him with the idea of vampire fuckin, high on each others blood?"

She nodded, still unsure what Pam was referencing. The vampire chuckled. "I told you, we've all been there when it comes to survival. Something poor Ginger had to learn the hard way. You do realize vampires needed to be invited into a human home, right?"

"Right. Can you take back your invitation?"

Pam rolled her eyes. "Jesus fuck, that's not the point, Tara. I haven't been invited into this home. Ginger's dead and if you drank lover boy's blood he'll find us here," Tara drew in a deep breath. Blonde banshee bitch was dead? "You're already getting people killed and if Eric is next, I will personally eat, fuck, and kill you myself," she smiled her deceptive grin. "Are we clear?"

"Why would Eric be next?"

"Conspiracy to kill a vampire king when the vampire authority is already breathing down our backs," she looked at the clock. "So you do owe me. You're gonna be Ginger's replacement," she grabbed Tara's arm and spun her around, pressing her tits suggestively against her back. One of her hands locked around her right arm and waist while the other hand tilted her neck to the side. "And one of her jobs is to be there when I'm hungry,"

Tara moaned as she felt the fangs pierce her carotid. There was a sharp, burning sensation at first, that quickly dissolved into sensationally stimulating. So stimulating in fact, she welcomed it when Pam's right arm slid up to cup her breast. The contact coincided with the doorbell ringing and the combination of multiple senses being stimulated felt electric!

"Mmm, if I do get to fucking you, I'd hate to have to kill you,"

Slowly Pam led Tara to the couch, where she gently sat her down. She looked up at Pam, intimidated by the arousal that was now coursing through her.

"What are you doing?"

The blonde vampire didn't answer, just guided her to put pressure on her neck wound. Then she sucked her gaze into her blue eyes. "You're going to invite me in," she whispered.

Slowly peeling her gaze away, Pam left to answer the door. After exchanging a few words with whoever was at the door, she sent them off and stepped just past the threshold. Turning to Tara, she could see that Pam had paperwork in her hands and was wearing an expectant look.

"Come in, Pam,"

Smiling, the vampire Barbie stepped across the threshold. "Well, we've got two more hours til the dawn comes. What do you say we have a girl's night?"


*Sookie*

This bitch wanted the sun! Soonie couldn't discern whether it was her new fate or the queen's selfish agenda, but she kept her blood's abilities to herself instead of using her as a bargaining chip to Russell. She was internally grateful for that fact because it was in his blood to abuse the power and authority he wielded. His intrigue over why Queen Sophie Anne was to the detriment of anyone who stood in his way, that much was clear.

She then remembered his severely, high maintenance husband. What if Talbot was as unhinged as Russell, or worse? She thought of the Newlin's. Steve went batshit crazy over his vampire hate. So much that he tried to kill her and her brother! His wife Sarah was the only one who seemed to have a semblance of humanity left in her, at least for humans, regardless if they were affiliated with vampires or not. Could the same be said for a vampire?

"What?" Sookie feigned shock and ignorance. "You're a vampire, you'll burn if you're in the sun,"

Queen Sophie Anne sighed and issued an eye roll. "I know what you're thinking; what if my new brother-husband tries to overthrow me and steal you back as a bargaining chip to avenge Russell's death, which makes no sense because he'd just kill you anyways," as she rambled on, Sookie became lightheaded. "I mean his husband of seven hundred years is gone and it's all your fault, he doesn't know exactly why, but somehow it's related to you. It always seems to center around Sookie Stackhouse doesn't it? Why, it's impossible to-"

As she continued her jabbering, the atmosphere became dense and dim from Sookie's perspective. Her eyes rolled back and her surroundings faded to black.


*2011*

Claude

Jason tore his hand away from Claudia and Claudija's grasp and leaned down to shake Sookie. Claude's sisters looked to him for guidance and he nodded his head, knowing what they were going to do. It was necessary, since the boy got bent out of shape everytime the sky turned red.

His pair of sisters put their hands on Jason's shoulders just as Sookie opened her eyes.

Dammit! She wasn't ready! She needed to wake on her own when she was ready or this entire operation would crumble. Sookie screamed and convulsions took over as her memories became twisted and befuddled. Before Jason could freak out, a glow from Claudia and Claudija's hands sent an illuminating wave through him. He fell to the ground next to his sister.

"Let's send her back," Claude said. His sisters agreed and they all joined hands, effectively stopping the halfling's convulsions. Through her memories, they could see she was back in the past.


AN: Omfg Russell Edgington is soooooo FUCKING fun to write. I'm totally sad to seem him gone but that's why I have other stories since I miss him here lol

Consequences are HAPPENING! As we can see. We are also seeing a little of Sookie's naivety in her thoughts about Sarah Newlin. She needs to learn that just because it's not in her, birds of a feather tend to flock together! (I love Sookie forever )

Now that this is back I will try to be more consistent! Hope you're excited for some Pam/Tara action coming up. If you are still enjoying this, give me a Z snap!