chapter fourteen

                Eric was the last person in the garden. Sky was still there, watering the grass, making sure all the blood was gone, or least watered into the ground. Bill had taken Rachel home. Eric watched the woman as she ran the stream of water over the grass repeatedly. “You can stop now,” he said. Sky let go of the trigger on the sprayer and carried it, dragging the hose behind her, to the tap. He watched her as she turned off the tap, sprayed out the remaining water, and began to roll up the hose.

                “You feeling better?” she asked, standing up straight to look at Eric. He nodded. “Good, I am glad you are healed.” She turned briefly and when she turned back again Eric was standing very near her, startling her.

                “Why did you give me blood?” he asked.

                “Because you needed it,” she said.

                “No strange human has ever done that before,” he said. He had Sookie’s blood many times when he needed it and he had attacked strangers before to replenish, but in all this time, no strange human had ever offered their blood to heal him.

                “Well, I like to think of you as someone I am acquainted with. I wouldn’t let just any vampire feed from me,” she said. “At least if I could help it.”

                “It was very generous of you, and very brave, how did you know I would not just drain you,” he said.

                “You seem like an intelligent person, and I don’t know why, but I trust you,” she said.

                “You shouldn’t trust me,” he said solemnly.

                “You protected me and Rachel, you sent us upstairs, you didn’t have to, you could have just let us fend for ourselves,” she said.

                He looked at her. In the light under the porch, he could see just how fiery her hair was. He reached out and touched a curl, rubbing it between his fingers. She stood still, letting his eyes look at the color. He brought his hand down. He stepped a little closer to her and took her hand. He lifted it up, the hand attached to the wrist he had bitten. He raised her wrist to his lips and pressed his cool mouth to the spot he had bitten. His hand pulled her hand down but he kept it twining her fingers with his own. He then leaned forward and kissed Sky’s cheek.

                “Thank you,” he said.

                “Anytime,” said Sky.

                “You should never say that to a vampire either, he will take you up on it,” he said, still holding her hand.

                “Well, what if I want you to take me up on it?” she asked. She simply could not believe what she was saying to this man, this vampire.

                Eric smiled. “I should really leave you alone, you don’t want my problems,” he said.

                “Apparently, I am a little late for that,” she said.

                “I might have to take you up on your offer,” said Eric leaning closer again. He seemed to be smelling her.”Not tonight, but soon.”

                “You have my number,” she said.

                “I do,” he said, leaning back a little to look at her. He raised his hand to touch her cheek. She felt the tips of his cool fingers and then nothing. Once again, he was gone.

                “Good night,” she said to the dark.

                Diantha Cataliades appeared at the house at Red Ditch and moved silently in the shadows. She could see the door was destroyed and the light was wrong, as if a lamp was turned over. She eased herself toward the house and peered around the doorframe. There was a mound of fairy dust in the living room floor and a trail of debris where household items had been knocked over. She came into the living room and skirted around the mound of fairy dust to the kitchen. The chairs around the small dining table were tipped over and there was a blood trail and some strange prints, huge dog like prints in the blood. She followed it.

                The prints and the blood trail led to the main back bedroom. There lay the body of Remy Savoy. Diantha had seen many creatures, supernatural and natural die in her time but she had never seen a look of such of abject terror on a being’s face as she did on Remy Savoy. She looked around and headed back out the back bedroom. Now she saw shoe prints. She sniffed the air. It was difficult to determine at first but she definitely smelled vampire here. She followed the shoe prints in blood back down the hall and to another door. It was cracked open a little. It was a child’s room, and the bedclothes looked rumpled and the bed skirt with dinosaurs looked as though something was pulled out from under the bed. She got down on one knee and lifted the skirt carefully.

There was the usual debris of toys and coloring books and crayons but nothing else. Nothing else but the strong smell of human boy and a little bit of urine. The poor thing must have pissed on itself she thought. She let the bed ruffle down, stood up, and pulled out her phone.

“They got him, there is no doubt,” said Diantha. “They killed a fairy here, a full blood and they killed the little boy’s dad.” She listened. “Yeah, you should know I smelled vampire here.” She listened and nodded as though the person she was speaking with could see her. “Yes, I will finish my recon and then come back.” She listened. “No, I will let you tell her. Good night.”

Diantha hung up the phone and looked around the room. She saw a backpack and a canvas bag and put in a few clothes, a couple pair of shoes, and a jacket. She then grabbed the backpack and searched under the bed for a zip lock bag of crayons and a matching bag of leggos and a few other toys. She grabbed a few storybooks, some coloring books, and the old teddy on the bed that was an obvious favorite. She picked up the canvas bag, slung the backpack on her shoulder, and carefully went back through the house. She grabbed a picture of the boy and his father holding a fish, a picture of his dad with the woman who she assumed was the fairy and a few other things and stuffed them in the bag. By then some local vampires were at the house.

“Bill Compton sent us to clean up,” said the vampire.

“I am just on my way out. Good luck,” she said. The vampires went in and began their methodical clean up and as she walked down the highway at Red Ditch, she snapped her fingers and disappeared.

Sookie had been sobbing since she heard they had Hunter. Preston held her and patted her. “Erin was a fae,” he said.

“Was she?” asked Sookie. “But I read her mind.”

“It was because she let you, she opened her mind up to you,” he said. “She was Hunter’s fairy Godmother.”

“Oh,” said Sookie. She wanted to say, ‘well she didn’t do a very good job’ but she didn’t want to say that in front of Preston. “I am sure she did her best.”

“She likely died trying,” said Preston. “I know she was very attached to him.

“Did you know Hunter was my cousin?” asked Sookie.

“Yes, I knew,” he said. “But I did not know he was a telepath.”

“I wish there was some place safe I could go. If I could just grab Hunter and go,” she said.

“You do?” he asked.

“I would be free and so would he and we would not have to worry about vampires. I swear Preston, sometimes I think about the night I met Bill Compton and I curse it because that was when my life no longer belonged to me,” she said.

“Would you have the strength to leave everything familiar to you, to leave Jason behind, this house?” he asked.

“Yes, Jason is where he needs to be, and he is a panther now and he is so much more mature now,” she said. “But with me and Hunter being what we are, we can’t stay here.”

“Sookie, what if I told you there was a place you could go, a safe place, where there are no vampires, would you go there with me?” he asked.

“What are you talking about?” she asked, raising up to look at him.

“What if I told you there was a way for you and Hunter and myself to go to Faery, would you go with me?” he asked.

“How?” she asked.

“There are four times a year when the veil between the human world and Faery is thin and a witch can open the door to Faery and we can get away,” said Preston.

“When are these times?” she asked.

“The next is the summer equinox, two weeks from now,” he said.

“And we would see Niall?” she asked. “What about the wars there?”

“Your Great Grandfather has quelled the wars that plagued him and Faery and it is a safe place to be. If you go, you will learn so much Sookie and Hunter will too. You will become more fae and you will learn to be what you are inside. You would be safe, no one could hurt you there,” said Preston.

“If I say no, will you leave me?” she asked.

“No, if you stay, I will stay too,” he said. “I told you, I love you, I could never leave you.” He kissed her, his hand going into her hair, pressing her closer to him. He was careful with her remembering she was newly healed. He began to undress her and she him. He pulled her on top of him and they made love. He watched Sookie as she moved above him, her face intent on something. She was making love with him but he could feel her intense conflict. He sat up and wrapped his arms around her as they continued to make love. He kissed her and stroked her, his fingers leaving glowing marks on her skin. Suddenly, Sookie arched her back and she felt as if the whole world was on fire. Her body was burning in the most delicious blaze and she screamed out and laid her head on his shoulder. He held her, rocking her as she relaxed. Finally she was calm and easy and he pulled the blankets and sheets around her and cuddled her close.

The next morning, Rachel woke, feeling less than rested. She had nightmares about the mastiffs coming for Bill, tearing him apart. She had put on a brave face to Bill, sending him off into the night to do what he had to do. She was relieved when he called her and told her he was home and going to ground.

Rachel did not understand everything that was happening; all she knew was there was some vampire after her man. Her man. What did all this mean? Was she in love with Bill? Surely, she could not be in love with him so soon. Maybe she was. She had never been in love before and she had nothing to compare this to.

Around noon, Sky came down from her apartment. She went through the back entrance and saw Rachel standing at the counter.  “Hey want to go to lunch?”

“Sure, where do you want to go?” she asked.

“Merlotte’s?” she suggested.

“Sounds good,” she said. “Just let me grab my phone and my purse.”

Latesta was excited. He had received a call from the vampire and the boy was with them. He had beaten De Castro to the punch. He knew DeCastro had sent his dogs out to get Northman and Compton. He wondered if they had been successful. If so, that was one more thing he did not have to worry about. He stopped at Sonic and ordered a burger and tots and a milkshake and went through his emails. His former partner had sent him an email. He ignored her. Weiss had become weird when she came in contact with Sookie Stackhouse. He thought she was stronger than that, but she began to explore spiritualism and other things to do with the supernatural. Plus there was the fact she was made the lead agent in New Orleans for the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs, his old job.

There was a message about the woman who was living above the health food store. She was a professor who taught vampire topics, that liberal bull shit. He thought about one of his contacts, the dude with the anti-vampire online radio show. He flicked through his Blackberry and found the number. It rang for some time and finally it went to voice mail. “Latesta. Call me and tell me what you know about a Skyller Faulconer.”

 Latesta hung up and worked on his burger. He was running in his mind everything he remembered about Sookie Stackhouse. He remembered she was sharing her house with two other women, a woman called Octavia Fant and Amelia Broadstreet, the daughter of that big wig down in New Orleans. He recalled they were supposedly witches and Broadstreet was known to work at a magic shop. He slurped on his milkshake and thought. Well if there were vampires and two natured there could be real witches he supposed. He shoved the rest of his burger in his face and chewed, still pondering.

The world was a far weirder place now than it had been when he was growing up. When he was a boy, there were no real vampires or werewolves or witches and telepaths were characters Stephen King wrote about…hell, he wrote about all of them. Now he saw his country pandering to them, doing business with them. He hated the way these creatures were getting special rights. Latesta grabbed a tot and crunched it up in his mouth and then shoved another in. Latesta had very little patience with the liberals. He had very little use for people who were not like him, white, male and Christian. His great grand pappy was in the Klan and now his family was ashamed of it. He had to act like he was ashamed but he really wasn’t.

He finished his tater tots and his milkshake and beeped his horn for the gal to come and get his tray. When she didn’t move fast enough to suit him, he dumped it off his window onto the pavement and got the shouting of an angry broad on roller skates as he drove off. Fuck her. She’d get over it.

Sam had been shocked when Sookie came to work. “What are you doing here?”

“Sam, I’m fine, really,” she said.

“You could have taken the day off,” he said.

“I couldn’t stay home if I wanted to,” she said. She looked around. “Vampires got my cousin Hunter.”

“What?” he asked. “Why would they want him?”

“He’s like me,” said Sookie. Sam stared hard at Sookie.

“Was it that Spanish vampire, the one Eric was talking to when that vampire attacked us?” Sookie nodded. “What are Bill and Eric gonna do?”

“They are looking for him,” said Sookie.

“Well, if you get tired or whatever, you can leave, you don’t have to stay,” said Sam.

Sookie watched the two women come in. They sat down in her section and she brought them menus and silverware all wrapped in a napkin. “What can I get you all to drink?”

“I’ll have an iced tea sweet, with lemon,” said the dark haired woman. As soon as she spoke, she got an image of Bill in her head.

“And I will have coke,” said the red haired woman.

“I’ll bring them right out and take your orders.” Sookie walked away and went and got the iced tea and dipped in with a fork to get a lemon and immediately felt a sting. She hurriedly poked the lemon into the glass and rinsed her hand. She looked at her finger. There was a tiny red spot there and she assumed she had a paper cut. She dried her hand and got the coke and tea and brought them back to the table and set them down. “Have you decided yet?”

“I think I will have the chicken strips and fries,” said the dark haired woman.

“And I will have the gumbo on rice and a salad,” said the red haired woman.

“What dressing would you like?” she asked.

“Ranch,” she said.

“Can you bring me some too, for the chicken strips?” asked the dark haired woman.

“Sure can,” responded Sookie with an over bright smile. Sookie went to the window and put in the order and then went to check on her other tables and brought Sheriff Dearborn, who never had a charitable thought in his head for her, another cold coke. When she sat the soda down, she heard him thinking about the dark haired woman, he called her Westnight. She had the windows broken out of her store; she remembered Jason had asked for some plywood. She was Bill’s new girlfriend according to Sheriff Dearborn’s head. And that is what Pam called her. Oh well, why did she care?

She brought another table a glass of beer and then went to the window. She looked at the red haired woman. A thought of Eric bloomed in her head and for some reason that did bother her. It was not a romantic thought, but an admiring one, and a memory of him kissing her wrist where there were two fang marks and then her cheek and him touching her hair. Maybe it was romantic.  That stung her a little. He had moved on from her. Sookie sighed. Why did she care? She was with Preston. The salad came up and she went to the prep table and pumped out a little bowl full of ranch dressing and she grabbed the salad and the bowl and placed it on her tray and brought it to the red haired woman. She thanked Sookie and returned to her conversation, unwrapping her silverware and pouring the dressing over her salad.

“I am starved,” said Sky. “So how are you doing Rach, you doing okay?”

“I had terrible dreams last night, about those big mastiffs catching Bill out alone, and taking him down. I know we haven’t been together that long, but I think I am in love with him. It’s so soon, it is too soon,” she said, shaking her head.

“Have you had his blood?” asked Sky.

“No, I haven’t,” she said.

“Then it is something that could be real,” said Sky. “If you had his blood, I would say, you need to rethink it because the blood will influence you.”

“He has…taken my blood,” she said.

“That is sort of normal, did he ask or did he just…”

“I gave him permission,” said Rachel.

“Wow, big step,” said Sky.

“Was it really?” she asked.

“Yeah, sex is one thing, but when you offered your blood, that was incredibly intimate,” said Sky. “Unless it was like me, and offered it to heal our local sheriff.”

“You gave Eric your blood?” she asked. Sky pushed her sleeve up and showed her the fang marks.  “So do you like him?”

“He’s so weird and reticent,” said Sky. Sookie came back up and brought their lunches. The women thanked her and she walked around to the tables to check on people and Sky and Rachel resumed their conversation.

“I gotta tell you something but I should wait before I tell you,” said Rachel.

“So, love, huh?” said Sky.

“Yeah, love,” said Rachel.

Sookie went back behind the bar to be busy. The tables were all content and further eaves dropping into the women’s conversation yielded only mundane discussion. The woman Rachel was planning a buying trip in New Orleans and Sky was planning her classes for the fall. She must be a teacher. Sookie took the time to think about Preston. He had been so sweet. He woke her and made love to her this morning and she had never felt anything during sex like she felt when she made love to Bill or Eric or Quinn. And then she thought about leaving and going to Faery. She could not imagine what that might be like, not just the safety but the experience of it. Could she leave and never see Bon Temps or the human world again? Would she want to become entirely fae? She was wiping down between the containers of condiments and a lemon slice fell out. She scooped it up in her fingertips and she felt that stinging again. She threw the lemons in the trash and rinsed her fingers again. The tips looked red. She dried her hands and frowned at the pile of sunny yellow lemons. It must be because of the healing, some residual thing. She would have to ask Preston.

Sookie was glad to be going home after her shift. She stopped at the library and dropped her books off, including the lady porn book and the librarian told her she had the second and third book on reserve for her and it was in. Sookie checked those out. Preston came out and kissed her on the cheek.

“How was your day?” he asked.

“It was good. Preston, I was handling some lemons today and they burned,” she said.

“Where?” he asked. She waggled her fingers and he took her hands and looked at her fingertips. “Do they hurt now?”

“No, they feel like I might have touched something that was a little hot, kind of tingly, but they are okay,” she said.

“It must be because of the recent healing,” said Preston.

“That was what I figured too,” she said.

“Just be very careful for a while,” he said. “Until the healing goes back some. Are you hungry?”

“Yeah, I am,” she said.

“Well, I thought I would stop by my house and get something a little more dressy than jeans and I would take you to La Laurie’s to supper, would you like that?” he asked.

“Sure, I have never been there but they say the food is pretty good,” she said.

“Well, let me get a few things finished and I will be right out,” he said.

“I think I want to go home and get a shower and change. You can pick me up there,” she said. “You might want to bring some more clothes.”

“Do you want me to?” he asked.

“I think…I think we should think about you moving into the house with me,” she said.

“Do you want me to?” he repeated.

“Yes, please, move in with me,” she said. “I want you to move in with me.”

“Then I will bring my clothes, and over the weekend, we can come and get the rest of my things. I don’t have much,” he said.

“I will see you at home then,” she said. She reached up and kissed him. He looked down at her.

“What Sookie?” he asked.

“I love you,” she said, quietly.

“Excuse me?” he said.

“I uh…I love you,” she said. “I mean it, I love you.” He smiled and kissed her again and hugged her.

“I love you, too Sookie,” he said. “I’ll be home as soon as I can.”

“I’ll meet you there,” she said.

Sookie drove home, stopping at the hardware store to have Preston a key cut. She looked at the different key fobs and picked out a fob with a pelican on it and when the shiny brass key was handed to her, she put it on the key ring and took it to the cashier to pay for the both of them. She put the key in her pocket and went back to her car and headed on home. She was happy, and she suddenly felt as though she had made the right decision, not just about having Preston move in with her, but how she felt about him. Whatever else happened, she felt as though she had made some important decisions. She pulled into her drive and headed toward her house. She was surprised to see a sporty little black car with a sticker that read, ‘My other car is a broom’. She looked on her porch and there sat Amelia Broadstreet.

“Amelia, what are you doing here?” asked Sookie.

“Eric called me, said you were in trouble, so I headed straight for you this morning,” she said.

“I can’t imagine why he would call you,” said Sookie.

“You aren’t in trouble?” she asked.

“No, I am, but I can’t believe he called you,” she said, stepping onto the porch and being hugged by the witch.

“So what is your trouble?” asked Amelia, picking up her bag.

“Come on in, I only have a few minutes, I have to get a shower and get ready for a date,” said Sookie.

“A date?” asked the witch. “Are you going out with Alcide?”

“No, you would not believe who I am going out with,” said Sookie.

Amelia shooed Sookie into the shower as she settled in the little downstairs bedroom that had been Sookie’s when she was a girl. When Sookie came out of the shower, she called Amelia into her room while she dried her hair.

“So, if vampires got your cousin, why would Eric want me?” asked Amelia.

“I don’t know, unless they have someone and they want information,” said Sookie.

“So why don’t you just go down and plunder around in their heads?” asked Amelia.

“They may be these scary weres,” said Sookie. “Can you do something like that?”

“Well, yeah,” she said. “It is a simple veritas spell, no problem. If they have a pulse, they can be spelled with that spell. Now, spill, who is this guy?”

“His name is Preston and he is one of last of the fae in North America and I have fallen in love with him,” said Sookie.

“Wow…does Eric and Bill know?” she asked.

“Do I need their permission?” asked Sookie, defensive.

“No, that is not what I mean, I mean, do they know you have moved on?” asked Amelia.

“Yeah, they do. And I think Bill has found someone else, a lady who owns a shop downtown, a health food store.”

“Whole Body?” she asked.

“Yeah, you know them?” asked Sookie.

“Yeah, she orders boxes of Octavia’s candles and herbs and teas from us all the time,” said Amelia. “Rachel….Westnight.”

“That’s her,” said Sookie. “Have you met her?”

“A couple of times, I drove Octavia up here to drop some stuff off. To tell you the truth, I think she suits Bill,” said Amelia.

“No, I am glad for Bill,” said Sookie. She brushed her hair and fluffed it a little and looked at herself.

“Damn Sookie, you look beautiful,” said Amelia. “You always looked great, but you really seem to be glowing.”

“Thanks,” said Sookie. She went to her closet and dug around and found a pink dress, not real fancy but cute and a little on the short side. She bought it a month ago. She dug around for underwear and found pink panties and a bra and stepped into the bathroom and changed. She came out and dug out some cream sandals and slid her feet into them. She put on a little powder and lipstick and called herself ready.

“Perfect,” said Amelia. “So when do I meet this new guy?”

“In a few minutes, he is taking me to supper. Do you still have the key to the house?”

“Yeah,” said Amelia.

“If you leave, just remember to lock up,” she said. She grabbed her purse and they went out into the living room. No sooner had Sookie sat down, there was a knock at the door. It was Preston.  “Come on in, Preston, this is my very good friend Amelia. Amelia, this is my boyfriend and future house mate, Preston Pardloe.”

“You are a witch,” he said, holding out his hand.

“And you are a fairy,” she said back at him, taking his hand and shaking it.

“Well we have that out of the way,” said Preston. “Are you here to help find Sookie’s cousin?”

“Yeah, at least I think I am,” said Amelia. “When they rise, I will know more. Sookie, do you need the wards strengthened?”

“Yeah, I do,” she said.

“The full moon is in a couple of days, I can do it for you then. Want to help me?” she said to Preston.

“Absolutely,” said Preston.

“Very cool, working magik with a fairy,” she said. Preston smiled at her.

“Are we ready?” asked Sookie.

“Whenever you are,” said Preston.

“Amelia, no vampires in the house, they are banned,” said Sookie.

“Whatever you say,” said Amelia.

Eric was up and at Fangtasia before anyone else. He was sitting on his throne, thinking about the woman, Sky. He didn’t want to think about her, he had more than his fair share on his plate at the moment and this was not a good time for him to be distracted. Sookie was distraction enough. He was still lost in his thoughts when Pam came in.

“The witch is here,” said Pam. “She called me and said she was on her way.”

“Very good,” said Eric. Pam walked up to the dais where Eric’s throne sat. “You smell different.”

“I drank some of that woman’s blood last night,” he said. “She healed me.”

“Strange thing for a human to do voluntarily,” observed Pam.

“I thought so too,” he said. “How is our guest?”

“He seems to be alive, he is hungry so we may have an edge,” she said. “Sheriff Bellefleur called and said they were releasing that other mutt who attacked Sookie.”

“Call Bill so he can pick him up,” said Eric.

“Heidi and Rasul are already in position,” said Pam. “Have you heard from Mustafa yet?”

“Yes, he says he has not heard about anyone being taken. You would think even if he was not a confident of DeCastro he would know if DeCastro had made so great an acquisition,” said Eric.

“You would,” said Pam. “Where is Sookie, is she going to be here for this?”

“Not that I am aware of,” said Eric. “India called for you and I told her you were on your way. I asked if Sookie was working and she said Sookie had a date.”

“The fairy, very likely one of the last of full blooded fae in North America,” said Pam, her fangs snicking out.

“Interesting,” said Eric. “So, India, is she your likely pick to make vampire?”

“She has potential,” said Pam. “She has the right temperament. The woman you drank from, will you likely be seeing her?”

“I don’t know,” said the vampire, gloomy. “I don’t think I want to be involved with anyone right now, not with my troubles.”

“Eric, she may be able to help you move on. She would definitely be a step up from the fangbangers you are fucking and feeding from,” she said.

“That’s enough,” said Eric.

Eric was not the only irritated vampire. In Las Vegas, Filipe De Castro was livid. “Where the fuck is the little brat?” he screamed at the vampires around him. They flinched as he came up close to him. The guardians, that is what was left of them, were uncomfortable with the diminutive vampire raging in a mixture of English and Spanish. “All you had to do was grab the boy and bring him here!!!”

“Our brothers and sisters went after him but the vampire carried him out and she disappeared,” explained one of the weres. “And we lost more in Bon Temps, possibly all we sent there.”

“And Antonio is still in the jail, though he is due to be released. We heard Northman and Compton and two shifters were there and tried and talk to him,” said another of the guardians.

“Went and got caught,” said DeCastro. “He better not have talked or I will use his hide to wipe my dirty boots on.”

“He will not talk,” said the guardian.

“I want someone to find this boy,” DeCastro wandered past the group. He stopped in front of Khan. “How would you like to prove yourself to me?”

“And how might I do that?” asked the werewolf.

“Return to Northman, tell him I am disturbed, tell him I am concerned with this boy’s whereabouts. See if he knows where he is,” said DeCastro.

“Who was the vampire who was supposed to be helping with the boy?” asked Khan.

“That is what you are supposed to find out, perhaps there is a traitor in my midst,” said De Castro.

Hunter watched the woman warily. She was small and had hair that was light brown and pale eyes. She said very little to him and he could not read her mind. Aunt Sookie told him he would not be able to read vampire minds. He stared at her.

“Are you a vampire?” he asked.

“Yes,” she said.

“Are you going to eat me?” he asked.

“No,” she said.

“Where’s my daddy? Where is Erin?” he said.

“They are in heaven, I told you,” she said. “Now be quiet.”

“I want to go home, I want my daddy and Erin,” he said.

“Be quiet you little brat, if everything works out I will have you out of my hair,” she said. “And then he will take me back.”

“I want to go home!!!!” he shouted. The woman sped over to him and pinched up his face in her hard cold hands.

“You will be quiet or I will drain you dry,” said the vampire.

“No you won’t, if you hurt me, he won’t ever like you again,” said the boy. He did not know who he  was, but maybe he would help him get home or to his aunt Sookie. That gave him an idea. “I want my aunt Sookie.”

“Funny, I want your aunt Sookie too,” said the vampire.

Sookie ate her supper but she had to admit, after the happiness of her decision and the high she felt getting ready, she was quickly sinking into depression. Poor Hunter, in the control of De Castro. She ate another slice of steak.

“Sookie, are you okay?” he asked.

“Yeah, just thinking about Hunter,” said Sookie.

“Sookie, I think they will get him back and he will be okay,” said Preston.

“I hope so,” she said.

“Finish your supper and we will go home, we can wait to hear from them,” said Preston. “If he is anything like you and Jason, he is a tough little boy, he is smart, he will get through this. They won’t kill him, he is valuable.”

“I hope so,” said Sookie. She finished her supper and even managed to share a dessert with Preston. As they headed out, there was some commotion. People were being asked to vacate the restaurant. Sookie and Preston finished paying their bill and went out. Flames were lighting up the night sky. “Oh no.”

“What is it Sookie?” asked Preston.

“It’s Tara’s Togs,” she said. “It’s on fire.”

Preston hurried Sookie into the car as the fire engines pulled in and the fire fighters began to pull out hoses. She pulled out her phone and dialed Bill’s number. “Bill, Tara’s Togs is on fire, and it is spreading to the beauty salon,” she said when he answered his phone.

“I know Sookie, thank you for calling me. Where are you?” he asked.

“On my way home,” she said. “Preston and I had just had dinner.”

“Be careful Sookie. Are you driving?” he said.

“No, Preston is driving,” she said. “Would you like for me to call Tara?”

“No, I have already called her. You might call her and commiserate,” he suggested. Sookie heard a muffled scream.

“What is happening?” asked Sookie.

“Eric is having a chat about your cousin,” he said. “I have to go. May I call on you later tonight and update you?”

“Sure,” she said. “I’ll see you later.”

“Be safe Sookie,” he said into the phone.

Amelia was standing off to the side, watching Pam and Eric take turns on not only the crippled were with the broken leg but the one they picked up as he left the sheriff’s station.  “Eric, why not let me at him, why waste anymore time?”

“Because I am enjoying myself,” he growled through his teeth, his face close to the were’s face.

“Well, let me at him and then…bon appetite big boy,” she said. Truthfully she did not want to be anywhere near Eric when he finally decided their lives were not worth living. Eric looked at him and stood up and backed away. Amelia walked toward him. His eyes were wide with terror. She made the calm down motion with her hands. “Veritas Verbatim,” she crooned. She took a deep breath and pointed at him. “Veritas Verbatim, Veritas Verbatim, Veritas Verbatim.” The were was calm. “Veritas Verbatim.” She looked at him. “Okay, what do you want to know?”

“Where is the boy?” asked Eric.

“I don’t know,” he said.

“Who took him?” asked Bill.

“She took him,” said the were.

“Who is she?” asked Bill.  The were motioned to Bill and whispered a name. He looked shocked and looked at the were. “Are you sure?”

“Yes, and your woman, the blond woman, she is next, she wants them both,” said the were.

“Why?”asked Bill.

“D’amore, d’amore,” he said, laughing. He said something in Italian.

“What did he say?” asked Bill, looking at Eric.

“She wants you to be hers or she will make you suffer,” said Eric. “Who the fuck is he talking about Bill?”

Sookie and Preston made it back to the house. Preston turned to her. “Let me come around the car and open your door.” Sookie nodded. Once again she observed Preston looking all around him as he walked around the back of the car. He wanted to be at her back. She slid out when he opened the car door and they headed to the back door. Suddenly something came out of the darkness.

“Miss Sookie!!!” said a voice.

“Bubba, where have you been?” she said warily.

“You gotta get out of here, the dawgs is all around here, they want you,” he said. His eyes were glittery and jumpy.

“What do you mean dogs?” asked Sookie.

“The lady done brung them here, the one who…”he listened. “Run Miss Sookie!!!” Preston wrapped his arms around her and they disappeared. When they reappeared, they were in the library.

“Go back Preston, we have to help Bubba,” she demanded.

“Sookie, he will run away, he won’t fight those things, he will go back to Bill’s,” said Preston. “Call Bill and tell him something is around the house.” Sookie opened her purse and took out her phone. She dialed Bill’s number. When he answered, Sookie very nearly screamed at him. “Bill, Bubba is in trouble, he came to me and Preston and said that someone sent the dogs after me.”

“Where are you?” he asked tersely.

“I am at the library,” she said.

“Stay there,” he said and he was gone. Eric looked at him. “She sent dogs after Sookie, Bubba has returned and he warned her and Preston away.”

“Where are they now?” asked Eric.

“They are at the library,” he said. “ I have to go.” Bill was gone in a blur. Eric squatted down in front of the were.

“Too late,” he said thickly. Eric grabbed his throat and tore it out. As quick as a flash, Eric was gone as well. Amelia looked at Pam.

“Man you have to move fast around here,” she said. “Shall we have a chat with our remaining friend?”

“Absolutely,” she said.

Bill pulled up at his house and cautiously and quickly took the path to Sookie’s house. Eric was just in the shadows of the tree line. He put his hand out to Bill not to say anything. The huge mastiffs were sniffing around. One of them turned into their human self, a statuesque woman. Another changed as well, a male. They spoke briefly and then broke the window in the door and unlocked the door. Eric cursed under his breath. They went in and the pack followed them.

“Have you had your invitation into the house renewed?” asked Eric.

“No,” he said.

“Neither have I,” said Eric. “They are looking for Sookie.”

“We need to find Sookie a safe place,” said Bill. They stopped talking when the dogs filed back out.  They immediately headed back into the woods. Eric and Bill listened for them and when they were sure they were out of range, they stepped out of the trees.

“Bill, are they gone?” asked a low voice.

“They are gone Bubba, but stay quiet,” he said. Bubba jumped silently from out of the tree he had been perched.

“I seen you Bill, you and Mr. Eric. Bill, that Preston made Miss Sookie disappear,” said the addlepated vampire.

“That is very good,” said Bill. “Bubba, can you go in Sookie’s house?”

“I reckon I can, Bill,” he said. “Want me to go check it out?”

“Please, Eric and I can’t go in,” explained Bill.

“I can invite you in,” said the vampire. “But maybe Miss Sookie wouldn’t like it.”

“Go on Bubba, you don’t have to invite us in,” said Bill. Bubba ambled to the house and Bill and Eric followed him. They stood at the doorway while Bubba walked through the house. He came back to him.

“The house is empty and man does it stink,” said the vampire.

“Thank you Bubba. Bubba, where have you been, you disappeared,” asked Bill.

“That lady came to see me and said you had a job for me, to sit with this little boy. She said I couldn’t eat him or nothin’ just set with him,” said Bubba.

“Do you know where he is?” asked Eric, his voice hard. Bubba shrank away from Eric a little. Eric relaxed. “Where is the little boy Bubba?”

“She has him in an old house, out to the highway. She said Bill would know where I was. Did I do something wrong?” he asked.

“No, Bubba, but next time, don’t go anywhere unless me or Eric tell you ourselves. We were worried,” said Bill. “Is the little boy okay?”

“He is sad, I tried to sing to him but all he wanted was Daddy and Erin and Sookie,” he said, sadly. “Are we gonna go get him?”

“We are, but we are going to need some help,” said Bill. “So you go up and watch Miss Sookie’s house like you always do, and we will go and get Miss Sookie and bring her home.”

“You should make Miss Sookie invite you in so you can help her if she ever gets in a bind again,” said Bubba.

“I will see to it she does,” said Bill.

“What is taking them so long?” asked Sookie.

“I don’t know,” said Preston. “Bill will call.” No sooner had he said that than Sookie’s phone rang.

“You may come home now,” said Eric. “A window is broken in your door, but otherwise the house is fine.”

“Are you sure there is no one in the house?” she asked.

“We are sure, Bubba checked the house,” said Eric. “We have some news for you, come home, and we will tell you.”

“Okay,” she said. “Preston and I will be home in a second.” She hung up and then realized what she said and laughed. “We can go home now.” She stood up and Preston put his arms around Sookie and they disappeared.

“When we take the boy, she will come after you,” said Eric.

“I know, either me directly or who I care for,” said Bill.

“You should confide in your companion about your troubles,” said Eric.

“I would like to keep her out of this,” said Bill.
                “Keeping her in the dark is not exactly the same as keeping her out of trouble,” said Eric.

“I know,” he said. “And whoever else might be looking for the boy.”

“Yes, we will have trouble,” said Eric. The two vampires were only mildly surprised when Sookie and Preston appeared in the living room of Sookie’s house. “Sookie, invite us in.”

“No, I like you just fine where you are,” said Sookie.

“Damn it Sookie, invite us in, how are we to help you if we can’t cross your threshold,” asked Eric.

“And let you have a free pass to come in my house and maybe eat my boyfriend, no, I am not doing it,” said Sookie.

“Sookie, I don’t think they will eat me, please invite them in,” he said. She looked up stubbornly at him. “Eric, Bill, I invite you into the house.” He looked at Sookie. “You gave me a key, I live here too.”

“Not for long if you do something like that again,” she said.

“I will swear to keep my fangs to myself,” said Eric, putting up his hand. The vampire looked so solemn Sookie had to laugh.

“Okay, but if it gets to be too much, skedaddle out of here,” she said. “So what sort of news do you have?”
                “Bubba knows where Hunter is,” said Bill.

“Then let’s go get him!” she said.

“Wait Sookie, we have to be careful,” said Bill. “We have to go and get the boy in a way that will make it impossible for any of them to move against you without showing their hands. We know what the aims are for all interested parties.”

“Who are these interested parties?” asked Sookie.

Bill looked at Eric, he had that hooded dishonest look on his face.

“We may as well tell her everything we know,” said Eric.