Chapter Text
“I can’t stand this anymore, it’s like being ripped in half. No matter what I do somebody I love gets hurt.” Two sets of fangs retracted, and Bill stood.
“Sookie, I just want for you to be happy, and if being with Eric is what make you happy, then you have my blessing.” Sookie looked to him, her first love, her first man, her first everything. Eric rose and stood before her, smiling.
“See, it’s ok, Sookie, Bill’s fine with it.” She looked down, feeling torn, “Bill had his chance, he blew it, he - he lied to you.” “To protect me, and I lied to him to protect you, and you’ve lied to both of us too. What a mess.” Sookie stepped back from Eric, and sat down, putting her head in her hands.
“I just, it’s been so much so quickly. I know for you two it’s been over a year since Russell, but that was two weeks ago for me. I was attacked by someone I trusted and a psychopath,” Eric winced, but Sookie didn’t seem to notice and kept on, “learned my fiancé wasn’t even close to who I thought he was and our whole relationship was built on a lie, then I spent 15 minutes being chased by horrifying fairies, and then get dropped back to watch my grandfather die, I don’t own my home, everyone believed me dead, and then witches! Just this week I’ve been nearly burned to death in a circle of magic fire, nearly blown up - though I understand that one - and shot.” At this Eric growled and dropped to his knees in front of her.
“When were you shot?”
“At the battle with the witches in the cemetery. Alcide got me out, and Bill healed me so I’m fine. Put your scary face away, I’m okay, I promise.” Sookie took his hand as Eric turned and narrowed his eyes at Bill. “Really, I’m fine now. It’s just been a lot. And I’m tired. I just need some time to rest, and figure out what I want and what’s best for me, and I need you two to not spend the whole time treating it like a pissing contest. I don’t know why you two have this animosity, and I don’t expect you to ever be best friends, but can we stop with sniping at each other? Please?”
Eric lifted the hand he was still holding and pressed a kiss to the back of it, “Of course, alskare, I will behave my self while you take the time you need.” Bill glared at Eric’s term of endearment, but quickly schooled his face and walked forward to stroke Sookie’s hair. “I will always give you what you ask for, my Sookie. You know this.”
“Thank you both” Sookie rose from the chair and grabbed her purse. “I need to get home, check on Tara and Lafayette. Um, Eric, can you walk me home? After everything I don’t really want to walk through the cemetery alone, and I’m pretty sure I have clothes you can use at my house anyway,” she said, gesturing to the robe he still wore, “I can’t imagine you want to fly back to Shreveport like that.” Eric laughed and grinned widely, “What, don’t want me to give the fine ladies of Louisiana one last chance at a peek before it belongs to one set of eyes only, alskare?” He waggled his eyebrows outrageously while Sookie rolled her eyes. “Can it, Casanova. I bet you have a bank account set aside strictly for indecent exposure bail money, don’t you?” She pushed him towards the door and turned back to the civil war veteran, “thank you again, Bill, I mean it. I’ll talk to you soon.” She smiled a sad smile and followed the Viking out the door.
Sookie and Eric walked quietly through the rows of graves, each slightly lost to their own thoughts. She had been through so much, Eric thought to himself, and while he was used to the kind of mayhem and violence that so much of the supernatural world was based in, it had been crisis after crisis at an alarming rate in this backwater town. He could give her time, after all he had it in abundance. And now that he knew that it was love he felt, not just attraction or the need to possess, he would do everything in his power to show her that being his was the best choice for her. He could feel her turmoil through the fledgling bond they shared, and the muddiness of her feelings made sense now that he knew Compton had gotten more blood in her. He had felt when she returned from Faerie that her connection with the younger vampire was weakening, and when they exchanged in the cubby, Eric’s much older blood, and the start of the bond should have overridden any lingering connections. Looking back with the full knowledge of his thousand years, he was astounded that she was as independent as she was, given the excessive amount of Compton’s blood he had felt in her system when they exchanged. The magic of Faerie had helped quite a bit by the time she returned, but Eric knew it was almost miraculous that she had listened to him at all when he told her of Bill’s deceptions the night she disappeared.
Eric’s musings were interrupted when Sookie piped up next him,
“Can you give me Isabel’s number?” Surprised, Eric stopped and looked at her. “Isabel? In Texas?” He asked. “Yeah. I, uh, I have some questions, you know, one girl to another.” He arched an eyebrow, “What kind of questions? Can you not ask them of Tara, or the girls from the shifter’s bar?”
“No, these are more…vampire-girl questions. I’d normally try to ask Pam, but I don’t think she’s too happy at me at the moment. Not that I blame her, of course, you were about to let Bill kill you to save me, which was just… just… no absolutely not. You are not allowed to do that.” Sookie poked Eric chest with one finger. “You gotta promise you’re not going to scare Pam or me like that ever again. And you gotta apologize to Pam. Whatever her intentions were, she saved all our lives with that explosion and you shouldn’t be mad at her” Eric glared. “I mean it, Eric. I don’t know that I would have done quite the same - I wouldn’t have though of a rocket launcher personally - but I respect the hell out of her for doing whatever it took to make sure the person she loves most didn’t hand himself over to die.” Eric narrowed his eyes at her for a second,
“Fine. I will speak to Pamela. I will probably yell at her still, because I can’t have her putting the life of the one I love most in danger to save me, but I will make sure she and I are…ok.”
“Thank you,” Sookie smiled, “now, Isabel’s number?” The Viking just looked down at her, the demand to know what kind of questions clear in his eyes. “Ugh, you are impossible,” Sookie groaned. “I want to ask about vampire and human relationships, and sharing blood. She’s the only other person I know who’s been in one, and I want some unbiased perspective and information. Most of what I know comes from when Bill was still being dishonest with me, and I feel like I can trust Isabel. Godric did, and I trust his judgement.” There was a brief flicker of pain through the bond at Godric’s name, two sensations of grief echoing back and forth, but laced with Eric’s amazement at the high regard Sookie held for his maker.
“He would have been honored to have your trust, as will Isabel. Here, give me your phone.” She handed the phone from her purse and he quickly keyed in the number before handing it back. He lightly kissed her forehead when she smiled at him, and then started walking. “Come on, alskade, let’s get you home.”
As they approached the edge of the cemetery, where the woods opened to cleared yard, Eric stopped again, and held his arm out to stop Sookie. “Eric, what is it?” She watched his nostrils flare as his took a deep breath in. “Were,” he hissed, “not Alcide, but carrying his scent in addition to her own.” “Debbie? What would Debbie be doing here this time of night?” Sookie tried to start forward again, but Eric stopped her. “Call Alcide. She carries the pack master’s scent with Alcide’s which can’t be anything good.” Sookie looked at him for a second, and then closed her eyes.
“She’s furious. And strung out on V. She blames me for Alcide abjuring her? Whatever that means. She’s gonna.. Eric! She’s got a gun! Tara and Lafayette are in the house and she’s…” Bang! A single shot rang out in the night and Eric was off before Sookie could blink. As she ran towards the house, Sookie saw another figure streaking in the front door. The void was moving too quick to judge, but it felt familiar - either Pam or Jessica she figured, so she kept running forward. Before she reached the porch, she heard Debbie’s thoughts wink out of existence, and she slammed her shields up before she could torture herself looking for Tara and Lafayette’s minds. Skidding into the kitchen, she found Eric, Pam, and Lafayette crouched around Tara.
“Why isn’t it working? I’s thought you said blood would heal her, make her better? Whys ain’t she healing?” Lafayette screamed, and Sookie saw that Pam had her bloodied wrist over Tara’s motionless mouth.
“She might be too far gone for the blood to heal her. If that is the case the only way to save her would be to turn her.” At this, Eric looked up from Lafayette to Sookie, “I will not make this decision for your friend. You two must make this choice.” Lafayette looked at Sookie with tears in his eyes, “She’ll hate us, hooker. But I’s can’t lose anyone else. I’s can’t.” Sookie just nodded, her own tears starting to flow.
Eric reached for Sookie’s hand and laced his fingers with hers. “Pam will need to drain the rest of her blood before feeding Tara her own.” Sookie looked up at him, surprised, “Pam’s going to turn her?” “Yes, alskade. Pam is old enough now to be a maker, and a new born requires nearly full time attention for their first decade or so. The relationship between a new born and their maker is very…. close, and if I were to turn her, I fear that would put undue strain on your friendship with Tara and your relationship with me.” Sookie searched his eyes for a second before turning to Pam, “I know you hate me Pam, and I deserve that, and I don’t want to force you into being a maker, but please, please save Tara.” Pam stared hard at Sookie, then smirked, “Don’t get your pixie panties in a twist, fairy princess. I’ll bring dear Tara over. But not for you, I’m doing this because I want to, understand?” And then, in a move that was clearly just to avoid the hug she was sure Sookie was gearing up towards, Pam ducked her head to Tara’s throat and began to drink.
Eric stood, and held his hands out for Sookie and Lafayette. “Come, we can go get things ready for them to go to ground.” Though Sookie and Lafayette functioned more like zombies than people, they were able to get a fresh grave dug for Pam and Tara while Eric dressed in his clothes left in the cubby, and he buried Debbie’s body in another recent burial in the cemetery. When the pair had been put to ground, Sookie started for the house, muttering to herself about cleaning supplies.
Eric looked to Lafayette, “What is she on about? Is she really going to try to clean that blood herself?”
“Course she is. Did it after Gran too. She won’t leave Gran’s house a mess, and it ain’t like nobody else gonna do it for her.” Eric scowled, and pulled out his phone, texting furiously.
“What do you mean, after Gran?”
“Ya know, her Gran was killed by that fangbanger killer, rat bastard Rene. He strangled the other girls, but Gran he…he cut her up bad. Andy says he figure Rene was extra mads cuz he came for Sookie but she wasn’t there, sos he took it out on Gran.”
“Why was he after Sookie?”
“I means, it was pretty well known around town that she was seein’ Vampire Bill by then. Shoot, he even woke and tried to walk during the day to come get Sookie, when Rene done come after her after that. Didn’t help none, Sookie already kilt Rene, but I think it made her feel better that he tried.” Eric looked thoughtful for a moment, but before he could ask anymore questions, a work van pulled up the drive. He nodded to Lafayette, then blurred into the house.
“Sookie.” She looked up from the cupboard she’d been digging through, a pile of cleaning agents at her feet. “I have cleaners here who will take care of the kitchen.” She opened her mouth to object, but he held a hand up, “I know, I’m high-handed. You are perfectly capable of taking care of your own home. But there is very little I can do to make this situation better for you, so please let me do this one small thing.” Sookie nodded, smiling a very small, watery smile at him. “Thank you,” she whispered. Holding out his hand, he pulled her up and to his chest. “Think nothing of it, alskade” he murmured into her hair, “let’s leave this to the professionals, you and mr. Reynolds both need to get some rest.” Sookie looked up at him without moving her head from his chest,
“Will you, I mean, can you, um please stay? I’m, I’m not making a choice or promises, but I just, please?” She buried her face in the fabric of his cutoff hoodie. Smoothing a big hand down her back, he laid his cheek on the crown of her head, “Of course, alskade. I will keep you safe.” He held her silently for a moment, “Would you like to stay in the cubby with me for the day? We can make up a cot for Mr. Reynolds down there too, if you’d like to keep him close through the day as well” Sookie pulled back slightly in shock stare fix her eyes on Erics. “You’d trust Lala in the cubby with us while you died for the day?”
“Not really, but I trust you’ll keep me safe, as I do you.” Sookie’s eyes started to well up again, so Eric quickly kissed her forehead, “Go get yourself ready for bed, I’ll get some extra blankets into the cubby and will meet you both down there.”
Sookie jumped into the shower; she didn’t think she had gotten any blood on her, but she wasn’t willing to go to bed with even the possibility that she’d find some of Tara or Debbie on her when she woke. As the hot water pounded on the tight muscles in her neck, she wondered about Eric’s behavior. The way he’d been since she untied him from the stake Marnie tried to burn him on had been much more like amnesia Eric, her Eric, than she expected. She had thought, that now with his memories back and out from under Marnie’s control, he’d go back to being the arrogant, insufferable jerk she’d always known. But tonight he’d been just as flirtatious and ridiculous as always, as high-handed and protective, but he was gentle about it. He trusted her judgement and didn’t demand anything of her, just asked that she let him help. What if this is how Eric truly was? Amnesia had shown her the type of man Eric was without a millennia of politics and survival to cloud his personality, without centuries of masking his emotions and attachments; tonight seemed like Eric had all those, but was letting her see behind them. Like he was making the choice to trust her with his heart, his very being. It both warmed and terrified her that he trusted her that much.
And then there was Bill. Bill who had been her first love, her first relationship, the first to see her ability as something to celebrate, not as a deformity. But he was also the one who had lied from the very beginning, about who he was and why he wanted her. He had broken her heart. She stopped suddenly. Two weeks ago, she found out everything she had thought was true was a lie - Eric had found out and forced Bill to confess to her on her front porch. It was what drove her to Faerie. When she came back, her heart was still broken, and she was definitely still angry. And she hadn’t thought about Bill at all during the time she had Amnesia Eric, she’d not felt even the slightest bit bad lying to Bill’s face to keep him from seeing Eric at less than his strongest. In fact, she realized, she hadn’t thought about still loving Bill until last night after she got shot. After Bill gave her blood to heal her. This, this was why she definitely needed to talk to Isabel. She needed someone who would tell her the truth about what vampire blood could do to a human, someone with no agenda of their own as far as she went. She had gone to Eric when she had doubts about Bill, before Russell and the truth coming out, but now she had even more questions with Eric’s blood - what was that snowy bed place about? - so she needed someone outside the situation.
She finished her shower, and rushed through the rest of her nightly routine. Grabbing a notebook, pen, and a water bottle, she made her way down to the living room where the door to the cubby was located. Stretching her gift, she could feel Eric’s void and Lala’s mind both in the cubby already, so she checked that the doors were all locked and turned out the lights before climbing down the ladder. Eric had found a blowup mattress and made it up on the floor of the cubby next to the ladder, where Lala was stretched out, more than halfway to sleep. With a curious look to her friend, she wove her way to the turned down side of Eric’s tiny twin bed and climbed in, tucking into the curve of Eric’s waiting frame.
“He took a couple valium already. He should stay asleep for most of the day.”
“That’s probably good, he needs the rest. I can’t even begin to imagine how he’s holding it together. Did you know Marnie killed Jesus while she was possessing Lafayette? He was so good for Lala, you could see how happy they made each other.” Sookie paused, weighing her next words carefully, “Eric, I don’t know yet where you and I are going from here, but trouble seems to follow me around like a bad penny, and I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if anything were to happen to you. I need you to promise me that you’ll protect yourself, even if that means protecting yourself from me.” She looked up, her chocolate eyes meeting his blue, letting him see just how serious she was. Eric was quiet for a moment. He knew, had she asked this of him a year ago, making this promise would have been moot, of course he’d protect himself above all else. But now, he wasn’t sure he’d ever be able to walk away from her, even if it meant his true death.
“I can’t make that promise, Sookie, I already promised that I’d never lie to you. But I can promise to do all that I can to keep us both safe, to make sure that you never see the world without the both of us in it.” It wasn’t quite what she wanted, but it would have to be good enough, as before her next breath he had succumbed to the dawn.
Sookie slept until mid-afternoon, later than she typically would like, but given the events of the past few days, she figured she had earned a good sleeping-in. Lafayette was still asleep on his makeshift bed, and Eric was still unmoving, one heavy arm slung across her waist. She knew Eric wouldn’t want her leaving the cubby until he woke, but human needs didn’t care about potential dangers, so she wiggled herself out and climbed the ladder up to the main house. After tending to being human, she walked into the kitchen to grab a snack before heading back down. The kitchen was immaculate, just as it had been when she left for work the night before, as if two horrible deaths hadn’t occurred there last night. The blonde blew out a shaky breath. Though she felt a little guilty for allowing strangers to clean her gran’s home, she mostly felt relieved that she didn’t have to spend another night on her knees scrubbing the blood of a loved one from a floor she’d have to cross every day. She thought back to the words her Gran had left her alone with before crossing back over, that there was nothing wrong with being alone. At the time, she feared her Gran meant that she should give up both Bill and Eric, since she didn’t think she could choose between them. But now she wondered if her Gran had been talking about her romantic life at all. She had spent her whole life thinking she was the only person like her, and she tried so hard for so long to pretend she wasn’t different, that she wasn’t alone in her ability. But now, having met other people, or fairies, as it were, that were like her, she wondered if Gran meant that there’s nothing wrong with being with the ones that love and support you even if you are alone in what makes you different. She sure hoped so, because the idea that her future was either to spend her whole life pretending to be “normal” or to join with the other hybrids back in Faerie, she wasn’t sure she would want a future at all. Here and now, with Eric and Lafayette, knowing Tara and Pam were close by, Sookie never felt further from alone.
That brought her back to the choice she would have to make - she knew they had both agreed to give her time, but she didn’t want to lead either of them along for too long. With that in mind, she went back to the cubby, grabbed her notebook, and wiggled herself back under Eric’s arm with her back against the headboard. She wanted to put together a list of questions she had for Isabel so that she wouldn’t miss anything, and so that she would waste any of the vampiress’ time. She was sure that as the new(ish) Sheriff of a big Area like Dallas, Isabel would be very busy. By the time Eric started to stir just before sunset, she thought her list looked pretty complete
When do vampires typically give blood to humans?
What physical effects does vampire blood have on a human?
How is this different from V use?
Are there mental/emotional effects to vampire blood?
Does the age of the vampire change how their blood affects a human?
Can vampire blood cause hallucinations?
What happens if blood is drank from the vampire and human at the same time?
What does it mean when a vampire says a human is “mine”?
Can a vampire higher in the hierarchy take a human from their underling?
She quickly closed her notebook and put it to the side. She’d call Isabel a little later in the evening, and while she’d be happy to discuss the answers she got to her questions with Eric, she wanted to talk them through with Isabel first.
“Mmmmm, a vampire could get used to rising like this, alskare. Though I’d like it even better if you were wearing less clothing.” Eric grinned into her hip as the fingers of the hand that had been across her lap started trying to sneak their way up the leg of her sleep shorts. A quick slap on his wrist had Eric faux-pouting and Sookie grinning right back.
“Now, now, mister, none of that. Lafayette is still right there, and I am still a lady.”
“A cruel, teasing lady” Eric winked and stood, stretching to his full height. “I’ll need to check in at Fangtasia tonight, I’ve been gone for too many nights, and Pam will need to be with Tara. Would you like me to come back after the club closes tonight?” Sookie thought for a moment.
“No, I think it kinda defeats the purpose of asking for time and space if you’re staying over at my house every night. I needed you to stay last night, and I can’t even begin to say how grateful I am, but I do need to think.”
“Of course, alskade. I will give you time, as we agreed.” He leaned down and kissed her forehead. “Pam should be rising shortly. Tara will likely not rise until a little later in the night, given the trauma of her turning. I checked your fridge last night, and you have plenty of trublood to get Tara through the initial thirst. Pam will have more at her house, so don’t worry about that. I would make sure that both you and Mr. Reynolds are back fairly far, and down wind when she rises. Pam will likely tell you all this, but just in case. We don’t want Tara trying to eat you first thing. Call if you need me, yes?”
“I will,” Sookie stood and threw her arms around Eric’s waist,” Thank you, Eric, for everything”
“Of course, min alskade, I will see you soon.” With one last kiss to the top of her head, Eric flew up and out of the cubby. By the time Sookie climbed up the ladder, full dark had fallen and Eric was in the sky back to Shreveport.
Seeing that Pam had not yet risen, Sookie dashed upstairs to change. Lounging around all day in her pajamas had been nice, but she wanted to be ready for anything Tara could possibly need. Tossing on a pair of jeans and the first t-shirt in her drawer, Sookie charged back downstairs into the kitchen, stopping inches from crashing into Pam.
“Are you going for literal wrecking ball, rather than just metaphorical tonight then?” Pam snarked.
“I’m sorry, I was trying to be down here to get the blood ready for when you two rose. Is she..” Sookie trailed off, not quite sure how to ask.
“I can feel the maker-child bond growing, but she’s not risen yet. I don’t know how she’ll be when she does, though. The bond is telling me nothing about her state beyond that she is undead.” Sookie grabbed a couple trubloods from the fridge and popped them in the microwave.
“Well thats, I guess that’s as good as I can ask for at the moment, isn’t it. Sure beats the alternative anyways. Do you need to be out there waiting for her, I can bring these out when they’re done.” Sookie turned back to Pam, to find the petite vampire staring at her phone. “Pam, were you listening, I can bring these out-“
“Is this your doing?” Pam interrupted.
“Is what my doing?” Pam glared, then turned back to the phone to read a text aloud.
“Pamela. I understand your actions lately have been borne from a fierce loyalty to me, but you must not let your loyalty and devotion undermine your respect for my wishes. You may know me better than most, but you do not know me better than I do. You are my greatest creation, and I am proud of the vampire you have become. There will never be another who can replace you in my affections. I hope now that you have become a maker you will understand this. But if you ever attempt to harm Sookie again, I will rip your arms off and burn your shoe collection.” Sookie slapped a palm to her forehead. “I told him to apologize, that, ugh, that ridiculous vampire! I’m sorry, Pam, I-“ again Pam cut her off.
“Sookie, shut up. If Eric actually properly apologized to me, I’d be sure he was cursed again. This is, well, shit. You may not be half bad for a blood bag with a crazy fairy vagina.” The admission looked to pain Pam, so Sookie just smiled. “Well thanks Pam, I guess. Why don’t we take these outside to wait for Tara, before you have to feel another feeling.” Pam cackled a bit and walked out the backdoor.
“Is she?” Lafayette’s voice came quietly from behind Sookie, startling her.
“Lala, I didn’t hear you come up.” She walked over to pull the tall man into a tight hug. “Not yet, but Pam can feel their bond starting, which is a good sign. We were just gonna wait outside for her.” Lafayette just nodded and led the way outside.
Pam was standing quietly, watch the patch of loose earth covering Tara’s body. “You two need to stay back, down that way. Especially you, glitter puss, your fairy stink will make a newborn rabid.” Pam gestured them down the yard a-ways, towards the woods. They reached the very edge of the tree line when they heard a huge gasping breath. Tara’s head and one arm reached up out of the dirt, grasping on to Pam.
“Steady there, baby cakes, up you get. Nothing to panic about, I’ve gotcha.” Tara choked and spluttered as she used Pam’s arm to hoist herself out of the ground. When she coughed up the last of whatever dirt had caught in her mouth, she looked first to Pam, then turned to stare down at Sookie and Lafayette.
“What in the actual fuck”
“Oh good,” Pam drawled, “you’ve kept all your charming temperament. How delightful.” Tara turned back and glared at her maker, which made Pam laugh. “Here,” she held out an open trublood, “this will help your brain start functioning enough that we can tell you what happened, and then I’ll take you to get the good stuff. Fair deal?” Tara grabbed the bottle and finished almost before Sookie had realized she started drinking. Pam kept handing her bottles until she finished the fourth, at which point Tara looked back to Sookie and Lafayette, “Ok, now again, what in the actual fuck?”
“You were dying, Tara. Debbie Pelt, Alcide’s ex, you remember her from Jackson?” Tara nodded, “she was back on V, and broke in with a gun. She was coming to kill me and-“
“-and my dumbass walked into the kitchen and she fired, thinking it was you.” Sookie nodded.
“Tara, I’m -“ Sookie cut off, as Pam suddenly grabbed Tara and held tight as her progeny strained towards her friend and cousin.
“There it is, newbie. That smell? It’s good isn’t it? That’s Sookie. I’m gonna get you out of here so you don’t eat her, but we’re gonna need to get you used to that.” Pam grinned, proud at the degree of control her new progeny was already showing, before tugging at her to blur them both off in the direction of her own home.
“That went…well I suppose.” Sookie looked back towards Lafayette as she headed back to the house. “You coming inside, I can make dinner?” Lafayette shook his head, still looking at the place where Tara had been buried.
“Nah, Sook. I gotta, I gotta go home. Gonna see if Holly knows how to get the brujo out of me” He turned and headed to his car without waiting for her to speak. She thought about trying to stop him, but she realize the last thing he needed now was her trying to force comfort he wasn’t ready for. And if nothing else, she thought to herself, this would give her the privacy she needed for a conversation with Isabel.
Sitting in the living room, with her notebook retrieved from the cubby, fed, watered, and as ready as she could be, Sookie pulled out her phone. She took a deep, steadying breath and pressed dial.
“This is Isabel,” the voice was tinny through the cell phone, but her accent was unmistakable.
“Hi, Isabel, it’s Sookie. I came with Eric, before Godric, um”
“Yes, Sookie, I remember you. Eric said I should expect your call. He said you have, em, girl vampire questions?” Though she could hear the laughter in Isabel’s voice, Sookie didn’t get the feeling the vampire was laughing at her.
“Well, I’ve got questions, that’s for sure. And I am more comfortable talking to a woman about them, I guess, but mostly that was so Eric wouldn’t push for why I wasn’t asking him.”
“And why aren’t you asking him? Or Bill? Bill said you were his, so he should be the one to instruct you on whatever you need to know.”
“That’s just the thing, though. I’m not Bill’s anymore, not really. And I found out recently that a lot of the things he told me while we were together were just lies. I don’t know that I can believe any of what he’s told me. And I don’t think Eric would lie to me if I asked him, but I want to be sure, ya know.”
“I understand.” And she did. Isabel was not one who trusted easy, and the Hugo’s betrayal with the Fellowship of the Sun still hurt deeply.. “Ask me your questions, Sookie. I will answer as best I can.”
At the end of their conversation, Sookie felt much better equipped to handle her vampires, but she knew she was going to have some tough conversations ahead. Some of the answers she had expected - vampire blood is given to turn a new vampire, or to heal an injured human - others she had not - it’s also given to tie a human to a vampire as a blood slave, sometimes called a renfield. That the physical changes she knew - the health, the libido, the dreams - didn’t cover the emotional changes; it couldn’t create an emotion outright, but it could manipulate the emotions to some degree, with enough blood in a human the vampire could push their feelings on the human. V didn’t act the same, as the magic in a vampire’s blood diminished the longer it was outside the body, and vampire blood drank from the source while the vampire fed from the human as well was a whole different ball game. A simultaneous exchange, Isabel had said, started what was called a Blood Bond. It was like a tie that went both ways, putting the vampire and the human on more equal footing. Three such exchanges would make a bond permanent, so that the person and vampire could always feel each other, always find each other. She was unsure if an exchange would cause the pair to enter a dreamscape like what Sookie had alluded to, but she had also never met a bonded pair to ask. Sookie thought it might have to do with her fairy-ness, but she kept that to herself.
The most important piece of information, however, was that once bonded, no one could claim the human - regardless of the vampire bonded’s position or age. Bonding was sacred, and no sheriff, no monarch, not even the whole AVL could separate a bonded pair.
Sookie sat back and looked over the notes she had made during her talk with Isabel. When she really thought back over her relationship with Bill, she became more and more certain that at least at the very beginning, he was trying to make her a blood slave. She already knew he was sent to procure her for the Queen, but with how much blood he dumped into her that night with the Ratts, and how out of character some of her behavior had been since then (she was so disgusted by Eric that first night, and she knew better than anyone not to judge by looks), it was really the only thing that made sense. And even now, she had started to move on from the pain Bill caused, had started making choices for herself, and then she has his blood and now she’s in love with him again? Sookie froze for a second. Eric hadn’t known she’d been shot. When she told him, he’d been furious and had glared at Bill. At the time she had just thought that it was Eric being protective, but he probably realized about the blood. And about the guns. None of the witches had guns that night. Oh god, she thought, it was one of Bill’s men that shot her.
Sookie stood up and started pacing. So much of that fight was blurry, between the mist and her injury she wasn’t sure if she was just caught in the crossfire, or, as she was beginning to suspect with a sick feeling in her stomach, that she was deliberately shot as a way to get more of Bill’s blood back in her.
If that was the case, she would need to find a way to override his blood in her. She was certain he hadn’t started a bond the way she and Eric had, so according to Isabel, time and distance would lessen the tie, or another, older vampire’s blood could override it. A completed Bond, she’d said, would eradicate it completely. Eric would have no problem giving her blood to protect her against Bill, she thought, but the only way to protect her completely from the new King would be a completed Bond, and she wasn’t sure he’d want to be tied to her forever. She flopped heavily back on the couch. Would she even want to Bond? To be tied permanently to Eric, for as long as she lived? That sounded a hell of a lot like a marriage, and they hadn’t even been on a date yet.
There was no way she could answer the bonding question just yet, and certainly not alone. But her decision between the two vampires wasn’t even much of a question, now that she really thought about it - why on earth would she choose a man who’d lied, who’d stolen her virginity under false pretenses, who cheated on her, and nearly drained her dry, over a man who’d been nothing but honest with her, even when it was hard, who’d protected her at his own expense, and who valued everything she was all the time, not just when it was convenient. With that suddenly clear in her mind, she picked up her phone and sent a single text:
Come home when you’re done work. I’ll wait up.