616My Viking
Book Two
Chapter Eighteen
- beta'ed by ilovemysteries
...
Thomas pulled into the parking lot of the Fellowship, he parked where he had a clear and quick exit to the highway. Eric pulled out a map as if we were lost tourists, to draw suspicion away from us. I snorted as they got into a quiet bickering match as they discussed which route was best to take to Amarillo.
I took in the large parking lot, with twenty or so vehicles parked up near the entrance. I studied the lawn surrounding it for a brief moment, it was immaculate; green and professionally trimmed with a large Fellowship of the Sun sign, with a smaller billboard below it with the slogan, 'Only Jesus rose from the dead.'
I closed my eyes and tried to appear annoyed at Eric's and Thomas' now somewhat heated dispute. I concentrated on the building and the minds inside. There were a few children, playing in a nursery with a two teen girls supervising them. A handful of women in the kitchen preparing food for the following day's luncheon and there was a group of men gathered in the back of the church in a private office, full of weapons.
I pressed my fingers to my temple and focused on a pair of men, headed away from everyone in a different wing of the church. I concentrated on the younger man, his mind was projecting his thoughts as if he wanted the other man to be able to read them, which made it easier to have access to his mind. The boy was in his late teens, with curly red hair.
'Stop talking,' the teen thought, bubbling with annoyance. I turned my attention to their actual conversation.
"We need to rid the world of fangers. That's why I've made it my personal mission to end as many as possible before I meet our Good Lord and Savior."
"Cool." The teen agreed, monotone. His eyes skimming over a 'God hates Fangs,' poster with a discreet eye roll.
"Have you ever met a vampire, Sean?"
"No." He said blandly, as he followed the older man down into the church's basement.
"You're about to," the crewcut man laughed unpleasantly, handing him a True Blood from the refrigerator and a homemade stake from the wall, I cringed as the inexperienced boy took it. "Take that down to the vamper at the end of the hall. It's too bad, we can't just stake him, Newlin wants to make his death a grand spectacle, so the world can watch as he pays for his sins."
I reached over the seats and squeezed Eric's hand and pulled strength from our bond and refocused. This time I paid attention to the basements layout as I acquired a feel of the energy in the air as Sean unlocked a door at the end of the hall.
I gasped, startled as Godric's eyes snapped open, they were expressionless as Sean held out the True Blood with shaky hands. His eyes focused on Godric's chest and the tattoos he had received before his turning. I knew vaguely what a few meant, from what Godric could remember. I seethed as Godric took the bottle apathically and set it on the desk, next to another unopened bottle.
"Sookie?" Eric questioned, concern flashing through our bond as he drew me back to him.
"He's in the basement," I stated, in what I hoped was a calm tone. "If he's down there, I'd bet my entire paycheck that Farnell is down there as well."
"So what's the plan?" Thomas asked, watching as Eric and I traded looks.
"I'm going to wait for the basement to clear out and teleport in, Eric will follow my pull. He'll free Farnell and I'll handle Godric. In and out with as little fall out as possible."
"Is that safe?" Thomas asked.
"It's the safest option I can come up with," I shrugged, pressing a kiss to Eric's temple.
Eric nodded his agreement, I could feel his conflicting emotions, but I knew he trusted that I could handle myself, "She's right. The more people involved, the more likely something will go wrong. We don't want a battle. Just a rescue."
"Follow me," I whispered, knowing he'd be able to find me through the pull of our bond as I popped out of the suburban and into the hallway outside of Godric's cell.
Past…Sookie age 20...
"So, what are you doing tonight, Sookie?" Gran asked, looking up from her knitting as she watched The Red Green Show on PBS. "Not working, I hope."
"No, well.." I trailed off with a laugh, checking my make up in the mirror, "before I can go celebrate, I do have to run to Mr. Northman's and drop off some paperwork."
"Oh," She frowned softly, thinking I worked too much, "and afterwards you're meeting up with Alcide, where is he taking you? or do I not want to know," she teased with a delighted twinkle in her eyes.
"Gran, I'm not dating Alcide," I reminded her, "we're friends, he's dating Becca right now. But, we are going to dinner and a free concert in the park followed up with cake at Godric's but I'm not supposed to know that." I winked at her.
"Sounds like a real nice night," she said, I kissed her forehead. I could hear how pleased she was, that I was going to be out with friends.
"Don't wait up, I'll be late, if I do come in at all. I'll most likely stay over in Shreveport if it gets too late," I explained, double checking my purse for my phone charger.
"Drive safe honey," she smiled "and Happy Birthday," she added as I headed for the door.
"Thanks Gran, love you," I said before shutting the door behind me.
I pulled into Eric's driveway and cut off the engine to my little red sedan. I looked up at the house that I was starting to think of as ours. It was definitely my favorite house he owned in Shreveport. It had a total Leave it to Beaver vibe, down to the American flag and stone walkway.
I let myself in through the garage and went out to lay on his deck to soak up the evening sun, as the air started to lose it's sunny warmth and the dark thunderous clouds rolled in, I headed up to Eric's room.
I let out a soft yelp as I felt myself pinned against the wall. "Godric," I gasped in surprise. The ancient vampire growled softly in my ear as he nuzzled at my neck, "what are you doing here?" I tried to ask, my question was ignored as he ran his nose down my jaw. I closed my eyes to pop into Eric's room until his voice drifted over me.
"Feed him," Eric commanded and my eyes narrowed at his request. I bristled, anger surging through my veins.
"What?" I hissed in disbelief.
"Feed him," Eric moved behind me, holding me close. "He's starved," he whispered, so lowly I almost didn't hear him.
I paused, turning my head to look at Godric. I was stunned to find that he was trying to compose himself as he pulled back, I was nearly gutted by the remorse he felt.
I reached out and cupped his cheek, "you won't hurt me," I assured him, "I won't let you, Eric won't," I turned my wrist to him and closed my eyes as he sunk his fangs into my soft flesh and pulled from the wound.
I heard Eric's growl before he stiffened and yanked me away from Godric with a whiplash like jerk. I felt the flare in my mind as Godric's blood passed through my heart. I gasped as they collided, their hands at each other throats. I watched in both horror and panic as they stared at each other.
"That's enough," I yelled, yanking at both of the bonds in my mind.
They froze and turned their heads to look at me, not letting go of the other, "I said that's enough." I repeated firmly, stopping the growling. "There is a millennium of loyalty, brotherhood, faith and love between you two. Enough." I smiled softly, moving closer to them and placing my left hand over Eric's chest and my right over Godric's. "I am not fully human, remember. Godric was only following his instincts." I twisted the truth, making myself appear calm and not as freaked out as I felt.
I dropped my hands after they both took a step away from the other and I stepped forward and hugged Eric close. "Thank you," Godric mouthed to me.
I smiled at them both, "we are family, let this rest," I ordered softly, looking between both of them before turning and heading down to the kitchen. "I also expect cake, later."
I smiled to myself as I heard them call out in unison a few seconds later, "Happy Birthday." followed by their individual terms of endearments, of "Lover." and "Princess."
Present...
I looked around and sucked in a deep breath and placed my hand on the door and pictured Godric's cell like room, and popped inside, crashing into the desk with a grunt. "Ow." I moaned, causing Godric to look up at me.
He was listless, as if he had already given up the fight. I frowned at him, "Godric," I said, moving across the room to stand in front of him.
He blinked at me, before returning his gaze to the wall behind me. I reached out, searching my mind for the connection we shared and when I felt none, I took his right hand and tried to make eye contact with him. I could feel my anxiety climb as he remained detached. I closed my eyes and narrowed my focus.
"Godric, damn it," I cursed, my words having no effect on him. I raised his wrist to my lips and pressed a gentle kiss to it as I said a silent fairy prayer before I licked the flesh and bit down, pulling his ancient blood from the wound I had inflicted. I blocked out everything but Eric as I focused on Godric.
The pathway lit up, so bright I couldn't have missed it. I latched onto the bond, drawing away the darkness that was crippling his soul. Death was reaching for him, slowly suckling out his will for survival and life.
I pulled strength from Eric as I drew out the blackness, replacing it with gentle warmth, love and the goodness Godric brought to our lives. I shoved the will to live that had driven him for thousands of years back into his soul.
I let out a soft gasp as I stumbled forward, taking on the weight that had nearly drowned him. "You do not want to burn," I growled out, as my vision blurred and I swayed on my feet as I was spiraled down into a pit of cold darkness, taking on death itself.
Godric sprang forward and caught me before I could hit the floor. I could faintly feel them and the air breezing through my hair, I tried my hardest to focus as Godric opened his bond with Eric, but I couldn't summon the strength to pull myself out of the sea of nothingness I found myself adrift in.