Eric:

“We need sanctuary.” I said as I rushed to change my blood stained shirt. “Where’s Melanie?”

Pam gasped at my arrival as she pulled her shirt over her head. “My god. What have you done?”

“Where is she?” I repeated.

“She’s in your bedroom. She still hasn’t healed. What did you do Eric?”

“I staked a vampire. The lover of Russell Edgington.” I paced as I wiped the remaining blood from my chest.

“Are you insane?!”

“Where can we go?

Running her fingers through her hair, she looked around nervously. “We need a home. A human home would be safest. Melanie’s? We’ve both been invited.”

“No!” I pointed at her. “Out of the question.”

I wasn’t going to risk leading any more danger her way. Especially not Edgington.

“You never panic!” She said noticing my erratic behavior. “Should I be panicking?”

 

The doors opened and we turned to see Ginger, coming in.

“Ginger dear.” I smiled at her. “Where do you live?”

“Across the river in Bossier, why?” She batted her eyelashes at me.

“We need your house.” Pam informed her. “Now-ish.”

“Because of the V-Feds?”

Both of us turned our heads to face her before looking at each other. They were here. It had to be for the magister. Did Russell tell them anything? No. He wouldn’t have. He’d want me all to himself. I fixed my hair and walked out with Pam following closely behind me.

“I’m sorry Ms. Flannigan. The bar is closed.” I smiled.

She smirked knowingly. “Thank you, I already ate. True Blood only of course. Can’t stay out of trouble can you? The VRA is two states away from ratification. I should be kissing asses in Oregon, not cleaning up after you in FUCKING Louisianna!”

“Oh, I promise. There is nothing amiss in my area.” I crossed my arms.

“Officers silver him.” She ordered the men behind her. They placed a silver chain on my shoulder, the pain bringing me down to my knees as Ginger screamed behind us. “I hope you don’t mind us having a look around.”

She motioned her guards to sit me down while the rest of them searched the place. Pam stood against the bar, watching as they scattered throughout the rooms. She wouldn’t find anything. The place had been wiped clean and every square foot had been bleached.

One of the men came out holding Melanie by her arm. Her wounds were still visible though mostly closed up. Not even my blood could heal her quick enough. Not after all the blood she’d lost at the hands of the Magister. Whatever shit it got me into, it was worth it knowing he was dead after what he did to her.

“Let go of me!” She pulled her arm away as they pushed her over to Pam and went back to searching. Her eyes met mine and she ran over, wrapping her arms around my neck. “What the fuck is going on? Are you okay?”

I pulled her in closer, hugging her body against mine as I sniffed her sweet scent. “I’m fine. Are you okay? How are you feeling?”

“I’ll be okay.” She pulled away to look at me. “Is he-”

“Well isn’t this touching? Can’t say I didn’t see it coming.” Nan came from around the corner. “Ms. Stackhouse, please have a seat over by Ms. De Beaufort.”

Melanie looked at her before looking at me for confirmation. I nodded and she got up walking over to Pam.

“The downstairs is clean.” Flanagan continued.

“Well, I told you there was nothing.”

“It’s been wiped.”

“Well I’m a Virgo. I like to be neat.”

“Your screeching fang-cushion of a barmaid, who’s been glamoured so much she can’t even remember her own last name, does know that no one ever goes down there with so much as a mop and a promise. Suddenly it’s as sterile as an operating room.” She leaned her arms on the back of another chair as she looked at me.

“It doesn’t prove anything.” I shook my head.

“If only we had a magister to decide that.” She retorted before chuckling. “Relax. It’s not like you killed someone. Just need your official statement.”

She sat down on the chair across from me. Her henchmen setting up two webcams on either side of her as she put on her bluetooth headset to make a call to the authority.

I had to think of something to tell them. Edgington was three times my age. I could not take him alone. I wasn’t so sure the authority could either but it would get the heat off me if they were looking for him.

Looking at the camera, I figured it was worth a shot. I told them how Russell killed the Magister. I told them how he fed his wolves with V to do his bidding. I told them how he didn’t recognize the authority and how I wanted him to die by my hands. I even told them about how he killed my family.

The camera’s turned back to Nancy. “Yes, I understand. I’ll fly out to Portland immediately.”

“What? Is that it?” I asked standing as she stood.

“The authority will review your statement. Until then, you and Ms. De Beaufort are on lockdown. Ms. Stackhouse, I suggest you say your goodbyes now and run along home.”

Melanie stood, walking over to my side and placing a hand on my shoulder. “I’m not going anywhere.”

“Fine, have it your way.” She shrugged us off and walked out followed by her minions.

I turned to face Melanie, placing my hands on her arms. “She’s right Melanie. You have to leave. If Edgington finds me, he’ll kill us and put you and your sister in a display case. It’s only a matter of time.”

“Alright. I need to know what the fuck is going on right now, Eric Northman. I’ve been through two raids now, held captive, tortured, and drained and now the authority and a 3000 year old vampire are after you and somehow my sister and I are involved? If you don’t tell me what’s going so help me God-” She backed away pointing her finger at me.

“Fine.” I interrupted her, smirking at her feistiness.

It seemed like she was finally back to herself. After the condition I found her in last night, I was surprised we could help her at all. I couldn’t bare to see her like that again. Not by The authority’s hands and certainly not by Edgington’s.

“Edgington is the oldest living vampire. He’s the king of Mississippi and he’s the one leading the wolves who took Bill. Your sister followed him there and, as per usual, got herself caught. He knows Sookie is more than human and he expects to find out exactly what that is. As far as he knows, you’re just an employee at Fangtasia but he knows Sookie has a sister and he’s bound to find out it’s you now that he’s after me.”

“Why?” She crossed her arms. “Why is he after you?.”

“Edgington is the vampire who killed my parents. Tonight, I killed his vampire lover.”

Pam placed her hands on her hips, walking over to us. “I’ve been with you for over a century and she knew that story before me?”

 

---

 

Melanie:

 

“You didn’t need to know” Eric told her. “What good would it do to share my pain with you? To have you carry that burden for a hundred years?”

“Then why tell her?” She threw her arm out at me.

“Because I don’t live nearly as long as either of you.” I said matter of factly. “Did you get Sookie out?”

“No. I couldn’t without risking not making it back to the two of you.” He answered truthfully but he wasn’t proud of it.

“How could you let him keep her?! She’ll get herself killed, Eric!” I yelled out as my voice echoed across the bar.

“Listen to me.” He grabbed my arms. “I get that you love your sister, but I love you. I could feel every single thing happening to both you and to Pam, every time that sick fuck laid a hand on you. I was not letting anything deter me from getting back to you. What I did to Edgington after that was pure vengeance that I do not regret.”

Did he just say he loved me?

“Let go of me.” I got out of his grip and took a seat in a chair. “I have to find Sookie.”

“Fuck Sookie!” His voice boomed but I ignored him.

Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath and tried to concentrate.

“Sook, where are you? Are you okay?!”

“Mel? I’m okay. I’m home now. Where are you?”

“Oh thank god! What about Bill? And Russell whatever-the-fuck his name is?”

“I don’t want to talk about Bill Compton. Where the hell are you?!”

“Lockdown at Fangtasia. Something about the vampires authority.”

“What the hell did he get you involved in?”

“Long Story. I’ll be home as soon as I can. It’s almost daylight.”

“What in the hell is she doing now?” Pam sighed, frustratingly.

“Is your sister okay?” Eric again ignored her to talk to me after I stood.

I nodded. “Something happened with her and Bill but she’s home. I have to check on her. Do you think they’ll sleep when the sun comes up?”

He looked behind me at the guards standing by the door and nodded. “I don’t know, but there’s a door in the basement that leads outside. We have a staircase down there from our office.”

“Okay. And Eric?” I looked up at him, stepping closer wrapping my arms around his waist. “I love you too.”

 

OOO

 

“Sookie?” I unlocked the front door. “Sook?”

Our house was destroyed again. Glass from broken windows, pieces of wood from broken tables shattered on the floor. Growing more concerned, I walked up the stairs to see the same shit all over the bedroom. What the fuck happened here?

“Sookie!” I ran through the rest of the house until I saw her stepping out of the bathroom having just showered.

“Mel.” She ran up to hug me. The second we touched we both looked into each other’s memories and pulled away quickly.

“Oh my god. Are you okay?!” We asked simultaneously.

“How could he drain you?!” I asked angered by the image of him attacking her in the van.

“He – he didn’t mean it. He had lost so much blood from Lorena’s torture. How the hell did you get involved with the Authority?! You need to stay away from Eric Northman. He’s not a good man, Melanie. He left me there for dead!”

“You saw why! I was dying and they had Pam too! At least he didn’t try to kill me.”

“I will never fucking forgive that man!”

“Enough!” I yelled, ending our banter. “Edgington is out to get us Sook. He doesn’t know I’m your sister yet but he knows you have a sister and he has it in his head that we’re more than human. He’s going to come find us.”

“He was here a couple of hours ago.” She sighed. “His wolves did this. He gives them V in exchange for their loyalty. They came in here looking for me. He almost killed Bill until he just up and flew away.”

“Eric – he has this vendetta against Edgington. Fucker killed his parents when he was human so last night Eric killed Edgington’s boyfriend.” I admitted, walking to the kitchen to make us a pot of coffee. “How are we in the middle of all of this?”

 

---

 

Eric:

 

The doorknob jiggled behind me and I opened the door to let Melanie back in. Pam was still asleep and those goons were still outside. I couldn’t sleep. There was way too much at stake here but at least she was back safely. She’d showered and done her hair in those waves that made her look so innocent with just a light touch of makeup, not as heavy as Pam’s. I wrapped my arms around her, holding her close to me as she rested her head on my chest.

“Are they still here?” She asked, lifting her head to look at me?

“Yea. By the door.” I nodded.

She sighed, pulling away from me as she took a seat on the couch. “Sookie was attacked by Edgington last night. Said he would’ve killed both her and Bill but then he suddenly up and left. I think he felt it when you killed his partner.”

“I know he felt it. Just how I felt all of Pam’s pain. She’s my progeny.” I admitted, crossing my arms as I leaned against the desk.

“Did you know Bill almost killed Sookie? Damn near drank her dry.”

“What? Bill Compton?” My eyes widened hearing the news.

“Yup, and she’s still with that motherfucker.” She nodded before she paused to look at me. “God, you look like shit baby. Have you slept? Eatten?”

“No, but I’m fine.”

“Come here.” She patted the couch next to her, pulling her hair to the side to expose her neck. “You need to eat.”

“No, Melanie. I can’t. I won’t cause you any more pain than you went through last night.” I shook my head, walking to the other side of the room.

“You’re no good to me if you starve yourself.” She stood, walking over to me as she pinned me back against the wall. “Now eat. I’m trusting you with this.”

I looked down at the seriousness in her eyes before I turned us around, lifting her up against the wall before sinking my fangs into her. A small gasp left her lips as she wrapped her legs around my waist, her hands brushing my hair back as I fed.

God she tasted heavenly. More than any human or other being. There was something much much more to Melanie but whatever it was, Russell Edgington was never going to get to her. Her blood was rejuvenating, almost like it got you high without ever touching drugs. It took every ounce of my strength to pull away.

“Eric.” Pam said, coming out of her coffin.

“I hear them.” I said as I pricked my finger, closing up the bite marks on Melanie’s neck. I pulled on a shirt before the three of us walked back out to the main room to see Nan walking in with more of her troops.

“The ruling is as follows:” She read from the script. “The authority disavows, knowledge of our interview, your statement, or indeed, this ruling itself. None of this ever happened.”

“What the fuck does that mean?” Melanie asked,

“Always a pleasure Ms. Stackhouse. Missing royals, dead magister. It’s political tar baby. No one wants to touch it. Not with the VRA this close to ratification.”

“Russell will not stop killing.” I pointed out, tossing her paper on the table. “What if the human public learns of it?”

“That’s why you’re going to take care of it.” She crossed her arms. “Quietly, discreetly, and most importantly of all, completely off the books. You wanted revenge, it’s yours.”

“What resources are you going to give me?

“None. We’re not going near it.” She grabbed her things to leave.

She was out of her fucking mind. “How do you expect me to kill him? He’s three times my age.”

Stopping, she turned around to walk back towards me. “Listen you whiny little bitch. The only link between Sophie-Ann, Russell, and that Magister is you. You brought us this steaming pile of shit and you’re going to make it go away, bring me his fangs or I’ll have yours.”

She walked out with all of her members, leaving the rest of us there stunned. How the fuck could I kill him with no back up. This was supposed to lead the authority to him, not leave me stranded with an ancient angry vampire.

“I would like nothing more than to see someone stake that bitch.” Melanie broke the silence as she walked around the bar to pour herself a drink. “Here’s what happens now – you guys pack whatever shit you need and we bring you back to my place. He knows where Sookie lives but he still couldn’t get inside. The only reason he had Bill was because that fucker went outside to him. You’ll be safe there.”

“No! We’re not leading him to you.” I protested.

“Eric – we’re sitting ducks here. He’s been to Fangtasia, this is the one place he expects you to be.” Pam pushed.

“We can figure it out from there.” Melanie took a shot of her whiskey. “Now move.”

“Look.” Pam turned up the volume on the tv.

Russell Edgington interrupted the evening news by ripping out the anchorman’s spinal cord on live tv. We all watched as he licked the blood from his hand before addressing the audience.

“You see how quickly I can kill?” He asked. “Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Russell Edgington and I have been a vampire for nearly 3000 years. Now, the American Vampire League wishes to perpetrate the notion that we are just like you. I suppose is a few small ways we are. We’re narcissists. We care only about getting what we want, no matter what the cost, just like you. Global warming, perpetual war, toxic waste, child labor, torture, genocide… that’s a small price to pay for your SUV’s, your flat screen TV’s, your blood diamonds, your designer jeans, your absurd, garish McMansions! Futile symbols of permanence to quell your quivering spineless souls. But no. In the end, we are nothing like you. We are immortal. Because we drink the true blood. Blood that is living, organic, and human. And that is the truth the AVL wishes to conceal from you. Because let’s face it, eating people is tough to sell these days. So they put their friendly faces to pass their beloved VRA, but make no mistake! Mine is the true face of vampires! Why would we seek equal rights? You are not our equals. We will eat you after we eat your children. Now time for the weather, Tiffany.”

Holy shit.