Sorry for posting a day late – we had a fire alarm go off in our flats yesterday evening when I normally write, so I didn't get as much written as I'd hoped to. Although I have realised that the idea of good-looking firemen is a myth. Annoyingly!

Anyway, that's for the continued support. I love reading the reviews and it keeps me motivated.

On with the show ...

Lux Æterna – Chapter 17

Eric

"Sookie, come on. Drink."

I had my torn-open wrist over her mouth, while supporting her body in the way that would shove my blood down her throat the easiest. Godric was next to me and applying his blood directly to her back where the bullet had hit her. I didn't remember a time that I'd been more scared, and it only reinforced the point of not only how fragile Sookie was, but how important she was to me as well.

"She's healing," Godric told me quietly and I breathed a sigh of relief. "The bullet is being pushed out."

I watched Sookie's back and saw the bullet come out of the open wound as her body healed itself unexpectedly quickly. The bullet itself, however, was larger than normal, and as he studied it, I saw a distinct pissed off expression on my maker's face.

"It's wooden," he said with a growl. One matched by my own at the thought of the Fellowship using wooden bullets. It meant that they had a very good weapon against vampires and one that we would certainly have to be careful about.

Sookie was now feeding herself at my wrist, and I stroked her hair as she did so. I was aware that many other vampires were looking on, as the ones who had been surrounding the church had all come forward to take hold of the humans when the sniper fired.

Sookie pulled back from my wrist and moved in my arms. She looked up at me, her big blue eyes showing signs of tears from the pain, but no fear. "Eric?"

"Hey. How do you feel?" I ran a finger down her cheek.

"Like I was shot in the back," she said with a faint smile.

I gave her a smile. "You're okay?"

She nodded. "Yes. Is Godric okay?"

"I'm fine, Sookie," he said from behind her.

She let out a relieved breath and squirmed in my arms. I was still aware of the vampires looking on, and I knew I needed to do something and get Sookie away from the church. I leaned in close to her, knowing that only she and Godric would hear me.

"I'm sorry for what I'm about to do. You know I don't mean you any offence. We will speak later."

She gave me a quizzical look as I stood up. I caught Godric's eye and he gave me a nod of his head that told me he'd explain fully to Sookie once she was safely away from the church.

"You have done well, pet," I said to her as I cupped her face in my hand. It wasn't loud so that it seemed that I was putting on a show, but I was aware I could be overheard. "I will reward you well when I see you next."

Sookie opened her mouth to protest, but Godric gave her a gently nudge and pulled her up from the floor. I sent her an apology through the bond we shared, and I felt her understand what I had to do.

"Yes, Sir," she said with a bow of her head and a cheeky smile on her lips.

I felt my cock grow hard at her out of character submission to me, and I could feel her amusement. However, from centuries of schooling my emotions, I didn't let anything show on my face.

"Godric, take her away from here, I have matters to deal with." I turned around and looked to where Tray Dawson was arriving back on the scene dragging an unconscious human who I assumed was the sniper. "Get rid of the wolf and witch as well."

Dawson knew well enough how vampire politics worked, so dropped the sniper where he was standing and led Amelia away when Godric and Sookie started to head to the cars. I imagined the two girls would be angry at being spoken to in such a way, but as humans I had to show that I was in control of them.

"Nice," one of the vampires said when they were leaving, his eyes fixed on Sookie's ass as she walked away.

"She is enjoyable," I said dismissively. I didn't want it known that she was my bonded and mate.

"Do you share her?" another one asked.

"No."

"Are you sure?" a third asked. "Godric seemed to…"

I wasn't going to be questioned like that, and flew at the offending vampire and threw him to the ground, my fangs drawn and a snarl on my lips. "I said that I do not share. What happens with Godric is not of your concern."

I knew this painted the picture that I did share Sookie with Godric, and the only way they would assume I did was sexually. But that was probably the easiest assumption to let others vampires make, and I hoped Sookie would understand why I had to let them think that.

"Do not piss me off again," I said to the vampire as I climbed off him and went to where the sniper was still unconscious and face down on the floor. I kicked him over to see that he was probably no more than twenty years old, with blond hair and a youthful but fit appearance.

I turned to Clancy, who I had known for several decades since becoming King of Louisiana. "Take him to the holding cell underneath Fangtasia. Pam will already be there with Newlin, so make sure that he is secured. And I don't want him talking to Newlin."

Clancy nodded and hauled the human up off the floor before leaving to do as I asked. I turned to the remaining vampires who were holding the six scared humans hostage.

"Please don't kill me," one of them started blabbering, tears falling from his eyes. I wasn't in the mood to deal with crying humans. I wanted to check in on Pam and Newlin, and then I wanted to get back to Sookie.

"Shut up," I ordered. "All of you, look at me." Once I had all six men under my thrall I glamoured them into forgetting all of what had happened at the church, changed their opinions of vampires, and gave each one of them the compulsion to move to different parts of Canada. Quite simply, it was easier than hiding the bodies, and in these times it wasn't as easy to dispose of a body as it always used to be.

Once I released the humans, I dealt with the vampires. "Go, all of you. But be aware that a war is brewing. The fellowship will not like what has happened today, and we have their leader. There is likely to be a retaliation, possibly through the media, so stay sharp. And no one is to talk of my human. I will know if you do."

The threat I made was clear, and when I was sure they understood, I flew up into the sky to go to Fangtasia. Clancy and the sniper had yet to arrive as they travelled by road, but when I descended the stairs to the basement, I was amused to see Pam toying with Steve Newlin.

The reverend had been stripped of his shirt and was in shackles against the cold and wet stone wall. Pam, meanwhile, was holding a riding crop in her hand and the evidence of her work was on Newlin's chest and arms. The vampire really could be quite sadistic at times, and I was pleased with how well I had mentored her.

"Get this vampire bitch away from me," Newlin complained when he saw me enter.

I smiled a fangy smile. "Really? You won't like me any more."

I bared my fangs at him and he had the decency to look scared.

"Having fun?" I asked my child, although the answer was obvious from the uncharacteristic smile on her lips.

"Oh yes. Can I keep him?"

"We'll see. First, I want to know what he's up to."

Steve Newlin had an unpleasing smile on his lips that bordered on being a sneer. "Try all you like, vampire." He said his words with smug satisfaction, and Pam rewarded him with another slap to the chest with the riding crop.

I gave Pam a look before pushing my mind into his. Only somehow, I couldn't glamour him. It wasn't like when I had tried to glamour Sookie, but somehow I just couldn't get a hold of his mind.

"Did you try?" I asked Pam in Swedish.

"No. Are you unable to?" She'd responded to me in the same language so the human would not understand us.

"It seems to be the case. I have not met a full human that I could not glamour. And, more disturbingly, he knew that I wouldn't be able to. I fear the Fellowship may have more tricks up their sleeve than we had anticipated."

I turned my attention back to the human. "Problem, vampire?"

I growled and hit him in the stomach. "No, it just makes it more fun. I much prefer to torture information out of my victims." I gave him a sinister smile and walked away with Pam following me.

I spoke to her once we were out of the out of the basement and back in her office. "After you left with Newlin, Sookie discovered a sniper on the roof."

Pam gasped a little and raised an eyebrow. "Was anyone hurt?"

"Sookie. She ran towards us probably aware that the sniper was using wooden bullets. I'm going to speak to her next as I had Godric take her, the witch and the wolf away. She could have been killed."

Pam shook her head. "She will want watching, that one. Too damn brave for her own good."

"It could be called foolishness," I growled out, finally allowing my fears to take place. She could have been killed. And no one was to know whether a wooden bullet would affect her in the same way it would a full vampire. And I was also damned near certain she wouldn't have survived a bullet to the head.

"She was trying to save your life," she gently chided.

"I was wearing Kevlar."

"Something she didn't know about."

I gave Pam a look that said 'shut up', to which she simply rolled her eyes over. "Clancy is bringing in the sniper in. I glamoured the other humans to leave the state and love their neighbours."

"Really, Eric? You're getting soft in your old age."

I growled at her. "It was easier than disposing the bodies. Sometimes I long for the days that a human could go missing without their face appearing on a milk carton."

"I'll second that."

"When the human gets here, have him locked up in a separate cell to Newlin. Have him chained, blindfolded and gagged, and I think some tortuous music wouldn't go amiss."

"Justin Bieber?" she asked, although I had no idea what or who that was.

"Whatever, as long as it is mind-numbingly awful."

"The Bieber it is."

I still had no idea what Pam was talking about, but she seemed to be amusing herself.

"Fine. Allow the humans to have some food and water before sundown, I want them in tip-top condition."

She grinned at me. "Of course."

With that, I left Fangtasia and headed home to speak to Sookie.

.

Sookie

"Are you sure you're okay?" Godric asked me for what felt like the hundredth time as we drove back to Shreveport.

"Yes, I am. No residual pain or anything, although I could really do with a shower." I was aware at how messy I was, and turned to Tray who was sitting in the back of the SUV. "Sorry for getting blood on your seats." I'd wanted to put some plastic down before I got in, but Godric was insistent that we left straight away.

Tray just shrugged. "No matter. This car has had plenty of blood on it. I know a wolf that specialises in getting rid of blood from things."

Somehow, that didn't surprise me.

Godric still seemed tense, and I was worried he was angry with me for allowing myself to get shot. "Are you mad at me?" I asked him quietly.

He let out a breath. "No," he said before pausing. "Yes. I'm angry that you were shot, not with you. I hate that you got hurt because of us."

I placed a hand on his arm. "I was fine."

"You might not have been. If it hadn't been for Eric feeding you his blood, you may have died."

"Not necessarily," I said with a shrug. Godric turned to look at me, a query in his eyes. "I'm part vampire. I may have some of your healing skills."

He looked serious for a moment, obviously querying my suggestion. "It is possible. When I tended to your wound, you seemed to heal much quicker than I would have expected you to."

Godric didn't say any more, and the car remained quiet in an uneasy silence until we dropped Amelia and Tray back at their house.

"Tray, I would like to speak to you," Godric said as we all climbed out of the car. Tray nodded and followed Godric around the side of their small detached home. Amelia led me inside and handed me a much needed large glass of wine.

"Thanks. I need this." I drained half the glass and looked to Amelia, who was giving me an unusual look. "What?"

"You're with Eric."

I nodded. "You know that." I had told Amelia about my relationship with Eric, as I could hardly keep it quiet when he was very hands-on when we were together.

"I do. But what's with Godric? Are you with him as well?"

The very thought of it made me feel a little sick. "No! Why would you ask that?"

"Vampires often share their humans. I didn't think you would … but I'd never expect a vampire such as Eric to allow another vampire to feed their human blood."

Shit. I hadn't thought of that. And no doubt all the other vampires there probably thought I was sleeping with both of them.

"Vampires do that?"

She nodded. "It's well known. Vampires often pass humans around between them when they share a nest."

"That's just … that's just wrong." I was still feeling disgusted at the thought of it, and very glad that Eric didn't dare to do such a thing. "I'm a one vampire kind of gal." I assured Amelia.

She still had a ponderous look on her face, however. "Well what's with it then. Godric looked as concerned about you as Eric did."

I sighed realising I was in a difficult situation. Amelia had certainly noticed that something was up and I couldn't deny it. "I can't tell you, Amelia. There is something, but I can't tell you. If I did it would probably put you and Tray in danger as well. Just trust me, neither one is hurting me, and Eric is the one I am with. Can you leave it at that?"

She gave me a long look before nodding and taking a mouthful of wine. "Sure. As long as you're okay."

"I am. And thank you for caring."

We hugged briefly before Godric came back. Tray appeared to be in one piece, which I was pleased about. Godric secured his arms around me and we shot up into the air, something I had never quite gotten used to.

"You said the right thing to Amelia," Godric told me once we landed at Eric's house.

"Other vampires would have noticed as well," I stated, not bothering to make it a question.

"Yes. And Eric will have dealt with that."

"Do vampires really pass human between them?" I took a seat in the kitchen and sat at the counter. Godric joined me and handed me a mug of hot chocolate.

"Many do. Eric and I have before; we've shared females."

It made me feel a little queasy, but I appreciated his honesty. "Recently?"

"No. Not since before I met your mother. It was why I never introduced her to Eric, I didn't want him anywhere near her as I always thought he'd want her as well or expect me to share her. I would never have let any vampire go anywhere near Niamh, and Eric won't let anyone near you. It is different when a vampire and human bond together."

I knew that Eric wouldn't share me with anyone. That vampire was as possessive as they came even though we hadn't spent much time with any other vampire than Godric or Pam.

"I know. But that's not what other vampires are going to think, is it?"

"No, they won't. But in some ways it will be safer for them to assume it is the case."

I stared at him open-mouthed. "Seriously?"

"We will discuss this more when Eric gets back, but it will be safer than anyone suspected the truth." I shook my head not quite believing what he was saying. "Eric and I are two of the oldest vampires in the US. It only protects you more for any vampire to think that you belong to both of us."

I did understand his point, but that didn't mean I was happy about it. "I'm going to shower," I announced before going below to the bedroom I shared with Eric and climbing into the huge Eric-sized shower.

I took my time, making sure that all the dried blood was off me. I threw away the clothes I'd been wearing, as they were blood-stained, and I'd realised that it wasn't the easiest thing to get out. Still, I didn't like throwing clothes out unnecessarily.

By the time I'd dried my hair, changed into clean clothes and headed back upstairs, Eric was back. And by the looks of it, him and Godric were having a serious conversation. But of course they stopped as soon as I was close so I didn't hear a word of what either one of them was saying.

Eric was on me in an instant, pulling me close to his chest and burying his head in my hair. I let his scent overwhelm me for a moment and clung onto him almost as tightly as he was holding onto me.

"I have never been more scared," he whispered into my hair. "Seeing you be shot … Sookie, promise me you will not do that again."

I pulled back to meet his eyes, which seemed pink around the rims. I'd never seen Eric be close to tears before, and it pained me to see him hurt. Any anger I may have felt disappeared seeing how much he cared about my safety, but I still wasn't going to lie to him.

"I can't promise that, Eric. For you and Godric I would always do all I can to protect you."

"I don't want you to." He placed his hand on my cheek. "I could not live with myself if you got hurt. You must not do that again, Sookie." He silenced any comeback with a deep, passionate and needy kiss that left me breathless and feeling tingly all over. Eric really had the ability to throw me completely of course when he wanted to. "You should have stayed where you were."

I pulled back from him and let me go. "Eric, the man had wooden bullets! One of them through your chest and you'd have been dead. Finally dead. You say that you cannot live if anything happened to me … well I feel the same about you and Godric. I couldn't not do anything."

Eric sighed and pulled me into his arms again. "You are too brave for your own good. I want to keep you safe, Sookie. We both do. But I do understand that you want to protect us as well."

Godric came up behind me and placed a hand on my back. "We were protected. All three of us walked into the dragon's den by turning up at that church through the front door. We were wearing Kevlar vests, which are pretty much stake proof."

"I didn't know that," I told them.

Eric ran hand through his hair. "And we should have told you. But you still shouldn't have run to us like that. You could have shouted. We would have reacted." He paused to growl for a moment. "Dawson should have kept you safe."

I crossed my arms across my chest, not liking where Eric was taking this conversation. "Oh no you don't. Do not blame this on Tray. He had to go and get that sniper."

"I gave him orders to stay where he was." Eric's anger would have been obvious even if I hadn't felt it through the bond. His eyes seemed to be a colder blue than normal.

I ignored Eric and turned to Godric. "What did you say to Tray when we went back to their house?"

Godric looked to Eric before answering me. "I told him that Eric would want to speak to him. Eric is right, he should have stayed with you and prevented you from being shot."

I stared at both of them dumbfounded. "He caught the sniper, who may well have got away if he hadn't done that. And who knows what would have happened if I hadn't run towards you. That sniper could have still killed you. I doubt you could survive you head being blown to pieces by a bullet."

"And nor could you," Eric growled at me taking a step closer. "You were foolish and imprudent to run towards us like that. I will be dealing with Dawson at a later date."

"You will not!" I snapped back.

"Do not question me, Sookie."

"Of course not, your majesty." My tone was biting and full of sarcasm, something only emphasised by the exaggerated bow I gave him.

"Sookie," he warned, his tone dangerous.

"Screw you," I snarled. "I'm going home."

With that, I turned on my heel, picked up my purse, which was luckily in the hallway and marched to my car. I half expected Eric to follow me, but it was Godric that did so.

"Sookie, do not leave here in anger." His tone was soothing and I really wanted to do what he said, but I was feeling way too stubborn.

"I'm going home, Godric. I need some time to think."

He gave me an understanding smile. "He is only worried for you. Eric is not used to being out of control, and you being shot like that meant exactly that. He loves you. And I know personally what it is like to lose a bonded; he would be heartbroken if anything happened to you."

"So he's just looking after himself?" I snapped. I was more than aware I was being childish, but I felt a little entitled to.

"Sookie."

"What? I'm going home. Don't bother following me or even contacting me."

With that, I climbed into my car and headed in the direction of Bon Temps. I tried hard not to cry on my journey back, but after about ten miles I realised I was failing miserably and allowed the tears to slide from my eyes. It was the first argument I'd had with Eric in all the time we'd known each other – or at least since the initial days when I didn't know him. And I was also aware that it was a stupid thing for us to be arguing over. We were both overly concerned for each other's safety – him for me and me for him – and both of us wanted to put the other one first. But what I didn't want to happen was for Tray to get in trouble with Eric, as he had absolutely not done anything wrong.

It was actually quite nice to be back at Gran's farmhouse. I hadn't spent much time there for the last few weeks as I'd been spending most of my time with Eric.

The house was quiet as it was four in the morning, and I listened to Gran's soft snore as I entered the house. Realising that my mind was way too active to sleep, I made myself a coffee and sat down in front of the TV to watch some crap shows about something or other. My mind was still on Eric, but he hadn't called or turned up at the door. And that upset me despite the fact that I had told him not to.

"Sookie?"

It was Gran's voice that woke me, and I realised I obviously had fallen asleep in front of the television. I had a blanket dropped over me, which Gran must have placed there, and the clock on the mantle told me that it was ten in the morning.

"Hey Gran," I said as I climbed up and went to give her a hug.

"What's wrong Sookie?"

My Gran always could read me like a book. "Nothing."

She raised an eyebrow at my lie. "Yes there is. Tell me."

I ended up telling her everything. She was already aware that I'd been going to the Fellowship meetings undercover, but had been appalled when I told her that Jason was there. She told me that I'd done the right thing in glamouring him, although pointed out that I needed to un-glamour him sooner rather than later.

"You can't blame him for being concerned about you," Gran told me in a firm voice when I'd finished.

"He's being overprotective."

"You are a thing to be treasured, my girl, and he knows that. He is an alpha male, and you have to remember that he is not of these times. Go to him tonight, Sookie. Do not allow your stubbornness cause problems between you."

Sometimes my Gran knew me too well.

"You're right. I was upset last night, and I hate arguing with him."

"You have certainly made your point. Be more reasonable and talk rather than shouting at each other."

I sighed and wrapped my arms around my gran. "How did you get so wise?"

"Years of practice."

I decided that it would be best to catch Jason unaware so planned on seeing him at Merlotte's where he tended to eat his lunch each day. I drove there around lunchtime and let out a sigh of relief when I saw that his shiny black pickup truck was in the parking lot. As I entered Merlotte's I spotted Jason at the bar and muttered the word 'bananafish' into his ear.

"Hey, Sook," he said almost immediately with a smile. "What are you doing here?" he'd wrapped an arm around my shoulders and I was relieved that all seemed okay with him.

"I just came to see my favourite brother."

"I'm your only brother." Sometimes I didn't know whether Jason was being serious or not, but this time he smiled to let me know he wasn't being as dumb as I thought he was.

"How've you been?"

He shrugged. "Okay. I'm a bit tired today."

"Late night?" I asked fishing for information.

"Kinda."

I peeked inside his mind and saw that he did remember what had happened the night before, but he wasn't going to tell me about it. I decided it was best to not say anything right now, but I'd ask Eric to glamour Jason at a later date so that he stayed away from the Fellowship.

"What the fuck?" I heard an unknown voice say behind me.

The man was looking at Jason and me, and I realised that he'd been at the church the night before.

"Stackhouse, how the fuck do you know this vampire-loving whore?"

I stared at him dumbfounded, and my brother did as well, still not aware that he'd seen me at the church.

"Hey, what is going on here?" Sam came up beside me and stared at the dark-haired man who'd spoken to me. He was probably in his mid-twenties and was wearing a black jacket and jeans. "You will not speak to anyone like that in my bar."

The unknown man narrowed his eyes at Sam before turning his attention back to me. I was seconds away from pulling him under my control when I felt a searing pain in my abdomen. I looked down to see the handle of a knife sticking out of my belly, and I could smell the blood as it pooled to the surface and ran down my body.

Sam and Jason were on the man in an instant while I collapsed into someone's arms. I looked up to see the faces of Tray and Amelia, not knowing quite when they got there, but glad all the same.

"I told Eric not to blame you," I spluttered to Tray as he carried me into the back room of Merlotte's.

"That doesn't matter, Sookie."

I drifted in and out of consciousness, as I was aware that Amelia and Tray were around me and talking quietly together. Amelia was holding a rag over my wound and seemed to be chanting some words in a language I didn't understand.

"Eric," I muttered to no one in particular.

"I know," Amelia told me. "We're going to stabilise you then take you to his house." I nodded but cried out in pain when I felt Tray move me. I was vaguely aware of a heated debate around me, but Tray carried me to the SUV and Amelia joined me in the back.

"I'm dying," I said to her.

"Just hold on," she said, ignoring my comment. "Hold on."

I wanted to, I really did.

But I could feel something growing inside of me. I wouldn't have been able to describe what the feeling was if I had been able to speak, but it was unusual and unexpected, but not unpleasant.

However, I was truly stunned when I felt myself leave the backseat of the SUV and reappear in a luxurious and bright white room in a place that I somehow knew was nowhere near Louisiana.

.

Yeah, so I'm throwing in a little weirdness for you all to try to get your head around!

I'd love to know any thoughts!

I won't be updating next weekend as it's my birthday and the Hubs and I are going away for the weekend.

See you in a fortnight or so.