Pam was on her knees in front of a splayed Amelia when she felt rage and anguish ricochet through the bond she shared with her maker. Having felt his bloodlust in spades earlier in the evening, she knew that the pain she felt from Eric meant that this was not the same thing. She was immediately on her feet, her fangs fully extended as she felt his fear spike before a devastating pang of agony nearly brought her back to the ground.

"Eric!" she shrieked.

Amelia was up and by her side in an instant. "What is it, Pam? What happened?" she asked, quickly fastening her pants.

"Something's happened to Eric. I can feel his pain." She had her phone out and dialed before Amelia could say anything else. When it rang and rang, Pam cursed and had to stop herself from either grinding the phone into dust in her palm or hurling it into the woods by Lafayette's house.

"Do you know where he is? Get in the car and we can drive there."

"No, I can't track him like he can track me. Besides, he has shut down the bond and I can no longer feel him." She knew he shut his side down to spare her the agony but she felt like she wanted to help him shoulder the pain. She paced furiously, wondering what to do. "Anyone who could cause him so much pain is either old and very powerful or stupid as hell."

"What do you want to do?" Amelia did not like to see Pam so upset. She knew a maker/child bond was a precious thing though she could not really fathom the depth of devotion that Pam felt for Eric. "Should we go back to your house?"

"That's not my house. My house is decorated much better than Eric's man cave. I don't live with Eric, I just stayed there while I was behaving like a stupid little mouse."

"Oh…" Amelia didn't know what to say. She was glad Pam remembered her and still seemed to like her but this Pam was nothing like the Pam she first met.

"Come on, let's go to my house and you can sleep there tonight. Dawn is coming soon. I will make a few phone calls before that, you can eat my snatch, and then tomorrow we will find the sons of bitches who took my maker."

"Oh! Um, okay…" Yes, this Pam was nothing like the one she knew.

Once at Pam's house, which was as ornate and elaborate as Eric's house was understated, she took Amelia inside and disappeared into her office to call Isabel for help.

"Pam, to what do I owe the pleasure?"

"This isn't pleasure, unfortunately," she purred. Pam had always found Isabel quite attractive and she had tried unsuccessfully to get into her pants over the years. It seemed Isabel's proclivities leaned toward dick, though she was one of the few long term associates that Eric hadn't fucked. Perhaps that was why they worked so well together. People that had experienced the Viking's prowess often became unattractively clingy and it ruined their working relationship.

"Then what is it? I had expected Northman's call tomorrow about the situation with your king."

"Eric's been taken."

"Taken?"

"Kidnapped, abducted, captured? Someone's got him. I felt it about an hour ago before he closed off the bond. Will you help him?"

"Of course. Call Nora, she will help as well."

Pam sighed. "I can't stand that bitch. But yes, I will call her to help my maker."

"Good. I will be there as soon as the sun permits tomorrow night. Meet me at Eric's house."

Pam hung up and then dialed the last person she ever wanted to talk to again.

"Pam," spat Nora into the phone. "You are interrupting my bedtime snack. What do you want?"

"Someone's taken Eric. About an hour ago. Isabel will be at Eric's house by the lake tomorrow night. Will you help him?" she gritted out between clenched teeth. To have to ask Nora for anything was infuriating but she would do whatever it took to get her maker back.

"Of course I will help, what kind of a sister do you think I am? I will be there as soon as I can."

Eric's command to treat his vampire sister with respect was still in order it seemed because Pam was unable to call Nora the choice name in her mind. "Thank you," she said instead.

~~—~~—~~

Sookie stood slowly and looked around. "Where are we? Why are we in the middle of nowhere?" Her chest throbbed with the loss of her mate. She was starting to recognize the open field at the edge of the tree line in Bon Temps but she couldn't figure out why Claudine would have taken her there.

"Sookie, there is Fae magic here, can you feel it? There is a hidden portal where more of your family are gathered."

Sookie felt for the presence of more Fae magic. "Please, don't take me to Faerie! I can't leave Eric! Last time I was there a few minutes was a year over here. He'll die! They'll kill him!"

"Sookie," Claudine soothed. "This is not in the realm of Faerie. Do not worry. We will gather forces to help your vampire." Claudine put her arm around Sookie's shoulders, helping her calm down. "Come, there is someone here who wishes to meet you…and someone who has missed you."

When Sookie looked again, she saw the entrance to a sort of circus tent materialize in front of her. Standing in its mouth shaped entrance were Jason and an older man with white shaggy hair. He was dressed in an immaculate white suit and he had an air of great power about him.

"Jason!" Sookie yelled, running to her brother. She collapsed against his chest and he held her up.

"Whoa, sis! What's wrong?" he asked.

Sookie, realizing that Jason knew nothing of her life for the past few weeks, didn't know how to tell him what had happened. She realized she had not even heard from Jason in all that time, despite having left him messages.

"Where have you been, Jason?" she questioned, concern for him taking over her heart for a moment.

"I, uh, I got into some trouble in Hot Shot," he answered sheepishly.

"I had to rescue this boy from a bunch of inbred werepanthers!" said Niall, impatient to be introduced to Sookie.

Sookie turned toward the strange man at her side. "I'm sorry? And who are you?" she asked. "You're the man who wants to meet me?" Sookie squinted at the man. He was definitely other and since Claudine had brought her to him she guessed he must be Fae.

"Sook, this here is our great great great, or was it great great? Maybe just great…well, hell, Sook, he's our granddaddy!"

"Our granddaddy? What about Earl?"

"Yeah, he was our granddaddy so Niall must be our great granddaddy…or somethin'."

Sookie turned toward Niall for confirmation. "How do we know this?"

"Because my child, I have been watching you your entire lives."

"It's true, Sook!" interjected Jason. "He even knew that I broke my middle finger as a kid and I was mad cuz I couldn't flip Hoyt off no more!"

"If you've been watching over us, why have things been so hard for us?" Sookie demanded.

"Unfortunately, your grandaddy Earl would not let us interfere in your lives. I regret the difficult things in your life, child. I would have helped if I could."

Sookie looked at Niall and could see that he was telling the truth. "So why are you here now?"

"Because Earl is gone and you are in danger. I wish to help you now that I am able." Niall bowed his head in petition, aware of the many hardships in his granddaughter's young life.

"What can you do to help?"

"I know your bonded has been taken. I know the members of the Vampire Authority that might be able to help him. It seems Nan Flanagan was supposed to meet her end along with King Bill but instead, she decided to mutiny. Delusional, both of them. I don't know what they hope to accomplish."

"Wait, who's her bonded? What's that even mean? And who's Flan Nanagan?" Jason was stumped and he looked around wildly at whoever might be able to answer his questions.

"Nan Flanagan is the bitch who took my bonded, Eric Northman."

"Aw don't tell me you're involved with them blood suckers again, Sook! I thought you got rid of 'em when you were away."

"I'm in love with him, Jase. He's so much better than Bill. You don't really know him but when this is all over, I promise you will like him…or at least respect him. He's a good man."

"He's a fanger, Sookie!"

"Jason, Sookie is right that Eric Northman is an honorable man. They've been trying to get him onto the Authority council for years. I should know, they've been trying to get me on there, too."

"They have?" said both Sookie and Jason at the same time.

"On the vampire council? Why?" asked Sookie.

"Unite the supe races, blah blah blah. I don't know. I have been ignoring them." He winked before continuing. "But I'm sure they don't know what the king and that Nan Flanagan have done to the Northman. I hope you will let me help you and contact them about this."

"You know how to contact this Authority?"

"I do, child. The Northman has many allies on the council, most of all his vampire sister, Nora."

"Eric has a vampire sister? What? He certainly has some explaining to do when I see him!" The thought of seeing Eric again caused pain to roll through her chest, making a deep breath almost impossible.

"Vampires are secretive, my dear…much like Fae. Much like any supernatural being, really. It's what keeps us alive." Sensing her pain, Niall placed a hand on her shoulder, the soft glow of his light flowing into her body.

"Hmm, I guess," she said softly, her breathing easing slightly. She tried not to think about what must be happening to her love right now. She hoped he was still alive. She was sure she would have felt it if he had died but she did not want to think about what was happening to him.

"So, shall we go in and meet some more members of our family?" Niall's eyes sparkled as he gestured toward the tent.

Sookie could hear club music coming from the tent entrance and beautiful creatures passing by in very skimpy clothing. "I have more family?" she asked.

"Sook! There's a mess a fairies in there. Now I know where I get my good looks and excellent skills with the ladies from."

Sookie just shook her head as she followed Niall and Jason into the tent.

~~—~~—~~

"Wakey, wakey, Northman," sing-songed Nan, poking a mostly naked, strung up Eric with a silver rod. Even silvered and attached to a chain in the ceiling, he was a formidable opponent and Nan was keeping her distance.

When his foot came into contact with her leg, she yelped and backed up even further.

"Now, now, is that any way to treat your hostess?" she asked once she had regained her balance. His foot had not made significant contact in his weakened state. "I wouldn't want to have to mistreat you. Don't make me turn the liquid silver ceiling sprinklers back on. Behave, Mr. Northman, and this will all be over."

Eric lifted his head, looked straight into the eyes of his captor and smirked. "Fuck you!" he gritted out.

"Ooh, so eloquent," she said, plunging the silver rod into his side.

Eric grit his teeth and grimaced but did not cry out. "Where's your little pawn this evening? Or hasn't he the stomach for torture?" Eric's voice was mostly a whisper but the venom in his words could be clearly heard.

"You call this torture? Come now, Northman. You and I have been alive long enough to know what real torture is. This…this is merely a preview."

"What do you want? You are a fool if you think there will not be repercussions for these actions!"

"Oh my. How awful for me," she pouted. "I think it's obvious what I want. I want that little telepathic fairy that has you and Bill salivating like Pavlov's dogs."

"You will never get her!"

"Never is a long time, Sheriff. You should know. I am prepared to be patient. I can wait until you are so starved and beaten that you will be out of your mind with hunger. You will tell me anything. You will do anything for me, including using your precious bond to find my little fairy hybrid."

The thought that it could come to that made the pain in Eric's chest triple as a cold fear gripped him. Would he ever betray his love in that way? Even if he were starving and tortured? It was a split second of pondering before Eric decided that he would never give up the light he found in Sookie. He would never give in to Nan Flanagan no matter what she did to him. There had to be a way out and he would find it.

"Why do you even want her? Her blood does not allow us to walk in the sun if that's what Bill told you."

"I am not that stupid, Sheriff. I don't want her blood. Do you know who she is? Do you know who her grandfather is? I doubt she even knows. No, Sookie serves two purposes…well, one really, but with two pawns. Sookie's purpose, my dear Mr. Northman, is to keep you in line. Both you and her grandfather, and given your pathetic devotion to her, I have no doubt you will do whatever I say once I have her!"

"You will never have Sookie! Never! I will kill you and bathe in your blood before you lay one filthy finger on her!"

"Tsk, tsk, Northman. What would she think if she heard you talking like that? You don't want to scare your precious human hybrid."

Eric remained silent, knowing that Sookie accepted all of him—the vampire that could exact a painful revenge on one who hurt him or his family as well as the sweet lover who shared her bed. His chest warmed briefly with thoughts of her love but pain quickly replaced the good feelings as he felt her grief awaken with her mind. The tumble he felt—from warm happy feelings to utter sadness—could only be explained by the world careening back into her mind as she fully woke up. At least she had slept. He was glad for that.

"Listen up, Northman! Enough of this! I have people out looking for your sweet little fairy right now. You want to remain quiet, fine. But know this—when I do find her, I will have to reward my men in some way, and what better prize than the blood of a sweet delicious fairy hybrid? You know well what goes along with blood for a vampire, yes? Do not be surprised when she is returned to your side slightly more worn than when you last saw her."

Eric's eyes snapped to hers and as she continued to speak, the rage contained in his gaze grew more and more fiery until it burned white hot. The only sound that escaped his mouth was a fierce low growl as his clenching muscles pulled on the chain to which his hands were bound. The beams in the ceiling creaked and groaned with his movements and Nan backed quickly across the room to the cell door.

"Remember what I said, Viking. Help me locate her and she will be brought right to you. Make me find her myself and my men take turns with her for a night before you even see her. Oh, but you'll feel her won't you?" Nan gave him a look of mocking sympathy, a sad little smile on her face. "I'm sure you don't want to be responsible for the terror and revulsion you will feel from her." She exited the cell and pushed a button that released the chain on which Eric hung. He was dropped to the floor where he landed in a heap. "Think about it!" she called as she made her way up the stairs.

Eric pulled himself to a seated position against the wall. If he wasn't weakened, he would be raging and destroying anything he could get his hands on. Instead, he sat shaking with fury, murderous thoughts flying through his mind. He would kill Nan Flanagan and every single one of her ridiculously dressed guards. If she thought there would be no repercussions to her actions, he would show her just how wrong she was.

~~—~~—~~

Upon waking from her day death, Pam immediately felt for her connection to Eric but found it still closed off. She could tell he was alive, or un-dead, but she could not feel anything else from him. She knew he was trying to protect her but she also knew she owed him a great deal more than he would ever acknowledge. She wanted to feel his pain, imagining that he felt her pain and terror as she was held by the Magister while he pretended to be loyal to the man who had slaughtered his entire family. Eric Northman never wanted to appear weak, however. He would never let her feel his pain and never even shared his millennium old vendetta with her. She had seen him share himself with Sookie in the past week and the thought of how happy she had known him to be, made an unfamiliar warmth grow in her chest. That pretty little fairy hybrid made Eric shine with happiness and she would do everything she could to return that happiness to him.

"Sookie!" she suddenly said, startling Amelia, whose thighs she was between. She was sorry to prematurely end her first live meal in way too long.

Amelia sat up. "Why are you thinking of her while you're drinking me?" she asked. She was unsure how much more of this new Pam she could take. This new Pam didn't even let her sleep in her day chamber with her, instead relegating her to a guest bedroom on the main floor of her house.

"No! I was only thinking of Eric but what if Sookie was captured too? If whoever has Eric, has Sookie also…"

"Eric will go crazy if anyone hurts her!" Amelia supplied. "How can we find out?"

Pam healed Amelia's inner thigh and stood up, pacing quickly to the door. "I know where she lives but that's all. I must meet Isabel at Eric's house and then we can pay her a visit and see what's happened with her."

"I'm coming too!" said Amelia. Sookie was a good friend to her and she wanted to try to help.

Pam smiled at her companion and put an arm around her shoulder. "Have I told you how grateful I am for your company?"

Amelia blinked twice, speechless, as the old Pam seemed to make an appearance. "Uh, no…"

"You're a good friend, Amelia…and you're excellent at eating twat. Come along!" she said as she opened the door to her garage.

Amelia was speechless once again but as her legs started working, she smiled and shook her head. Pam was definitely going to be a challenge.

"You drive a minivan?" Amelia asked, her mouth gaping at the large vehicle in Pam's garage.

"Yes, get in."

"This is really not the kind of car I would expect a vampire to drive, let alone a vampire like you."

"Well," said Pam with one raised eyebrow, "you never know when you might need to haul a body. Besides, it's been modified—big car, big engine." She revved said engine just before gunning it down the street in route to Eric's house by the lake.

Amelia clutched whatever she could hold onto as Pam sped along. Just when she thought she was about to be sick all over her pristine leather interior, Pam slowed to a stop outside of Eric's house.

"You're just as bad as Eric!" Amelia gasped as she scrambled to exit the vehicle.

Pam winked. "Who do you think taught me how to drive?"

The time for jokes was soon over as Pam spotted Isabel waiting on Eric's back deck overlooking the lake. The two nodded formally to each other as Pam walked up, followed closely by Amelia.

"Eric has a beautiful property," mused Isabel. "I've never been here before."

"If you go for the secluded natural beauty thing, I suppose. Thank you for coming, Isabel. This is Amelia. My…friend."

Isabel looked at Pam with a small raise of her eyebrows at this news. Pam was not known for having friends—vampire or human. "Pleasure to meet you," said Isabel with a small nod to Amelia.

"Thank you. It's my pleasure as well."

"Now…let's get down to business. Tell me what you know of Eric's whereabouts."

"Last time I saw him he was with Sookie. We were in Bon Temps at her friend's house."

"Eric was at the house of a human friend of Sookie's? My, my, I guess a tiger can change his stripes."

"Had I not seen how happy she makes him, I'd be saying the same thing. I'd be ready to kill her for how vulnerable she makes him…but even I can't deny how much he cares for her, and she for him. It's disgusting, really," she smirked.

"So he was nearby when you last saw him and you felt his rage shortly after?"

"Yes. Only a few minutes later."

"So he must have been taken very close to where you were. And what would be close that he would head toward?"

"Sookie's house!" said Pam and Amelia, having come to the same conclusion simultaneously.

"Sookie's house. Good. Then this is where we shall go."

Thanks for reading! I know I didn't get them to safety yet but forces are amassing and the showdown is coming! I hope you enjoyed this and especially the much shorter wait for a new chapter! :)

Don't forget to check out my wordpress site at victoryintrouble. I have lots and lots of stories that are there but not here. I started a new one called "Captive," that is a very different kind of story than I've ever done. There are two parts posted. It will be a short 4-5 part story set in the past, AU...

But first- tell me what you thought of this chapter! :) Thanks!