A/N: Hello everyone, I know it has been a while. Frankly I lost my passion to write, and even though I think about it and try to do even just a little everyday, it's hard. I suffer from a disease that affects my memory and my ability to concentrate and it's getting worse as time goes on. I really want to finish the story and we're getting so close to the home run. I'm going to try to push myself to finish it this year, but we'll see. Don't lose faith in me ok?

I also just want to point out that I'm aware true blood was based on books and in those books many things were different. I am basing this story in the true blood universe only and will use creative freedom to add or change what I like to make my story.

As Always your reviews keep me motivated and it's so nice to hear what you think, especially the more critical comments as it helps me to improve.

Enjoy!

Chapter Nineteen

Godric

I lay back in my bed, my muscles still aching from the day. My master had lent me out to another and he'd worked me to the bone. I sipped on some wine and hoped it would be strong enough to sooth the pain. I put the empty goblet down and closed my eyes, resting my head against the mattress. Warm hands cupped my cheeks and I found myself staring up at a beautiful woman.

"Hello again," she said gracefully.

"You," I realized who she was; the strange supernatural creature that had visited me some weeks ago. "I was unsure if I'd ever see you again."

She smiled and pressed her lips to mine in a soft kiss. Just like before she wasted no time in getting what she came for. She stood in front of me and drew her long dress over her head, letting it fall to the floor as my mouth hung wide open at the sight of her bareness.

She climbed on top of me, her divine flesh encasing mine. She was exquisite, reminding me that there was more to life than agony and contempt. A breath of fresh air as she taught me the meaning of pleasure. I let her do whatever she wanted to me, bathing in her glorious body, feeling her soft skin and hair as she took me for hours on end until I fell asleep from sheer exhaustion.

I woke up some time later to cold hands shaking me. My beauty was gone, and instead Tiberius was standing over me.

"What are you hiding from me!" He slapped me across the face, the impact stinging my cheek.

"Nothing!" I yelled back at him.

"Someone was here, I can smell it," He lifted his nose, taking a deep breath as he inhaled her lavish scent.

"Yes, there was a woman. But she's gone now, and I doubt she will ever come back."

"If that's true, then you don't need to remember her…" he growled.

Always, he snuffed out what little happiness found its way to me. He grabbed me by the throat and lifted me from my bed. His eyes staring intensely as I succumbed to his hypnotic gaze and the memory of her faded away, lost forever.

To say there was intense, widespread pain all over my body was a vast understatement. Between the burning of the silver and intruding agony of the nails, it was hard to imagine it becoming worse. But as I watched as the night slowly changed to morning, the looming sun grew ever more threatening and I could feel the first stings from it's rays.

I would leave this world just as Sookie stated would happen 2000 years in the future. I was again meeting the sun as a consequence of my actions. Leaving a trail of blood and body parts behind with no goodness and decency to redeem myself. My legacy was that of a selfish monster who didn't deserve her grace and beauty. As great as my pain was, I could never forgive myself for what I had done to her. I had allowed my spiteful anger to control me and she had paid the price more than once.

I strained to see through eyes that were turning red. A strong beacon of light that couldn't have been the sun appeared in front of me. It was hovering in the middle of the air near the ground, before growing vertically and increasing in strength. It opened from the middle and revealed the figure of a woman standing in it. The picture behind her was otherworldly. It was dark but radiant as lights like the night sky swirled behind her like liquid smoke.

I realized who she was and saw her as her true self. She was otherworldly beautiful. Having features only a being with great power would have. She had the gaze of an old tempered spirit but the heart of eternal youth, forever burning with life and love.

As she stepped out of her world and into mine, her truth became hidden and she wore a very convincing glamour that concealed her real appearance and tricked most eyes and noses, with even her scent changing to that of an ordinary human.

She stood at the base of the post and raised her head, gazing up at me with the face of the Sookie I remembered. She climbed the post and offered me her wrist.

"My blood will protect you," she insisted.

But I didn't deserve it and refused, believing my punishment to be just. In response she put her skin to my lips and pressed it up into my fangs. Sweet blood trickled onto my tongue and I couldn't resist. As much as I may have wanted too, she was too decadent, and I was unable to hold back.

The sun rose and I expected its rays to burn my flesh, but it did no such thing, and instead I was treated to watching my first sun rise since I was human. My eyes dazzled as brilliant orange and red light changed the color of the sky.

I realized the true potential and value faery blood had to vampires and possibly the reason why my maker was interested in them. Though I doubted if he was even aware, being too cowardly to test it himself. She pulled her wrist away and I hesitantly released her. As she stood on the edge and looked deep into my eyes, I saw my destiny. She leaned slightly forward and placed a soft kiss on my lips.

"Let's get you down," she said before climbing off the post.

Eric

I had no idea if Godric was dead or alive. Compromised by silver and outnumbered thirty to one, the pressure to save my maker from certain destruction was crippling. A vampire older than me had the back of his hand tightly wrapped around my neck, making sure I wasn't going anywhere. He took pleasure from my discomfort and tightened his hold each time I dared to move.

The building they had forcefully dragged me into was light tight, but I knew outside the sun was shining a powerful heat Godric wouldn't survive for long under. There was little hope for him now, as even if I were to somehow escape, I would never make it to him in time before the sun would get to me first.

The other vampires were already assuming he was finished and were chattering among themselves as if he was. His siblings didn't look too happy, with the older ones itching to do something but were forced to hold themselves back. Taia's eyes were wide with fury and she was looking for blood. She noticed my staring and was about to unleash her anger on me but was stopped by sunlight as the door to the chamber loudly swung open.

Jason Stackhouse lowered his foot and held up a gun, his scrunched up face snapped towards the other vampires as they tried to attack him.

"Stay back or I will fucking kill you!" he threatened them from behind gritted teeth, pointing his gun at them.

They had no idea what he was saying or what kind of weapon it was, but the anger in his eyes and the tone of his voice was enough to convince most of them it was wiser to be cautious and keep a distance. He slowly walked over to me and pointed it at the one whose hand was wrapped around my neck. But he refused and didn't budge, giving the human a stern look of disapproval as he eyed him up and down.

"Let him go," Jason warned, but still the vampire refused, unaware of how deadly a bullet could be.

Another vampire failed to heed his warning and tried to attack him, but Jason was having none of it. He raised the barrel and pointed it at him before firing. The wooden bullet struck the vampire in his chest, piercing his heart and making him explode in a bloody mess that splattered across everything and everyone within a three meter radius.

Jason spat on what was left of him and turned his attention back to the one holding me. He pointed the gun at him and asked in silence from behind a blood stained face to release me. Though he didn't speak, the older vampire let me go, not wanting to be turned into red goop.

I wiped the blood off the side of my face and Jason and I casually walked to the door with no further protest. With such a gruesome display the others shrunk back in fear. Now that they had seen what Jason's strange weapon was capable of, they didn't dare move. They wanted to intervene but once they saw what it did they hesitated and stood back, watching, unable to do anything. They didn't want to cross him and I enjoyed watching their cowardliness as they scuffled off to hide.

Once they were gone he reached into his bag and pulled out a large glass bottle.

"This is for you," He popped the lid off and instantly the sweet intoxicating smell of potent faery blood filled my senses. I took the bottle from him and took a swig, the flavor rolling around my tongue as I savored every drop, feeling its power ooze through me as it ran down my throat.

"Sookie is doing the same for Godric." Jason stated, much to my relief at the news.

It healed my skin where it had been burned by silver and I felt energy return to my muscles. It was having an effect on me and I stumbled a bit as I walked. The blood was intoxicating and I could feel it in every inch of my body as I became drunk on its power. I opened the door and light poured out, but it did not burn and instead my skin welcomed the heat. As we approached the hill however, the sight of Godric sobered me.

His flesh was bruised and blackened where the nails had been forced in and he was covered in blood and dirt, with long red streaks running down his arms and torso. He was groaning in agony from not only the nails but the silver that was coating his skin which had turned a dark charcoal color that started to flake off.

Sookie was kneeling next to him, appearing the same as she had yesterday. The base of the cross was broken and charred, and I guessed that she had blasted it with her light in order to get him down. She was holding her wrist above his lips and was indulging him with a copious amount of her blood. The effect had long kicked in and the sun wasn't burning, but much damage had already been done thanks to the silver and his skin was black and raw.

She pulled her wrist away and Godric noticed me as I came to stand next to her. I wrapped my fingers around one of the nails in his palm and prepared to pull it out, looking to him for approval. He gazed back at me from behind sunken, desperate red eyes and nodded. I pulled hard, yanking it out in one go. He yelled in pain but bared it well as I repeated the process and pulled out the second from his wrist.

Sookie loosened the rope keeping his torso tied down, as I removed the two from his other hand and wrist. With his upper body now free he struggled to sit up and Jason offered him a hand. Sookie reached into her bag and produced another bottle of blood just as her brother had done for me. She popped off the lid and judging by the smell, I could tell it was slightly stronger than the one I had before.

She held it out for him to take. With such a delectable offer dangling before his nose and in his desperate state, he snatched the bottle from her, finishing it rather quickly. However the silver powder coating his skin was stopping him from healing. We would have to wash it off.

I focused on his feet. The nails pierced deep through the sides of his ankles and looked so horrendously painful I was afraid to touch them. Godric sensed my hesitation and spoke through gritted teeth.

"Do it Eric," he winced, preparing for the pain to come.

I swung my right leg over the post, turning my back to him, and held each of his legs firmly to the post with my own, just above where the nails were. I took a deep calming breath before wrapping my fingers around each one. Trying to be as smooth as possible, I pulled them both out at the same time and as fast as I could. He yelled in agony as I removed them, but afterwards felt the relief of their absence.

He tried to walk but he was in no state to even stand and he stumbled over, tearing his wounds further and they dripped with fresh blood. I swiftly picked him up and he tried to protest but couldn't as his physical state wouldn't allow it and he soon passed out.

I watched as Sookie handed Jason a bag and he emptied its disgusting contents onto the ground at the base of the post, making it appear the vampire attached to it had met his end. Sookie then blasted the wood with her light, setting it on fire and it quickly burned up under the intense energy and became charcoal.

She then offered her brother her hand and he nodded and took it. She turned her attention to me and placed her other hand on my shoulder. She smiled and her hands lit up in a bright white and purple light.

I didn't understand how she did it, but in the blink of an eye we were transported to another place. We found ourselves standing on the balcony of a large house, overlooking a wide river. I knew from the style of the brickwork and furniture that we were no longer in Roman territory. We were somewhere in Egypt, far across the other side of the Mediterranean sea.

Pamela and the humans were standing nearby, waiting to receive us. Sookie must have brought them here the same way she did the rest of us. I noticed they no longer appeared beaten and bruised, but were healed, with only the stains on their clothes being evidence of the violence inflicted on them.

My maker was still unconscious. Unable to heal he had passed out from the pain and blood loss, and despite the large amount of faery blood he had drunk, he was still ghost white. I carried him down to the river and slowly lowered him into the water, watching anxiously as the current washed away the caked charred layers of skin and blood. The silver eventually came away also and he finally began to heal properly. He moaned and curled his fingers as his flesh uncomfortably wove itself back together. Not even a scar would be left as evidence of the ordeal. After some time his eyes opened and they were no longer blood red. He stood up on his own two feet and wiped the water from his face, looking like new.

Sookie approached us. She handed him a towel and a change of fresh clothes which he gratefully took from her, his eyes refusing to lift to meet hers. I felt the shame and regret he felt in her presence, and how he didn't deserve such kindness from her after he had treated her so horribly. She must have felt it too, as she cupped his cheeks with the palms of her hands and pressed her forehead to his, sending him silent reassurance that everything was going to be ok.

She looked down into his big blue eyes and gazed directly into his soul "I forgave you a long time ago,"

"How can you?" He asked shocked, "I do not deserve it."

She smiled gracefully, the warmth in her heart seeping out and shining on her face "You've paid the price Godric,"

Surprisingly, there was nothing but love in her heart. She was healed and emotionally stable, despite the fact that yesterday we were breaking her spirit in two with the hard truth. But now she was a new version of herself that wasn't afraid of anything. Even her mannerisms seemed different. She was more sure of herself and the power she held. I wondered where she had gone exactly after she jumped into that portal in the caves, it could not have been the same dark realm she ventured to the last time she went through one.

We left the side of the river and went back inside, making ourselves comfortable in the living area. Godric quickly changed before joining us. It was amazing what the vampire body was capable of enduring and healing from. You couldn't tell he'd just been through an extremely violent event. Pamela sat next to him and he wrapped his arm around her backside. While the human women sat on the floor at his feet. One of them offered him her wrist but he turned her down.

I sat opposite him, wanting to say something but unsure where to start. Sookie was slowly pacing the room, her thoughts elsewhere.

"Where did you go?" I asked her.

She stopped pacing and looked at me, her eyes were full of light and wonderment as her lips curved into a smile. "One day I will take you there." she didn't seem to want to say anything further than that, as she ended the conversation with a soft kiss on my lips. "Oh how I missed you," she sighed into me, before deepening the kiss.

She ran her fingers through my hair and her intoxicating smell filled my senses. Her soft lips on mine and her sweet taste. As much as I was enjoying it, I also sought answers from her and pulled away. "Sookie, I need to know,"

"Soon," she hesitated to tell me, taking a quick glance behind her before turning back to me.

The others were stripping down and bodies were merging into one flesh. I couldn't help but stare and watch for a moment as they let themselves go and moved into another room to complete the intimacy. I didn't try to stop them, knowing my maker needed the distraction right now.

I looked back to Sookie "Do you really think the authority will be fooled?" I stated, referring to what she and Jason had done earlier.

"Yes, but Godric's siblings will not be. They'll come looking for him."

"And I'll be outside, watching." Jason announced, taking on the responsibility of guarding the place.

"Thank you," Sookie kissed him on the cheek and he left also, leaving me alone with her.

"What happened to you?" I asked "Just yesterday you couldn't stand to even look at Godric."

"Things change," She stated, taking my hand in hers and pulling me off my seat.

I followed her to a bedroom where she closed the doors behind us. I sat down on the bed and waited for her to start giving me the answers I needed.

"From your point of view I left yesterday," she began, "But, I've been gone much, much longer…"

She slowly walked towards me, her appearance changing with each step she took. The glamour she was wearing to hide her true self slipped away and beneath the surface her real form came out.

Her hair became a few shades lighter and grew longer falling past her hips. It was so golden blond it was almost white. Her eyes phased into a deep purple with an icy core while her ears elongated and grew pointed at the tip. Her skin became more radiant and had a slight glowy hue to it. With her veins literally running with light filled blood that made her skin shine from the inside. Her clothes were far more exotic and her scent was heavy in the air.

I didn't sense any human in her whatsoever. She was completely faery and a very powerful one at that. My lips hung wide open, she was beyond beautiful, the most magnificent being I had ever seen and I didn't know what I had done to deserve her love and adoration. I felt quite humbled in her presence.

"After I jumped into that lake, I went to a realm inhabited by the faeries. To you it felt like a single night, but I was there for several years. And during that time, I became my most true self, as you see me now."

"You are… very beautiful," I lamented. "But, years?"

"Drink from me, and through the bond we will show you,"

I wasn't sure what she meant exactly but did as she asked. She pulled her long hair away from her neck and I tasted her. Her blood was beyond delicious, a smorgasbord of flavors teeming with life in every drop. I could taste the power running through her veins and it set my taste buds on fire. I don't think any other blood would ever satisfy my thirst again. It was intoxicating and I lost track of not only time but of where I was and who I was with. All that existed was her essence dancing on the surface of my tongue, enchanting me.

Reluctantly and with great force of will I retracted my fangs from her neck, before we lay back and got comfortable on the bed. She curled up next to me and placed her hand on my chest, right above my heart. As it was daytime, it didn't take long before I felt myself being met with the comforting darkness of sleep.

Earlier...

Sookie

The freezing sharpness of the lagoon disappeared. I was now floating in lukewarm water as I slowly ascended to the surface. My eyes were closed as the light coming from all around me was so strong I had no other choice. But I was not afraid, I was full of hope and curiosity, somehow knowing the place I had been pulled into was different to anywhere else I'd been. It felt like going home.

The light faded as I reached the surface and took a refreshing deep breath. I wiped my eyes and scanned the area, finding that I was in another underground lagoon. Though this was much different to where I had come from. The water was divided into several large pools, separated by rock. It was dark, but glistening light swirling in the pools lit the room with an eerie glow that made it bright enough to see.

I swam to the side and climbed out, sitting on the edge with my legs still in the water. This place felt oddly familiar, though I couldn't remember ever coming here before. I knew this was not earth, but a place somewhere else. I was instinctively channeling my inner fae, reading deeper into my environment, knowing my surroundings by my senses alone. No longer relying on just my normal five. I couldn't explain it. It was as if I was tuned into the very fabric of the world.

"Princess Sookie," A woman was standing behind me.

"How do you know my name?" I asked while probing her brain.

I found nothing but innocent intent, from what she willingly allowed me to read anyway. She was an inept telepath, with an uncanny ability to hold up a constant protective mental shield.

"There's no need to dig around" She smiled warmly, referring to my probing "I've known you since you were a babe,"

She reminded me of Gran. Her spirit was one of gentle calmness, tempted by her age and wisdom. Though she had a youthful appearance and looked to be around my age, I knew she was much older. Her platinum blond hair fell past her waist and was braided in an intricate weave decorated with jewelry wrapped daintily around her locks. She wore fine clothes and her feet were covered with pretty open shoes. Delicate chains wrapped around her ankles and connected to her toes. I sensed they protected her somehow. Every inch of her reeked royalty.

"You're Niall's wife," I stated, reading the information from her instinctively.

Her grin widened and she seemed impressed by my abilities.

"Sweet Sookie, you never fail to surprise me," Niall approached us.

"Oh my god…" I wrapped my arms around him.

He didn't seem to care that I was soaking wet and embraced me back. "You've done well granddaughter."

He waved his hand and two halflings entered the room. One offered me a towel while the other offered me a glass full of clear blue liquid. I took the offering and sipped at it. It tasted like some kind of fruit but nothing I could specifically recall. Yet it oddly felt familiar also, just as this place had. Activating some long forgotten distant memories buried deep in my head.

"I know you have many questions and they will be answered, but right now you must rest." He insisted, "using the portals so frequently as you have drain's us."

"Drink, it will help restore life in you." his wife added.

"But I feel fine," I stated.

They both looked at me in doubt, before he raised his hands and held his palms in front of my chest. Light appeared from the center and passed through me, running up and down my body. It only lasted a moment before it ceased and he lowered his hands.

"Huh," he said surprised, as if he were expecting otherwise.

"In any case, I'm sure you'd like to get dry and have something to eat. Am I right?" his wife said.

I nodded, my stomach growling as if it heard her.

"Good, come on then."

I followed them and we walked through a series of cave chambers, each one filled with pools, some bigger or deeper than others.

"What is this place?" I asked.

She tried to explain it as best as she could. "Imagine a series of circles, all overlapping and sitting inside each other. The Earth sits just on top of the Darklands, while this realm is right at the center of everything. From here we can travel almost anywhere."

"Almost?"

"Some of the passageways have been lost over the centuries," Niall answered "but many are still intact, like the one we used to send you and the others back."

"So this whole time..."

"You were never alone my dear," She tried to comfort me. "We have been watching over and guiding you on this journey."

They led me out of the caves and into a beautiful woodland. "What about Eric, and the others? I can't just leave him back there."

"Worry not," Niall answered. "Here time does not exist in the same way it does on the human plane. Your friends will be fine. You could spend a thousand years here and return with no more than a second gone by if you so desired."

"Really?" I said with much doubt.

I wondered how it was possible but ever since I had absorbed the stone I had felt the presence of an immense wisdom, buried deep in the very fibers of my body.

She smiled and nodded. "Do not worry, enjoy this moment."

We passed through the woods and to a beautiful garden surrounding a large structure. The design was unlike anything I'd seen on earth, with many parts of it defying gravity. It was built from grand white stone, and was decorated with fine jewels. The windows were intricate and colorful stained glass while various plants grew up the sides of it's high walls and towers.

The inside was just as grand. The rooms were large and spacious and filled with finely crafted furniture while large vibrant artwork dotted the open space. The walls were lined with silver and gold and everything was grand and far more exquisite than what I was used to.

They led me to a room and left me to myself, telling me to make myself at home. I had never stayed in a place of such luxury before. After making good use of the bathroom and eating a decent meal, I laid down on the bed large enough to fit five people and lost myself to comfort. I must have been more tired than I realized as I fell asleep and didn't wake for many hours.

When I finally decided to rejoin the living and woke up, Niall's wife was sitting in a chair by my bedside, smiling down at me.

"Don't say I didn't warn you," She grinned knowingly.

I sat up and she offered me another drink, the same as before. I drank it and felt its rejuvenating effects. My body was regaining its energy. "Why me?" I asked, wondering why they didn't send someone more competent back.

"You are the last in our line my dear. There was no one else."

"But why? Why was it so important to you?" I was referring to the chest we dug up in Gaul. She understood that.

I sensed a great sadness in her. She hesitated, wanting to keep whatever she knew a secret from me so as not to hurt me, but I needed to know and pressed her for further information.

"Through faery blood hep v mutated and made it dangerous to not only all other supernaturals but to the humans as well." She began, "As it wiped the vampires out, it turned deadly against everyone else."

"And Bon Temps?" I asked with a lump in my throat, picturing all of my friends becoming afflicted.

Her eyes were wide and deep, full of sympathy and great compassion for my feelings "It was evacuated. A few chose to stay and survived for a time but, eventually even they were forced to abandon it. The town was destroyed."

"So… Arlene? Holly?" I asked, knowing they carried the virus.

She shook her head "I'm so sorry my sweet granddaughter…"

My stomach dropped as the news absorbed. It was one kick in the teeth after another. Just when I thought things couldn't possibly get worse I now learn I didn't even have a home to go back to after all of this was over.

She reached out and took my hands, reading my thoughts I suppose. "You have a home, and you are loved." She reassured me.

"But what am I supposed to do now?"

"Just don't give up hope." she replied.

I stood up, my frustration obvious.

"We can repair what has occurred." She continued "We saved you after all."

"What are you talking about?"

"It was royal blood that helped the virus make the jump and become what it did."

"How?" I asked, remembering what she had said earlier about me being the last in the line.

"Through you my dear. Just as Bill Compton met his fate, so will every other vampire on earth."

I struggled to take in what she was telling me, my heart was racing and my face felt hot.

"But don't you see, you healed. Which means hope is not lost. You are the cure, and through your blood we can restore the earth."

Now I understood why the chest had been so important, the healing stone had given me the ability to fight back where Sarah's had failed.

"If that were true, why don't you just send me back now?" I asked.

Her face turned sour. "We must retrieve the ancient magic from the Darklands before it falls into the wrong hands. We have been betrayed and I shudder to think what he would do with such power."

"Who?"

"You know him as Briar."

My stomach dropped at the mention of his name and I realized where I had gone wrong. I was such a naive fool.

She continued. "I am sorry we have had to be so cryptic with you Sookie. But he was constantly probing your thoughts and dreams, and interrupting whenever we tried to help. We had to be very careful with what we shared with you as whatever you learned he would learn also. It was not Tiberius that removed his hand, it was us. We caught him trying to make a stone so we exiled him. Unfortunately it went wrong and he escaped. He kidnapped a few faery women and took them to the past where he joined Tiberius and together they plotted to finish what he started."

"He's been deceiving me this whole time…" I realized everything I thought about him was wrong. I thought he was my friend, but he was nothing more than a traitorous murderer, and I knew what I had to do.

I took a deep breath and accepted what had happened, letting the anger that was brewing inside me become my motivation.

"I'm going back to the Darklands, and I'm going to kill him."

Though the thought of that dreadful place brought a shiver to my spine, I knew I was stronger than my fear, and I was determined to make everything right.

"Your brother is already doing all he can."

"Jason?" so that's how he got there.

"As we speak he presses onward in search."

"Why didn't you tell me earlier! I have to go help him." I got out of bed and hurriedly got dressed.

"You've done enough my dear, let the boys take over now."

"How can I? Jason's just a human. He's gonna need help."

"He does, he will be fine. He's strong."

"Nothing you say will change my mind. I'm going." I insisted.

She sighed and nodded, "I know. I am aware of how stubborn you can be." She left the room for a moment and came back carrying a large backpack. "You're not going in unprepared, not this time."

She led me back to the caves and to a specific pool. It was darker than the others and was very deep.

"Be very careful. It is a dangerous place for our kind, your powers will be limited and you must try not to push yourself too far for we don't know what'll happen if you do." She handed me the pack. It was bulky and slightly heavy, but at least it was waterproof.

"What do you mean?" I asked as I swung it over my shoulders.

"It takes 1000 faeries to make a single stone Sookie. When we saw what it did to you after it was crushed, Niall sealed most of it away so you would wake up and not be overwhelmed by its power. Slowly as time goes on, the seal will weaken and you will adapt and grow stronger. But if you push yourself too far it could break entirely and you could be overwhelmed again. If that happens while in the Darklands, we will not be able to help you."

"Noted," I said with a frown on my face. I couldn't believe how much had been going on in the background without any awareness of it.

"The water is black, which means it's probably closed on the other side. Once you reach it there will be no coming back. You will have to find another portal in order to return home."

Though I nodded in recognition, I was already aware. Deep in my being somehow I felt and knew this magic. I couldn't put any of it into words, and it was all being made known to me as time revealed the secrets buried deep inside me. I sat down on the edge, putting my feet in.

"Be safe, my child." She bid me farewell and I let myself fall into the water.

It carried me on a wave of powerful energy as everything turned dark and I was pulled into another world, one that anyone with a lick of sense would stay away from. But I had a new mission and I couldn't fail.

I soon emerged on the other side. I was swimming in a dark oasis of poisonous water. It irritated my skin and made my muscles feel weak as I struggled to get out of it. Wherever the portal had taken me, there was no going back through the same way. My faery grandmother had been right. On this side it was long dead and had turned the magical equivalent of putrid and was dangerous. I had to get out before it took me, my arms and legs hurting the more I used them. I swam the hardest I could to get out, the rocky shore line in my view. I dragged myself to shore by pure willpower. I struggled to keep myself up and collapsed on it's hard beach. My face pressed against the ground as I tried to catch my breath.

I would barely have a chance to however as two pairs of hands grabbed me from behind. A third pair yanked the bag from my back while the other two grabbed an arm each and dragged me across the ground. This place and the putrid water that soaked my clothes kept me weak and I struggled to summon any light. I was thrown into a cage, the only door to it was locked as the dark faeries that had kidnapped me walked away and left me.

It appeared that I was in a different part of the Darklands than that of before. I was not in the old forest but in a barren wasteland of stone and ash. The body of water I saw was actually the low sitting crater of a mountain. The dark faeries and the cage they had forced me into was sitting on a low plane on the side of it. Looking around it was nothing but an empty black landscape as far as I could see.

My pack was teasingly sitting just out of reach on the other side of the bars. The others had left, their thoughts nowhere near me, but I knew they were close by somewhere.

Lucky for me it started raining and the fresh water washed away the effects of the poisonous portal water. The effect it had on my skin became less apparent and I felt some strength return, but it was not enough to break the lock. My light was frizzled and not stable enough to use, I needed my bag, knowing she would have packed some faery juice in it.

I lay down, unsure what to do and needing to think, staring at the open ceiling as raindrops fell on top of me and ran down my face. It was a nice feeling, despite being rather cold and having a hard ground underneath me.

"Hurry up," a female voice stated as two figures came closer.

My eyes widened as I saw who it was, and noticed she was dragging a younger man by the scruff of his neck behind her. She threw him into another cage and locked it. Not looking back as she walked away. He was injured and didn't put up a fuss as she did so.

"Willa!" I tried calling out to her.

She tried to ignore me, but I wouldn't let her and called out a second time. She finally acknowledged me and came over.

"Why did you come back?" she said, "You shouldn't be here, it's too dangerous. It took everything we had to send you back to earth."

"You did that?" I asked shocked, thinking of the last time I was here and the sudden portal that opened up behind me in the woods. "How?"

"The less you know the better. I don't have time to be talking to you right now." she went to leave "I'll come back for you."

"Wait!" I pleaded before she took off. "Can you at least hand me my bag?"

She quickly tossed it to me before leaving and I was once again by myself. Despite the fact that another being was only a few feet away from me, he was unconscious and probably would be for a while by the severity of the wound on his head.

The bag was too big to pull through the bars but at least now I could get into it. I reached in and pulled out a bottle of blue juice. As I drank it I could feel it strengthening me, enough to be able to use my powers. I held my hand out and blasted the door. It popped off its hinges and I walked out freely.

I held my lit up palm out in front of me as I walked. I looked around the base, noticing the ground was covered by blotches of dark blood, as if a fight had broken out. I tried to read nature's memory but it was impossible in this place.

There were no guards around that I could see and I made my way off the mountain as fast as I could without making too much noise. I noticed the blood trail continued and I decided to follow it, not knowing what else to do. It led deep into the wasteland and far away from the mountains.

'Dammit! Don't you dare die on me now or Sookie will kill me.'

I recognized that strain of thought.

"Jason?" I called out into the darkness, but there was no answer. He must have been further away than I thought. I guess being the only human out here, I picked up on him easily.

"Jason!" I ran towards where I thought he was coming from.

"Sookie?" I heard him speak as we grew closer together, until finally I found him in the dark.

He looked worn out, soaking wet and dirty as he supported a hunched over vampire. His clothes were bloody and dirty as he'd been shot several times. My heart dropped as I began to see who it was. I took his face and lifted it, gazing into his deep blue eyes as they met mine. Thousands of years of experience and wisdom danced daintily in them and unlike last time, I realized this was not the Godric from the past, but mine of the modern day. Through much pain he smiled joyfully at me.

"Hello little one."