One Night at Hooligans

Chapter 14

Couldn't Eric and I have had at least one nice night together before everything fell apart? I had been looking forward to seeing his home and getting to snuggle with him again for all my feigned indifference. I had really missed him. I had missed everything about him from when he'd been with me last year though I didn't want to admit it. Except for Jason being missing, the werewolf tussle, the witches and Debbie Pelt, being with Eric then had been a trove of uncomplicated fun when we were alone together. Even more than the great sex, I had missed the companionship that being with him provided.

However, the drive through Shreveport in Pam's borrowed vehicle was a quiet one. I really couldn't look at Eric right now. I felt a lot of things. Shock, anger, betrayal, pride, lust, dismay and others that were too numerous to mention. It was simply... too much.

While Pam was seated in the back seat with her arms crossed, Gabriel was seated beside her. I knew that Eric was staying silent because he knew both Pam and I were very upset. He did occasionally glance in my direction as he left the Shreveport city limits.

What I wanted to do back at the bar, when Amelia and Sam looked at me after Eric's revelation, was run as fast and as far away as possible, because I now knew what was coming and wasn't sure I liked it one bit. Actually, to be honest, I knew I didn't.

If the myth about ostriches with their heads in the sand were actually true, I'd be blissfully unaware because my upside down head would be buried up to my neck. Since it wasn't true, that wasn't really an option since I kind of needed air to survive and there wasn't much of that underground. Actually, ostriches could run about forty-three miles per hour so they didn't really need to hide.

I just wanted to hit something. Couldn't I just do that? No, Gran would be appalled at my manners. Ladies didn't go around hitting the people they were mad at no matter how much they wanted to or how much they deserved it.

Despite the fact that Eric sometimes drove me crazy, the only reason I was still here was because I cared for him. Well, I guess there were two reasons, since this whole protection angle business was looking pretty good right now. I wanted no part of Loki.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Gabriel surveying all three of us and shaking his head slowly. What must he think of us? I couldn't get a fix on his thoughts, so he must be a vampire, especially if he was an old friend of Eric's. There was no telling how old was old with Eric's friends. Actually, Gabriel was the only friend other than Pam that Eric had. At least, he'd never mentioned any others, including Gabriel. Then again, I didn't know everything about Eric. That much was certain after tonight's revelation.

Earlier, they had outlined their plan of action for which I had only heard bits and pieces because I had a lot to process, and my ability to process those things had been interrupted.

Sam and Amelia had turned toward me with questions in their eyes, but it was Amelia who asked, "Wasn't that your grandmother's name, Sookie?"

Looking over at Eric, I saw him looking at me with a mixture of sadness and pity. Yet he looked hopeful that I would understand why he hadn't wanted to tell me, and... why was I picking up a wave of fear that I would pull away from him? That was odd.

"Yes," I replied.

Alcide went all in and asked, "So, somehow Sookie's grandmother traveled back to your time, and the two of you... were involved?"

"No," Eric replied simply, keeping his eyes on me, and understanding dawned like a big, overly bright, glaring sun, blinding me with its brilliance.

"No! No! Me? It was me? For crying out loud, how the heck could I possibly time travel back to the tenth century? I might be telepathic, but I don't have any magical powers. And seriously, why would I call myself Adele after my gran?"

Eric's lips curved up a little, as he replied, "It was the tenth century, Sookie. You chose Adele to better assimilate into the culture. The name Sookie would have been difficult to explain, and humans were very superstitious in those times, especially of those who might be associated with or perceived to be supernatural. I heartily agreed with your choice since Adele means 'noble.'"

The large raven at my side sounded off in approval. I glared back at the bird. Noble my ass. "Okay, so say I do get there somehow, when is all this supposed to happen?"

A bit out of his element, Eric looked perturbed that he didn't know more and replied, "I am uncertain, as to the... exact moment. You did not disclose that information to me. I only know that it is... soon."

I turned to Niall, who was sitting apart from the others, and asked, "Did you know about this?"

Niall sighed, sadness in his eyes, and nodded. "Yes."

"Did... do you cause it?"

"I do not, child, though it is within my power to make... adjustments, but I can not... have not found a solution to break what was done."

As Alcide made a little growl of exasperation, Calvin said, "Knowing this is interesting and all, but what is the plan for protecting Sookie from Loki?"

"Why? Are we keeping you up too late?" Pam drolled. "Unless you have something valuable to offer, why don't you just lick your paws, oh or better yet, I think we still have some half and half in the mini fridge behind the bar. Help yourself."

"Pam, enough."

Pam gave Eric a look that spoke volumes as she blew out some air. She glanced at me and winked.

Her wink made me feel somewhat more at ease about this whole situation. Looking at Eric, I found him gazing both intently and apologetically at me as if to say he would explain further... later. Since we'd had a similar conversation earlier, and he knew how I felt about that, I just looked away and said nothing.

Gabriel had watched the entire exchange with interest, and I saw him giving Pam an appreciative glance or two and wondered what Pam thought of Gabriel.

As Eric continued, I heard someone say my name. When I glanced around the table, no one was looking my way. Then I looked back at Eric, and distinctly heard, "Sookie." Startled, I turned and saw that there was someone who wanted my attention all right. The raven.

"Did you just say my name?" I asked quietly, watching as he stood on one foot and fully stretched out one wing. The wing expanded nearly two and one half feet away from his body. Good grief! He must be nearly five feet wide when both wings were stretched out.

The raven nodded and looked me straight in the eye as he settled his wings firmly against his body. "Come," he said, though I wasn't so sure that he said it aloud this time.

"Come? Come where?"

He didn't answer but he leaned toward me and put his foot out. Huh, I guess he wanted me to pick him up. I looked at him and said softly, "You're not going to bite me or peck me with your beak are you? My brother Jason and his friend Hoyt made me watch "The Birds" with them one time, and I really don't want any physical or emotional scars from going through what those people did."

He shook his bird head and just kept holding one foot out to me. I moved my arm closer to his outstretched foot, and he moved his foot back, teasing me. I closed my eyes and just kept holding my arm out to him. I felt one clawed foot and then another step up onto my arm.

As I listened to the weres and supes dividing up my guard duty assignment, shivering slightly from the unaccustomed feel of having a live bird on my arm, the additional weight wasn't nearly as heavy as I had expected.

I'd always had Tina, my cat, until she'd passed on, so I had never had a bird as a pet before because Tina had a fondness for them. I don't mean as friends. When I felt him rub the side of his beak against my skin, I opened my eyes and really looked at him for the first time.

Visually measuring him from head to tail, he appeared to be approximately two feet long. Overall, he was entirely black from his beak to his tail, including his funny-looking feet. Yet in this light, his feathers alternatively had a purple then blue iridescence to them depending on which way he moved. It was quite similar to the effect of male peacock tail feathers. When he fluffed himself up, his throat feathers spiked ominously, making him look rather roguish.

"You are really a beautiful little rascal, aren't you? May I... may I touch you?" I asked, finding myself strangely removed from the conversation ensuing around me and singly focused on the raven.

He looked at me and then politely lowered his head, showing great trust that I would not injure him. Tentatively, I reached out my hand and touched the top of his head and was amazed that the feathers were soft and smooth. I rubbed the back of his head, and when he ruffled up his feathers, I used my index finger to lightly scratch his skin between the feather shafts of his neck. He closed his eyes, gave a little guttural trill and moved his head, showing me where he liked to be scratched.

Again, moving his head, he shook it a bit and then cocked it so that one eye was fixed on both of mine. As I looked more closely, I noticed that the eye was a dark brown and not black as I had thought.

"Muna."

I heard the word, but I wasn't sure it was aloud or in my head.

"Muna? What is that?"

"Muna."

"I'm sorry. I don't understand."

"Muna. Re-mem-ber."

I was confused, and I couldn't stop looking into the depth of his eye. "What am I..."

The lids of my eyes grew heavy, and I felt dizzy. I blinked and found myself at Merlottes setting drinks down on a table. Feeling rather confused at the change of scenery, for a second I thought I'd spill the mug I was holding as I slowly looked around.

"What the Sam Hill..."

"Did you call me, Sookie?" said Sam right behind my left shoulder.

I gasped and dropped my empty tray.

As Sam bent down to pick it up and handed it to me, I felt a sense of déjà vu.

"I'm sorry," he apologized. "I didn't mean to startle you. Just relax. You've been doing fine tonight. In fact, I was just coming over to tell you that you got the job."

"Oh, that's great," I replied nervously and put on my big smile. "Thank you."

"Say, why don't you take a break? You deserve one," he suggested as he leaned closer. I could have sworn he sniffed me, and for some reason, I suddenly felt like I had a ham hock dangling around my neck.

Arlene walked over and demanded, "Sam, where's my check? I've got Coby and Lisa in the car. I don't have time to be looking all over creation for it." She turned her attention to me, "Who the hell are you?"

Sam looked apologetic and said, "Arlene, this is our new waitress. Sookie Stackhouse. Sookie, this is Arlene Fowler. I've got your check over here behind the bar, Arlene. I'll go get it."

"Alright then. Thanks, Sam." She looked at me and said, "Stackhouse, huh? You any relation to Adele?"

"Yes, she's my Gran."

"Really? She's good people. You ever do any babysitting, Sookie? My man just walked out on me, and I've got two really small children to take care of, and with work and all, it's a little too much. Be nice if I had someone that could watch them that I could count on."

"Uh... sure. I might be able to do that now and again."

"Here's your check, Arlene," said Sam, walking up to us and holding it out to her. She grabbed it from him and said hurriedly, "I really gotta go. My kids."

We watched her leave, and Sam said, "Sorry about that. Arlene can be a bit..."

"Abrupt. Self-involved," I offered.

Sam grinned. "Yup. That pretty much sums it up. Go on, and take your break."

I decided to go out and get some fresh air, so I grabbed a full garbage bag and hauled it out the back door and walked to the dumpster. Two large black birds flew away as I approached, and after heaving the heavy bag up and over the top, I heard a moan on the other side of the receptacle.

"Oh my gosh," I exclaimed as I bent to help the withered old man who lay there. His hair was long, white and greasy, and his beard was a mixture of white, grey and black, almost as long as his mass of hair. Since Bon Temps was not a hot spot for the homeless, I was shocked at his tattered and filthy clothes. Squatting down next to him, the smell of unwashed body, and a whole lot of other smells that I didn't even want to think about, made my stomach turn.

"I'll go get some help."

I went and got Sam and between us we toted him inside and laid him down on the floor in Sam's office. Sam was a lot stronger than he looked. While Sam called the sheriff's office and went outside to wait for them, I ran a bar towel under some water and filled a glass with the same, and returned to sit down beside the man. As I began to gently bath his face, he opened his eyes and looked up at me.

"Thirsty," he croaked.

I put my arm under his neck and helped him raise up while I held the glass to his parched, cracked lips. He drank greedily, and I did my best to breath through my mouth instead of my nose during the process. When he had drained the glass, I eased him back to the floor and started cleaning up his face with the towel again.

"What happened to you?" I asked as he watched me.

"I've had a long journey it seems. My life..." he broke off as he coughed.

"Shush now. Help is on the way. You're gonna be all right. Just relax."

"I know how I smell, young woman. How I must look. You have taken me in even when it might have been against your better judgment. You are exceedingly hospitable to one such as I."

"Well, thanks, but most people would have done the same."

"No. They would not. Many would have just walked on by and pretended I was not even there."

"Well, my gran didn't raise me that way."

"She must be a remarkable woman to have raised someone like you."

"Well, thanks. She is."

His face turned serious, "There are choices that you will need to make in your life that will be difficult."

"Don't I know it."

"No, I do not say this lightly. You are stubborn. You are headstrong, and sometimes, you act before you think matters over."

"Excuse me? How would you know..."

"You are also very brave, and you fight for what you believe in. When you give your heart, you don't give it lightly. Be patient with him. He was right to make his request. Despite my misgivings, you are... worthy."

Sam and Bud Dearborne came into the room, and I stood up, saying, "Oh good, I'm glad you are here. He's not making a whole lot of sense."

They both looked at me like I was out of my mind.

"Where did he go?" asked Sam.

"What do you mean? He's right..." I started then stopped when I saw that he was gone. "Where did he go? I didn't take my eyes off him while you were gone. I swear." I pushed past both of them and went out the back door, looking both ways. There was no sign of him.

One of the black birds that I'd seen earlier flew straight at me, and I was back at Fangtasia with a bird on my arm.

"Holy crap!" I exclaimed to everyone's surprise. When I saw them all looking at me, I returned the bird to the back of the chair beside me and said, "Eric, take me home. Now!"