Title: After Dark

Fandom: True Blood

Pairing: Pam/Tara (Tamela)

Author: Mirandyscrow

Rating: Pg-13 to NC-17

Summary: While it barely took two hours for trouble to find Tara when she returns to Bon Temps its takes just a little longer for the True Blood crew to realize that the world may be doomed…again? Amnesic vampires, psychotic witches and a love she never expected make this a homecoming she'll never forget. This story will be femslash!

Archive: Sure if you really want it. Lol, it would be a surprise to me, just ask my permission first. (It's nice when people ask)

Disclaimer: True Blood belongs to Alan Ball, Charlaine Harris, and HBO. Any and all other brand names belong to their respective owners. This is a piece of fiction from my own crazy imagination and I do not make any profit on it.

Spoilers: All of Season 4.

Author's Note: First off, I want to say that I'm going to be playing fast and loose with the plot and timeline of this season. There's dialogue borrowed heavily from the show with a few tweaks here and there before we slip, trip, and fall straight into Alternate Universe land shortly after what can be recognized as Season 4, episode 4 "I'm Alive and On Fire."

Second Author's Note: There are various languages in this chapter and I have included translations for those languages at the end of the chapter.

Beta: Mad props to my beta and beautiful wife faithlessfate for whipping this story into shape and making it worth reading. Any and all careless mistakes I claim as my own.

Chapter 4: Raining Blood

"No!" Sookie yelled as she watched Pam sink her fangs into her best friend's neck. Her hands lit up with golden energy just before a feeling of hopelessness washed over her person. She shook off the emotion and quickly flung her hands at the vampires, causing two spheres to fly. One hit Eric dead in the chest, sending him sailing across the room where he crashed into the wall, the other fairy light passed harmlessly through Tara and into Pam where it illuminated her skull with a pure radiance and she immediately paused in her drinking.

Pam dropped Tara, who fell bonelessly to the floor and Sookie followed her descent with purpose. The fairy cupped her friend's chin and applied pressure to the steadily bleeding wound on the unconscious woman's neck.

"Tara!" Sookie cried as she caressed her friend's face. "Come on, Tara. Wake up." She pleaded.

Pam rounded on the recovered Eric with a growl. "Do you have any idea what I've been through? I've been locked away inside my own mind reliving memories I've long forgotten and wished I could just wipe away while simultaneously watching someone else, some pathetic, melancholy shell live my life for me while the man I loved and admired followed behind some glitter coated pussy like a whipped puppy dog and the first thing you can say in regards to me is that 'I'm nothing to you!?' We've been together for over a hundred years and you throw that all away for a gash in a dress?" She tossed a hand at Sookie who was busy checking Tara's pulse. She glanced at the unconscious woman, noting that she had a pulse although it was weak and thready. "She'll live but she won't make it to the hospital." She informed the fairy.

"You're one to talk, 'I swear it.'" Eric replied swiftly in a high mocking tone. It would have been hilarious were it not for the rapidly fading human on the floor at their feet.

Pam rolled her eyes. "I seem to recall someone sliding me across the floor due to an idle threat."

"Enough! We don't have time for this. It may have escaped your notice but my friend is dying on the floor." Sookie yelled at the bickering vampires. "Eric, what the hell were you thinking?" She demanded from her place on the floor.

"I was not going to allow her to be killed." Eric insisted though his eyes portrayed just a second of uncertainty.

"When were you going to interfere? You know just how long it takes to drain a human and I had regressed back to newborn mentality." Pam kneeled, brushing a stray hair away from Tara's face.

"Pamela…" Eric started softly.

"Don't." Pam hissed refusing to look at her maker. "Just fucking don't."

"Help her, Pam. Give her some of your blood. She saved your life," Sookie pleaded then spoke more firmly. "You owe her one."

"I'll give her some of my blood," Eric said, coming forward.

"Stay away from her," Pam spat in disgust, shoving his wrist away. "You've done enough," she said and bit into her own wrist and let a few drops trickle into Tara's mouth. She scooped Tara up quickly and placed her on the couch tenderly arranging her neck in a more comfortable position. As soon as the younger woman's pulse began to strengthen, Pam found herself feeling infinitely relieved.

"Tara come on, please wake up." Sookie implored with tears in her eyes. She turned angry eyes onto Eric. "Ask me again why I can never trust or love you."

The gravity of the situation seemed to finally dawn on Eric. His eyes conveyed grave remorse. "Sookie, I-"

Sookie held a hand up in warning as a golden sphere began to glow within it. "Don't speak to me unless the next words out of your mouth are going to turn back time." She shook her hand, dissipating the glow from her palm.

He turned pleading eyes to Pam and she looked away from his gaze. His shoulders drooped as he tightened his jaw. "I guess I can see when I'm not needed here."

"You're really not, Eric Northman," Sookie answered him and turned to Pam. "Will it turn her?" she asked after she felt a whoosh of air indicating Eric's departure.

"It's only enough to heal but not to turn." Pam stood and looked around her surroundings. "Let's get her to a bed. I'll pay for the damage, fairy." She hoisted Tara up in a bridal carry and whisked her up the stairs, laying her on Sookie's bed with the utmost care. She lifted her hand to caress Tara's face but thought better of it and began to walk to the door.

Pam glanced at Sookie, who had just made it up the stairs. "When Tara wakes up," she sighed and tried again. "Tell her that I'm...that I…I'll see her later," she finally said softly and was gone into the night.

"At least we have one vampire with a bleeding heart." Sookie whispered amusedly. She held Tara's hand in her own gently stroking her thumb across her best friend's unusually cool skin. "Please wake up, Tara," She whispered the mantra and kissed her forehead lightly.

-x-

Tara felt as though she was floating weightlessly and walking through thick quicksand at the same time as she tried to lift her hands to rub away the fatigue from her eyes.

"What the fuck happened, Sook?" Tara groaned as she shifted into alertness while a damp towel wiped her forehead. "Ugh, I feel like I was hit by a fucking car."

"Hush chile." A gruff voice chided firmly.

"Who-?" Tara said as her eyes snapped open. Although her vision was still a little grainy, she could tell that the person in front of her was definitely not Sookie.

"Didn't I tell ya, hush?" the woman responded sternly. "There isn't much time, chile. There's a lot of travel for ya tonight and Ise just the first stop."

Tara's vision cleared and she found herself staring at a woman with her father's scowl. She glanced at her surroundings, taking in the tiny cabin-esque space that was minimal and sparsely decorated but no less warm and homey. The strong, earthy scent of sage tickled her nose and it was a wonder that she hadn't noticed it earlier.

"There's a great evil clinging to you, Tara Mae." The woman informed her.

"No, shit." Tara said with a roll of her eyes.

"Don't interrupt." The woman said and swatted Tara with a slim bunch of entwined branches.

"Ah! Who the fuck do you think you are?" Tara demanded.

"Ungrateful younguns. You'd think they'd have more respect for their elders. I'm your grandma Mae. The woman you're named after." She added with another scowl. "I'm not sure if you're a proper legacy."

"You don't know me." Tara replied defensively, resisting the urge to cross her arms petulantly.

The edges of the scene wavered and swirled and she watched as Mae moved quickly across the threshold and back again. "Take this." She shoved something into Tara's hand. "Holly is the key. Find her and she will help you defeat her."

"Get to Holly!" was the last thing she heard before everything faded out completely. Tara heard the haunting echo of a snake's rattle vibrating in the distance. She crouched down in a defensive pose until a handful of small lights began to twinkle in the background of the dark. They zoomed for her, chasing away the sound of the serpent's warning. They glimmered warmly against her hand and arms before moving away teasingly.

Tara couldn't help but smile at the tickling sensation on her skin. She took a step forward and the sprites glowed brighter. Soon she was running after them and crashing through a previously unseen door ahead.

-x-

Lilith stopped outside a small bar with a brightly lit neon sign that proclaimed it as Fangtasia and glanced upon the spectacle that had become the human race.

"God hates, fangs! God hates, fangs!" The small group of humans chanted in front of her with little deserved righteous anger.

Lilith's mouth twitched up into an amused smirk. She popped her fangs proudly and strolled forward with inhuman grace. Her flowing movements were halted as a man stepped forward and shoved some sort of illuminated device in her face.

"Hey fanger." He spat at her. His face reddened in anger when she eyed him in a miniscule amount of annoyance, much like the kind someone would impart to an insect. He shifted, suddenly nervous as she moved around him as fluidly as she'd approached. He shook himself free of the self imposed trance he suffered. "Hey! I was talking to you, fanger." He ran forward with the intent to save face and grabbed her shoulder roughly.

Lilith's hand crushed his right hand, shattering his bones and his phone in one move.

"Fuck! Oh fuck, not again." He screamed out. The other protesters scrambled for their phones to record this act of violence they were sure was going seal all vampires' fate.

The vampire's eyes glowed and none of the devices worked. Each one grew hot in their hands, becoming molten piles of plastic and silicon.

Lilith turned her attention back to the human still struggling in her grip. She forced her way into his mind. "You are a worthless sack of flesh and only exist to do what pleases me. You will be my pet, all too happy to serve me. At my command you will lick and eat the filth from where I say and thank me for it." She ran a comforting hand through his sweaty hair. "But first you will destroy your fellow peers." She declared and pricked her finger and let the desperate man suckle from her finger. She shoved him to the ground with her feet, forcing him on all fours. "Kill them, puppy."

The man howled like a beast possessed and leapt on the closest person he could reach.

"Danny, no. No!" A slightly balding man screamed before his throat was ripped out.

Lilith laughed in delight at the panicked scramble the humans were doing to escape her new pet. She walked into Fangtasia and the vampires and humans parted like the Red sea for her all the while eying her with lustful gazes.

She made a beeline for the stage at the back of the nightclub that held a beautiful modern throne that was befitting of a queen. Before she could make step onto the stage, one of the bouncers pressed a hand against Lilith's chest none too gently.

Everyone in Fangtasia was now looking at the scene in amusement. They knew from previous experience what happens to vampires that dare to sit on the throne and they wanted to find out what would become of this vampire who carried herself like the second coming.

"I'm sorry, Miss but this is not the seat you are looking for." The bouncer said, flexing his muscles in obvious warning.

Lilith simply tilted her head and separated the bouncer's from his body. It turned to goo just a second before his head joined the puddle on the floor and instantly liquefied. The other bouncers attempted to charge forward and found themselves unable to move.

The crowd began to panic and stampede toward the exit. All the openings magically sealed shut. Those who were close enough began beating on the doors in vain as if hoping to open it by sheer force of will.

Jessica rushed as fast as her legs could carry her and cursed herself for the millionth time at not being able to control her urges to feed on more than one human. She passed the fangbanger she'd returned for a second and avoided his eyes.

"Jessica." He grabbed her hand and dragged her behind the bar. "Jessica, we have to get out of here." He whispered desperately.

"There's no way out!" Jessica replied as she ducked an errant piece of broken table.

"You know the owners, right?" The guy grabbed Jessica's wrist. "I've seen you talk to them."

"No one's seen either one of them for days." Jessica said with a shake of her head.

"Bullshit!" he accused, pulling on Jessica's sleeve firmly.

"I don't have to prove anything to you." Jessica snapped as her fangs clicked into place. She shoved the man away and zoomed throughout every nook and cranny of Fangtasia she could think of. It was no use because every opening was sealed tight. She inched her way to the corner closest to the front door.

Lilith pranced past the paralyzed vampires to sit upon the throne. She watched in fascination as the group of vampires and humans alike ran back and forth like rats through a maze, desperately looking for an exit. The ancient vampire tilted her head to the side and snickered at her own private joke. "What's the rush?"

"Open the doors!" someone yelled from the crowd. "Let us out of here! Let us go!"

"You don't give the orders." Lilith's eyes darkened.

"And who are you to give me orders?" A brave vampire demanded arrogantly.

Lilith tossed her head back and laughed. It was a tittering giggle and a sonorous rumble all at the same time that shook the vampires and humans alike to their very core. "I am your personal hell, your salvation. I am the deprecating whisper of your conscience and the boisterous encouragement of wicked ways. I am the woman that wouldn't fall into servitude to man." She spat with a sneer as her eyes began to mimic two liquid obsidian orbs. "I was the one cast out of heaven on Earth and the one to force woman kind to question more about their existence. I am the mother of vast children but known for only one: the single entity that would not be allowed to exist in the sunlight for all its days." She concluded as her fangs grew longer nearly curving down past her bottom lip.

"Lilith." The formerly brave vampire squeaked out with a large nervous swallow. The vampires gasped as their level of panic was ratcheted up a few more notches.

Her answering smirk was perhaps even more frightening than her laugh had been. With a gesture she yanked the talkative vampire toward her swiftly. She growled, sinking her fangs deep into his neck and drank deep.

Everyone gasped, having never seen a vampire drained before. His body contorted as he let loose a pained screech and squirmed in Lilith's arms. When she had her fill, she let his body drop but it didn't turn to bloody entrails as usual. It was an odd husk of gray flesh as if he were instantly mummified.

"K..." The body shuddered as its sticky tongue lolled out of the side of his mouth. "Ki…

Jessica tilted her head as she leaned forward to look at the pitiful creature huddled on the floor. "He's still alive." She gasped quietly.

"Kill…me." He gurgled over and over again.

"Now." Lilith swept her arms out as she twirled happily, ignoring the vampire's plight. "Who wants to dance?" she asked as the jukebox's volume climbed to ear splitting levels.

-x-

"What the hell is the matter with you, Eric Northman?" Pam fumed as she blurred in front of him. She hadn't really expected to see him until they returned to Fangtasia to go to ground, but there he was leisurely walking at a human's pace a few miles outside of Shreveport with his head bowed.

"Leave it, Pamela." Eric growled sullenly in warning.

"Don't 'Pamela' me Erik Ulriksson, not this time. It won't work." Pam shook her head. "Not this time. You know what you've done was completely out of line."

"Why is that?" Eric fired back with a sneer and walked around her determinedly. "Because I've hurt your precious human?" he asked, disdain seeping into his tone.

Pam took a moment to calm herself, refusing to rise to the bait as she answered him. "No, because you're not acting like yourself."

"Losing one thousand plus years life experience will do that to you." He replied at once.

"You haven't been the man I've loved and admired for quite sometime." Pam pointed out. "This has happened before the memory loss. You've been off your game for over a year now."

Eric looked away but remained silent.

"It's Sookie isn't it?" She studied his stiff and forlorn movements from her position. The last time she saw him so broken up was after Godric walked into the sun. "Oh my god." She breathed.

"Pam," Eric said in warning as he pivoted to face his progeny.

"No, it really is." She accused cynically before her eyes softened. "What's happened to us? Pam spoke, looking at him imploringly. "One century later with a bond stronger than any human tie and here we are brought down by a couple of them."

"We're growing and changing. Godric would be proud." He chuckled bitterly. "We always like to think of ourselves better than humans. To think we're well above their dull existence on the food chain and here we are pining after the very things we feed on."

"Fate's a cunt." Pam deadpanned.

"You believe Tara's your fate, do you?" Eric asked with a fond smile as he glanced at her just in time to witness her signature eye roll. He sobered as he spoke, "I apologize. I vastly underestimated how much you care for Tara." He said after few moments of silence. "Jag är verkligen ledsen."

"Jag också, far." Pam replied with a sad smile.

Eric nodded his acknowledgment and took to the sky.

Pam followed his disappearance into the sky before she flung her hands out to her side and concentrated as hard as she could. She hovered a few inches above the ground before the effort became too much for her. With a sigh she allowed herself to land back on her feet. "One day," she whispered. She shook out her hair and took off into the night on foot.

When she stopped outside of Fangtasia, she was nearly bowled over with the scent of fresh blood mixed with human filth peppering the air. She observed the errant body parts covering the ground and the few destroyed vehicles in the otherwise deserted parking lot. She walked next to Eric who was currently peering intently into the darkened alley next to the dumpsters at the corner of the building.

"What are you doing?" Pam asked in confusion.

"Listen," Eric said as he pointed to the dumpster outside of the bar. "Vi är inte ensamma." He spoke calmly and quietly. There was a rustle of some trash and a clatter of glass hitting the concrete before what appeared to be a creature slowly lumbering out of the shadows. Its filmy golden eyes gleamed happily at the prospect of new prey. Its visage was distorted to that of a demon. Its teeth were pulled back in the snarl and putrid drool dripped down from its bloody mouth.

Pam heard its heartbeat and was surprised when she realized this thing may have been human once. Beneath the garbage, blood, and entrails she saw the grimy elongated nails and toughened skin of it.

"What the fuck happened here and what the fuck is that?" Pam hissed.

"We're definitely not going to find out until we get past that. Although if I had to guess this is probably Lilith's doing." Eric said as his fangs protracted.

Pam's fangs popped just a second later as she crouched down into fighting stance.

Unfortunately, a drunk human came walking by in exactly the wrong moment and before anyone could react, the creature was upon him, eating its way through the poor man's abdomen.

The thing looked up from its impromptu meal with deadly intent. Eric blurred forward, putting himself between it and Pam. He avoided a swipe of its claws and smelled the rotting decay of the fresh body from his left.

The corpse suddenly gurgled on its own blood and rose with its eyes firmly set on Pam.

"It's possessed. Don't let it scratch or bite you." Eric said frantically as he dodged the creature at the last second.

Pam reared back as her own creature came running at her with a screech. She vaulted over it and kicked it twice in quick succession the back, sending it to the ground. It was back on its feet in an instant with a roar.

She swept her leg under it, forcing to the ground once more and leapt onto its back, gripped its head with all her might and pulled. Putrid coagulated blood spewed from its neck and its body, flooding the concrete and Pam. She flinched away, shutting her mouth firmly. The dead body shuddered as its skin melted away to reveal a lizard covered in what looked like tar. It squealed pitifully before dying in the mess of flesh and entrails that used to be the human.

Eric was next to her with a hand outstretched to assist her to her feet. He nodded and they made their way across the parking lot, keeping an extremely close eye on their surroundings.

Eric and Pam approached the familiar onyx leather door that reeked of the delectable stench of fear. Eric pulled at the door only to find it locked. He let go of Pam and tried again putting all of his strength behind it. It did not budge.

"Of fucking course." Pam breathed out. "What do we do now?"

Eric raised an eyebrow at her and gestured to the door. they wedged their shoulders together and slammed into the door with everything they had. With an almighty whine, it fell off the hinges and onto the bar floor.

The two vampires entered the room, noting an extremely fearful Jessica hiding in the corner closest to the door. She was a little worse for wear but mostly unharmed. Some of the other people in attendance were not so lucky. There were six drained bodies haphazardly arranged around the throne where Lilith sat comfortably.

"Is she wearing my dress and my favorite fucking pair of pumps?" Pam hissed in outrage.

Lilith smirked at the question having clearly overheard her. "To what do I owe the displeasure of this intrusion?" she demanded of the two blondes. She glanced across the club at her captives with a pointedly raised eyebrow. "Who gave you leave to stop dancing?" she bellowed. Everyone started and reluctantly resumed their forced merriment.

Pam and Eric walked cautiously so as not to startle or potentially offend the ancient vampire. As soon as they were within striking distance a few guards intercepted them, creating a wall in front of Lilith.

"We come in peace." Eric said, holding up his hand in a sign of surrender.

"I highly doubt that." Lilith remarked airily but flicked her wrist, dismissing the guards anyway. "You have yet to answer my question, Halflings."

"You can start by-" Pam began.

"Pam let's not be rude to our honored guest." Eric inclined his head as he addressed Lilith. "Your highness. Lilith. Mother of all vampires, I beseech you and humbly ask that you excuse our imposition but you see this is our home and business where you have created your," he paused briefly at the exhausted humans and bored and bleeding vampires. "Bacchanal. We only wished to return to our home before the first light of dawn."

Lilith gazed at them unmoving for five entire minutes before she finally spoke in a condescending tone. "That's a shame you have no where else to go and I feel your plight so I will humbly propose you an offer that will allow you to live here once more." She uncrossed and re-crossed her legs, making sure to let the leather pumps squeak together as she adjusted herself.

Pam's eyes narrowed.

"You are both very good specimens of Halflings. Strong, beautiful, and most importantly intelligent." Lilith remarked with a smile that was all teeth. "Stay here under my rule as my playthings, warm my bed, and enforce my will and you may have your pick of any and all dwellings under the sun and night sky."

Pam's scowled deepened at the word 'plaything' but she just managed to hold her tongue.

"Your offer is very generous." Eric proclaimed calmly. "But I must apologize, my childe is not up for negotiation."

"Eric." Pam protested quickly.

"Silence, Pamela." Eric said firmly and spared a glance at her that pleaded with her not to interrupt him again. "I will accept your proposal if you release Pam and one other vampire in your possession." He continued returning his attention to Lilith.

Lilith scrutinized him thoroughly. "What makes you so special that I would lose two vampires to gain only one?"

Eric didn't answer he just hovered above the stage.

"That is indeed an interesting trick, especially for a hafling but by no means worth the trade." Lilith stated plainly.

Eric was suddenly off like a shot, he grabbed Pam's wrist and scooped up Jessica, carrying her over his shoulder. "When I get you through the door, get out. Go someplace safe and wait for me." He threw them with all his might through the splintered opening of the building. "Run!" he commanded and fought off the vampire guards coming up behind him.

"No, Eric!" Pam said, jumping for the door and missing it by mere inches as it slammed shut in her face. It morphed, automatically repairing itself and became an unyielding silver monstrosity.

Pam beat her hands against it barely registering the pain as her hands sizzled against the precious metal.

"Pam, we have to go." Jessica pleaded, feeling the telltale uncomfortable itch of dawn approaching. "I know you feel the sun at your back." When the older woman ignored her she tried again. "You won't be any use to Eric as a pile of goo." She walked forward, tugging Pam away from the door.

Pam turned, wiping her eyes free of tears and blurred out of sight. They ran to the only place either of them felt would be truly welcoming considering the circumstances.

"Sookie!" Pam barged through the door and Jessica followed just a second later.

"What happened to y'all?" Sookie asked alarmed.

Pam waved her off. "No time to talk, we're staying in the cubby tonight."

"Well sure. No problem." Sookie replied sarcastically as Pam opened the fake armoire doors. She paused as she finally took in the ragged appearance of both vampires and the missing member of their entourage. "Where's Eric?"

"None of your business." Pam snapped quickly as she examined the rapidly healing wounds on her hands.

"He's been captured by Lilith," Jessica said quickly, trying to dodge Pam's glare like a physical blow.

"Shit, really?" Sookie looked at the two of them unbelieving.

"Do I look like I'm pulling an April Fool's gag, fairy?" Pam sniped, pivoting to look at Sookie. "We'll explain everything at dusk but at the moment we need to worry about not becoming a period stain on your carpet. Is that okay with you?" she tacked on the question with faux civility and zoomed down the ladder into the cubby.

"I'm sorry, Sookie." Jessica apologized. "It's been a really crazy night and Pam's just testy because Eric sacrificed himself for her."

"Alright, y'all go on down but I expect the full story come dusk." Sookie raised her voice and stood on her tip toes while she leaned around Jessica to ensure she was clearly heard.

"Later, Sookie." Jessica said with a tired smile, the Sleep already beginning to tug at her.

"Go on now, you look dead on your feet." Sookie joked lightly as she shooed the redhead toward the cubby. Once the door was closed she double checked that all the other doors and windows were locked and climbed the stairs once more. Walking into her bedroom she saw a still unconscious Tara twitching fitfully in her sleep.

"Hey, guess what?" Sookie asked her even though she knew no reply was forthcoming. "Your vampire's downstairs and if I recall correctly she has a perfectly good house in Shreveport that she could have returned to. So her coming all the way back here is a little bit of a shock. She must be missing you already." The blonde teased her slumbering friend. She grabbed the afghan from the edge of the bed and settled back into the armchair she moved dragged forward to be closer to Tara. "I'll be right here if you need me." She said and returned her attention to her well worn copy of A Bone to Pick.

-x-

"Pam?" Jessica whispered in the pitch darkness of the small room. "Are you still awake?"

"Unfortunately." Came the extremely dry reply.

"What are we going to do tomorrow?" Jessica asked, ignoring the clearly irritated tone of the other vampire.

"This is not a slumber party, fire crotch. We're not gabbing until we both too tired to attend the daisy-chaining girl scout jamboree." Pam hissed quietly as she fluffed her pillow and grasped the blanket more firmly.

"I can't help it, okay. I'm nervous and I'm worried about Eric." Jessica shrugged helplessly in the dark. "Are you? Worried about him, I mean?"

"Eric's a big boy." Pam bit out. "He can handle himself." She said callously, trying to convince herself.

"But it's Lilith." Jessica said quickly, sitting up. "She's like a billion and she looked really angry when we left, Pam."

"Jessica shut your fucking mouth or I'll stitch it shut with a rusty silver fucking chain." Pam snapped having lost the very last of her patience. "I don't know what we're gonna do. I don't have a plan beyond surviving the fucking day. Now, don't ask me again." She huffed and rolled over, facing away from the younger vampire and allowed the Sleep to claim her.

She was suddenly on a bed at the end of a long corridor. The moon shone brightly from several vast windows to her left. As she watched the long curtains flutter softly in the breeze, Pam became aware of Tara gracefully walking toward her from the opposite end of the corridor. Time seemed to stand still and fly by simultaneously and all too soon, Tara was standing beside the bed. Pam's eyes devoured the younger woman's form wrapped in a sheer midnight blue baby doll dress set.

"I hope you know you're going to have to use that funky ass vault I've heard Sookie bragging about to get your sick kicks because this outfit won't ever be seen outside of this fucked up dream." Tara said harshly.

"What are you talking about?" Pam asked coyly, pretending not to be surprised by Tara's coherent dream state. It wasn't often that humans mastered the art of lucid dreaming.

"Don't play." Tara sucked her teeth in annoyance with a raise of her eyebrow. "It ain't attractive." She scowled when the blonde painted on an innocent 'who me?' expression. "So, why are you here?"

"Have you never made a blood bond with anyone before?" Pam asked curiously.

"Not everyone is as fascinated by the undead as Sookie is." Tara remarked dryly.

"Let's be honest, cupcake. No one is as fascinated as Twinkle hell out there." Pam hooked a thumb toward the vague direction of the outside world.

"Watch your mouth, that's still my friend." Tara said warningly.

Pam gave a look that clearly said 'And your point is?' "What are you going to do if I don't?"

Tara rushed Pam with every intention of punching her fangs in but when she was within striking distance all she wanted to do was kiss her. She grabbed the vampire's waist and yanked her tight against her, giving her a forceful kiss that was all teeth and tongue.

"Is this how you get your sick kicks, cupcake?" Pam breathed teasingly. Her fangs glinted in the pale moonlight.

"Shut the fuck up." Tara groaned as she exposed her neck to Pam whose lips kissed a blazing path down the smooth dark neck. She felt the tip of a sharp fang against the curve of her breast and she gripped Pam's hair and yanked her head back.

The hair she clenched in her fist was no longer strands of liquid gold but liquid ink. Lilith hissed at her from under her eyelashes and Tara was blown back across the room. She looked around the now barren dreamscape with a forlorn look. "Fuck." She said when it appeared that the room would not be fading away anytime soon.

In fact it seemed as though it was spinning and rapidly filling with scorching sand. The sun was above her suddenly as the whole world pulsed in high definition stereo in time with her heart. She looked around noting that there was an odd sun, casting the Earth? in a crimson like glow. It was then that she realized that there was a solar eclipse happening. She had no more time to ponder that peculiar detail when because she suddenly felt as though she was burning form the inside out when Lilith approached her. Her face full of scorn.

"Pitiful vessel." She spat, seemingly looking through Tara.

"I didn't ask to be your fucking vessel." Tara responded immediately.

"But you were chosen. Don't you ever wonder why?" Lilith walked around Tara slowly. "You're not that strong. You're no warrior. You can't even handle the Halflings of your world." She grabbed Tara by the throat, holding her in the air. "What are you, besides pathetic?" she chuckled and dropped Tara harshly.

"What do you have to offer?" A second Lilith materialized from the left, stepping on Tara's hand before she could stand.

"Why do you even fight?" A third Lilith appeared from the right and fisted Tara's hair in a tight grip.

"You could join me. Rule at my side and enslave all who dare to oppose me." The first Lilith proposed seductively.

The second Lilith ground her heel into Tara's hand. "Bathe in the blood of those who dare to question you.

"Join me." They all spoke at once.

Tara's eyes were tearing up from pain but she refused to show weakness to this deranged vampire. "Could I begin my bathing with you?" She asked with an arched brow. She envisioned a shield that pushed the Liliths away. "My dream, my rules." She growled and made the sun come up high over the horizon and smirked at the shriek Lilith emitted before burning away into nothingness. She sighed happily and closed her eyes, reveling in the soothing balmy sunlight on her face.

-x-

Tara opened her eyes and immediately put her hand up shielding her eyes away from the harsh glare of the afternoon sun. She sat up and swung her legs over the side of the bed and was immediately assaulted with the urge to relieve herself. She rushed into the bathroom slamming the door behind her and startling Sookie awake.

Sookie knocked on the door lightly. "Tara?" she called.

"Yeah?" Tara responded.

"Are you, okay?" Sookie asked slowly and gently as if she was afraid of spooking the woman on the other side of the door.

"I'm peachy, Sook. Just trying to pee here, unless you want to help out with that somehow." Tara replied dryly from her position on the toilet.

"Oh, right." Sookie replied, embarrassed as she stepped away from the door. "I'll go make us something to eat. Just come downstairs when you're ready."

"Kay." Tara replied, washing her hands. She scooped up some of the cool water and splashed her face a couple of times. The dark brown stain against her tank top and dried blood caked into her hair made her pause. She lifted her hair away from her neck and tentatively ran her fingers across the sensitive tendons with a shiver.

The sensation of being bitten by Pam was much more pleasurable than she anticipated. After Franklin, she didn't think she could find biting anything other than terrifying and deeply nauseating. Even Naomi had learned pretty quickly that more than a playful nibble was off limits.

Where Franklin's fangs were forceful and angry, Pam's bite was so smooth that it bespoke of the poetry you read about in cheesy romance novels. She shook her head free of those thoughts and lifted an arm, giving herself a tentative sniff.

"Oh fuck." Tara pulled a disgusted face and hastily dropped her arm. She walked over to the bathtub and twisted the knobs, adjusting the temperature until it was near scalding. She stripped slowly, tossing them in the vague direction of the dirty clothes hamper.

Switching on the showerhead, Tara stepped into the spray and released a pleased groan. She grabbed one of the washcloths neatly folded on the sink counter and squeezed a generous amount of body wash onto it. She washed her body thoroughly and rinsed under the relaxing spray. Her eyes were drawn to the rose water swirling down the drain and her mind was promptly brought back to Pam's bite.

The bite stung as those sharp teeth slipped smoothly through her skin and just as she took that first eager pull of her blood, Tara closed her eyes as she remembered the warmth and pleasure encasing her body in that moment. Her left hand firmly massaged the pliant muscles in her neck, sending waves of ecstasy down her body and settling in her center.

Her right hand trailed down her full breasts, stopping to tweak a nipple. She imagined Pam in here with her, the older woman's chilly body heightening the pleasure on her now over heated one. She imagined Pam to be a demanding and dominating lover as she firmly scratched a path down her torso. She hissed as welts began to raise her skin.

She licked her lips and continued down her body until she reached her center. She imagined Pam would pinch her clit in response to her eager pace and followed suit. She bit her lip and breathed harshly through her nose, a small needy whine escaping from deep in her throat. She slowly flicked her clit, hips canting forward with every movement.

Tara couldn't stand anymore of her self-induced torture and slammed her two fingers into herself, working up a fast pace. Her release came hard and fast. "Pam!" She cried out as quietly as she could but against the acoustics of the bathroom she was sure people could hear her all the way to Merlotte's. She harshly drew in breath after breath.

Her head fell forward onto the cool tiles as the lukewarm water rained down on her head. She felt her body relax and she chuckled. The chuckle grew to a guffaw and before Tara knew it; her tears were mingling with the tap water on her face.

"Fuck me." She said to the empty room as she slid to the bottom of the bathtub.

It took Tara another seven minutes to pull herself together and finish her shower. She essentially scrubbed herself raw trying to get rid of the smell of her arousal. She felt as though it was seeping from every pore.

Tara trudged down the stairs and into the kitchen just in time for Sookie to just finish scooping a helping of piping hot grits onto what she assumed to be her plate. She smiled at the familiarity of the scene. "Is that garlic and cheese grits I smell?" she asked with an over-exaggerated sniff to the air.

"Uh huh." Sookie nodded. "Its even got double extra sharp cheddar cheese, just like you like it." She confirmed in affirmation.

"You're the greatest, Sook." Tara sighed happily as she sat down.

"I thought you might need to keep your strength up with what's coming up." Sookie said with all the casuality of discussing the weather.

"Why? What's coming up?" Tara asked, mouth full of butter slathered toast and blueberry preserves. "Sookie, what happened after I passed out?" she asked more insistent when her friend remained silent.

"Well," Sookie began drawing out the word. "After you passed out Pam yelled at Eric for dismissing her and their connection as maker and progeny. When they realized you weren't going to make it to the hospital-"

"Pam gave me some of her blood." Tara finished for Sookie.

"How did you know?"

"She may have..." Tara muttered under her breath.

"She what?" Sookie asked alarmed. She had an idea why her best friend was trying to keep the other half of her statement a secret but she didn't want to jump to any conclusions.

"Nothing. It's nothing." Tara asserted with a shake of her head. "Anyway, Pam gave me some of her blood then they left?"

"Well, she did at first, then barely an hour later, she came back through the door with Jessica telling me that she's sleeping in Eric's cubby and that he's been captured by Lilith." Sookie responded, taking a bite of sausage.

"What?" Tara said slowly.

"I don't know." Sookie replied. "That's all I got of either of them before the sun came up."

"So Pam is still here?"

"Yeah she is." Sookie said with a nod of her head. She took a slow sip of her orange juice and cleared her throat. "Tara, did something happen between you two the other night when you were at her house?"

"Hell, nah." Tara said at once, shaking her head emphatically.

"Did you want it to?" Sookie asked as gently as she could.

Tara paused, unprepared for the question that served to render her response a stuttered mass of word salad. "What? N-nah Sook…I ain't interested."

"She propositioned you, huh?" Sookie guessed. "Its okay, she's propositioned me plenty of times."

"Hey, when are Lafayette and Jesus supposed to be here?" Tara asked suddenly.

Sookie decided to drop the subject and indulge Tara in her subject change. "They haven't gotten in touch with me yet. Do you have any messages of missed calls from them?"

"I'll check my phone after breakfast." Tara declared before chugging her glass of orange juice.

-x-

"I texted Lafayette and Jesus and told them to just come over anytime after dusk since we need to get the full story form Pam and Jessica." Tara informed Sookie as she descended the stairs once more. "I completely forgot they told me they were going on a V trip to see how we could defeat Marnie."

"Well, there's no need of that anymore." Sookie said dryly.

"I know, right?" Tara said, plopping down on the couch beside Sookie. "What happened to the window?" she asked, just noticing the damage for the first time. She watched the large piece of plastic sheeting flutter in the wind.

"Just another thing that happened last night in the midst of all the drama." Sookie said flippantly with a shake of her head. "Pam said she'd pay for it to be fixed but she didn't specify when. Maybe I'll give Alcide a call and see if he can give me a semi permanent fix."

Tara chuckled with a roll of her eyes. "Sookie, I love you girl, but you're adding just a bit too many supernaturals to this equation."

Sookie looked affronted as she blinked slowly. "Alright, I won't call Alcide." She muttered mostly to herself.

"I'm not saying don't ever call Alcide. I'm just saying wait until we're done with this vampire drama before we go tackling werewolf drama." Tara said gently, looking at her friend imploringly.

"There's no 'werewolf' drama." Sookie insisted with a sigh as she mimed quotation. "Don't get me wrong, Debbie Pelt isn't my biggest fan but she hasn't tried to kill me recently. We've just been trying to steer clear of each other."

"Take it from me, Sook." Tara said, patting her friend's hand. "Nothing good can come from you trying to contact Alcide with Debbie already itching for a reason to come after you."

"I know." Sookie said with another sigh.

"We've got a few hours to kill so what do you want to do now?"

"Want to watch Beauty and the Beast?"

"Sookie we are two grown women in our late twenties and you want to watch Disney movies?" Tara asked looking at the blonde in disbelief.

"Yeah?" Sookie replied confused.

Tara's serious expression evaporated and she grinned widely. "Throw in The Little Mermaid and Hercules too."

"You big, fat faker." Sookie accused with delight.

"It's like you don't even know me at all, Sook. How long have we been friends? And you fall for that every time." Tara chided with a chuckle.

"Well, I like to allow for the fact that one day you might actually think we are too old for Disney movies." Sookie defended herself.

Tara laid a dramatic hand against her chest and fanned herself daintily with the other. "Stop your blasphemy, Sookie Stackhouse."

-x-

Right about the time Hercules sucker punched Hades into the River Styx, the cubby door slammed open and Pam emerged followed closely by Jessica.

"Well, let's go ahead and get this over with, barmaid."

"Let's not." Tara replied before Sookie had a chance to. "Lafayette and Jesus aren't here and my movie isn't finished yet." She used the remote to motion to the television.

"Oh!" Jessica exclaimed. "I love Hercules." She gushed, immediately settling on the couch on the other side of Sookie.

"Has someone cast another spell?" Pam looked at the three other women, extremely unimpressed. "One that makes all of you eight fucking years old?"

"Aw, come on Pam, its Disney." Jessica protested.

Pam just rolled her eyes and proceeded to walk to the kitchen. There was the sound of clutter and dishes moving around and a bottle being opened. "Ugh, how long have you had these? Since before we came out of the coffin?" the blonde complained as she returned to the living room.

"Pretty much." Sookie admitted. "I'm pretty sure Bill bought those for his visits here."

"You could always go out and hunt if you have a problem with the Tru Blood." Tara suggested, refusing to remove her eyes from the television, despite the fact the credits were just beginning to scroll across the screen. "You know, go find yourself a fangbanger."

"Oh, what a wonderful thought!" Pam exclaimed as her eyes lit up like a child discovering candy for the first time. "Now where would the largest congregation of fangbangers be in this area?" she asked rhetorically. "I remember now! Fangtasia. I wonder why I can't go there?"

"Don't be a bitch." Tara said flatly, finally removing her eyes from the screen to glower at Pam.

"You say bitch like it's a bad thing." Pam drawled playfully. "Maybe since I'm hard pressed for a decent meal, you'd be willing to donate a little to my cause." She suggested as her fangs clicked into place. "You were, after all very delectable." She informed Tara with a smirk.

Tara forced every muscle in her body to remain motionless so as to suppress the shiver Pam's purring timbre was compelling out of her, but she couldn't completely conceal her body's reaction. Her mind immediately summoned her fantasy from this morning's shower and she suspected that Pam would be able to smell the resulting arousal wafting off her like a cloying perfume. Judging from the way Jessica was trying and failing to send a covert glance in her direction with wide eyes she was now certain of it.

Pam's smirk extended into a devilish smile.

"Didn't you get your fill of my blood? Or did you conveniently forget nearly sucking me dry?" Tara asked with an attitude that was pure malice.

All pretense of playfulness was dropped from Pam's posture and expression as she placed the bottle of Tru Blood on the coffee table and slowly extended a hand. "Tara Thornton, would you accompany me on a walk?"

"Uh-" Tara said eloquently as her eyes widened at the vampire and she hesitated. She and Pam had plenty to talk about but she didn't think she could trust herself alone with the vampire with her body crying out for the blonde's touch. She knew it, Pam knew it and most damning, Pam knew she knew it.

She was saved from answering by Lafayette and Jesus making their entrance. "What it do, bitches?" Lafayette cried out in greeting. He and Jesus rounded the corner, glancing at the tense scene before them.

"What happened last night?" Jesus asked.

Tara stood abruptly, quickly putting distance between her and Pam as she answered, "Long story short: Marnie's dead and we don't have to worry about Dracula coming after us."

"Oh, thank the baby Jesus!" Lafayette shouted, lifting his hands toward the ceiling in celebration.

"I wouldn't get so joyful just yet." Tara warned her cousin quickly.

"Why's that?"

"Because Marnie raised Lilith from the dead."

"Lilith?" Jesus breathed slowly for verification. "Lilith the first woman ever created? The first being cast from the garden of Eden and subsequently later became the first vampire of all time, Lilith?"

"You got it in one, Manuel." Pam intoned, finishing her previously abandoned Tru Blood with a grimace.

"So, what happened when y'all went back to Fangtasia?" Sookie asked quickly, stalling another verbal sparring match that would likely occur from Pam's racial jab.

"You mean besides kiss and make up as I was struggling with certain death brought on by your maker." Tara tacked on bitchily.

"Stick around the same person for a century maybe you'll remember there are more important things to dwell on."

"Oh yeah, I can see it now." Tara replied sarcastically. "That village you drained and burned to the ground? No big deal." She waved her hand lightly as if shooing an insect. "I knew you couldn't change." She spat, avoiding Pam's gaze and missing the minute hurt look that passed.

"Quiet. We need to focus on sending Lilith back underground. Catastrophic things happen when the balance is out of place." Jesus said, glancing between the two women. "Let's start with what we know and work forward."

Lafayette looked into the corner of the room and froze in fear and confusion.

Jesus glanced at the space Lafayette seemed all too fascinated by, seeing nothing. "What is it? What do you see?"

"I don't know." Lafayette replied and squinted his eyes. "I think its Antonia."

"Well, what does she look like?"

Lafayette tilted his head, looking at the woman in the corner of the room. "She's about average height, with curly, mangled black hair and dressed in a sheer tan cotton dress."

"That's Antonia." Jesus confirmed with a nod, squinting as he tried to envision the woman Lafayette was seeing. "What do you want?"

"She said she wants to help." Lafayette informed them quietly.

"Hell no," Tara said at once.

"Tara," Jesus said exasperatedly.

"I mean it. Hell to the motherfucking no. Tell her that she's helped enough to last a lifetime and that she can kindly go into that bright light and never return." Tara said stubbornly toward the empty space they all assumed Antonia was standing.

"Can't we just hear her out?" Jessica asked, not completely sure what was going on but who was she to deny someone that wanted to help. They would need all the help they could get in fighting Lilith.

"You don't get a say in this, Cheeto. Your bleeding heart is bigger than the pixie's." Pam drawled out scathingly.

"Fairy," Sookie mumbled annoyed.

"I'm not going to roll over and turn the other cheek just because Antonia has decided to become Glinda the Good Bitch."

"We're getting off track here," Jesus said loudly. "I think we should let her help. Antonia could help us with magical knowledge lost eons ago. She's powerful entity."

"Shh!" Lafayette hissed with a finger pressed into one ear as he looked to the right. "She said had no idea that this would be what she would raise. The destruction of the earth is not worth her vengeance."

"Tara, Pam… like it or not it's her spell, her magical signature all over this." Jesus said beseeching the two stubborn women.

"What about Marnie?" Tara said the other witch's name as if it pained her. "She cast the spell."

"Antonia said she's too drunk on power to be of any consistent help." Lafayette told his cousin apologetically.

"It was your power that drove her. How can we trust you?" Tara demanded.

Lafayette waited patiently for a response. "She said you can't. You just gon' have to take a leap of faith." He told the group softly.

"If she double crosses us we won't be around that long to regret it." Pam pointed out deadpan. When everyone looked at her in annoyed disbelief she continued, "I personally think she should fornicate vigorously with a rusty athame but this is the best option we have to send that clothes thieving bitch back to ground permanently and save Eric."

"She's right, Tara." Sookie said, walking forward to the center of the group.

"Fuck!" Tara shouted, tossing her hands skyward. "Okay," she spat out through gritted teeth.

"Antonia thanks everybody and said we gon to need all the magic practioners that we know."

"Well, most everyone from the circle has either have been killed or not willing to come near magic ever again."

"Holly…" Tara mumbled quietly in a distant voice.

"What, Tara?"

"We need Holly with us if we don't get anyone else."

"Why, Holly?"

"I'm not sure. Grandma Mae told me to get Holly, that she was the key to defeating Lilith."

"When was this?"

"Last night?" Tara answered.

Jesus and Lafayette went silent and shared a look.

"What's going on?"

"We met up with my abuela. She told me a recent enemy would be my greatest ally."

"How would she?" Tara asked then the answer dawned on her. "The V Trip." She concluded with a small nod.

"Someone want to let me in on this little hallucinogenic masterpiece theater?" Pam asked placing a hand on her hip.

"We talked to our ancestors of different branches of magic last night. They all gave us very good advice about our Lilith problem."

"Did they say specifically what spell or being could be used to send her back?"

Lafayette and Jesus looked away awkwardly.

"That would be a 'no', correct?" Pam asked exasperatedly.

"Well, now can we grab Holly?"

There was a sudden knock on the door. Pam and Jessica's fangs dropped as they hissed.

"Oh, stop it y'all. Vampires don't knock." Sookie said with a roll of her eyes as she went to answer the door. "Holly?" she asked with surprise. "We were just talking about you."

Nervously Holly shuffled past Sookie into the foyer. "I guess that's why my ears are burning." She joked.

"Guess so." Sookie agreed with a tiny smile.

"What are you doing here?"

"Marnie has been haunting me and my boys." Holly revealed as she moved to the couch, plopping down on it heavily. "She just kept urging me to come here. She said I'm needed."

"More than you know, girl." Tara said matter of factly.

"Tara? Oh my God. How are you?"

"I've been better." Tara smiled politely like she was discussing whether she was going to have the soup or salad. "Being Lilith's vessel and all." She tacked on flippantly.

"Oh fuck. I'm so sorry." Holly said quietly and frowned. "Wait, you mean biblical Lilith?"

"Try first vampire ever Lilith."

"Fuck me. When Bon Temps has a forecast for a shit storm it doesn't skimp on the bullshit." Holly ran a frustrated hand through her hair and sighed heavily. "Alright, do we have a plan?"

"Nothing solid." Jesus informed her gravelly. "We're basically just going to hit the spell books until something jumps out at us."

"Why don't you do that heat signature thing to find out the right spell?" Tara asked.

"I was never any good at that." Jesus shook his head apologetically. "Marnie was much more proficient at it than I."

"Y'all should probably start at the book that started this all." Sookie suggested helpfully.

"Well, fuck me. That fairy's more than a blonde walking pair of tits."

"I so wish I could rescind your invitation."

"I'm shaking." Pam replied mockingly. "We need to come up with something quickly. I don't want my maker trapped in Fangtasia with that insane bitch longer than necessary."

"No, what Sookie said is a great idea. We need to go to Shreveport and get the Necronomicon."

"You don't have one?"

"Why would I?" Holly looked affronted. "It's the book of the dead and I have no interest in necromancy."

"Can't we just crucify the bitch?" Tara whined, not wanting to step back into the Moon Goddess Emporium ever again.

"How will we do that, bitch?" Lafayette asked saucily with a lift of his eyebrow. "This hookah is older than the motherfucking cross. We gon' have to go back to Shreveport, hookah."

"I'm afraid your trip to Shreveport has been cancelled for tonight." Nan said as she walked into the living room as if she'd always owned the house. "The Moon Goddess Emporium is being seized by the American Vampire League."

"Nan Flanagan, what brings you by?" Pam said by way of greeting.

"Pamela," the older vampire nodded in recognition, glancing cool blue eyes across the rest of the group. "And company. Where is your maker on this fine evening?"

"Oh, you know how Eric is." Pam replied indifferently.

"Unfortunately, I do." Nan remarked skeptically.

"What are you doing here?" Pam asked. "Aren't you supposed be out at that ridiculous Festival of Tolerance?"

"I'm cleaning up another one of Bill's fuck ups while he schmoozes the masses into believing that we aren't blood thirsty killers." Nan replied distractedly as she gazed over the group once more, her nostrils flaring. "What is that delectable scent?"

Sookie restrained her eyeroll as the vampire narrowed her eyes on her and promptly locked them on Tara. Nan gritted her teeth, wiling the aching in her gums to subside. She was too old to pop fang over a little different blood. No, not different. This was a scent she was familiar with. A scent she's smelled numerous times before…

"I didn't believe it at first but Bill was right." Nan walked forward, coming scant inches from the younger woman. "Lilith's blood marches through your veins." She said tranquilly as she inhaled again.

"She's mine." Pam proclaimed, appearing just on the other side of Tara.

Reaching out too fast for Pam to react, Nan grabbed Tara firmly by the chin and turned her head from side to side. "I see no claiming marks."

"I like to place mine in much more intimate areas." Pam bluffed. "You know how us girls do it, don't you?"

"I'd hate to interrupt this little pissing contest for my cous," Lafayette interjected with a sharp snap of his fingers. "But we have more urgent matters to attend to."

"The authority does not believe Lilith has been resurrected." Nan said, finally stepping away from Tara.

"What?" Sookie asked shocked.

"Are they fucking mental?" Tara asked in outrage.

"Where is Eric?"

"Lilith has him." Pam said not seeing any reason to continue lying about his whereabouts. "If they don't believe this is Lilith, then what are you doing here?"

"Has anyone made contact with her? Does she have demands?"

"Wait, earlier you said you were seizing the Moon Goddess Emporium?" Holly asked the vampire. When Nan nodded she continued. "You can't seize a building that's not owned by a vampire."

"It's already in motion." Nan explained with counterfeit contrition.

"Marnie must have family that can contest this." Sookie said quickly, looking at Jesus for confirmation.

Jesus shook his head in the negative. "Marnie doesn't have any family that I'm aware of and she never married."

"You were her friend though, boyfriend." Lafayette said. "Wouldn't she leave you the shop?"

There was a slight breeze rolling through the room. The lights flickered on and off rapidly. "Marnie?" Jesus asked as he looked around the room, wondering if all their talk had summoned the Priestess.

"Lala, do you see anything?" Tara asked her cousin as she edged closer to the wall. If it was Marnie she would be attempt to be grounded before the newly deceased witch decided she wanted her essence again.

"The only one here is Antonia." Lafayette watched as Antonia flashed in and out of sight quickly making her way across the room toward him. He scrambled back. "No, bitch." He stammered, holding his hands up in surrender as the woman leap for him. "I can just translate for yoouu!" his voice howled out and changed in tone. He moved stiffly as he turned to the rest of the group. "There is a treacherous one amongst you." Antonia revealed solemnly.

"Oh my god." Jesus exclaimed quickly as his eyebrows knitted together in uncertainty. "Lafayette?"

Lafayette just shook his head in the negative.

"Antonia?" Jesus guessed again.

"There is a treacherous one amongst you." Antonia repeated once more.

"We've got a treacherous one among us?" Pam asked incredulously. "Well, if that isn't the pot calling the fucking caldron black, I don't know what is." She continued with an idle hand perched at her hip.

Lafayette narrowed his eyes and raised a hand, summoning something from outside. Sookie's front door slammed open and a moderate sized pile of books floated in and landed heavily on the kitchen table.

"Hold the fuck up." Tara said angrily, kicking away from the wall as she whirled on Nan. "You've had the books we needed this entire time?"

"I may have had them in my possession." Nan said casually. "Besides what does it matter now? We have the books so now I can assist in your defeat of Lilith."

Tara shivered violently and the color of her eyes grew dark, devoid of any color except the viscous inky hue of tar. "You cannot defeat me. I am the one, true vampire that ever existed."

Everyone heard snake's rattles accompany Lilith's words. The floor around Tara became like quicksand and the young woman sank through it. Pam watched Tara's plunge and dove for her only to miss her by a measly couple of inches as the floor solidified once more. She slapped her palm against the wood in irritation.

The shock of seeing his cousin disappear was enough to grant Lafayette the strength to take control of his body again. "Tara!" He shivered in disgust in disgust while a wave of fatigue washed over his form. He glanced at Antonia who was currently trying to regain strength.

"I couldn't save her." Pam reported softly.

"This is your fault!" Lafayette accused at once, shoving Pam backward.

"No, Lafayette stop!" Jesus said, pulling his boyfriend away from the blonde.

"Fuck her feelings." Lafayette said, jerking away from Jesus. "If she hadn't of taken such an interest in Tara, we wouldn't be here."

"If I hadn't taken an 'interest' in Tara she would not even be alive." Pam countered instantly. She chose to omit Eric's vengeful approach to her affections. "The real problem is you and your goddamn magic. If you humans didn't meddle in things that don't concern you, none of us would be here."

"Oh, Pamela." Nan tutted teasingly. "It's rather unbecoming when you blame others for your mistakes."

"Do you see what you've done? All your fucking games and unnecessary stalling has gotten Tara captured." Pam growled right in Nan's face. "We could have been half way to solving our problem by now."

"You would do well to remember to respect your elders, Pamela." Nan said calmly though her eyes clearly conveyed a threatening air of warning.

Pam's fangs dropped as she continued to glare at Nan.

"Stop it! Both of you." Sookie said, coming forward. "This won't get us anywhere. Fighting amongst ourselves is what Lilith would want."

"Bickering is only going to stall us in saving Eric and Tara." Jessica said, standing behind Sookie.

"Fuck her." Pam muttered as her fangs retracted. "That's strike two and I'm not letting her have a third. That whore is going down." She vowed as she rose gracefully. Her pumps beat a determined path to the kitchen. She grabbed the Necronomicon and flinched as it pulsed strongly in her hands.

"Vampire!" a booming voice cracked through the house with authority.

"What the fuck!" Pam tossed the book to the table or at least she tried to.

The book morphed into a leather monstrosity with a two rows jagged teeth scowling a the blonde. "Why have you awakened me?" the book demanded.

"I didn't fucking awaken you. I just picked you the fuck up." Pam argued nastily.

"You have intent that spoke to me." The Necronomicon said plainly as it released another pulse of power. Nan and Jessica walked forward in a trance, coming to stop right beside Pam.

"Do you hear anythang, boyfriend?" Lafayette asked Jesus before addressing the vampires. "Why is y'all bitches talking to that book? It aint gon' talk back." He pointed out flatly.

Holly and Sookie joined the two men and watched as Pam, Nan, and Jessica frenetically hovered over the book, muttering back and forth in a language none of the humans recognized.

"I've only heard rumors of this happening but I never thought this would happen right in front of me." Holly breathed out, unbelieving. She trembled as she felt the cold, dark power settling like a film over the house.

"What's happening?" Sookie asked. She watched as Pam and Nan lifted the book reverently as Jessica flipped the pages in slow motion.

"The living cannot see nor hear the mystical face of the Necronomicon." Holly informed them as the vampires began to sway hypnotically with the book like a trio of undead metronomes.

"Do you know what language they're speaking?" Jesus inquired, turning his head slightly toward the hissing vampires. "I mean I recognize some words here and there as Latin but it seems like it's inverted."

"It is." Holly confirmed. "I think it may be the ancient language of the vampires."

"I think this is the page we're looking for." Jessica gasped, her fingers skimming a page of the Necronomicon with superhuman speed. "Shit…shit. Fucking shit!" she said just a moment later.

"Spit it out, Ginger minge." Pam spat caustically.

Jessica tossed Pam a glare and flipped the book around so everyone could read it. "…Born in darkness, borne from darkness, she is cast in shadows… while the light around her flourishes…"

"Do any of you know what this means?" Jessica asked after the blonde finished reading.

"She is cast in shadows, while the light around her flourishes…" Pam muttered her brow scrunched in thought.

"Oh my god." Holly exclaimed. "The 'light' must be Sookie, right? I mean she's a fairy."

Lafayette's thoughts collided rapidly as he came to a conclusion. "That means the dark must be-"

"Tara." Pam finished for Lafayette.

"Shit." Everyone said at once.

"What the fuck are you people talking about? What's going on?" Nan asked, glancing back and forth confused.

Pam swiveled around, eyes blazing. "Don't you get it, you incompetent bitch? In order to defeat Lilith we have to kill the vessel used to bring her back which means we need to kill Tara."

-End of Chapter 4-

Translations for this chapter:

Jag är verkligen ledsen: I am truly sorry

Jag också, far: Me too, father.

Vi är inte ensamma: We are not alone.

Thank you so much everyone that has been enjoying this fic. Special thanks re-reading this fic and everyone who has been continuously sending me reviews and private messages during my unintentional hiatus. If I haven't replied to you just know that I'm going to have then all answered very soon. Any of you that follow me will notice that I'm going to be posting a lot of different stories. Spring cleaning for fic ideas I suppose. Thanks so much for the support!

Ugh! This plot point couldn't have come at a worst time considering the events of Season 7, huh? Nevertheless, What did you think of the chapter? How do you think this fight with Lilith will go down? What are your predictions, gripes, or complaints? Let me know in a review or PM. Thanks so much for sticking with me and reading this story!

Thanks for reading! Until next time!

~MC