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| ALCIDE |
" What the fuck were you doing Debbie? What the fuck are you thinking?" He slammed his fist against the back of the seat. He knew she was unstable but seeing Debbie tonight he knew she'd gone beyond that and fallen into straight up nuts. He put his hand to his head, the wound was healing but in more ways than one it still stung. He hadn't seen the bat coming. Their relationship had been rocky, fighting like cats and dogs especially at the end but he never would have thought she'd go that far. He'd seen true malice in her eyes as she swung at him. If she'd have been at full strength she might have killed him. He looked at her now lifeless body curled up into a ball in the seat next to him. She was staring out the window ,she didn't open her mouth when he started to yell or move when his fist hit the space between them.
" You go there to kill her Debbie?" There was no doubt in his mind that that was her intentions. But from the look of things Debbie had not touched Rebecca. They had just been standing there staring at each other. He had figured Debbie would go in for the kill right away knowing he couldn't be far behind. He'd white knuckled it from his place his foot hanging so heavy on the execrator he was sure he was going to break it off. He feared being to late to save her, he feared he'd be to late to stop Debbie from exposing them.
Debbie turned to him " She ain't all you think she is. She's not as sweet as she looks. She's got dark side just like us Alcide." Her voice was as lifeless as her body. " You got it bad for her I can tell but she will break your heart just like all the others." The last thing he wanted to here from Debbie was shit talk about his romantic past.
" What are you talking about Debbie?" Until that night Debbie hadn't even met Rebecca." She's just a woman Debbie, a woman that you went to hurt tonight for no reason."
Debbie sat up " Oh I got plenty of reason. I'd have ripped her heart out for touching you if she hadn't stopped me." She leaned closer to him putting her shaking hand on his arm. They had history a mate for life bond but now any hold she had on him was gone. He brushed her off.
" You got no right to go after a woman over me. You left me and I don't belong to you."
" There was a time you didn't think that way. We were good together once. I've been doing a lot of thinking about those days. " She moved closer to him "You know I'm better for you. You can't be who you are with anyone who isn't Were like you. She won't be able to accept or understand you the way I can." He kept his eyes glued to the road he couldn't stand to look at her. The depths she would lower herself to continued to amaze him and he was beginning to suffocate, trapped in this small space with his past. He couldn't think of one thing that had made him love her and that meant the entire time he knew her had been a waste. She ran her hand through his hair and the thought of Rebecca doing the same thing filled his vision. He slammed on the brakes and grabbed her hands.
" Enough Debbie" He pushed her back and pressed himself against the driver side door. He wished more than anything for her to be gone. He didn't want to be the one who had to deal with her. The fact was he didn't know what to do with her. He couldn't just let her go. She was to dangerous and not just to him. Debbie had to be contained before she did something that would threaten their kind as a whole. He couldn't bring himself to do it on his own though. He had be sure that his reasons were made clear so that no one would come after him later for taking her down.
Her attempt to seduce failed miserably and she knew it. His face must have told her she had no chance. " I wish I had killed her. I wish I had left her in pieces for you to find and cry over, you pansy ass mother fucker. You think your to good for me now but you were never good enough to begin with. You were just means to an end and I replaced you once and you can bet I'll do it again." She opened the car door and jumped out.
" You think your going to find some kind of normal life with her but your fooling yourself cause something about her ain't right either." She marched around the car and started towards the woods. Alcide got out of the truck. She could bolt at any time and he would have to make a split second decision. If he went after her he would probably have to kill her. But Debbie didn't run she stood a few feet away and started ranting.
"You know why I didn't kill her? Cause I couldn't move. Somehow she made the ground come up and grab me. It held me there and no matter how much I tried to break free I couldn't." She bent down and started pulling at the ground. He watched as she tried to free herself from some imaginary chains. Her hands clawed at the dirt kicking it up and all over her, her body started to writhe and she let out a cry that echoed through the woods around them. She stopped moving and looked at Alcide. Her eyes were blood red and her mouth was curled in a maddened scowl.
"She didn't stop it until she saw you coming. She heard your voice and poof I was free. I don't know what she is but I know she ain't just a woman. She's probably kin to that cunt blond you'd been eye fucking." She tilted her head and pouted at him "What the hell happened there Alcide? Couldn't give her what she needed either so you moved on to doing the boss? Bet your a disappointment to her to" She cackled taking great joy in plunging the knife in his back one last time.
" Your going to see Alcide she will bring you trouble and I can't wait until you find out just how much. She's gonna get what she deserves and so are you." Debbie was off in a flash her clothes flying behind her the shift finished before she made the tree line. He did not go after her he just stood and stared for a minute then got back behind the wheel of his van and worked through what Debbie was saying. She wasn't making any sense was completely crazy but something about what she said rang true. There was something about Rebecca that was different. Sometimes when he was near her he thought he heard her body hum and crackle like electricity going through a wire. The wind seemed to change direction when she moved through it and she was amazingly strong, not to mention fearless. She seemed to anticipate everybody's needs and wants and was always ready with just the perfect word. She and Mason seemed to share a secret silent language and she moved though his world as if she were more than just a part of it. What if she as like Sookie?" The two of them had hit it off,what if they had bonded over a shared ability. Just how much of Rebecca was real?
He was halfway between her and home, he could go back now and ask his questions and answer hers or he could go home and figure out what he was going to do and say first. He also had to deal with Debbie and then there was the full moon. Tomorrow night he would forget everything for a while whether he liked it or not. He knew she would worry and wonder so he sent her a quick text saying that Debbie had jumped out of the car and he was trying to track her down. He hoped it would buy him some time. He was tired, his head was killing him and he didn't want to think. He put the car in drive and after taking a long look back through his side mirror let off the break and headed towards Shreveport.
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She called. Her messages starting off concerned, then peeved and finally resigned. The last call he received over twelve hours ago,
"When you make up your mind you know where I am" she had said simply.
He'd gotten the silence he'd hoped for and it was deafening. He was standing within members of his pack all preparing for the run. The sun was setting behind him. He could see the moon already in the sky waiting to light the night. He could not wait to shed this skin. To run away from everything that weighted him down in this body. As soon as the sun disappeared into the brush he removed his clothes and the white wolf emerged. His eyes meeting those of the others one by one. Tonight they hunted a particular pray, Debbie. It had been agreed to at the meeting he'd called that afternoon. She had gone to far exposing herself to both Sookie and Rebecca. Leaving her out there was to dangerous. Many of the men worked with him and all hated the idea of either Sookie or Rebecca being hurt. Most of them had no love loss for Debbie either. She put them all at risk and since the general consensus was to remain concealed they had to take her down. They were starting near where she had jumped out of the car, her scent clearest to him he lead the way as the bounded through the woods looking for her trail. He expected she would run. That her trial would lead them far away from her old stomping grounds and head toward Mississippi where she had been spending much of her time since taking up with Coot and his pack. She would have to be in the woods somewhere between the two places and more than likely not alone. The boys at his back were taking a big chance on him and he knew he'd own them big time if all hell broke loose. Ten miles outside of Bon Temps he caught wind of a stronger scent, she was taking a different track one that would lead right back to Bon Temps and the land that Becca and Sookie shared. As predicted she wasn't alone. He turned the pack back and ran like wildfire through the trees and brush. he could not bet on the same result as last time if she made it there before him. He could only hope that Mason was back and that Rebecca and Sookie would be smart enough to stay indoors and let the vampires protect him if he didn't make it to them in time.
They caught up with Debbie and her pack from the side about a mile outside of Bon Temps. There was no time spent on posturing, his pack just attacked. The others had not been prepared for a fight with their own kind. Which meant that when Debbie secured their services she had not been honest about her reasons. Caught unawares the Shreveport pack members took most of the others down without much effort. They didn't seem willing to die for a fight they hadn't known they were getting into. Some however, the ones most loyal to Coot were giving his boys a hell of a time. Wolves hyped up on V meant a much more dangerous fight.
It had been agreed that he would be the one to get Debbie and as he fought his way through to her she watched him from the sidelines. When the last wolf in his way was subdued his eyes went straight to hers. He had been prepared her to be angry. Her mouth curled into a fang filled snarl her nostrils flared prepared for a fight. Instead her eyes were steady her posture calm and he would swear he saw the touch of a smile on her face. Like the night before she bolted. Unlike the night before he chased after her. She was lighter and more compact therefore she ran just a bit faster and was able to duck and weave though underbrush he had to fight against. He knew instinctively where she was headed so when he lost sight of her he knew where to go. The area became more familiar and when he caught up with Debbie she was but minutes from Belle Vita. He swiped at her hind legs bringing her down with a thud and a whimper. She jumped back to her feet quickly this time the fight was in her. She lunged at him, just swiping his side with her claws as he moved out of her way. When she came at him again he struck her in the face as she went by knocking her down again. This time she did not move. She stayed low to the ground her eyes focused in front of her as he approached. He straddled her but as he moved down to secure her by the nap of the neck movement caught his eye. He scanned the area. It was possible that other wolves had made their way to this spot and he needed to assess if they were a threat before finishing what he had started with Debbie. But whatever had moved in the woods in front of him had not been a wolf. His and Debbie's were the only scent around them. So what had caught his eye? Debbie let out a snort and when she moved he pinned her shoulder to the ground. He growled into her ear letting her know to stay still and be quiet. He moved closer staying hidden and hadn't realized how close he had come to the water until he heard the sounds of ripples moving through with the breeze. A giant oak lay in front of him telling him he was near the clearing from the first night he ran through the woods at Belle Vita. Through the branches he saw a light, dim and flickering but certainly coming from the clearing. Who would be out in the woods this time of night? He turned back to find Debbie no longer on the ground but several yards away from him looking into the clearing. She seemed frozen in place but turned to him moving her head as if telling him to come to her. He did just that stopping just short of where Debbie stood and turned his attention to the clearing.
She was sitting on the ground her feet tucked beneath her within the circle of stones wearing a long white robe. Her hair was down and flowing around her. Her skin was illuminated by candles which were lit and placed at the four points of the compass. Another one sat directly in front of her on the ground. Her eyes were closed and she seemed to be talking but he heard no sound coming from her lips. She either did not know they were there or was ignoring their presence. Beside him Debbie started to fidget, pacing back and forth within her small space. Their eyes meet and he saw in hers a look that clearly said I told you so. The light from the clearing grew brighter, the candles danced and brightened more of the darkness that surrounded them. A low rumble left Debbie's mouth and before Alcide could move she ran forward her eyes wide and focused on her pray but when her feet hit the dirt of the clearing she went sailing back. Stunned but pissed she got up and tried again the second attempt having the same result. Something was keeping Debbie from getting to close to where Rebecca stood. He looked into the clearing, Rebecca was now standing her robe moving in waves around her bare feet. . She was aglow from the light of the candles and Alcide thought looked like he'd imagined a Angel would. It became clear to him then why she had always respected his secret because she had one all her own. The first day,when he first saw her he thought she looked like a Gypsy and while he hadn't been right but he'd been close. Rebecca was a witch and from the looks of things a very powerful one.
And then her voice rang through his head. "Alcide I know you can hear me so please listen. I need you to stay where you unless you want what happened to Debbie to happen to you. I am going to send her away. Back in the direction she came towards where your pack is waiting for her." Her eyes left his and moved to Debbie who looked confused and tried to shake off whatever it was Rebecca was doing to her. She turned and with legs not her own ran back in the direction she came.
"She's gone" came the voice. She bent down placing her hand on the ground and he heard her say out loud " I release you." The air around him became less heavy and all of the sounds around him became clearer. She had been protected by some sort of force that had muted the area around her. That was why he had not known how close he had come to her. She had hidden all of the sounds and smells that would have alerted him to his surroundings. " You can come closer now if you wish to."
He wasn't sure if he wanted to. Debbie had been right, Rebecca had another side just like he did. One that he couldn't begin to understand. One that could mean she was more evil than good and that everything he had known of her was a lie. Was anything that had happened between them real or was it all just some game she'd been playing. The way he had felt these last few weeks could it all have been a spell she had put him under? His suspicious nature was getting the better of him. He hated to think any of what Debbie had said was true but here she was clearly not all she had claimed to be. She at the very least had left out a large part of herself. How could he believe that the other things weren't true as well?
He found his legs taking him to her but with each step something grew inside him. Anger and suspicion crawled and weaved it's way though to his brain. He tried to shake it away but it clung to him like glue. He wanted to shift and talk to her. To finally say all the things that had gone unsaid but when he tried he found he couldn't. Something was stopping him. At first he thought it was her but she stood her hand still out stretched just inside the circle waiting for him to come to her. He was being pulled forward and had no control of his body. He stopped just inches from her hand still out stretched, a reenactment of the first night she had seen him in this skin. He had not imagined her calling out his name as he ran from the wood behind her trailer. She had known all along.
" Yes" She said her eyes saying his second nature made no difference. He saw the same love and acceptance he'd always seen there but now it was no longer shadowed by what they kept from one another. He bowed his head and then from far inside himself he could see her hand reached forward breaching the circle. Something in her eyes went cold. Something inside him went black. He heard her inhale and curse at herself for being so stupid as she tried to jerk her hand back. But she wasn't quite fast enough and before she could he jumped forward grabbing her hand in his mouth pulling her forward. The last thing he remembered hearing was the sound of his claws tearing through fabric and the red of her blood spilling across the white.. She didn't scream. Not a sound came from her lips. She didn't look scared. She didn't blame him. She looked resigned and then everything went dark. The last thing he heard was the sound of his own heart wrenching howl as he stood over her realizing what he had done.
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| REBECCA |
The fog cleared much quicker the second time around. She hated the idea of making this a habit but it was still good to know that coming back from the dead became a bit easier each time. The last time she died she hadn't felt alive and right within her skin for weeks. Even then she had been part dead with anger and grief. This time when she awoke the glaze over her eyes cleared to the sight of a black sky filled with stars and a moon that looked much wider that she remembered. She'd come out to ask the Goddess for guidance on what to do about Debbie and Alcide. She didn't want the hatred she felt for Debbie to cause her to do something rash. She had known it was possibility that wolves would haunt her property that night and had put the barrier up around the clearing for just that reason. They would not be able to sense her unless they had an idea of what to look for. Debbie apparently had an idea and had lead Alcide to her. Despite the fact that his mind lead through a slue of emotions she had been confidant that if she could touch him, if he shifted and they spoke he would understand. But in her hast to re-establish trust she had made a rookie mistake. She broke a opened circle. For all of the good in the world their was equal amounts of evil and those forces often looked for openings into the other realms. Witches circles were a beacon to those looking to create trouble. She'd felt the evil that filled the air the moment her skin touched it and she'd seen it ripple through the fur on Alcide's back. She was a split second to late and he grabbed on to her pulling her further out,slashing her across the mid-section. Her blood ran quickly the smell sending him into a frenzy. She produced enough power through her hands to push him away and pull herself back into the circle. She'd laid in the still open circle her hand covering her stomach her head turned to the side looking at him. At first his eyes possessed and yellowed were angry and his only desire was to finish her off. But as she started to fade whatever had claimed Alcide freed him and she saw his eyes change back to the ones she knew and when her life left her and the circle broke she watched from above as he stood over her his mind racing,his heart breaking when he realized that there was no one else there and the bloodied lifeless body of his girl was all his making.
She struggled to move, the pain that ran through her insured she would not be able to do so on her own. Her body was far from heeled and even immortals suffered immense amounts of pain as their body regenerated it's self. She needed help and soon if she was going to recover quickly. She reached down to feel the jagged flesh that now covered her stomach. She tried not to scream out in agony when the jolt of her touch sent her reeling. She closed her eyes and tried focus on her surroundings. She had no idea if she was alone and if she wasn't the sounds of her screams not to mention the smell of her blood would surely bring any predators right to her. She froze when she heard movement behind her, Goddess please she prayed and remained perfectly still. But when nothing moved closer she turned her head in the direction the sound came from. Alcide was crouched against the giant oak. His upper body bent between his knees. All she could see was the top of his head. His hands were clenched to his arms and they were covered in blood. She heard the sound of water drops hitting the ground. Alcide was silently crying. She fought back tears of her own and tried to get into his head. He'd killed her, over and over and over he thought it. Playing the last moments of her life through his head. He knew he had done it but he hadn't been in control and he couldn't do anything to stop it. He didn't know what to do. How could he tell anyone what had happened? How could he look Mason in the eye. He knew that he'd likely die himself and he'd welcome it. He didn't want to live knowing what he had done. He had killed in the name of his second nature but never an innocent never like this. The blood on his hands would never wash off. He would never be clean. He prayed for mercy. He wished for death. The pain inside her doubled. None of this was his fault it was all hers.
" Alcide?" she sent to him her voice still lost to her. His head jerked up and he looked all around him thinking someone had come and found them there. When his eyes finally settled on he jumped back against the tree. He thought he was going crazy.
"You dead, Your dead, Your dead" he whispered aloud shaking his head back and forth with increasing ferocity. He could not stand the idea of her haunting him. He never wanted to face her. She tried to reach him again but he refused to listen putting his hands over his ears and curling up in a ball against the tree. He was to far gone he couldn't help her in the state he was in and she couldn't afford to wait until she could work through the crazed mental layers of Alcide's brain. She heard Mason's voice far in the distance. He was in New Orleans and while he was quickly moving towards her she could not wait for him to arrive. She took a deep breath and called for the two people closest to her that would be open to hearing her. One answered immediately his voice raspy and filled with concern. He was on his way before she could even tell him what had happened. Sookie was a bit harder to reach, she was sound asleep and when her voice finally came through it was filled with groggy questioning. She sent Sookie images of what happened and she jumped from her bed. " Oh my God what the hell happened?"
" No time for that now. Can you please come. I need you to help Alcide. I can't be worrying about him. I need to concentrate on helping William not get to hungry."
Most of her blood was in the dirt around her but she could feel some still oozing from the open wounds. The temptation would be there and no matter what he couldn't drink from her.
It was Williams arrival that woke Alcide up. He sprang to life as the blur of William entered the clearing his instincts expecting an attack. He went back and forth between the two of them.
" He's not here for you Alcide." her voice had returned but the conviction of it was suspect since William looked like he wanted to kill Alcide. Alcide started to move closer
" Your alive?" He ran to her sliding across the dirt in front of her. She reached up and touched his blood and dirt stained cheek.
" This was not your fault." He moved his face into her palm and shook his head. " YOU listen to me Alcide this was NOT your fault." He reached down to touch her his hand grazing her cheek. Beside them a not so forgiving William let out a hiss.
" I would prefer if you did not touch her." He blocked Alcide from making any other contact with her. Alcide moved back his eyes blinking rapidly his heart pounding through his chest. He couldn't believe she was actually alive. He had watched her die. Alcide let out a small cry of relief and put his hands through his hair the tears flowing again down his face. His pain hurt her much more than her own. William gaze continued to focus on Alcide his fangs extended through his parted lips.
" William" she said through clinched teeth. He did not meet her gaze.
" Not a hair on his head, William." He nodded and came closer breathing in deeply steadying himself before he pulled back the torn robe. He let out a gasp and looked away. It wasn't the wound he had a hard time with for he had seen this and worse. It was his thirst that made him hesitate but he pushed it away focusing on her face. " You want me to move you?" He wasn't sure she would make it if he did.
" Yes."
" It is going to be quite painful."
" I know but we need to get out of the woods and into the house." He nodded and placed one arm under her head and another under her ass.
" No hesitation William it will only hurt more if you try to be careful." He lifted quickly and this time she could not stop the scream it echoed through the woods sending the birds in the trees above them into a panic. They pushed off of their branches and loudly flew away into the night sky.
" Fuck me" she wailed as he took the first steps towards the house. She heard Sookie's feet hitting the path hard and she came into view as William stepped through the circle. " Holy shit!" Sookie stepped in front of William looking down at Rebecca her face pinched with shock and disgust. She must really look a mess if Sookie couldn't even try to hide it.
" Alcide. Sookie get him inside and get him some clothes there should be stuff in the seat of the bench by the back door." she whispered.
Sookie nodded and went to Alcide who stood facing towards the water. Rebecca caught just a glimpse of Sookie grabbing Alcide by the arms and shaking him. She heard her speaking to him roughly as William made the way down the path.
" He did this to you and you still worry more for his well being than your own." He thought she was being naive and reckless.
" Yes. Because what happened back there had nothing to do with how we feel for each other. He was overtaken and I was careless. You wouldn't push her away if the roles were reversed." He went silent . She was right but his suspicion remained. He took the steps quickly and she opened the door. Alcide and Sookie were close behind, his steps now in front of hers. He was arguing with Sookie about whether William was capable of hurting her or not.
William stopped in the kitchen just long enough to turn and give Alcide a piece of his mind. " You should be more worried about the reproductions of the damage you have caused her. Your inability to control yourself is why we are all here which makes you the last one who should be laying down judgement at this moment."
He wanted to lay her downstairs but she refused, making him carry her up the winding staircase to her bedroom. Sookie ran past him into the room propping the pillows up the best she could in the hopes that somehow she might find some comfort. Once William placed her on the bed she felt herself go numb, her mind became cloudy and she fought to stay awake. She knew they were talking but she only made out bits and pieces of what they were saying. There were angry words being tossed back and forth. The boys were arguing but Sookie was keeping them at arms length from each other. She could see that Alcide was sitting on the couch bent over watching her intently. A big keep the fuck out sign was plastered across his head. He didn't want her inside. She must have let out some noise for the room went quiet and then Sookie was sitting beside her.
"She needs blood. She's going to die without it Alcide." Sookie pleaded with him.
" She was already dead" He replied. " We should wait for Mason."
" Alcide you don't know how long he is going to be. You can't make her wait that long. Look at her she's in pain, barely conscious you can't want this for her."
"No." His eyes bore into her. I will not let him touch you. Let his blood flow through your veins. He sent into her head. She shook him off he didn't want to hurt her he just didn't want William and her to be tied together.
" I don't need his permission." William came into her view and Alcide popped up grabbing him by the shirt. " You will not fucking touch her you fucking bloodsucker." This couldn't be happening when she could do nothing to stop it. The animosity between the two of them was boiling over and selfishly she cared less about their jealousies and more about her bleeding gut.
" You two have got to be fucking kidding me. The girl is lying there bleeding to death and you two figure now is the time to decide which one of you is the Alpha Male." Pam entered the room pushing both of them out of the way. She sat down next to Rebecca on the bed. She had no idea what it had taken for Pam to get here but she'd never been more happy to see her.
" I can fully understand your objections to Bill giving her his juice but I expect there will be no objections to me giving her mine." She raised an eyebrow in Alcide's direction. Without waiting for his answer her fangs were on her wrist. " You drink up honey and don't let the stupid fucker's in this room keep you from taking what you need."
Rebecca did as she asked letting the blood run down the back of her throat. Slowly it worked it's way through her and soon she had enough strength to lift her arm and grab on to Pam's arm bringing it even closer to her lips. " You are far to good at that honey." she sent to her.
Rebecca didn't even bother to ignore it. " My Aunt sent you?"
" Yes she was with Mason when he felt it happen. He refused to let her come with him. She called me immediately. She turned to look at Alcide " He did this to you?"
" Yes but...." Pam didn't let her finish.
" But nothing honey you should have let Bill kill him. In fact when I'm done here I think I may do it myself." Rebecca bit down on Pam's arm " What the fuck Rebecca." she said aloud her fangs coming back out. " None of that shit. I was just joking."
Rebecca eyes rolled upward as the blood made it to her wounds. Pam's other hand filled hers and she grabbed on letting her squeeze through the pain.
" I'm gonna have to ask you to stop now honey. Your starting to hurt me and that ain't good." With a little effort she pulled her arm away from Rebecca's mouth.
" She's gonna need more but I've given her enough for now." Pam stood and Sookie took her place a cold washcloth touched Rebecca's face. Sookie had been in this situation herself not to long ago. Her body cut and mangled. She knew exactly what Rebecca was going through.
" You look a fright. Gonna do the best I can to clean you up without hurting you." Sookie smiled. " I ain't gonna let anyone kill anyone. You just try to get some rest. It will be all right." She nodded at her friend who was doing her best not to let the worry show on her face. She gave her what she hoped was a smile and closed her eyes.
Alcide was there. Once again sitting on the couch watching her. He wanted her to live. He wanted to know she was going to be alright and once he knew that he wanted to leave. He couldn't breath and he couldn't stand the sight of himself. He was covered in her blood and her pain. He had done this to her. No matter she said it had been him who had cut her open like that. He pushed away the thoughts of what he had seen. How could this have happened? He had never felt such anger, such hatred. He couldn't control himself. Yes he was upset she had lied but he hadn't wanted to hurt her. No matter how mad he was he never wanted to harm her. Never. He had just wanted to talk to her. This was madness. He had to get out. She didn't speak to him. She didn't want him to know she was there but she didn't want to hear any more either. She moved away from him and back into herself.
It was Mason's voice she heard next and she struggled to determine if he was actually in the room speaking to her or just in her mind. She opened her eyes and found his stern face in front of her. " You are going to be fine love. Silvia is working up some stuff to help you now. Pam is helping her and I have sent William to clean up. Sookie is downstairs with Alcide I asked them to give me a few minutes alone with you."
She started to speak to tell him what had happened. " I saw everything. I felt everything. You do not need to tell me anything now. All I want right now is to look at you. To examine every inch of you and to put you back together. All the rest of it can wait." She started to cry as he gently pulled her to him and held her. " If this is the worst of it my love then I consider ourselves lucky." He spoke of her Mother's predictions.
" Mother?" she said into his sleeve.
" She is being kept informed."
Silvia arrived with Pam right behind each of the carrying a trays. They set to work removing what remained of her rob and cleaning her off. Then Silvia applied the salve she had prepared. Mason and Pam held her still while she did it. They had just finished when Mason's grip on her stiffened. Alcide had come back into the room. Silvia covered her with a clean sheet and went about cleaning up the mess around them. Pam sat at the end of the bed waiting. All of them were on edge, three vampires in one room with one wolf Rebecca didn't like the odds.
" Is she going to be alright?" Alcide asked the question not directed at her.
Silvia was the one to speak. Her accent thick but her words precise. " She will live. It is how long she will take to heal that is in question." She gave Mason a pointed look and then walked into the bathroom.
Alcide's eyes meet hers. " I have to go" He turned and walked from the room. Mason left her side following him out.
" Where are you going Alcide?" Mason asked.
Alcide did not answer he just continued towards the steps. Mason grabbed him and slammed him against the wall. His elbow lodged into Alcide's throat. " You will not leave her like this. Not again." he was seething " Whatever the reasons that" He pointed with his free hand " is your making. You will not love her and then leave her like she is nothing."
Alcide just stood there. His eyes looking straight forward. He was already gone.
" Let him go" She did not want him be forced to stay. If he wished to leave then he was free to do so. " Let him GO Mason." He did as she asked and without a backward glance went back in to Rebecca. Only Sookie stood in the hall and watched as Alcide walked out of the house without closing the door.
She was in and out the remainder of the night and through out the next day. Pam and William went to ground in the house with Mason and Silvia and Sookie enlisted Tara,Lafayette and Jesus to come and help take care of her. Jesus and Layafette moved her from the bed so they could clean it up and change the sheets. She got a kick out of both of them thinking her body was rather smoking, for a girl. Sookie carefully cleaned her wounds and brought her the blood that Mason and Pam had donated before going to ground. It was weird having two different lines of Vampire blood flowing through her and she wondered how much effect her connection with Pam would end up having. She was surprised that she stayed. If Eric knew she was here he either had no objection or they had fallen on deaf ears. Either way Rebecca didn't spend to much time worrying about it. Eric and his agenda was the least of her worries at the moment. She had to force Mason to ground, he'd fought her tooth an nail but she had eventually won by giving him a mental smack in the head. He was of no use to her weakened and he was right at her foot if he was needed. She thought he was having a far worse time with what had happened to her than she was. Even Tara had been wonderful and had sat next to her on the bed and read to her from entertainment magazines. Rebecca spent a quite a bit of time laughing which hurt like hell at times but it felt good to know that she could find amusement in times like these. Darkness was approaching fast and for the first time that day she was alone, well mostly Emmy and Saffy had been brought up a few hours ago and had kissed ,nudged and eyed her for hours. When they had finally come to the conclusion she was going to be fine they snuggled up next to her and fell asleep. Every time someone came into the room though the eyes would open and they would assess if Mom was in an danger. Relaxed and at least outwardly whole for the first time since he'd left the night before she thought about Alcide. Sookie had taken him to his van. The only thing he had said to the entire time was for her not go into his head. He'd had enough of people rummaging around in there. He got out and slammed her door not bothering to look back much less thank her. Sookie had returned upset with herself for not pushing harder but Rebecca knew there was nothing that anyone could have done last night to ease Alcide's mind. He was hurt,angry and scared and walking away was the only thing he could do not to make things worse. She knew it was not his fault and had done the best she could to convince everyone else but the mood between him and the Vamps in the room had been hostile at best. Alcide's anger was sure to have caused more problems if he'd stayed. He like to lash out and look for fights when he'd lost control over his life. He was standing on the edge and looking over. She'd have to wait and see if he jumped off the deep end or turned around and took back control. Mason walked into the room his face lifting when he found she was sitting up in the bed.
'" You look considerably better than this morning." She pulled back the covers and lifted her tanks so he could could examine her stomach.
" Very nice." He made no mention of the claw print scar that ran across her entire mid-section. Eventually it would fade away as well but now it was just a reminder of what had tore her apart. She re-covered herself and took Mason's hand.
" I am much better. You and Pam's super blood and Silvia's magic fixed me up nice and good." She shifted trying not to let the pain she still felt show and patted the bed next to her. Mason sat and put his hands down on each side of her. She tilted her head and sent him a You can do better than that. If I didn't break last night I won't now. She pulled him to her and let him encase her.
" You are going to be the death of me my love" The corner of Mason's eyes were red. He didn't shed tears often and she looked away as he wiped them away now. She didn't want to ruin the moment by plucking at his pride.
" I surely hope that that is not the case." she took his hand and placed her lips to it. The cool comfort of his being there was something she hoped she never had to live without.
The rest of her guests filed in. Three vamps and a fairy bringing her food and medicine and in Pam's case the sheer pleasure of her company.
She picked at the food her appetite still hadn't returned and it wasn't until Sookie took the spoon and threatened to feed her like a child that she took a few serious sips of the soup Silvia had made for her. They sat watching her until she could no longer take all of the silent voices running around in her head.
" Whatever you've got to say by all means go on and say it. This may be the only time I will ever be a completely captive audience."
She listened as they each voiced their concerns and answered all of their questions. She heard the fear in Sookie's voice not just for her but for Alcide's safety. The reason for her fear echoing through the room as Mason and William made it clear they were not comfortable having him around her. Silvia told her of her conversations with her Aunt and Mother who knew she would be well but still worried there was more to come. Pam with her usual good taste graphically offered to skin him while in wolf form and make a nice rug for by her couch.
"You have all been there for me and I will never be able to repay you for that. I have heard all of you and I understand your concerns. I need you to hear me now and know that when I tell you that what happened last night was not Alcide's fault it is the truth. Debbie lead him there for reasons I do not yet know and I should have NEVER reached out to him. I saw something take him but I was to slow to keep it from taking me to. I am alive and soon I will be exactly as I was before. When Alcide returns I don't want your lingering animosities keeping me from working through what happened between us."
Downstairs the front door opened and everyone froze. The Vampires looked at each other it wasn't one of them. Rebecca knowing exactly who it was already half way out of the bed.
" Rebecca" Mason sighed.
" Either help me get up or get out of my way." She stood and he held on to her until she was sure she wouldn't fall over. He helped her pull on a robe making no further objections. She found that her feet moved on cue and she made it clear to each of them that they were not to interfere in any way. Slowly she made her way down the stairs all of their eyes watching her as she went. When she was out of their eye line she leaned against the wall and steadied herself. The soup she had just sipped was threatening to come back up. She composed herself and hoped that she looked better than she felt.
She found him in the library. Actually in the alter room which had been left open since there had been a need for people to get in and out quickly. He was looking at photo's on a shelf when she leaned into the doorway.
He didn't acknowledge her presence by turning to look at her instead he pulled down on of the photos and held it high enough for her to see it.
" My Great Grandfather Etienne and my Grand Mother Adele." The picture was of them with her on her Wedding day.
" Are they Vampires?" he asked his voice quiet. He ran his fingers across the photograph.
" No." she replied
" So they are like you?" he gave her a sidewards glance.
" Yes. But they did not find out until much later in life." There was no way to know if you would come back from the dead until you died.
" How did they die?" He let out a huff of air as he said the last word.
" They were in staying at their home in New Orleans. My Grandfather was entertaining clients and they came back to the house after a party and were surprised by intruders. They were both shot in the head. They awoke a few hours later no one the wiser. They stayed here as long as they could without garnering suspicion and then they both faked their deaths. They have been living within my mother's family for the last half century. He silently wondered why and how they could stay there so long.
" Waiting for the next one in the line and because they are surrounded by witches,vampires and the two natured." she explained.
Waiting for you he thought. He put the picture up and picked up another. This one was of Christian and Sade.
" His sister?"
" NO" she said quietly. " His lover."
His face registered surprise and then he shook his head. Of course she's his lover he thought and next you will tell me you were married to him at the time.
" Yes I was. Our marriage was unconventional. I told you were were sort of forced together that is how we dealt with it."
'" He had a lover? That's how you dealt with it? Why did you even bother to get married. What about you?" Quickly the questions came some were for her, others he said aloud so he could understand. She answered all of the questions regardless.
" Yes he did, Yes it was, Because we were doing what our families expected of us and despite the fact that we both loved other people we still loved each other and I had Alexander."
Alcide couldn't believe his ears. " Of course you did." He tried not to think to hard on how that dynamic worked. He didn't agree with it but he couldn't condemn it. He'd seen far worse. " Why did your families force you to get married?"
" My Mother had visions of me marrying a Were. One with a white coat and green eyes. The marriage would bring two powerful families together and would bring much happiness and prosperity to everyone involved. I was in love with Alexander but the most important reason I did not want to marry Christian was because I knew that he was the right wolf. In my dreams my wolf was you."
Her husband was a Were he thought and rolled his eyes upward. No wonder...." So you have always known." he turned to look at her now.
His eyes were sunken, dark and reddened. He looked like he'd aged several years since the night before. There had been no sleep and no peace since he left. The skin on his hands had been rubbed raw in his attempts to clean off her blood.
" Yes Alcide I have always known. But then you've pretty much known that from the beginning."
He nodded his head " Yeah I guess I did. I couldn't make myself believe that you were actually okay with what I am. Despite all of the signs that you knew, that you wouldn't care and that you'd accept me just as I was. No one has ever accepted my exactly the way I am Becca. Not even those like me." He ran his hand through his hair and looked behind her. He couldn't help but wonder where everyone else was. After last night he wasn't sure if he was safe coming back here. But he had to see that she was alright. He sensed that there were four Vampires and a Fairy somewhere in the house.
" They are all upstairs. The Vamps listening the Fairy bitting her nails." she answered.
" I've spent the whole day thinking about the time I've known you. All of the signs I put in my pocket or pushed to the back of my mind. All the times you tried to tell me you knew I was a Werewolf, always backing down when I wouldn't take the bait you'd put out. I wondered why you didn't just come out with it. But you knew that I didn't want to go there didn't you. You went into my mind and you saw all my hang ups and you did your best to avoid them."
" I knew what you were the moment you stepped out of your truck that first day. You didn't want me to know and I didn't want to push you away. I wanted you to stay and for us to get to know each other and for you to feel comfortable enough to tell me on your own. You are uncomfortable and have such hatred for your other nature and you would have run Alcide." He nodded and smirked. She was right, he would have.
" I thought about other things to, things that should have told me about YOUR other nature" He moved his way around the room picking up jars and stones and flipping through books as he talked " The way everyone and everything in the world seems to play off of you like you are the master of a bunch of puppets. You walk around with the air under your feet and know exactly what to say. What to do. How people feel and how to fix them. The night I saw that other wolf in the woods I couldn't help but wonder after who had fired the gun. But there wasn't any gun. You made those noises yourself didn't you?
She nodded and shifted her weight. She was starting to feel light headed but she didn't dare to move for fear he would leave or dissolve like a phantom.
" When you had your accident in the kitchen you were far worse before I got there. Crawfish kept trying to tell me but I thought he was exaggerating because of the shock. I didn't care either because you were going to be fine. The day of the party you made the water dance. I watched your hand hold it and make it explode. It moved exactly like you wanted it to. The night of our fight you took that thought from my mind about you and Jason and it hurt you so much you couldn't let it go. And when Debbie was here the night before last you called the earth to hold her. You like to bend things Becca. Make them revolve around you so tell me how much if any of what I have felt for you is real? He wanted to know if she had bewitched him.
His theory was hurtful but she could see how he could think it possible. " I did all of those things but I have not interfered with your free will Alcide. Any feelings and emotions you have had about or for me have been your own. I have not bewitched you. I have not tricked you into caring for me. You have been with me since I was a very young girl."
" The dreams?" he was skeptical. He believed she had somehow entered his dreams and put him in that field with her.
" Sometimes I do fall into other people's dreams if I am close to them and maybe I did send the idea of me at Malick meadow to you but it was not intentional." She paused as a wave of nausea hit her. She had to get this all out for she may not get another chance.
" You are the wolf from my dreams Alcide, the one who used to sit next to me while I wrote in my journal. The one who walked with me in the woods and the one who's eyes have haunted all of my hours. When I saw you at the edge of the wood that first time,even with the circumstances what they were I was so filled with joy and I knew then that I had to be careful. That I had to let you move things along. You were already so skittish and until that moment I didn't know it was you I had been looking for. You never came to me as a human all I had to go on was this pull I felt whenever you were near. That need to be near you and the gut feeling that told me I couldn't let you go. With each step we took forward we took one back but I wasn't going to give up. I was willing to wait as long as it took. I still am."
He couldn't believe she'd even contemplate the idea. " Why? After what happened last night he couldn't imagine why she was even there now.
" You don't remember do you Alcide? Anything from when you were younger. You don't know if you were there to or if it was just me thinking you up in my mind? Nothing Alcide?" Until she had come to Bon Temps he didn't recall ever dreaming of her.
"Have... She paused her heart was racing. Something wasn't right. She needed to sit down. "Haven't you felt that something was missing? That the path you were on wasn't right? That every lover you had ever had wasn't the one? That some where out there the other piece of you was waiting?
" Yes" He said looking up through the sky light " Everyone does."
" Until they find their other half." she looked up at him through downcast eyes.
He was on her side of the room now just a few feet away. He searched her face and scanned her person. His eyes lingering on where most of the damage had been done. The hint of tan she had gotten these last weeks was gone. She was paler than the day he meet her and she was sweating. But she was standing, breathing and her heart was beating. The sight of her in front of him was nothing short of a miracle.
" What happened to me last night?"
" You were used as a vessel for darkness. It took over you body pushing your will into the deepest part of you. You could see and you could feel what was happening but you had no control of what you were doing. It was trying to find a way into the circle but when I fell back inside it could not get in and let you go."
" I don't know much bout what you are Becca. But your talking like this is something normal." She silently explained it to him. She was glad he let her. Her mouth was bone dry and she had started to shake. Upstairs Mason paced screaming into her head to let him come get her.
" So I guess it could have been anyone?" he said when she was finished explaining.
" Yes. It used your confusion and anger against you. You couldn't have stopped it and non of it would have happened if I hadn't breached the circle."
" I understand." he said quietly. " Becca..."
" You need time?"
He nodded and his expression was apologetic and guilty.
" Now it is I who understand. I am glad you came tonight. You are always welcome." She moved off the wall and back into the library.
" I always wondered what the deal was with this room. I saw the hollow space in the plans I thought maybe this was where Mason and his crew went to ground and that was why it was never mentioned." He ran his hand along the wall his fingers touching the knot.
" Here" she said moving to him and putting her hand on his. His hand jumped but he did not jerk it back. She took his finger and placed it inside the hole.
" His heart is true. He will not fail. The secrets within you can reveal." she smiled " Now you may enter whenever you wish."
" Why would you allow that Becca?" he was shocked she'd let him have access to a room full of evidence of what she was. He didn't think he deserved that type of trust.
" Because even if you can't be with me Alcide you'd never betray me." She reached out and ran her hand across his cheek. He closed his eyes her touch almost bringing him to his knees. It would be easy to make the moves that would put him in her arms but she wanted all of him. Not just the part of him that couldn't help but be drawn to her.
" I hope I'll see you again soon." She gave his arm a squeeze and then with a light head and shaky legs walked from the room. She had just cleared the hall when the spinning of the room became to much. She felt her feet go out from under her and then everything went dark.
|
| ALCIDE |
He had just re-entered the secret room when he heard her fall. His heart skipped a half beat quicker than his step which compelled him towards the door. From the doorway he saw her crumbled up body lying on the floor. He was just inches from her when Mason fell from the sky. Despite his considerable size he landed without any sound. He had jumped from the landing not wanting to waist time going down the stairs. He was crouched his back to Rebecca his black eyes fixated on Alcide.
" I will take her Alcide." He put his hand out letting Alcide know he was to come no further. He slid over to were Rebecca lay, moving the hair from her face and in their way tried to reach her. She stirred and murmured something he couldn't make out. Mason lifted her from the floor and began to carry her away. He stopped and his body went ridged.
" She has asked me to tell you she will be all right and for you to not worry." His voice was full of destain.
He had no idea how these things worked but she clearly was not alright at the moment. He felt the need to say something to Mason in an attempt to clear the air between them. Mason thought him a coward who abandoned Becca the night before and he may deserve that title but he'd like to think Mason would at the very least listen to his side of things." Mason I never meant to hurt her."
Mason gave a half turn and then took Rebecca over to where Bill was standing at the bottom of the steps. He handed Rebecca over to him and Bill nodded heading up the stairs.
"You must really hate me if you'd hand her over to him." he said under his breath. Anyone else wouldn't have heard it. Mason of course did. For the first time Alcide noticed that everyone was perched at various stages of the staircase. Each of them looking between Mason and Alcide. Pam looked angry, Silvia worried and Sookie fearful. Silvia followed William as he passed, Pam and Sookie remained glue to their spots It was a pointed look from Mason that finally got Pam's stiletto's clicking up the stairs. Sookie however stayed where she was.
" Sookie I assure you he will leave here in one piece." He tilted his head in Sookie's direction and she slowly moved up the stairs and out of sight.
Mason closed the gap between them and towering above even Alcide's ample height he spoke. His voice was even and calm but his eyes and his fist betrayed him. Mason was angry but there was nothing he could do to Alcide without angering Rebecca. Something about that made him feel bad for Mason because if he was in the same position he wasn't sure he'd be able to control himself and then he of course he wouldn't have dealt well with Rebecca's wrath and disappointment.
" I do not hate you Alcide. I don't even blame you for what happened last night. Rebecca has made it clear to me that her injuries were the work of a force out of your control." He walked around Alcide like a drill sergeant giving a newbie a verbal thrashing.
"However, I do blame you for leaving her. You have filled her head with hope and happiness making her believe in you in ways you have yet to earn. You spent the entire weekend enjoying the pleasures of her company and then when she needs you to be there for her you walk out." He'd forgotten that Mason would have felt everything Rebecca had the last few weeks, the last few days. He closed his eyes briefly but feeling Mason's gaze beaming into the back of his head he opened them and looked straight ahead. He deserved whatever he got and he knew it. The anger that should be welling up in him from this type of confrontation was not there. Alcide was torn up inside but he knew that whatever Mason had to say to him he deserved.
"I believe that that behavior is a pattern for you Alcide. Walk away when the going gets tough or when you can not handle what is happening to you. You spend you life blaming the others in your life for leaving but it is really you who leaves. Long before they give up on holding on to what they have with you. You have gone along with the pretense that Rebecca did not know you were a Werewolf because you do not like to own what you are. You have no faith that anyone could possibly accept your other nature because you do not accept it yourself. She never lied to you Alcide. Every question you have ever asked her she has answered. You set the precedent for not revealing everything about yourselves. You can not blame her for not sharing this part of her when you could not, would not share the other part of yourself. You can not hold her to a higher standard than you hold yourself." Mason stood at his side his mouth close to his ear " She died in front of you Alcide. She would do it again and again if it meant she wouldn't loose you."
Everything Mason said was true but it did not stop him from feeling the distrust. It made him all the things that Mason believed he was. He wanted to change it but it was not in him to do so. Not at this moment.
" She has not bewitched you. Could she have? Yes. But she would never do that. She has been been dreaming of you,looking over her shoulder for you, waiting for you most of her life. She'd do anything to keep you near. You are her only weakness." Mason looked stricken and slightly sickened by that fact. But it was more than that. He was getting more than just a protective vibe from Mason. It was a emotion that Alcide was well acquainted with,jealousy.
" If you love her so much why aren't you with her yourself Mason?" he couldn't help but ask.
Mason's eyes grew wide and as he did whenever he was angry he ran his tongue across his fangs. He looked at Alcide as if he was crazy to have even thought the question much less asking it. But then the corners of his mouth curled upward just slightly. He stood still for a second and then marched toward the library. Alcide followed close behind. Mason walked into the alter room and he could here him open a cabinet and pull something from it. For a split second he feared Mason was getting a weapon but then thought the better of it. If Mason wanted to kill him he could do it with his bare hands. Probably get much more enjoyment from doing it that way as well he thought.
" You want to know why I am no longer with her? Because every man she has ever loved has lived in the shadow of your ghost. You can not fight back against something you can not see Alcide." His eyes danced now,knowing that now there was a flesh and blood person he could blame for his disappointment. He threw one of Rebecca's journals on to the desk between them. " Her life is in these journals. Every dream she has ever had of you. Not knowing you is the one obstacle she could never defeat or move past. Everything you want to know is in here. Please stay read them. Get to know the woman who you belong with. Once finished please see your way out. I need to be with her now since you clearly are incapable of doing so." Mason walked to the door but took one parting shot. " Alcide, please do not return until you have made up your mind. I grow tired of looking the other way and I will not let you ruin her." Alcide waited until he heard Mason advance up the stairs and then sat down behind Rebecca's desk. He ran his hand across the top of the journal wondering if he really wanted to know what was inside. He thought about everything that had been said that night and realized he had to know everything in order to make a real decision. He opened the journal and started to read.
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