Awakening

28

They were in a new place, all Morgan could do was look around at all of the vampires surrounding them. She didn't know why, but she felt the need to keep her hold on Eric's arm, and he didn't say anything about it. In fact, he would rather have her stay close to him at all cost, especially if they were around other vampires. He leaned down slightly toward Morgan, who turned her head slightly toward him,

"No matter what happens, do not leave my side" he instructed "I don't trust any vampire here. You're too important to me"

She looked up at him, seeing the honesty in his eyes, giving his arm a small squeeze, nodding slightly at his request.

"Varför måste jag vara här?" Morgan whispered in Swedish
Why do I have to be here?

"Du är ett vittne till brottet" he replied
You're a witness to the crime

"Sookie var där också" her eyebrows furrowing slightly "Varför är hon inte här?"
Sookie was there too. How come she's not here?

"Hon kan inte försvara sig mot en vampyr" looking down at her "skulle något hända och vi separeras, vilket är tveksamt, jag vet att du kommer att kunna försvara dig själv"
She is not capable of defending herself against a vampire. Should something happen and we get separated, which is doubtful, I know you will be able to defend yourself.

Even she didn't trust anyone there, and since Eric once said her scent was different, she was sure every vampire noticed. A vampire, who's name was Luisa, removed a fang from a vampire that was in front of the Magister,

"You fed on a human that belonged to another" the Magister said "three months of starving till your fangs grow back will teach you better manners. Brothers and sisters of the tribunal, is this fair? Is this just?"

"Yeah" some vampires replied

"Now, Luisa, the other one, please" gesturing to the vampire in front of him "from the root"

Morgan cringed slightly as the other fang was removed, turning her head slightly as she blocked out the pained sound that emitted from the vampire,

"Sentence passed and executed" the Magister said "the trial is concluded. Best of luck. Moving on" the vampire being pulled away "Eric Northman, Sheriff of Area 5"

"Magister" Eric replied with a small nod, taking a few steps forward with Morgan following

"Well, then" leaning back in his chair "bring me your murderer"

∆

"Longshadow was choking the girl and would have killed her" Bill explained

"So you murdered a higher life form for the sake of your pet" the Magister said "you broke an ancient and fundamental law. You decreased our numbers at a critical time in our history. Very bad. Very, very bad"

"Magister, Longshadow broke the law first" he replied "he first went after another human, but Eric moved her out of the way. Then he went to my human. She was mine and he knew it. He would have killed her and fed from her"

"Hello, human. Irrelevant" looking at him "happens every day"

"He was stealing from Eric" gesturing to the blond vampire next to Morgan

"Sheriff?" looking at him

"Yes, Magister, it's true" Eric replied, giving him a nod "Longshadow was a thief and a liar. He was hurting my business"

"The business part, that is a serious offense" pointing to him

"And it was this human who exposed Longshadow" Bill said, gesturing to Morgan "would you tell him, Eric?" looking at him

"Varför känns det som att han bara slog på mig?" Morgan mumbled to herself
Why does it feel like he just snitched on me?

"The only reason the girl was there was because I called her" Eric said

"To protect your wealth" Bill said

"To protect my wealth, yes" nodding slightly "but I also protected her because she is mine. Magister, she is . . valuable. Bill's human chose to follow mine because of the lack of trust she has with me"

"Humans exist to serve us" the Magister replied "that is their only value"

"There are those among us who think differently" Bill replied

"Do you question my authority?" looking at Bill "I am the Magister. I was trained in the Inquisition and I am the adjudicator for every vampire territory in North America. As the humans say, the humans you love more than your own kind: Back your shit down"

"Bill" Eric said firmly as he opened his mouth to speak

He closed his mouth, looking at Eric for a second before looking down at the floor,

"Well, you haven't bored me" the Magister said "that works in your favor. And you seem to be obedient to your sheriff"

"For the most part" Eric commented, causing the Magister to look at him "when it matters, yes, he is"

"The usual sentence is five years in a coffin chained with silver" looking at Bill "during which time your body will waste to leather and sticks. You'll probably go insane. However . . . I'm feeling a bit . . creative"

|•|

"What will happen to Bill?" Morgan asked as she and Eric calmly walked along the sidewalk

"I don't know" Eric replied, honesty in his voice "the Magister can be unpredictable at times. But he won't be locked away"

"Sookie would be heartbroken if that happened" resting her head on his arm

"It sounds like you care" a small smirk forming on his lips

"I may not legally be her sister, but I did grow up with her" his fingers lacing with hers "I know her better than she knows herself. Her deepest secrets, her thoughts, her conversations when she's on the phone. Bill is the only guy that's ever taken a genuine interest in her and doesn't see her as a freak"

"What about you?" looking down at her

"What about me?" taking her head from his arm and looking at him

"How would you feel if something happened to me?" curiosity in his eyes

"That's a bullshit question" a small smile forming on her lips "I don't have to worry about that. Nothing can happen to you. You're a Viking vampire that doesn't take shit from anyone" standing in front of him, wrapping her arms around his neck as she walked backwards "and you're mine. I do what I can to protect the ones I care about"