Awakening

44

Their footsteps were as silent as possible as they walked through the church, wanting to get out as soon as they could, but Morgan new it was going to take some time before that happened. Eric also wanted to get her out of the building as soon as possible, wanting to get her cleaned up, especially with her blood dried to her skin and staining the top of her dress. The woman reached up, putting her hair back in a low bun, wanting it out of her face so she could see where she was going, even tucking her usual two locks behind her ears, a slow breath emitting from her lips.

"Brothers and sisters, we are on lockdown" Steve's voice echoed through the loudspeaker "women with children, please take them to our classroom buildings. Men, and able-bodied women, security personnel will provide you with stakes and silver just outside the chapel. Our Soldiers of the Sun are on their way to protect our church, but safely evacuate the building now. Brothers and sisters, the hour is upon us!"

"I want to hurt him" Morgan commented lowly

She stayed close to Eric, the three of them watching as people walked out of the church as instructed by Steve.

"I could have you out in seconds" Eric said as he looked over a few men

"There are kids out there" Sookie said, looking at him with furrowed eyebrows

"All those people out there wouldn't think twice about hurting us" Morgan said, glancing at her

"Why didn't you bring Bill with you?" She asked, keeping her attention on him

"His attachment to you is irrational" Eric replied "it clouds his judgment. He would kill every child in this church to save you"

"Why aren't you?" she pressed "and what about your attachment to my sister?"

"I'm following Godric's orders and getting you out, that's all" looking at her "and my attachment to Morgan is much different than Bill's attachment to you"

"He's your maker isn't he?" She asked "Godric?"

"Don't use words you don't understand" Morgan replied, causing Sookie to briefly glance at her

"You have a lot of love for him" she said, looking back at Eric

The vampire simply rolled his eyes, turning his head and looking furtively at the entrance door, trying to come up with a plan to get his woman out of the church, as well as Sookie.

"Let's lock it up!" A man said "keep quiet! Alright lock it up, nobody comes through here . ."

Eric started to walk out toward the members of the fellowship,

"Eric!" Morgan whispered, grabbing his arm "what the fuck are you doing?"

He turned back toward Morgan, leaning down slightly to her height,

"Trust me" he said softly, pressing a kiss to the side of her head that didn't have blood

Her hands slipped from his arm as he walked toward out the entrance door, Morgan putting a hand back slightly, moving Sookie back as the woman with white hair watched her vampire,

"Oh hey y'all!" Eric greeted in a cheerful southern happy-go-lucky voice "how's it going? Steve sent me over there to man the exit here. Think I can take it from here"

"By yourself?" One of the men, Kyle, asked

"Ha . . Yeah!" nodding slightly

"You're big and all but there's a vamp on the loose" he said

"Where's your stake?" Another man asked, who's name was Brent

"Oh" Eric laughed "dang! I forgot!" Kyle giving him a suspicious look "maybe I could borrow yours if . . if that's okay"

"I can't do that . ." Brent said "get your own"

". . . I'd very much like to borrow your stake" his voice changing back to normal, his eyes connecting with Brent's, glamoring him

". . Yeah" a small smile forming on his lips "yeah, that'd be okay I guess"

Brent hands Eric the stake while Kyle raised his own, but a hand grabbed his wrist before he could make the killing blow, a fist connected with his cheek, a sickening crack filling the air while Eric turned toward another man and grabbed him by the neck, and points the stake to his neck,

"You don't have to kill him" Morgan said, letting go of Kyle, allowing him to fall unconscious to the floor

He let go of Rich, opening the door and grabbing Morgan's hand, pulling her along, Sookie following. People are rushed over toward them, some of them having crossbows in their hands,

"Those arrows are wood" Rich said "you'll never make it through"

"Through the sanctuary" Morgan said, pulling him along

•

The three of them entered the sanctuary,

"Where's the exit?" Eric asked

"Back that way" Sookie replied, pointing to the exit

"There are several exits, actually" Steve spoke up "for you, the easiest one takes you straight to hell"

Eric put Morgan behind him as members of the Fellowship of the Sun enter the room,

"Let us leave" Sookie said, looking at the members of the church "save yourselves. No one has to die"

"The war has begun you evil whore of Satan" Steve said "you vampires cast the first stone by killing my family. The lines have been drawn. You're either with us, or against us. We are prepared for Armageddon"

"The vampire you're holding prisoner got away" she replied

"He's a sheriff" Morgan added "he's bound to send for help"

"I'm not concerned with Godric" he replied "any vampire would do for our grand celebration, and we got one right here" pointing to Eric

"Over my dead body" she said, standing in front of her vampire

"That can be arranged" smirking at her

"Morgan" Eric said

He rarely used her name, if at all, causing Morgan to turn her head, looking up at him,

"I'll be fine" he said softly

Eric removed his leather jacket, gently placing it over her shoulders and giving them a gentle squeeze, silently telling her that he would be okay, and walking toward the altar,

"Brothers and sisters, there will be a holy bonfire at dawn!" Steve announced, laughing