Awakening

121

"Happy Birthday!"

A chorus of those words filled Merlotte's as Morgan walked in, a smile forming on her lips,

"Can I interest you in a . . hand sandwich?" Terry asked as he showed her a plate

She could help the laugh that emitted from her, seeing that a slab of sandwich meat moulded into a shape of a hand,

"I like that" pointing to it "nicely done, Terry"

"Thanks, sweetie" he smiled with a playful evil laugh

He walked away to serve the food to the one who ordered it, Alcide wrapping an arm around her shoulder and leading her to an empty booth, the two of them sitting down. The werewolf had no problem with others calling her little pet names, which were normally terms of endearment because she had known so many people her whole life. Eric, on the other hand, would either glare or growl at anyone who called her anything other than her name, apart from Alcide. This morning had been unexpected to the gray witch, waking up with Alcide's head nestled in between her legs, his tongue working to rouse her from her sleep. He had given her an excellent morning filled with love and passion that Morgan wouldn't ever be able to forget, which also happened to last until noon, making her come as many times as she could. But her day didn't end as soon as it started, Alcide was going to do whatever he could in order to make her twenty-third birthday a little extra special.

"Nice ears, Sook" Morgan chuckled, pointing to the bunny ears

"Oh, hush" the blonde replied with a smile "happy birthday. I just came over to tell you that Raven put in your order as soon as you walked in"

"Thank you" watching as she walked to the other tabled

"I got a whole day planned, darlin" Alcide informed "and Eric's gonna take over at night, then we'll all spend the rest of your birthday with you"

"I sure hope you're not planning on keeping my best friend all to yourself" Raven said as she sat next to Morgan

"Of course not" shaking his head slightly "especially since you girls have an appointment at the beauty parlor in Jackson" looking at Morgan "Janice insisted on it as soon as I told her about your birthday. She promised not to do anything crazy"

∆

All Morgan wanted was a trim, and that's what she had received. Since she took care of her hair, there were very little split ends, so all she got taken off was an inch, which made her hair feel so much lighter. She thought her birthday celebration was too good to be true, and she may have jinxed it, finding herself running toward Bill's house, fear coursing through her as she saw Eric chained in silver, standing on wood with the king, the wood on fire as Lafayette was thrown back by a light from Sookie's hands. She stopped next to Tara as he got back up, his face changing into the demon Jesus had carried for a long time,

"What the fuck?" Morgan asked

"Join hands" Holly instructed

Sookie grasped her hand, then Morgan's, who grasped Tara's,

"Powers of the Divine, hear me on this Samhain night" Morgan said

"Spirits who watch over us -- friends, family, ancestors, guardians of the gates" Holly said

"With this rite, we invoke thee" closing her eyes as her voice echoed through the night "through the veil of Samhain, we call thee forth"

The four woman continued to say the words, Morgan releasing Tara's hand, holding it out to the fire, slowly curling her fingers inward. She clenched her hand into a fist, throwing it down and destroying the structure, Eric and Bill falling to the grass as she opened her eyes. A small gasp emitted from her at the spirits surrounding them, three of them standing out the most, releasing Sookie's hand as she slowly walked forward. She didn't listen to what was said, her eyes landing on a woman in all black, her hands clasped in front of her.