Awakening

145

They were back at the Compton House, Nora had been thrown to the floor of the balcony and Eric was pinned to the banister, Morgan jumping over the railing, landing on the balcony as well, walking over to Jessica and Sookie. A low growl emitted from her, taking the wood from Sookie's hand and throwing it at Bill, ignoring the protests from Jessica. The spike landed in his back, poking out of his chest, causing him to release his hold on Eric, but he didn't explode in a pile of goo like everyone had been expecting. He gasped as he turned around, glaring at Morgan for a moment before reaching for the wood, grunting as he pulled it out of his chest. The stake clattered to the floor as he looked back at Morgan, Jessica and Sookie,

"Now can we talk?" He asked, his wound slowly healing

He walked toward the wall before turning around, jerking his head slightly toward Eric, which caused the vampire to retract his fangs as Nora pushed herself to her feet. Blood no longer coated Bill's body from head to toe, he was now cleaned up and dressed in a long sleeve shirt, jeans and shoes, and Morgan wanted to know what the hell he wanted to talk about, especially after the events that happened a few hours ago.

"I brought you here tonight so you could see for yourselves" he said "I am no monster. I do not wish any of you harm, but if you force me to defend myself again, you will be sorry"

"What are you?" Sookie asked

"Are you Lilith?" Nora asked

"I am Bill Compton" he answered looking at her "though, clearly, I am something more. I see that now" looking toward Morgan and Sookie "I see everything so differently now. The fear in your eyes . ." taking a small step closer as he looked at Sookie and Jessica "I know I put that there. But I promise you, the man who did that to you has gone"

"That's right" Sookie said "Bill Compton is gone. He died. I felt it. So whatever the hell you are, if you really mean us no harm, then prove it. Stay away from Jessica, from all of us. Leave Bon Temps tonight and never come back"

"No" Jessica spoke up, dropping her stake to the floor ". . Bill is staying and so am I" walking toward her maker "you're the ones who should leave"

"Jess, I'm not leaving you --" looking at her

"He's my maker!" She snapped "you will never understand"

"This is not Bill" she protested

"You don't know that" shaking her head slightly "you can't know that. None of you know anything. All you want to do is kill and ask questions later" turning to look at her "you told me that you loved him" looking at Morgan "and you tried to stake him. How could you?"

"When you find your mate, you'll understand" Morgan replied "the bond is so much more than a maker and his progeny"

"She's right" Nora spoke up

"I don't care!" Jessica snapped, her fangs extending "just get out. All of you"

"You heard her" Bill said, looking at them "get out"

His words caused the entire house to rumble, but Morgan didn't move from her spot as Nora grabbed Sookie's arm, leading her off of the balcony. Bill looked toward Morgan, who was looking at Jessica, a low sigh emitting from her nose, knowing she was still young and didn't know much about mates.

"I do not hold it against you" Bill informed "I understand completely"

She didn't reply, turning around and walking toward the railing, grabbing it with one hand and jumping over it, landing on her feet with ease, Eric doing the same a few seconds later.

∆

"You can go wherever you want, Sook" Morgan informed as they walked to the Stackhouse home "I'll pay for it all, you could start a new life"

"I don't want your money" she refused "and besides, there's no point. I've had Bill's blood. Lots of it. If he wants me, he'll find me. No matter where I am. He's not the only one that's changed. My life -- it's so different from how I thought it would turn out. I'm not who I thought I'd turn out to be"

"I know how that feels" chuckling lightly "but you'll always be my big sister who's forever in some kind of trouble"

A light laugh emitted from Sookie, giving her a small nod,

"Keep the deed to the house" the blonde said "you're right, I feel safer knowing you own it. Thanks for walking me home"

"Stay away from Bill of you can" looking at her "and remember, only you or I can allow someone to enter the house"

"You got it" nodding slightly

". . Did Mike Spencer really want to suck on your toes?" making a face, causing Sookie to laugh and nod her head "that's nothing, he wanted to know if his semen matched my hair color"

Sookie groaned in disgust, Eric growled lowly as Morgan laughed about it, since Mike Spencer was now dead. She bid them a goodnight, walking into the house as Nora leaned forward on the porch chair,

"Have you disposed the vehicle?" Eric asked

"Yeah, it's in the swamp" Nora replied "what's the plan with Bill?"

"We'll find his weakness" glancing at her

"Can we use the faerie?" shrugging slightly

"She stays out of this" Morgan said, looking at her "we're going home after we stop by Fangtasia. You're welcomed to a guest room if you don't have anywhere to stay for the night. If you have a copy of the Book of Lilith, I'd like to take a look at it. The house is the only one on Sequoia Road"

With that, Morgan turned around and walked down the road, Eric following his mate, knowing how much she wanted to go home, and he did to. She needed to talk to her father about a few things as well, maybe he could do something about the fallen Authority, or help the other two-fanged vampires somehow. Morgan hoped he could.