Chapter 2 : Eric

The time had come.

He had come.

"Eric," she whispered. She opened her eyes fully for the first time. She had to see her husband. Her lover, her warrior, her protector; he appeared at the door. He was as handsome as ever. Love filled her heart. "I waited for you."

With tender love and care, Eric was instantly in bed with her and holding her in his arms. He stroked her head as he kissed her.

"My beloved," he whispered; his cool breath felt soothing against her bruised, hot cheek. "I'm here now. It's over."

She settled into his arms and leaned her head onto his chest. She always loved it when he would cradle her in his arms.

That is where she always felt safest …in his arms. "Good. I knew that you'd come. I knew that nothing would keep you from seeing me." Her warm tears fell onto his chest.

With great care, Eric pulled her closer to him. "I'm so sorry, my beloved."

With all of the energy that she could muster, she lifted her head to look into his beautiful blue eyes.

She put her hand on his cheek and kissed his perfectly soft lips. Her Viking, her warrior, her protector; her everything; he'd made everything better. He always made everything so much better.

Eric brushed his lips across her forehead as he felt the life slowly leaving her body. The soul that he loved so much would soon be gone.

The jokes that they shared would no longer be funny. When he would remember them, they would only make him miss her even more. He had no one that he could share his nights with.

He would no longer smell the sun in her hair or on her perfectly tanned body. One of his greatest joys would soon be gone. His only love was leaving him.

He kept looking into her eyes. He wanted her to drink from him. It took more willpower than he thought possible to not force her to drink from him.

He could make her drink but she would hate him and that is a punishment that he could not stand to bear. As he looked at her, he remembered his promise. Bloody tears fell onto her face.

Wiping the tears from her husband's face, she said, "Don't cry for me, baby." Bill was standing behind Eric. Niall was still standing at the foot of the bed with his hand lovingly on her foot. "You've made me so happy."

They were supposed to have forever. There was so much more for them to do together. There were places they'd never been. She'd never seen his homeland. It's not time. She can't leave.

"Don't leave me."

"Don't meet the sun." She kissed him again, this time her eyes were closed. "Pam needs you. I need for you to be strong." Her breaths were becoming slower and slower. "Promise me Eric."

He only looked at her.

"Tell Pam that I love her. Tell Jason. Tell Sam that I forgive him."

He only looked at her.

Sookie opened her eyes and looked deeply into his. Sorrow and sadness filled her. "Promise me, Eric."

She had fear on her face because she could see that he had planned to meet the sun that very morning. "Please, don't meet the sun."

How could he say no to the woman that has loved him despite the many problems that they've had? How could he say no to her when she'd made so many sacrifices for them?

How could this be the last time that he looks into those blue eyes? How could it be possible that he would never hold her in his arms again? How could he tell her no?

Still looking at him, blinking back the tears, she waited. "Please."

"I promise."

A relieved sigh escaped her mouth as a small smile appeared on her face. Her small hand was still on his face.

She lovingly stroked his face and looked into his eyes. She wanted to drown in those eyes. She loves him. Her heart was aching because she waited too long to prove just how much.

Her blue eyes were fading and he could feel the life leaving her. He felt that part of himself which was Sookie, slowly dying. Her eyes were taking him in; every crease, every smile.

She was taking every story with her, every kiss, and every touch. It was almost as if she was trying to take all of the memories that were of them with her.

The small hand slowly fell from his face and landed onto his chest. Bill moved in quickly and kneeled at her side. She looked down at Bill and gave him one last smile.

Bill raised his eyebrows and looked her as if to ask, 'Are you leaving?'

She only looked at him with that same smile on her face that she'd given him only a short time ago. She looked at Niall, who stood at the foot of the bed silently.

A

He gave his granddaughter a smile and a nod. Sookie returned her attentions back to Bill 1 noqdded. Bill's body slumped to the floor as his tears flowed freely.

She returned her eyes to Eric. She swallowed before she spoke. "My dear husband; I've always loved you. I'm so sorry." She smiled at him one last time and closed her eyes. Her breaths were faint. Her chest was barely moving.

Eric held her tightly to his chest as if he was trying to push her inside of himself. He rocked her back and forth. "Don't leave me, Sookie. I love you." He held her away from him and kissed her.

Her last breath was one simple word, "Eric."

There was nothing to do but to look out into the sea of the sad, desperate, and nameless faces of the humans that I have no intentions of ever knowing or even trying to get to know.

Each night, I stare straight ahead as I sit on my throne in the middle of a bar that I have grown to hate.

I hate this bar.

I hate the fangbangers.