Words-Are-Symbols is closed today due to the eclipse.

Happy Easter

The symbols of Easter.

The Lamb of God and the risen Savior.

Next time He comes around, it is as a warrior.

Make your list and check it twice. The New World is going to be filled with those things that fill our hearts.

Be blessed and be the blessing,

Carroll

Snow Day!

Welcome 2024…

The Birth, The Sacrifice, the Resurrection and the Call to Glory. May we all live our happily ever after. If not in this life, then the next.

Happy New Year!

Carroll

Cinnamon Sugared Almonds

Dear Readers, ran this last Christmas….making these tomorrow….ho ho ho!

It is almost Christmas! Time to make the Cinnamon Sugar Almonds! Yes, this is that smell that wafts on the breeze when you just ran in to buy coffee at that mega truck stop! Yes, the smell makes you so happy you buy coffee for everyone and a couple of bags of these for yourself!

Editor’s note: You can certainly substitute your favorite nut for almonds.

Ingredients:

• 3 cups raw almonds
• 1 egg white
• 1 TBS vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 tsp. ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 250F.

Grease a large baking sheet. Because QOHU has stoneware, she uses it. She has made these in the past with just a regular old metal greased cookie sheet with sides.

DO NOT USE PARCHMENT PAPER OR FOIL.

You are going to be turning these every fifteen minutes, so just put it on the greased pan. Have faith! This works. We use Pam or whatever spray oil is on sale.

In a bowl, combine sugar and cinnamon. Set aside.

In a mixing bowl, beat egg white and vanilla until frothy. This is about one minute in the mixer at medium high speed.

Toss in the almonds and stir to cover.

Then sprinkle on the dry ingredients. About a 1/3 cup at a time. Mix well to coat almonds.

Spread the almonds on the greased baking pan.

Use a greased metal pancake turner to pat it all into place.

Place in oven. Bake for one hour, turning every fifteen minutes. One hour! Every fifteen minutes! Cannot stress that enough!

QOHU doubled the recipe. This is the frothy egg whites and vanilla. Add the almonds to this mixture and stir.

Her greased cookie sheet is at the ready! We are adding in the sugar and cinnamon mixture about 1/3 of a cup at at time and stirring to mix between additions. That is her grandmother’s wooden spoon. Her grandpa gave it to her on their wedding day!

One greased pancake turner. The almonds have all been patted into place. And maybe shoved around a bit. Do you see how wet they look? That greased pancake turner makes this job so much easier.

They have been in the oven for one hour, turned and patted back into place every fifteen minutes. Oh-h-h-h, they have all taken on an individual appearance!

When you are turning them, every fifteen minutes, you will want to wash and grease your spatula each time for that was well. You are working with caramelizing sugar. Things stick.

When they had finished their one hour, she took them out, flipped them again, and because she had to be elsewhere, turned off the oven and shoved them back in. There is a wooden spoon in the door to help release the heat. (Same method applies for a cheese cake she makes.) There are elves aplenty here today roaming the halls and wanting to clean Jack’s ears (that could be a ruse) and well….just wanting to help… taste-test the almonds. By putting them back into the cooling oven helps keep the elves from sampling them until they are all gone.

Ho ho ho! They are ready to be packaged and given as gifts! And shared around our own home with a glass of egg nog to toast the season!

Rustic Pie

(Editor’s Note: For a rustic pie, all you need is a pie crust…not even a whole one…filling, and something to bake it on.)

Part of the joy of pie baking day is that there will be something nice to have for dessert, that day.

For my sour cream, Dutch apple pie, I overwhelmed the recipe with apples and maybe I tossed in some blueberries from our yard. After all, it is Thanksgiving and I can hunt and gather and even shop on line. And my family thinks I have no nerd skills! Ha! And again I say Ha! Or maybe that is Ho Ho Ho….but I digress…

So, there was filling left over. But not a lot. I got a frozen berry mix out of the freezer, thawed them out, drained them, mixed it into the Dutch apple mix. (This mix included blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries.)

Since I already had the pie plates out, I used that instead of a cookie sheet. Grease the pie plate! I put down the small pie crust I had left over and into the pie crust went the mixed fruit goodness. Then I folded the edges down and sprinkled on the crumb topping.

Hmmmm, looks like maybe someone helped themselves to some of the crumb topping. I can see where pecans once sat.

To un-plate, let the pie cool. I ran a pancake turner under and all around the pie. Once I had everything loosened, it slid right out.

Hello dessert! The first slice was small so that I could eat it over the sink. After all, I do not want to poison the family. I made it through dinner so all is well.

After dinner, we had it warm, with ice cream…whipped cream is not a bad choice either.

On to the holy days and holidays! To you and yours, a blessed Thanksgiving.

Pie Crust/Plain Pastry

This recipe is dedicated to my dearly loved little sister, Deb. She told me, back in our younger years, that she went through 5 pounds of flour before she got the pie crust recipe, correct. 

I am still at a bit of a loss, about that. 

This recipe is for those of you who want to make your own. Believe me, if I can do this, you can do this.

Needful Things:

• Flour
• Salt
• Solid shortening
• Cold water
• Measuring spoons
• Measuring cups
• Rolling pin of some sort or a bottle
• Cling wrap
• Wax paper
• Pastry cutter, nice to have but not required. You can use two forks. Or your hands.

For one single-crust pie or 4-6 tart shells:

• 1 & 1/2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup shortening
  • Back in the day, it was lard.
  • Lard makes for an even flakier crust but shortening will do.
  • Let us not talk about cholesterol.
• 4-5 tablespoons cold water
  • No matter what I do, I always end up using the 5 tablespoons of water.
  • Throw some ice cubes into your water, give it a couple of minutes, and you are ready to go.

Okay, the single recipe is nice, but not useful to me. I always use the double recipe when I bake any type of pie. I have the Pampered Chef pie plates. This recipe fits it nicely. I like to really push the crust up and crimp. There is something very satisfying about that.

For one 8, 9, or 10 inch double-crust; or one lattice-top 8,9, or 10 inch single crust pies; or 6-8 tart shells

• 2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2/3 cup shortening
• 5-7 tablespoons cold water
  • No matter what I do, I always end up using the 7 tablespoons of water.
  • Throw some ice cubes into your water, give it a couple of minutes, and you are ready to go.

Here We Go.

Mix the flour and salt, together. 

Add the shortening. You can use a pastry blender or a couple of forks to cut the shortening into your flour mixture. Or your hands. (Please note: I have enough ingredients in my bowl for ten pie crusts. Your bowl will not look as full.)

Once you have mixed it to “pea size” you are ready to add the water.

Pea size. This still cracks me up. I can remember my home room teacher proudly saying that a couple of her classes had actually brought in fresh peas to measure…I am just sitting here shaking my head. Did we really have that kind of time, fifty-five years, ago…anywho…I digress…

Add the water. Recipe says 1 tablespoon at a time. I just dump it all in and start cutting it in. Once more, you can use a pastry blender or a couple of forks .

Seriously, I just use my hands. Pastry chefs tell that you need to keep the dough, cold, and not to over work it. And in a perfect world, I guess I would do that. (But I am not getting paid six figures in a high-end restaurant to keep the dough, cold. So, the family gets what I push out.)

Mix it together and then dump it out on the counter and continue to mix with my hands.

I know that this makes ten pie crusts, so I am looking at making about ten balls of dough all the same size. Now, you can weigh them, but once again, I am not getting paid a six figure salary to make pie crusts. Your dough balls should be the size of a baseball or large orange.

I now have my balls of dough. They are not pretty or perfect. I am just happy to have them this far along in the process.

Next comes the rolling. Pick your favorite rolling pin.

You see that counter shimmer? That’s right. Cling wrap or Saran wrap or plastic wrap. Nothing fancy here. I put down two rows that overlap a bit. Take my ball of dough and flatten it down by pushing down on it with the heels of my hands. Then I pat around on it a bit to make it even flatter because the rolling pin is coming.

That is wax paper on top. You can also use more cling wrap to put down. But I find a sheet of wax paper works just fine. It is also reusable. I used this one sheet on all nine of my rolled out crusts.

Roll it out in your best ability of a circle to fit your pie plate. I don’t measure. I just eyeball it. And when it looks about right, I remove the wax paper and I roll the pie crust up in the cling wrap that I rolled it out, on.

We are ready for the next one. Put down two more pieces of cling wrap and repeat.

I then gather them all up, put them in a plastic bag and stick them in the fridge until I am ready to use. them. I do not know if they freeze. I always use them up before the first of December.

Ready? Set. Go!

PLEASE NOTE: These need to come to room temperature before you unroll them.

Straight out of the fridge this morning.

Ha, she says. I seldom have time for that.

Let them rest for 5-10 minutes on the counter and then carefully unroll them. They just might crack while you unroll.

Pat the seams back together so that it is one more whole looking.

Grease your pie pan.

Pick up the cling wrap and position it over the top of your pie plate, flip it over and put it in. I am not a trained weapons officer with Maverick as my pilot, so my crust may or may not be on target. Remember, it is just pie crust.

Then adjust it as you go. Delete bits where it hangs to long and add those bits to where it hangs too short.

Use water to wet the edges and pat into place.

Pie Crust. It’s that easy.

Here’s what last year’s pies look like. This year’s is going to look … EXACTLY the same.

Get a head start and bake the pie shell.

If you are going to bake the pie shell, to fill later, prick the bottom and the sides with a fork. Heat your oven to 425 degrees. Place the shell on the middle rack and bake for about 10 minutes or until golden brown.

If you are baking WITH filling, follow the directions. As a rule, I will bake my pie crust with filling at 425 for 10 minutes to help set the crust then turn the temp down to what the recipe calls for and carry on.

Mystery Unlocked.

There is no mystery to pie crust. And you really don’t even need a pie pan. You can be all homey goodness and do a rustic pie. Just roll out your dough, put in on a greased cookie sheet. Place sliced apples with a bit of cinnamon and maybe some pecans or walnuts and pieces of butter, sprinkled on some brown sugar, fold over the edges and put it in the oven. If you google this, there are all sorts of looks and goodness you can achieve.

I always have a couple of extra around after Thanksgiving so I can make a turkey pot pie. 

Happy Baking!

CES

Land of the Midnight Sun — Chapter 12 — Epilogue

The characters of the Southern Vampire Mysteries belong to Miss Charlaine Harris.  The Characters of True Blood belong to Mr. Alan Ball. NCIS: created by Donald P. Bellisario and Don McGill. 2003 to present.

I have no BETA, editor or other such charming person. All mistakes are my own.

No infringement on my part is intended. This story is rated MA. Contains language and sexual adult situations.

Land of the Midnight Sun — Chapter 12 — Epilogue

“Daylight is coming,” Samuel said. “The sun-on-the-horizon is not going to get past the storm but the sun is rising in thirty minutes.”

“I could use a bathroom break,” Sookie said. “Gran, how about you?”

“That sounds delightful. Pamela has been very good to me, getting me back and forth to the resort, but I could use a shower, as well to greet the new day.”

“Sounds good,” Eric nodded. “I think we are a time and place so we can stop and return to civilization for a bit.”

“I am going to ask the question,” Ian looked around at his family. “Just what is this that we have been drinking? I am not hungry; I am not desiring to go to my day slumber. I am more shrewd, I believe, in my understanding of everything and I am feeling invincible. Like I could actually take on a coven of witches with a cauldron of evil and walk away victorious.”

“Best guess,” Eric looked over at them while he picked up his tools. “That The Deaths it is not from this time and place. I have no idea what the First Age is or was or where it took place, but whatever is in this drink is not going to be found on what we reference as planet earth. Or at least, not our version of it.

Did the king of the dragons grow these things to brew on his timeline, in his dimension?” Eric shrugged. “When we get past our time line and defeat this demon, we’ll have some answers.  When that happens, I am of the opinion that O.I. is going to be very forth coming with answers. But until then, we are all on guard and doing our best. As my grandmother was so fond of saying, to my father, Just because you are old and should know better, does not mean that you do not act young and stupid. Make good choices.”

“Amen,” was echoed around the room, “and Amen.”

Ian’s phone rang. Answering, he listened intently, said thanks, and hung up then checked his messages.

“What is up, o’ boy’o  mine?” Cedric asked him.

“Got a call from Walther, my plumber. He got a phone call from Fletcher, you remember Fletcher? The plumber and all-round handyman for the Supes in the Northern Old World. Fletcher was called in to locate a heating problem at Catherin’s winter residence, that problem being of the heat not working. And Fletcher had no clue of where to start after cleaning out the fire box, and a couple of chimneys. Since her system is centuries old, he called my man, Walther, who does a good job keeping my residence going with a system that is older than Methuselah, or so he tells me.

 Walther is on the phone with him while he is crawling around through the system and everywhere folk are talking; and he overhead all this while they were on the phone. Fletcher banging on pipes, trying to get them to work, and Walther eavesdropping on everyone in the residence. While they were chatting back and forth, they both got an earful.

Her residence is full of the coming and going of folks asking questions and raising eyebrows,” he replied. “Catherine, this dark, was to take a meeting with persons unknown. She has not returned.

 The bandwidth,” he pointed to his messages, “is lit up with all sorts of rumors and innuendos. 

Her Council of Bankers was supposed to chat with her before they went to their day rest. Apparently, she cannot be found and is not responding to their calls, requests, or supplications.  And she may screw around and keep everyone else waiting. But not her bankers. If she could, she would move them in with her.”

“So,” Cedric was thoughtful, “she stayed to party on with the new dark?”

“Not the vibe I am getting,” Ian replied. Then stopped. “Yes, seriously, not the vibe I am getting at all,” he said as he looked around at everyone putting on their coats and winter woolies.

“Lewis, her driver, called Fuller, her chambermaid, at her winter residence. 

Lewis dropped her off in Magadan, of all places, the last old dark. Was to pick her up at zero three and have her back in time for her meeting. He has not seen or heard from her since. 

So he called Fuller and asked if she packed her enough clothes to stay and party on.”

“Interesting,” Eric nodded. “But why would Catherine need heat? She is cheap and believes if you want to be warm, move to The Med or anyplace with never ending daylight.”

“Because, Fletcher said, they need the pipes to work so that the tiny blonde, Ivan, her scavenger-at-large, brought home, can be kept alive and not frozen when her royal badass decides to bring it on home. And I might add, Walther said, Fletcher got that out all in one breath.

It was interesting, chatting with Walther. It was almost like I could hear his thoughts. Just not the words he was saying.

Sorry, back on point.

Fletcher said the tiny blonde came with a lot of mouth and attitude. She demanded to see Catherine up front and personal. That Catherine had promised her an audience in her private chambers. That they were going to be lovers and that she was going to rule with the bitch and her big, blond stud so just where the fuck was she? And someone had better turn on the heat or she was going to demand that Catherine rip out all their hearts while she pissed in their empty chest cavity.”

“Charming,” Sookie frowned.

“Yes,” Gran nodded. “What a mouth on that child.”

“Tiny blonde,” Eric growled. “That seems to think she is going to be more than just a snack. And is going to share in the delights of a big, blond stud. Like she is actually going to have a say about how things go.

And the bitch from hell is on the Russian coast, just looking across into Alaska.

And now we have a storm that reeks of Rasputin.”

“Sounds like Catherine wants it all,” Sookie replied with heat in her voice. “She seems to think she can have you, a tiny blonde, and that all can rule happily ever after. Or maybe she wants to wear those two sets of bones and still live happily ever after. 

Or whatever her personal take is on this.

The more I hear about her, the more she ticks me off,” she growled. “I am all for ending this demon and then looking for her. And Rasputin,” she shook her head and made a “plllllllllbt” sound. “What a Poser, if I might quote Pamela.”

“Yes,” the vampires all nodded in agreement. 

“He has skills, we saw them one night in Paris,” Samuel replied. “He can throw a fireball. He does not generate one, just picks up ash from the fire place, pats it all into place like you would a snow ball, then throws it.”

“Soo-o-o-o,” Sookie was thoughtful, “maybe he has a bit of dragon blood in him. If he did this storm, somehow he believes that Eric is in the area. So, he does have skills, right? 

I mean, could he actually, physically locate us? And just who the fuck does he work for? Catherine? The demon?”

The family stopped what they were doing and stood looking at each other.

“Let’s just lay it all out there,” Eric addressed them, “with what we know, think we know, suspect and/or can draw a righteous line to it. 

We know,” Eric began, “that the demon needs/wants specifically, my bones. And those of a small blonde.

Catherine knows of the Balance of Power as well. Which is one of the reasons she did not move against the family back in the day. We kept the peace for ten thousand years by stating the facts as we knew them about the BOP; bluffing, and perhaps just bold face lies from time-to-time and spies and subterfuge. Along with my sword is sharper and has more muscle than yours. 
Hello, we are Vikings and we do not back down. After all, that is the Viking way.

I don’t think bones is her approach. But we do not know.

This storm is being pushed at us. 

So somehow, something is triggered and Catherine knows I am in the area so she has Rasputin looking in very a very specific place and raising the storm.

What was the trigger?” Eric arched both eyebrows. “Well, Roger had found a small blonde for the demon. And Roger ends up dead with a bullet between his eyes while riding in a police car.

Coincidence?” he asked.

“There is no such thing as coincidence,” Pamela replied. “Gibbs rule number 39. Eric’s rule number 39.”
  

“Really,” Sookie smiled. “You know the famous NCIS special agent?” 

Pam nodded and said, “Oh, yes. Jackson Gibbs, Jethro Leroy’s father, knew Eric from the war. I knew him also. Handsome man, smart, capable and works well with Supernaturals. Has a couple of what I would call gifts. That man could look into your soul and call you on your shit.

He contacts Eric and says that his son is working a cold case that seems to have once more reared its ugly head. That there was a group of Nazis still alive and doing evil. That his son could use some help. Would Eric mind if he told Leroy Jethro about him. Of course Eric says yes.

So Senior tells his boy about Eric with a believe it or not. 

Leroy Jethro called Eric in. They chased down the bad guys, rummaged through some old warehouses, blew up an embassy, and an entire mountain village went missing, which was the Nazi resort and fill with labs of all kinds of unholy scientific Third Reich experiments and solved the case. 

You know, just two Marines thinking alike. They discovered that about each other.

After the case, Leroy Jethro had some time and invited him in and they sat down to chat in his living room. Eric told Gibbs about his rules and Gibbs told Eric about his and here we are, today. Just one big list.” 

“Just damn, His La La Fineness says. And just damn, again. Got’s all kinds of respect for the fineness that is Leroy Jethro Gibbs. That Marine Man is a legend. As in The Marine Legend. He makes the podcast on crime that I listens to at least once every couple of months. I drinks my mornin’ coffee out of a mug that list his rules on the sides. Keeps me on this side of the law and lookin’ sharp for those that wish to do wrong. Should have known it was family that was blessin’ my mornin’ ritual and my life.”

Eric grinned, took a bow, and then continued. “So the next phase of this plan is to push out the storm to the correct place to keep us from moving. Snow us in. We are just going to call that Rasputin.

This just leads to all kinds of questions. Why would Catherine even wonder if I was in the area? 

Roger is the answer. Just how many folks is he working for?  Does he know Catherine as well?” Eric shrugs.

“This goes back to the demon who probably has another spy on board the boat or maybe at the dock or both. Sookie gets on the boat out of Alaska but does not get off in Vancouver. This raises more questions. So where did she get off?”

“So they are working, together,” Gran said.

“Were working together, our Gran fineness,” Lafayette said. “No contact from Catherine. Missin’ her bankin’ meetin’. Me thinks she has been pushed on into the fires of hell.”

“Yes,” Eric nodded. “Which brings me back to how did Rasputin located me in this area? If he has a touch of the dragon, let’s talk skill sets.”

“Oh shit,” Sookie whispered. “Dragons, Vikings and how are they related and did one influence the other? I think, my husband, you are living proof that dragon is part of your genetic makeup. And mine as well. But since I have permission to end the demon and you do not, my dragon and your dragon must not be related.

So the big question is, can Rasputin run a Rune pouch? And can you locate someone using a Rune pouch? All my books said that the Vikings could navigate with those.”

“Oh my bride,” Eric made a face and his smile was not one of delight. “You are oh so well read. Yes we could and yes we did. Now, can Rasputin do this? I think not or Catherine would have had him locating all those she desires and hauling their asses in.

So he is being coached, along. I suspect by the demon.”

There was not a sound in the cave. The humans had stopped breathing.

Sookie had connected all the dots. Every last fucking one and she was furious. “The demon once upon a time, ran with dragon blood,” she ticked off on one finger.  “And since O.I. cannot kill, him,” she held up a second finger,” and Eric, you cannot kill him,” she held up a third finger,” I suspect this is the reason, why. They are somehow,” her voice was dripping death, “related to the dragon side of the family. Family,” she hissed, “that wants to kill you and you cannot retaliate. “

“His La La Fineness says just when do they fuckin’ not? Evil continues to hate good, and if they is family, so much the sweeter.”

“Seriously,” Pam nodded.

“Man,” Sookie stomped her foot. “I am on my honeymoon and having great sex and fun with my family and…and…and this just pisses me off.

Did I mention the great sex?” she huffed. “Fucking family. Jason, all over, again. I want what you want and Gran when are you going to die so I can kick Sookie out and have your house.”

“Mo’ fo’n,” Lafayette looked at her. “Did he say that to you?’

“Yes he did. And I am getting angry all over, again. It was Easter Sunday a couple of years ago. Right before he left town. He stopped by to…geeze, I don’t know. But we were back from church, having a ham dinner, because it is Easter and he comes in and says I am glad you all have enough to eat. Because I am no longer supporting your lazy asses and Gran, you need to die so I can inherit the house. And Sookie, you will be living someplace else.”

“Oh shit,” Cedric got out. “What happened next?”

“I picked up the shot gun by the front door,” Gran said calmly, “pumped it and told him to get his ass off my property and to never come back.

He started to give me grief, I went out on the porch and fired a round of bird shot into his truck.”

The cussing started in earnest but he was motivated to go and to never come back. Left town and have not heard from him sense.”

“Makes sense, does it not,” Pamela said. “I want what you have but I cannot move directly against you. So I get the scum of the earth to do it for me.”

“Yes,” Eric replied, “You cannot kill the holder of the BOP if you are related and want to inherit.”

“So you get Catherine to do it for you,” she said. “Or Rasputin, or…or Roger,” Sookie spit out. 

“This changes things a bit. Gran, can you wait to go potty?” Sookie asked.

“Yes,” she nodded.

“Eric, your beautiful, one-of-a-kind weapons,” she said taking the hide out of the sled and placing it on the floor and unwrapped it. Holding each one up, she smiled at him and said, “They are lovely, truly one-of-a-kind. But I want them blessed here in the cave and now I want them blessed before we leave this morning. And I know they are to have a name, but I don’t know how to go about that. I am thinking among us is enough wisdom to make that happen.

 It sounds like these mo’ fo’ers are going to be incoming, I would say, maybe less than twenty-four hours after the storm dies. And I want us to be ready. If it is up to me to kill this demon…I want to be ready. I want all of us to be ready.”

“That is some very good advice, my bride,” Eric nodded in agreement. “So, if you all would please, charge your glass, gather around in a circle, and if one of you would place the cask in the center. We shall proceed and celebrate with breakfast once we return to the resort.

Once the glasses are filled,” Eric said as he watched Pamela ladle out the drink into their glasses. “We are going to place the weapons into the cask. I think it would be appropriate if we each stopped by with our glass, saluted the weapons and then poured a dipper over each one. I think perhaps, start with the oldest and work our way down to the youngest or vice versa. Sookie, you would be the youngest, what think you?”

“I like it. Let’s start with the oldest, though. I think that is only right and fitting.”

“So sayeth the lady of the house.

“God bless us everyone,” Sookie said lifting her glass.

“God bless us everyone,” was echoed back as they drained their glasses.

“Samuel, if you would please…”

Samuel walked to the center, filled his glass, then poured The Deaths over the seventeen blades that his brother had so diligently and lovingly crafted. For long moments he just stood there. He felt his Maker’s spirit move within him and he began:

 “There are ten that call on the name of the Lord, 

and there are seventeen blades that in this cask are stored.

The dragon’s teeth times two for our sister,

Two diamonds and six cores, flinted by my brother, her mister.

The wall provides more for my brothers and sisters and kith and kin.

They shall walk with us and destroy those that rise against us and sin.

And their name, that which is our name, so be it and amen.” Saluting the weapons, he drank. “Welcome Samuel, the blade of my ancestors,”  and then returned to his spot in the circle.

“Amen,” was echoed around the chamber.

Eric walked to the center and filled his glass. “Blades of glass and tooth and stone,

My bride shall wield that cut to the bone.  Welcome Eric, the blade of my ancestors,” he emptied his glass and started back to his spot as 

“Hallelujah,” was shouted out.

Ian could fill the churning within him. These were not his words. “We walk by faith and not by sight

With this weapon I defend the righteous will all my might.

Welcome Ian, the blade of my ancestors.”

“Yes,” was shouted out as he drank then rejoined the group.

Cedric followed on with, “We walk not in fear but in joy and love

For we know the power does come from up above,” he saluted the weapons and then drank. “Welcome Cedric, the blade of my ancestors!”

“Amen and amen!”

Clifford had walked with Master Samuel for over three hundred years. He now knew why. It was to be here for this moment.  “Evil walks and waits and devours 

But to us God has given the power! Welcome Clifford, the blade of my ancestors.”

“Yes! Yes! Yes!” was shouted as he drank and then returned to his spot.

Pamela stepped out and began as she approached the cask. 
“The moon guides,” she said quietly, as she filled her glass. “The sun heals,” she raised it in a salute. “We wait and watch,” her voice was full of purpose, “in yonder field,” she said and then drained her glass. “Welcome Pamela, the blade of my ancestors!” she shouted with a war whoop!

“Glory!” was shouted.

Griffin had known his life was charmed. He had been plucked from death more than once. Here he stood now, in the midst of family as he filled his glass and raised it in a toast. “Miss Sookie will protect her mate and carry the day

And send on to hell without delay. Welcome Griffin, the blade of my ancestors.”

“Preach it,” was cheered and shouted! 

“We are never lost but always found,” Gran said as she approached the cask, filled her glass and the saluted the family.

“And my granddaughter shall put him in the ground. Welcome Adele, the blade of my ancestors.”

“Yes Gran, yes!”

Lafayette felt the power surge through him. He knew what it was like to have a spook come knocking at his door. This was the power of the Lord that surged through him now.  
“The youngest shall have the final say

And shall do this without delay.

And it will not be by the moon but the light of day

When he appears and she will slay.”

Draining his glass, he smiled at Sookie and then bowed to her. “Welcome Lafayette, the blade of my ancestors.”

 “I am honored and pleased to be with you here,” Sookie began as she felt the tears rise up in her eyes and in her voice. “I go forth to conquer without fear. My family, my precious family, always near. Welcome Sookie, the blade of my ancestors. Welcome Baby Tooth, the blade of my ancestors. Welcome Momma Tooth, the blade of my ancestors. Welcome Suzannah, the blade of my ancestors. Welcome Stackhouse, the blade of my ancestors. Welcome Northman, the blade of my ancestors. Welcome Erikr, the blade of my ancestors. Welcome Erickson, the blade of my ancestors.”

As Sookie stepped back into the circle there was a flash of light from the floor that spread out in a circle, like a stain, from under the cask and stopped at their feet.

“Millions of stars,” they all said in wonder as the floor blazed and sang and then went quiet.

“There is something written here, on the floor. Marching orders?” Sookie asked as they all ventured forward.

Lafayette moved the cask off the words that had been burned into the floor that was now a royal purple.

“It’s the poem, that we all just recited, written in Runes,” Eric breathed out. 

“Mo fo’n,” Lafayette whispered. “Would you just look at that. It is like lookin’ into eternity with a million stars blazing in the background. And..and..does that oddly resemble a human form?”

“Yes,” Eric said, “it certainly does. And it gave us the time line and our marching orders, as well,” he said looking out at the group. “One more time, let us fill our glasses,” he said as he ladled out the drink.

“To victory,” he smiled.

“To victory,” the all cheered back.

“Now, when the storm ends, it shall be a sunny day. I am of the opinion that you may wait outside while Sookie and I wait inside and she deals with the evil. Anyone have a different take on that?”

“No. To Miss Sookie goes eight blades, we each will each have our one, while we wait,

Evil will arrive during the day after the storm abates,” Samuel said.

“Then to this time and place we journey forth

And with the new dark, the storm aborts.

So rest and refine and say your prayers

For God shall on that day dress evil in layers.

The dragon’s teeth shall strike the belly first

And once bloodied, remain in the lady’s purse.

The diamond goes to the heart, and one to the mouth, 

Pin with stone the legs to the south.

One in each wrist, it shall call forth death and he shall be seen nevermore.

With the two stone and two teeth she carries on herself, all four, forevermore.”

“That is where I am going to lay him out,” she said pointing, walking over to the floor that was imbedded with words, “this is going to be the killing field. 

I’m going to gut him,” Sookie nodded to herself. “With the teeth. So there will be an opportunity for me to do so. And,” her eyes could not leave the floor. “And, the place for me to do it.

Once he is down, a diamond sword to his heart, one in his mouth and then I pin him with the flint knives  in his legs. You don’t get anymore farther south than his feet,” she said. “Then I am to pin his wrists.”

“Fuck, His La La Fineness says. He is to be crucified to the stone floor on top of those runes. Leads me to wonder if this was the motherfucker whispering in the Babylonians’ ears about what a fine idea crucifixion would make as a form of death. Then pushed it on out to everyone else.”

“Oh-h-h-h,” the crowd reacted to that.

“Would be fitting justice,” Gran nodded.

“I am glad we did this now,” Sookie bowed to her fellow family of warriors. “Everything will be in place, to include the family, waiting out in yonder field. We have our battle plan. Let’s go get cleaned up and have breakfast. I think it is time to celebrate. And I think, you need to pick your sword from the cask, first thing. And carry it with you, you know, in your hand so that you tune to each other out in the cold that evil though would hinder us. Their time has come to be of service to their family.”

It had been a fabulous day! Eric had taught her the best ways to use the knives. And how to over-look the blood when she pinned his body parts. “Just remember,” he kept telling her, “evil, in its purist form.  Do not hesitate. He shall cry and whine and plead for mercy. That is why the diamond knife in the mouth. To shut him up.”

“Got it,” she said.

When it was time for lunch, the group was sitting together in their suite and when they had finished, Sookie showed them what she had learned.

“Bravo,” they had all called out she stood and took her bows.

The storm continued to rage while they all sipped the heated Deaths, adding cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, whole all spice, and orange slices to it.

“Just the best,” was murmured by one and all. “This is delicious. Would certainly cure what ails you and gives us insight into times and places that no longer exist.”

Cards were brought out and spoons as everyone gathered around the table after dinner and the fun started in earnest.

Amidst the loud cheering, booing and sobbing, Eric and Sookie bid the crew adieu, and by midnight, the entire house had gone to bed. 

Rasputin thought he had seen better days. He was beginning to understand that he did not understand. He thought he had moments of insanity. He knew Catherine had moments of insanity. Havoc took things to a whole new level. This demon was smart, shrewd, and full of himself. Had a grandiose plan on how to defeat God. And somehow it all started with those humans that he was now attempting to track in Alaska. Humans…really?

Runes…he thought he knew them. Had trust in them. That they trusted him. Apparently not. Because every time he pulled one, Havoc would curse and scream that it was not correct and to put it back in the bag and try, again.

“What we need,” Havoc had snarled at one point. “Is a blood sacrifice. You need to be pulling those runes from the chest of someone who is yet, alive.”

“No,” he had put the rune bag down and shook his head. “I will not. The runes may like a bloodied sacrifice, but they do not torture.”

“Says you,” was hissed back.

“Says me,” he answered. “Now, if you would like to spread your blood on each one, that would count. It is you, after all, that wants the reading. Then the runes shall become yours. I will not keep something that is not linked to me on my person or affiliated with my magics. They shall become yours. At that point, do with them what you will.”

There was a grunt, of maybe agreement. “For an illiterate, you speak sense,” he nodded. Pricking his fingers with a fang, Rasputin poured out the bag of runes onto his hands where he spread his blood all over them. 

“Now,” Havoc smiled, “let us try, again. I believe they are going to be much better behaved.”

When the bewitching hour struck, the longitude and latitude were known.

“Kill the storm,” Havoc said with a smile, “and bring on the sun. We shall be there by mid-day. The little blonde will be mine for the taking. If the big blonde is up and about, and this far north, he just might be, I will be prepared for him. Somewhere I have a lovely silver net that shall keep in him place while I dissect the lovely that is needed to make me ruler of the world. I want him to watch so he knows what to expect. I hope he screams and begs for mercy.”

Sookie lay on Eric’s chest. It was one and the storm was dying, down. It still howled, but it had lost that supernatural sounding bent.

Their loving had been most excellent. 

Eric has started at her toes where he sucked with abandoned delight. Then he moved up to beneath her knees where she squealed with laughter. Turns out she was ticklish. Then he moved on to her clit. Where she was not ticklish, but made lots of low, moaning sounds, complete with pleading and whimpering his name, that pleased him as well.

Pulling him on top of her, she slid her body until he slipped into her, King Eric crowing in victory until there was only muffled sounds from him, her, and Eric.

His mouth was on both nipples as he sucked and felt her buck beneath him. When she was pounding on his back, he picked up speed, shifted a hand to her clit with his mouth still sucking and was delighted when she screamed, bucked upward and then was back down on the mattress.

“Most delightful, my wife,” he whispered in her ear when he let go, and his body pushed into hers as he felt himself explode inside of her.

“Perfect,” she sighed as she rolled on top of him and pulling the blankets up over them and went to sleep.

“Sleep what an excellent idea,” Eric smiled and kissed her on top of the head. “My bride is going to need her rest.

Because we are going to have what? Six children to whom you will gift the knives? Yes, rest, I am going to be a father.”

Eric woke with a start. It was quiet. The storm had stopped and it registered deep within him. “It is silent and daylight is coming on,” he sighed as he sniffed Sookie’s hair. 

Sookie raised her head and kissed him. “Peaceful,” she said. “And dark. What time is it?”

“06,” he replied.

“Still early and no storm. Bad guys will be on the move and I am hungry.”

“Breakfast it shall be,” he smiled at her. “I am calling it in, now.”

“Bad guys,” Sookie chuckled, “I hope they start their day with the most important meal of the day. It could just very well be their last.”

Both were nude and fresh from the shower when there was a knock at their door.

Pulling on a robe, Eric went to answer it.

“Storm has stopped. Sun, in a couple of hours, will be ready to skim the horizon,” Pam smiled. “I love being a vampire and I love being in the north in the winter months.”

“Good morning, Child,” Eric greeted her.

“My maker,” she nodded her greetings. “I am taking the first shift out in yonder field. I will also be doing recon of the area and making sure the cave is secure.

I’ve got my sword,” she said patting her side. “Thanks mother Sookie,” she called into the room. “You have gifted me with the best gift ever. It woke me this morning singing a lively tune in a language I did not understand, but I sang along with it. It was vibrating, maybe dancing,” she said thoughtfully, “like crazy. I could even understand that. It was time to be up and out the door. I picked it up above my head, shook my ass as I sang along, and together we greeted the new day.”

“You are more than welcome,” Sookie replied appearing at the hallway door. “And…ahhhh…thanks for telling me it likes to sing and dance,” she looked at the sword that Pam had strapped to her side, at Eric, then back at the sword.

“I have nothing,” Eric chuckled.

“Well, okay then,” Sookie grinned, once more watching Pam’s sword.

“We ordered breakfast. You want something before you go?”

“You order pamcakes? With maple syrup?”

“You know we did,” Sookie smiled as she came over to the door.  “Oh, I hear the elevator and here comes the food with Clifford and Griffin pushing the cart…wow…more like a baker’s rack and a prep table. Ooooo, you can smell the goodness from here. An-n-n-nd, looks like Gran and Lafayette and a few others making their way to break the fast with us.

We’ll get dressed and breakfast as a family.”

“Pamcakes,” Pamela smiled. “Named just for me.”

“Pancakes,” Ian looked over at her as he poured on more syrup.

“So says British Isle who should just be happy to be invited into our little soiree,” she said batting her eyelashes at him. “And did I mention that my sword likes to sing and dance?”

“Yes,” Ian nodded, “you did. More than once,” he replied, eyeing her sword. It did seem to have a slight vibration to it. “And I see you have dressed it in your favorite diamond tennis bracelet.”

All of them had brought their sword to breakfast. Sookie had insisted that they place it on the table next to their plate. It was just that Pam had thought to accessorize hers.

“Well, yes,” she eyed him.  “I am my fabulous self and my sword is part of my fabulous self. We like jewelry. Especially diamonds. 

And, even I am willing to admit that you are family, perhaps a far-flung disgraced side of the family. But family and I would not want you to be left out of my fabulous singing and dancing loop. I mean, it is not every day you can have those bragging rights. And you should consider yourself blessed. Just the fact that you are here, partaking of pamcakes, gives you bragging rights. I hope you feel special.”

“You can be just as charming and pleasing as you like,” he eyed her, “but pancakes.”

Pam batted her eye lashes at him. “I would stay to discuss this pamcake thing with you and bring it to a vote as a family, but I have a little pre-scouting and undercover work to do. My sword agrees. It is time to be out and about.”

“Take a wing-man,” Eric said, looking across the table at her. 

“Seriously?”  she replied.

“Seriously,” he added, arching an eyebrow at her just to make his point. “And I mean more than your sword and vampire traits. And turn on your phone. I want to hear everything.

And if there is anything out of kilter about the cave, Daddy wants to know. Make sure you sniff long and hard before you enter. If you even have an inkling of an idea something is not right, you haul your ass out of there. And listen to your sword. If it tells you to haul ass, you do so.”

“Child,” Samuel addressed her, “let us put on our winter whites and go blend into a snowbank. I am feeling lucky. I just might win at Russian roulette.”

“Oh,” Pamela squealed in delight. “You honestly think he is sending Rasputin out first.”

Samuel winked at her. “We are so going to undo the mad monk’s day. In a grand and glorious way. Rasputin he shall pay, for treading his steps our way.”

“Bravo, Brother Samuel, bravo,” Pam cheered.

Samuel looked very pleased and took a bow.

“Not fair, says the Irish lad. Me boy’o can stay here and eat pamcakes. See, I am all on board with that.  So that entitles me to be invited into if you are a’throwin’ snowballs at that piece of Were shit, then I want to have my way with him as well. A little payback for him a’ burnin’ me cottage in The Alps. Had not owned it fifty years when he escorted Kevvle to Geneva and went lookin’ for vampire nests, to prove just how brave and strong he was. What a poser, if I might quote The Child.

Of course, he knew it was my place and I was not abidin’ in it as he had just left Eire after being told, by me, he was not welcome and to haul his arse on out. If I found his arse skulking around, I was hittin’ him with the leprechaun curse.”

“The leprechaun curse?” Sookie asked.

“Aye, ye are blessed with the livin’ shits until you find the pot, at the end of the rainbow.”

“Eee uuuu,” Sookie wrinkled her nose. “So there is no pot of gold?”

“No, our Mrs. The wee folk think it is a great and good laugh and spread all manner of lies and great untruths. All manner of folks go a’lookin’ for their chamber pots. Their gold they bury under their hearths in front of the fireplace. If they have any gold at all. Mostly they fart and tell tall tales and wink at you while they pick your pockets.”

“What?” she choked back her laugh.

“Tis’ true, our Mrs. Come for a visit. You can see for yourself.”

“He may not be wrong,” Eric thought about that for a moment. “And seriously, someone was trying to impress the King of Kiev?” Eric chuckled. “Why?”

“Kevvle, at the time, was in between lovers and out of luck and money. He thought if he could latch onto someone who could escort him about Geneva, and this lover would pay off some bills, he was to the good. Sadly, Rasputin wanted to date him for the same reasons,” Samuel laughed. “Between the two of them, they did not have lint in their purses.”

“Oh,” Pam raised an eyebrow. “That explains why Rasputin attached himself to the royal family.”

“Yes, while in Geneva, he did any manner of unwholesome things and lots of folks were looking for him. He hastily hauled his ass north and became a holy man and healer.” Samuel rolled his eyes. “Pbbllllltttttttt!”

“That is what happened to Kevvle?” Ian said. “I heard he met the true death in Geneva.”

“Yes,” Eric replied. “Rasputin left him there for collateral one fine summer’s day and never came back for him.

When Kevvle woke, Fenster was there and wanted his money. There was none to be had so he charged admission to watch Kevvle meet the true death.”

“Just damn Mr. Eric, His La La Fineness says, you run with a rough crowd.”

“Indeed,” Eric nodded. “So, you two, phones on. I want to know when you know.”

“Roger that,” Pamela said. “Let’s suit up, Brother Samuel. Time to hit the slopes.

You think what, Eric, that they will be here before three?”

“No later than that. And perhaps by noon. And he will be carrying a silver net. So just look sharp and pay attention.”

“Will do,” Pam saluted. “So, Brother Samuel, is that Alpine or cross-country skis?”

“Cross-country,” he grinned. “And maybe a bit of downhill. We shall just be another couple out skiing the valley. Why, looking out the window, I can see all manner of tracks in the fresh powder. Let us go put down our own.”

“Isn’t that interesting,” Sookie ran her hands over her swords that were now laid out on the table.  “They feel warm. Husband, one more time, I would like to rehearse. I feel confident, but I see nothing wrong with practicing.”

“So be it my bride,” he smiled at her as he grabbed her from behind and lifted her out of the chair. 

Sookie reached for Baby Tooth and with a butt bump and a heel to his groin, Sookie was free, with her legs now around his waist and the knife at his throat.

“Nicely done,” Eric regarded her.

“Knew you were going to do that,” she replied then stopped. “Yes,” she eyed him, “I really knew you were going to do that.”

“There is at least two feet of fresh powder out here,” Pam called out in glee. “This is just the best! I am sooooo glad we are here, my husband. You are just the best! I just love the stock market!” she squealed in delight.

There were lots of folks out and about on their skies, taking in the sights, taking selfies, taking advantage of the foolish humans who did not know that their lives were going to change in just a matter of minutes.

“Newly rich,” Rasputin regarded the woman who was finishing her first round of ski instructions.  Damn, stay out of her way, she was off to ski by herself.

“Hallo,” Pamela called out as she skied past the stupidest poser on the face of the planet. 

“Hallo,” he answered in return as he made his way around the valley and out onto the slopes and just watching things in general. How nice, someone had set up a glühwein stand and since only the resort was skiing this area, it was free! Just how delightful was that. 

And that was a tasty looking female, all dressed in furs that was perhaps just a bit drunk as she called out good cheer to any and all. “The newly rich,” he snorted, “you can spot them anywhere.”

“Get out of the way!” was being yelled as a man came careening down the slope. “Move, move, move,” was being screamed as he zig-zagged across the slope at an alarming rate of speed. “Watch out,” he yelled, did a 180 degree turn in the air, his skies hit the snow then he bounced again, doing another turn and now, all Rasputin could do was stand there with his mouth open. The skier hit the ground again just feet from him, pushing snow up and covering him and then he felt the impact! Blam! And then they were both pushed along by the impact, now going down an incline, with a hearty “Fucccccccccck!”  as they pushed out over the drop off and then hit the ground, where snow was five feet deep.

“Sorry,” he heard the small man say. “Truly, oh no, we are moving,” he screamed, again, as they were now tumbling down the slope. 

Rasputin slid across the frozen stream, then stopped when he broke through the ice.  Samuel waded over, full of apologizes and “We have got to get your out of the water before you die from exposure.”

“But first,” Cedric grinned as he waded over to where Rasputin was sputtering and yelling and fighting to right himself.  Picking him up by the shoulders, he pushed him under the water. And then pulled him up.  “I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. And ‘o, me boyo says to rebuke you in the name of Jesus. Consider yourself rebuked in the name of Jesus,” he laughed as he picked him up and tossed him into the woods on the far side of the shore.

“Do svidaniya,” the men all laughed as they left.

“Are, are you okay?” Pam asked as she came upon him. and kicked off her skies. “There is a cave, just up the hill. You can get out of those wet clothes and I’ll go for help.”

“Thank you,” he stuttered, his teeth chattering, his body in a state of shock. 

“Come on. Let me help you.  I…I know a place,” she hesitated, “I know a place you can shelter while I go get help.”

Walking up the short incline, Pam smiled at him. “In here. I found this place when I was a kid. My parents used to bring me here. My mom still makes it out during the summer. Let me light the fire. I have friends who like to come here and get away from it all. They usually walk over once it gets dark. Helps to keep this place a secret. There,” she said striking a match to the kindling, “You strip off, here is some kind of wool dress that you can pull over you and there are some furs here you can wrap up, in, and I’ll be back with help. They have a sled and dogs for such an emergency.  I would say help yourself to the alcohol, but that only adds to you freezing that much faster.”

As she left, he took off his clothing, dried off with the dress and pulled it on and wrapped up and sat down next to the fire. “What the fuck,” he muttered, finding his phone and thankful he had taken the time to put it in a waterproof bag. “Just what the fuck!”

Havoc picked up on the other end.

“You have the grid coordinates. I am on site. As a matter of fact,” he checked the GPS on his phone, “I am in the cave. It is well provisioned, now that I look about.”

“I’ll be there before the evening meal,” he answered.   

“Most fortuitous,” he shivered as he got up and went over to the bar that was well stocked. “My life is indeed blessed. Who would have thought from such a horrible accident, that I would be all knowing.  And just who was that fucker who tossed me into the trees? As soon as I come to power, I am going to find him and torture him for the rest of his days. Which shall be long and numerous. I shall keep him alive only for my pleasure.

Oh look, Johnny Walker, Black Label. It has been a while,” he smiled as he turned up the bottle and drank it. “And is that John Jameson, Reserve,” he giggled. “Why,” he broke the seal, pulled the cork and downed that one as well. “Whoa…” he said as he took a step back and then took another one. No longer able to stand, he sank down onto the floor where things began to swim about in his mind and maybe the room began to swim about, as well. “Stop this,” he hissed as he felt his stomach begin to shift about as well. “I command it…what…what has happened to my magic?” he mumbled as his eyes crossed and falling over, he hit his head on the floor. 

“Damn it,” Pam stomped her foot as she entered the cave. “I was hoping he was dead. I see his chest still moving. Oh well, now who bet me that he would not be drunk on his ass within the first hour? Ian…Cedric, tell momma how gorgeous she is.”

“Yes,” Ian sighed. “Truly, you are beautiful. Your taste flawless.”

“And wiring the cave,” Cedric smiled at her and bowed. “Just genius. We were able to watch the entire episode on our phones. And I do believe Eric and his Mrs. both gave you a thumbs up.”

“Excellent,” she smiled. “Now, what do we do with this poser? And what did happen to his magic?”

Both men shrugged. 

“Baptized in the name of the Trinity and rebuked in the name of Jesus. Seems to have drained him,” Ian said.  “Which is why evil likes to not sit on the steps of the church house. Apparently it drains them. Just a guess, but I would say a good one.”

Pam nodded in agreement. “So, let’s say he is human, now. He certainly seemed to think he had lost his magic. What do we do with him?”

Samuel chuckled. “I have a plane. Where in the lower 48 do you want to drop him?”

Cedric grinned.

Ian’s grin got bigger. 

“Las Vegas it is,” Pam laughed. “Brother Samuel, what think you?”

“Perfect,” he smiled. “Let us drop him off in Sin City. I think that is only fitting. We’ll get him boxed up and out the door.”

“Good,” Eric’s voice came over the speaker. “Sookie and I are going to make our way over in a few. This fucker is inbound. We want to make sure he is not disappointed.”

It was an old familiar routine. The dark was settling. What small bit of light was on the horizon was soon going to give way to the dark of the soulless night. The stars sang and the lights danced across the sky, but that could not save you. It only beckoned for you to become something more. And he wanted to be more. He wanted it all.

As he approached the cave, he could hear the sound of voices, within. A merry sound. One of contentment and containment. One must always be in control, no matter who you were. And for Eric the Viking, the control he had fostered upon his life was now over.

“Stupid, ignorant, arrogant, mother fucker,” he said under his breath as he approached. “Nothing tactical about his. Not even a dog to give warning. He deserves his fate.”

The silver net was alive in his hand. Its destiny intertwined with his. With this net, he would bring down the overlord of the Balance of Power. He was getting ready to be king of all.

Entering the cave, his eyes were drawn to the fire, the furs on the floor. The man and the woman who were having a drink…the man… and the woman… they were a vison of things to come…that would be him…concentrate, he told himself. Well, it certainly smelled of alcohol and the way she was running her hand up and down Eric’s arm, and the smile on her face, maybe she thought she was going to get lucky.

He could guarantee her that she was.

Standing in the shadows, he had thought about this moment for what he thought had been an eternity. The simplest was often the best.

“Hello, Eric,” he said as he walked in.

“Agnar?” Eric looked over at him. True shock on his face. “My brother?” and you could hear the tears in his voice. “How is this possible? We found your body after the battle and burned you at sea. And yet you live,” was said with hope and love.

“Just too fucking easy,” he said to himself as he walked towards his big brother, who was standing with his arms outstretched, tears falling from his eyes.

When Eric wrapped his arms around him and cried, out came the net and settled over his brother and the yelling in pain started in earnest as his last village chieftain fell to the floor.

“No,” the little blonde yelled and started for his brother. Lifting her up off her feet, he set her down away from him. His Eric. His. “No,” he shook his head and finger at her. “If you want to live, you will sit just here. I shall have my personal time with you in a bit, and believe me, I am the better lover, but I have to finish with him, first.”

“What…how…?” Eric managed to get out. “Why…?” he sobbed past the pain. “Why?” as the tears rolled down his face. “Why?”

“Why?” Agnar spit out. “Because I was the baby brother. You…you…you were just too fucking good to be true and larger than life. Women making eyes at you. Grandmother always spouting some nonsense about you. Her and her prophecies about you! 

 Eric‘s road will be long and the balance of power will come to him in the new world when he marries a small, blonde female who would be his equal and his lifemate. Just what the fuck!” he yelled, “did she mean by that? I asked her once. And she said, exactly what it means.

I was so disgusted with the old woman after that encounter, that I went to the enemy and offered you up. He offered me eternity.

Told him of the plans to over-take him and his warriors at the bend in the river. Then, you went after him with salted swords. I did not understand how that was so. But his arm and leg was missing and he said he could not grow new. That is when I offered myself to him, that I would live forever in glory. And I have lived forever in glory!

The joining was magical. And he is not wrong. We are boon companions. Both of us named Havoc.

Rasputin shall be here shortly to end you, but before that happens, there is the matter of the tiny blonde. And oh, my brother, does she wear a ring? A ring on her left hand? Would that be a marriage ring,” he asked as he approached her. 

“Are you indeed wedded to my brother? This shall be doubly sweet in the taking if you are.”

Sookie pulled back into herself as he approached. Tears streaming down her face.

“No need to fear me, sweet one,” he smiled at her and reaching out with both hands, he took one of hers. “The floor is so, so not fitting of you,” he smiled. “A cave, I find it difficult to believe that my brother would harbor his wife in a cave. But then, he always managed to surprise me,” he smiled as Sookie took his hand and slowly stood.

With his other hand, he wiped away her tears and then both hands went to her hair as he ran his fingers through it.

“Awww,” there was a loud gasp and then a scream of pain. Momma Tooth found her target true, straight into his gut. Baby Tooth followed. With a kick of her foot, she drove them deeper and him onto his back with enough force that he landed on top of the dragon poem.

“Would you just look at this,” she said in wonder. “Looks like those Runes that you are lying on are growing. Like a little Rune flower bed. And now, they are all reaching for and growing around you. Huh…Rune manacles for the body. I like it. I believe that is called payback for using them to do evil. 

You sorry sack of shit,” Sookie said to Havoc as she watched Eric remove the silver from his body. Dragons did not have a silver allergy. Eric stood and walked over to her as she kissed him on the nose and then bent over her victim that seemed to be unable to touch the handles that were sticking up out of his belly.  “Having a bit of a problem, are we?” she asked as she punched the knives in deep with her foot. “Oh, made contact with the floor,” she smiled. “What is that smell?” she asked as she winked at him. Pulling her glass knife from her the sheath she had on her back, she plunged it straight into his heart.

The scream that left him, she thought, just might split the universe in half. “I get now why I need to knife your mouth,” she said, as she pulled the second one. “You know I think just maybe, these might be starlight in earthly form for the demon that indwells. But I cannot prove that,” she smiled at him as he screamed his curses at her. “So not nice,” she sadly shook her head and shoved one into his mouth.

“Now for your feet,” she winked at him and she could smell the fear wafting from him. “You know what is coming?” she nodded her head. “Good. I have not one clue. Only that you are the mission.” Grabbing his right leg, she lined it up on the words and turning his foot, pushed the knife through his ankle.

“Most good, you hear that clunk,” she said. “Means I made contact with the stone floor. Now, for the last leg. Oh come now, don’t try and wiggle it around. You know,” she said grasping it and putting it in place, “that your energy is being bled out of you. Now,” she smiled, “let’s get this other leg,” as she drove the knife through his ankle.

“Now, I believe one for each wrist,” she smiled at him as she pulled his right arm into position and pinned it. Then, walking around him she did the same thing to the left.

“Mo’ fo’n,” she heard O.I.’s voice and turned her head to greet him. When she looked back at her victim, he was shaking with fear.

“Family is outside, waitin’ to come on in. I told them they was welcome to do so, just you know, mind the smell.”

“Sookie?” Gran called out as she came in. “We were watching on our phones.”

“It’s okay Gran, family,” she smiled their way. “O.I. is here and is now officially in charge.”

“Thank-ee kindly,” he bowed to her. “This here lower than the shit collectors in hell spirit, is my baby brother, R. R.”

“Family,” Pamela rolled her eyes. “Wouldn’t you know it.”

“Indeed,” O.I. sighed, bowed his head to her and then turned back to his brother. “You knows why I am here. Time to set your spirit free,” he grinned.

The body began to vibrate so badly, for a moment, Sookie thought the knives would not hold. But they did and his fear of what was coming, caused the knives to do more damage to the human body. And with a final gasp, the eyes went dead and the body stopped shaking and shifted to dragon.

Then the dragon started screaming, the knife cutting his throat. “O.I., you cannot judge me. I am not yours to judge,” he gurgled. “Unleash me and let me continue my journey. I demand this!” he gasped out as his life’s blood spewed from him. 

“R.R.” he sadly shook his head. “Momma raised you better,” were the last words his brother heard as his eyes glazed over. “Take those words to hell with you,” as he flamed his brother’s body. The ash settled on the outline of what had once resembled a human body, with wings.

“Unleash me, you putrid worm. You thing of flesh and blood! You have no power over me! I am god!,” he bellowed. “Bow down and worship!”

 “Havoc,” he rolled his eyes. “Indeed,” he chuckled. “You dumb ass, just try your shit in hell.”

There was a stream of fire from O.I’s mouth as the ash and spirit burned. All that was left on the floor were Sookie’s knives.

“Family, everyone gots what they wants from here?” O.I. asked, pulling up the knives and handing them to Sookie who placed them back in their sheathes.

“Think so,” they all looked at each other and nodded.

“Most excellent,” he said as he fluttered toward the door. “Let us take it on home to something good to eat, drink, and forget about this fucked up shit. Because it is mightly fucked.”

There were tears flowing down O.I.’s cheeks. “Not grievin’ for what’s been,” he said as he was now face-to-face with Lafayette. “But cryin’ for what’s about to be.” Stroking Lafayette’s face and kissing away the tears the tiny dragon said, “Hello my big mans.”

“Hello my little mans,” Lafayette was able to get out.

“We has gots us some righteous talkin’ and drinkin’ to do. Momma says hi and that she misses your happy ways and unprecedented smile. That out of all of us, you really is her favorite. And you really is all our favorite. We love you and have missed you.”

O.I. got bigger and Lafayette wrapped his arms around him and sobbed, “Do not leave me here, by myself, again.”

 “I am so sorry,” O.I. cried, his purple tears staining his cheeks. “But some things just had to be. And you was the best of all of us. Mo’ fo’n,” he sighed as he kissed his brother all over his face.  “Thinks that says it all, my big mans,” O.I. snuggled in. “Just mo’ fo’n. But we is all good now. Prices have been paid and spirits has been laid. Time to embrace and enjoy the mo’ fo’n goodness comin’ our way.”

“Everybody okay,” Sookie asked as they headed toward the door.

“Yes,” she heard answered by various voices that she loved.

“Eric,” she put her arms around him. “How are you?”

“That’s a lot to process,” he smiled at her and she felt the shudder run through him. “But also answers a lot of questions. Hop on my back, my bride and I will carry you.

Samuel, I am happy to see that you have Gran. His La La Fineness, if your brother cannot get you home, we are all in some serious trouble.”

Once they were all outside, O.I. looked at the cave entrance and said, “Since the beginning of time, we thank-ee kindly for harboring our family. Rest now,” he smiled. “Better days are comin’ along.”

As they walked, there was a rumble and the ground shook a bit beneath their feet.

Sookie wiped the tears from her eyes as she turned and looked back and blew the mountain a kiss.

“It served its purpose, my sister. Their voices are not forgotten, but live on in us. That was just a handy-dandy drive through library,” O.I. said, stroking her cheek.

“I felt at home, there,” she said.

“Here walks your home,” he grinned at her. 

“So, the balance of power,” she managed a smile. “Are dragons now going to take to the skies once more?”

There was hearty laugher and flames shooting from his nostrils. “You ain’t seen nothin’ yet, sister dear. The balance of power really is all that. And I think those good folks who hold the BOP,” he winked at her, “are livin’ their happily ever after.

Woulds you just look at those shooting stars go by. And the lights are dancin’ in the sky. And mo’ fo’n, is that singin’ I hear?”

The happy crew walked back to the resort and outside, there were folks standing in wonder, with their arms outstretched and just perhaps, they were singing and dancing along with the stars.

To greet them at the door was M.E., M.R. and S.I.; O.I.’s brothers. There was food, merriment, out loud righteous laughter, and The Deaths, that favored the happy family. Sookie was sitting next to Eric at the table, her chair pulled up next to his. Her arms around him.

“What cha thinkin’?” she asked him.

“Mo fo’n’,” he smiled at her in reply and then kissed her lightly on the forehead. “My father always wondered who had warned the enemy and betrayed us. 

My grandmother, when we brought back what we thought was Agnar’s body. She did not say much. Nor was there a family blessing from her over his body on board the boat. She did say a blessing for the village, the ocean and the sky and all that dwell within.”

“She knew,” Sookie nodded her head.

“Yes,” he replied with a heavy sigh. “She did. I had no idea he hated me. Or the depth of that hatred that he would sacrifice the entire village to end me.”

Sookie sighed and then picking up both his hands, kissed them. “How would you know?” she asked. “Unless he told you. I maybe know what is going on in other’s people’s heads. But as a rule, most folks do not.”

“Wish I could have made things different for him,” he sighed.

“How would you do that?” Sookie asked. “Not be yourself?

It was his life to live, Eric. Just as it is your life to live. Make good choices. He did not. And he now abides by those bad decisions.”

“I love you,” he smiled at her and leaned in for a kiss.

“I love you,” she ran her hand down the side of his face. “Let’s play spoons,” she said to the table. “And,” she paused, “what happened to Rasputin?”

Things were not right. He was the mad Russian monk! The monk of mayhem! He was dreaming! He never dreamed! And yet…

When he woke up, he was sitting upright in a wooden crate. The top was off and he was in the sun. And someone had puked all over him. “Just what the fuck?” he said out loud and thought his head was going to explode. There was a bottle of Jameson in the crate with him. “Breakfast,” he said as he took a long drink, until he finished the bottle and then puked that up and had a bout of the dry heaves. “Body,” he managed in his best authoritative voice, “behave and behold yourself.”

“Caw,” was yelled in his ear, which caused him to jump.  Looking around, he spotted the crow that was laughing at him and he realized he was out back by a loading dock. And it was hot and the sun was blazing. “I am going blind,” he whimpered as he tried to shield his eyes and then realized he was cooking inside the box.

Pushing himself up and out, he fell over the side onto the hot cement. “Fuck!” he screeched as he crawled toward the shade that ran along the outside of the building. “And what the fuck am I doing in a dress!”

At that time, a trash truck rolled in. “Help,” he tried to wave them down. “Please, someone help me. Where am I?” he asked as the man got out to move him and his wooden box out of the way. 

Rolling his eyes, the man replied, “Vegas. Hey look man, I don’t know what your deal is, but I gotta empty this big ass dumpster and I need you to move.”

“I…I don’t know how I got here?” he whimpered.

“Most of you don’t,” the man rolled his eyes, again. “Look, either call your old lady and beg her to take you back or call your boss and beg him to take you back. Man, this is Vegas. And they all want your money. So, haul your old ass back to where ever it came from. Do not, stay here. You cannot afford it. That is the best advice you are going to get in your entire life. Now stand over here. 

Bring it on back,” he waved to the driver.

“Vegas,” he sobbed as he limped down the alley way and finally out to a side street then around to the front of The Strip. “Officer,” he cried as he sat down at the man in blue’s feet. “I am Rasputin. I have no money, I have no passport, I have no magic. And whose hands are these. They are not mine. Mine are young and full of magic. These are ages old and have no magic. Someone bled me of my magic. I was to bleed the woman of her blood and her soul. But I woke up here. I have no way to get back to Mother Russia. Please, can you help me? And…will you help me out of this dress and I need your pants.”

“Of course I can,” he replied and said into his mic. “Requesting back up. And an ambulance. I have Rasputin here, who said he was to bleed a woman of her blood and her soul. 

Is that correct?” he asked the man at his feet with concern in his voice.

“Yes,” he nodded. “A tiny blonde. But I am now here and…and someone stole my magic and left me in a dress and not my robes of power.”

“Roger that,” he heard in his ear piece. “I am contacting the psych ward.”

“Hey look,” he smiled at him. “Here come my friends, now. They are going to help me get you to a safe place.”

“Thank you,” he bawled. “My dark lord is going to be looking for me because I failed him. I think maybe he is the one that stole my magic. When he shows up, will you shoot him for me and place me in his robes of power?”

“You bet,” he nodded as the ambulance stopped and the back doors opened. “My bullets have been blessed for just such occasions. Now, here we go. You just lie down on this nice bed and my friends here are going to strap you down so you don’t fall out and get hurt on the ride to the hospital.”

“Thank you,” he sobbed. “And I thank you. And I really need a tiny blonde. Havoc will fuck me in the ass for all of my life if I do not have one for him so that he can butcher her and wear her bones. And he is never going to wear this dress.”

This was heaven, this was bliss, this was having friends that cared about him. The EMT’s all smiled at him and said there was a nice bed that waited for him on the 4th floor. He was going to get to ride instead of walk in this heat. And they had some nice cotton gowns for him to wear. “I miss the cold and dark of Mother Russia, her bosom suckling all and her teat filled with the blood of the dying. I want to suckle Death’s tit,” he cried, “please, if you would just give me a knife and a small blonde, I would suckle the blood from her tits.  Or at least from a bottle of Jameson.”

“Gibbs,” Hawthorne called out as he passed the hospital personal and walked up to the man who was a legend in the law enforcement field. The man with the Marine buzz cut turned from the window where he was watching someone on the other side. Damn, once a Marine, always a Marine. He wore that duty, honor, country look, twenty-four seven.

“Rasputin? Seriously?” he said as he peered through the window into the room. “He would be what? About one hundred and what fifty-four years old?”

“This man is not in the system. Anywhere. Called a contact. I have and sent him the photo. My contact says yes. This is Rasputin. Traffics in dark magic and innocents.”

Shit, Gibbs and his contacts. Were all of them above the law? He was not going to ask and find out.

“This have anything to do with those cold cases in Alaska? This the cocksucker who butchered all those tiny blondes?”

Gibbs just stared at the man.

“Yes, I get it. You would not be here if it was not.”

“This will close the case on Naval Petty Officer Patty Couch and Army Staff Sergeant Gloria Singer. He has photos on his phone.”

“What do you think is going to happen to him?”

“Where ever he ends up, he is not going to sit on death row for very long. Just a shame we cannot end him the way he ended them.”

“What? Gibbs, they were butchered.”

Once more there was that stare that said…yes…and?

He turned his attention back on the man behind the glass. “I knew them when they were just little girls and were my little girl’s best friends. I hope they hang him in the public square and leave him there for the crows to eat while his spirit burns in hell.

Or just turn him over to me. That could work for me as well.”

“What happened to Gibbs rule number ten? Never get personally involved in a case?”

“It’s right there with rules number two and nine,” he replied.

“What no coffee this morning? Little blood thirsty?”

“Gibbs,” he said pointing to himself, “is the shortened name of the Viking name Gibson.

Siva,” he said as a woman approached him.

“Gibbs,” she acknowledged him with a nod of her head. “Hawthorne,” she said. 

Staring at him intently, he began to feel uncomfortable and then her attention was back on Gibbs and together they left.

“Have the reports on Roger Smith,” she began. “He was just the procurer. Rasputin did the dirty work. We have been running what you sent us from his phone. From the photos that we have of him, he is aging. That facial recognition program is just the best. There was a new update last night.”

“Yes,” he nodded. “How is Brother Samuel?”

“He is well,” she replied. “And how is The Viking?”

“I hear he just got married.”

Seva did a double take.

“To a little blonde.”

“Do you think Rasputin will make it to trial?”

“Probably not,” Gibbs replied as they walked out the door and into the night. “If old age does not kill him first, The Viking just might.”

“Have you heard about the reports coming in from Alaska?” Seva asked him. “That the stars were actually singing?”

“Heard that. It was quite some light show as well. 

Have Timothy running the videos through his system. Says nothing has been tampered, with. 

I also heard that there were some very bad men wanting to do some very bad things. They turned themselves in to the local authorities. Said a dragon caught them and told them to get their mo’ fo’n asses on to the police station.

With the balance of power enacted,” Gibbs looked at her, “we just might get to retire.”

Hawthorne watched the man and woman walk off.  “Always wear gloves at a crime scene and always carry a knife. Damn, I could use some rules of my own.

Damn,” he gave a two fingered salute to the man behind the glass. “Enjoy the time you have left.”

Rasputin motioned for him to come in.

“What?” Hawthorne asked him.

“Who were those two? The vibrations they were giving off. They have loosened my bowels. I am shitting myself.”

 Names would mean nothing to the man who seemed to be aging before his eyes. Did Gibbs have a rule for that? Yes, that would be rule number seven. Always be specific when you lie. “That was The Viking and The Jew.”

Never ending screaming erupted from the man in the bed. Looked like he was trying to chew his manacles, off, when his voice was not trying to take down the roof. The alarms that he was attached to, started going off and hospital staff came rushing in as he stepped aside and let them do their work.

He watched as they worked on the old man. The doc finally called it.

Walking down to the coffee vending machine, he put in his money and hit the button.

“Mo fo’n,” he heard and turned and there was a tiny dragon fluttering on the breeze. “They are out of robust blend.”

Hawthorne passed out and O.I. caught him before he hit the floor. “Gonna be down for a while. No sense in letting the coffee get cold,” he smiled as he put a five-dollar bill in the man’s hand. With his coffee in-hand, he sniffed the wind. “Now, which way did Gibbs, go? I has gots the plans for that dragon boat he wanted to build.”

Dear Readers,

You know, sometimes I just cannot help, myself…The Viking and The Jew…

 On to the holy days and the holidays. 

As always, thanks for reading!

All the best to you and yours!

A very joyous season and be blessed in the new year!

Be blessed and be the blessing,

CES

PS…I went through and cut a lot of Gibb’s dialogue. He still seems a bit wordy in places. But maybe this case calls for it.

Carroll

PSS….Stay tuned for me giving the guided tour of Norway, this dragon’s paradise. 

Tons of hugs and really wet sloppy kisses.

Ho Ho Ho! Santa Lives!

O.I.

*NCIS: created by Donald P. Bellisario and Don McGill. 2003 to present.

Land of the Midnight Sun — Chapter 11

The characters of the Southern Vampire Mysteries belong to Miss Charlaine Harris. The Characters of True Blood belong to Mr. Alan Ball.

I have no BETA, editor or other such charming person. All mistakes are my own.

No infringement on my part is intended. This story is rated MA. Contains language and sexual adult situations.

Land of the Midnight Sun — Chapter 11

When the plane landed, the happy, spoon playing crowd gathered up their winnings, their wild stories about each other and the laughter about the good times to come. Once they were down the stairs and on the tarmac, they stopped. 

“I smell snow,” Pamela said as she took a deep whiff. “And other unpleasant shit floating on the wind. And I can tell you, after the good timing we had on the plane, this shit does not sit well with me,” she said, looking around for anything that was out of place, real or imagined.

“Yes,” Ian nodded as he stuck out his tongue and tasted the air. “Who has the time or energy to push their will around just willy-nilly. No one knew we were headed this way. Is there something much bigger going on that we know nothing about?”

Pam snorted. “Since when are you ever in the know? Good thing for you that you have us for traveling companions. You know, those who can actually rally the troops and protect your ass. And don’t give me any sass about that. There was that night in Paris you are singing and dancing in the rain, literally. And walked right into that coven of witches hyped on vamp blood. I have seen stupid, but seldom do I see your wound tight ass doing it. If I didn’t know any better, I would have sworn you were doing a blood exchange with The Irish. Because you had left your stiff upper lip and stick up your ass manner somewhere else.

Even Eric was a bit puzzled about your behavior. Just threw all caution to the wind and danced your naked ass along the river, shaking your baby elephant at those ladies and once they got over the screeching and the shock of such a horrible sight, they lit up the torches and started tossing their unholy shit our way. Lordy,” she shuddered, “that..that…is something that has been burned permanently into the retinas of my eyes.

You naked…woof,” she shuddered.

Gran smothered a chuckle. She was sure Pamela did not intend that to be funny. Or maybe she did. There was a smirk on every face. Pamela, oh how she loved her. Spoke her mind and then let the fall out land where it might. Reminded her a lot of herself.

“Well put, Child,” Samuel said. “Not a natural snow fall,” he added. “You can feel the vibration that is pushing it along. And it is not Eric,” he said with a raised eyebrow. “Something more insidious. Something that reeks of old school evil and perhaps a blood sacrifice with singed beard hair thrown in for that special smell that really attracts the ladies…not,” he rolled his eyes. “I sincerely hope that is not Rasputin pushing this along. If he has fallen into his old bad habits, we just may have to remove his tongue this time and just not a hand.”

“This time?” Gran arched an eyebrow. “As in he really does still exist and you have tangled with him more than once or twice?”

The group chuckled.

“Yes, our lady Gran,” Samuel bowed his head to her. “Rasputin is what The Child otherwise calls, a Poser.”

“Of the worst sort,” Pam added with a sneer for effect. “There are grades and degrees of them. He sits at the one hundred and eighty percent grade and the 180 percent degree. He is off the poser charts. Does not get any more Poser than that.”

“Rasputin,” Gran mumbled. “And you really can influence the weather?” In her voice was curiosity. “I have heard stories floating around in New Orleans of who do’ers waving and talking and burning and bringing down the lightning and fortifying themselves with the death and destruction that they cause when they excite the weather patterns.”

“Yes,” Samuel replied. “And none do it better than Eric. But your grandson does it with grace and style and not willful destruction on the innocents.

Whoever is doing this has the gift for it. It reeks of personal ability magic, otherwise known as p.a.m., not someone who needs things to be thrown into the cauldron. Just sheer force of will.

 Let’s get aboard the helicopter and get to the mountain. We have about an hour before the storm hits and it will take us an hour to get there.”

“Luggage has been loaded,” Nightflight said as he walked past the group and over to the helicopter. “I am doing a visual, then engine check, then we are in the air. We want to be on the ground before the storm hits.

This reeks of Rasputin. Which means it reeks of Catherine. We should have bombed her residences during the war. Shame we did not make it that far north.”

“The War?” Gran asked.

“World War II,” Cedric replied. “He and Pamela were quite the pair taking the Nazis planes right out of the air.”

“Now there are stories I would like to hear,” Gran nodded. 

“We’ll have headsets,” Samuel grinned. “We’ll get started on those. Pamela and Nightflight, both heroes of the most remarkable type. You have to love anyone who could sneak up on those supernatural bastards they had flying those planes.”

“You know,” Sookie was watching Eric as he tapped around on the wall of the cave. “O.I. left us The Deaths. What do you think would happen we if sprinkled some of that around on the wall?”

Eric chuckled. “I believe, in any realm and time line, that would count as alcohol abuse. And then there is the possibility we could also blow the top off this mountain, right along with us. My bride,” his grin got bigger, “there are any number of things that could go wrong, or that could go right that come to mind. The idea intrigues me and yet terrifies me,” he smiled at her.

“Yes,” she grinned, “but our glasses fused into that wall. That is something unnatural and unexplainable for this time but apparently not for this place.

And now I want a blade made out of that glass, as well.”

With deliberate steps, she made her way over to it. Standing in front of it, she ran her hand over it. “I have tried whacking it with your hammer,” she turned and addressed Eric over her shoulder. “Nothing happened.”

“Correct,” he said approaching her. 

“Now, let us say the glass has indeed become one with the mountain, this is what we are believing, and I believe O.I. would say the same.”

“Agreed,” Eric nodded.

“One with the mountain,” Sookie was thoughtful, “key phrase. 

The mountain forms under tremendous pressure and heat, however many millions of years old this place is.

The same physics applies to the glass,” she ran her hand across it, “as it does to forming the mountain. The time-line for the glass would now be the same as it would be for the mountain, 

So my question is, has it become a diamond?

Plus, the walls have been fortified with the dragon goodness. I have no idea what exactly that is except that is a power unto itself.”

“Diamond,” he nodded. “My wife, I see your reasoning. And you want to baptize it with The Deaths?” Eric said as he put stood next to her and put his arm across her shoulders.

“Yes,” she nodded. “I don’t want to blow the place up, that is not the vibe I am getting. I think The Deaths is gonna act like some sort of release agent. You know, add water to dirt and make mud, and then you can just pull whatever is stuck there, out.

This would work the same way. Add The Deaths and then pull the piece.” She looked up at Eric. “These thoughts just pop up out of nowhere. I am pretty sure that is O.I. is talking to me in my sleep. You know, guiding me along. 

He did not say that,” she was thoughtful, “when he was chatting us up. Nor did he deny it when I thanked him for the lavender smells and other things that triggered my memories. You know, happy to have you back Miss Sooks and doing your dragon thing. This is your moment and just run with it. That is my feeling about this. Just run with it.

What do you think?”

“My bride,” Eric pulled her in for a kiss. “I stand with you. One hundred percent. No questions. I believe what you believe.

Do not,” he said to her gently. “I see the tears starting to form. We are in balance.

Now, let us give it a go,” Eric nodded. “We have a couple of water bottles. Drink up, my wife and then we’ll punch a hole in the top of the lid and we can have a controlled laying down of The Deaths. Damn, I love the sound of that,” he chuckled. “I don’t know that has ever been said, before.”

“Probably not, the way O.I. was pouring that stuff out,” she laughed. “Your idea is brilliant. Make a tool out of what we already have, I like it,” she nodded as she took a water bottle out of the pack and opening it up, she took out a small bottle and drank it. “Yum,” she nodded. “That really hit the spot. I would almost say unnaturally, so.”

Eric just eyed her.

“I think O.I. is right. My dragon parts are coming on line. Taste is really getting refined. Aw-w-w, I think maybe on a molecular level.”

“Good to known,” Eric replied. “True also of me. Must be the dragon. I thought it was the vampire, but now not so much.”

“Here is the bottle,” Sookie said holding it up. “I think this is a moment when you can honestly say plastic is going to save our asses.

 There sits The Deaths,” she wiggled her eyebrows. “Open the keg,” she grinned as Eric lifted off the lid, “and dip some out,” she laughed as she spotted the dipper that was in the cask, “and pour it into the bottle.  Damn, O.I. thought of everything. That is a really cool dipper. Metal?”

“If it is, I don’t recognize it. Maybe pottery…had to tell,” as he carefully filled the bottle.

“Now for the bottle lid, I have an awl,” Eric said. “And we don’t want a big hole, so I think just the point into the lid,” as he punched through the lid. Screwing it back onto the bottle, they both wiggled their eyebrows. 

Eric tilted his head back and lifting the bottle, had a hit of the stream that was being forced out.

With a grin, he passed the bottle to Sookie. She did likewise and standing on tip-toe, gave Eric a kiss. “Thanks for believing in me,” she smiled.

“My bride, thank you for not doubting yourself.”

“Okay,” she nodded, “Let’s try this. Just squirt it around the glass,” she said as she watched him outline the glass.

“That’s interesting,” Eric said as they watched the cave wall change. “Mud,” Eric nodded, smiling at Sookie. “And wait one, it sounds like the glass is cracking. And now we have two pieces.”

“Wow,” Sookie stood back. “That rectangle, has now been divided in a diagonal from left to right. Down the middle. Two triangles,” she said as she watched Eric out line them with his awl and them pry them out. “Is it just me or could those now be blades for a knife? And if you were to apply The Deaths to them, could you knap them?”

“Damn,” Eric breathed out as he removed the first piece and then the second. “They are two inches thick. The basic shape is there, I do believe they could be the core.

And would you just look at this. True to alcohol, it has evaporated and the mountain has gone back to its rugged self. Not a trace of anything being out of place.”

Sookie eyed the bottle. “Just what did O.I. trust us with?”

Eric considered that question. “The Fountain of Youth? The primordial soup of the beginning of time? Dragon spit and piss? Questions to be pondered, my wife, at a later time. The storm has arrived and with it, friends and family.”

“Cool,” she smiled. “How far out? Do you think?”

“About thirty minutes. They are bringing Gran and Lafayette in a sled, along with creature comforts. Oh my, I do believe Clifford and Griffin are in attendance, as well. There shall be many creature comforts.”

Sookie nodded. “Let’s clean up the area a bit. You know, make the bed and if you can get me there in five minutes, maybe a quickie.”

“My bride,” he winked at her. “I can do a quickie. Just go ahead and start screaming my name.”

“They are coming up the hill,” Eric said, as they finished straightening up the covers. 

“Things look good,” Sookie nodded. “I am so excited to see Gran and Lafayette and meet a few others of your family.”

“They are a cast of characters,” Eric smiled. “And it will be good to see them as well. Aw-w-w, most good. They have The Child breaking the trail. So she will be the first up the hill. Oh, wait one, she has Lafayette in the sled as well.”

“Well how about that,” Sookie smiled. “Lafayette finally has someone to talk fashion with. Bless his heart, that stuff of New York’s new season and this is what is happening in Paris was just lost on me.”

“Seriously, he keeps up?” Eric said.

“Oh yes,” she nodded. “And I would not know a Weisman shoe from the ones I bought at Wal-Mart. He has a heart attack every time I say that.

And I buy my make up there and he just sobs and asks me if I at least want to go to Ulta with him.

I tell him Maybelline is just fine for me. Hypo allergic and all those good things at a good price.”

“How is his French?” he asked.

“Just fine, more than fine,” Sookie nodded. “When he was in high school and also while at Tulane, he would go to the language contest that they would have in French. He always won first place.”

Eric grinned and then looked a bit worried. “He and Pamela must be having quite the conversations. She has a couple of favorite shops in Paris. I wonder if they have already chatted them up?”

Sookie muffled a snort. “He is going to be impossible if he is chatting up fashion anything in Paris. He is going to expect me to know things,” she was shaking her head. “And I don’t want to know things,” she was still shaking her head.

“Well then, get ready, my lovely bride and mother to my children, I hear our happy family approaching the entrance. And apparently the fashion forward have already ordered makeup from one of Pamela’s favorite shops.”

“That did not take long,” Sookie chuckled.

“I am surprised and yet not,” Eric said sagely. “This is, after all, The Child. She is not known for her award-winning manners. Somewhat prides herself on just what a bitch she is. But you know that,” Eric’s eyes were now concentrating on the opening. “It will be interesting to hear what happened on the plane to cause this lovely bonding. I am sure our Lafayette really is all that, but I suspect The Child royally fucked up and is now all about the family. 

I can hear her good cheer and feel her happy vibe. How sincere she is. Just what the fuck?” Eric chuckled. “The Child with a happy vibe. It is the end of the world as we know it.”

“How would she do that?” Sookie smiled as they stepped up to the opening and she could hear the laughter above the storm. “Be all about family and happy about it?”

“Swear fealty, to Gran,” Eric replied. “Most good, I see a light. Here they come.”

The stormed upon party got out of their sleds, shook the snow off, and were welcomed with hugs and kisses by Eric and Sookie as they came inside.

“Gran!” Sookie kept repeating as she kissed all over her face, then pulled Lafayette in next to her and kissed all over him, as well.

“Brought everything you asked for,” Samuel said to Eric as he watched the happy reunion. “And a few things you did not ask for.”

“Pamela made her grand entrance and told everyone to fuck off, or something like that, correct,” Eric said as he watched Pam interact with Lafayette.

“Yes. Gran picked up that banner and said she had cheated Sookie out of her pay. Called her a predator, those of the family being the worst. And that when her great grandchildren were born, Gran would chat you two up and Pam would never been seen or heard from again.

And if Pam wanted to live in that soul sucking loneliness, have fun with that. If she did not, would you like to start this conversation over.”

Pamela left the room and reentered. We all cheered and she went to Gran, got down on her knees and swore fealty to Gran and her family. Death before dishonor and all that.

We played spoons and it turns out Lafayette knows more about the newest fashion  trends than she does.”

Eric lifted an eyebrow.

“I kid you not. They talked fashion genius, foo-paws and runway mistakes, shake ups, and who just should have shoveled shit out of the sewer and called that their legacy. It was very entertaining and interesting.”

“And what did you learn, my brother?”

“That you cannot go wrong with the classics. A traditional weave in a suit, white shirt with a button-down collar, vest and a tie will take you a long way in both of their worlds. And of course, sackcloth and ashes,” he added with a grin. “For your humbler moments.

Looks like your lovely bride has met the boys,” he chuckled. “I need to re-introduce myself to her and then we shall get down to the business of…of…is she pouring something into those glasses? Looks like we all get a libation. To include Clifford and Griffin.”

“The Death from Above,” Eric chucked. “Get ready. Your world, my brother, is about to get redefined. Oh good, they brought a folding table and food. Whatever that it, is smells delightful.”

“My maker,” Pamela said as she came up and stood in front of him so she could see into the depths of his incomparable blue eyes. “I would like to thank you for getting me to this time and place. For keeping me on this side of the living death and not allowing my ass to meet the true death. There was once or twice, I thought maybe you would not get there in time.”

Eric regarded her, his face serious.

“I have no friends,” she said simply.  “I know and can count on people that are your friends. But that is because of their love and high regard, for you.  I know this.

But me. Friends? Not really, no one I would call my friend. Or who would want to be my friend. I am not to be trusted. I know that. And I would like to blame that on my parents, but the decisions that I have made and the things that I have done I am responsible, for. I could have made a different decision; I just chose not to.

These are,” she hesitated, “these are some of the finest folk you would ever want to meet. And I am humbled and amazed that I get to call them my family.”

Eric arched an eyebrow at her.

“Well, you know, except for then nitwits from the Isles. They are just half family, not full family. Like having a half-brother twice removed. You know, a brother from a different mother and father and they really are not related to you but you take pity on them and take them in. That side of the family.”

Her maker was still looking at her with a very serious expression.

Softly and slowly she began, “I swore fealty to Gran and her family. And all that it is entails.”

Eric nodded yes.

“Are…are you and Sookie really going to have babies?” she asked, her voice catching.

“Yes,” he nodded, again, wiping her tears away.

“I really am going to be a big sister?”

“Yes,” he nodded and this time gave her a come-on motion with his hand.

“They are going to love me more than Cedric and Ian,” she said righting herself.  “Maybe not as much as Brother Samuel, but I am going to be their favorite.”

“I do not doubt,” Eric leaned down and kissed her on the forehead.

“I like Lafayette,” she added. “He is smart, funny, tells it like it is and he gets me.”

“That is important,” Eric nodded in agreement.

“He is going to be my fashion consultant, to include makeup, and I am going to pay him outrageous amounts of money. I…I never thought I would say this, but I think he knows more about the fashion industry than I do. I don’t know how that is possible, but that seems to be the way of it.”

“Sounds like a win-win situation. Sookie wants him to go back to Tulane and finish his law degree. He is a young man with a lot of pride. As your advisor, you shall help him achieve this goal.”

“He won’t take money. I tried that. He says I am family.”

“Then we shall work that another, route. But back to school his happy ass is going. My wife has decreed it so.”

“There a big bad coming this way?” she asked.

“The worst of the worst, from what we can tell.”

“We shall kick his ass all the way to hell and back. Make him wish he had just stayed the fuck, away.”

“There is my oldest,” Eric placed another kiss on her forehead. “Now daddy says it is time to sit and talk the good talk. Everyone needs to be in the loop.”

“Even my half nit wit brothers?” she sighed.

“Yes,” he grinned. “We all have our part to play.”

“Posers,” she rolled her eyes.

“Yes,” Ian and Cedric both appeared and flanking her, one on each side, with their arms resting on her shoulders.

“If it is not my two half-wit brothers,” she growled.

“Aw, dear sweet sister Pamela,” Ian smiled at her. “Please remember that being a half-wit…”

“Tis’ better,” Cedric hooted, “then having no wit about ya’ at all.”

“My maker has forbidden me to meet the sun,” she eyed one and then the other. “If you will excuse me, I have a bookie somewhere who is going to give me odds on just how I am going to true death myself…” she sadly shook her head and walked off.

Eric looked at one and then the other. “I got Samuel’s very kind version of the plane ride,” he said. “Tell me.”

“She was sincere, Eric, when she swore fealty,” Ian smiled at him. “Gran called her on her bullshit and described that dark, puking aloneness quite well. Made a believer out of her.

Then we played Spoons.”

“Spoons?” he asked.

“A card game. Gran kicked ass and took names and made a pile of money. Folding bills and not just pocket change, she called it,” Cedric grinned.

“And a good time was had by all?” Eric asked.

“Yes,” Ian nodded. 

“Excellent,” Eric smiled.

Turing out to the group, he addressed them:  “Family, if you would please. We are here for a reason. Now, let us get to it. Our family, the story is in the telling. And it is a good one. So get something to drink, gather round and get comfy.

I am just going to tell you as it happened to us. We met him here in the cave. His name is Órga Ingne, which  translates to Golden Talons. His family calls him O.I. He is the king of the dragons.”

“Eric and I  are,” Sookie nodded, “descended from dragons. And we believe you are as well. And Lafayette ,you and O.I. look enough alike to be twins. No foolin. I swear, you do his makeup.”

Lafayette gave a victory shout out, “Thank you Jesus!” that was heard and echoed within the cave and caused the rocks to answer back.

“Mo fo’n,” Lafayette said as everyone stopped talking. “Do the walls sing? I swear I heard them sing Hallelujah in answer and then sing welcome home family.”

“Yes,” Eric nodded. “The dragons imparted themselves into this mountain. Our family left this here for us to find. 

Lafayette, they obviously love the sound of your voice.”

“The walls do some amazing things,” Gran smiled. “Singing, and singing in English.”

“Mo fo’n,” Lafayette nodded. “Or maybe this is dragon we really are speakin’ and are just calling it English.”

“Here is my glass, please, top me off with The Deaths,” Ian said. “Because what His La La Fineness just said, that makes perfectly good sense.”

“Woof,” was said by many and happy thoughts were had by all.

Eric and Sookie were the lead voices and the gang was talking, passing the dipper from The Deaths’ cask back and forth and talking possible outcomes.

“Mo’ fo’n,” was heard more than once. 

Lafayette was so excited he would on occasion get up and dance around and shout hallelujah!

“Dragons are,” Eric kept stressing, “we believe the balance of power.”

“We are descended from dragons!” was constantly being chuckled, about. 

“And our people are the balance of power…you and Sookie bring about the balance of power…” was applauded and cheered and toasted.

The questions came fast and furious. But none doubted them. They all believed. Eric gave them credit, their family believed in them!

“I was told,” Eric stressed, “that I may not kill him. That is for my bride to do. This holds true for all of you as well. This is for Sookie to do.

And know this, once the demon is dead, O.I. says he and his are back in the biz…but until then, he cannot do the killin’ for us.”

“So once Miss Sooiks ends this mo’ fo’r ” Lafayette nodded, “we is back in the mo’ fo’n dragon goodness. I likes the idea of family lookin’ after family. Those fire breathin’ beasties are needed. There are just some evil mo fours who need an attitude adjustment.”

“Just what the fuck do you mean?” Catherine screeched, “that he is in the North? How far North? What kind of story are you telling me?” Her screaming was causing his ears to bleed.

Rasputin picked up his rune sticks and counted them out. Then he picked up the stones that held rune markings, paper that was scribed with them, and carved antler and counted them and dutifully returned them to their respective bags. He continued to take them out, count and return them until she stopped talking. Talking, who was he kidding, she was screaming.

 “That is most disrespectful to the runes. I am amazed the wooden staves did not stake you. Are you ready to listen?” he asked when there was quiet.

Glaring at him, she motioned for him to continue.

“I can cast them again but they are going to say the same. He is not in the South. By all that is unholy, he is not in the New World. I am getting an Old World vibe. He is in the North. That is why I have pushed out the storm. Where ever he is, he is not leaving anytime soon. I am seeing to this.”

“But my spies would have told me this,” she hissed.

“You need better spies,” he retorted. 

“What say you, Havoc?” he asked. “Where do you stand in this madness that is otherwise known as The Viking?”

“I play my own end game,” he answered, “because who can get past the noise that you emanate? I am not interested in anyone who is not willing to listen to reason and the runes. I do not care what your former position was before The Throne and how you write our histories once we are crowned lord of all.

I can do this without you,” he added. “You are, after all, only a vampire with demon memories and maybe some connections. I have been checking those bragging rights of yours. Some smirk when your name is mentioned.”

“I will deal with those lessers and I am more than you will ever be,” she replied through clinched teeth. 

“Then you need to act like it,” he said scowling at her.

“Rasputin,” Havoc concentrated on him, checking for any cracks that could be exploited or unattached magic that could be suckled. “Can you give us a longitude and latitude for his whereabouts?”

“What?” he asked.

“A fixed position or at least a general idea.”

“The runes can do that?” he asked.

“Fuck,” Havoc rolled his eyes. “The Vikings could navigate by those. That is why they always traveled with a rune’r. And those aboard the dragon boats had a more than passing working knowledge.” Havoc was assessing the situation. “Seriously,” he regarded the one that really was not all that. “Even I know that.”

Oh wait, Rasputin was going to speak. The excuses started about this and that and he had studied, blah, blah, blah and this really was not his fault and he had called the storm. And it was a good storm. Why even the animals had hunkered down.

What a stupid shit. The animals always hunkered down during a storm. The bears were smarter than this debacle of a thing that called itself Rasputin.

It was just the living shits when you started to believe you own press. And apparently this freak of nature, and he had named himself Rasputin, did. His adopted name meant dim. Yes, no kidding. “I am sure he proudly picked that out, himself. Had no idea what it meant.”

It would not do to lose control. Not yet.  Havoc counted to ten and then started. “Look, you illiterate peasant,” he interrupted him. 

“No need to be mean,” Catherine stepped into the conversation. “He is doing the best he can. He might be an illiterate peasant, but his magic is topnotch.”

“This is how we are going to work this, Rasputin,” Havoc began as speaking to a two-year-old. “I am going to tell you exactly what to do. Do not say a word. Do not question anything I tell you. Your job is just to do it.”

“If you are all that,” Catherine gloated, “why do you just not pull the runes yourself?”

“Because I may not,” he replied, calm on the outside, seething with hatred on the inside.

“I will tell you,” he said calmly,  “how to interrupt just what exactly it is you are looking at. And we shall proceed slowly and carefully, from there.

Are we all in agreement?”

Catherine and Rasputin both had sullen faces. Like maybe they did not enjoy hearing his thoughts and his sound, rational, mind.

“What?” he asked. “You are both sulking. Like spoiled children. Speak and let us get over this madness that you both wallow around, in.”

“You are not in charge, here,” Catherine’s voice was low and dangerous. “And neither is the mad Russian Monk. I am,” she stressed, “the one with all the power.”

“I cannot believe we are having this fucking conversation,” Havoc replied. “We need to know where The Viking is presently. And if he is close, so much the better. That would be our time to strike and move forward.  If I can collect his bones, I shall find a small blonde, if one is not in his company. Although, I am led to believe that perhaps one just might be.”

“What?” she hissed. “He travels with her? With no regard to my self-esteem?”

“Fuck me,” Havoc said to himself. Out loud he continued on. “The Viking has no regard for your self-esteem. Just believe me when I say that. He has no regard for you at all. He believes true death is a good look on you.”

Catherine’s growl was low and throaty. He ignored her, much to the disgust that she now wore on her face.

“My spy on board the ship had procured a small blonde for me. She was in Alaska, finished her job there for the summer. She got on the boat, came south, and did not get off  when the boat docked in Vancouver. I had a wanna-be worshipper check for me. What are the chances of that?  Impossible. Unless she has a big stud to get her off the boat. Unnoticed. Therefore, The Viking is in this part of the world.”

“What the fuck?” Rasputin laughed out loud. “I might be an illiterate peasant and want to believe that I am going to reign forever with you two, but that is some stretch of your wishful thinking and imagination.”

“Seriously,” Catherine nodded in agreement. “For all you know, your spy lied to you about her. Maybe she never existed. Just told you that so that you would leave him, alone, and he could have a good time without getting a call from you every five minutes. You are so fucking needy. Have you checked this? Have you done that? What about…?” Catherine laughed, mocking him exactly. 

“Yes, needy,” Rasputin nodded in agreement. “And now, of all the bombastic nonsense, you want to tell me how to run my runes, you pompous ass.”

Havoc said nothing. Just stood. Reeling at the implications of what the bitch had just spouted. What, his human lie to him? Why would he do that? And did that piece of Were shit just call him a pompous ass?

And he was not needy. Just precise and exact and wanting everything to work according to plan. “What a horrible thing to say to me,” he said quietly. “Both of you.”

“You are such a weakling,” she sneered. “There is no way in the upheaval of hell would I ever let anyone speak to me the way I command you.”

“You are correct,” he nodded. “I see the error…” Havoc drew his sword and Catherine’s head went flying across the room, “of my ways,” he finished, wiping his sword off on Rasputin’s cloak. “Now, I believe this pompous ass was saying I am going to teach you how to do this. It might take a couple of days to pinpoint The Viking, exactly, but we are going to do it. And his fine bones and hers will be mine.

So let’s get to work. I like what you have done with the antler. You can ditch everything else. Caribou is something from my time when I wore a body. The Sami have herded reindeer for the past ten thousand years. We shall honor them and they shall honor us and I shall reign and we shall all live happily ever after.

Now let us begin. There are twenty-four runes. I have no idea why you have twenty-six, here…can you even count to twenty-six?”

Clifford and Griffin and brought chairs, a table and other fine things that Sookie thought did not constitute as camping. Or even glamping.

“Mighty fine, living,” Gran kept saying to the two majordomos. “And I know caves keep a constant temperature, but this is comfy cozy in here. Dragons do good work. Better than central air and heat.

And would you just look at my grandson, flaking away on that core. He does very fine work as well.

And…” she paused. “And I think I just might be a wee bit drunk. What say you oh great-granddaughter?”

Pam was dancing on the ceiling, literally. “Yes,” she giggled as she floated down and righted herself. “Oh, good and gracious Gran, would you please fill my glass, again, with The Deaths.”

“My pleasure,” Gran replied and dipping into the cask, topped her off.  “You are a seven-day wonder,” Gran smiled at her and put a kiss on her cheek. “The way you could stand upside down up there and drink and not spill a drop. Now that is some very fine co-ordination. Most impressive.”

“Thanks Gran,” she smiled, with fang showing. “There are things in my past that I am not proud of, and I am sorry to say had come with me into the future. But that skill set, I am very proud of it. It is just not everyone who can do that.”

“She does speak the truth, o’ Gran of our hearts,” Cedric sighed. “I am not so blessed. Neither is me boy’o. But The Child, she does it with style and grace and she has a flair for all things lovely. She lights up this old soul when she dances her fine way into your heart.”

Wow, the bullshit was deep. Eric was not going to laugh. He had not seen his friends drunk, well ever. They were enchanting and even more charming than usual. And the bullshit was nonstop. “My bride and I,” Eric looked up from his work, “are the only ones here, that are not drunk on our asses.

Clifford, I know you and Griffin are not drunk, but you have imbibed. I saw you both lighting those sterno cans under the food warmers with flames coming out of your mouths. So spare me the righteous bullshit.”

“Very handy, Mr. Eric,” Clifford saluted him, “to be so always prepared. Whether it be for a romantic evening when there needs to be lit candles, keeping the food the correct temperature or perhaps battling past the harpies of hell. We stand at the ready. And you know Griffin and I are always looking to expand our skill sets.

Besides, just wait until I show Cook. He will be jealous.”

Eric grinned at Sookie and then went back to his work. 

“You really are something,” she grinned back at him. “I am admiring your workmanship. The carving on the antler handles…wow, works of art. And these two lovers that you have going up this sword handle look remarkedly like us.”

“Well,” Eric chuckled, “they should. It is us.”

“I love you,” she smiled at him and then a kiss to grace his lips. “Huh,” she turned her head a bit more so she could see into the cavern. “Looks like Pam is having some of that berry cobbler.”

“Barley flour. I can not only smell it but taste it on my tongue. It has a more robust presence than wheat. The barley is grown in Alaska,” Eric nodded. Looking over at Pam he grinned. “She does look like she is enjoying it. And did she just launch a spoonful at Cedric and…and…and… he caught it in his mouth.” Eric said with a touch of pride. “The Irish Lad even danced a jig while it was incoming.”

“Waste not, want not,” Sookie nodded. “And damn, that boy can move fast and get down low. He looks happy as well, chewing away on that.

Eric,” she placed her hand on his shoulder, “Can we…will we be able to go back to being what we were before? Do you think…” she looked out at the vampires drinking The Deaths, toasting each other, the cave, dragons, Father God. “Are they going to want to walk away from this?”

“Do you want to walk away from this?” he asked her.

“No,” she shook her head. “No, I don’t.”

“Then we need to set things to rights so that we don’t have to return to the old ways. So that O.I. and his crew can…” Eric shrugged. “Can once more roam the earth and keep countries in check? Flame evil to hell? But that is a guess on my part. I know it is not very philosophical or clever, but we won’t know until we know.”

Nodding her head, Sookie let out a sigh. “I love this. I love having all of us here.”

“Yes,” he smiled at her.

“Anything I can do to help?” she asked.

“If you would please, stir my cave-man glue pot, be careful of the flames, and let us get ready to attach the blades to the handles. Once we have the glue in place, we shall then wrap them in those small leather strips and let it all harden. We shall be ready when the big bad comes this way.

And once this is done, perhaps you can teach me how to play spoons. I could use a few you owe me chits from my fellow warriors.”

A loud and rowdy cheer went up, then a toast to Gran!

“Do you think any of them is ever going to leave, here?” she asked.

“Not any time soon,” Eric responded as he watched his family. “And frankly, I don’t want them, too. I don’t want them in the fall out of this, as in being here when the big bad shows up. Nor do I not want them here. I do not want them being hunted before you deliver the death blow. 

We end this. And they can even help,” he said admiring the two smaller knives that held the dragons’ teeth.

“As soon as the baby tooth is set, my bride, I want you to carry it at all times. When the others come of age, we will get them strapped to you as well.”

“Can we do something for Gran?” she asked.

“You mean other than have Pamela as her first line of defense?” he asked her.

Sookie looked at the two of them, huddled together, exchanging war stories, she was sure. “Not ever did I think I would see that,” she said with a nod of her head towards the two.

“She needs to be loved,” Eric said, his heart in his eyes and voice.  “I could not provide her with the healing of her spirit that she needed.”

“I would say that she has got that now,” Sookie smiled. “Gran’s love can cure anything.”

Pam was now levitating, on her back, her head on Gran’s lap, while Gran stroked her hair and would occasionally rub her nose against hers.

“It is good to be loved and cherished,” Eric smiled at Sookie.

“Yes,” she nodded, “it is.”

God Bless Our Veterans

One picture really is worth a thousand words. For all who serve and have served, I am humbled and grateful. I know you have fought and are fighting those fucking terrorists. Both foreign and domestic. May God bless you and keep you and rain His love and mercy upon you and yours.