Chapter 5

Sookie awoke the next morning, still chained and starving. There were no windows in the room, but she knew the sun was up. That was the only time Logan would leave her alone. She continued to pull at the chains, but it was still no use. She needed a key. A man entered the room a few minutes later, carrying a tray filled with food over to her.

“The Master says you should eat.”

Sookie sat up, as much as she was able to. “Your name is Mark, right?”

He stopped for a second, but refused to look at her, so she decided to continue.

“Your wife is pregnant; I know you must be worried about her. Please, you have to get me out of here.”

Mark had a look of fear on his face, finally glancing up at her. “The Master will kill me.”

She shook her head. “I won’t let that happen. I’ll get help, I know of someone who can defeat your Master. You have to let me go, and then we’ll come back to free all of you. You have my word on that.”

Mark was silent for a moment, then nodded as he went to retrieve the key for the chains, quickly releasing her.

Sookie sighed in relief, rubbing her sore wrists. “Thank you. You’re a good man, Mark. Why don’t you just come with me?”

“I can’t, Miss Stackhouse. I have friends here, I won’t leave without them. It’s too risky for any of us to leave right now.”

Sookie nodded in understanding, giving him a quick hug. “I’ll come back for you, I promise.” She ran, even though she was weak and limping, but that didn’t stop her. Sookie made it out of the mansion, basking in the sunshine on her face. She didn’t know where to go, but one thing was certain. She had to find Eric. Sookie ran through the cemetery, finally making it to the streets. She tried to catch a ride, but there didn’t seem to be anyone around. Sookie was in luck when a car headed in her direction, she waved her hands in the air. “Stop, I need your help!” The car stopped inches away from her, sighing in relief as she ran to the passenger side. “You’re a lifesaver; can you get me out of here?”

The man opened the door for her. “Sure, where are you headed?”

Sookie got in, trying to catch her breath. “I have no idea.”

He nodded. “I know that well. Are you okay? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“Something like that,” she responded.

The man drove away, having a feeling about where to take her. This girl looked like she needed help, and he knew just the person for that. “What’s your name?”

She looked at him, he seemed nice, someone that she could possibly trust. “Sookie Stackhouse.”

His eyes widened, a smile forming on his face. “What are the odds? You’re just the one we’ve been looking for.”


* * * * *


“We really shouldn’t be doing this.”

He chuckled, pressing kisses down the smooth length of her neck. “I think we should. It’s been long overdue.”

Buffy shut her eyes. “This isn’t really the place.”

Spike pulled away, kissing her lips tenderly. “You finally admitted to having some feelings for me, I’m not about to stop now. Why don’t we take this upstairs?”

She was very tempted, but the back door burst open before she could answer him.

“You’ll never guess who I found,” Xander said as he entered the kitchen, a blonde woman behind him. “This is Sookie Stackhouse, I found her on the road. It looks like she managed to escape.”

Buffy smiled at their new guest. “I guess you did the hard part for us. I’m Buffy, this is Spike, you’ve already met Xander. Your friends came here looking for you.”

“I knew he was here,” Sookie said more to herself, then addressed the others. “Where are they?”

“Asleep in the basement,” Buffy explained.

Sookie nodded, opening the door to said basement and making her way down the stairs, needing to see for herself. It was pitch black down there, but she could make out two forms, one on a cot by the back wall, and one on the floor. She immediately knew that Eric was the one in the cot. Sookie stood over him, reaching out to gently caress his cheek, knowing that he was literally dead to the world right now. She then glanced down at Bill, not sure what to say to him once they awoke, but she could deal with that later. Sookie headed back upstairs to join the others, feeling utterly exhausted.

“You should get some rest,” Buffy said, noticing how tired she was. “I’ll show you to my room.”

Sookie agreed, but had to say something first about what happened. “Before I forget, Logan told me what he brought me here for. He’s looking for this gem; apparently it makes the wearer invincible.”

Buffy glanced at Spike, then back at Sookie. “The Gem of Amara? That’s not possible. It was destroyed last year.”

“I guess Logan didn’t get the memo. He’s pretty keen on finding it, and was going to use me to help him. I’m really relieved, this guy is bad news. He’s the last vampire who should be that powerful. He’s got enough power of his own,” Sookie finished, remembering just how strong he was. “They haven’t given you too much trouble, have they? I know how those two can get when they’re together. Bill shouldn’t have come, this isn’t his responsibility.”

“Well, he cares for you. I got the impression that you guys used to have a thing.”

Sookie nodded. “We were together for a little while, but it didn’t work out. It’s…”

“Complicated?” Buffy finished for her, exchanging another look with Spike. “I know what you mean.”

Sookie noticed the lingering stares between them, feeling that she had more in common with this woman than she thought. Xander pretty much filled her in on everything in the car. Buffy was the Slayer, and Spike was the vampire who helped her, but she had a feeling Xander didn’t know about Buffy’s feelings.

God, how long has it been since I’ve had sex? If Xander didn’t show up when he did, I would have taken Spike right there on the kitchen counter, but this is so not the time to be thinking about that. Things would be a lot easier if he wasn’t so damn gorgeous.

Sookie laughed, she didn’t mean to intrude on Buffy’s thoughts, but sometimes couldn’t help it.

“What? Do I have something on my face?” the blonde wondered.

Sookie shook her head, wiping the smile away.

It was then that Buffy remembered something. “Oh, crap, Eric said you were a telepath. Did you just read my mind?”

Sookie shrugged. “I didn’t hear anything important.”

Spike’s eyes widened. “I’m bloody jealous of you right now. I never know what this woman is thinking, and of course she never just comes right out and says it. What did you hear?”

Buffy glared at him. “That’s none of your business.”

“It was really nothing,” Sookie commented.

Spike pouted in disappointment.

Buffy flashed her a smile, two could play this game. “Can you read his mind?”

Sookie shook her head. “Sorry, I can’t read vampires.”

Now it was Buffy’s turn to pout, while Spike secretly gloated.

“Never mind, let’s just get you upstairs. You can stay in my room; I’ll take my mom’s. My sister won’t be back until tomorrow night.”

Sookie followed Buffy upstairs. “Where is your mother?”

Buffy’s mood quickly became saddened. “She died a little while ago.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring it up, but if it helps, I know how you feel. I lost both my parents when I was really young.”

“I’m sorry, it’s been hard, but we’re managing. There is something I’m interested in, though. How do you handle hearing people’s thoughts all the time? I got infected with a demon once and could hear thoughts, it drove me crazy. I don’t know how anyone could live with that.”

Sookie took in a deep breath. “I’ve had it for as long as I can remember, I’ve just gotten used to it. Sometimes I hear things I don’t want to, but for the most part, I can control it. Don’t worry; I’ll try not to listen in on you anymore.”

“Thanks ever so,” Buffy replied, heading for the door once Sookie was situated in her room.

“Spike’s really cute. I don’t need to read his thoughts to tell that he’s completely in love with you.”

That brought a smile to Buffy’s face as she shut the door, heading back downstairs to deal with her vampire.