Mortal Engagement 4/4

[pairatime]

Part three

“This is just great isn’t it?”

“Wow, you did all this since Tuesday?” Jason asked in amazement as he looked at his and Hoyt’s party.

Lights were hung across what was normally the parking lot, a temporary dance floor was set out next to the old shed that held a bar and buffet, there was a band off to one side playing for those on the dance floor, which was filled with a quarter of the town.

“Just wait until you see what we do with the wedding,” Arlene said as she grabbed Jessica and pulled her into a side hug. “For an undead evil blood sucker she has great taste, she helped plan out the light and everything. And I couldn’t have done a better job of it myself,” Arlene admitted with a full smile.

“Oh, that’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me,” Jessica said smiling as Arlene, “damn you’re going to make me cry.” She added as she brought a napkin to her eyes.

“Are you making my girl cry again,” Tommy demanded as he came out of the crowd and hugged Jessica. “Just ignore whatever she said. You know what she’s like,” Tommy said with a glare at Arlene.

“Hold your horses Tommy. She said something nice,” Hoyt explained to the other man with a smile.

“She did?” Tommy asked giving Arlene a double take before returning his gaze to the smiling Jessica.

“She did,” Jessica told him. “She said I have great taste and I’m going be helping with the wedding,” smiling the whole time as she dabbed away the blood tears.

“Now who’s the jackass,” Arlene said as she glared at Tommy. “Well I need to check on the buffet. You two enjoy your party,” she said as she patted both men on the backs and headed off toward the shed.

“Fuck her,” Tommy said giving Arlene’s back the finger before focusing on Jessica again. “Let’s dance, later guys,” he said with a wave as she started leading Jessica to the dance floor.

“Have fun Hoyt,” Jessica said as she let Tommy take her to the dance floor with a smile on her face.

“You have weird friends, and was she crying blood. Do all vampires do that? She is a vampire right?” Joshua asked as he slowly stepped forward closer to the large group of people.

“That was Jessica, the one I used to date. And I think they all do. I don’t see the others cry very often,” Hoyt answered Joshua as he grabbed a couple of beers and a soda from a large tub of ice and drinks that was near by.

“So how’s the crowd, Sookie’s trick working?” Jason asked as he took one of the beers from Hoyt.

“So far, still way too much going on but…it’s not as bad as it used to be. I would’ve run from a place like this before. I’ll have to thank her,” Joshua said as he looked at the soda Hoyt handed him, “You know I’ve been drinking for the last year. I can handle a beer.”

“Nope, not any more. Not until your 18, then you can drink,” Jason told Joshua. “You drink too early you end up like me, kills the brain cells.”

“The drinking age is 21 Jas,” Hoyt filled in for Jason. As he took a drink of his bottle.

“18, 21, it’s only a couple of years. Let’s dance,” Jason said as he grabbed Hoyt and pulled him to the dance floor.

Joshua just watched as Hoyt smiled while he let Jason pull him away, mouthing 21 as he went.

***

“The hour grows late,” Vadim warned as he watched the party from his and Danielle’s hiding place in the woods. “We may have to settle with just the one as originally planned.”

“Yes you’re right. The window closes far too soon. Is the spell ready?” She asked as she looked over to him.

“It is. I was forced to change it; the crowd is larger than I had though. I cannot change them but I can still them for long enough,” Vadim answered as he opened his hand to show a few small pebbles that glowed green in the darkness.

“Good then let us-wait, I can sense her…” Danielle stopped looking for Sookie before pointing, “There she is. They are gathering to the stage…we could not have planned this better my love.”

“No we could not have. Let us get closer,” Vadim said as he slowly made his way forward making not a sound.

***

“So again I’d like to say congratulations to the happy couple for finally tying the knot-“

“They just got tired of you always asking about it,” Tommy interrupted getting a few laughs.

“As I was saying,” Arlene said cutting off more laughing as she glared at Tommy, “To Jason and Hoyt for finally giving us a wedding,” she finished, rising her glass for a toast along with everyone else.

“Thanks, we appreciate you all being here,” Hoyt called out as he raised his beer bottle.

“Yeah right we do,” Jason added after he finished the swallow the beer from his now empty bottle.

“Wait before we get back to the party I have something I’d like to say,” Sam said as he stepped up beside Arlene to the band’s mic. “I’ve known Jason and Hoyt a long time, and I think I can call them friends so I just want to say-what the hell is that,” Sam half yelled as a green wave started coming from the woods behind the party.

The party members started turning to see what Sam was pointing to when it hit those in the back. They froze in mid movement, their bottles and cans often falling from their hands as they kept moving even as the people stopped. The light moved quickly but not quicker than the sight of the frozen people. Those farther away started to move away from the light; Andy even drew his gun yelling for everyone to stay calm before it hit him freezing his movement. The light kept going until it had touched everyone and reached the trees beyond the party.

It was deathly silent when the couple came out of the trees and walked toward the party. Vadim and Danielle walked hand in hand with Vadim leading the way pushing frozen forms out of the way as they closed in on the front near the band. They had just reached it when a voice broke the unnatural quiet.

“What the fuck was that?” Sookie yelled as she started moving before realizing she was the only one to do so. “What did you do?” she demanded turning on the couple.

“I froze them of course,” Vadim answered with a dark smile.

“Well unfreeze them, NOW,” Sookie ordered.

“I don’t think so fairy,” Danielle answered Sookie. “The only ones to get free will be you and the boy-“

“Fuck was that,” Joshua called out as he glowed green and started moving again.

“Joshua get behind me,” Sookie ordered as she pointed her palm at the witches.

“What’s going on now and who are...I know you,” Joshua said as he moved behind Sookie looking at the other two.

“You should, we almost had you last year. But you ran from the orphanage,” Danielle reminded him.

“You always thought about blood, every thought, my blood. They were going to let you have me. No way in hell I wanted to be around that all the time. God even right now all you think about is our blood. What kind of monsters are you,” Joshua asked as he cringed back from them.

“We are-“

“Going to back the hell up,” Tommy yelled as he moved forward through the crowd, “And undo whatever the fuck you did to my girl.”

“You’re no Fay, what are you?” Danielle questioned as she turned to watch Tommy come closer.

“My brother so do what he said,” Sam answered as he to started moving as well.

“The Spell,” Danielle said turning to Vadim.

“Is still strong, they are neither human nor vampire. They must be freaks of some other kind,” Vadim told her as he held his own hand up showing the green pebbles to his sister.

“Who the hell are you calling a freak?” Tommy growled at the pair.

“I see now why the boy was drawn here. But no matter we will still have what we came for. You and the boy will come with us,” Danielle told Sookie as she turned to face her.

“No you aren’t. Keep your damn hands away from my sister,” Jason cut in as he stepped in front of Sookie. “And what the fuck is with every one why aren’t they moving?”

“Jason? Why’d you get free your normal?” Sookie asked from behind him.

“What?” Jason asked confused as he half turned his head, still watching the witches.

“We’ll deal with that later Sookie, right now we need to deal with these two,” Sam said as he stepped close.

“So let’s deal with them Sam,” Tommy said just before he shifted into a pit-bull and charged at the couple.

“Tommy don’t,” Sam yelled the same moment sensed the shift and also seeing the knife in the woman’s hand.

Tommy was mid jump when the dagger flew at him almost reaching him until he was thrown aside when Sam tackled into him sending Tommy flying into frozen bystanders as Sam dropped his hand going for his side where dark blood wept out around the metal blade.

“Sam,” Tommy cried out as he shifted back and grabbed his brother. “Sam talk to me, be alright,” He begged as he shoved his fingers into Sam’s neck trying to find a pulse.

“I told you to cut your damn nails,” Sam said as he tried to push away Tommy’s jabs.

“Thank God,” Sookie said from where she, Jason and Joshua were standing trying to spilt their focus between the couple and Sam.

“Let us end this. We only want the fae, hand them over and the rest of you may go, even those frozen. Decline…and we will have to force the issues,” Danielle said calmly as she watched those unfrozen.

“Well you can’t have them got that,” Jason shot back, “and if you try and hurt them, well you’ll have to get past me.”

“Is that right human,” Vadim said as he studied Jason, “because you are human, I can see that, sense that. I don’t know how you broke my spell but you can not stop me. Who would you choose, them,” he continued as he pointed at Hoyt with his free hand, “or the one you love.” He finished by closing his hand into a fist. Slowly Hoyt began to move, not freely like the others, but slowly hunching over as if having stomach pains.

“What the hell,” Jason yelled as he backed up and grabbed Hoyt, “Hoyt, bubba, talk to me.”

“Stop it, just stop it,” Joshua yelled at the couple.

Vadim opened his hand and Hoyt stopped moving but his face remained fixed in the look of pain. “I can do it to all of them at once. I can even kill them, one by one.”

“Or what,” Sookie asked glaring at them.

“Or you and the boy put these on,” Danielle said as she pulled out two bracelets, just simple bands of metal with drawings and markings etched into them, she threw them at Sookie.

“We put them on and you leave everyone else, you don’t hurt them anymore,” Joshua demanded to know as he grabbed one from Sookie.

“No way in hell,” Jason yelled as he pulled it from Joshua’s hands.

“Yes, and we’ll even leave. You have my word,” Danielle told him.

“Just me,” Sookie said as she snapped it on her wrist. “Just me, deal?”

“Sookie no,” Jason said as he stared at her, “What the fuck are you thinking.”

“I was thinking I can take care of myself,” Sookie yelled back.

“Both of you. Both and we leave the others,” Vadim said cutting into the sibling’s fight.

“Well then you’ve got a-Joshua,” Jason yelled as the teen yanked the bracelet from his hand and snapped it on his wrist.

“Now go, leave and don’t ever hurt Hoyt or the Cop again,” Joshua told them.

“They didn’t hurt me Joshua, now take that thing off,” Jason ordered him.

“They hurt Hoyt. That hurt you. I felt how much that hurt you,” Joshua said as he turned to look at Jason. “Now they’ll go away. Right,” he said the last part louder looking at Danielle.

“Right, we will be going, Vadim,” Danielle said placing her hand in his.

“Let us be off,” Vadim said as the area was filled with a bright green light as he and Danielle vanished.

As did Sookie and Joshua.

***

“What the shit is with the manikin show,” Lafayette yelled as he as Jesus came into view on the road.

“Yeah. It’s some freaky who-do. The vampire we were with froze. Just like these people, she’s going to be pissed when she get’s unfrozen,” Jesus added as he poked at one of the frozen forms.

“Did you see anyone coming down that road, man and woman with Sookie and Joshua?” Jason called out to them from where he had been kneeling next to Hoyt’s still frozen body.

“What someone took Sook? And what in fuck’s sake happened to Sam,” Lafayette yelled as he reached the group to see Sam on the ground next to Tommy.

“I got stabbed, what the hell do you think happened,” Sam complained as he gestured to the dagger sticking out of his side.

“Well settle down, all this movement isn’t good,” Jesus said as he knelt down next to the brothers, “You need to keep the knife from moving, have you called 911?”

“We tried but none of our cells work and the one in the bar is down too,” Tommy answered, “Can you do anything?”

“All the magic must being blocking the phones and I’m only a nurse but I’ll do the best I can,” Jesus answered, “give me your shirt we need to help stop the bleeding and run inside and find me some tape, I don’t know how long this will last.”

“Tape,” Tommy repeated before he took off for the bar.

“Okay white boy, who took Sookie,” Lafayette asked as he turned to Jason.

“The ones that did this. They told Sookie and Joshua to put these things on, they were metal with scratches on them and well then they all up and vanished in a flash of this green light,” Jason explained.

“Why did the fucking fools put the damn thing…oh it doesn’t matter. It’s magic, must be the thing the big cheese was worried about,” Lafayette said as he looked around.

“Van-tea mirty sor thing?” Jason asked.

“No it was Vartai mirties,” Lafayette said just giving Jason a look of annoyance that morphed into one of surprise, “behind you boy.”

“Huh?” Jason said as he turned just in time to see Hoyt start moving. “Hoyt,” he smiled as he started forward only to pull back when Hoyt vomited all over the ground forcing Jason to go around to his side. “Just relax man.”

“What the hell happened,” Hoyt asked when he was finally able to speak.

“We were frozen,” Bill said as he sped forward joining the group, “but why are you unfrozen before them.”

“Good question, the witches and shifter I get but you two?” Pam asked as she joined the group looking at Jason and Hoyt, “You’re human.”

“He may have enough of his sister’s blood to break free before the other humans, but you?” Bill asked as he looked at Hoyt puzzled.

“I don’t know,” Hoyt answered, “all I know is I want to-“ Hoyt said until his need for vomit forced him to stop.

“The guy he did something,” Jason said snapping his fingers, “he pointed at Hoyt and made Hoyt feel pain. Maybe it started breaking it early.”

“That could do it. Which means the spell will break soon. We need to hurry before they get in the way, can you feel where the human is?” Pam asked turning to Bill.

Bill paused for a moment slowly turning in a circle before looked back at Pam wide eyes, “No…nothing, not her death, her life, just nothing.”

“I wish I could feel nothing, damn my head hurts,” Jessica said as she walked out of the crowd of unmoving people. “What happened?”

“We’ll explain later,” Pam said before turning to Lafayette and Jesus, “Teleporting, blocking a vampires’ links, how easy are they.”

“They aren’t,” Lafayette said before taking a drag on his cigarette, “that shit isn’t something anyone does.”

“He’s right, the power needed. No way two people did it. You’d need a coven,” Jesus answered as he took the tape Tommy had just returned with and started taping down his and Tommy’s shirt around the wound in Sam’s side, “unless…”

“Unless what,” Pam questioned as she stepped closer to Jesus.

“A magic circle, great spell use them, they can be empowered. Makes a small group as strong as a coven and a coven even stronger. But you can’t just build a circle they take generations to make unless you have a god helping,” Jesus answered.

“What about a monster that was almost godlike and wanted to call one,” Sam asked as he looked at Bill.

“The Maenad,” Bill answered.

“What?” Pam asked as she put her hands on her hips, “someone explain, in full sentences. Now.”

“The beast five years ago. The one that wanted to sacrifice the town to summon her god,” Bill explained.

“That thing cost me a very expensive pair of heels. But what about her,” Pam followed up.

“When she first tried to kill me, it was in a circle of stones and fire,” Sam told Pam, “Not far from Sookie’s. No one ever did anything about it so…”

“It’s a place to start, let’s go,” Pam said and started to speed off until Bill stopped her by grabbing her wrist. “Let go or I’ll rip it off.”

Bill let go before he started talking. “We were both frozen. If we go alone we have no way of stopping them from doing it again.”

“Damn, Lafayette, boyfriend you two didn’t freeze. You’re coming with us to stop them,” Pam ordered as she looked at them.

“Stop them, not get Sookie and the kid back? You think they’re doing something with Vartai mirties don’t you,” Jesus asked as he looked up from Sam’s dressing.

Pam just looked at him for a moment, “It’s the right night, they have someone of special blood and now they may be at a magic circle…I thought they may be planning a bingo night. Let’s get back to the car, now.”

“I’m coming,” Jason said as he jumped up from Hoyt’s side where he and been watching and listening to the others. “They have my sister and a kid that’s my responsibility. I’m coming.”

“Jason,” Bill said as he stepped in front of the man. “You’ll only get in the way Jason we don’t need to-“

“I was moving the same time those two were,” Jason said pointing at Sam and Tommy, “I don’t know the hell why but whatever the fuck they’re doing doesn’t affect me much. So you need me. Or do you not remember the ten minutes you were frozen.” Jason said defiantly.

“If he goes I go,” Hoyt said right behind them as he pushed himself upright.

“You can’t-“ Bill started until he was cut off when a loud crack sounded from above and bight green light lit up the sky.

“We don’t have time for this. If you’re coming then move now,” Pam ordered as she grabbed both Lafayette and Jesus and started speeding toward Lafayette’s car.

“I’m coming too,” Tommy growled as he got up, “I want payback on that bitch.”

“You can’t,” Jason said as he turned to Tommy.

“Like hell.”

“What about Sam,” Jason said cutting him off. “Sam and you are the only ones not going that didn’t get stuck. If they come back Sam can’t stop them himself, he needs you. These people, they need you. You need to stay, you too Jessica. You need to watch out for them,” Jason explained. “Can you do that…I need you to do that,” he yelled the second time.

“Yes, fuck, yes,” Tommy said still angry.

“Okay let’s go, Bill you ride with us. We shouldn’t spilt up,” Jason said as he started marching toward his truck.

“Very well,” Bill said with a frown as he watched Jason.

***

“Neither of them will be moving, nor waking any time soon,” Vadim told his sister as he finished tying Sookie and Joshua to the cross that stood near the middle of the circle.

“It is almost time, the gates will be open and we can call back our father,” Danielle said from the center where she had been chanting and covering their father’s remains with oils.

“Then let us begin,” Vadim said as he pulled out his knife and held out it’s blade for Danielle.

“Great gods please accept the offering we give you to. Take their life and give us the one we ask for,” Danielle said slowly as she poured some of her oils over the knife before kneeling before the bones and started chanting softly.

Vadim moved quickly, stepping behind the cross to where Joshua was. He slowly started cutting along his forearm, cutting deep to let the blood start flowing out and onto the ground below.

***

“Holy hell.”

Jason’s comment was echoed by the other humans as the two Vampires just snarled as the two vehicles came into view of the circle. It was ringed by fire with some flames reaching ten feet into the sky, the flames changed from bright red-orange to green all the time with flashes of silver as it danced about the large circle. And large is was at almost fifty feet across.

“Damn this place feels bad. The Mojo of this place gives me the heebie-jeebies,” Lafayette said as he slowly came closer to the flames.

“It’s blood, death, and sex. Dark magic’s bro,” Jesus said as he reached out and grabbed Lafayette’s hand, “strong too.”

“That fire is going to be a problem,” Pam said as she held out her hand in front of her slowly reaching forward until she pulled it back with a hiss her fangs out.

“Its sliver fire isn’t it,” Bill asked from where he stood several feet back.

“That’s silver fire? You mean the flashes of silver?” Hoyt asked as he joined Jason hear the flames.

“Something like that human, the very heat is like sliver, we can’t get near it,” Pam said frowning as she retracted her fangs.

“Then it’s a good thing you have some humans along,” Jason grinned as he stretched his legs for a moment before getting into a running stance.

“Jason,” Hoyt warned as he looked between Jason and the flames.

“Come one Bubba, I wasn’t all state in track but I did place remember,” Jason said grinning, “I can jump through a bit of fire.” He added as he dug his foot into the ground to get a good start.

“Wait you dumb jock that ain’t no normal fire. You’ll be nothing but bones before you even see the ground on the other side,” Lafayette told him as he threw a clump of sod at the flames only for it to burn up before ever reaching the circle. “Damn white boys.”

“Well why didn’t you say something.” Jason asked as he stood up frowning as he rubbed the back of his head.

“I just did, only for Sookie,” Lafayette complained as he turned to Jesus. “Any ideas?”

“Yeah one,” Jesus said as he looked at the fire, throwing a few rocks and bits of grass at it. “We can’t put it out; water won’t stop this stuff, only sun light will I think, or the death of the caster.”

“How does that help us? The caster’s inside and we can’t wait for that sun,” Bill asked.

“Can’t you magic it away or something,” Hoyt asked Jesus.

“We aren’t this strong,” Lafayette answered before he paused and looked over at Jesus. “But maybe we don’t have to be.”

“A hole...that may just work,” Jesus said back. “It won’t be large or last long but someone could get inside, can’t be the Vampires. The silver flames would still get them, even inside...”

“But you can get me in though right? The silver won’t bother me” Jason asked them, “So lets do it.”

“It may not work and we won’t know until you’re nothing but bones, and you’d be on your own inside,” Jesus explained.

“I don’t care I’m doing it. So get to saying Open sesame, Abracadabra or what ever it is you do get me through there,” Jason said pointing to the flames. “Even if I have to do it alone I’m goin-Damn it Hoyt,” Jason yelled as he turned to Hoyt who had just hit him upside the head.

“Like hell I’m letting you do that Jason,” Hoyt told his lover.

“Damn Bubba I’m going in there to save them and you aren’t going to stop me. I know it’s a risk but it’s my sister and I know we don’t really know Joshua but. Damn it I have to do this,” Jason declared stamping his foot on the ground.

“Sometime you can be so dense. You’re right you’re going in. That wasn’t the part I have a problem with; I’m just not letting you do it alone” Hoyt added as he took Jason’s hand in his own. “We’re going together.”

“I think I’m going to be sick. Get to work and get them in there before I lose my lunch,” Pam said as he rolled her eyes at Jason and Hoyt.

“Cool off some things can’t be rushed,” Lafayette said as he joined Jesus near the flames.

***

“We don’t know. How many times can we say that,” Tommy yelled for the tenth time since Andy had unfrozen.

“So let’s go over this. Sam was talking. There was this green light from behind then suddenly Sam’s on the ground with a knife sticking out of him with you and Ms. Hamby performing first aid because the phones aren’t working, still aren’t, and half the crowd of the party is still frozen,” Andy said as he looked at Tommy, Sam and Jessica before looking at those still frozen, a fair portion of party goers.

“Yeah that’s about it, Sheriff,” Sam said quietly.

“And you don’t know how you got stabbed or where Jason and Hoyt went, because they were here before. I was looking right at them,” Andy yelled.

“Look we don’t know anymore than you do,” Tommy yelled right back until he leaned in and got quiet, “Look Sheriff, you know Sam and I ain’t exactly normal. So maybe that’s why we unfroze first but it wasn’t more than a couple minutes before others started.”

“I know you’re hiding something. And I will be talking with Jason about it later,” Andy scowled. “If this dead zone isn’t too big Kevin should be out of it and have called in so we’ll get your brother to the ER soon. Just sit tight and if you feel like telling me whatever it is you’re not I’ll be talking with everyone else.”

“Will do,” Jessica said with a smile before turning to Tommy, “we shouldn’t have lied I don’t like lying none.”

“If we didn’t he would have wanted to do something, charged right in and that’s a bad way of dealing with magic,” Sam answered.

“Stop talking you still have a fucking knife in you bro,” Tommy answered.

“But how is Jason any different, he’s going to just charge in?” Jessica asked looking concerned. “He might get Hoyt hurt. Hell Tommy he’s still my friend,” she added at Tommy’s jealous look.

***

“Its still fire so don’t stay in it too long,” Lafayette told Hoyt and Jason. He and Jesus were standing almost right next to the fire, their hands pressed against each others’.

“We get it, you two back up we run as fast as we can,” Jason said annoyed.

“We’re ready,” Hoyt said simply as he focused on the flames right behind Lafayette and Jesus.

“Okay, well boyfriend let’s start this,” Lafayette said grinning as he and Jesus started chanting while slowly stepping away from each other, pulling their hands apart. At first nothing happened but then the flames between their hands began to change, the green and sliver became dimmer until it was all gone leaving only natural flames. Then they stopped and nodded to the other men.

“Go,” Both Jason and Hoyt yelled as they ran at the space between Lafayette and Jesus, Jason jumping at the edge of the flames as Hoyt dived over them.

“Good luck,” Bill said from where he and Pam stood away from the silver heat as he watched the two men run through the flames

Hoyt landed first, hitting the ground in a roll and landed him a good five feet from the edge of the circle and gave Jason room for him to land as he rose to a standing position.

Jason landed just inside the flames with a shout and a smile as he came to a stop right next to Hoyt, upright the whole time, “told you I my knee could take it. Now I believe you have some people that belong to me,” He yelled facing the center of the circle.

The center of the circle was dominated by the large wooden cross from which one side hung Sookie with Joshua on the other, blood dripping from their arms and legs as both had been stripped, their skin a pale and sick looking green from the light of what was happening in the exact center.

A column of green light reached for the sky as bones and other bits of flesh were suspended slowly taking on the form of something like a man. The blood from Sookie and Joshua was being drawn to the base of the column, there it changed, morphing into bone and flesh and moving upward to join the rest of the bone and flesh.

Danielle was kneeling before the green column facing it and the cross with her arms out palms up as she chanted at the sky in strange tongues. Vadim was across from her before the cross looking through it to the green column and to Jason and Hoyt who were behind Danielle.

“You will die for coming here. The first to give their lives to the restored dark coven,” Vadim said as he rose drawing his dagger as he stepped around the ritual.

“Hell no, I’m not the one dying,” Jason said dropping back into a fighting stance as he glared at Vadim.

“Yeah buddy it’s two against one,” Hoyt added from Jason’s side slipping his hand behind Jason.

“Do you think I fear two mere human. I am Vadim McFadyen of the darkest coven. We will rise again and cover the world in our darkness,” Vadim called out. “By the dark gods I will bleed you both before this night is out.”

“You talk a big game but you don’t seem to be doing much,” Hoyt taunted with a smirk as he looked over at Jason, “is he going to just yell at us?”

“Maybe, I don’t really know what these take over the world types do. My sister normally deals with them,” Jason stage whispered back as he kept his eyes on Vadim.

“You dare mock me. You will die first,” Vadim challenged as he launched himself forward. his knife slashing at Jason.

Jason just turned grabbing the night stick Hoyt had slipped out of the back of Jason’s pants where he’s concealed it before they jumped into the circle. He swung it out, striking Vadim’s hand sending the knife flying before bringing the night stick back aiming for Vadim’s face, missing when Vadim pulled back, “what you thought we weren’t prepared?” he grinned.

“That stick won’t save you,” he yelled as he lashed out again. Catching Jason’s swing this time and ripped it out of the cop’s hands with a growl as he smashed it toward Hoyt who only just managed to pull out of the way. Vadim then threw the weapon to the side sending it into the flames.

“Hey, those aren’t cheap,” Jason yelled as he punched Vadim, catching him in the chest and earning a grunt from the witch as Hoyt took advantage of the distraction to grab Vadim’s legs to force him to the ground to wrestle with him, “Stop her,” Hoyt grunted as he gripped on of Vadim’s arms, “get them down,” he added as Vadim got one arm free and tried to grab Hoyt’s throat, “I’ve got him,” Hoyt struggled to say as he rolled the two of them to the side forcing Vadim’s hand away from his throat.

“Right,” Jason said still hesitating a moment as he watched Vadim trying to kill Hoyt as Hoyt struggled to stop him before looking at the center of the circle where both Sookie and Joshua were looking even paler than when he and Hoyt had entered the circle. “Right,” he said again as he ran towards Danielle.

Just as Jason reached Danielle she rose up, turning on a dime and stared at Jason her eyes blood red as she did. “Die,” she roared as she pointed at Jason sending green lighting lancing from her hand into Jason sending him to the ground in pain as he cried out.

“You will not stop us. Our work can not be stopped. We will rule this earth as is our birth right and this time there are no Fae to stop us. Only their bastard offspring that will nourish us with their blood and deaths,” she cackled. Her from was becoming less and less human with each word as she became a monster of dark nightmare. Her frame become thin and boney, her skin turned greenish and so pale you could almost see through it. Her teeth became fangs, not one or two, but her whole mouth.

From the ground Jason could see that Vadim was undergoing a similar change as he wrestled with Hoyt, each grunting and crying out.

Another jolt of olive lighting forced him to turn and look again at Danielle who was no longer standing but floating over him. She turned to the green column where the fiend inside it, for it was no man Jason could see that as plain as day now that it’s from was becoming more complete, had started moving turning to look at Sookie and Joshua.

“Soon he will need to feed, they will be first then you and your lover will give your flesh to him,” she taunted, “Look he moved, he’s ready,” she said as the creature started reaching forward, its hand breaching the light heading toward Sookie. “He will rip them apart and grow strong.” Danielle sang as she spun.

“No, no you won’t touch them,” Jason yelled as he forced himself up. Forced himself to ignore the pain and forces pulling him down. Focused on stopping Danielle and the thing. Focused on saving Sookie and Joshua. “They don’t die, you do.” He ordered as he grabbed her by the throat. She tried to dodge but was too slow and her eyes went wide as he started squeezing.

Danielle sent another wave of lighting down her hands but this time he didn’t feel anything more than the static shock from someone walking over carpet. He saw her eye’s dim as he felt her bones give under the pressure of his hands. He heard a cry behind him but he pushed it away as he dropped Danielle and reached for the creature within the column of light.

***

“This is taking far too long,” Eric complained as he paced, watching the flames and the green light that is filing up the sky.

“It’s only been ten minutes Eric. And the flames may last until daybreak,” Bill answered as he stared forward. “But she’s still alive, she has to be.”

“This, is boring,” Pam added as she crossed her arms glancing down at Lafayette and Jesus, both on the ground exhausted after getting Jason and Hoyt into the circle.

***

“He’s going to be fine, Tommy,” Jessica told her boyfriend as Sam was loaded into the ambulance.

“That bitch had better be dead or I’m punching Jason,” Tommy said as he glanced at the ambulance, “You’ll meet me there?”

“I told you I would. Now get in there,” He said as she pushed Tommy at the ambulance.

***

Hoyt had won all state in wrestling his junior year and had been runner up his senior year, but he was feeling all the years between as he wrestled with Vadim. Especially after he changed and became something not human that didn’t bend and flex the way humans did.

But then he got lucky, something happened between Jason and Danielle that Vadim could see from his spot on top of Hoyt but he couldn’t. So when Vadim stopped trying to grab his throat Hoyt did the only thing he could think of. He brought up his feet and shoved Vadim off with everything he had.

He’s hoped to get himself a bit of breathing space but whatever was going on behind him had surprised Vadim more than he had thought because the whatever Vadim was just kept stumbling back under the momentum making no real attempt to stop himself until the moment he hit the flames. Then Vadim tried to jump forward to get out them but it was too late and he burnt to ash in a mater of moments. His flesh burning and his bones melting all before Hoyt’s eyes.

Hoyt stared in horror until there was nothing left then the commotion behind him caused him to turn and he saw Jason ripping the green column and the thing inside it apart with his hands while Danielle’s changed and hideous form lay lifeless at his feet.

Hoyt stood and stepped close but stopped when he got a better look at Jason. Jason was different. Not like the others but different and yet the same as if there were two Jason’s standing in the same spot doing the same thing.

One was Jason with a look of focus that Hoyt had never seen. At the same time this second Jason was there, he looked...perfect. Like every little imperfection and blemish that Jason had was gone. His muscles were more defined; his skin a bronze tan while his hair was free and golden like the sun but his eyes, his eyes looked empty and dark yet wild. His eyes weren’t Jason’s.

And then it was over. The green light vanished and Jason seemed to wake up, aware of his surrounding again. As he started falling to the ground, “I’ve got you,” Hoyt said as he grabbed Jason. Felt Jason grabbing onto him just to keep himself upright. “I’ve got you.”

“Good, because I don’t think I could stand on my own right now,” Jason answered in a whisper. “But we’ve got to get them down.” He added looking at Sookie and Joshua both still hanging from the cross.

“I’ll get them down you just stay here, got it,” Hoyt said as he lowered Jason to the ground before he moved forward toward the cross.

“Yeah okay, use my knife,” Jason said as he pulled out his knife from where he kept it hidden at his ankle.

“Okay let’s get them down then.”

***

“You did it did you, you deliberately invoked his Wyld nature, answer me,” Claudine demanded as she stepped next to her brother who had been watching the fight from far above.

“They needed to be stopped and none of our kind was willing to get involved,” Claude answered as he watched Jason and Hoyt get Sookie and Joshua down.

“By the order of the Queens. I am Sookie’s godmother do you think I didn’t want to help brother? Do you think so low of me?”

“No but your hands were tied, Jason Stackhouse is under no Throne as of yet and chose to interact with my child. I broke no laws.”

“The Queens will not be happy and the King….you play a risky game. If he should invoke his blood again….” Claudine said letting it drop off. “Thank you for seeing that Sookie was safe.”

“Family is family.” Claude said as he watched the flames begin to die down.

***

“Sookie, is she alive,” Bill yelled over the dying flames still unable to cross them.

“She’s breathing, they both are but we need to get them to a hospital, soon.” Jason yelled back as he squatted between the two next to Hoyt.

“Hospital? Our blood-“Eric started as he stepped forward until Jason cut him off.

“They were doing stuff with magic and I may not know a lot about it but I know mixing it isn’t a good idea. Am I wrong?” Jason yelled back as he stood.

“No, you’re not,” Pam answered, “the last time someone hurt her with magic Bill’s blood almost killed her. If she’s not going to die why take the chance.”

“Is she going to die?” Eric asked before growling at Pam.

“They’re breathing just fine and they stopped bleeding,” Hoyt called across.

“As soon as the fire’s out we can get them across and to the Hospital. Can you deal with this mess?” Jason asked as he gestured to Danielle’s body, the ash and bones that were piled in the center.

“It will be taken care of,” Eric yelled before turning to Pam, “see to it.”

“Yes your Majesty,” Pam replied.

“Good, Bill Compton take care of the two humans, they’ve earned their rest,” Eric smirked as he waved his hand at Lafayette and Jesus.

“But Sookie-“

“Is not your concern,” Eric said threatening Bill with his fangs, “The witches.”

“Very well,” Bill said grudgingly as he picked up Lafayette to transfer him to his car, “go back to sleep,” he said sourly when the other man started waking at the movement.

“And now we wait,” Eric said as he walked as close to the flames as he could stand, watching Sookie breathe slowly as Jason and Hoyt talked silently between themselves.

***

“They really didn’t need to keep me over night.”

“Bro you had a knife sticking out of your side, they kind of did,” Tommy shot back as he pushed Sam’s wheelchair across the floor at Bon Temps’s Hospital stopping when they reached the large room that Sookie and Joshua were sharing.

“Hey Sook, how you feeling?” Sam asked as he slowly pushed himself up so he could walk into the room.

“I’ve felt better. But I’ve also felt worse,” Sookie answered as she sat up on her bed. “How’s your side?”

“It’s fine, didn’t hit anything but muscle so I got lucky. They said I get out after the doctor checks on me one last time but he’s-“

“At lunch, I know Joshua and I were told the same thing,” Sookie said as she glanced over to where Joshua was sitting in his bed, arms crossed.

“Okay maybe I missed something but who the hell is Joshua?” Tommy asked as he stepped in behind Sam and turned to face the teen, “where the hell did you come from?”

“Well-“

“No one. I won’t be staying so it doesn’t matter anyways,” Joshua said cutting Sookie off.

“Who the fuck said you weren’t staying. After all the work we put in getting the room set up and Hoyt’s spent all morning getting Betty to name us emergency care providers. You can’t just leave,” Jason said as he sauntered in the room with Hoyt grinning behind him.

“What?”

“Huh?”

“Say again?”

“You remember Betty? President of the community service club back in High school?” Hoyt asked Sookie. “She’s a social worker now for the state, and with her help we got named emergence care providers.”

“And it wasn’t easy on the weekend let me tell you,” Jason said as he frowned at the memory while taking the chair between the two beds, “that woman-“

“It’s not official until next week and it’s not long term but…you don’t have to go just because the Hospital got your name,” Hoyt added as he walked over by the windows.

“That’s great you don’t have to be a runaway anymore…but how the hell could anyone think putting a kid in your care would be a good idea?” Sookie asked turning to Jason.

“Think anyone’s going to tell us who the hell this kid is, because I’d remember Jason or Hoyt having a teen,” Tommy said while leaning closer to his brother.

“Nope, not anytime soon anyways,” Sam answered as he smiled, “but then they still don’t know the whole story about where you came from.” He added as Jason and Sookie started arguing about whom was the better parent while Hoyt and Joshua looked on amused.

Epilog

Diana watched on as her aging grandmother gazed into the crystal ball as she had for hours. Diana let her mind drift to the boy in her level that kept trying to ask her out. She was going to have to do something about him or he’d never leave her alone. Maybe he’d make a good snack.

She was so distracted she missed the shaking at first. It wasn’t until the table was floating and her grandmother screeching out seemingly random words that she jumped to her feet.

But she was too late to do anything to save her grandmother as the crystal ball exploded sending shards of glass and waves of power everywhere.

She felt her masquerade slip as she watched the one covering her grandmother fade showing her true form of green flesh and bone. She fell to the ground under the wave of power the sound ringing in her ears. She couldn’t even hear what her father was yelling at first, but slowly her hearing came back, he was demanding to know what grandmother had said, her final vision. She repeated as best she could.

“The fae, he did it. dead, gambit lost. Throne’s champion, gate shut, time is now, Jason”

To be continued in Wyld Wedding Summer of 2012
Master Post
Note Page with spoilers