10. Stranger In A Strange Land

"Enemy of mine, I'll fuck you like the devil. Violent inside, beautiful and evil. I'm a ghost. You're an angel. If you're looking for Jesus, get on your knees. Enemy of mine, I'm just a stranger in a strange land. Running out of time. Angel or demon, I gave up my soul. I'm guilty of treason, I've abandoned control."

Stretching and looking to the clock on the wall I sighed noticing what time it was. I had slept through the entire day, again. Damn, possession and slaughtering twelve vampire plus one fairy dude was exhausting. I sat up slowly on the leather sofa in Eric's office that I had slept on and rubbed my head. It was seven in the evening and feelings of overwhelm started moving in on me. There is so much to do, well, not really. It's more that there is so much that I want to do and I am just not sure how much time I have left. This hell god inside of me is working fast to take over and it's crippling emotionally to know what I have to do stop her.

My whole life had been struggle and torment until it ended six years ago. I thought I received a second chance and now I have nothing but regrets for how I lived my life the last six years. I kept everyone at arms length and wouldn't let anyone close. I moved around and never made any connections until I landed in Bon Temps. Strangely I became attached to a vampire but his reason's for seeing me ultimately will lead to my demise. The second he mentioned The Jury, Sculacious awoke from deep inside me where she had been hiding for the last six years.

She felt threatened that someone, meaning The Jury, would try to take what she believes is rightfully hers. Six years ago she pulled me into her world when I was dying and fused herself with me. I appealed to her because of my curse or gift, depending on how you look at it. Either way, lucky me. Right?

Last night with her taking over and me basically sitting in the passenger seat was terrifying . I had free roam of everything she was thinking and I saw what she has in store for this world. She really does want to bring the world to it's knees and watch it burn. The even scarier part about it was that I couldn't even find a reason why. It is simply because she can and once all humans are erased off of the planet she will tear a hole in the wall between our dimensions. Unleashing all of her little demon underlings.

I know it sounds like something out of a comic book or movie, the bad guy wanting to take over the world. It's just too bad that this is a reality and the bad guy is something of immense power. Luckily in that time that I had access to her thoughts and everything inside her head, I did see the only way to stop her. I have to die. It's as simple and complex as that. Since she has not fully taken over me or ascended on this plane, she is vulnerable while still in my body.

My death would have to come at the hands of a very strong person or vampire… which I was on the verge of telling Eric last night but couldn't find the strength within myself. Seeing his confessions of care and love for me through Scualcious's eyes plus his willingness to sacrifice himself, how was I supposed to ask him to kill me? I feel strongly for him as well, it may not be love but I definitely do not want to inflict any pain or torment on him. He would have to kill me while I am me as well which makes it harder. How do you look into the eyes of someone you are falling for and plunge a knife into their heart? How do you ask someone to do that type of favor for you? I know part of him would really enjoying killing Sculacious when she is present but she would be way too strong and there's no way he'd survive as she would kill him for trying. Plus the stronger she is getting within me the stronger my own body is becoming. I mean, someone could probably bust a bottle over my head right now and it wouldn't even leave a scratch. If it did, no matter as I heal quite quickly. So I need someone of his strength to thrust a knife into my chest.

I shook my head to try and shake the daunting thoughts away, doesn't work but it made me feel a little better. I stood up and headed out of Eric's office and headed down the hall to find a bathroom and sure enough there was a small one a few doors down on the left. I took care of business and then washed my hands and splashed water on my face. The paper towels were rough but that's all that was available to pat my face dry.

Looking in the mirror the sight disgusted me. I didn't look like my normal natural self and I knew the reason for that. I looked more beautiful than ever and I was never one to gloat about myself but I always knew that I was pleasing to look at. Now I see what Sculacious is responsible for as my skin looks perfect and practically glowing. My eyes look brighter and my hair looked thicker and more radiant. Even though I haven't showered since the day before yesterday, despite my dirty clothes, I looked incredible and fresh.

With a huff I tossed the paper towel into the waste basket and left the bathroom. I walked down the hall to the door that opened to the club area. I wasn't to surprised to see Eric and Pam already awake. They were talking across the room in a booth and they both turned their heads to look at me curiously. Most likely trying to figure if I was myself or not.

I sighed and raised my hands up slightly in a dismissive gesture. "It's me…" The looks on their faces didn't change. "Tristan." I decided to add hoping that would offer some sort of relief and thankfully it worked. Eric gracefully slid out of the booth turned to say something to Pam in that beautiful old Swedish language before walking over to me.

He looked down at me with a soft look upon his face and reached out to place his hand on my upper arm. He rubbed it gently as he gave me a gentle smile. I chuckled as it felt weird to me, especially after what I embarrassingly asked him last night. Plus we were just getting started too before the approaching sunrise put a stop to our actions. Even though I found myself still really wanting it, it just felt really silly to me today.

His eyes were twinkling as he gazed into my eyes. "What's funny?"

I smiled and shook my head. "It's just weird right now. I have some heavy thoughts and feelings going on inside this head of mine." I said while tapping my temple with my finger lightly. "I am very conflicted but I can't help but feel a bit embarrassed about last night." I said that last part sheepishly. Damn! I am losing my fire. Normally I would be more bold and a smartass as usual but I guess that fades away when you have this heavy weight on your shoulders.

He stopped rubbing my arm and I was sad to see his smile fade away. The look on his face turned to a thoughtful one. "I hope you don't regret asking and wanting me in that way. You shouldn't feel embarrassed either. I know there are other things happening… bigger things but I think we both deserve that time with each other."

"You're right in that. I believe we do but…" I felt the knot in my throat and the tears start to form in my eyes.

"What's wrong?" He asked tenderly and began rubbing my arm again. He slid his hand down my arm and grasped my hand and held it in his.

With my free hand I wiped the few tears away. I really wasn't a big crier. "Well, there's something else you should know." I paused and cleared my throat. "No. That's not right. There's something else I have to ask you before we take anything between us further. It is only fair for you to have all the information before you decide you want to act on these feelings with me. It would rip me apart to have asked you and face you after the fact." I looked up at him nervously and he had his brows scrunched together slightly in thought.

"What do you need to ask me Tristan?" He asked me hesitantly.

I let out a deep long sigh. "Lets sit down first." I said gesturing to a nearby table. He walked me over still holding my hand and pulled a chair out for me before sitting down in the chair next to mine.

I pulled my hand from his and took the bottle of water Pam offered me in passing. She gave me a strange look as she handed me the bottle. I had a feeling she knew what I was going to say to Eric. She nodded to me as she exited the room. I took a few gulps of the water willing myself to find the courage and strength to just come out and tell him, to ask him.

I finally made eye contact with him again and he looked uneasy. Maybe he has an idea too, like Pam, maybe he knows.

"Eric…" I took a deep breath trying to steady the nerves that were bubbling under the surface. "I have something I need to ask of you. I'm not going to lie… it's hard to ask this and it is huge." I felt the butterflies start in my stomach and I felt a little shaky all over from the nerves. I was even starting to feel a little light headed. It was overwhelming to have to sit here and ask this of somebody. It was incredibly hard to ask someone to end your life when you don't want to die. I had fought all my life to only have to give up in the end. The pain I feel in my heart right now is a crushing one.

Tears started falling down my cheeks and I felt his fingers softly wipe them away. He nudged my chin up slightly so that I would look at him. "I am pretty sure of what you are going to say or ask of me… so just come out and say it." His voice had a soothing tone to it and surprisingly that made me a little angry. Not at him but at the situation, I didn't need to be babied right now and anger might be the only way I can force this out at the moment. But as quickly as the flash of anger came it subsided, the heartbreak and loss I was feeling was way too strong to let any other emotion have way.

"You have to kill me." I clenched my jaw and bit back the tears that threatened to fall. Even though he seemed to have been expecting me to say that his eyes still widened and his face fell into his well practiced stoic mask. He shook his head but didn't say a word.

"Eric, I honestly don't think I can find any words or form any sentences that can describe the pain, heartbreak and torment I feel right now. It kills me to have to ask this of you but I need someone with the amount of strength you possess as it will be extremely difficult. I wish to the depths of the sea that there is another way but there simply isn't. Trust me. I had free roam of her head last night. I know what'll happen and what she will do when she ascends and takes me over. It's not that far away either, it's going to happen very soon." I said with a shaky voice and tears streaming down my face.

Eric still had his still mask upon his face but his eyes showed anguish. "There has to be another way. We can exorcise her from you. We can kill her somehow." He spoke through a clenched jaw and it was like he fought to get those words out.

"She and I are fused together. She spent six years making every part of us become one. So, there is no way to exorcise her. Plus there is no one with that kind of power… unless you have Zeus or God or Lucifer on speed dial. And truthfully we don't really know if any one of those dudes exist."

He shot a glare in my direction. "There has to be a way to…"

I cut him off. "There is no way! And there's very little time left. Once she fully ascends then there is absolutely no way to stop her. Trust me! I've been inside her head and inside her world, I've seen the battles she has been through and I've seen the power she has. You can't even control her with out her completely taking over me so who out there do you think can do anything in the amount of time we have available to stop her without hurting me. It's just not possible Eric." I said with a very aggravated tone. It felt like my insides were turning over on themselves. I didn't want to die but I knew it was the only option and I have to sit here and tell the man I care about that I need him to kill me. Beyond that I have to argue to try and convince him to do so. How fucked up is this situation?

Eric ran a hand through his hair and looked at me steadily. "There are some very powerful witches out there that I can have here fast. Fairies might be an option too, they have very strong powerful magic as well. There just has to be another way."

I let my head fall to the table in front of me. I groaned with frustration. I loved that he was desperately thinking and trying for another way and that he wanted to save me. But the more he protested the more it tore me up inside to let him know that my death was the only way.

I sighed as I lifted my head up to look at him again. I shook my head and looked away from him. I knew I would have trouble with asking him to do this but I thought he would listen to reason and believe me when I said it was the only way.

"Fine. Call whomever but time is very limited. If something isn't done by tomorrow night I will seek out other ways." I said looking in to his eyes sternly and before I could read a response off of his face he was gone out of his chair. I assumed he went to his office to make the calls. I didn't bother to see where he went. I still felt exhausted and the conversation took a lot out of me. Emotional turmoil can really put you down.

I had my head resting in my hands so I didn't see who sat in the seat Eric had occupied but I heard the chair move. I looked up to see a very serious looking Pam.

"What is she going to do? What are her plans?" She asked sternly and without blinking.

I sat up and regarded her for a moment. I ran a hand through my hair and took a few drinks of the water she had given me earlier. Her eyes never left me as I gathered myself. "She wants to watch the world burn. She'll take every human life on this planet and it is going to be brutal. Were, shifters, and vampires… well, she's saving you for her underlings. After she's done with the humans she is going to tear a hole in the wall between our dimensions and bring her demons into this world, our universe. Her demons will be allowed to do unspeakable things to the supes of this world." I looked to Pam and what I saw on her face wasn't a look that surprised me, it seemed natural. She had a look of self preservation on her face, well, at least that's how I distinguished the look.

"And you are willing to die?" She asked slowly. I believe I am starting to catch her drift. It's seems that if her maker wont kill me she will definitely try.

"It's what I have to do. I don't want to die but I have to be killed in order to save a billion." That last part actually made this slightly easier for me. Sometimes you have to kill to save a life, right?

She looked deep in thought for a few moments before her piercing blue yes seared into me once again. "I would do it if Eric says no but he can also command me not to and I cannot defy an order from him. You might want to consider Bill Compton…" A smirk played on her lips but faded away quickly. "He has no real attachment to you and I'm sure he would be willing especially if he though Sookie might be in danger." She gave me a wink as she stood from her chair and glided out of the room. Yeah, she doesn't walk… she glides.

I thought about what she said and in some weird way I was glad that she was on my side and understood the importance of the issue. Not that I felt that Eric didn't understand but as Pam coyly pointed out in mentioning that Bill has no attachment to me, Eric does. Hence the reason he is fighting this and trying to find another way. I understood this from the start of the evening but it elevates the meaning when someone else points it out as well.

Bill was around one hundred and fifty years old and Pam was just over two hundred years old and that meant that their strength level was pretty much the same, too bad I don't think that they are strong enough. I don't know for sure of course so I wont rule it out but I need someone close to Eric's age if he wont do it. Too bad his maker was dead as I am sure he would have been strong enough. Though from what Sookie told me about their time in Dallas and knowing Godric, he most likely wouldn't want to kill me. Then again he might as he became somewhat protective of human life. I wonder how old the queen is? I need someone or I guess I need a vamp of superior strength.

The ideal vamp of superior strength walked back into the room and sat down at the table next to me. He looked frustrated and stressed, if that was possible for a vamp to look that way. "Tristan, I made some calls." He took an unneeded breath. "I have a witch that believes he might be able to help but he needs to examine you first. Basically to see if there is a way to separate you from Sculacious. The fairies have said that there is no way and that no matter what you will die. Either Sculacious will kill you when she ascends or the magic will kill you in order to kill her. So the witch is on his way as I will take any small chance I can get right now."

I placed my hand over his on the table. "I'm sorry I asked you to do this. I need someone of strength and you are the oldest and strongest vampire I know. I understand that our attachment is keeping you from doing what's necessary. I really hate seeing what just me asking is doing to you and I can't bear to think of what it would do for you to actually go through with it. Maybe I should find someone else. If I could kill myself then I would but it needs to be the heart."

"I understand your reasons for asking. I get it. I really do but I don't want you to give up because we might find a way." He said softly as he gave me a look of confidence. He was determined and bless him for that.

"I don't think you fully understand. I am not giving up. I am offering my life in order to save everyone else's including yours. Eric…" I locked eyes with him and fiercely stared into his as I really wanted to convey the seriousness of what I was going to say next. "She is going to slaughter every human on this planet and then she is going to unleash her underlings on all the supes that remain. Literally it will become a sort of hell here." Through that statement to Eric I finally found my resolve to this. Of course I don't want to die but I couldn't be selfish and force everyone else to die because I hesitated and couldn't find the power within myself to do what's right. Granted I never cared much for others in this world but they certainly didn't deserve to die because I had a rough life.

"You might not have to offer your life. There is a chance of stopping her and you not paying the ultimate price." He spoke with conviction and I was aware that he wasn't going to give in easily.

"I will die either way. Killing her means killing me. If she does ascend, the second she does my life is gone as she will have completely taken me over. So basically, it's either save the world or watch it go down in flames while her demons do unspeakable tortures to you and every other supe out there. Oh and we are really running out of time as she is aware of everything we talk about." I warned as Eric squeezed my hand a little and I saw his eyes widen at that statement.

"If the witch cannot do anything I…" He stared at me with his jaw clenched and flexing for a few moments before clearing his throat and continuing. "I will do what needs to be done. The witch is a last ditch effort right now and I will take any glimmer of hope I can." With that he forcefully stood up which made the chair fall back onto the floor. He stared walking away. I don't blame him for being angry and I'll most likely need him as angry as possible for the task to come.

"I hope the witch gets here fast…" I let out a slight grunt as I felt her pushing at me from the inside. She knew I was getting close to doing something about her and she no longer wanted to sit back idly and listen to plans, she knew action was upon her. "It's going to be very hard holding her back." I said with a grimace as I looked over my shoulder at him.

With vamp speed he rushed to me as I tossed my head back and let out a blood curdling scream. My back arched at the severe pain and I felt a few of my ribs crack. I lost my balance in the chair and fell to the floor. I immediately gripped my head with my hands as the sharp pains felt as though my skull was cracking open. I rolled around on the floor at the distress my body was going through at the moment. Sculacious wasn't going to take 'no' for an answer as she wanted to come out NOW.

I felt Eric's hands on me trying to stop me from thrashing around but I couldn't make out any of the words he was saying to me as my head was becoming foggy. The darkness was closing in on me and a few moments later everything stopped.

"Tristan, are you alright?" Eric asked as he slowly rolled her over onto her back. The stillness of her body was making him feel anxious and he sat back a little when she opened her eyes. She looked at him for a long moment and he looked back at her, assessing the situation. She still looked the same and her eyes hadn't changed.

"I'm ok but that was rough. I'm not sure how much longer I can hold her off Eric. She knows what's happening and she wants out." She said with a rough voice and sat up slowly. Eric helped her to her feet and warily sat her back at the table offering her another bottle of water. She opened it quickly and guzzled the water. He was looking her over as he was still trying to gauge the situation and he found himself a little uneasy with the stillness she now had and her breathing pattern seemed a little off… forced.

"You can stop looking at me like that." She snapped at him causing his eyes to flicker up to meet hers. "It really is me." She said in a more reassuring tone.

Eric looked skeptical. "You seem a little… different." He said carefully.

She smirked and then chuckled a little. "Just trying to recover from that. As it was the first time I ever tried to fight her off. My ribs still hurt a little and there's some discomfort when I breathe. Plus, my body feels a little fragile right now… like it's still trying to recover from what it just went through." She said with a grimace as she stretched a little and then ran a hand through her hair. "It's weird to feel this way as I usually have been healing instantly… maybe she's doing it on purpose." She looked to Eric whom had relaxed considerably. Her strange actions were subsiding a little and her explanations and actions were justified.

He stood from his chair next to her. "The witch should be here any minute. I'll be right back. I need something from my office." He touched her shoulder as he walked away and she smiled wickedly to herself. Her eyes flashed to black as she sensed the witch's arrival just outside the club's front doors. When she heard Eric walking back into the room her eyes flashed back to Tristan's deep blue color.

Eric came to stand next to her while a man of maybe six feet slipped though the front doors to Fangtasia. He had a lumbering walk as he made his way to the table she and Eric were occupying. He had short brown hair and sharp hazel eyes that he fixed upon Eric.

"Mr. Northman." He greeted with a nod.

"Thank you for coming on such short notice Arnold." Eric said appreciatively and Arnold nodded. His hazel eyes moved from Eric to the strikingly beautiful woman sitting in the chair on Eric's right. She looked over his pudgy frame for a moment and the slightest smirk played at the corner of her mouth.

Eric placed a hand on her shoulder. "This is Tristan." He said as he looked down at her while she sighed.

Arnold reached out a hand for a shake and offered her a small smile. She regarded his hand momentarily before taking it in hers and gave him a polite smile of her own as her eyes twinkled slightly at the feel of his power through their contact. She released his hand and he looked back to Eric.

"So… you said we didn't have much time and since there isn't much time until sunrise lets get started." He said with what she thought of as a foolish confidence.

"Absolutely. She had an episode just before you got here and this demon really wants to come forth right now so lets not waste anytime. How do you want to do this?" Eric asked looking around the room.

"Tristan would you mind sitting on one of those bar stools over there?" Arnold asked and pointed to what he was referring to in front of the bar. "It's just easier and whatever I may project your way wont be blocked by anything like a table." He unnecessarily explained.

She nodded and stood up from her chair. Eric followed her to the bar as she took a seat on one of the stools and looked at Arnold expectantly. Eric stood next to her but Arnold quickly started waving him away.

"Can you move at least five feet to your left?" He asked Eric while gesturing him to move. Eric obliged and stepped away while Arnold walked to her and stopped about a foot in front of her. "Ok. Tristan… you may feel a tingling sensation. I am going to do an assessment of the level of power in the possession and I should be able to get a feel for how embedded this demon is within you. Ok?" His voice was becoming annoyingly patronizing as if she couldn't understand what was going on. She understood a lot more than he ever would.

Arnold stretched his hand out and let it hover about three inches from her. He closed his eyes and started speaking in what appeared to be Latin in a whisper. He moved his hand slowly from side to side and up and down over her ribcage and chest. The room was dark and she cocked her head to the side slightly as she watched the mouse in front her speaking in old Latin. Her eyes turned from the deep sea blue to black as a smirk formed on her lips. This hawk was ready to grasp it's prey in it's talons.

Arnold's eyes shot open and she grabbed his outstretched hand with impossible speed and incredible force, crushing it instantly. He hollered in pain as he stared into the now glowing red eyes, she laughed sinisterly at him. He started making a coughing and wheezing sound as she started pulling his power from him. Eric stood and watched in horror as he once again couldn't move. A while light started coming from Arnold's eyes, nose, and mouth and transferred into Sculacious's hand that she had place over his face.

When the light disappeared she dropped her hand and Arnold fell to his knees before her, trembling. Sounds of a terrified man enveloped the room as Sculacious stared down at the once powerful witch in front of her.

"You come to try to cast me out!" She spat at him with the anger that was bursting out of her. "You think you can kill me!" She yelled at him. She was shaking with rage and she was staring at him intensely.

He started screaming as smoke started coming out of him. He looked down at himself and at his arms and hands in horror as flames erupted from all over his entire body. Moments later he was nothing but a pile of ash on the floor. She ferociously turned to face the stunned and immoveable Eric Northman and started approaching him with slow menacing steps.

"You should've listened to her and killed me when you had the chance." She said with a beastly and grimly tone to her voice.

A/N: Wow! I am so sorry for the long wait on an update for this story! It's been nearly 3 months. That's horrible. I never forgot about the story, I've just been at odds with it. But I'm back and it's back... I found my way with it again. I will not leave this story unfinished.

Hopefully there is still an audience and an interest in this story. I hope you all didn't leave in the long wait for a new chapter!

Thank you to those that have been reading from the beginning and to all the new readers. Many of you have been adding this story to favorites and/or alerts lately! Yay! Even though it had been so long you awesome peeps were still finding it and reading it. Thank you to everyone that has left a review, added the story to favorites and/or alerts. I really appreciate it.

I hope you enjoy the new chapter! Let me know what ya think!