| TWENTY |
MAENAD AT HOME

        Eira left Dallas with Eric the next day. They went to Shreveport and to Fangtasia. When they arrived, they were immediately greeted by Pam.

         "Eric, I'm so sorry about Godric," Pam immediately gave her sympathies.

            "Well, it's over now," Eric said blankly.

             Pam glanced at Eira who was beside Eric with her hand in his. She smirked as she attempted to lighten the mood, "I see you have your little pet back."

           "She's my lover," his eyes hardened as he commanded. "Be more respectful."

           "Of course, Eric," Pam smiled nervously.

         And Eric moved past her with Eira beside him. She looked back at Pam in confusion and wondered why Eric was being so cold to Pam. But she figured that was something they needed to work out. She had no idea that it was about her and that Eric was still mad about Pam telling Eira he didn't care about her; and it was obvious to him with the pet comment that she didn't learn anything.

            As they got into his office, she smiled bashfully, "You called me your lover."

          "Because you are," Eric said as he picked her up off the ground and held her to him. "But I'll say it again if it makes you so happy."

        She looped her arms around his neck as she spoke happily, "I'll just settle for kissing you."

          And she pressed her lips to his. Eric responded immediately and walked forward with her before setting her on his desk. He tangled his hands in her hair as he kissed her passionately. He kept kissing her all night because he wanted to drown in the feeling of her lips instead of what he lost.

______

Eira slept in the coffin with Eric during the day. When night came, there was already someone waiting to speak to Eric.

"Sam," Eira smiled and hugged him.

"It's nice to see you, Eira," Sam returned the hug.

Eric stared intently at the hug and he interrupted quickly, "You came to see me, shifter."

Sam let go of her and Eric immediately grabbed her hand, bringing her back to his side. But she smiled at Coby and Lisa who were Arlene's kids and gave them a cute little wave.

"I came to ask if you knew anything about a maenad," Sam stated. "It's taken over Bon Temps. Everyone seemed to be possessed by it."

"Taken over?" Eira asked. "When did this happen?"

"You don't know?" Sam asked.

Eira shook her head, "I haven't been to Bon Temps in awhile."

"Well then you probably don't know that it took over your house," Sam scratched the back of his head.

"Excuse me?" Eira said in shock. "It did what?"

"Yeah. It has an obsession with you almost as much as it does with me."

Eira looked at her blond vampire for answers, "Eric."

"I have no knowledge of this maenad creature, although I suspect it's the bullheaded beast that attacked you," Eric said.

"That thing owes me a pair of shoes," Pam commented.

"Eric, we have to do something," she stated. "It's in my house."

"I do know someone who might be able to offer something useful. Might...be able to."

"Can we see your fangs?" Coby asked and Eric flicked them out quickly which had Coby staring in amazement but Lisa startled.

"Don't you like vampires, little girl?" Eric asked.

"Our almost stepdaddy hated vampires, but we don't," Lisa said.

"He went on a vacation with Jesus," Coby explained and Eira crossed her arms as she thought about Rène, hopefully he was on a vacation in Hell.

"You make me so happy I never had any of you," Pam stated.

"Oh, come on, Pam. They're funny. They're like humans, but miniature. Teacup humans."

"I hate them. They're so stupid," Pam spoke in Swedish.

Sam got them back on track, "So can you call this other person who might be able to..."

"Better yet, I'll go see her. But I must leave right away."

"Can I go with you?" Eira asked.

"No," Eric said immediately; he didn't want the Queen ever even seeing Eira. "Absolutely not."

"Okay," Eira accepted easily.

Eric looked at Sam, "I'll walk you out."

They started to leave the building. She was at least saying goodbye to Eric. Once they were outside, she turned to Eric, "I'm going back to Bon Temps with Sam."

"No," Eric refused. "If that thing wants you, then you will stay far away."

"It's in my house, Eric," she argued. "And I'm not going to do anything without a plan. Trust me."

Eric clenched his jaw, "Fine. I'll try to learn something of use."

He leaned over and pressed his lips to hers quickly for a moment before pulling away. Then he leaned down to the kids as he smirked, "Good night, tiny humans."

She couldn't help but smile as he disappeared by flying into the air. He was so cute with them and it was especially cute as Coby stared up into the air in amazement, "Wow, he can fly!"

"Come on, Coby," she smiled as she placed her hands on his shoulders and ushered him into the car along with his sister. "Let's get you two back to Bon Temps."

"Are you sure it's a good idea for you to come?" Sam asked. "That maenad really hates you."

"I'm going."

          _____

         They arrived back at Bon Temps. They went to Sam's place as they were still awaiting word from Eric and they had Coby and Lisa with them. They couldn't really do anything yet unless they learned how to stop her.

          But then Bill arrived.

          "Eira," he said in surprise.

          "Why aren't you with Sookie?" she asked.

            "Maryann has her and I went to see the Queen. I learned how to stop her," Bill informed.

            "The Queen?" Eira thought that must have been where Eric went. "Where is Eric?"

             "The Queen kept him behind," Bill answered.

             "Okay, so how do we kill Maryann?" Sam asked.

             "A maenad can only be killed once she sees the god she believes in or thinks she sees," Bill stated.

           "Well, which God is that?" Sam asked.

              "Dionysus," Eira answered as she remembered reading about Greek myths and the fact that Maryann took on the appearance of a bull-like creature. Often, in literature, Dionysus would take on the incarnation of a bull and she realized what Bill was planning as she looked at Sam who could shape-shift.

            "How are we going to trick her into believing she sees a god?" Sam questioned cluelessly.

            "With you," Eira replied and they started to form a plan.

______

They made sure Coby and Lisa fell asleep before they went to her house. They had a plan and it was quite a simple one. Eira was going to be the distraction and Bill was going to keep as many civilians out of her way as possible if need be. Sam would come in shifted into a bull when Maryanne was good and distracted.

They hid in the cover of the trees as they assessed the house. It was like the whole town was in her front yard and it looked destroyed. She couldn't imagine what the inside of the house looked like.

It made her angry and she stomped forward out of cover. People shouted and pointed as she made her way towards the front of the house, "Hey, it's Eira! It's Eira! Eira is here!"

"Maryann!" Eira shouted. "If you'd like to try to kill me again, here's your chance."

Maryann came out onto the porch but she brought Sookie with her as she smirked, "Well, I have your friend so why don't you come inside?"

"I don't think so," Eira said and flicked her hand to the side causing Sookie to get pushed out of her grasp due to the wind. And then Bill vamp sped, grabbing Sookie, before disappearing.

"Very good," Maryann slowly clapped. "But it's not good enough to beat me."

"Really? Well, then, how about this?" Eira merely thought about setting her aflame and then flames erupted on the maenad.

Maryann merely laughed as the flames licked at her skin but didn't due any damage. Then the flames died out as Maryann spoke, "Sweetheart, you can't kill me."

"But I can kill you," Maryann smiled wickedly as she walked off the porch. Everyone moved out of the way, creating a path for Maryann. Eira made herself look afraid.

"When I found you, you were lost and abandoned just like Ariadne and then Dionysus came and made her his bride," Maryann said as she walked before reaching Eira. The maenad glared and lifted her off the ground by the throat with these huge monstrous hands that had claws. "But I won't let you take him from me. He is mine!"

Maryann started to squeeze her throat and Eira fought for breath before they heard the sound of hooves on the ground behind her. Maryann turned still holding her to see a majestic white bull. She gasped and dropped Eira.

Eira took deep breaths as Maryann exclaimed, "My Lord? My husband. You've come. I am here, my love. We're together at last. Come to me."

The bull walked slowly towards Maryann before it rammed her with its horns. She didn't even get angered, she just gladly accepted it, "I am the one to be sacrificed. I am the vessel. I'm happy to die. I'm yours."

She was rammed again with the horns and she finally died. Eira sighed in relief, "Thank God."