CHAPTER FIFTY NINE

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           IF MOON GODDESS WASN'T RUN BY SUCH AN EVIL PERSON, IT MIGHT HAVE LOOKED LIKE A COZY SHOP WITH ALL THE LITTLE KNICK KNACKS LAYING AROUND. That wasn't the case and it felt more like a prison than a shop and all Dakota could do was stay put as she waited for an opportunity.

"Well?" It was Sookie who got her attention as she stood by her side against the wall, both their gazes on Marnie as she pranced about the room. "Aren't you going to do something to get us out of here now that you're a vampire?"

The words that came from her cousin's mouth were bitter and Dakota guessed she finally found the time to come to terms with her new being. The blonde clenched her jaw as she tried to keep herself calm, her eyes moving around the room to see if anyone else had heard her. "Sookie," she said quietly. "this is not the right moment to talk about this, but no. I don't know how strong she is and what types of wards she has put up around the place. It would be suicide."

The youngest Stackhouse gave her a long look before letting out an annoyed sigh through her nose and pursed her lips.

The two vampires under Marnie's command stood near the exit, prohibiting anyone from trying to escape the building, but the witch had warded the doors as well.

"Vampires are outside with automatic weapons." announced Marnia, having peered through the blinds near the entrance before stalking back into the back room. "What idiots."

Lafayette and Dakota shared a worried glance as Sookie pushed herself to the front. "Listen to me. Bill and Eric are here to blow up the place. If we don't get out, we're all gonna die."

"Oh, my god." wailed Casey, one of the women in Marnie's wiccan's. "I gotta get out of here."

"Don't you get it?" laughed Roy, seemingly delighted by all that was going on. He was the only one still behind Marnie's cause as he worshiped her. "This is Hotel California, baby. You can check out any time you want, but you can't never fuckin' leave!"

Dakota pushed herself off the wall and stood firmly beside Tara, Sookie and Holly. The woman knew Eric was outside and he probably had no idea they were inside and he was about to blow the building to bits and they needed a way out, quickly.

"Roy is wrong," voiced Marnie, as she sat down in an old armchair with her legs crossed as candles surrounded the floor around her. "This is not a prison. You may leave at any time."

"Mmm-hmm." hummed Lafayette, sarcastically.

Marnie, who was still possessed by Antonia held up a dagger and threw it to the floor with a grin. "You use that against the vampires. There is the door. Good luck."

"What? Do you think this is funny?" demanded Casey, mascara had run down her face as she cried. "We're all gonna die because of you, you fucking bitch!"

It had happened before Dakota had time to react. Casey made a run for the door and Marnie had flicked her hand up, sending the dagger into her chest within a second. Her boyfriend rushed to her side as she fell to the ground, gurgling on her own blood and Marnie glanced at her hand, impressed with herself.

The scent of blood was strong and Dakota had managed to avoid human blood for a very long time and she had to turn away from the dead woman in front of her.

"Koko," Lafayette was at her side and touched her elbow as he pulled her toward him. Dakota cursed herself for never having told him about her change but she couldn't do it now so she let him grab her. "you okay? We'll find a way outta here."

"I'm fine." Dakota reassured him, taking in a deep breath through her mouth as not to smell the blood. He furrowed his brows, as if he didn't quite believe her. "Just so tired of all the -"

"Oh, shit." interrupted Lafayette, eyes wide with shock.

"What?" she demanded, following his gaze to see Marnie had gotten to her feet and she was looking into the distance oddly.

"Marnie just puked a bitch out."

"What do you mean, 'puked her out'?" asked Sookie appearing to their side as they huddled together in the room. The Stackhouse girl was confused as Marnie began to speak to herself.

"I mean she came right out of her motherfucking mouth," explained Lafayette as he looked toward the empty spot in front of the witch. "and I can see her."

"How the hell can you see any of this?" interrogated Tara.

"He's a medium, that's why." explained Jesus.

"Since when?" demanded Tara, arms crossed over her chest.

Jesus ignored her as he turned to face his boyfriend worriedly. It was as if the air in the building had gotten significantly heavier and Dakota knew it had everything to do with what was currently happening inside. "What's she doin' now?"

"She's dirty, dark hair ..." Lafayette described the woman as he saw her argue with Marnie. "It's Antonia."

You murdered an innocent. One of our own! 

Dakota furrowed her brows as she listened in on Marnie's thoughts and the wiccan repeated the words that were being said to her without knowing. Antonia was anything but pleased with the woman and Lafayette was translating for the rest of them quietly.

Evil had blossomed in you. Our time together has come to an end.

"We were so close ..." glared Marnie, rage overtaking her features. "You will not leave me!"

"The bitch want to leave," began Lafayette. "but Marnie won't let her."

"Oh no," muttered Jesus as Marnie began to chant in Latin. "It's a binding spell. Marnie is binding Antonia to herself and it means Marnie's gone batshit. If she binds Antonia, we're all fucked."

Lafayette was still watching the scene unfold and said, "She's pulling her toward her but Antonia is fightin' it." A single pause. "Marnie won."

"We're fucked."

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MOON GODDESS EMPORIUM WAS BARELY LIT FROM THE OUTSIDE AND IT LOOKED AS IF IT WAS DESERTED. Pamela raised her automatic rifle, joined by her maker, Jessica and Bill as they were ready to blow the building to bits, with the witches inside. 

"Eric, watch the back." instructed Bill.

There would be casualties but neither vampire seemed to care one bit. The witches were dangerous and Marnie needed to be stopped before she'd manage to wipe out the entire vampire nation and Eric was furious. She had taken something from him and even if he had his memories back, it was something he would gladly rip out her throat for.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!" panicked Jason as he spotted them from his hiding spot and rushed toward them. "Stop, stop, stop!"

"Jason?" said Bill, brows furrowed.

"Stop, stop, stop." he repeated, heaving a sharp breath as he hunched over for a moment from his quick sprint. "You can't blow that place up. Put that thing down. Sookie and Dakota are in there."

"What?" demanded Bill. "I told her to stay away!"

Meanwhile Eric lowered his weapon, staring at the building intently with another type of rage brewing through his veins. He should have known better when she wasn't at home when he and Pam rose from the dead. Pam shot him a worried glance at the revelation and all he did was clench his jaw.

"What the fuck do we do?" demanded Pam. "Probably that fucking Sookie's idea."

"Fucking Sookie?" glared Bill, eyes narrowed at the blonde.

"Fuckin' Sookie?" repeated Jason in anger. "Fuckin' Sookie?"

"Yeah." drawled Pam as she crossed her arms over her chest. "Fuckin' Sookie. As usual she's in the goddamn way and managed to find a way to take Koko along with her."

"We must abort." declared Bill, ignoring the woman as he turned to the three vampires. "We have to find another way."

"I can't feel her." muttered Eric, eyes still trained on the building. "Why can't I feel her inside?"

"Marnie put a spell on the whole place." said Jason, turning to look at the viking. "It is really messed up, that's probably why. Here, watch this." The oldest Stackhouse picked up a rock from the concrete and threw it toward the building. It lit up, like an invisible fence and the rock vanished. "Goes around the whole dang place."

"We have to disable it." voiced Bill, and he watched Jessica stalk off with Jason on her heels.

"And how are we going to do that?" demanded Eric, unease washing over him at the thought of something happening to Dakota on the inside. Oh, was definitely going to kill the witch now. 

"Oh for Christ -" Pam wasn't able to finish her sentence as two vampires sped their way.

One was on Eric a second later and he grabbed her by the throat and slammed her against the concrete below while Bill ripped out the heart of the other one with a quick motion. They were in a trance, and he recognised them as the vampires with Marnie that evening before.

The viking smacked her head against the street one before getting to his feet, pushing her down with his foot.

"Do you see?" declared Bill, holding up the remains of the dead vampire. "Do you see what awaits you if you walk with Antonia?"

"Don't bother." said Eric, shaking his head. "That witch had complete control over me. She's a robot. She must die."

The female vampire began to laugh at them and Bill bared his fangs at her, ready to rip her heart out off her chest and give her the true death. "Wait," Pam stopped him as she crouched down at her side to rip the necklace from her neck. "Vintage Cartier. I'll take good care of this." she got back to her feet. "Sorry, go ahead."

"Is there a way we could save her like you were saved?" Bill directed the question at Eric as he looked up at him. 

"Well, it's possible but I ..." It didn't sound like he really cared.

"It's you who needs saving." chanted the vampire. "I serve Antonia Gavilan de Logrono. You will all walk in the sun and roast like pigs!"

"Antonia!" demanded Bill loudly as he grabbed the vampire and smacked her against the concrete once more, his foot now resting against her back. "Show your face, witch!"

Marnie lifted her head toward the door and cocked her head to the side, arms crossed over her chest. Sookie and Dakota had heard him too and were now looking at each other, alarmed. It had been twenty minutes since Jesus and Lafayette had told her their plan through their thoughts and so far it hadn't worked yet. Neither had the plan to sweet talk Marnie either and Sookie hadn't made it any better.

"Hiding behind magic like a coward does not become you!" continued Bill as he tried to get her attention.

"You were right," nodded Marnie. "it's time for negotiation." 

The older woman snatched her coat the from the chair and tugged it over her shoulders as she turned toward the two blondes. "The vampires seem to like you. Will you join me?"

Sookie was already out the door before the witch even had a chance to take another step. Her voice echoed throughout the empty streets as she called for Bill. The chilly late summer air gave Dakota goosebumps as she stepped outside and she caught the viking's gaze easily. He stood side by side with Pam and she was relieved to see they were alright.

Eric furrowed his brows as he looked her up and down slowly, checking for any injuries and though he was relieved to find none all he could think about was whisk her away from those abominations.

"Marnie wants to negotiate." directed Sookie toward the vampire king.

"How may I serve Antonia?" Bill had his foot on the woman's back as she looked up toward the witch from her place on the concrete.

Bill hadn't even had the time to respond to the vampire before Marnie said something in Latin and the woman rolled out from underneath him. The vampire attacked Bill, but he was quicker and threw her across the street, straight into the wards. The screams were excruciating as she began to twitch, almost blinding them before she exploded in front of them.

"Amazing, isn't it?" said Marnie with a smug grin. "The power of the sun, harnessed. The protection spell is impenetrable to most humans, and not fatal. But to vampires ... one touch, death sentence."

"It makes no difference what you hide behind." glared Bill, taking a few steps forward. "You have killed your last vampire."

"How optimistic." she deadpanned.

"Let the girls go." demanded Bill.

"Oh?" she mused, raising a single brow and Marnie turned her head to give Dakota beside her a quick once over. "Now you'd like to negotiate?"

"Let the girls go!" bellowed Eric, fangs had appeared from his gums as he too, took a few steps toward the wards she had put up. His eyes were solely on Dakota and she could feel his anger as if it was her own.

"Fine," shrugged Marnie. "I'll give you one of them, my choice."

"Marnie -" began Sookie but her eyes were drawn to her cousin as a gasp slipped from between her lips.

Dakota furrowed her brows, feeling the sharp pain in her stomach and peered down to see a long knife sticking from her skin. Her top was slowly starting to soak red and she hadn't even noticed the witch as she shot out her arm toward her with the blade. It hurt. A lot. Tears welled in her eyes as she took hold of the hilt of the knife. 

"I'll rip out your fucking heart!" roared Eric, as he got even closer.

Though it looked horrible, he knew she'd heal on her own and he watched with narrowed eyes as Dakota slid out the knife from her stomach and it clattered to the ground, her hands covered in her own blood. 

"Jesus," cried Sookie, getting to her side as Dakota fell to her knees. "you're going to be fine, you'll heal."

"Heal?" said Marnie, as she tilted her head to the side. "Do you really think I didn't know there was another vampire in our circle? I knew it the moment she stepped foot inside my building. No, she won't heal."

"What are you talking about?" demanded Pam, watching in agony as blood kept spilling from her sisters stomach.

"I cursed the blade of course." said Marnie with a grin. "The sun doesn't hurt her but this certainly will. Odd. A vampire that walks in the sun."

Dakota let out a painful wail, clutching her stomach as a searing pain surged through her entire body. Her skin had gotten clammy and she could barley keep herself up, not even noticing the looks the other three were giving her at the revelation of her new nature.

"Make it stop," she cried, feeling as if she was being ripped apart from the inside out. The woman hunched over and Sookie had to keep a firm hold on her to stop her from face planting.

Eric let out a growl and tried to speed toward her, but got hauled back by Pam as he touched the wards. He groaned, his skin blistering from the magic but all he could see was her. "Let her go!"

Dakota couldn't focus on anything but the pain that seared through her veins. It was torture and she couldn't think a single coherent thought. The vikings name was the only word she could speak in her state of distress and it tumbled from her lips like a prayer. Eric slammed his hands against the wards, not caring that the skin on his palms was blistering off and watched on desperately.

"Get her inside." commanded Marnie, looking at Sookie in disgust. "Or i'll make it so much worse for her. Negotiating time is over."

very long time no see, so sorry about that. i'll try to finish season four asap <3