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Breaking	By : Arche_de_Katze Category: S through Z > True Blood Views: 4789 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I don't own True Blood. I do not make any profit or money from this.

Chapter List
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I pull on my brother’s jacket and one of his hats, my skin flushing with goose-pimples from the building excitement. The chill blowing through the window prompts me to wrap myself in the scarf I crocheted last season. My well worn boots slip over my heel with a satisfying pop. I take a few moments just standing in the middle of the room, thinking about what the night’s going to hold for me before closing the window and blowing out the candles.
I close the door to my brother’s room as I leave and find them ready to go.
Samuel gives me a sideways look, “What are you doing, Cecil?”
James looks up from stringing his bow. “Is that my coat and jacket?”
I look down at myself, “You said I could wear it when we hunt.”
Samuel frowns and slings his quiver over his shoulder, “No, not tonight little sister. You’re staying here.”
“But the moose! I can help bring him in! It’s dark and an extra pair of eyes will help.”
Samuel puts a soft hand on my shoulder, "James brought up some water. Stay here and clean yourself for tomorrow. I've met a few possible suitors around town today and they want to meet you in the morning."
I step back from him, "I don't need you playing the matchmaker for me!” I yell, hurt by his words. “I can do more than stay in a home and have children. I can bring down that moose with you and James. You're not mother or father, so stop trying to be." Why is he so anxious to be rid of me? I’m not a burden. I’m still useful, I’m still young. Why is he so eager to condemn me?
"This is what they would have wanted for you!” He breaks. “I am the oldest and it is up to me to find a husband for you, that is the end of it! You are not coming with."
He yells so much more lately, mostly at me. "I'm best with the bow, please let me help the both of you.” I turn to my other brother and hold up my hands to him, “James, tell him."
James pulls his knit cap over his short, scraggly blonde hair. "Just let her come, Samuel. One day she’ll live as a spinster, so she will have to know how to survive."
“I’m sixteen, hardly a spinster! I’m still of marrying age and will be for quite some time. I’m not going to be rushed into this against my will.”
“Enough,” Samuel turns to James and points to the door,” James, out! Cecil,” He takes both my hands in his, “We won’t always be here. You are the youngest and, if God is good, you will outlive us. I need to know that you will have someone to care for you.”
I open my mouth to tell him I don't need to be sheltered but he cuts me off.
“I know you are strong but there are times when you may feel powerless against the world. I want you to have someone to remind you how strong you are.” He plants a soft kiss on my forehead, “Prepare for tomorrow, please, for the family.”
James opens the door and without another word, they are on their horses and crossing the field, leaving me standing in the doorway. My heart sinks. Why did I have to be born a girl?
The cool mountain air of Carolina blows my hair round my face and I tuck it up into the hat. It’s irritating at first, but reminds me of what one of the Indian children told me once when we were hiding in the forest together so no one would see us play. The spirits of the dead are with us in the wind. I feel the breeze again and bite the inside of my cheek.
“I miss you father. I miss you mother. I’m being strong for you. Help my brothers see that.”
In the distance I hear a moose call. I’m sure they heard it too. If I could get to it first, track my brothers, the moose, even land they killing blow. I could do it and still be back in time to clean up. If Samuel can handle the world on his shoulders, I should try to as well. I close the door behind me and run for the barn.
Our small herd of goats are in for the night, and their bleating perks up as the barn door opens. I pass the two stalls holding them and head into the tack room. I pile up the blanket, bit and reins, and saddle into my arms. It’s so heavy but I make it to my horse’s stall and toss the load on the edge of the door. Heather shifts uneasily but I calm her with a hand on her nose. A gift from my father and the first and only horse I ever broke and raised. The saddling job is fast and messy but I grab my bow, some arrows, and two field knives before flying out of the barn and into the wood.
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I follow the path at a trot, passing the spot where my brother’s had dismounted and tied their horses. I had set up a tree blind not far from this area a while back to watch deer travel on the path. They should pass by on their way back to their horses. Hiding Heather behind low branches, I climb off her and up the ladder at the base of the blind, settling myself on the ledge against the trunk. I’m downwind and the cold air numbs the tip of my nose, prompting a covering from my scarf.
Samuel and James break loudly through the underbrush, arguing. They must be packing in early.
“The call was close by. We can still catch him.” James protests, running to keep up with Samuel’s fast pace.
“He was heading over the mountain top. We can chase him up there but we’ll lose him as soon as he crosses over. We still have some venison stored, we don’t need to wind ourselves tonight.”
Out of place movement directly across the path from where I’m set. One moment we were alone and I simply blinked and three others have appeared. A tall blond man, a young dark haired man, and a red haired woman wearing a dinner dress.
My brothers catch the change and draw back their bows. They point at the strangers, probably expecting a mountain lion. I almost call out to them to stop them, but something keeps me quiet. At the sight of the three newcomers, they instantly relax their strings.
"Forgive me,” James begs, “You startled us. We were hunting and didn't hear you approch." He lowers his bow.
“Are you travelers?” Samuel asks. He looks as uneasy as I am. Nothing about this feels right.
“We are.” The woman says happily. Her voice is overly cheerful and light like small bells. Her dress is so out of place in the woods. If she is truly as vain as she seems, it’s disgusting. What is she doing here?
“I’d avoid pressing west.” James perks up. He never takes his eyes off her, the scoundrel. “There’s pox in the mountains. Perhaps this isn’t the best place for you, Miss.”
"We appreciate the advice." The young, brown haired man speaks finally. His voice has a strange accent. Thinking of it, they all do.
Watching from the trees, I see the strangers circle my brothers. The tall blond man stands behind James while the younger stays close to Samuel. The woman keeps their attention away from her friends by moving between them. They're acting like wolves. The tension is thick and I fit an arrow onto my bow.
"Is the hunting well out here?" She asks them.
I notice Samuel's hand move slowly to his knife, "It's slow tonight. We are actually on our way back home."
The woman frowns, "but you haven't caught anything yet."
"That happens some nights, Miss. James?" Samuel finally notices they're surrounded. "James!"
James is looking between the woman and boy behind Samuel with a confused look on his face, "Where are your supplies, if you're traveling?"
The man behind James grabs him suddenly and bites into his neck. The scream chills me and I nearly walk of the blind to get to my brother. His hands push and tear at the monster's face, but it's in vain. The screams stop and I can hear the gargle of blood coming from his gaping mouth over the creature's growls.
"James, no!" Samuel pulls his knife but the younger man is on him in an instant. Even being half Samuel's size, he restrains him with no effort. The woman laughs and licks the side of my brother's face. The boy pulls him to the ground and digs into his throat like an animal.
I don’t scream, pure shock keeps me silent. So much blood. The scarf around my nose and mouth muffles my heavy breathing. How did he move so fast? My brothers never had a chance to move.
The woman is the only one standing off by herself. Her laugh still plays in my ears. She is an easy target. A quick kill. The bitch. The demon. I have a single chance.
I look down from the ladder where my horse still stands. God save me. I draw back, take aim at demon woman, and release. I don’t wait for assurance, but drop onto her back. The force of the landing spooks her and she runs. All I can do is keep gripped on her mane and fumble to grab the reins.
“Fly, Heather,” I whisper to her as my feet find the stirrups and I give her an urging kick. We weave through the trees, passing as close to them as we can. Noise behind us, like breaking branches. I can’t look. I’m so close to the edge of the forest. If we could just hit the edge of the forest, home is just in the clearing. I pull a knife from each side of my belt and peek over my shoulder.
Nothing. We break the treeline into the clearing. Home sits quietly, unmoved by the horrors of the forest. I almost call out to it in relief.
Something crashes into us with so much force that it takes Heather off the ground and tosses me from the saddle like a doll. I hit the earth and roll. Pain in my left shoulder like fire but I roll onto it and a grinding pop numbs it to a throb. I quickly push myself to my knees. It was an ambush, they were waiting for my to come into the clearing. A few feet in front of me, Heather still lays on the ground. I stumble forward and put my hand on her face. She isn’t breathing and her dark eyes are empty. Gone. Killed, like my brothers. I lay my forehead next to her ear and sob. This can’t be true, I must have fallen asleep after Samuel and James left. This is a nightmare. I wrap my arms tighter around her neck, trying to will her and my brothers back to life.
“Please give them back to me,” I ask no one.
"I can send you to them." A voice answers.
I shut my eyes tightly and grit my teeth. I don't want to see them. I want it all to be a dream. The bastards. They took all I had. I look up and see the two men who had killed James and Samuel two yards from me. They are both coated with blood and the woman is missing.
My breathing is heavy, "I killed her, didn't I?"
No response.
"And I'll kill you both." I snarl, unwrapping my arms from the lifeless horse. My hands wrap around the two daggers hidden behind Heather.
"I will do more than simply kill you, human." The blond man says, "You will suffer for killing one of us."
“Eric,” The younger one starts.
The blond, Eric, moves and I turn to run but only make it a few steps before I’m grabbed from behind. His grip is crushing, my ribs feeling like they could break any moment. His hand moves around to my face and digs into my scarf. Cold fingertips touch my lips briefly before ripping the item away. I take that moment and shove one of my knives over my shoulder and straight through his shoulder joint. The roar as he lets me go is the only incentive I need. I jump the steps and hurl myself through the door, pulling my bow from around me and the lone arrow from my quiver. Turning, bow drawn back, I’m pointing at the younger demon who is standing calming on my porch.
I hold my ground and wait for him to make any move. He doesn’t. I steal a glance down at his feet. They are right outside the doorway.
“You can shoot, child” He says, “but you will miss.”
My brow furrows. An infant couldn't miss at such a close distance. Why was he calling me child? We are obviously close to the same age. But, this beast, this killer, maybe he is older than he looks.
The half of his body that had been closest to the woman is spattered with dark red mess but those lips, parted slightly with dangerously sharp canine tips showing, are still tinted red. Samuel's blood. My oldest brother's blood. I want to wipe it away. Have it on a handkerchief to keep close. His body must be getting cold in the forest. My lips tremble and arms waiver. I have to stay alive. I have to bring my brothers home. The monster reaches out and wipes the blood off his bottom lip with his thumb. He makes a show of sliding it into his mouth and sucking it clean. I meet his eyes; dark, cold. His blue eyes boring into mine. There's something about his gaze, something numbing. Things fall away, the house, the floor, even my body numbs. It's me, the door frame, and this pale devil partly covered in blood. There's an elegance in how he stands, a beauty. Where did this man come from? Why is he standing in my doorway?
"Child," he breathes, and I feel it. I'm so much smaller than he is. He is so strong. Why am I still inside? What's keeping me in here? A smile breaks his features. He's so beautiful, but those teeth, they frighten me. There's something I use to know, but it's so foggy.
"Why are you inside?" He asks.
"I'm alone..." I trail off, trying to remember, "My brothers..." Tears overflow from my eyes but I can't move to wipe them away. I'm holding my bow, still and relax the string, my mind struggling to connect through the blur. Two creatures. Blood. They ripped their throats out. I should have stopped them. I should have killed them all.
His eyes are full of kindness and understanding, "You have been so brave. Your brothers are out here."
My heart soars, "They are?" I relax my bow and hold it at my side. They must have been out at the tavern. Why was I so upset? "I'm not alone."
"You're not alone, little one. They are waiting for you just out here," He holds his hand out to me, "I'll show you."
"Thank you," I sigh. I reach for his hand but stop when I look down at it. It's red. A bloody mess. So much blood. Samuels blood. This creature held my brother by the neck and made him watch as they killed James. My family is gone because of this demon. Memories flood back, replaying horror over and over again.
"Samuel," I whisper. I pull my bow back up, draw back, and release.
The young demon still stands, my fired arrow held in his hand, pointing to his chest. He grabbed it out of the air. I can't keep the look of hopelessness from my face. He snaps the arrow in half and throws it back through the doorway where it lands at my feet. Eric is suddenly on the porch standing in front of the younger demon. He puts a hand on either side of the door frame. I nearly look him in the eyes but turn away and see something else. His arm is fully healed.
Anger swells in me, "No!" I scream at them. Why would a God allow this to happen? "No!" I change my grip on the bow and swing it, sending it crashing into the door frame again and again until the string snaps and the tension rips it from my hands and out the door. I fall to my knees and pound my fists into the ground. I continue until the floor is soaked with tears, my throat is hoarse, and my hands are bruised. Finally catching a moment I wonder how I must look. Bowed, exhausted and surrendered, before this demon. This God.
"Please, just leave me." I beg them, wrapping my hands around the back of my skull and digging at my scalp with my nails.
"You are going to die," the younger demon assures me, speaking calmly, "but first you are going to suffer. Invite us in and it will be finished in a night. Make us hunt you, and you will suffer every day."
"We have an eternity." It's the voice of the older demon. "Waiting your short life span is nothing to us."
I lay there, forehead pressed to the floorboards and my hands covering my eyes. Would it just be easier to invite them in? I have nothing left in this world except pain and fear. Could I suffer for a night if I knew the release of death would follow only a few short hours after? I could reunite with my brothers, with mother and father. Would I even reunite with them? If there were a god, why would he have taken all I had? Why would he allow these creatures to exist? No, there is no God. The closest thing to a god are these creatures on my doorstep. They are death come to claim me. My Gods; deciders of how I live and die. Yet, not when I die. Death can always be upon me, but, if I can stay clever, perhaps I can keep it at bay. I wipe my eyes dry and numb myself of all the sorrow. There will only be time for mourning and remembrance if I’m alive.
“You will never have me,” I growl out through gritted teeth. I hardly recognize the voice coming from me. It’s confident and powerful. “You will never catch me. I don’t need the night and if you want to spend however many years I have left standing in my doorway then that is your time wasted.” I pick myself off the floor and straighten. Taking a few steps back, I grab the door and steal one final glance at the demon’s faces. There is the feeling of a pull but I fight through it. “You will wait.”
The door slams on them. I can’t believe it worked. I can’t believe I did that. I stumble back and into a chair. I haven’t won yet. If anything, tonight was a loss. Wins, losses… Is this war? Is this what father tried to explain to us before he left for battles? No. No this can’t be a war. This is my life, it shouldn’t be able to be broken down to winning and losing. This is death.
I can’t slow my breathing down. My hand shakes as it grabs at my chest. If I could just slow my heart down. If I could just catch a breath. I wrap a quilt around my shoulders and curl into a ball, gasping. What am I going to do? Black clouds my vision and I finally give in.
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Breaking