The Sookie Stackhouse Companion

under the force of the attacking fae. Clancy decapitates the first fae as he enters, and Bill steps in front of Sookie, throwing his knife into the throat of the second fairy and then reaching back to take Sookie’s trowel. Breandan enters, already bloodied and with a knitting needle protruding from his shoulder, followed by a female swinging a mace. Eric is able to avoid it, but Clancy is hit and then beheaded by Breandan as he moves to confront Bill. Tray, knowing he is dying, makes a superhuman effort to distract Breandan, gripping the enemy fairy’s shirt. As Breandan plunges his sword into Tray, Bill stabs the fairy under the arm with Sookie’s trowel, and he falls. The female fairy moves in on an unsteady Bill and Sookie, who squirts the fairy with her lemon juice–filled squirt gun. The fairy screams in pain, and Eric has the chance to kill her. Niall arrives to find all his enemies dead. Niall takes his great-granddaughter into his arms, and Sookie weeps for her fallen friends but is able to smile when she realizes that at least Bill survived—though Claudine did not. Eric calls Pam to come pick up the living and the dead.
    FRIDAY, JANUARY 20–SATURDAY, JANUARY 21. Amelia mourns Tray, whose death is attributed to a case of mistaken identity. Sookie publicly explains her own injuries as a pedestrian hit-and-run but tells Sam the entire truth when he comes to visit.
    SUNDAY, JANUARY 22. Niall comes to tell Sookie that he has decided to close all the portals to the fae world to protect humans, but that they have not located Dermot and that the rest of the fae who have lived in the human world will have to choose whether to stay or return to Faery permanently. Jason arrives, startling Niall, who for a moment believes he is Dermot. Jason expresses hurt and resentment that his great-grandfather didn’t deem him worthy of attention or acknowledgment, and tells Niall that he hopes the fairies are gone for good.
    When Niall kisses his great-granddaughter on the cheek, Sookie senses his power and immediately feels a bit better. She watches Jason’s tension relax as Niall kisses his great-grandson on the forehead before leaving.

The Secret Dialogues of Bill and Eric
    To: [email protected]
    From: [email protected]
    02:15 am
     
    Bill,
     
    I’ve gotten word that the shifters will reveal live on TV in three nights while local shifters simultaneously change at several public venues. I will be sending as many vampires as I can to keep an eye on the situation and lend aid if needed. I will personally watch as Alcide Herveaux shifts at the Shamrock Casino. I’ll send Clancy to you to watch over Merlotte’s as Sam and Tray Dawson shift.
     
    Eric
    To: [email protected]
    From: [email protected]
    02:35 am
     
    Eric,
     
    So we are going with the “enemy of my enemy is my friend” philosophy? Allying ourselves not so much as with the shifters as possibly against the humans? I do see the reasoning behind it, and I’ll be at Merlotte’s with Clancy watching the reveal.
    BTW, glad to see you’ve finally moved communication into the twenty-first century.
     
    Bill
    To: [email protected]
    From: [email protected]
    02:40 am
     
    Pam insisted I start using e-mail. What the hell is BTW?
    To: [email protected]
    From: [email protected]
    02:42 am
     
    By The Way.
    To: [email protected]
    From: [email protected]
    02:44 am
     
    So why don’t you just type “by the way”?
    To: [email protected]
    From: [email protected]
    02:47 am
     
    It’s faster to abbreviate.
    To: [email protected]
    From: [email protected]
    02:48 am
     
    Obviously not, if one has to ask what the meanings are.
    To: [email protected]
    From: [email protected]
    02:50 am
     
    Get a list of them from Pam.
    To: [email protected]
    From: [email protected]
    02:51 am
     
    I hate computers.

    To: [email protected]
    From: [email protected]
    06:01 pm
     
    Bill,
     
    I assume by now you’ve heard that Merlotte’s mother was injured by her husband when she revealed her second self. He has gone to her, leaving Sookie to mind the bar, and now her brother’s wife, Christy, has been found nailed to a cross in the parking lot. I don’t know what to make of all this, but, needless to say, keep your eyes and ears open.
     
    Eric
    To: [email protected]
    From: [email protected]
    06:13 pm
     
    Her name was Crystal. I will keep watch over Sookie.
     
    Bill
    Phone: Eric calling Bill.
    ERIC: “Bill, get to Sookie’s immediately. Quinn has entered the area