Inaudible Footsteps
It all started with a pair of shoes.
The sound of said shoes to be more specific, the heavy clack of a stiletto heel followed by the softer sound of the toe striking then lifting from the hard wooden floor. Each foot step resonating confidence and purpose. The sound of these footsteps would be inaudible to human ears of the heavy beats of the loud music emanating from the large juke box, but to the members of the crowd of a more supernatural nature they were as clear as warning bells.
To Eric Northman the proprietor of Fangtasia, the very bar where the beginning of our story takes place, they were of truly no consequence until he met the owner.
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The night started out as average as most nights would for a 1000yr old vampire bar owner, sitting upon his throne situated on a dais raised above the masses as a way of putting him self above the chaos of al the sex, blood and rock and roll. After so many centuries of undead existence life held no real surprises anymore, he could amuse himself for a while with a pretty young meal, gods new how many were sitting around just waiting to offer themselves to him. He could have some fun torturing the humans in his basement dungeon or just kill them all and find some new ones.
As the sheriff of area five, Eric Northman was a vampire in an excellent position, if he so wished he could be judge, jury and executioner to whomever he wished as often as he wished as long as the magister or the Queen of Louisiana never found out. But as of late he found himself more and more bored, sure he found mild amusement in tormenting bill Compton about his attachment to that Human Sookie. But short of sinking his teeth into that smooth golden skin or claiming her as his own he really had little use for that insipid pair.
He had long since pushed Pam from his bed, that particular part of their relationship had ceased when he discovered she had more of a taste for women then men. As appealing as it was having two women in his bed, it lost is zeal when he became less included in the festivities altogether. He stuck to one nighters with delectable young ladies that he could devour, bite, and glamour and then send on their way, or if he was particularly desperate he would take a bite from the dumb as doornails Ginger. After so many glamours it was hard to tell just how much of her cotton ball brain was left.
Back on topic this night so far had been no different from any other, aside from Bill and Sookie stopping by with young Jessica and her newly claimed human. Largely built young man of an age with Sookie, a boring do gooder type. With puppy dog eyes and an aw shucks grin. Eric looked down at the pair sitting in one of the far corners; the human looking bewildered with Jessica explained everything. Sookie was with them to keep an eye on Jessica while Bill was up with him on the Dais; they were discussing their upcoming trip to Dallas to figure out the situation with Godric, the missing sheriff of Area 9.
He was in the middle of running over the list of Godric's associates/underlings when the footsteps rang through his ears, usually the sound of heels would make thoughts of firm silky thighs ring through his mind but tonight for some reason they just managed to irritate him. He looked over to the source of the disturbance and only saw the back of a somewhat nondescript young woman greeting Sookie and Jessica. He turned to the younger brown haired vampire.
"Bill, who is that talking to your human?" he asked appearing only mildly curious.
Bill turned his remarkable blue eyes over to where his girlfriend was seated.
"I do not know, I am as of yet not acquainted with all of Sookie's friends" he replied thoughtfully.
Eric grunted in reply not taking his eyes off the group, the woman was an average hight, enhanced somewhat by a pair of rather attractive black thick heeled shoes. Aside from the foot wear he couldn't seem to from a description of the woman in his head, she just seemed so ordinary, nothing special about her what so ever. Until she let out a peel of laughter and for some reason he seemed to catch a glimpse of glowing white flesh and a long braid of brilliant red hair. But as fast as it came it was gone.
"Invite them over" he stated.
Bill looked confused.
"Why, she's obviously just one of Sookie's friends, what could possibly be of interest to you?"
Eric simply leaned back and smirked, his fingers tented in front of his chest.
"Curiosity old sport".
Bill walked over to the table where the small group was situated, he spoke quietly to Sookie who turned and glared at the tall Viking before whispering to her friend and the trio wandered back to the Dais.
"Good evening Miss Stackhouse, please sit" he stated politely indicating to the chair to his left, next to the one Bill was waiting to occupy.
One the couple was seated he turned his attention to the woman left standing.
"Who's your friend, with the impeccable taste in foot wear" he asked making his voice sound like silk over hidden razor blades.
The woman spoke before Sookie had a chance to reply.
"My name is Eaving Ssenkrad, it is a pleasure to meet you" she said in a very clear and even toned voice, though it almost sounded as though something darker was hidden behind the tone of every word.
She held a pale delicate hand out in waiting. Eric responded in kind, clasping the smaller feminine hand in his own larger and some what colder appendage.
As their skin touched Eric felt the warm tingle of energy.
Her skin was very pale and luminous, not the pale of a vampire but like mother of pearl. Her hair reaching down past her waist was a brilliant dark red, the colour of deep arterial blood from a fresh would. It was pulled back into a tight French braid, so it looked as though her hair was cropped close to her head. The end of her braid trailed down to brush her ankles.
Her face was quite striking, high finely wrought cheek bones and a straight delicate nose sat above a stubborn jaw and plump cupids bow lips. Eyebrows of a darker red arched becomingly above her bright blue eyes. Her face was set a warm smile, though her eyes seemed to be searching.
With out letting go Eric lead her to the unoccupied seat on his right, as Eaving gracefully lowered herself into the chair she slid her hand from his with out skipping a beat. She settled her self comfortably with her hands folded neatly in her lap and her body leaning into the back of the chair, though her back was still perfectly straight. Eric's trained eyes saw the posture and baring of a court noble, yet this woman, this …human appeared to be no older than 21.
"So" he said smoothly leaning back in his throne "how exactly are you acquainted with Miss Stackhouse?"
Eaving looked over at Sookie with a tender smile before replying.
"We met when Sookie was 11; I was visiting Bon Temps with my family when the sweetest little girl with hair like sunshine came running over asking me to play with her"
Her face and eyes filled with warmth at the memory.
"How could anyone say no to such sweetness and with such a special gift that only made her more endearing?"
Eric cocked an eyebrow.
"So you know of her gift then, I am curious as to how you would have known of her telepathy when you yourself would have only been 7 years old?" he asked slyly, a smirk decorated his lips.
"Well that's easy; those psychokinetic gifts can always sense each other. Even if we didn't know what they were, we could not help but be drawn to one another" she responded focussing solely on her beloved friend.
Eaving turned back to the handsome vampire and watched him from the corner of her eyes, almost like a bird of prey watching its potential meal. Eric found the look rather disconcerting he preferred to watch people straight on, anticipating their every move.
"And what your special gift happen to be, can you hear human thoughts like our friend here or is it something else…something that could be useful should the need ever arise?" Eric asked cunningly.
He had resigned himself to simply using Sookie's gifts when he had need of them, perhaps he could claim this one for himself it would be much more convenient than calling on Bill every time he needed a favour. She could possibly be of use to him on this expedition to Dallas.
"I am an empath; I can sense emotions and intentions. It is not quite as invasive as reading thoughts but emotions, especially in humans run far deeper and stronger than anyone" she stated in a low voice, leaning in close to the large vampire in an effort to only allow him to hear her words.
Eric was delighted.
"Fantastic, then you shall accompany us to Dallas. A fellow vampire has gone missing and your gift would be of great assistance to me"
Eaving pulled back in sudden confusion.
"And you would decide this with out asking my permission, I have no issue with vampires but this is not my problem. My abilities are not goods to hire out, you have my sympathy for your friend but unless you can give me any motivation to assist you the answer is no!" she hissed angrily, her stubborn chin was raised in was Eric perceived to be arrogant defiance.
Before he could reply Sookie butted in.
"He'll pay you. $10,000 for your trouble" she smoothly laid out. "Won't you Eric?"
Eric scowled at the young blond.
"Very well, in return for your assistance, I will pay $10,000 compensation…is that enough motivation for you?"
Eaving smiled and held out her hand.
"It would appear Mr Northman that we have a deal" she replied in a sly voice "Shall we seal this agreement in a traditional manner?"
"What did you have in mind?" he asked intriguingly.
"In blood, like the warriors of old". She responded seriously.
Eric frowned and held her hand tightly.
"I am a warrior of old, It is curious that a human as young as your self knows of this binding method"
She merely smiled enigmatically.
"I was a history major at university"
"Very well" Eric pulled a small knife out from under his chair and swiftly drew it across his wrist, the thick blood dripped from the deep cut.
"Drink quickly before the wound closes" he hissed
Leaning over Eaving pressed her red lips to his wrist and drank deeply, before pulling back and watching the wound heal and vanish. She looked up at Eric and swallowed the blood left in her mouth; her lips stained the same deep red as her hair. She opened her purse and pulled out a black silk handkerchief and delicately dabbed her lips to remove the stain.
When Eaving had finished cleaning her mouth and put away her kerchief Eric suddenly reached out and snatched her left hand and pulled her in close. He flicked out his fangs and smiled darkly.
"My turn" he whispered before sinking his fangs into the soft white skin of her wrist.
Eaving shrieked softly at the white hot pain of his fangs penetrating her skin, it had been a long time since sone one had tasted her blood.
Eric nearly fainted at the taste of the blood rushing down his throat; it was like sweet liquid fire that raced straight to his groan. He suddenly had the almost uncontrollable urge to push this woman up against the wall and claim her fully. The mental image of her pinned beneath him with that blood red hair spilling around her naked white flesh, those pouty lips parted in wanton lust was almost too much for him. He pulled back just enough to run his tongue over the puncture marks and close them with his healing saliva.
He stared intensely at his newest business partner as she rose from her seat with Bill and Sookie and they returned to the young couple still seated in the corner booth. Once seated Eaving never once looked at him for the rest of the evening.
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When the group was walking out the door on their way home, Eric walked up behind Eaving and slid his arm around her small waist pulling her firmly back against his body.
He pressed his face against her neck and breathed softly behind her ear. He gently licked her earlobe and mouthed one of the small diamond stud earrings. He whispered softly and seductively in her ear.
"You are mine now, as far as Bill Compton or any other vampire is concerned you belong to me"
Eaving stiffened and turned her head to look up at the tall Viking.
"Not with out my permission, vampire, not with out my permission"
She pulled herself free and strode out of the club with out looking back. Pam walked over and stood beside her maker.
"Found your self a new toy then?" she asked in a bored voice.
Eric clasped his hands behind his back and bounced on the balls of his feet leisurely.
"Yes…I believe I have, and she tastes delightful".
End Chapter 1.