A year after S6 ends.
It had been a year since that swamp smell filled his nostrils. He looked around. Everything was just as it had been before everything turned to shit. He took another deep inhale and found what he was looking for - her perfume. She hadn't left even after everything. Honestly - it wasn't surprised. Once everything smoothed over between Vampires and humans, he had imagined business would be booming once again. He hadn't changed much. At least, he didn't look it. Except for his hair. He hadn't bothered to cut it over the year and it had returned to it's Viking's length a few months ago. Aside from that, he was wearing a dark gray business suit - something to be expected. He narrowed his eyes at the entrance as he caught sight of who he wanted. She was holding a clipboard in her hand, scanning over the pages. He knew when she sensed him. He could see her body stiffen the way he had done everytime he was in her presence. She slowly pulled her blue eyes up from the paper and instantly found them greeted by his. She blinked a few times - probably not trusting her sight at the moment.
"E-Eric?" She had shoved the clipboard back into the hands of the young male vampire at the door. Slowly, she began walking toward him. "Is it really you?" Her voice hinted at happiness and pain. He let a small smile spread across his mouth. "Oh my god, it is." She quickly closed the gap and threw her arms around his neck. He wrapped his arms around her, enjoying her embrace. "Where did you go? What happened?" She was wiping at her eyes that were beginning to tint red.
"Perhaps we should take this inside." Pam nodded instantly.
"Of course." She turned and just as she had many times before, led Eric into her - his office. He took in the sight of Fangtasia - nothing had changed. Even his empty chair stood in it's old throne, waiting for it's owner to return once again. Pam shut the office door behind him as he stepped in. Even the office remained the same - minute the two vanity mirrors that now called his desk home. "When did you get back?" He walked to the chair behind the desk and sat into it.
"Tonight." She nodded and waited a moment.
"Willa…" She sighed. "Willa said she felt you in so much pain and then nothing." Her eyes began to quickly line with blood. "We all thought…" Eric used his speed to go to her side and pull her into his arms. "I went to your farm on Öland - you weren't there. I didn't know where else to look."
"Shhh." He stroked her hair. He remembered that day clearly. The sun had felt wonderful against his cold skin as he laid out reading. Wonderful had become painful in seconds. Honestly, he still couldn't recall who had buried him but he was thankful they did. "It doesn't matter. What matters is I'm back." Pam looked up at Eric with a smile and nodded. "Where is Willa?" Her smile melted.
"A few weeks after she stopped feeling you...she paid someone to stake her." Eric's eyes widened. It explained why he hadn't felt her when he awoke from his month long slumber. "I'm sorry, Eric." He shook his head. At this point, loss wasn't new to him.
"It is not your fault. I should've never used her for my own gain."
"You did what you had to." He nodded and accepted the small smile she offered him.
"What about Sookie?" Pam's face expressed how unhappy she was at the mention of her. "Is she alright?" Pam nodded.
"Peachy. She and Alcide are living together now - for the past two months." Suddenly Eric would have rathered the burning again over this. It took a minute before he nodded.
"As long as she is happy." Pam sighed and cursed Sookie Stackhouse. She didn't need to still feel Eric to know he was hurt. After everything, he still loved the Faerie. A knock on the door brought Pam and Eric's attention to it.
"Come in." The door opened and in stepped a young woman - probably early 20's. She had dark brown hair that seemed to show it's mochaness under the light. Her eyes captures Eric's instantly - they were grey. The girl smiled and quickly looked to Pam.
"I'm sorry, Pam. I didn't mean to interrupt you. I just wanted to let you know that I filled out all the paperwork you needed. I gave it to Ginger." Pam nodded. "Is there anything I need to do?"
"Nope. Come back tomorrow at sundown and you'll start." Again, the girl nodded.
"You got it, boss." Pam snapped her fingers.
"I'm not the boss." She motioned to Eric. "He is. Ember Hemlock, this is Eric Northman." Ember's smile widened as she extended her hand to Eric. He smirked at he took it in his and kissed it slowly. "Ember here just got hired as a waitress."
"I see. Welcome to the family." Ember felt a stirring in her belly as Eric's eyes seemed to peer deeper into her.
"Thanks, it's a pleasure to be apart of it." He looked her over. Sookie had moved on, after all. There was no point in curbing his lusts anymore.
"I'm afraid the pleasure will be all mine." Pam rolled her eyes. "Why don't you allow me and Ms. Hemlock some time to get better acquainted. You know I love to ensure my staff know their job." Pam started toward the door, throwing Eric a look. He knew Pam had probably hired Ember because of her looks - she was breathtaking.
"You know where you can find me" He nodded as Pam left the room. He brought his attention back to Ember, taking in her outfit. {imgur*DOT*com/PODUONX} It was playful and very sexy. The black sheer stockings seemed to be the seller for him though. Something about them made the outfit go from sexy to erection inducing.
"Forgive my forwardness but you are mouth watering." Ember laughed as she tucked a loose strand of hair behind an ear.
"You wouldn't be the first to tell me that." His grin widened. She was confident and cocky - a nice change from the average Louisiana woman.
"I'm beginning to see why Pamela hired you." Eric took a step toward her. He inhaled her scent - there was something amiss. He inhaled again. She laughed and he cocked an eyebrow.
"You'll only smell my perfume." Her comment on what he was doing took him by surprise.
"And why is that?" She smiled and after a second, he received his answer as fangs clicked into place. "Of course."
Sookie placed the last of the dishes in the drying rack.
"Movie's gonna start any minute!" She glanced toward the living room where Alcide's voice came from.
"I'll be right there!" Something had felt off all day to her but she couldn't put her finger on it. It had been such a long time since she'd felt that knot in her stomach and couldn't remember what caused it. She had been going out of her way to make sure she'd done everything as careful as possible. Still, her heart felt heavy. "I'm gonna take the trash out then I'll be right there!" Alcide didn't reply. Things were wonderful between them at first ; he'd open the door, push her chair in, etc. Moving in seemed even more ideal - especially since she'd feel safe again - something she hadn't since Eric died. She swallowed hard. Eric. She did her best to busy her mind with everything ever since she found out. She had called Pam a day after Warlow was killed but Eric was nowhere to be found. When Pam called a few weeks later with news that Willa felt his death - part of her had died too. She had found herself drinking nightly and reliving their short moments of happiness. Sookie shook her head and did her best to shake the thoughts, too. She grabbed the bag of garbage and began to haul it out through the kitchen door. She struggled down the few steps and dragged it the few feet down the driveway. She stopped and looked up at the sky - the moon was half full. A few more days and Alcide would disappear for a few nights. She sighed and closed her eyes. Things were as normal as they had ever been since she got with Alcide. Nice and normal. Nice and normal...and boring.
Part of her missed the rushed adrenaline that came with the constant vampire drama. Of course, she had enjoyed it most when Eric was at her side. Eric - the most vicious vampire she'd known and yet, all at the same time, the kindest. Opening her eyes she looked around her. The trees swayed with the cool night's breeze. Sookie caught something out the corner of her eyes and snapped her head in that direction. "Hello?" She took a step toward where she saw whatever it was. She searched hard, trying to find whatever might be hiding. After a few minutes, she gave up and shrugged. She turned on her heel and headed back toward the house, stopping again at the door and throwing a glance over her shoulder. "Must be seeing things…" She muttered as she shut the door behind her. She was right. She had seen something - or rather, someone.
This isn't going to be my normal Sooric story...