Chapter One.
There he was, the man I had heard so much about. He stood alone; nearly not visible within the tall, mossy trees. His skin was so pale that it seemed that the moon was shining just so it's mysterious light would caress his skin in all the right ways. His blonde hair looked as if it were glowing under the radiant moon, daring the fireflies to compete. All I could see was his back, which was muscular and smooth looking. I stared for a long time and he never once moved. He stood as still as a statue, seemingly concentrated. I tried my hardest not to move, so he would not know that I was there, watching him.
I pressed my lips together, breathing shallow so he would not hear my heavy breathing. My heart was racing I could hear it thudding in my ear and feel it thrusting itself powerfully against my veins. I was scared of this flawless man, but felt drawn to him just the same. I saw his arm tense up, and his head tilt just the slightest. Could he hear my heart? A sudden strike of terror flowed through me, my breath burning my lungs from holding my mouthful of air.
"I know you are there." A smooth, methodical voice said. His voice was deep and full of what sounded like sorrow. I let my breath out slowly and stood still, hoping he was talking to someone else. My heart was racing even faster, dread filling my heart and nerves. I heard him chuckle to himself as he turned around and faced me. My breath stopped dead, and it felt like my heart rose into my throat. I knew I was close to letting a scream tear through me when he spoke to me again.
"You have no need to fear me. I am not in the mood to cause terror or harm you what-so-ever." His voice was sincere, and calm. His stomach was rippled with muscles, but still looking impossibly smooth. I took a slow inhale of breath and stared deeply at him.
"Are you Eric Northman?" I asked quietly. I thought he might not have heard me, and went to repeat myself when I saw him nod.
"Yes, I am." he responded, his head hanging as he looked at the mossy earth. I swallowed harshly, my throat feeling dry and coarse. I took one step forward towards him, and stopped. I didn't want to push my luck and chance being killed.
"Why are you watching me?" He asked, looking up at me. I opened my mouth but nothing came out. He smirked at me and started towards me.
"I am a friend of Sookie, she told me a lot about you. And well-" I felt a lump grow in my throat, and tears well in my eyes. He was half way to me now, and I noticed his feet were bare.
"-when she died, I felt I had to come here and see what all the fuss was over." I looked down at the ground and rubbed the back of my neck. I sighed deeply and looked back up to see a sympathetic looking vampire staring me in the eyes.
He stared at me, intimidating me greatly. I didn't want to move or speak, my heart was stricken with alarm as his eyes looked deeply into mine. He took one step back and inhaled the night air.
"You must be Aurora, Sookie told me much before she.. perished." his eyes shifted from soft to hard and angry. I stepped back, and put my hand on my throat subconsciously.
"What did she say?" I asked, staring at his angered face. He shook his head and his face lightened a bit.
"You guys had been friends when you were younger, but you moved when you were eight. Is that right?" He replied. I nodded my head at him and smiled a little.
"I wish I hadn't now. Maybe there was something I could have done if I was here." His cold hand gripped my arm and his face became stern.
"No, no one could have done anything. No one even suspected. But I can promise, he will pay for what he has done!" He shouted, nearly making me faint from fright. I felt light headed and weak. The anger and vengeance in his voice was the worst thing I had ever heard. I put my hand against a tree and leaned against it, trying to keep my composure.
"I apologize! I didn't mean to frighten you." He said stepping towards me, his hand reached out. I shook my head and waved my hand at him. He was so handsome at that moment, his expression full of apology and heartbreaking sorrow.
"Don't worry about it, I scare pretty easily. I have never met a vampire before, and if I must say you are extremely intimidating!" I laughed. I heard him laugh with me, and it made me smile. I instantly felt bad for smiling, considering my best friend had been recently killed. I frowned at myself for doing something as selfish as smiling at a time like this.
"Do not punish yourself." I heard Eric say through my blood pounding ears. I looked at him and felt tears push up through my eyes and slowly drop down my face. He stared at me, and wrinkled his nose. I think he was trying to hold back tears of his own.
"Do you have anywhere to stay while you are here?" He asked me. I thought to myself for a moment and then shook my head at him.
"No. Not as of right now. No one really knows that I am here." I responded. He held his hand out for me.
"Come stay with me. I could use the companionship." I looked at his smooth hand, and took it in my own.
"I would love some companionship of my own." I smiled. I was then remembering what Sookie had told me about Eric. The power of his love, the feel of his skin, and the look in his eyes.
She had told me that he tried to put himself off as being a heartless creature, but he wasn't. That I could already tell. His eyes were soft and soulful, nothing like a cold-blooded monster. He was handsome, kind and extremely gentle. He slung me into his arms and whispered in my ear:
"Hold on tight." I felt myself blush as his breath tickled my ear. The trees began to rush by in a blur of green and black. The cool night air embraced me as he ran. I could feel my blood go hot as I realized that a strong, beautiful man carrying me to a undisclosed location.
It felt good to do something without thinking. I didn't think about the fact that all his kindness and gentle gestures could be a mask for his deeper, more evil desires. I didn't think about the fact that he could snap my neck without the bat of an eye, or that he could be taking me to a place where he would drain my blood dry from my only human veins. I knew what Sookie had felt for him and I trusted her enough, even in death to know that she loved him and he had loved her. He would not hurt me.