Bit of a side project that turned into a story idea. The setting : sometime between the end of season 2 and season 3. Except Bill was never kidnapped. None of the events of season 3 are happening actually. And if they do, I'll mention it when it's needed. Otherwise, everything is kind of honky dory. Eric is holding a reluctant interest in Sookie, but I'll say this straight away - they will not be a couple in this story. This story, btw, will get a bit dark, exploring the thirst for revenge, what obsession leads to, and what exactly preconceived notions gain us. Eric will not be as nice in the beginning of this story. Remember, he's a Viking turned vampire who murdered ruthlessly for hundreds of years. According to him, his methods are only barbaric because his moves are monitored. He's still a bad ass. But he won't be all out cruel. I think that's the interesting thing about him. There's still humanity fighting inside him a thousand years later. Alright then. Let's begin.


Chapter 1

"I cannot even begin to fathom how you were not aware of this. It happened in your area."

Eric Northman bit back all the callous remarks he wished to make and forced his energy on constructing a well-worded response.

Queen Sophie-Anne continued her fearless pacing, jaw firm as steel.

"I was preoccupied with more urgent matters," he relayed. "Such as keeping all eyes on Bill Compton so your little secret doesn't come out."

Sophie-Anne whipped around, eyes narrowing dangerously.

"He has told no one," Eric reassured. "But only because he knows there will be repercussions."

She relaxed against a table, pale arms crossing over her chest. "Surely Compton's movements didn't require all of your attention."

Eric said nothing. He didn't trust himself to speak impulsively. The Queen, simply in the way she watched him – brows drawn together, eyes scouring his face - was out for blood. She would pick apart whatever he said like a hawk and he knew he needed to tread cautiously.

Unfortunately, his silence proved to be just as telling.

"Whoever she is," Sophie-Anne said, revealing her fangs with a sharp smile, "I may have to risk a peek at her. Or, perhaps a taste?"

Eric's fangs were out before he could stop himself.

"Oh, she must be important if you're going to defend her honor," she goaded, eyes shining.

Shaking his head, Eric retracted his fangs. "She is nothing but an amusement. I will grow bored of her, as I do every other human."

Sophie-Anne didn't relent from her calculating stare, lips drawing into a thin line.

"I would hope that is all she was. As someone with your reputation, I'd hate to see you become attached."

Eric's smiled as politely as he was able. "You have nothing to worry about."

She cocked a perfectly manicured brow. He tensed, but otherwise, gave nothing away.

Slowly, her expression receded back to irritation.

"When were you made aware of the situation?" she repeated.

Heading up to the bar, Eric tilted his head. He understood lying was not an option. His answer, however, wasn't one of his prouder ones.

"Not until last night."

"Last night?" she snapped, marching up to him. "You are this area's Sheriff, Eric. You are responsible for the vampires who come and go. How did you not know a vampire was murdered in your area? By a human, no less?"

Eric opened his mouth to respond, but Sophie-Anne threw up a hand.

"I learned this information on the night it happened, from a Sheriff in Mississippi, and eventually, Daniela, your fellow Sheriff of Area 3. The human fled after the murder and Daniela picked up the scent of the vampire's blood all over her." She paused before Eric until there was barely a foot between them. "Now, I don't mind hearing this information from Daniela. The human was captured in her area and she did as was procedure. But, to have a Sheriff, from Mississippi no less, barge into my home and demand I apprehend this human, is a humiliation I will not tolerate again."

He stayed silent.

"And now, you have the audacity to tell me the murder that occurred in your area, wasn't made knowledge to you until last night?" She ground her teeth together, loud enough to produce an unsettling crunch. "Give me one reason I should not dismiss you from your position immediately."

Staying perfectly stoic, Eric chose his words carefully.

"My ignorance of the event three nights ago is unforgivable. I take full responsibility for not being aware of the human's actions against the vampire."

"A simple apology won't cut it this time," she determined. "And yes, yes, you know my little secret. But what good is that knowledge when you are ousted from your position? No one would believe you. They would think your attacks were guided out of bitterness."

The strength Eric had to muster to remain silent, was impressive, and for a moment, he thought to blame Sookie Stackhouse. She certainly held a fair share of responsibility for his current situation.

Then again, blaming her would relieve him of accountability, which was attractive in theory, but ultimately a coward's way out. Eric liked to think that what made him so successful as Sheriff, and as a vampire, was his ability to recognize his own shortcomings and to learn from them. The fall of so many of his kind who were in positions of high power, was pride. They refused to acknowledge their weaknesses. Eric did not like acknowledging his, but that didn't keep him from doing so. Whether he liked it or not, he needed to be direct about his lapses. This meant that in a situation like this, he needed to take responsibility and not unload his frustrations out of convenience.

He had fucked up. Cause.

Sophie-Anne paid him a visit. Effect.

"Despite this mistake, I cannot entirely forget your worth to me," she said, eying him with less malice than before, "and your loyalty. With the exception of a few, nearly every Sheriff of Louisiana has attempted to overthrow me. There is merit in your history of being a good dog."

Eric watched Sophie-Anne resume a back and forth pace. He would, as a necessity to the situation, momentarily ignore her liking him to a dog. Even though his hand ached to wrap around her throat and squeeze until her neck cracked like a chicken bone.

"I'll have to explain all of this to Russell, of course," she continued, index finger tapping at her chin. "His Sheriff informed him immediately of the situation. How I loathe that egotistical, ancient bastard."

"You say the murderer is apprehended," Eric redirected, wishing Pam had given him more information about the confrontation, especially since he was on the receiving end of the Queen's fury. "They are dead, I assume?"

"No," she answered. "Not yet. Which is where your mistake can still be alleviated. The last thing I need is for the Magister to get word of this. He'll investigate and sniff around. Might find something we don't want him to. The Sheriff of Mississippi won't say a word, of course, but Russell will take more persuading."

"What do you suggest, then?" Eric asked, knowing that following the Queen's orders were imperative if he didn't want her making anymore unannounced visits to Fangtasia.

"Now that's just it. I'm at a loss," she admitted, leaning against the bar, eyes glued to a nearby dance pole. "The vampire wasn't anyone too valuable. Former Sheriff of Arkansas, but that's hardly anything to be proud about."

"Perhaps torturing the human may ease tensions?" he offered.

"Initially, I was thinking execution."

Eric smiled at the admittance. Sophie-Anne hardly ever got bloodthirsty. Despite her nonchalance toward the deceased vampire, his death must have been gruesome enough for her to consider giving out an order to execute a human. She tended to be one who associated willingly and fondly with them.

"I find myself surprised," he said. "You are usually in good terms with humans."

She observed her nails, frown indenting her smooth features. "As enjoyable as they can be, when it comes down to it, I value one of our own over one of theirs." She glanced up at him, seemingly in conflict over something. "Besides, others will question my rule if I were to let the murderer go unharmed."

"So, what is it you're asking of me?"

She didn't answer immediately, eyes wandering back to the dance pole. Eric wasn't sure why she insisted on dragging out the inevitable. Had he been made aware of the situation three nights ago, the human would be in a state that would make death seem like a gift.

"I want to know why she murdered the vampire. Isaac, I believe was his name."

"It was a woman?" he questioned, managing to hide his surprise with a blank expression.

"Yes. Isaac was nearing four hundred years. One would think by this age, he would take better precaution to avoid such a fate. That some scrawny young thing overpowered him, leaves too many unanswered questions. Daniela is currently holding on to her."

Her eyes flew to the door. "Also, you may be interested to know that glamor does not work on our little murderer."

Immediately, Eric's attention was piqued.

"She is immune?" he asked.

"No," Sophie-Anne said. "Not completely immune. Daniela has managed to coax her into eating. Considering what's to be done to her, I can see why the poor thing has no appetite. But, anytime Daniela attempts to gather information about Isaac and her association with him, the woman's mind becomes inefficient. It refuses to listen to the command."

"You find this interesting," he observed.

"Very," she admitted, meeting his eyes. "I've heard of human minds able to mimic the brainwaves of a deceased individual or learning to create force fields. But the murkiness existing in her mind, is not something I have come across before."

She straightened herself, shoulders rolling back under her cream blazer. "Your task will be to break her- torture her if you must - so we may learn what brought about this murder under your watchful eye. An eye which has been straying."

It was moments like these he prided himself in having managed strict control over his emotions. Otherwise, his adversaries would constantly be having the upper hand.

Sophie-Anne's request was no such thing. It was a command, plain and simple.

"Daniela is outside with the human. As of now, she is your responsibility. If she tries to run, do what you must."

Nodding, Eric followed Sophie-Anne to the entrance.

She stopped in front of the door, but kept her head inclined in his direction. "Once you find out this woman's motives, report to me. It is likely I will need to issue her death."

"It shouldn't take long," he predicted. "All humans have a breaking point. I expect you will have an answer in no less than two nights."

"I look forward to it. Don't disappoint, Eric."

She exited the bar with a strut in her step, and only when he could no longer hear the clack of her heels against gravel, did Eric allow himself to release all the tension in his upper body.

"Pam!" he yelled.

From the parking lot, he picked up on Sophie-Anne slipping into her limo, and the sound of another car door opening.

"Yes?"

He turned to see her ambling up the basement stairs, attempting to work some extremely small, black gloves onto her hands.

"How is it you were made aware of the human murdering Isaac in my area?"

"A reliable source," she answered slowly, expression daring him to scold her for having the knowledge before him. "This source was eager to discuss what happened, possibly because of the grotesque state Isaac was left in after the girl got done with him. If memory serves me right, she decapitated him, and then attempted to burn his body after severing off his penis. Creative little thing, isn't she?"

Eric briefly ignored her, intent on listening to the nearing footsteps crossing the parking lot.

"We're not opening tonight," he told her, eyes glued to the door. "Make sure the basement is clear."

"Just when I get these fucking things on?" she grumbled, hands finally covered in the tight latex material.

"Not tonight, Pam. Make sure the basement is clear before my guest arrives."

She turned and stalked back down the steps. Eric was sure a few unkind words were resting on her tongue. Later on, when this mess was finished with, he would reward her for her patience. Perhaps a vacation.

Or another shoe store.

Right now, he needed Sophie-Anne to trust him and not perceive him as a threat. More importantly, he didn't need her taking an interest in his life.

A part of him knew without the shadow of a doubt that he was protecting Sookie from the Queen's wandering eyes. If she found out what the waitress was capable of, there would no longer be a life in Bon Temps for her. It was a difficult admission to swallow and he had to wonder whether keeping Sookie safe was actually worth damaging his reputation over.

The more he thought about it, the less he liked the answer.

So, he deferred his thoughts instead to his guest of honor. Or dishonor, rather. In getting the truth out of the human, it sealed him a firm position among Sophie-Anne's rank. A rank that offered protection from being observed, and allowed him to be the observer once more.

Perhaps I may even discover why she cannot be glamored.

He didn't worry about the other details of what would happen to her after he was done. If Sophie-Anne harbored a personal intent to have the human killed, he wasn't going to argue. At the moment, nothing mattered more than doing what he was expected of him.


Just want to mention...Eric did torture and tear that guy in half in his basement in episode 1 of season 2. The one who set fire to the three vampires house. In my head, I see him very capable of carrying out dark tasks. Not around Sookie, of course. He needs her trust for some reason! Well, I hope you found that interesting enough to add it to story alert or review. I promise that the story is only beginning (obviously).