I shut the door behind me and locked it, then leaned against the door and heaved a sigh of accomplishment. I never thought I'd actually pull this off. This apartment is tiny, but it's not in Louisiana and it's mine.
Flopping into my Gran's old chair, I thought back on all it took to pull this off. It took me three months, but I did it. The idea came to me when I was healing from being kidnapped by thosedamnfairies (all one word in my head). When you barely have the energy to walk across the room to the bathroom, you have a lot of time to think. And think I did. And plan. And plot.
I've learned a lot in the two years I've known Eric Northman. I've learned something about how to plan for every eventuality, every outcome. Think, think some more, and think again. Plus, I've learned a little about how his mind works. He may think he knows everything about me, but I know a thing or two about him, too.
I knew from Amelia's mind (she's a loud broadcaster; it's like having the radio on, all the time) that she was planning on going back to New Orleans after Tray died. I knew she blamed me, even though she tried hard not to. Hell, I didn't blame her – I blamed myself, too. If he hadn't been guarding me, he never would've been killed by thosedamnfairies either. I knew that once she was gone, I had to move fast. When she finally 'fessed up, it was actually a relief.
The first thing I did was get one of those cheap, non-traceable cell phones. I placed an ad in the Shreveport paper for an estate sale – days only (take that Vampire Bill, try to spy on me now) – and list most of the contents of my house, with the new cell phone number as the contact. I took all the items I wanted to keep and locked them in a spare bedroom. I also listed one used Malibu for sale as well, cash only, with the buyer able to take possession on my moving day.
Slowly, item-by-item, I watched my family's history go out the door. Not the really special things, I kept those. I had a lot of moments where I thought I couldn't do it, couldn't sell these things, but then I would hear my Gran's sweet voice in my head, telling me, "Sookie, they're just things. Your family is in your heart. You need to do this to change your life. You'll be back some day."
I worked as many shifts as I could get at Merlotte's. I told Sam, my boss, it was because I had been off for a while and needed money to pay some medical bills, and bless his heart he believed me. I felt bad lying to him, but I knew he'd try to stop me if he knew. For all that Sam wanted me away from vampires, he didn't want me away from him or Bon Temps.
Working so much gave me a perfect excuse not to see Eric, too. I told him I was still tired and recuperating (which was true) and worn out from working so much. I was too exhausted to drive to Shreveport and just couldn't deal with company. He must've really felt guilty about not coming to rescue me from thosedamnfairies, because he didn't push too hard, and he accepted my excuses.
He did, however, send Bill to check up on me (surprise, surprise). I wouldn't let him in when he came to the door – just cracked it open and held my bathrobe tight around me like I was being modest. I knew he knew something was up, though, so I had to think fast. I said the one thing I knew could guarantee he couldn't just come in and start snooping under the guise of "checking on me" for Eric.
"Listen, Bill… you know that Eric and I are bonded and pledged now. Well, I just don't feel right about you being able to come in when I'm, well, his. So, I'm sorry, but I rescind your invitation."
I could tell by the look on his face that I had hurt him, deeply. "Sweetheart, you know I would never do anything to make you uncomfortable. I love you, you know that."
"Well, the thing is Bill, I just feel like Eric needs to be the only vampire who can come in. So, I'm sorry, but that's how it is." I shut the door quickly so I didn't have to see the hurt puppy look on his face, before he managed to settle it back into its usual inscrutable, calm expression.
I waited. One minute, two, three, four… before I got to five, the phone rang. I looked at the caller ID even though I knew who it was – Eric.
"Lover, I hear you've taken an unusual step in our relationship. One, I admit, even I didn't see coming. You continually surprise me."
"Well, Eric, you're always saying how I'm yours, so I just thought it would be a good idea if Bill couldn't come in anymore. I thought that might make you happy."
"It makes me very happy, dear one, that you've announced that you are mine to Bill. I knew it was only a matter of time. But given your history, don't you think it's wise that Compton should be able to come in, if something should happen? You are a – what did Pam call you? – danger magnet." He chuckled.
"Eric, are you kidding me? You've spent months, no – over a year – trying to get me to get Bill out of my life, and the second I do it, you want me to invite him back?" I had him wrong-footed (for once) and he knew it. But as always, he switched gears quickly.
Soothingly, he said, "Lover, you're getting upset. You still aren't well. Calm down, and we'll discuss this some other time."
HA! I finally won an argument with him! The downside was, I knew that with Bill somewhat out of the picture, that meant Eric might be around more – at least outside, keeping an eye on me. So I went around the house, closing all the curtains and blinds. I made sure all the windows were locked, too, so no sneaking in that way.
Eventually, everything I wanted to sell had been sold, and everything I wanted to take was packed. And, most importantly, I had managed to keep Eric, Bill and Sam from knowing anything was going on. I chose what I felt was a truly fitting day to leave – April 1, April Fools Day. It was a hidden message to all the men who tried to control my life that, for once, I wasn't the fool here.
I arranged for a U-Haul truck that day, and once I picked it up, the buyer of my car came and we completed the transaction. I was a little bit richer and a little bit freer. I loaded all my items into the small truck myself, as I wasn't taking much, and locked the doors to my family home for what I hoped wouldn't be the last time. I prayed for a moment that I would be able to come back some day. I quietly rescinded the invitation of every vampire I knew, then I pinned a note on the door.
My life is too short to live like this, and go through what I have again. I've gone to find a new one. I know you'll try to find me, but I'm asking you to let me go. I'm done with nearly dying.
I tucked my hair up into a ball cap and put on giant sunglasses. Then I put on a sweatshirt and pulled the hood up just to be on the safe side. I wanted to try to sneak out of Bon Temps without anyone recognizing me driving a moving truck. I got in the truck, started it up with a rumble, and hit the road headed for my new life.
