Disclaimer: The Southern Vampire Series, and all characters from it, is owned by Charlaine Harris. So please don't sue me, I am poor & make no $$$ from this!! Everyone else in this story belongs to me.


SPECIAL THANKS: To THE Southernlady23 for all her hard work in getting this ready for your reading enjoyment. Julie- thank you for all the hours of hand holding as you walked me line by line through all of this. I promise to learn…really I do. I would also like to give a thanks to Ecantadora for her help when the words just wouldn't come for the summary. :)


SETTING: Devil in Disguise takes place roughly after book 8. Most plot lines have remained the same up until and after the summit. However, Sookie did not bond with Eric. At the summit Sookie ended up drinking from Andre, who still died exactly as he did in the books, so she is a free agent- so to speak. (A.N.: Bailan is pronounced Bay-lan- like land without the "d" sound.)

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SHREVEPORT, LA
4 PM Thursday

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Bailan McGregor thanked the latest truck driver to give her a ride as she climbed down from the cab of the rumbling truck with her bag in tow. She looked around, taking in her first glimpse of Shreveport. It looked like any other city she had ever been in, with the exception of the river boat casinos she had passed on the way into town.

Looking down the street, she spotted the motel she had been pointed to when she had inquired about a cheap place to stay. She slung her backpack higher as she walked in that direction, her sole worldly possessions contained in the pack. Bailan approached the run down building apprehensively.

Well, I asked for cheap, she thought, walking into the front door. A haggard looking woman got up to greet her with an appraising look and a scowl.

"Money up front," the clerk said as a greeting. Bailan pulled her wallet from the outside pocket of her backpack. She saw the rate sheet on the counter as she pulled her money from inside the wallet.

This small amount of bills represented all of her tangible worth in the world- once it was gone… I'm not going to think about that now, she thought. She quickly counted the bills, sliding the majority of the money across the counter. Her stomach rumbled, reminding her that the last ten dollars left in her hand had to feed her until she could find a job.

"I'll need your ID." The clerk looked the Texas driver's license over. "Bailan McGregor. Don't think I've heard that name before."

Bailan attempted a weak smile that didn't quite make it to her eyes. She flicked her long, brown hair out of her face. Three days of travel had left her dirty, tired, and hungry. Right now, all she wanted was a bath and a bed.

"Ma'am, you don't know where I can get the classified ads by any chance?" Bailan asked as she was handed her ID back.

"New in town are you?" The clerk looked behind her. "No one joining you in the room? You're not one of 'those' kinds of girls… are you?"

"No, ma'am." Bailan felt her cheeks blush. Definitely not one of those kinds of girls, she thought to herself.

"The name's not ma'am- it's Mrs. Colton. Here, you can have mine. I'm done with it." The clerk looked marginally less suspicious of Bailan as she handed her the paper and room key.

"Thank you."

"Money's due by 2:00 p.m. Saturday or you get checked out of here courtesy of the Shreveport Sheriff's Department." Dismissing the young girl, Mrs. Colton promptly turned her back and began watching the small TV again. Bailan exited and started to walk around the outside of the building to find her room. She had three days to find a job and some money.

The mechanical grating sound of a dump truck lifting a dumpster drew her attention. It appeared to be emptying the trash for a building right across the street from the motel. Fangtasia: The Bar with a Bite, the awning read. What a crazy name is that for a bar? she wondered. Just then, her eyes immediately fixated on a sign hanging on the bar's blacked out window. It was the solution to all her present monetary problems- HELP WANTED.

She couldn't help the spurt of excitement that flowed through her. With renewed hope, Bailan found her room and rushed to take a much needed shower. Taking her only extra pair of clothes to change into and putting them on, she quickly fixed her face with the dwindling supply of makeup she had left.

Well, I'm not interviewing for a CEO position, I guess this will have to do, she thought, viewing her dark blue jeans and white button up shirt in the small bathroom mirror. Her hair was neatly contained in a wet ponytail that was drying slowly in the high humidity of Shreveport.

Rummaging through her backpack, Bailan made sure she had her ID, social security card, and birth certificate all in her wallet before she grabbed her room key and left the room. She went down the back of the motel a little ways then crossed the street to the bar where she found the door locked.

No, this can't be happening! This is the perfect place to work at- it's within walking distance. Great! Just another item to add to my 'life sucks' list, she practically screamed in her head. Frustrated, she kicked the metal door. The unexpected force of the kick shook the door on its hinge.

The woman who opened the door had the typical bar fly look that Bailan had seen countless times before. She dressed well below her age in a pair of cut off shorts that barely covered her spider veined legs and a Fangtasia tank top that did little to hide her silicone breasts that threatened to fall out. Her skin showed the wear and tear of a life spent drinking and any number of other things.

"What the fuck! Are you trying to knock down the door?" Ginger opened the door to find a girl standing there with a startled look on her face.

Whoa, did I do that? Bailan wondered.

"I'm sorry. I was just…um…yah, well I saw that you are hiring. What kind of position are you hiring for?"

"It's for a waitressing position. Are you looking for work?" Ginger asked Bailan.

"Yes, I am. Could I maybe fill out an application and speak to the manager?"

"Come sit down at the bar, I'll get you a packet to fill out." Ginger led Bailan to the bar and looked under the cash register to find the application packet. She slid it across to Bailan, along with a pen.

The application was the generic type Bailan had filled out any number of times in the past. It asked all the same general questions she answered in no time at all. She mentally prepared herself for the harder questions that would come during the interview and after. There were sure to be questions about her past, and Bailan just wasn't sure how to answer those yet. She couldn't rationally answer them for herself even.

She realized she hadn't even looked around the bar, until after she was done filling out the application. The lights were on, so the black paint showed every flaw the place held. The floor also showed how dirty it truly was- no matter how much it got mopped. She had worked in her share of bars and knew they were designed to only look right under the strategic dark lighting that was created to add to the night club ambience.

The color scheme was red and black with Fangtasia placed in various places throughout. The name still seemed a little odd. Slowly other details came to Bailan. She noticed the sign which read 'No Biting on the Premises Allowed.' It was entirely possible this wasn't your average neighborhood hangout. She glanced over at the woman who had let her in earlier.

"What kind of bar is this exactly?" Bailan asked.

"Vampire." Bailan was startled when the answer came from behind her. Bailan swung around to see a blonde walking towards her. Bailan didn't know how she knew, but this was not a regular human approaching her. The new woman looked like any other well dressed business woman on the outside, but something else screamed predator to Bailan.

"I see you have filled out an application. I have a moment available. I will interview you now. I am Pam, half owner of the bar." Bailan handed the application to the blonde and stood there while Pam read it over. She became uncomfortable when she noticed Pam had looked away from the paper and focused her attention on her body.

Pam's ardent gaze trailed over the young woman. Her application said she was 22, but she could easily pass for 17 or 18 with that innocent face. She did have a nice body underneath those horrendous clothes. Pam took in her tight blue jeans, country girl button up shirt, and worn cowboy boots.

"Your name is Bailan? That's a usual name. Does it mean anything?"

"I wouldn't know. It was the name given to me."

"Ooh that sounds so mysterious, and I do love a good mystery." Pam's eyes glittered as if a nice big juicy steak had been placed in front of her.

"Well there's not much of a mystery, ma'am." Bailan took a step backwards, uncomfortable, from the woman's gaze. "The people who found me brought me to the police. I was abandoned as a newborn."

"Your past jobs in your application are located in Texas. Are you from Texas? You are not running from problems with the law are you?" Pam sniffed the air delicately, which confused Bailan.

Did I remember to put on deodorant? Bailan wondered.

"No problems with the law, ma'am. Boy problems," Bailan replied cryptically with a blush. She was glad Pam hadn't questioned her further on her birth, but it was almost worse she wanted to know how she had come to be here.

"Shame. Of course you'd be that kind of girl." Bailan couldn't be sure but she thought she'd just been hit on in a roundabout way by a lesbian vampire. By the looks she was getting from Pam and her comments, it was clear Pam was batting for the other team.

Since it was better to err on the side of caution, Bailan pretended not to notice the comments, "Pardon me, ma'am?"

"It's Pam." Her predatory look was gone- her stare was all business again. "Now I have to ask. You seem like this is not your usual type of bar, so why would you even want to work here?"

"You're right. This isn't my thing, but I need a job, desperately, and you are hiring. At this point I would do anything for work."

"Anything, Bailan? You will work at a bar serving vampires blood- knowing that every time you walk by they are thinking about drinking your blood instead of the imitation you are giving them?"

Bailan didn't even pause before answering. "Yes. For the right amount of money everyone has a price."

"Our waitresses tend to do very well for themselves. However, most of them are here for the opportunity to serve us in every way." Pam looked her over again. She could be stunning under all of those country bumpkin clothes she covers herself with, Pam thought to herself. "Do you think you can fit the part?"

"I've spent my entire life blending into my surroundings. I had to adapt to whoever I was living with in order to fit in. I can adapt to anything you want me to."

Pam thought over her words for a moment, then walked to the till in the bar. She pulled out some cash and handed it across the bar to Bailan who looked at her skeptically.

"This is an advance on your first check so you better last at least two weeks. Go to this store and ask to talk to the owner, her name is Gwynn- tell her you need to be dressed for my approval. I expect you here by sunset tomorrow night."

"I got the job?"

"On a trial basis. Don't fuck up."

Bailan smiled and took a step back. In her excitement she hadn't heard the person walk up behind her and she felt her body crash into a hard, rock pillar. She turned to see what she had bumped into and found her gaze traveling up a broad t-shirt clad chest up to a pair of arctic blue eyes attached to one of the most handsome men she had ever seen.

Immediately, Bailan sensed that same predatory vibe as she got from Pam. This was a new feeling for her, something she had never sensed before, of course, Mr. Gorgeous was a vampire too.

"Excuse me. I should have paid better attention. I'm Bailan." She was talking too quickly, but she couldn't seem to stop. Bailan stretched out her hand for a friendly shake. The tall vampire looked at the hand distastefully and walked around Bailan without a word.

"Are you hiring just anyone who comes off the street, Pam?" he said, ignoring Bailan further.

"Bailan, this is Eric." Pam ignored her master's comments and moved to stand by the young girl, helping to bring down her outstretched hand, shaking her head at Bailan, letting her know vampires don't shake hands.

"It's nice to meet you, Eric. Do you work here too?" What an asshole, she thought. But I have to work with him, so I better keep that feeling to myself. I don't want to ruffle any feathers on the day I get hired.

She figured he was the bartender since he had a liquor bottle in each hand. Well, he's not a total loss, at least he's got a nice ass, she thought as he stood in front of her. Among other things

His being the bartender meant she would have some eye candy to look at every time she needed to go to the bar for more drinks.

"At times," he answered her with a small smirk.

"Well I should go. See ya'll tomorrow." Bailan turned and took the information on the store from Pam and hurried out- feeling the weight of the two vampire's stares on her back as she walked away.

"Is that my new waitress?" Eric asked.

"Yes."

"She doesn't look like much, but she smells delicious."

"If there is one thing I know, it is human women. Based on her answers in the interview, I can assure you won't be disappointed."

"Well, now that sounds promising. However, if it doesn't work out I may make you hire men from now on." Eric walked away before Pam could comment. He was skeptical, but he agreed that Pam had an eye for finding beautiful women. He thought at least it would be amusing to play with the innocent country girl-she'd scare easy.

******

The following afternoon, Bailan sat at the little dining table in her motel room with her remaining makeup and hair supplies scattered all around. Her hair was washed and styled in big waves and she was just finishing up the dramatic eye makeup. She eyed the clothes lying on the bed again. She'd never paid so much for something that covered so little. She had always purchased clothes for their functionality and longevity, not for their appeal on her body.

When she finished applying on her makeup, she took her time putting on her new clothes. There were a few other outfits she had purchased, but the store owner, Gwynn, insisted she wear this outfit first for Pam. She took one last look in the mirror. She had never known she could look like this.

A woman stood looking back at her- whereas before she always looked like a teenager. Since she only had to cross the street, she made it to work just as the sun was setting. Bailan took one last nervous inventory of her outfit before she walked back into Fangtasia. It was almost opening, so only the lights needed to set the mood were on.

It looked almost sensual inside, and Bailan felt better about the clothing. Two other women were looking Bailan over and their looks were faintly hostile. She didn't know how, but she knew these women were just human and not vampire. Their clothes were not as tight or risqué but she guessed Gwynn had dressed her with the same general idea.

Bailan didn't let the women's reactions get to her, their reactions were the same she had gotten countless times over the years. She was an outsider, even to the other orphans, all growing up. She would stay with a family for a few months and then would be shipped back to the system. Each time the family couldn't say why, only that she made them uncomfortable.

"Don't you just look- edible. Bailan, if I didn't know your fantastic scent I wouldn't have recognized you." Pam walked around her slowly talking in every detail. "Gwynn is very good. Although no matter how good the clothes, it's your body that makes them so sexy. It's a shame you waste all this on such an unworthy creature as the human male." Pam was smug as she took another look at her new hire.

Bailan's hair which had previously looked mousy brown in a ponytail, was now curled around her face and shoulders in heavy auburn waves. The body concealing jeans and blouse from yesterday were replaced by a revealing miniskirt and matching corset, all in black.

Pam was surprised at the ample cleavage of such a thin girl. She was thin, but her muscle tone hinted at a past of heavy athletics. She was several inches taller then yesterdays 5'6", due to the knee high black stiletto boots that did amazing things to Bailan's legs. The country bumpkin was going to grab some attention alright.

"We open in a few minutes, so let me show you where you will be and what you need to know." Pam turned and Bailan followed her. It was her turn to observe her boss now. Bailan thought Pam had an alter ego too. Yesterday, she wore a blue power suit and today she was decked out like every stereotype that Hollywood had perpetuated before the vampire's Great Reveal. It didn't take long for Pam to explain everything before she headed to the door to start letting the customers in for the night.

Before her first table filled, she as able to catch sight of the bartender, Eric, as he grabbed something off the bar and walked to the back. He was wearing black jeans and black button up shirt. The dark colors set off his pale complexion and golden blonde hair to perfection.

"The master wouldn't approve of you standing here gawking and not working," one of the other waitresses said as she stood next to Bailan.

"Nice to meet you, I'm Bailan." Bailan smiled warmly at the girl.

"Harmony," she replied and walked away.

Bailan shrugged it off and went to work. It took a little getting used to serving the synthetic blood, but she was proud of how fast she got over it. At one point, she was standing next to Harmony waiting for the drinks, when she noticed the empty throne.

"What's with the throne?" she asked Harmony who rolled her eyes.

"That's where the master sits," she huffed.

"Who?" Bailan asked.

"God, whatever rock you crawled out from under you should go back." Harmony grabbed her last drink and walked away leaving Bailan staring at her with her mouth wide open.

Some time later, Bailan was running drinks when she saw Eric beckoning to her. If you could call a little eyebrow raise beckoning, but Bailan understood he wanted to see her. She had wondered where he went as she hadn't seen him behind the bar, but figured he had not been scheduled for the night after all when she noticed another female work behind the bar all night. She approached the throne with caution; she didn't want her bosses catching her going up there. However, she felt compelled to talk to the hot vampire.

His nostrils flared slightly as she approached. She had noticed this happening throughout the night around the vampires. No one had said she stunk so she took it as a compliment on her scent.

"I knew I caught your scent, but I would not have recognized you. Quite the change from yesterday," he said as he leaned casually in his chair.

"Should you be sitting here?" Bailan asked nervously, his scrutiny made her nervous in the way a girl got when she knew she was being admired by a man she was attracted to. He made her feel like she was standing naked in front everyone in the room. "Won't the boss, eh, master get mad?"

Eric was shocked that she still didn't know who he was. He couldn't help looking her over again. Pam definitely knew how to pick them.

"You know the saying about the cat being away and the mice playing? Want to play with me, Bailan?" He watched as she blushed hotly.

"I think I should get back to my tables. Bye, Eric. Make sure to steer clear of any mouse traps. There are some traps you just can't wiggle out of." She smiled at him and her green eyes sparkled with mischief.

The fun I will have with this one, he thought as he watched her make her way deeper into the crowd.

Once the bar finally closed, Bailan hurried to perform her closing duties before she collapsed at a table to do her closing paperwork. Her feet were throbbing as she sat and totaled her credit card slips and cash payments.

The other waitresses still hadn't spoken to her and they were keeping to themselves. This suited Bailan just fine. She wasn't here to make friends- she was here for the money. She gathered her paperwork and waited for her name to be called.

"The master will see you now," Harmony stopped by the table to say.

"Where?"

Harmony huffed and pointed to the hallway where the employee locker room was located.

"He owns this bar. His office is through there."

Tiredly, Bailan got up and made her way down the hallway. It was all dark except for a lone doorway- she walked up and peered inside to see Pam standing beside Eric, who was seated at a large wooden desk. She spotted an executive name plate on his desk which read Eric Northman.

Clearly not a bartender, she thought bitterly. Bailan's feet hurt and she was tired, and all she wanted was a good strong drink and a bed, even if that bed was a scratchy hard mattress and sheets at the motel across the street.

Bailan was embarrassed and angry. She considered herself a smart person. This vampire in front of her had made her feel stupid. The embarrassment faded and the anger took center stage. He had played with her. She strode into the office without waiting for an invitation. Her anger increased as she was ignored by both vampires.

"Pam, I believe the new girl is angry about something." Eric addressed Pam without looking up. He could almost feel it coming off of Bailan. Interesting. The country Miss has a temper, he thought. It made it all the more fun to have run his little charade out.

"It appears so. It looks good on her though," Pam replied and Eric finally looked up. Pam was right. She looked almost dangerous. This human was turning out to be downright entertaining.

"I am in this room, you can address me," Bailan all but growled. She was unreasonably mad and she chalked that up to being tired, hungry, and sore.

"You can be sure we know you are here. That delicious scent of yours is even better in your anger. Whether or not we address you or not is our prerogative. What has you all fired up?"

"You," Bailan spat. "You treated me like an idiot."

"How could I have done that when we've barely talked before now?"

"You let me go on thinking you were a bartender. I guess you'll expect me to call you master as well?"

Somehow he didn't find that as appealing as he usually did. He'd have her subservient before him eventually, but not in the way that she was expecting. He smirked at the thought.

Bailan, you have just sealed a deal with the devil, Pam thought. Bailan had no chance of getting away from Eric with her skin unbroken, now that the gauntlet had been thrown.

"While that has certain appeal to it, I don't expect you to call me master. I introduced myself as Eric, you may call me that."

"Mr. Northman suits me just fine, thank you," Bailan told him as she handed over her paperwork. She was ready to be in a hot bath. "Will I be on the schedule tomorrow night?" She addressed her question to Pam. Pam looked at Eric so quickly, Bailan didn't pick up on the silent conversation. Eric gave his consent.

"It depends. Did you make the kind of money you would do anything for?" Pam asked referring to their interview conversation. Bailan smiled and laughed. It changed her entire face from the anger that had clouded it before.

"Maybe not enough to do anything, but enough to make it worth my while to come back and do it again. Besides, I owe you two weeks."

"Yes, you do," Pam responded with a slight smile of her own. Bailan turned and left without a word to Eric.

"You like that human," he said to Pam.

"No more than you, and probably for the same reasons." Eric smiled at her answer- she was right. Perhaps Bailan could offer some distraction while he figured out his complicated situation with Sookie.

*****

Sighing in bliss, Bailan slid into the hot bath water she had just drawn. Her life was a crazy mess right now but at this moment all her problems seemed so far away. At least she had made enough tips to put some food in her stomach and pay for another couple of nights at the motel. Perhaps tips would be even better the next night, since it was Saturday.

In the lonely little bathroom, she thought about the scene in Eric's office. She had been closer to losing control tonight than she had since that awful night back in Houston, a year ago. She didn't think she was capable of killing a vampire. If she would've lost control tonight she didn't think they would have wasted even one second to kill her.

She would have to use even more caution. Sleep was starting to claim her, but there was one more thing she needed to do before she could allow herself that luxury. After draining the water in the tub, Bailan put on a worn out Metallica t-shirt and a pair of jeans.

She didn't even bother with shoes as she made her way to the reception desk. This time there was an older man on duty. He looked her over with a criticizing eye. Clearly, he was curious about this young looking girl walking into his office just after sunrise.

"I'm Bailan. I'm in room 104. I need to pay for two more nights."

"Hmm," he grunted as he took the money she handed to him.

"I'll need a receipt showing I've paid until Monday." Bailan was skeptical of the man. The man huffed, but wrote the receipt and handed it to Bailan. He promptly turned his back and ignored her. She took the paper and went back to her room.

The red digital 7:45 AM blared out of the ancient bedside clock as she slid into the scratchy sheets. She would just have to get used to her temporary situation. She would work as many hours as possible for the next two weeks, saving as much as she could. Once she paid Pam back the advancement, she was gone. She would leave Shreveport far behind her. Sleep claimed her in moments and she didn't stir until nearly seven that evening- feeling so much better when she woke.

*****

Bailan repeated her hair and makeup routine from the day before. I have to go get some more makeup, Bailan thought as she bleakly looked at her meager supply. Bailan looked at the second outfit that Gwynn had sold her the day she had gone shopping. A pair of black leather pants, that fit like a second skin, and a top that was a deep black- red low cut halter top. The top stopped just before her midriff. She had one last outfit, but she wasn't quite ready for that one just yet.

To her inexperienced eyes, she thought she looked like a dominatrix. This effect was increased when she added the black stiletto boots from the night before over the pants and laced them up. She didn't have all that much experience with sex and she had never seen a dominatrix, but she pictured them as looking like this. Judging by the growing darkness outside it was time to work, so she grabbed her wallet and walked across the street to Fangtasia.

When Bailan walked into the employee break room, Harmony was in there finishing up her excessive makeup. The older woman's eyes roamed over Bailan. Harmony rolled her eyes and Bailan hid a smile. What the hell, I know I look hot. Bailan walked out of the room without saying a word to Harmony and got to work.

*****

Bailan knew when Pam and Eric walked into the bar later in the evening, the whole atmosphere changed. It was like the two of them brought a new sense of intimacy. They made a show of walking around letting the humans see them, in all their vampire glory. Bailan laughed to herself. I guess when you have it, you know it.

Fangtasia got busier as the night went on, and Bailan hustled to keep up with the pace. She enjoyed being busy- it made everything else fade out of her mind. Returning from the bar with a tray full of drinks, she was knocked off balance by two human fangbangers who were trying to impress the amused vampiress they were accompanying.

Bailan bent down to begin picking up the mess of glass before anyone could step on it. The two men, who from appearances seemed to be identical twins, continued their pushing match above her. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a blur of movement as Eric moved with his incredible speed to break things up. The two fangbangers looked terrified and the vampiress lost all amusement at Eric's lethal look.

So, he is a powerful as he looks, Bailan mused as she watched everyone shrink back from him.

"Thalia, are these two with you?" Eric questioned.

"This is Brody and Gentry. They are my amusement tonight." Thalia told Eric with one of her most charming smiles. "They are just so excitable, in all the right ways."

"I believe we have spoken about your conduct in the past. Having brawls in my club is not what I would consider good behavior."

Gently, Bailan stood up and carried the tray of glass to the trash can closest by the back door. She didn't want to interrupt the conversation going on between the two vampires.

They don't pay me enough for this shit. Let someone else can clean up the synthetic blood and alcohol, she figured as she started to throw the glass debris away. She was careful to hold the tray away from her body, to keep the liquid from pouring onto her clothes.

Her tray tipped slightly off balance and a broken True Blood bottle rolled off onto the carpeted floor, landing on the thick bottom and didn't shatter any further. She bent down to pick it up, and as she stood to drop the piece into the bin, the jagged edge sliced her thumb.

"Shit," she muttered and angrily dumped the remaining glass into the can. The blood was oozing now. She started to bring her thumb to her mouth when her wrist was suddenly snatched in a strong grip. She turned her head and looked into Eric's gaze.

"Mr. Northman…" She was cut off when he brought her finger to his own mouth.

"Allow me," he said with a husky voice and a devilish glint in his eyes. She felt a tingling sensation that went straight from her hand to her core, as he drew more blood from the tiny wound with the gentle suction of his mouth. She shivered when she felt the cool glide of his tongue on her sensitized skin.

Why don't I find this scary or gross? Why is it turning me on? Something stirred deep inside Bailan. A building arousal that was unfamiliar to her in the past.

Eric knew he had to stop; the tiny wound was already closing up. Her blood was the single most extraordinary thing he had tasted. The first taste of her reminded him of the distant memory of mead. She was bitter at first, but then the flavors melted on his tongue into a honey sweet finish. This girl was definitely not human. Is she human at all? He had never tasted anything like her in all his existence, not even Sookie had such a distinct taste.

She gently began pulling her hand from his grip and he allowed her to take it back. Eric felt a jolt as her blood flowed throughout his body, making it feel like each nerve was alive with electricity. Even that tiny amount gave him a rush. She is intoxicating. Fuck! I want more.

The urge to take her to his office and bury his fangs inside her was starting to take hold. The siren's call of her blood was overriding his better judgment. He was about to give into his most primal urges when they were interrupted.

"Eric."

He offered no verbal response, he only turned to look at his child with a feral growl.

"Forgive me, master, they are here," she informed him meekly and then promptly walked away.

"We will discuss this later, Bailan," he said as he willed his fangs to retract.

Bailan opened her mouth in mute shock at what had just happened. Before she could say 'Discuss what?' her hair swished around her, as Eric disappeared with a whoosh from her sight.

Bailan managed to close her mouth and took a deep breath before she got back to work. Across the room, Harmony, had watched the entire scene with jealousy burning behind her brown eyes.

The bitch likes to get her blood sucked? Maybe she'd like to get drained too? Harmony's dark thoughts festered as she watched Bailan go back to work. For the remainder of the night, Eric and Pam never came back out of the office.

*****

A little while later, Bailan walked up to the bar to pick up another order. Her body twitched inexplicably and her right arm began to sting. She looked down in surprise and saw the blood trickling from a thin cut across her bicep. Quickly looking around, she saw Harmony tossing a small razor blade- the kind used to open new inventory into the trash. Bailan slapped her free hand over the bleeding cut out of instinct.

As she walked, she noted several vampires were sniffing the air and turning to look towards her. Bailan rapidly made her way to the break room- she remembered seeing a first aid kit in there. It only took her a moment to locate the supplies. Eric's office was next door and she hoped he didn't get the scent of the blood through the closed doors- she really couldn't deal with him right now.

Bailan had to hurry and get back to her tables. I'm not about to let that fangbanging whore cost me my job.

Bailan was trying to tear open the small packet of Neosporin with her left hand and teeth when a gust of wind pushed her face first up against the wall. She couldn't see her attacker, but the lack of body heat and the rock hard strength meant vampire. The attacker squeezed her right arm tearing open the thin wound and causing more blood to flow out. Bailan couldn't keep in the whimper of pain. It felt as if he had ripped her arm completely open.

"I want to see you," a male voice hissed in her left ear. Disgusted, Bailan could feel his erection on her lower back. She was repulsed and felt the power inside her coming to life.

No, not now Bailan. Control yourself, she pleaded to herself.

"Leave me alone. I don't want to hurt you." She was more afraid of the darkness inside her than this vampire, at the moment.

"As if you could hurt me," he laughed darkly. She heard him fumbling to unzip his pants. She cringed when she felt him lick the line of blood that was trailing down her arm to her fingertips. When he kept squeezing her arm in his painful grip, the cut seemed to widen and bleed more freely.

Feeling him finally release his hardened erection from his pants, Bailan's fear and anger was set free and the vampire sailed across the break room crashing against the shelves. Bailan started shaking, the power within her was too much for her to control.

Instantly, the vampire got up with a malicious killing glint in her eyes.

"Someone who can fight back- how exciting." He lunged towards her. In one moment the vampire was lunging for her then faster than she could comprehend a gust of wind and a grunt of paint made her turn her head to see the vampire being pinned by the neck to the wall- Eric's eyes blazed murder, as he looked between the vampire and Bailan.

"Leave. NOW!"

Bailan went as fast as her shaky legs would carry her. As she exited, she noticed two other vampires standing just inside the door watching the scene unfold. One was a Hispanic male and the other a stern looking business woman.

Standing outside the door, Pam pointed Bailan to Eric's open office door. Pam followed behind her silently. They only had to wait a few moments before Eric walked into the office trailed by the other two vampires. Bailan was uncomfortable with all of the fangs being shown in the room. The door closed behind them with a menacing click. Pam and Bailan were seated on the couch side by side. The vampires flared their nostrils when they smelled the blood that was still trickling down her arm.

Though Bailan was covering the wound, the once tiny line had been torn into a larger wound now. Bailan watched as Eric grabbed an identical first aid kit to the one she had been attempting to use. He got a towel and a bottle of water. Sitting down on the other side of Bailan he wet the towel and began cleaning the blood that was drying down her arm and finger tips. The room was silent as he worked.

He moved her hand and looked the ragged wound over. The sight of her blood, with its taste so fresh on his tongue from earlier, beckoned to Eric. With his new king in the room, he knew he had to tread carefully. Fuck I just need a taste. So fucking good. "Hold still while I seal the wound- you won't need stitches." He leaned over and licked the wound on her arm.

Bailan opened her mouth to protest but the look Eric shot her closed her mouth immediately. She watched as the wound quit bleeding and seemed to scab over. Wrapping a bandage around her arm, he wet the towel again and handed it to Bailan to finish cleaning the dried blood from her arm and fingers. He settled in next to her, and gave his attention to the other male vampire. With the fresh smell of blood dissipating, the tension eased and all the vampires pulled in their fangs.

"Never a dull moment in your club- I gather?"

"Your Majesty, this is Bailan McGregor. Bailan is my newest donor and sometimes waitress."

"Eric, you have the most interesting and beautiful help," Felipe said sniffing the unique scent of Bailan with interest. Pam gently moved closer to Bailan on the couch. Eric thought quickly.

I have to keep her until I can figure her out, Eric didn't feel like sharing his newest toy with Felipe de Castro.

"Bailan only helps out when I allow her. She generally keeps busy entertaining me," he lied smoothly.

"She is your human, Eric?" Felipe asked eyeing Bailan's reaction closely. She didn't act like a human enthralled with a vampire. She didn't smell like Eric, and as far as he could tell her skin was unmarred by fang marks.

"Yes, she is my entertainment." Eric and Pam both put hidden, but menacing, hands on Bailan when her mouth opened to protest.

"I have to wonder how Sookie feels about your little pet? Could it be that you and Sookie are not as close as I once thought?" Felipe asked in a casual manner, the same predatory gleam in his eyes.

I need to get her the fuck out of here. Eric thought as his mind raced with the myriad of complications that were being thrust into his life by Bailan and Sookie. "Your Majesty, there are things that are not said but understood- Sookie is aware I must feed. Now, if we are done, I know you have that fledgling to handle and I need to get my pet home to check for damage. If she was damaged in any way I will want compensation," Eric said as he stood pulling Bailan up beside him.

"Of course," Felipe replied with a suspicious and calculating glint in his predatory eyes. Eric shot Bailan a quelling glance that left no room for her to protest his motivations. Eric quickly led Bailan out of Fangtasia and to his Corvette waiting outside. He didn't dare speak to her until they were half way to Bon Temps.

"What are you Bailan?"

"I don't know what you are talking about."

"I saw what you did back there to that vampire!"

"I…don't know anything." Bailan looked out the windows into the pitch black night. She was frantic. Is he taking me out to the middle of nowhere to kill me and get rid of my body?

"Either you trust me and tell me what is going on with you, or you will find yourself in Nevada- the latest acquisition of the King of Nevada and Louisiana."

"Well excuse the fuck out of me. The next time I'm attacked by one of your psycho fuck buddies, I'll be sure to consult your schedule first." Her anger was getting out of control again. Normally her powers lay deep inside but after her attack earlier they were right below the surface.

"Calm the fuck down," he commanded as he fought to control the vibrating steering wheel. Bailan was literally shaking the car. "I know I would survive the wreck but I doubt you would. Plus, I really like this car." His attempt at humor made Bailan smile slightly and the vibrations calmed. "Better. Now, what do you mean you were attacked?"

"That waitress, Harmony, cut me on purpose." Bailan watched as he opened his cell phone and tapped out a text faster than she had ever seen. He closed his phone and returned his attention back to the road. "Mr. Northman, I didn't mean to make trouble. I can't control this thing."

"Have you always been able to do that?" he asked.

Her words started to flow unchecked at the tremendous speeds only the nervous can achieve. Eric let her rant while he noticed the seductive way her breasts rose and fell with her excited breathing.

"No. I was normal until a year ago. I was finishing up my bachelor's degree at Rice. I was studying to be a history professor. There was this guy that I was dating casually. He treated me nice. Most people steer clear of me when they meet me, he was different. We went out to the movies occasionally, that kind of thing. One night he showed up at my dorm room while my roommate was over at her boyfriend's house for the night.

"I could tell that he had been drinking, so I told him he could sleep it off in my roommate's bed. We were making out on the couch a little, but he got all weird on me. I told him that I was tired and I wanted to go to sleep. He got angry at me and tried to force himself on me. One second he was on top of me pinning my arms down, and then the next he was thrown across the room.

"He hit the wall and then rolled to the floor. I packed my backpack with clothes and anything of mine that had some value. I have been running ever since then. Until tonight, that hadn't happened again." Bailan paused and thought about that night. Things she had never noticed before clicked into place.

The coldness of her boyfriend's skin, the look in his eyes and so many other tiny details that she had never thought to pay attention to before. "Well fuck me! That son of a bitch was a fucking vampire!" Bailan looked over to Eric and caught him staring at her breasts. "Are you hearing me?"

"Of course, every word." His fangs were peaking out and Bailan huffed.

I've just had my world tilted on its axis for the second time tonight and that son of a bitch is oogling my breasts!

Bailan brooded the rest of the time it took for them to pull up to a white house out in the middle of the woods. She licked her lips and swallowed quickly to wet her mouth from disuse before asking where they were. Eric's quick look kept the words from leaving her mouth. Bailan noticed that security lights lit up the yard like an all night truck stop. He parked in the back of the house, next to another car. Together they got out and walked up the back porch.

Bailan became aware of a headache she hadn't noticed before. Did it just start? Bailan wondered. She waited behind Eric as he knocked and waited for someone to answer him. The house was dark and lights began coming on as a person made their way to the back door.

Her headache was increasing rapidly. The door was answered by a buxom blonde with blue eyes and the look of a southern belle. Bailan noticed she was frowning until she saw that her guest was Eric. Bailan also noticed that the tension in Eric's back left when he saw the blonde.

The woman opened the door, "What do you want Eric? I haven't invited you back inside, in case you were wondering." Bailan heard the girl trying to sound mad, but even she could tell the blonde wasn't really mad to see Eric on her porch in the middle of the night.

"Good evening, Sookie, I have need of your abilities." So quickly that Sookie and Bailan missed the movement, he grabbed Bailan's bandaged arm squeezing it just hard enough to make Bailan whimper and reopen the healing wound. As he predicted, Sookie's attention was drawn from him to Bailan.

"Bringing your work home now, Eric? You should take better care of your friends- she doesn't look so good." Sookie looked the girl over. Nice hooker boots. She took in the ample breasts, which looked like they would make an appearance at any moment. Her gaze fixated on the sight of Bailan draped over the powerful arm of "her" Viking. "I just swept this porch and she's bleeding all over it. You better bring her inside. Oh that's right…you can't." Sookie smirked.

Eric looked at Sookie deeply, two pairs of blue eyes challenging the other. He did not back down.

"Oh fine, only because your little fangbanger looks like she might pass out on the spot. Eric, won't you please come in?"

Fangbanger? Bailan looked the other woman over. She looked smug and Bailan didn't like her on principle alone. Fine, let the bitch think I'm hooking up with her piece of ass. She's lucky my head hurts to bad to bitch slap her.

Sookie stood aside as Eric filled the kitchen with his size. "Come to the living room."

These two have some history together, Bailan thought and was appalled by the small hint of jealousy in her thoughts.

"Eric, what's happened? This had better be good too. I know I'm going to regret letting you back in after what you did- leaving me to fend off Andre at the summit. You could have stopped all that and let me take your blood."

"You refused to be bonded to me seeing how your tiger had you all tied in knots. And where did that get you? Where is the tiger now?"

Sookie looked as though she had been slapped. Eric took a haggard breath and continued, "Sookie, that hardly matters now with the way things have turned out. Andre is dead and Felipe is now the King of Louisiana. That is not the problem at hand."

Bailan watched the exchange between Eric and Sookie and she got the impression they were talking silently with meaningful looks alone. Some serious history, Bailan amended in her thoughts.

"I'm Sookie Stackhouse, welcome to my home." Extending her hand to Bailan for a handshake, Bailan took the other woman's hand to return the gesture. Immediately Bailan's head felt like it was being ripped apart and she yanked her hand away from Sookie. She stepped back and raised her right hand in defense. The power was right there for Bailan to draw on to defend herself. Eric moved between the two women.

"Why am I here? Who are you? Why the fuck are you trying to hurt me, Eric? I have been completely honest with you." Bailan shifted her focus between the two of them. She didn't want either of them being able to get the jump on her.

"Sookie?" Eric demanded, not taking his eyes off of Bailan. He could feel the waves of anger and hurt vibrating off Bailan's body.

Sookie stood there concentrating all her attention on Bailan and the headache increased tenfold inside Bailan's head. "I don't get anything, Eric. I mean I hear the hum of thoughts but the harder I try the harder they are to hear. Usually touch brings things clearer but this time it just shut me out entirely. What is she? Can you glamour her?" Sookie asked.

Eric moved closer to Bailan and looked into her eyes. He kept her attention and tried to transmit the glamour in the same way he had done for a thousand years. And for the second time in that same amount of time, he was unable to glamour another human.

Bailan doubled over in pain screaming. The room seemed to pulse and things began to fall off the walls and shelves. He stopped when she broke eye contact and watched as Bailan slid to the floor bringing her knees up to her chest.

Sookie rushed out of the room to calm the two witches, Amelia and Octavia, who had come to investigate the commotion. She sent them back to their rooms with the assurance that all was fine and she would explain in the morning.

Eric's phone rang and he had a quick conversation before hanging it up and putting it back in the pocket of his jeans.

"Apparently Harmony has not lived up to her namesake. She confessed everything to Pam. I will get the entire story tomorrow."

Sookie walked back into the living room and looked at the brunette on the floor.

"Eric, will she be okay?"

"We have to go back tonight. There are things I need to be in Shreveport for when the sun goes down tomorrow." He turned to Bailan and leaned down to speak closer to her ear. "Bailan, we are leaving. Come with me now." Bailan didn't move.

Hauling her up into his arms they left as he said goodbye to Sookie. Bailan was unconscious with exhaustion as soon as he placed her in the passenger seat. She slept all the way back to the motel.

*****

Placing her on her feet he asked for the key. Eric silently thanked Pam for her quick thinking in grabbing her wallet and placing it in the car. He shoved her gently into the motel room and looked around at the run down room.

"The sun is rising and we have to talk. There is much you do not understand and I do not have time to explain it all right now. You are going to drink my blood and then we will talk tomorrow." That shocked Bailan into full wakefulness. "I have to know where you are." He bit into his own wrist and held it out for Bailan. "Drink now."

"No."

"This is not a request. You will drink or I will make you drink. I can glamour you into doing it. Imagine how much it would hurt if I were to really try to make the glamour work? Drink." Before she could protest again, the scent of his blood inexplicably called to Bailan.

Like a mirage of an oasis in a desert, Eric's flowing blood beckoned her for a taste of its sweet elixir. Hungrily, she placed her lips on his wrist, her body shuddering as her tongue came in contact with the red, juicy substance.

Damn, she thought. His blood did not have the same flavor – a coppery, bitter tang- that hers had. He tasted almost spicy. The taste of him was like the best scotch whiskey she had ever drunk. It made her mouth feel hot and then the flavor turned to a smoky spice. She couldn't contain the moan that rumbled in her throat as she drank deeply. He moaned in response and Bailan's eyes shot to his face. He looked like he was enjoying this as much as she was.

Eric's fangs ran out with his increasing arousal. "That's enough," he commanded huskily as Bailan moaned in response. He pulled his wrist away and took a step closer to Bailan. Her heaving breasts caressed his chest. The need to act on his arousal was only supplanted by the pull of the impending sunrise.

His eyes dilated in hunger as he watched her lick his blood from her plump lips. "I have to go. Be at Fangtasia by sunset. Don't make me come after you Bailan. I can track you now and the inconvenience will make me… " he trailed off but the devilish smile he gave her shot straight to her core. He started to reach out to her hair but at the last moment he pulled his hand away. Dammit, this is not Sookie. I shouldn't want her this way.

Leaving only the taste of his blood on her lips as a reminder he had been there, Bailan succumbed to the exhaustion. She slumped on the scratchy sheets, falling asleep dreaming of the sounds of battle- clanging swords, cries of death, and the tall Viking warrior that dealt it all with lethal enjoyment.


A/N: This is my first SVM fanfic so I appreciate all of your reviews. I'll love each of you oodles and oodles for letting me know what you think. Reviews are the energy drink of choice for my muses so keep them well hydrated please.- Tabi