A/N: Thanks to the astute reader who pointed out a gaffe in my own continuity (argh, you have no idea how that frustrates me lol) concerning Pam. At the time In Between takes place, Pam is still recovering from her severed arm. However, this is Pam we're talking about, and she probably got restless enough to go into work for at least a bit (and probably terrorized some Fangtasia clientèle due to the pain, and for sheer amusement). I'm still considering what, if anything other than Bill noting the partially missing limb, to add into the previous chapter. I'll work it out before the final edit (which I'm notoriously slow at getting around to, DtR is still waiting on final revision). I hope you can all look past my little 'oops' for now. Thanks, as always, for the great reviews!
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or stories from The Southern Vampire series. I can only hope that Ms. Harris does not mind me taking them out to play with.
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Bill sat with his back to the wall, arms resting over his bent knees. He'd need to feed to heal his injuries quickly, but at the moment he didn't care. The back door to Fangtasia was battering against the frame with the wind (Eric had broken the bottom hinge when he slammed it on his way back in). Bill inclined his head back against the brick, closing his eyes.
His thoughts were jumbled, but he was pointedly steering clear of examining Eric's words. Had they come from anyone else, Bill would probably have given them consideration, but nothing Eric said held any sway with him. Sure, one could argue his anger was clouding his mind, but he was a vampire, not a human in need of psycho-analysis. His opinions of Eric's motivations would not be called into question so easily.
Before he could sink any further into his thoughts, Bill became aware of a presence drawing closer. Another vampire. He flicked his gaze up, expecting to see Pam or Felicia, or some other equally annoying member of his kind. Instead his eyes beheld a stranger.
"Are... are you alright?" she asked tentatively, her voice soft and hinted with an accent. Cuban, Bill suspected.
It was an odd question, indeed, for a vampire to ask another. Bill recognized immediately that she was quite young, thinking she could not have been turned more than a year ago. The girl had approached from the parking lot, and looked quite out of place for Fangtasia. She was petite, barely five feet tall, with flawless, olive skin. Waves of thick, mocha colored hair pooled about her shoulders, framing an oval face and deep brown eyes. She had on just a hint of light, tasteful makeup. The girl wore one of those Mexican style, off the shoulder blouses that had little flowers embroidered along the top. It was paired with a long, white cotton skirt that billowed in the wind. She had red, cork-bottomed sandals that matched the embroidery of her blouse. Bill caught the scent of jasmine.
Despite his mood, there was something disarming about her, and he found his tone had reverted to his gentlemanly drawl when he addressed her.
"I am ... fine, thank you."
The girl gave him a look of uncertainty and was soon crouching down beside him, "Well, forgive me, but you don't look... fine." Her voice was gentle, not at all mocking. Bill was struck a bit by how she appeared both exotic and shy at the same time.
"I do thank you for your concern Miss..."
"Elana," she interjected.
He nodded his head slightly, "Miss Elana. I assure you, I am fine."
She nodded deeply, as if remembering herself, "Just Elana, Sir."
"Bill," he found himself answering.
Elana smiled nervously at him, and he couldn't help but find it endearing. He recalled his own trepidation at meeting other vampires after he'd been turned. Of course, Lorena had never been far, and was all too good at adding to his apprehension. He idly wondered where this girl's maker was.
"Wait here," she said, as if struck by an idea, and dashed off inside Fangtasia. Bill chuckled a bit to himself at her still very human mannerisms.
Elana re-emerged a few moments later, leading an obviously glamoured fangbanger by the arm. Bill arched a brow at her as Elana was nudging the fangbanger to kneel down beside him. The human swished her long red hair to one side, exposing her neck to him.
"Dinner is served," Elana grinned at him.
"Not here," Bill said coolly, even as his fangs ran out. There were strict rules about feeding in close proximity to Fangtasia. It wasn't that Bill gave a damn about Eric, but he didn't want to send the wrong message to this young vampire.
Elana glanced left then right, "I won't tell if you won't."
Bill hid his amusement at her child-like behavior, shaking his head and pushing the human aside as he rose to his feet. Elana moved like she wanted to help him up, but stopped herself, her inner debate showing clearly on her face. Bill nodded to her, assuring her she'd made the right choice. He grabbed the fangbanger's wrist to lead her to his car.
"Enjoy your evening, Elana."
"Oh... um..." she stammered.
Bill quirked a brow at her. She looked far more tense all of a sudden, shuffling her feet on the gravel.
"The Sheriff... is he... umm..." she trailed off.
Bill realized instantly that she must have just arrived in town and was here to present herself to Eric. He felt his shoulders sag just a bit. Elana must have noticed because she began wringing her hands.
"That bad?" she asked, her tone almost timid.
He felt a bit guilty that he'd added to her apprehension. As much as he may despise Eric, Bill's problems with him were his own. Even he had to admit that Eric was fair, as Sheriffs went. He considered his words carefully, murmuring into the human's ear to wait at his car. Once she was out of earshot, Bill cast his gaze to Elana's eyes, almost taken aback by the... innocence in them.
"No," he said gently, "Eric is... well-liked." He tried not to choke on the words. She was searching his eyes, as if looking for truth. He managed a small smile.
"I've never... done this before," she admitted.
He nodded, "First time... leaving the nest?" Bill said, attempting a colloquialism that would be familiar to her.
She bit at her lower lip, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. If he couldn't sense it, Bill would never have believed her a vampire. He wrestled inwardly with himself, knowing this could all be an act on her part. Yet, to his own alarm, he found himself empathizing with her.
"Do you... have a safe place to stay?" he asked tentatively.
She looked down at the ground embarrassedly, "I've been staying in Greenwood Cemetery."
Bill wrinkled his nose a bit. He was no stranger to going to ground in a pinch, but he was fortunate in that he'd always had his own safe haven. Hospitality was a value most vampires afforded each other, and perhaps his sense of it was stronger due to the time and place he'd been mortal. It certainly seemed her maker was none too concerned with her welfare, and Bill wondered how much she'd been taught about their ways.
"I can... offer you a safe place to stay," he said, careful his tone wasn't implying anything untoward. He was still a Southern gentleman in some ways.
She looked up, her eyes immediately brightening. "Well, let's get out of here!" she said, already turning to head to his car.
Bill smirked, shaking his head a bit, and followed her as she practically skipped to his car. What had he gotten himself into?
~*~*~
About an hour later they were pulling into the driveway of Bill's Bon Temps home. He had pulled over at a rest stop a little ways from Fangtasia to feed on the fangbanger, and was feeling mostly healed. Elana had wanted to watch him feed, but he wasn't sure about her level of control, so had told her to wait in the car. She did, though he thought he caught a little pouting about it. Bill called the human a cab, slipping her enough money for the fare, and then glamoured the memory from her. Even though fangbangers were willing donors, Bill despised feeding off them in general, and didn't want to chance them coming to him again with expectations.
The car ride consisted mostly of small talk. Bill learned that Elana had been a Cuban refugee in her mortal life, arriving in Florida at age sixteen. She'd taken full advantage of the 'American Dream', putting herself through college by working at a Miami nightclub. She'd earned a Bachelor's Degree in psychology, and had planned to go on to med school. Her story abruptly stopped there, and she made some excuse about liking the song on the radio, but Bill could fill in the gaps. Vampires were not allowed to practice medicine, and he had to assume being turned had cut her plans short. He had no idea if her turning had been consensual, but certainly wouldn't pry.
He moved around the car to open her door, struck again by how tiny she seemed as she brushed gracefully past him with a bit of a nervous smile. He turned to go in, but found his gaze lingering off in the direction of Sookie's house. Sometimes he thought he could catch her faint scent on the breeze, though it was probably only in his mind. He remembered the night he'd risen from his injuries, and how deftly Sookie had handled him. It still amazed him how brave she could be, though he would never stop fearing that it would get her killed someday.
"Who is she?" came Elana's soft voice at his side.
He startled a bit at her observation, flicking his gaze down at her.
"The look in your eyes," she said simply, "It's not an easy one to mistake."
He wouldn't... or couldn't, acknowledge how right she was. This wasn't a conversation he was willing to have, and certainly not with a virtual stranger. He moved past her to the front door, and luckily Elana didn't press the issue further.
"Please come in," he invited once inside.
She smiled and stepped over the threshold, taking in her surroundings. Bill had mostly completed the renovations to the old house, due in large part to Sookie's help. Even after all that happened, she had never stopped assisting him with the contractors when he asked, though Selah had taken over those duties for a time.
After giving Elana a quick tour, she went to warm some True Blood for them while Bill got a fire going. Even though he didn't need the warmth, he still enjoyed watching the firelight. It often helped him clear his head. Soon they were both settled at opposite ends of the sofa. They sat in silence for a time, sipping their drinks, pondering the evenings' events.
Bill found Elana's company oddly comforting. She seemed to sense when it was appropriate to carry on conversation, and when he needed silence. Venturing a glance toward her, she seemed as hypnotized by the fire as he had been. There was an air about her that was somehow both innocent and wise. She lifted her eyes to his, probably having sensed his gaze, and smiled gently, tucking her hair behind her ears. He'd already gathered it was a nervous habit of hers.
"Thank you for allowing me to share your home," she said softly, her accent just enough to be captivating, but not so much as to make her difficult to understand.
"You are welcome," he said, finding his own drawl a bit more pronounced.
In all honesty, Bill had no idea where he would go from this point. Perhaps she would stay the night, and be on her way the next. She did still need to check in with Eric, and Bill thought perhaps he'd offer to give her a bit of coaching, though he'd need to find a way to offer in a manner she wouldn't find insulting. He'd also realized that, other than a small shoulder bag, she didn't have her personal effects with her. Maybe she has a vehicle parked somewhere, he thought. This had been so spur of the moment, he hadn't had much of a chance to think it through, or ask these questions that were now staring him in the face. However, dawn was rapidly approaching, and further investigation would have to wait till sundown.
Luckily Bill had recently light-proofed a spare bedroom in the house, on the off chance he should ever need to shelter another of his kind. The irony of the timing was not lost on him, and he chuckled to himself at the unexpected turn tonight had taken. After making sure Elana was comfortable and had what she needed, he descended under the house into his resting place. He wondered what surprises tomorrow would have in store. As he slipped into his daytime death, he couldn't help but smile.
TBC
