A/N: Hey, here's the next chapter...much more willbe explained in the next one. So just hang in there. Please, read, review and enjoy. : )
Disclaimer: I own what is mine.
Chapter Two
2011, Shreveport Louisiana
His eyes were closed, but it would be a mistake to think that he was unaware of his surroundings. Eric knew perfectly well what was occurring around him as a steady flow of vamps and humans moved in and out of his club. The regulars were off to the side of the bar, out of the way but in perfect view of any new meat that entered. Then there were the usual fangbangers idling here and there as they eyed the vampires that were making the usual rounds. Everything was so routine that it was almost pathetic and he was bored.
An unneeded sigh escaped him as he forced his eyes open to survey the mass before him. A passing blonde caught his attention and for a moment he entertained the idea of luring her up to his office. If anything it would purge him of his boredom for a brief period. The girl seemed to have noticed his slight interest and giggle nervously under her breath. The action caused Eric to roll his eyes and discard his original idea as he slumped a little further into his seat.
Pam appeared behind him a few seconds later as she casually leaned against the back of his chair, "Something's off with the crowd tonight."
Her words were impassive and calm, but Eric could sense the unease in her as she watched the mass of people in front of them. He paused himself and began to focus a little closer on the movements of the club. She was right. The bar was oddly full for a Thursday night and the usual undercurrent of passive excitement and unhinged nerves seemed to be stronger than normal. It was if everything was being forced.
"Have you noticed anyone strange enter?" He asked quietly never once taking his eyes away from the patrons.
Pam shook her head, "No one stranger than usual. Just more new faces."
"Keep an eye out." Eric ordered faintly before feeling his childe disappear from his side.
As long as things remained the way they were now, then he could live with change in the crowd. A prickling in his senses told him that he was missing something vital though. He titled his head to the side and inhaled deeply as he pushed his senses further out into the club. A familiar scent had him snapping to attention almost instantly. The scent was faint as if its owner was trying to hide it and Eric had no doubt that she was…Evelyn.
His eyes darted across the room and found her standing idly next to the end of the bar. Her back was to him, but he could still make out the profile of her face. An odd pain rushed through him at the sight of her and he couldn't move. It was then that he noticed that she was no longer alone. A faint growl tore through him as he studied the vampire before her. He didn't care for the look of hunger that was being directed at her and strained his ears to hear what was being said.
"You surprise me, Miss. Townsend." A smirk was firmly planted on the vampire's face as he checked her out.
A shiver of disgust flowed through Evelyn as he finally met her gaze. His brown eyes were cold with lust and she loathed him instantly. He was the reason for her being here.
"I didn't think that you would hesitate upon entering a vampire club." The vampire continued when she didn't respond to him.
Evelyn's eyes narrowed dangerously at his mocking tone, "You're not the one I talked to on the phone."
"Correct, my name is Randall." He murmured before he flashed to her side. He placed a hand on the small of her back as he gestured toward the club, "Shall we?"
Evelyn bit back a growl at his forwardness and nodded her head serenely as she let him guide her. She carefully kept her head down and her focus away from the front of the club where Eric resided. Unaware that he already knew she was there. His presence had become much stronger the second she had entered the room and had this been any other time she would have rolled her eyes at his arrogance for having a throne.
She was silently thankful when Randall led them to a booth in the back. It was secluded enough that they would be left alone. Evelyn suspected that a few vamps used this section of the bar to entice their humans.
"Why are you here?" Evelyn questioned the moment Randall settled across from her.
He casted her an amused look, thoroughly enjoying her abruptness, "Straight to the point. Feeling uneasy?"
"Let's get a few things straight, Randy." Evelyn said coldly, "I am here for several reasons, none of which include sitting here bullshitting with you. Now answer the question or I'm gone."
Randall snarled faintly at her tone and the shortening of his name. He had heard the clearly implied insult and Evelyn silently relished in it without letting anything pass her emotionless mask.
"My employer had a few loose ends he needed to tie up. He was concerned that you would be less than willing to help us."
She silently watched as he gained control of his anger before reaching into his jacket and pulling out an envelope. He all but tossed it at her. Unwillingly she took the small parcel and opened it to find a photo of a teenage boy with soft brown hair. Her nephew, Jesse.
"See the vampire next him?" Randall asked as he watched her, "He's making sure your boy is having a good time. You didn't know, did you? That your nephew is fangbanger."
She ignored him as she silently took stock of Jesse. She could tell that he wasn't fully aware of the world around him, but he didn't look harmed. His skin was paler than it should have been and she noticed the faint sheen of sweat coating his face. It took her a moment to understand why. The bands she could see wrapped around his wrists that looked like bracelets were making him sick.
"You placed antimony on him." Evelyn murmured dangerously.
She forgot where she was for moment and felt her control slip as her power spiked. It didn't matter that she regained her control as fast as she lost it. The damage was done. The atmosphere in the club crackled for a moment as the younger vampires tried to figure out what it was they had just felt but Evelyn knew that their sheriff was now surveying his club with a sharp eye. There was no way he didn't know what had just occurred.
The hunger that hadn't left Randall's eyes since this meeting had begun to intensify. A nasty smirk now coated his mouth, "You're more powerful than I thought, Sorceress."
Evelyn glowered, "Do not call me that. What do you want?"
"Just your assitance. You will receive instructions in twenty-four hours. Once, you've completed your task, your nephew will be returned to you." Randall said coolly, a sadistic glint in his eyes, "If you have not completed your task, your nephew will not die, but he will wish he had."
Evelyn's eyes narrowed as she studied the vampire before her. He was trying to force her hand and for what, she didn't know. A nasty smirk flowed over her lips, "No."
Randall's brow furrowed in confusion at the sudden calm that radiated from Evelyn. It was then he felt a sharp prodding in his head. He suddenly realized that she was trying to overpower him mentally and was succeeding. Anger surged through him at her audacity and in the next second he had her pinned against the wall. His hand tightening slowly around her throat.
Sadly, he missed the sudden silence that claimed the club and the fact that Evelyn's eyes were no longer focused on him but on a figure over his shoulder. It didn't stop her from tormenting him, however. She continued to dig through his head for the information she wanted until he was suddenly ripped away from her body. His mouth opened in distorted pain as he began to feel something wet trickle out of his ear. Blood.
Randall was oblivious to the fact that he now laid crumple on the floor at his sheriff's feet. Eric barely glanced at the shriveled vampire as his blue eyes focused on Evelyn. She slowly stepped away from the wall, her hand vaguely rubbing at the bruised flesh of her throat as she defiantly met his gaze. A surge of annoyance flashed through him as he raised a mocking brow.
"Hello sweetheart."
1810 London
The party that had been hosted at the DuPont's was finally coming to an end, much to Eric's relief. He ran his hand over his chin wiping away a trail of blood that had come from a now wholly satisfied scullery maid. After Evelyn's departure from his company he found himself in need of new prey. Hungry and unsatisfied were feelings he didn't much care for tonight…not when he had a mystery in the shape of woman. So, he quietly lingered in the shadows as he watched the guests leave one by one. It wasn't until he saw her exit that he finally moved from his resting spot.
She had a natural grace, he noticed, as Evelyn steadily slipped into her carriage after she had paid her farewells to the DuPont's. Almost absently he wandered if the story about her deceased husband was even true. He couldn't see the methodical woman from tonight ever subdued enough for marriage. The carriage started forward with a small jolt and Eric silently followed from behind. He would find out what Evelyn was. Besides, he thought deviously, he owed her another meeting and what could be more apt than the privacy of her own home.
The trip to her estate was longer than Eric would have thought as he realized that she lived on the outskirts of London. The carriage had pulled up to a two story abode. It wasn't a mansion but it wasn't small either. It didn't escape his notice that she had secluded herself away from not only the city but the socialites that claimed the area, as well. Unwanted attention, indeed.
He smirked amusedly as he once again caught sight of Evelyn. He entertained the thought of intercepting the lady before she entered her house before deciding he would learn more by just observing her. He wasn't disappointed as he saw the indifference that had taunted him at the party disappear as she talked with her staple hand for a moment. Even in the late hour he could see the warmth of her faint smile. The one thing that hadn't disappeared was the wariness that had entrapped her being. She saw more than she ever let on and he wondered if she ever let her guard down.
Evelyn finally turned to enter the house and he froze as she stopped and turned towards where he hid. For a brief moment he was sure that she had seen him, but the moment passed and she drifted inside as if nothing was amiss. He moved closer to the house then, as he followed her scent around the perimeter.
A light flickered on in the window above his head and unconsciously Eric rose up to peer inside. He shrunk back almost immediately when he noticed Evelyn standing closer to the window than he had anticipated. She had lost the cloak and gloves that had adorned her form earlier leaving her in the light green gown that had clung to her in the most delicious way at the party. She glided over to her bed effectively turning her back to him as she began to undress.
Desire sparked in Eric as he watched Evelyn's delicate fingers reaching behind her to undo the ties of her gown. Little by little the white shift that she wore underneath was revealed. The process was almost painfully slow and he had to wonder if she knew that he was there…taunting him as she had done so earlier.
It wasn't long before the shift joined the gown in a pool of fabric on the ground leaving her completely unclothed. Eric's eyes had darkened as he stared at the bare expanse of her back. His gaze traveled slowly down her smooth flesh to the rounded curve of her bottom and over shapely legs that were no longer hidden from view. He could just picture the way those legs would wrap around him, pulling him deeper. An unneeded breath escaped him and he silently wished that she would turn so he could continue his exploration of her body. She was beautiful.
Eric was no longer hiding his presence as he came to rest on the ledge of the window, leaning ever so slightly against the frame. He frowned faintly as she began to dress again but this time into her nightgown. It really was a shame to cover up such lovely skin. It wasn't until she began to pull the pins that held her lush hair up that she noticed him. Her hand had plucked the last pin from her mane as she turned to grab the brush that lay on the vanity by the window. He smirked fiendishly as Evelyn paused in her step and her eyes met his.
His amusement only grew as he noted he look of displeasure that flashed across her face. Curiously, the emotion disappeared as soon as it had come and Eric was once again staring at the impassive woman from earlier. He pushed back from the window as she came forward and unlatched the glass panes before pushing them open. He could still only rest on the outer edge until she invited him.
"I would say that I'm surprised, but somehow I'm not." Evelyn stated lowly as she met his striking blue eyes not missing the hunger that laid in them.
Eric raised an eyebrow, "Is that why you left the drapes open, Madam?"
"Normally one doesn't have a problem with a peeping tom when their bedroom is on the second story, Mr. Northman." Evelyn replied dryly well aware of the fact that she was only entertaining him further, "I hope you enjoyed yourself because I can assure you that this will be the last time you see me in any state of undress."
"And I can assure you that those words will ring false soon enough." Eric said firmly, having already decided that she would be his one way or another.
Evelyn bit back at the urge to roll her eyes at the arrogance that rolled off him in waves, though a hint of caution wormed through her at his words. She doubted anything had been denied to this vampire.
"Why are you here?" She asked plainly as a wave of weariness washed over her. It was late and she didn't want to play these games with him any longer.
Eric seemed to sense this as he tilted his head curiously at her, "We were interrupted before we could finish our earlier meeting. I hate leaving things unfinished."
Evelyn smile sardonically, "I can image. I believe I already told you that I wasn't going to tell you what I am."
"You did. Twice, I believe." Eric deadpanned sagely as his gaze flitted about her room, "Invite me in, Evelyn. This isn't a conversation that I wish to have outside."
She tilted her head to the side as she considered his request for a brief moment, "I'm afraid I won't. I have no reason to do so."
"I can give you a reason to." Eric replied as he met her hazel eyes. He would have his way on this whether it was by her choice or not.
"Oh? And what would those reasons be?" Evelyn queried as she suddenly found herself moving closer to the window.
She didn't miss the way his gaze trailed down her form appreciatively. A surge of warmth spilled through her veins at that look and she cursed her attraction to him. She knew that there was no way she could hide such a fact from a vampire, the slight smirk that played on Eric's lips told her as much. But did she really want to hide it?
Evelyn would admit freely that she had enjoyed pushing his buttons in the DuPont's garden. His impassive mask had her prodding to see the man underneath. What she had uncovered had been much more entertaining that had hoped for….There was no doubt in her mind that she would have fun with him. It was the fact that she knew from experience just how possessive and controlling vampires could be that stopped her.
Eric quietly watched as she became lost in her thoughts, "How about a proposition?"
A smirk slid over his lips as Evelyn raised an eyebrow at his wording. She didn't speak and waited for him to continue.
"I will visit you every night for a month and in that time if I do not discover what you are then I will leave you alone." Eric murmured slowly.
He could see the interest in face as she considered his words. It was wariness that held her back.
"And what would you get in return?" Evelyn asked quietly, "What is the price that I have to pay if you figure it out?"
Eric grinned darkly, "When I figure it out then I will claim you."
Evelyn stiffened at his words. She didn't know what exactly she had been expecting him to ask for, but it certainly hadn't been a claiming. The mere thought of being tethered to him sent chills down her spine. She had spent the past six hundred years free of any entanglements and she had no wish to change that, but his offer was tempting despite the stakes he set forth. Very little surprised her anymore…but him.
"I will agree but only on the conditions that when you have no answer at the month's end that not only will you leave me alone, but that I will be able to call on you if I ever need your assistance." Evelyn finally replied, "You will also not feed on any person that resides in this house."
Eric paused at her amendment, but smiled faintly, "Agreed, but you will only get to call on me once."
Evelyn nodded, "Fine, but this little game doesn't begin until tomorrow night. I will invite you in then."
Eric tipped his head in acceptance and pushed himself off the window ledge. He smirked when she finally latched the windows and yanked the drapes shut. He would have fun breaking her.
A/N: Special Thank You to: xXRoweenaJAugustineXx, indigomoon, CaitlinXcowz, black'n'burgundy, and mixmatched9 for reviewing on the previous chapter. I would alos like to thank: Texasbell81, mixmatched9, lilmzklyaann, Lady007, disneyprincess4evr, and CaitlinXcowz for adding this story to their favorites list. Thank you guys.
Happy Valentines Day!
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