I own nothing other than Arianna

Chapter Two

Frustration, anger and a hint of curiosity swarmed was the first thing I was aware of as I came to, a pained whimper the only verbal sound I could make to express my own feelings of discomfort. Those emotions, to start, didn't belong to me but to the person pacing a few steps from where I was lying. Knowing this unsettled me but the agonizing ache in my body distracted my train of thought. My eyes opened slowly, adjusting to the gently lit room and after a moment to gather my bearings I lifted my head intending to sit up. The frustration swarming through me was now my own as I struggled to adjust my body into a position less vulnerable.

So focused on my task I took no notice of the vampire suddenly at my side until his cool hands wrapped around my arms and pulled me upright with barely any effort. My heart thumped nervously in my chest at his proximity and amusement flooded in amongst the emotions before it vanished having no time to settle in the bond.

I became extremely aware of the fact he was watching me and I was even more aware (for perhaps the first time in at least a year) of my greasy and dirty hair that had gone far too long without a wash. Don't even get me started on my tattered clothing that had seen far better days or that my arms and legs had black smudges of dirt.

Since he was so blatantly staring at me I risked a quick glance and understood immediately why the woman at reception had reacted the way she did. Words could barely describe the maleness of this stranger; broad shoulders, thick muscled arms with hands that were as rough as they looked and long muscled legs. Though his torso was long I didn't doubt that it lacked muscle and I even caught myself wondering if he had a six pack hidden beneath his black sweater.

Horrified with myself I glanced down at his long legs that were planted on the ground beside the bed he was perched on and my gaze darted back to his icy blue eyes that were watching me with the same curiosity and anger. I wanted to shy away from him, feeling the anger that all but radiated from his gaze and distracted myself by glancing up at his blond hair that had been brushed back neatly though it was the sexiest hairstyle I had ever seen.

I finally looked away uncomfortable by the intensity of his angry gaze and scanned the room wondering how I had been let into such a lavish room when I realised that it was his. My eyes settled on the door to the bathroom and I couldn't help but stare at it with longing.

For a moment I wondered how I was floating in the air when I realised the vampire had yanked me to my feet and out of the bed. I stumbled and my legs began to buckle but he quickly wrapped an arm around my waist, the other hand holding my wrists down as I attempted to slap at him defensively.

"Let go of me!" I huffed angrily, trying to shove his hands away with no luck.

He snorted and shifted his hold on me so that my hands were trapped under the same arm that was wrapped around my waist. He used his now free hand to push the bathroom door open and strolled in with annoying casualness, "Since the simple task of sitting up in bed seemed to present such a challenge for you I can hardly imagine how you'd fair getting across the room. Now stop your squirming!" He demanded, and when I ignored him and continued to squirm in his firm grip he flung me in the shower (where he had kindly put a chair in there for me, or perhaps it had always been in there) and turned the cold water on full.

He watched with amusement as I shrieked, clawing at the handle until the water stopped. I sat in the chair shivering in my wet clothes and glared at him as he smirked down at me. He left without another word and I began the tiring process of removing my now saturated clothing that felt ten times heavier than normal. My shivering finally ceased as I managed to adjust the water to a pleasant temperature, and for the first time in months I scoured my scalp with the nicest shampoo. After scrubbing my head four times and conditioning it twice I relaxed in the shower and rubbed my body down with a fruity soap. By the time I was finished I had never felt so clean and even shaved my legs and underarms not knowing when I'd get the chance again.

The towel left for me was close enough that I didn't need to attempt some ridiculous manoeuvre to get it. I almost groaned when I felt how soft the towel was, it was almost better than having a shower. I sighed, content, as I finished drying. My hair had been towel dried and was hanging down my back in long ringlets and I wrapped my towel around my body as the dreaded realisation that I had no clothes sunk in and I began to seriously consider staying in the bathroom for the night – I had slept in far worse places.

A hesitant knock sounded on the door and for some bizarre reason (how the hell was I supposed to know what his knock sounded like?) I knew that it wasn't the vampire at the door. I couldn't imagine him ever feeling hesitant with anything that he did.

"Yes?" I called sounding just as hesitant as the knock on the door.

I didn't know who I was expecting to come through the door but I certainly didn't anticipate the small blond that came in with a friendly smile. Her tanned skin gave away that she wasn't a vampire and I smiled back uncertainly; did she work at the motel? She definitely wasn't a fangbanger but I was basing this assessment by her floral sundress and lack of bite marks.

"Well hi there." She beamed, handing me a large pile of clothing, "Eric was being oddly considered when he asked me to bring you these." She told me kindly as she indicated to the clothes, "Even my boyfriend was shocked that he was considering your feelings."

"My feelings?" I asked confused and slightly uncomfortable; I was still wrapped up only in a towel.

The girl nodded handing me some deodorant which I accepted gratefully, "We had just gotten into the lobby when you passed out. I almost passed out myself when I saw Eric actually catch you before you hit the ground. He thought you'd be more comfortable if I came in with the clothes instead of him."

I blinked understanding that for a vampire to be aware let alone considerate of a humans feeling's was surprising and rare. "So he's Eric?" I asked hoping to clarify the name of the vampire I was now bound to.

"Yes," She confirmed, "Oh I'm sorry I didn't introduce myself." She smiled apologetically, holding out a hand politely, "I'm Sookie Stackhouse."

I smiled, her Southern accent growing on me, "I'm Arianna." I said, shaking her hand gently but didn't offer a last name. "You're not from Dallas are you?" I asked after a moment.

She shook her head, "I'm from a small town called Bon Temps in Louisiana. I'm here to help out some people with my boyfriend Bill Compton."

I knew she deliberately avoided going in to specifics about why she was in Dallas and didn't question her further knowing it was none of my business. I wouldn't want some stranger prying into my personal business either.

I shifted in the seat and she held out a hand, "You want to get out?"

I smiled at her relieved, "Yeah but I don't know how long I'll be able to stand for." I said warningly as I took her hand.

I began to lift myself out of the chair using Sookie's hand to keep myself steady. I gasped, not from the effort of standing, but from the pressure of her hand as she tightened her grip in an effort to help me. I stumbled as I frantically tore my hand out of her grasp and managed to fumble out of the shower using the glass door as a guide. Sookie was beside me instantly as I perched on the edge of the bathtub looking frantic and scared.

"I'm so sorry." She cried looking over my hand, "I didn't think my grip would be that strong. Are you alright?" She hovered beside me her eyes bright with worry.

I tried to reassure her but words had barely formed when the door flew open. The blond vampire – Eric – was studying the scene in front of him and the room was suddenly much too crowded for my liking. Even though there were only the three of us Eric's presence seemed to add an extra five people to the medium sized bathroom. Aware that he was staring at me and trying to figure out what was wrong I become overly aware of the fact I was only in a towel.

I clutched the towel tightly with my other hand as Eric continued to stare at me impassively. He could clearly see that there was no need for his presence and yet he continued to stand there as though we – well I – was supposed to continue getting dressed with him watching. My hand was throbbing painfully and I was surprised to see bruises forming. Panic began to take over the more I thought of how weak I must have become to have such marks from such a small touch.

"What happened?"

I jumped at the volume of his voice and I was startled to notice he was now in front of me. I was tense watching silently as he gently took my bruised hand into his own. I didn't even flinch as his thumb rubbed the top of my hand almost soothingly as if he wanted to take away the pain I was feeling.

"I was helping her out of the shower. I didn't think my grip was so strong." She explained upset.

I shrank slightly, unaware that I was leaning towards Eric for protection as another vampire quickly came in. I watched as he wrapped an arm around Sookie and identified him as Bill, her boyfriend and was surprised to see him glaring at Eric.

"What is the meaning of this?" He growled, his gaze shifting over to me and then back at Eric who was still crouched in front of me.

Eric turned his head slightly to regard him coolly, "It was a misunderstanding."

Sookie pulled back slightly and I could tell that she was shaking off the distress of the situation, "Why don't you two wait outside while she gets dressed?" She suggested and I relaxed as the two vampires strolled out. Well, Eric glared at Bill until the younger vampire left reluctantly and Eric followed in stride.

"I'm fine, really." I told her reassuringly once the door was closed and we were alone again, "Just a bit shocked."

"That's never happened before?" She asked, handing me a new bra.

I didn't think about how the size was just right and slipped it on quickly. "No it hasn't." I hesitated not knowing how much I should say or even what to say to explain what had happened.

Sookie never gave me the chance to form some excuse and surprised me by saying, "Look, I can tell you're not human or at least not completely human, right?"

I gaped at her in complete shock, "What? No...I'm human." I said unconvincingly, too shocked by the turn of conversation.

"I'm a telepath, and I can normally pick out Supes by how their thoughts sound and I can't hear vampires. I can't hear you either." She handed me a large sweater and at my questioning look she elaborated, "Its Eric's. I'd lend you something of mine but you're a bit shorter and curvier than I am."

"So you're a telepath." I stated, standing slowly so I could put on underwear and a pair of baggy pants.

Sookie nodded and laughed when I was completely dressed. Did he own anything other than black? I knew I must have looked ridiculous wearing a sweater that swamped my entire top half and even some of my knees and wearing pants that would end up as a hazard to my health just going by the ridiculous leg length.

Sookie grabbed the chair from the shower, drying it off before she set it in front of the sink where she insisted on drying my hair for me and having what she called 'girl time'. I knew that was mostly to let me have some time before I had to face Eric and I was grateful for the chance to sit and talk with someone as friendly as Sookie.

"Your hair is so long!" She said amazed, combing through the semi-dry hair gently.

I smiled sheepishly, "It's been more than a year since I've had it cut. It would be so much easier to look after if it was a bit shorter."

She focused on drying the rest of it before she suggested, "How about we go somewhere during the day and get a trim? You're going to need to get some clothes anyway."

I hesitated and thought it over as she finished brushed out my now dry hair. I didn't have a whole lot of money on me and I wasn't sure exactly what Eric would want in compensation for staying in the room with him. At least that was where I assumed I was staying. I knew he was old enough to know about bindings however rare they were and he had no idea just how important our binding was. I wasn't expecting a pleasant response when he found out.

My decision was made for me once Sookie declared herself finished. Eric opened the door a fraction to call out, "I'll have a car ready to take you wherever you want to go at one tomorrow." And he promptly closed the door before either of us had a chance to argue.

I grumbled about stupid vampires and their annoying hearing as I flicked my hair over my shoulder. It would be more than nice to finally have manageable hair not that I didn't like having my hair fall down to my bum it just wasn't practical especially with all the time I spent running from people. I just hadn't had the heart to chop it all off.

"Thank you for your help." I smiled at her gratefully, allowing her to link her arm through mine so she could help me out of the bathroom.

She beamed at me, "It was good fun. I've never really had close girlfriends because of my telepathy." She confided, "I'm still sorry about what happened."

"Forget it ever happened." I told her firmly as she reached out to open the door.

She gave me a grateful smile in return and helped me out into the main room. I quickly focused on anything other than the huge bed over to the far left and glanced around the small living room nervously. Eric was seated on a black leather armchair, one food resting on his knee and Bill was seated stiffly on the couch.

I refrained from glaring at Bill suspiciously as he rose and moved towards us. I knew Sookie had felt my reaction and she squeezed my hand extremely gently in reassurance. Bill paused in front of us and I unravelled my arm from Sookie's and gave her a small nudge to Bill as I cautiously made my way around them and to a vacant armchair. I could feel Eric's gaze following me as I moved but I ignored him as best as I could not that I would be able to do so for much longer.

Eventually Sookie and Bill would need to leave and we'd be alone.

A/N thanks for all the reviews. I appreciate all the criticism about my writing and I hope this chapter shows a conscious effort at changing things that had mentioned. I'm not going to rush this story or even my updates – I tend to do that with all my other stories because I either get too excited or I feel guilty making others wait. So let me know what you think and enjoy!