I awoke to discover three very odd things; One, I was lying alone in a giant bed. Two, the bed was located in a relatively small room with two doors and absolutely no windows. Three, I was completely naked.
"What the fuck..." My voice broke through with a slight croak. I had been asleep for a long time then. Looking around the room I noticed that whoever designed it either had no imagination, or just hated anything with color. The walls were a dull gray and the bed was black and red with hints of silver threading here and there. Bookshelves lined the walls along with several strange and frightening paintings. A row of dressers and a closet hid the wall with the smaller door, which I decided against investigating for fear I would find something horrible or dangerous. I called for Malik in a low voice as I sat up in the extremely comfortable bed but received so response, which meant he either couldn't get in or had run away. I found myself hoping for the later as I realized that every last inch in the room was covered in vampire energy. I nearly fell out of bed in my rush to get out of the room. Naturally the larger door, made out of some extremely heavy metal, was locked shut. With a sigh of exasperation I twisted the black sheet covering my body closer and put my hand against the door. With a little concentration and a mighty shove I was free. I checked to make sure the flimsy sheet was still covering my body and then made a run for the light at the end of the insanely dark room. If I had been smart, I would have noticed the numerous clanking chains and cuff littering this room and stayed quiet and in the bed, but instead I freaked out and ran through the medieval torture room in a full out sprint. I took the stairs two at a time and slammed into the door at the top of the staircase. My heart was beating wildly out of control and knew if I didn't get myself under control I would not be able to unlock the door without blowing the entire building up. Closing my eyes helped me forget where I was and after a few deep breaths I could finally focus enough to attempt to unlock the door. But as I placed my hands upon the dented steel I felt it unlock from the opposite side and swing open, revealing a tall Asian man grinning down at me. He revealed two razor sharp incisors.
I panicked again.
And suddenly the Asian vampire was soaring through the room and slamming into the wall, dust and concrete flying everywhere.
"Ah, so you're awake." A lazy voice called out to me before a stunningly beautiful woman appeared at the foot of the stairs. She smiled down at me with bright red lips. "Careful Pam. Cho will survive but that's not the worst she can do." A flash of intrigue sparked in the vampires; eyes as she quickly reached out and grabbed my forearm, dragging me into the room with little sympathy. I slammed into a wooden desk, pushing every thing that rested on it over and almost landing on the top myself. Once the falling objects became still and silence filled the air I looked up into the ice blue eyes of Eric Northman. He looked back at me with a playful smirk.
Needless to say I wasn't very happy.
"I'll kill you vampire!" I screamed, lunging at him only to be slammed into the desk once again by Pam. She held both of my arms behind my back in an iron vice. I attempted to struggle but it was like trying to fight a statue... I was only human after all.
"You are upset?" Eric tilted his head as he leaned back in a black leather chair, lazily watching me with amused eyes.
"Where the fuck am I? Why did you bring me here?" I tried to control my emotions and thoughts, but the longer I glared up at this insufferable man the more enraged I became. Typical masochistic, bigot vampire asshole thinking he can do whatever he wants with no consequences. By the time I got through with him he going to be sipping true blood through a very, very skinny straw. "Who the fuck are you?"
"So you really don't remember." His voice sounded something like a mixture of disappointment, sorrow, and anger. What the hell was this guys issue?
"Remember what? The last thing I remember is you sauntering into an official SEC investigation and ATTACKING me. Then I wake up in your fucking basement with no clothes, no cat, and no idea of how I got here." I tried to push Pam off again but it was a waste of effort. She didn't budge.
"You're calling that an investigation? Seemed more like a circus to me."
"How dare you! Release me immediately or I will destroy last vampire in this building." The threat settled in silence and after a moment or two Eric leaned toward me, placing both hands on the desk and setting his sharp chin directly in from of mine. His face was so close I could see nothing else and his cool breath washed over my face, calming me in the most familiar way.
"Now now Roz, I think we both know you could never do that." The relaxing, memorable way in which he spoke, the comfortable way in which he was so close to me, and the use of a nickname only one person has ever used before. All of these things were strange to me. And the strangeness was squeezing my heart in the most painful way. Pam flew back from me, like Cho had earlier, and my body began to glow silver. Objects around me got caught in the gravity I was creating and lifted from the ground. The wood beneath me began to splinter and crack as the floor started to rumble. My eyes lost the human light they so vainly held on to and my focus became like steel. They were all going to die.
"You've grown." Was all he said before placing an icy hand upon my neck and squeezing gently. The pressure hit just the right weak spot and everything disbanded. Objects cluttered to the floor and the glowing stopped as my eyes regained correct vision. Eric was smiling at me.
"H-how did you know about that?"
"Believe it or not Roslyn, you and I have met before. Many times in fact. What I can't understand now is why you do not remember any of it." I stared at him for almost an eternity, trying to see if he was lying. But as the truth of his words slipped over me I slid from the desk and landed on the floor, my head down and my hands between my legs.
"M-Marius did this."
"Your master." I did not look at him. I hugged the thin black sheet closer to my body and shivered as foggy imaged began to fill my mind. The very last things I could remember. "When?"
"I don't remember." Eric kneeled down next to me but I would not look at him. He said something to Pam in Swedish and the woman silently left the room.
"He took away all of your memories. Why?"
"He said I didn't deserve them." I looked up at Eric through welling eyes and wished he would stop looking back at me like he was used to seeing me cry. The silver tears fell from my eyes and he didn't shy away. I couldn't stand it. "He said I had lost my true purpose and that when I discovered it again, he would return me to the way I'm supposed to be."
"Is that why you are in Louisiana?" I nodded my head.
"I've been looking form him for years. I don't really know how long. But last night I felt something and I know he's here somewhere." Pam had returned with a glass of water and held it out with an eye roll. She was annoyed at my weeping and I can't say I could blame her. Vampires get really edgy when silver is involved. But then again, so do almost all supes.
"We need to open soon. It's Saturday." Eric took the glass and handed it to me.
"Thank you Pam." The woman rolled her eyes again and plopped down on the couch, hoisting her feet and a pair of amazing shoes onto a small coffee table. I didn't need to look at her to feel the holes she was boring into my back. I wiped my tears away and got to my feet, making sure not to flash anyone. I drained the water before setting the empty desk back on the table and turning to face the three Vampires. Cho was keeping his distance.
"Thanks for... everything, but I'd better be going. I left everything back in Bon Temps and my cat will surely be looking for me." As if on queue Malik slipped into the room and hopped onto the ruined desk, rubbing his face on my hand and purring happily at me.
"Actually, your motorcycle is in our garage at the moment. Your supplies are down in the spare room. And your cat is, as you can see, quite content. Pam has taken a liking to him." I glanced over at the woman in question and she started to chuckle.
"What can I say? I'm a cat person." I glanced around the room as a horrible realization dawned upon me. They weren't going to let me leave.
"No. No, absolutely not. There is no way in hell I am staying here." At this Eric rose to his feet and towered over me, again. God this was getting so old. "Eric, no. I have a job to do!"
"And where better to do it than in a vampire bar? You wouldn't believe the people we get in here... People, I'm sure that could lead you directly to Marius. Besides, we are the supernatural central in Louisiana and my being the Sherriff gives us certain... leverage over other supernatural information." I don't know what I was more appalled at; his boldness or his validity. It would be much easier to find Marius if I immersed myself in the supernatural world where I'm sure he had been hiding. But something seemed off... Eric was a businessman and my instinct told me not to trust him, despite our supposed history.
Or perhaps I didn't trust him because of our missing history.
"I-I still don't think I can. I'd rather stay in Bon Temps. With all the weirdness that's going on there, it's pretty obvious that he has to be close."
"What will you do for money Roslyn? For shelter? No one in that hick town will hire a stranger, not after the maenad. They will hate you for what you are, even more that vampires. And the more you use, the more they will come for you. We can smell the power in your blood."
"Even better than newborn..." Pam added to my disgust. I glared at her before turning back to Eric with a scowl.
"I'll be fine. I can take care of myself."
"Not from where I'm standing. Look how easily you where kidnapped. How easily I could calm you down. How easily I could undress you..." His words dropped in volume and disappeared into a whisper. My cheeks heated up in rage.
"What the fuck Eric! Where are my clothes?" He chuckled and turned away from me, walking past his desk and looking through one of the many bookshelves.
"I destroyed them. They were contaminated with magic and I didn't want anyone following you here."
"You destroyed them? Jesus Christ, I have a way to cover it up you asshole! How dare you take advantage of me like that!"
"Relax Roz." He turned to smirk at me before adding a seductive; "It's not like I've never seen you naked before." I almost dropped the sheet in my shock.
"Wh-what?"
"Ah, here it is." He cheerfully ignored me as he pulled out a thick leather bound book and slammed it on the busted desk before flicking through the frayed pages.
"Eric, you answer me right now! What are you insinuating?"
"I am insinuating nothing Roslyn. Merely trying to remind you that we share a past... And luckily for me, a promise." He turned the book around and pointed at the elaborate script heading the page. I read the fluid text quickly and gasped.
"This is a fake... Th-this can't be real. I would never agree to this!"
"But you would Roz, and you did."
"Well, now I'm intrigued." Pam announced cheerily as she skipped over to the desk. She read the page and prominently guffawed in joy. "You can't be serious."
"Oh but I am. You see Pam, Witches are very interesting creatures. Human beings with immortal tendencies; they have extremely long lives, they have several very common weaknesses, and they feed off the magic in all living things. Whether that is from the earth itself or other supernaturals. And little Roz here, a long time ago, desperately needed to feed off a supernatural, and guess who was there to help her out."
"This isn't real. Eric, this is a trick."
"Now Witches are very ceremonial beings. In fact, if I am not mistaken, they are all bound by a covenant that they must follow. Like an inbred set of instincts. And me being me, I decided to make sure I would get something out of sharing my precious blood with another. Something my maker taught me." I covered my eyes with my hands, unable to look down at my own signature as it shined up at me from the page in blood red ink. God I wished I could remember this moment more than any others. Because I'm sure there was some kind of mistake and Eric was using my predicament to his full advantage.
"So what, you gave her some blood and now you own her?"
"Not exactly. But for the time being, she does need to remain here with us. And I get to request several special favors of her." Pam laughed again, thoroughly enjoying my misery. "And she does owe me a new desk." His blue eyes found mine and he smiled, evidently very pleased with himself. I looked down in defeat and noticed the mess I had made earlier for the first time. With a deep breath I snapped my green eyes back to him, my glare threatening. His smile dropped instantly.
"Give me one reason why I shouldn't stake you where you stand?" The splinters I had created were coagulating in the air behind me, transforming into a medium sized stake with a wickedly sharp point. Pam hardened to stone next to me but did not move, waiting for orders from her maker.
"Because if you kill me, you know you'll regret it." I held out my hand, palm face up.
"Give me your credit card. I need new clothes and there's no way I'm wearing the Halloween costumes your customers decided to flaunt." He slipped me a seductive smile and handed over a silver card.
"Get something purple... You always looked good in that." I hugged the stupid sheet closer to me and turned on my heel, walking away while the stake quickly dissolved back into splinters and molded back into the desk.
"Well this is going to be fun." Pam said as I disappeared down the staircase into the frightening basement.
Fucking Vampires...
3 hours and several hundred dollars later, I was beginning to feel a little better about my situation. I parked my bike in the garage behind the bar and pulled my bags out of the back. That was the wonderful thing about magic... you never ran out of room. I could hear the loud music and chatter exploding from the bar so I decided it would be better to remain anonymous as long as possible; both from the crowd and the owners. I slipped into the office through the back door and silently fled to my new room. Out of habit I locked the heavy door as soon as I got in, but I knew if they really wanted to find me then a silly door wasn't going to stop them. I set my bags on the ground to be dealt with later and decided a nice shower was in order. Malik burrowed into the bed and fell asleep almost instantly. I guess I wouldn't be switching the sheets tonight then...
I walked into the bathroom and started the shower while I stripped and pulled out my favorite little traveling accessory. Inside of a Victorian make up case sat quite a few very important things. One was a long silver lighter with a rose carved into the metal. Another was a spiraling blue glass tube with a hole on wither end. The third thing was a small metal airtight container holding a rather large amount of beautiful and natural marijuana. That mixed with a special medley of carefully selected herbs and essences made for one kick ass relaxant and medicine. A creation of my own design that led to peaceful sleep, better memory, and heightened healing ability. Once my piece was packed with the correct amount of herbs I stripped naked and hopped into the shower, taking my hitter and lighter with me. As the water splashed over my skin I flicked the lighter, sparking a little blue flame. The warm smoke traveled pasted my lips and filled my mouth with a numbing sensation. The exhale came out in a light pink vapor and my body instantly relaxed. A few more hits before it was done and soon all my sadness was gone. I reveled in the warmth of the water splashing across my skin. The smell coming from my self-made shampoo gave me a smile as I rubbed it into my scalp. All in all, I had almost completely forgotten about the horrible situation I found myself in and by the time I turned the water off with pruning fingers I felt just like my old self again. I rubbed a towel through my short hair quickly before wrapping it around my body and securing it with a twist. I hummed a little tune as I rubbed lotion everywhere I could reach. It was masking lotion that I had invented on the road and when applied correctly allowed it's user all simple forms of magic without detection. Unluckily for me, it was really hard to spread it to my back so usually it didn't work 100 percent of the time.
"Need some help?" Eric's low growl caused me to jump in fright before my heightened senses found him lounging on the bed.
"Jesus Christ Eric. Knock much?" I tightened the towel around my body before walking over to him with a scowl.
"Not in my own room, no." He smirked at me and I rolled my eyes. "Besides, I've seen you before Roslyn, so it's not that big of a deal to me."
"Yeah I've noticed. Speaking of which, the more you bring that up, the more I think you're lying about the nature of our past relationship." I walked over to the shopping bags and pulled out the new nightgown I just purchased. It was a black, free flowing cotton dress that ended at my knees and I was in love with it. I was always the type of girl to have comfort rule out style.
"Oh, and why is that?" I threw the fabric over my shoulders and allowed the towel to fall from my body just as the nightgown fell into place. Eric was staring at me and I knew it.
"Because if it was some elaborate and meaningful sexual relationship I would think I would remember it a little more."
"But Marius took away your memory."
"True." I walked over to him and kneeled upon the bed, never breaking eye contact. Slowly and deliberately I leaned over him, pressing my damp body against his cold one and straddling his abdomen. He watched me cautiously, but he couldn't keep a smirk from his lips. "But I've discovered that repeating actions from my past or feeling similar emotions brings back specific memories." I leisurely placed my arms behind his head and gingerly touched the tips of his hair with my tickling fingers. His hands fell to my thighs and began to rub them soothingly. My body was heating up fast; one of the more double standard effects of the herbs. Great when you want it, horrible when you don't. "You would think I would remember this feeling..." I brought my face closer to his and lowered my lids to stare at his thin lips. His eyes followed my gaze and his smirk widened.
"And?" His voice was probing and dark, but his smirk remained in place.
"Nothing." I whispered into his mouth before rolling to the side and hopping off the bed. A sharp sound produced as his fangs popped out but I paid him no mind as I reentered the bathroom to put away my herbs. I didn't hear him as he approached me but once he pressed against my back I couldn't help but feel a sense of déjà vu. I decided to ignore him further, hoping he would get bored and go away, but as his frame bent over mine, I had the sinking suspicion that I had released a monster.
"I wondered what that smell was... I didn't take you for a smoker Roz."
"My own creation." I explained in a dull tone as I closed the box. "A blend of herbs to induce relaxation, healing, sleep..."
"Arousal." It was not a question but a statement as if he knew. And as I looked at his reflection in the mirror before us, it was clear he did.
"Sometimes..." I whispered as he caressed a cool hand over my shoulder, leaving a trail of fire upon my skin. His blue eyes caught my green ones in the reflective surface. He turned me around instantly and I was suddenly staring into the real thing. The pressure I was getting from the way he was leaning into me was electric. And my body knew the warmth that raced through my veins. It had experienced this pleasure before and begged for it like a starving man begged for a meal.
"Interesting." Eric whispered while cupping my cheek with one hand and clutching my hip with the other. He lowered his face towards mine and my heart began to race as my hands draped around his neck, for lack of a better place to put them. "Can you feel anything now Roslyn?"
"Almost..."
"Time to go boss. It's almost 4." Pam announced from the bedroom door. I jumped out of my skin for the third time that night and tried to backed away from Eric quickly.
"Pam..." He threatened, not allowing me too escape his grasp. She rolled her eyes and disappeared. "Now where were we?"
"I think you were just leaving." I called from my position in bed, snuggled up in the covers and squeezing Malik for safety. Eric walked from the bathroom and stared at me, trying to figure when exactly I have moved but I gave him a nod of goodnight and snapped my fingers, launching the room into blackness. As he slowly made his way out I forced myself to calm down.
"Goodnight Roslyn. I hope you start to remember things soon... We always did have so much fun together." His chuckle followed him out of the room and I could hear the heavy door lock behind him. Malik purred into my neck and the familiar vibrations sent me into a very heavy sleep.
Eric reached the top of the stairs and locked the door with a satisfied smirk as he felt Pam's blue eyes boring into his back. He pulled on his coat without looking at her and swiftly ran a hand through his hair before turning to his progeny with a grin. She did not look amused.
"What?"
"How come you have never once mentioned you used to date a Witch?"
"We did not date." He laughed at the statement but Pam crossed her arms.
"Date, fuck, whatever. The point is you had a relationship with one of the most powerful creatures in the supernatural world and said nothing to me."
"Pam, this really isn't that big of an issue. We knew each other hundreds of years ago, long before I made you. I didn't bring her up because it was not that big of a deal." Pam sighed, pleased with her makers' explanation and waited for him to grab his things so they could leave together, like they always did.
"Still, you might have mentioned something to me. She smells delectable."
"Well, be a good girl and you might get a taste." Eric grabbed his keys from the desk and walked over to his progeny, holding the door open for her in a show of affection.
"What's is like?" Eric locked the door and turned to Pam, his teeth glowing in the moonlight.
"Like nothing I've ever experienced before." His eyes remained unfocused as they reached the black Volvo but before he got into the car he cast his eyes back at the vacant bar. "It's like V, but a million times better."
"Mmmmmm... I just might have to try some."
Eric chuckled quietly.