I still don't own true blood...I checked. Thanks to everyone who added this to their story alerts! How about a review? anyone? - SER

Calais followed Pam as the two made their way through the throng of partiers towards a backdoor near was appeared to Calais to be a stage with a throne. Calais didn't know too much about Vamps and Vamp society but a guy like Eric Northman gets a reputation among the 'others' as Calais liked to refer to the non-humans like herself and if even a shred of what she had heard was true he was not a guy to be messed with. Through a door near the stage and Calais found herself in a dark hallway. Pam must have used her vamp speed 'because suddenly the hallway and rooms beyond were bathed in light.

This place must have been a theater at one point, Calais thought to herself as she took in the room. Even this backstage portion of the building that had been converted into her living quarters was bigger than her trailer back with the pack. Calais was apparently too lost in her thoughts and silently cursed herself when Pam's voice startled her. "Here you go. I'm locking you in for the night; Ginger will have orders to let you out and list of tasks that need accomplishing in the morning. Enjoy, dog."

Once she heard the click of the deadbolt, Calais knew there was no escaping tonight, so she set herself to the task of checking out her new digs and figuring out a way to get the hell out of the clutches of Eric Fuckin' Northman. First things first, like most Were's Calais needed to eat, and often, this crap about being knocked out for the a few hours after spending the day cleaning up her father's trailer and not getting to eat wasn't helping her mood or her brain so Calais headed to the small kitchenette that had been set up in the corner of what had been turned into a huge studio apartment, complete with living room, dining room, bedroom and a huge master bath…apparently Vampire Eric knew just how meticulous most Were's where about hygiene. Opening up the fridge, Calais was happy to notice it looked like the farmer's market had thrown up in there. The thing was small, stainless steel, ultra modern and full of some seriously yummy goodness. Deciding she felt like steak and potatoes, Calais opened the pantry to find it to was stocked with everything she could ask for, Geez, I feel like I'm on Iron Chef, I don't think I've ever seen this much food unless it's for the whole pack. Calais continued exploring the kitchen as she found a pot to boil potatoes and a grill pan for the steaks, since she couldn't go out to grill, apparently a gill pan was going to have to do – she didn't really want it cooked all that much anywho.

An hour later and dinner was eaten and the scent of fresh blueberry muffins baking in the oven permeated the apartment. Moving on to explore the rest of the apartment, Calais discovered that Eric Northman may be a vamp, but he had great taste. Everything in the apartment was high end, from the food, to the furniture to the fixtures – even the layout appeared like something out of a high end hotel.

The small living room had an electric fireplace topped with dark wood mantel and flat panel, HDTV. The walls were painted a calming butter yellow with accents of dark wood, dove grey and a calming light blue. In the kitchen, White cabinetry and countertops dominated the space, accented with a blue tile backsplash and stainless steel appliances. The blue dominated color scheme continued into the bathroom with its travertine tile floor, soaking tub and large glass enclosed shower while the yellow and grey's warmed up the bedroom. Without a door, but hidden at the end of the hallway by the bedroom and bath, the bedroom was a wonderland all to itself. A large four poster bed dominated the space, topped with tons of pillows, and looking almost too fluffy to mess up, Calais noticed only one thing missing. No closet. Having come without any of her belongings, Calais looked down at her clothes, a pair of yoga pants and a racer back tank were fine for padding around the house, but after all the cleaning and fighting, they were in serious need of laundering. Peeling them off and looking around for some soap, Calais wondered why she hadn't noticed the large antique armoire. Curious, she opened it to find drawers full of beautiful and expensive lingerie, nighties, and some loungewear. She noticed a lone hanger with a note attached – didn't know your sizes, but I'll be sending Pam out to get you proper clothes tonight. –Eric

Smelling that the muffins were done, Calais left the armoire to head back to the kitchen. It was late, but this was a vampire bar so the music wouldn't be stopping for hours. Unfortunately, after a filling dinner, her wolf needed sleep. Leaving the muffins out to cool, Calais lay on the huge bed and was asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.

Calais smelled Ginger before the bleach blonde got anywhere near the bedroom. Slinking up behind the scantily clad human, Calais said "hello" chuckling at the scream as an unknowing Ginger jumped at least a foot into the air.

Calais extended a hand in greeting, "You must be Ginger, this morning's task master."

"Uh, yea, I'm Ginger. I don't know about any task master, but I have a list of stuff for you to do this morning. Mostly count inventory and restock the shelves in the back. While you do that I'll do the cleaning out front. I'm supposed to give you a break at 12 for lunch and again at 5 so you can get ready."

"Nice to meet you Ginger," Calais said, the jumpy, ditzy human keeping her on her toes. She hated jumpy people; their edginess wouldn't ever let her calm down either. Gesturing to the muffins still on the cooling rack Calais said, "Breakfast? I cooked them fresh last night. I don't actually have any clothes to change into so let me at least wash up and I'll be right out."

Reaching for a muffin, Ginger mumbled, "Ok, thanks" before turning back towards the door and away from Calais. Calais padded back to the bedroom and decided to skip the racer back tank she wore yesterday in favor of just a sports bra and her yoga pants. It was just her and Ginger anyway and it was hot in this stuffy building. Now fed and caught up on sleep, Calais was getting antsy; she didn't don't do to well locked away for long periods of time, especially when they know they can't leave voluntarily. Grabbing a muffin and walking out into the bar, Calais took a minute to notice the bar. It was rather stereotypical vampire with a black and red color scheme. Decent bar set up though, Calais thought. Calais called Ginger's name, only to see the startled blonde jump out from behind the bar, dropping a bottle of vodka as she did so.

"Sorry to startle you, but where's the store room and what needs counting/ stocking?"

Ginger pointed to the large walk in closet behind the bar and handed Calais a clipboard. Looking around, Calais noticed a completely unorganized mess of liquor bottles, fantasia merchandise – Calais had to snicker at the name, glassware and other supplies. Realizing there was no way to count the stock without reorganizing it, Calais stared daggers though the ground and into the basement where she hoped a sleeping Eric Northman was sleeping, and "Challenge Accepted" she mumbled. Pulling her hair out of her face and using the pencil Ginger supplied to hold it in a bun off her neck, Calais set to work. By lunch time, everything was off the shelves and organized by type. Merchandise was separate from bar supplies which was separate from cleaning supplies. At five Calais stopped what she was doing as the smell of another Were reached her. Pausing in her task, Calais turned towards the doorway – ready for an attack…what she didn't expect was a man 6'6 and wider than a door holding a pink shopping bag.

Alcide knew he needed to bring some clothes for a twenty-something female, what he didn't expect was to see said female look at him like she was ready to kill. She smelled like heaven and looked like the devil, shooting daggers at him with her eyes. However, that feral look of her glowing eyes seemed to speak straight to his wolf who yelled for Alcide to claim the female, but the man knew the look of a cornered wolf when he saw one and knowing Northman he didn't figure this woman was here out of the goodness of her heart – especially if she didn't even have a change of clothes. As suddenly as the threat appeared, the girl scented the air and looked as Alcide as if she recognized him.

"You shouldn't be here." She said, turning back to restocking the shelves.

"Do I know you?" Alcide asked, her scent seemed familiar, but he couldn't place it.

"Not really, but I know you're pack…you and that chick…and if Marcus finds out you're here – "Calais let her voice drop off. She really didn't want to think about what Marcus would do to the big teddy bear of a man that stood behind her.

"Are you pack?"

"Yes." Calais responded, shelving the last of the Fangtasia merchandise boxes and turning back to her visitor. Calais walked up to the gorgeous were in front of here, standing on her toes, C grabbed Alcide with a hand behind his head. Pulling him down to her height, she rubbed her cheek against his as she leaned in as if to tell him a secret. "I'm Calais Bozeman" she whispered in haling his scent then playfully nipping at his neck to show her dominance. Calais watched his face as she pulled back, noticing the flash of recognition in his eyes as he realized who she was.

"Alcide Herveaux"

"Alcide, nice to meet you – so friends with Northman, huh," she said as she walked past him, making sure to casually brush up against the beautiful male in front of her as she took the bag from his hands, "that was nice of him considering he only managed to supply this season's fall line at La Purla."

Placing the bag on the bar, Calais opened it up, curious of the outfit inside. Very were, she thought – leather corset, skinny jeans, large belt and knee high stiletto boots. She sniffed, noticing the clothes smelled like a mix and Debbie and Alcide, "Wow, your girl has good taste. Remind me to tell her it's your fault if any of it comes back damaged."

"Why my fault, "Alcide asked coming up next to her at the bar.

Calais put everything back in the bag and stood to walk back to her apartment. "Apparently Pam didn't tell you exactly what was going on tonight, did she?"

Alcide watched as Calais started to walk away, towards door next to the stage. "I'm supposed to bring you clothes and wait till Eric wakes up before I leave."

"Ah," Calais said, "well then we've got at least thirty minutes. You can hang out here with Ginger or you're welcome to come on back to the 'dog house' and chill for a few. I need to shower and change I've been sporting this particular outfit for way too many hours, plus I think I still smell Shawn and Doug on my pants."

Alcide seemed to take a minute before deciding to follow.

"Ginger, we're heading to the dog house. I'll be there waiting with bated breath to be summoned for Eric's gladiator games."

"Oh, ok. I…I don't know about any gladiator, Eric's a Viking."

"He would be" Calais mumbled low enough only she and Alcide would hear as she waved to Ginger and led the way to the apartment. "Relax Alcide, I don't bite – at least not unless you beg nicely." She purred the last part as they reached the door of the apartment behind the stage.

"There's cornbread staying warm in the oven and jumbalya in the slow cooker. Help yourself while I get decent."

Calais took the bag of clothes and walked back towards the bathroom. Striping out of the day old clothes and standing in the shower did wonders for her mood. Washing quickly and getting dressed, Calais opted to braid her hair to keep it out of her face for the fight. Walking back towards the kitchen, Calais smelled Eric before she saw him. "Do I get time to eat, or are we starting the Were games early?"

Both men seemed stunned for a moment as they took in the biker chick before them. Calais just shrugged, Deb's clothes fit well enough, but Calais was much curvier so she was spilling over the corset and pants were fitting like a second skin. Finished braiding her hair, Calais walked towards the jumbalya and pulled the cornbread muffins out of the oven, piling them into a bread basket lined with a cloth napkin she'd found in the linen closet. Standing across from the two men who were perched on the only barstools in the apartment Calais began to eat. "Can I help you Eric?"

Smirking at the woman before him; Eric answered, "I thought I told you, Pet, its Master or Sir."

Calais barely paused in her eating as she responded, "I thought I told you Asshole, I'm not your pet."

"Actually," Eric started as he fished something out of his pocket, "according to the agreement between me and your brother – you are." He handed a small velvet drawstring bag to Calais. "Go ahead, open it; a gift from me to you."

Calais put down her spoon and wiped her hands on her napkin. Taking the pouch from Eric and opening the drawstring, Calais poured the contents into her hand. Out slid a velvet ribbon with a tiffany heart engraved with her name and his phone number. Eric smiled, expecting a violent outburst, for her to yell and scream…what he didn't expect was the silent, seething anger he felt rolling off her in waves as she placed the chocker on the counter and pushed it back towards him.

"Honestly, you should probably just give this to Ginger – she's much more likely to get lost and need to be returned to her master. I tell you Eric, one more glamour and that woman will be useless for anything other than a food supply." Taking her bowl and Alcide's to the sink, Calais tried to keep her hands busy, she was shaking and was sure her eyes were glowing as she worked hard not to shift and lash out she was so mad. Knowing that throwing a temper tantrum would simply be playing right into his hands, Calais used all her self-control to keep herself bipedal. "I may not have a choice in staying here. You may get to lock me in this cage, dictate what I wear and how I live – but never make the mistake of thinking you own me Mr. Northman." Calais looked him in the eye, ignoring the stupefied look she was getting from Alcide. "It's a beautiful apartment, Eric, better than anything I've had with the Pack, but it's a cage – no windows, stale air, hell – I had to bake muffins just to get rid of the stench of death. So, do you want me to kick Alcide's ass now, or is that something for later to impress your vampy customers – Friday night dog fights, is that it?"

"Now now my pet. We're not fighting to the death – I just need to see how well my newest body guard can protect me."

Calais shook her head at that admission by Eric. She placed one hand on her hip and one on the counter, cocking her head to the side in a rather lupine gesture of confusion, "What the hell can a 1000 year old vampire need protection from? There can't be that much besides me that could actually take you down."

"Confident, I like it." Eric smiled as she rose from the bar stool. "Why don't we move into the parking lot and see what you're made of little girl."

Alcide looked from Eric to Calais and back to Eric, the reason for his visit suddenly clear in his head, "Eric, you can't be serious."

Calais didn't bother waiting for Eric to respond as she rounded the kitchen counter and placed a hand on Alcide's bicep, giving it a gentle squeeze. "Don't worry Alcide, this won't hurt…too bad."

Alcide stood, "Eric, I'm not fighting her." He said turning towards the vampire who was currently walking towards the door as if expecting the two Were's to simply follow.

Eric turned then and used his vampire speed to get right in Alcide's face, "You most definitely will fight her. And you won't hold back either. You owe me, consider this the final payment."

Leading the pair through a backdoor and into a back parking lot, Eric motioned for the pair to face off. "The match is over when I say it's over. Anything except shifting is fair game."

Calais readied herself as she turned to face Alcide. She could see the concern on his face and currently wanted nothing more than to smack him. She allowed her eyes to glow as she became one with her wolf. Noticing Alcide was still unsure about this fight, she decided to taunt him. "Come on Alcide, my brother thought he saw some Alpha blood in you. I disagreed. Your bitch seemed to have you wrapped around her little finger. Bet your wolf just loved that, being submissive to a female that wasn't even an alpha." She taunted, beckoning him towards her with a curl of her finger. "Come on, you know you want to. Give into the wolf Alcide. You and I both know he's yelling at you to teach the bitch a lesson; to make her submit."

With that last remark, Alcide went to attack and Calais was ready. He punched right and she ducked and twirled using his momentum against him as she placed a round house kick to his mid back, a blow that just made Alcide madder. Calais gave herself over to her wolf and fought with everything she had. She parried, she attacked and she defended. Ten minutes later and the two were still circling around each other, finally though, Alcide left Calais an opening and she didn't hesitate. The problem, he left the opening on purpose and before she could register that she was pinned on her back; she could feel every muscle as his body pressed against hers, his face inches from her own. She looked into his eyes, transfixed by something she saw there and was only shaken from her trance by the sound of Eric clapping.

"Brilliant." Eric said walking towards the pair. Alcide too, appeared to be entranced but immediately backed off when he heard Eric. Almost afraid of the way he'd had to give himself over to his wolf almost completely in order to overtake the female, Alcide looked at Calais quizzically.

"How did you do that?" He asked.

Calais reappraised the male were in front of here. It had been years since a man had managed to get her on her back and her wolf suddenly had a new appreciation for the man she'd just fought. Deciding this Were deserved knowing better, she casually walked towards him. "Do what?" she replied, pretending to not understand the question as she absentmindedly brushed her fingers through her hair cleaning out the dirt and gravel before rebraiding the plait that had gotten messed up when she'd been pinned.

"You completely gave yourself over to the wolf without actually shifting. " Alcide continued stare at her, ignoring the vampire next to him. Alcide had fought many Were's and only a few had the skill to be able to fight with the body of the human and the skill of their wolf in sync like the female were walking towards him.

"Takes practice. It took years of training and meditation, but we're one – I'm never without her…even in this form – I'm like a wolf in human clothes, not a woman that shifts into a wolf." Calais said as she reached up to caress his face and push his hair back out of his eyes. It was a simple gesture, but a low growl of approval rumbled in his chest at the action. The sexual tension and chemistry sizzled between the two and that fact was not lost on Eric who smiled; looked like as long as he kept the female in his grasp, he'd continue to be able to call on Alcide as well. Two for the price of one, Eric thought he could definitely use that to his advantage. The vampire cleared his throat to get the attention of the pair before him.

Both heads turned towards the vampire though neither shifted their bodies, too caught up in the need to be close, touching, connected in some way. Calais' attention went to the vampire to her left, her hand resting on Alcide's chest, as he gave a warning growl to Eric, his wolf upset at being interrupted in his dealings with the female. "Shush Alcide, "Calais chastised with a giggle as she playfully swatted him. "What can we do for you Eric?"

"It's time to get to work," He replied, walking back towards the bar. "Alcide, your presence is no longer required. Calais, you're with me." He called back over his shoulder, not pausing in his movements. Calais rose up on her tip toes to rub her cheek against Alcide's before rocking back and following Eric.