A/N - TB and SVM characters belong to HBO, Mrs Harris and Alan Ball, original characters and storyline are my own. I have a direction, just not sure how many detours there will be along the way, please enjoy. Your reviews, feedback and alerts make my day.
Chapter 2
Scene 1 - SPOV - 'Nightmare'
My dreams were not what I expected after having such a large quantity of Eric's blood. I expected silk sheets and skillful hands. Maybe a bold mouth and a chance to fondle a muscular rear end. Instead it was your typical fright night dream a thon.
You know the type of dream I mean. You are in your car at the top of a hill and rolling down it you discover your brakes have failed, no matter how you pump em or shift to neutral or reverse, you cannot stop the momentum. You try steer to a soft shoulder to slow down and find yourself right back in the middle of the road. You are completely helpless, then of course a baby carriage rolls into the road in your path and just as you are about to hit it, wham, you are back to the top of the hill starting all over.
Or how about this one? You are on your way to pick up groceries and the car won't start in the parking lot, you left your cell phone at home so you find yourself in a dirty pay phone, scrambling for change in a debit card world. No one answers when you phone home (who would, I mean you live alone right?) Like a typical movie starlet you do the stupid thing, you grab your bag of groceries and start to walk home. Yes, that is what I said; you walk home with a plastic or paper bag of groceries down a now dark and mysterious road that you do not recognize. Oh, and it is now raining, how predictable. So what happens? Well I have already been through the Maenad thing, thank you very much, quite a 'been there done that' kinda situation, yawn inducing actually. In this dream though the beast with a bulls head has a freakier replacement, I am being attacked by a little blonde girl in pig tails, who was trying to kill me with her Barbie doll, seriously. I was extremely thankful when my alarm went off the next morning, before Ronald McDonald could join in the fun.
I guess waking in a black void is something only vampires can appreciate. The alarm clock was on the floor and probably residing under my bed thanks to my over enthusiastic attempt to kill it, leaving me scrambling in the pitch dark for the bed side lamp. A lamp that was not the hurricane style with the key type switch it used to be. What the fudge? My fingers located the toggle switch on the base after some tense moments. The artificial light flooding the room reassured me that I was indeed in my bedroom, and after locating the alarm clock, blowing off a few dust bunnies and reinstating it on the side table, the time was truly eleven in the morning.
I was obviously not the best first thing upon waking without life giving caffeine, so it was still a few foggy minutes later when I remembered the steel shutters. I located the remote and climbed out of bed, throwing out a mental net first to check for visitors. There was nothing on my mental radar, so I opened up the whole house to the morning sun.
Despite the remnants of the lingering nightmare, I felt really good, like I could take on a were-wolf with one hand. My mood soured a bit when another piece of the previous evening flashed through my mental recall. I had voluntarily allowed the tall blonde and sinful Mr. Northman to claim my human self. I had his blood, quite a lot of it, and he had had mine. If I understood blood exchanges correctly, every vampire would be able to tell I was 'his', their nose would know. The amount and age of Eric's blood should over ride any of Bill's that might remain. Considering how much havoc a few drops caused to begin with, I hoped I would not come to regret my decision.
I ran another mental sweep of the grounds. The diameter of my range was still much greater than before the fairy inquisition. Perhaps the training I had undertaken for my now defunct Fae abilities had strengthened the telepathic, or it was just a growth of necessity from all the stress. However it had occurred, coupled with the boost from Eric's blood I was able to ascertain that there was no one, human or supernatural for two miles as the crow flies. While it was comforting to know that I would be able to enjoy the sunny day, it also meant that the Compton residence was empty of the one if not two voids I was expecting to find at rest. Where were Jessica and Bill?
With the worries already beginning, I stripped out of my pajamas and tossed them into a convenient hamper and stepped into my new bathroom. Last night I really did not take the time to appreciate the luxury within. The walls and floor were tiled with stone of creams, grays and blue. The sunken tub was large enough for two Vikings and the glass corner shower had multiple shower heads. The toilet had been upgraded and the sink had become a built in, the space used to accommodate the change coming from a broom closet that used to be on the other side. All in all, minimal structural changes had been made to create my own little slice of heaven.
I decided on a bath instead of a shower and while I was soaking, my mind went over some of the questions I would have for Eric tonight.
Was Russell dead?
How much did Eric know about Bill before hand?
Where was Bill or Jessica?
Was everyone else ok, did they realize I had been gone?
What would Eric expect from me now?
I sighed as I finished my bath, quickly ducking into the shower to wash and condition my hair. Many of the questions whirling in my head should have been asked the night before, but I had been too caught up with my fear. Claudine had been adamant that without my association with Eric, I could find myself quickly returned to Faerun. I wrapped my hair up in a towel and reached for some lotion, studying my body in a full length mirror while I applied it. My fingers lingered over the ragged scars on my abdomen, not as tender as they had been the day before. No I would kill before I would be taken back there.
I shrugged off my mood and dressed swiftly in dark jeans and a t-shirt. It was a bit cool in the house so I grabbed a sweater to wear with it.
I made sure I had the remote and shot gun with me when I went down to the kitchen. It was indeed fully stocked, and my brunch consisted of French toast, bacon and a slice of melon, all washed down with a can of Coke. The caffeine and sugar buzz encouraged me to grab up a dust rag and broom and go hunting for more dust bunnies. I needed to fill the time somehow, since I promised Eric I would stay put.
The wolves returned at mid afternoon, only eight this time. I was a bit slow getting the barricades up and one slipped through the back door. The clarity of his thoughts broadcasting his anticipation of the reward for my death, served as enough warning for me to swing the shot gun around and let him have both barrels mid leap. There was no vampire this time diving between us to save his stinking hide. The body was wrapped in the largest area rug waiting for disposal. The ancient blood in my veins increased my strength to make the clean up a breeze.
I felt the moment Eric rose for the evening; it was like a live wire flashing through my mind. I freaked out for second, thinking that someone had found a way to invade my head, until the crackle settled down to a whisper of emotions. The experience was akin to having a gossip spill all of Eric's emotional secrets. When my own astonishment at my mental discovery was returned to me as amusement, I realized the connection went both ways.
This was not good. I had not experienced anything like this from consuming Bill's blood or even the small bit of Eric's. I admit that neither of the two vampires had been very forth coming with the side effects from blood consumption, but this was ridiculous. I could deal with the extra strength, the healing and over all good looks. I could tolerate the sexual awareness and see the benefit of a homing beacon. But if I damned well didn't want to read a vampires mind, I sure as hell didn't want to be able to eavesdrop on his emotions.
I was not in any mental state to accurately weigh the liabilities against the assets in regards to our new bond. Thankfully Eric seemed to have a handle on the issue, for he somehow dampened the connection right after I was flashed a whole lot of hunger and lust.
All righty then, he must be feeding and wanted a bit of privacy. At least I hoped that was the reason why. I was not allowed the luxury of reasoning over our emotional situation as the wolves were still circling outside. I wondered how long it would be before they tried something a bit more explosive to get in. Either the wolf I had killed had been the leader, or the remaining seven were just not that intelligent, for they ran off the property a bit later, one by one.
Eric had apparently finished his meal, because I was being hit with an emotional over load. Who knew he kept this all behind such a coolly composed exterior. I was being rolled over by satiation, then surprise, confusion and an all encompassing rage which was tearing through me like a train wreck.
It occurred to me that he may have not realized I was experiencing his turmoil second hand, unconsciously dropping the barrier he had thrown between us. For whatever the reason, I could not continue to function this way; he was so over whelming even at this distance. So I closed my eyes and centered myself, sinking into the meditation that I had learned from Claudine. I adjusted the mental net around my property so it was large enough to give fair warning, but small enough I could maintain it automatically. I then walked through the corridors of my mind until I reached the room now dedicated to Eric Northman.
The walls were paper thin and the whisper of his emotions had become a piercing scream. I built up the walls first, adding insulation between layers of shields to absorb the vibration. I found I was not able to cut him off completely, the door had to remain open between us but I was able to reduce the pressure to a dull ache, the equivalent of blocking a loud mental broadcaster.
I opened my eyes when I was finished and rubbed at my sore temples; this was going to be exhausting if he did not make any effort on his end.
I fixed and finished my dinner in peace, my appetite strong despite the dead body decorating my floor. I was already regretting my agreement to remain silent about my return. I itched to take the phone and call my friends and family to determine what had happened in my absence. My nervousness over what Eric would do, plus the knowledge they could be seriously hurt if the wolves caught wind of them kept me from calling and inviting them over.
I did the dishes and went back to my favorite chair, keeping the re loaded shot gun across my lap. I picked up where I had left off scanning the area mentally, slowly testing my limits. I could faintly hear the thoughts of the family in the farm house down the way, mostly a rumble about their work day. Once I identified them as harmless, I easily blocked them, continuing my search for the signatures that indicated if Bill or Jessica was around.
I was growing weary from using my telepathy and blocking Eric when my mental alarms were triggered by a fast moving void. It had to be Eric; I could feel him coming closer emotionally in time with empty spot on my radar.
I dropped the barriers on the front of the house and had the door open for him when he arrived.
Before he could voice the annoyance I could feel I spoke up, "I knew it was you, now could you please do whatever you did earlier with the fang banger, you are giving me a headache."
"I would have found a way for you to take more blood in Dallas if it would have ended with you underneath me so swiftly," he drawled from the front porch.
I groaned, "If I knew this much of your blood would give me high speed access to your emotions, I may have just taken my chances solo." I had turned away from him to collapse into the chair, my head thrown back and my eyes closed as I tried to build a stronger barrier between us, but I was failing, fast.
I must have done just as good a job blocking him from my emotions, because once the shields collapsed, he was in front of the chair in an instant.
"Don't touch me," I whispered, "You will only make it worse."
"Why is there pain? I do not see any injuries."
"Eric, the pain I feel is because of you, your emotions are ripping my head apart."
There was comprehension, then consternation, then blessed peace as he cut off his side of the equation. He was back to being just a mutter in my head, I could deal with that.
I opened my eyes and smiled over at him, "Thanks, you are a bit over whelming Viking." He had moved to crouch next to the very dead wolf when he discerned I was not injured physically.
He replied to me over his shoulder, "You should not be able to tap into my emotions like that. You should be able to sense me, yes, after the mutual exchange, we are connected. But I have had more of your blood, my connection should be the stronger of the two. I considered it a perk, knowing that you lust after me while your lips deny it." I saw a flash of his smile.
He unwrapped the wolf while we were speaking, searching for any identification. I had already looked; there was nothing on him, not even a brand.
"I already checked Eric, he is clean."
"So he is, nice shot."
"Thank you," I preened a bit under his compliment, "I don't mind you humming in the back of my head, but I sure as hell don't want to feel you fucking or whatever else you do in your basement every night, by the way, that is one heck of a poker face you have developed."
He allowed me to feel his amusement, "I believe the human expression is pot meet kettle? Your lips do not even twitch when you are reading the minds of human filth."
"Self preservation," I muttered.
"Exactly," he lifted the body and headed for the door. "We will continue this discussion when I return."
I grabbed a mop, bucket and some bleach and cleaned up the floor and entryway behind him. I was keyed up and pacing when he reappeared out of the shadows. I tossed him some sweats of Jason's that I had dug out and pointed up the stairs.
"You are filthy, go take a shower. Throw your clothes in the hallway and I will take care of them. Jason's stuff should work while they dry."
"Why thank you Ms. Stackhouse," he purred with amusement.
I would not lower my barriers to find out what else he was feeling. When I heard the water running through the pipes, I darted up the stairs and gathered up the shirt and jeans he left behind, no socks and no underwear. I refused to follow that thought any further. The blood stains were minimal, mostly mud and muck from where ever he had been. I used a bit of stain remover and popped them in the wash, waiting until I heard his shower end before starting the cycle. He may be a vampire, but I doubted he would appreciate the change in water temperature anymore than a human would.
When I returned to the living room, he was seated on the couch in Jason's clothes, still rubbing a towel through his wet hair. The sweat bottoms were about four inches to short and the top was straining against the movement of his shoulders. I took the towel from him and tossed it on the kitchen counter when he appeared at a loss to know what to do with it. I had to resist the urge to finger comb his short tousled hair.
"Where were we then?" he asked, when I sat down.
"You were telling me I shouldn't know when you are pissed off."
"That is correct; you would need to exchange blood with me multiple times for that to have happened. Such a bond would be permanent."
"What we did last night isn't permanent? How come this didn't happen with Bill?"
"Last night was a beginning, if you decide not to continue the exchanges it will start to fade. As far as Compton, he did not feed from you after giving you his blood did he?"
I had to think about that, every time I had his blood it was because of a serious injury, in fact he made quite sure I had reason to consume large quantities. But there was never any of his blood involved when he fed from me, and nothing like what Eric had shared with me last night.
"No, I don't believe so. Each time I've had his blood it's been like the Ratrays, of course he would feed from me every night." I was determined not to cry when I thought about the Ratrays.
Eric looked at me intently, "No love bites during sex?"
I blushed, "He would bite me at the end, but got angry if I nipped him, so I stopped." I didn't remember breaking through his skin, just his irrational fury over something I had thought was normal, after seeing what other couples did in their heads. "I thought it was just a vampire thing, you know forbidden."
"Being bitten during sex is a major turn on for a vampire," he replied.
I filed that away for future evaluation, and then tried to not squirm at the mental picture of nipping Eric.
"No I think Mr. Compton had orders to force feed you his blood so that you would be more...compliant to his advances and odd behavior. The fact that he did not force a blood bond with you tells me the Queen instructed otherwise," he said. "Compton's only advantage through his blood without a bond would be your complacency and the ability to track you."
We both were silent for a few moments, wrapped up in each other's thoughts.
I could feel something knocking at the barrier I had raised between us.
"Stop that," I growled.
"I am curious, how did you do it?"
"The same way I block the thoughts in my head, but it doesn't take you long to break through them when we are this close if you don't shut your side down."
"A vampire learns early not to be at the mercy of our emotions, we learn to dominate them. We feel ... more... than a human. You were not prepared for that. I will only allow you to feel what I wish you to. You will be shielded from anything else."
"So I won't need to shield?"
"You will not need too. I understand if you wish too. I know you treasure your privacy. I only ask that you no longer try to block it completely. I still need to be able to find you when you are in trouble."
I caught the insinuation, not if, but when trouble comes a calling. I dropped my shields, and for a brief moment I felt his satisfaction, then it was gone.
"Someday Sookie I hope you explain just how you do what you do with that fascinating mind of yours," he said, raising an eyebrow in invitation.
"I would rather know what had you so angry tonight. Did it have anything to do with the call last night and what about the others? When can I return to the land of the living?" I know I was whining, but I would go insane locked up in the house for another day without some contact with the outside world.
His lips twitched, "You are very much alive Sookie."
I rolled my eyes, "Just spill Eric." I realized that I had not heard the rumble of the washer for a while now, "No wait, give me a moment. I need to put your stuff in the dryer." I rushed out of the room, my socks sliding across the wooden floor almost landing on my butt. I stopped my forward momentum with a hand against the washer, then pulled out his clothes and tossed them in the dryer, set the timer and slid back to my chair.
"Humans, always in a hurry."
"So glad I amuse you." I sighed; this was just going to turn into our normal back and forth banter. I secretly enjoyed it, but tonight I did not have the patience, apparently neither did he.
"Pam called to let me know that she found out nothing from the wolf. While Chow was disposing the body, a mixed group of human and wolves entered Fangtasia and started to harass the clientele."
"I bet Pam did not like that," I said. Sometimes I think Pam cared more about Fangtasia than Eric did. She scared the crap out of me, and was loyal beyond a doubt to Eric. I was sure the only reason she had not killed me yet was because he must have stopped her.
"No she didn't, she and the largest were-bitch got into a fight. I had to pull them apart when I arrived. The bitch was screaming at Pam in a language I did not understand. Pam was barely scratched, the other was not so lucky." There was a hint of pride in his voice when he spoke of Pam.
I was curious, "Does that happen often?" I clarified before he could answer, "I mean how often has it been since you heard a language that you did not understand, with all your years and experience?"
He sprawled a bit deeper into the couch before answering, causing Jason's shirt to inch up exposing a strip of skin. Gah, instant arousal on my part.
"Not often at all," he looked thoughtful then shrugged in dismissal. "Chow returned and her friends gathered the were-bitch up and left the club. We closed up soon after."
"So Pam didn't say anything else?" I asked.
He smirked, "Just that it was about time."
I was confused, "About time for what?"
"She could smell you on me. She could smell your blood in me."
"Oh," I couldn't stop from blushing, "So what happened tonight then? I knew when you got hungry, and I knew when you were, um, full. But you were surprised and confused then very angry all at once. The anger almost brought me to my knees."
When his face became cold and empty, his eyes hard, I understood how much Eric had been relaxing around me. This was the Sheriff of Area 5, the cunning, manipulative predator that I should be terrified of. I just held my breath waiting to die.
He closed his eyes and ran a large hand through his tousled hair, "Breath Sookie, I am not going to hurt you." I exhaled but still watched him warily. "It is difficult dealing with how strongly you received my emotions. It is unsettling."
"I know that, maybe it is because of my telepathy. It is a lot stronger since I came home, or because I am a fairy. I promise I will work on my shields, and you keep things to a dull roar on your end. You never did tell me, what ticked you off?"
Despite his reassurance, his face was still reserved, "Just politics Sookie, nothing that needs to concern you."
It does if it had anything to do with Russell, "But Eric..."
"No"
I growled and his mouth quirked, "Fine, does that mean I can't ask about the others?"
I heard the buzzer for the dryer go off, "Damn it, I'll be right back." I grabbed his clothes out of the dryer, stomping over to drop them in his lap. I was counting to ten in my head to keep the old Sookie at bay. I wanted to throw a temper tantrum to get some answers.
He stood and reached to pull the sweat shirt off. I huffed at him, "Do you have to do that right here?"
"Why not, you have already seen me naked."
"Fine, let me know when you are finished," I closed my eyes and focused on my breathing. I would not peak, no siree.
"You can open your eyes now Sookie."
I squinted first, just in case he was trying to trick me. Nope, he was decent and the sweats were all folded and stacked neatly on the back of the couch. Eric was back to lounging comfortably.
"You do remember the last encounter with Bill on this very porch, correct?" he asked.
How could I forget, the only truth Bill had ever told me was that I was a fairy. Everything else had been a lie to procure me for his Queen.
"I will never forget." I was determined not to cry.
Eric nodded, "Bill had used my cell phone to put a hit out on Pam, obviously unsuccessful. He then disappeared. I heard a rumor that he tried to kill Sophie-Anne, but she is still alive. I spoke with Jessica about Compton when she asked my permission to move in with her human. She didn't feel Bill die so he is out there somewhere."
"She had to ask your permission?"
"Her maker did not respond when she called him through their bond. I am the next in authority; it seems that she absorbed some of the rules I taught her."
"You let her move in with Hoyt?"
"There was no reason to stop her, the human would have gone to her regardless, and now there is one less vampire near to do you harm."
"Jessica would never hurt me!"
"Jessica would do anything her maker commands. Surely after Lorena you understand that."
I could hear the frustration in his voice. I changed the subject.
"What about Sam and the others?"
"The shifter is back at his bar along with your gay friend. Your brother got mixed up with the were-panthers in Hot Shot, but he is fine. The one you called Tara was seen driving out of town the night you disappeared. She has not come back."
I started to pick at the fuzz on my sweater, "So when can I go back to work?"
"If you mean back to the shifter's bar, not until I find out what the wolves still want, or you can come work for me at Fangtasia where I know you will be protected."
I frowned, "Don't the wolves want me for helping to kill Russell?" The was a flash of ... something... through the bond. I caught his gaze and demanded, "He is dead isn't he Eric? Bill said he was gone." I thought a moment, "But then Bill also said he ended you, yet here you are."
"Russell will not bother you again, not in your lifetime."
We were back to the stone faced Sheriff, was I really sure I could trust him any more than I could trust Bill? I know Claudine had said I needed him, could I even trust her? My eyes widened as a thought occurred to me.
"Do you mean a human lifetime or a fairies Eric?" I asked. "I have it straight from the horse's mouth that I am going to be around a good long time, knock on wood."
He squirmed, that damn vampire squirmed like a little boy with his hand caught in the cookie jar.
"Didn't think of that now did you?" I scoffed, and then asked for the answer to the question I should have pushed for last night. Why would he need to be comfortable in my home?
'Eric, I have a feeling I will know if you lie to me. So just man up, why did you really make all these changes to my house?"
"I have need of a Sanctuary." He met my eyes without flinching or regret.
Well shit.
