Chapter 3: I Hear You Call My Name

I closed myself in the room I shared with Bill. I was alone...but I wasn't. The sun streamed through the light-proof windows. I walked over to the section where the bed was and looked at Bill, dead to the world. He would be able to smell Eric on me. I snuck past him and into the bathroom where I jumped into the shower. It was no use, but I could try and scrub off the intensity he imprinted on me. Even though internally, doing so wasn't so simple.

He was in my head now – Eric. I groaned leaning against the cool tiles as the water beat around me. What had I done? I loved Bill. I threw all that away for a night with Eric? I didn't want to think about how I might respond to that question if I really thought about it. I got out of the shower after scrubbing off as much of his scent as I could, even though his presence still overwhelmed me. He was across the hall and dead – I shouldn't be thinking about him anymore. Just like how I pushed thoughts of Bill out when I was with Eric, I was going to do it now.

I slid to the floor. He would smell Eric on me. He'd feel my emotions through the blood – would know. I had to tell him. We would be leaving Dallas shortly. Anubis airline would be picking up Bill in the coffin. I had to go back to Bon Temps. I stepped out of the shower and dried off. When would I even see Eric again? Would he even want to? He was probably regretting it just as much as...

I swallowed, not wanting to think about how I felt when I remembered what just happened. I shivered and brushed my teeth and washed my face vigorously. I felt very uncomfortable going into the room with Bill and letting my towel fall as I changed. Which was ridiculous. I shouldn't feel self-conscious naked with my boyfriend, he'd seen it before, and he was dead to the world. Nevertheless, I was quick. There was a knock on our hotel room door. Immediately I thought it was Eric. But the glance out the window reminded me that was ridiculous. He probably exhausted himself, even though he'd been awake far past dawn. I felt another shiver, as I remembered how his weight felt on me.

I went to the door, peeking through the hole first and opened it for Jason. He walked in with his head down.

"I can't tell you, Sook, how glad I am that we're getting out of Dallas today," he said.

"Me too," I said softly.

"So, how does Vampire Bill get in the coffin?" Jason asked, looking awkwardly around.

I looked toward the bed. "Um, they should be here with the travel one soon," I said. I walked over to the couch and sat down. Why was I feeling guilty around Jason? My affair wasn't his concern.

"You alright?"

"Yep. Sure. Why wouldn't I be?" I asked quickly.

Jason shrugged. "I dunno, you look twitchy."

***

Before I knew it we were in the shuttle bus from the airport back to Bon Temps and I had fallen asleep. I was safely on the way to Louisiana, but I found myself walking into Fangtasia. It was daytime and it was empty. I looked around the red walls, the black tables, the empty throne that usually held its infamous owner. I wandered around, remembering that this was the table that Long Shadow nearly killed me at and then Bill saved me. "Reminiscing, my lover?"

I whipped around to see Eric walking toward me in the tracksuit he wore the night the maenad attacked. I had never seen a man wear one and pull it off, besides him. I gasped as he advanced, his shoulders hunched and his head tilted to the side.

"I'm not your lover," I reminded him, keeping the table between the two of us. My voice echoed in the empty club.

He smirked, laughing slightly. He was so sexy and his light hearted ease around me made my heart soar and my desire flare. This was not the Viking sheriff I had familiarized myself with. This was not even the broken man I had addressed the night before. This was the man from my dreams.

"I haven't told Bill, yet," I said clearly, watching him carefully walk around the table, closer to me. I moved away from him.

"I wish I was there to see his face." From our distance, I could feel the vibrations of his voice. A chill went down my spine and my eyes closed. He inclined his head, halting, and so did I. He held my gaze and in an instant he was in front of me, done playing games. He cradled my head and I thought he would kiss me until he dropped his mouth to my neck and moaned, inhaling. Immediately, my legs gave out and I caved against him. His arms around my waist, he held me tight, his fangs suddenly, searching for a juicy enough artery, it seemed. "Your blood is exquisite," he groaned, bit, and drank deep. His hand around my waist moved under my yellow dress and I moaned as he delved further...

I woke with a jerk, realizing I was in the shuttle, with Bill's coffin behind me, feeling severely horny. I looked over to see Jason giving me a funny look.

"Do I even want to know what you were dreaming about?" he asked. I shook my head, pulling my cardigan over my breasts to hide my nipples. I couldn't even look back at Bill's coffin, without shame flooding over me and an intense blush forming.

I looked out of the window to avoid my brother and my boyfriend, watching the familiar scenery of home whiz by, until...

"What the –?" Jason said for me, straightening up and looking at Bon Temps. I had no idea what to say, it was completely trashed, deserted.

As we stared out the window in astonishment someone crashed into the car. Welcome to Bone Temps.

"What the hell?" Jason asked as we got out of the car and the person that was hit, cackled, scurrying off. What the fuck?

***

When the sun set and Bill rose, Jason, Hoyt, Mrs. Fortenberry and I were waiting in the living room. Hoyt's mom was uncontrollable, her eyes were black and I was more confused than ever, especially when Hoyt asked me not to leave until we talked with Vampire Bill. He couldn't explain much of what happened since he'd only gotten back here a day before us.

When Bill faced all of us in the living room, my heart fell and my face flushed in guilt. He looked at me, stunned, as he wrestled with the same reality I'd been dealing with while he slept.

"Sookie?" he asked, confused.

"Sorry to intrude, Vampire Bill," Hoyt stood up and his mama began jeering and dancing around, feeling up Jason. He cringed, uncomfortable, which was uncommon for Jason.

Jessica emerged from her hole. "Oh thank God you guys are here," she went to Hoyt's side and I stood up, knowing Bill could smell Eric on me. His nose twitched and I wasn't sure how to interpret the look on his face. It sort of reminded me of the one he had when he saw me sucking Eric's chest. I swallowed down the lump in my throat, blocking out Hoyt's explanation as I stared at Bill.

"Sookie," he said his eyes fixated on me. "Can I talk to you for a minute?" I nodded numbly and the others looked affronted for the crisis at hand being ignored.

"Sookie! We have to do something!" Jason snapped.

"Hold on," I scolded following Bill upstairs. I'm sure he thought we'd be having sex, but honestly, I wasn't even so sure he'd want to help anybody after I explained what happened.

He closed the door in his room as if they could over hear. Well, I guess Jessica could. I averted my eyes, not willing to look at him. I hurt him. I was awful.

"Bill," I said firmly. "I'm so sorry."

"What happened?" he asked stiffly. I let out a shuddered breath and just like that, it came pouring out. I had no one else I could tell this too, and despite it hurting him, he sort of knew what I went through with Gran.

"Godric is dead," I said, gazing up at him, knowing it was the cowards way to not look him in the eye. "And Eric..." I didn't know how much to say. He was sheriff and he probably wouldn't respond well at having Bill privy to his most private moments. The Eric I saw after Godric's final death was no one he showed to anyone. I knew that. "I..comforted him."

There was a brief pause before Bill's harsh voice cut through, "Sookie, Eric does not need comfort. He is a thousand years old and has mastered manipulation, that is what he has done to you."

"Bill," I gaped at him. "His maker died. And unlike you, he had a relationship with him, a real one." I saw a short flash go across his features and I wondered what that meant for a moment before he fired back, his voice louder.

"It's the blood Sookie. Your feelings are not your own. You can't feel for someone like Eric, just like he can't feel for anyone but his maker, who is now dust in the wind!" I took a step back, really not liking Bill telling me what I could and couldn't feel.

"I had more of his blood," I said.

"I can smell," he hissed. "He used you. I will kill him for it."

I didn't like his tone. "I had sex with him," I blurted. For a moment, strangely, I felt some satisfaction of throwing something in Bill's face, until I saw his expression and my initial guilt came rushing back. "I'm sorry."

Bill's eyes unfocused and he looked away, becoming very still. He cursed and looked away, putting a head to his hand. "You smell of him."

I was catching flies, standing there.

"You have no trace of me on you. He has drenched you in his mark in every sense. No one would know you are mine," his voice cracked.

"But I am yours," I found myself saying, stepping forward and grabbing his arm. "Bill, look at me."

"Eric is very old," Bill said flatly. "Perhaps...He influenced you – glamoured you, with his blood in you." I balked, never considering that.

"Is it possible?" I asked, doubtfully. Was that what it was like to be glamoured? It certainly didn't feel any different. "Why would Eric do that?" I just wasn't buying it. He seemed too distraught to worry about getting me naked. In fact, when I thought back on it, I'd initiated things more than he had. He didn't force me. I blushed at the thought, not letting myself go into too much detail.

"He wants you Sookie. He called Lorena just so he could get you alone. I don't know why he's so obsessed with you, but it's not good. Maybe now that he's had...maybe now he'll stop whatever it is that he's doing," Bill scowled looking away.

Eric called Lorena. I suspected as much.

What was even more odd, was how calm Bill was about this. "Why aren't you more mad?" I asked slowly.

He gave me an incredulous look. "Would you like me to stomp around and pout? It's not your fault Sookie," he said. I really had no idea what to say to that. Did vampires see cheating as no big deal? I certainly thought it was. Did Bill think it was okay to be with other women? Like Lorena? "Sookie," he said, his hands on my arms. "I love you. I know you don't have any control over what Eric did to you. It's alright, sweetheart," he pulled me into his chest and I found myself hugging him back.

What was I doing? Was I being heartless? Mean?

"I'm so sorry," I whispered, holding him tight.

"Shh, it seems we have much more important things to worry about then Eric," he spit out his name. I closed my eyes, nuzzling closer, not wanting to think about him. I pulled back and stared at my vampire's harsh expression.

"Kiss me," I muttered. His icy lips met mine at a forceful pressure that had me gasping. He pushed my lips apart and his tongue met mine, our bodies lined closely, he backed me to the bed. He was trying to prove something. Claim me. I didn't know what it was with these vampires and staking what is theirs but I let him have his moment. I had done an awful, unforgivable thing and he had heard me out, forgave me. We had to be silent, I reminded him. It was incredibly rude when guests were downstairs, but I was so desperate to prove to him that I loved him and that Eric was a mistake. We needed this moment.

His cool body was flesh against mine, our clothes quickly discarded. We moved up onto the bed and he hovered over me for a moment, his fangs down. I touched them, a reminder of the night before, I shivered. To my surprise, he bit into my shaky finger. I cried out as he sucked into his mouth and simultaneously, slamming into me, without warning. I hadn't had much time to ready myself for his entry. It hurt. It really did. And not in the good way.

"Bill," I gasped. "Be sweet," I said. He slowed down for a second, allowing me to catch up before relentlessly pounded into me, his despair over my transgression evident in his vigourous thrusts. It reminded me of a line I once read in a book, 'On the hard boards he threw her, and used his knee as an iron ram to beat open the two-leaved gate of her chastity.' It was an awful thing to think, but after last night's – I hated myself for comparing, it made me sick to my stomach – After Eric's tenderness, this new level of intimacy with Bill was something I wasn't interested in. I let him have his reassurance as I came, left with a hollow feeling I had never felt before. I sat up abruptly, after he rolled off. I picked up my bra and quickly put it on, throwing on my dress.

"We have people downstairs. That was rude," I muttered looking for my underwear. He was behind me, naked, when I turned around and he kissed me, softer than before.

"You are mine," he said. "I love you." I nodded, smiling as best I could before rejoining them downstairs, feeling ashamed for what I had just done, even thought by my own admission, I was his.

***

The maenad was destroyed. Bon Temps was slowly shaping back into what it was. After Bill's surprise, dress and invite to dinner, everything seemed to be shaping up to the way it should be. I bounced back into Merlotte's with my package.

"What's that you have there?" Tara asked when I came in with the stupidest grin on my face.

"It's a package from Bill. He's taking me out tonight," I beamed.

"Shouldn't we be cleaning the house? There's a lot of damage," Tara gave me a guilty look. My smile dropped. That was a big job and I couldn't say I was looking forward to it. Tara seemed to notice my change in attitude at the mention of my house. Poor Gran. "Let's see what he got you." I smiled at that and pulled out the purple dress, hoping Sam didn't come out and complain. The lunch crowd had dissipated and it was moving pretty slow. "Wow, Sook, it's gorgeous," Tara murmured. "I wonder. Where does Bill get all his money? He doesn't exactly do anything does he?"

I flinched at her words. The thought never really occurred to me. It reminded me back in Dallas when Hugo mentioned the mortality issue between him and Isabel. "The Compton's have always had money," I said snippily, feeling defensive.

"Yeah, but Bill had no real connection with them. He's been his on his own for over a century, right?"

I didn't have much else to say to that. I wandered back into Sam's office where I dropped off my package.

Tara had watched me suspiciously while I was getting ready for my date with Bill. I was so giddy – he had never taken me out before. In fact, we'd never had a real date. I primped for a good hour before Bill knocked on my door. I raced down the stairs and slipped on my heels just before answering it. I was a little ashamed of the state of my house, but Bill had already seen it. Still, my heart quickened at its disastrous look.

"Hi," I said, smiling at him. He looked good in a suit. I think it was the first time I'd seen him in one. "Thank you for the dress," I said. He stepped forward and kissed me deeply. I wrapped my arms around him and enjoyed it, until he led me to his car.

This side of you is not something I wish to share with others. I wondered why that kept sticking in my head as I ate. I felt suspicious, as my dinner ended and Bill looked a bit...nervous. Was this when he was going to break up with me? It was hard to believe that I was in Dallas only three days ago. My heart stalled as I thought about what Bill was going to say next. But when he pulled out the ring, my heart started again.

None of it seemed to click together. It was disjointed as flashes of Gran, Arlene and Tara went through my head. Then finally, I remembered a certain, tall, blond vampire who hadn't come to help when there was a maenad wreaking havoc in his area. When I found myself saying no to Bill, everything in my life made no sense. I couldn't say yes. I was a freak. I cheated on him a couple days ago and he was proposing? For what? I just discovered that I was more than human and had some abilities I knew nothing about. My house was a mess. Maryann was just destroyed last night. I was running to the bathroom, all these thoughts suffocating me.

And yet, I started to wonder. Would marrying Bill be so bad? I loved him, I did – he was my first. He had saved me countless of times, he was always there for me. He forgave me when I betrayed him and he still loved me. I found myself trying on the ring and imagining myself saying, "Hello, I'm Sookie Compton." This is what I wanted. To be a wife. To have children, a family...before I could think about that anymore, I had my answer.

"Yes!" I burst out of the bathroom. "Yes, Bill Compton, I will marry you!" I looked around the restaurant – at the table where I had left Bill. It was deserted. Everything was askew. I looked to the door which was pushed open. "Bill?" I asked hesitantly. "Bill?" I said again, a little louder. I walked closer to the table, the table cloth askew, the plates and dishes all toppled over, the chair on its back.

Was he mad about my answer? Did he leave without saying goodbye? I hurt him again. Why would he leave like that?

Was he...taken? Certainly, as I examined closer, a struggle looked to be evident. No one else was here. It was as if the restaurant had been cleared out.

I ran out into the night looking around, uselessly. They were long gone. I was in the bathroom for no more than five minutes and...Bill. I wasn't sure how to handle this. Did he leave, or was he snatched? I pulled out my cell phone and tried his. No answer.

Who could have taken him? A few images went through my head. Lorena and Eric sharpened into focus. Lorena had been banished, it couldn't be her? Perhaps...Perhaps Eric...

I went back into the restaurant and found Bill's cell on the ground, along with his keys. I grabbed them and ran to his car, and got in. Bill was taken. Why would he leave without his car? I started it, my emotions threatening to spill out of me, tears welling in my eyes. I drove in the direction of Shreveport, to Fangtasia.

AN: I figure some of you will take issue with this chapter. I definitely put everything here for a reason. Thanks for your support guys, it moves me forward! I LOVE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU DOWN TO EVERY LAST CELL IN YOUR BODY, because I'm creepy like that.