Chapter 3 is ready and waiting

I couldn't be more grateful for your reviews, please keep them up

Sorry for the recent delays in updating, I've found myself needing to write when appropriate otherwise I find the chapter unsatisfactory

Thank you to the recent Facebook requests and Tumblr follows, you'll find the links on my page

I cannot wait to get deeper into the series to venture out with Eric's feelings

If any of you saw the recent TB episode, oh my god how torturous was that, I'd love to write Eric scenes like that further on in the series

So please keep reviewing, I adore getting to know you all and your opinions

"We're getting close, I think," Jess declared sceptically as we followed the feeling in her gut. Getting the idea from Pam as Eric was able to 'call' his progeny, Sookie and I had driven to Jessica's to see if she had felt anything from Bill. It turned out she had, but we'd been driving around, with Jess's guess on where Bill had called her from, and had discovered nothing.

I didn't want to worry my friend, but I was starting to think Sookie was right. If Bill was all fine and dandy by himself, the vampire would have let her know he was safe, rather than to send her out of her mind with worry. Something was up, that was clear. And we needed to find out what.

It'd been a long night so far, and it didn't seem like we were getting any closer to finding out what happened to Bill. With her inkling, Jess and I scanned along the dirt road as Sookie crawled the car along, checking every once in a while if we could see anything.

Jess's hand moved to grip my knee.

I glanced to my left to ask, "You alright, Jess?"

She nodded and answered, "I just feel kinda nauseous, like I did last night when–"

"Stop the car!" I yelled out before the vampire could finish her sentence. With a sharp look in the direction my eyes were fixed to, the two women understood exactly why I'd stopped them. In a second flat, Sookie had shoved open the door. The red flash on Jessica's hair showed that she was already down by the scene with Sookie and I racing behind.

"It's Bill's car!" Sookie revealed when the sight was clear to the eye. The night's sky hid the car well enough, but when we were steps from the wreckage, the happenings before the crash were haunting us all.

"What the hell happened?" Jess asked out of fear for her maker.

Sookie got down on her hands and knees to peer under the up-turned vehicle. A flood of grief and despair hit me like a bullet to the heart as I remembered the newspaper articles, with photos of my family's car, crushed along the road with no hope of their survival. I could only watch numbly, hearing Sookie's voice as my own nightmare of my loved ones became hers.

"There's a body under here but it's not Bill," Sookie said, a hint of relief coating her words. She looked behind her to the two of us. "Jessica, give me a hand, would ya?"

Silently but bearing a grimace, Jess crouched beside the wrecked car and moved her hand through the completely shattered window. From there, she yanked the body from the ruins and left him on the dirty ground.

Coming back to reality, I stepped forth to help the two while Sookie barked out furious orders.

"Search the body for a wallet or phone, anything that might tell us who this fucker is!"

"Ew," My nose scrunched up in disgust as I bent down beside the dead body.

Jess and I began to feel around his body, checking his pockets for anything that could help identify the kidnapper.

"No wallet," I muttered.

"No phone," Jessica grumbled in defeat.

I sat back on my heels and sighed, staring at the dead man in anger. The body seemed almost unharmed if it were for the unnatural red twist on the skin of his neck. A strange sight caught my attention. Normally a tattoo wouldn't spike my interest particularly, but in the case of vampire kidnappers, the weird imprinted symbol on the base of his neck did.

"Um, Sook?"

The blonde knelt beside us to get a closer look.

"What the hell is that?"

"I'm not even sure it's a tattoo," I said, poking the damaged neck, cringing at the taut skin. "It's more like a scar?"

"What, like…branding?" Jessica asked, revolted. "Like with cattle?"

"I guess?"

"Oh, yuck!"

"Jessica, see if you can find something online, anything that resembles that mark," Sookie ordered and the vampire dug into her pocket for her phone. With one final fearful glance at the wreckage, we headed back to Sookie's car. When I sat in the front seat beside Sookie, the apprehensive expression on my friend's face gave me a sense of foreboding.

"What is it?" I asked her, my question laced with dread.

Guilt and empathy radiated from Sookie in waves as she confessed, "I think we need to see Eric again."

I grumbled, "I had a feeling you'd say that."

She was quick to defend her suggestion. "If anyone can help us figure out what's going on, it's Eric Northman." Her eyes filled with sympathy. "I know he's the last person you wanna see right now, Mel. I just don't–"

"Think we have a choice," I finished up for her, nodding slightly in partial agreement. I looked up at the blonde woman with an attempt at a smile. "If the tables were turned, and it was Eric that was in trouble – and Bill was our only hope for answers – then I know you wouldn't be getting in the way."

"You're not getting in the way…" she soothed but I held up my hand for her to stop.

"It's alright, Sookie, really." I sighed, looking back at Bill's wrecked car through the window. "Bill's my friend too. We have to help him, no matter how much of an asshole Eric is." I huffed and turned back to her with an arched eyebrow, pointing my finger at her to say, "But don't judge me if I stay in the car!"

She smiled and nodded, putting her foot on the pedal to head towards Shreveport. I held in the dread – and unfortunately, the butterflies – as I thought about going back to Fangtasia. Seeing Pam had been enough hassle for me tonight, but she was nothing compared to the Viking dickhead that ran the establishment. Even reminiscing the sight of his lovely hair, his sharp cheekbones and haunting eyes got me all flustered. I wasn't just heartbroken over his betrayal with that whore of a dancer, Yvetta. I was disappointed as the hope that Eric would be different, would be faithful for me, was torn to pieces as he fucked another woman in front of my very eyes.

"Jess, you found anything?" I asked, twisting my body to look at the vampire.

Her thumb moved against the scroll as she searched for a replica of the mark we'd found.

"Found something that looks like it," she answered. Jessica passed forward the phone, revealing the symbol from the guy's neck. "Says it has something to do with 'Operation Werewolf'?"

I took a good look at the phone, my eyes bulging at her words.

"Werewolf?" Sookie squeaked.

"Well, that's just great," I mumbled under my breath. As if vampires, shapeshifters and maenads weren't enough.

"Gimme a sec," Jess requested, her palm open, asking for the phone back, "and I'll see if I can dig anything else up."

I looked out of the window as Sookie raced along the road. I wondered if I could handle being in the same room as that man without wanting to stake him in the chest? Truthfully, I wanted to see Eric again. Whether he betrayed me or not, I loved the man and craved the sight of him. Did Sookie think I was pathetic for loving someone that could be so evil? Or did she understand that you couldn't just turn off your feelings like a light switch?

I knew for sure, if I had lost Eric, Sookie would help me in any way she could. And I was pretty sure that if it had been Eric that was kidnapped, I would be out of my mind with worry too. If Sookie needed help from the Viking, I'd have to suck up. I'll just forget my fury and heartache for now and play nice. For Bill's sake.

"Hey, Mel?" Jess passed the phone back. "You might wanna take a look at this."

On the screen, certain words stood out that made the panic in Jessica's voice understandable.

"Well, shit," I mumbled, scrolling down the pages of 'Operation Werewolf'. "This can't be good."

Fangtasia seemed unusually quiet for this time of night. The car park was bare as we pulled up just outside. Music could barely be heard as we stepped outside. Sookie flashed me a sympathetic look.

"You sure you wanna come in?"

I gave a firm, unshakable nod.

"Two heads are better than one, right?"

Sookie answered, "If he won't tell me what he knows, I'm pretty you can get him to talk."

I sighed, stepping towards the club. "Yeah, like that's worked in the past…"

Sookie was the first to step forward, ready to open the door. What surprised us all was that the door was opened from the inside, and by none other than the owner himself. Eric's sharp blue eyes fell instantly to me. A flicker of desire radiated within them, causing my heart to lurch.

No, Melody, I scolded myself. We're here for Bill.

Without care, I forced entry, grazing Eric's side as his body acted as a barrier. My actions went by uncared for as the vampire remained still, holding open the door to allow Sookie and Jessica to follow.

I greeted a smirking Pam with a nod. The three journeyed to the centre of the bar while I waited for Sookie to explain our appearance. Surprisingly, Eric had yet to make a joke or snide remark. He must have known we were on our way, thanks to our bond. When I took a second look at his gorgeous, pale features, I couldn't help a frown to govern my expression. Eric was usually the type to sulk but his gloomy nature was heavier tonight. His expression was dark and distant, his eyes hollow rather than clouded with his lustful imaginings. Something told me the vampire was dealing with his own troubles tonight.

Never the less, he owed us one.

"Eric, we need your help," Sookie spoke firmly, giving the Viking no room to argue. "We found Bill's car crashed a few miles out of Bon Temps." Eric appeared to be listening as he settled himself behind a table, distancing himself from us. "There was no sign of Bill, but there's a body there, with this…" Sookie took a beverage coaster and nicked a pen from her purse, drawing the mark we had discovered to show Eric, "on his neck."

Eric's long fingers stole the coaster from the table to gain a closer look. When he said nothing, Sookie continued.

"Apparently it stands for 'Operation Werewolf', some kind of secret Nazi commando force from World War two?"

Her information prompted a sceptic question from Eric.

"And you found this branded on a dead man's neck?" His eyes never left the coaster.

"Bill summoned Jessica there," she explained. "I think he was trying to show us who kidnapped him."

"Yeah, Nazi werewolves!" Jessica said with excitement. I gave her a stern glance that kept her tone appropriate, seeing as our friend and her maker was still missing.

"That dead guy was strong and fast enough to take Bill," Sookie pointed out. "He had to be something supernatural! I was hoping you could tell us more?"

Finally, for half a second, Eric's eyes rested on me, before they returned to the coaster. He arched his eyebrow.

"Never seen it before," he concluded, lazily chucking the coaster back on the table before casually adding, "sorry."

Furious, I stepped forward.

I raised my chin, folding my arms as I grounded out, "Not good enough."

His gaze snapped back to me, following as I moved my position to stand beside Sookie. He gave a slight sigh as he regarded me, knowing just how stubborn I could be. With a few words in Swedish, Pam turned to Jessica and insisted mockingly, "Let's go to the ladies room and stare at ourselves in the mirror."

As his progeny and Jessica removed themselves from the room, Eric's clueless composure simmered away.

"Here's what I know about werewolves," he announced, his eyes cold as he reminisced in his knowledge, beginning to pace as he spoke to us. "There's a reason their existence has been only a myth to humans for thousands of years. They're territorial, vicious, pathologically secretive…"

"Sounds familiar," I muttered under my breath.

Eric's pacing ceased and his tall build bent to menacingly lean over the table, staring me in the eye. With a long look deep into my eyes, his gaze moved right to Sookie.

"And here's what I know about you two," he drawled. "You are so blinded by your obsession with Bill Compton you're likely to run through the street screaming 'werewolf bait'. You'll alert whoever kidnapped Bill that we're on to them," he glanced at me, "not to mention you'd gladly put your friends in danger."

"That's not fair–" I argued her defence, only to be attacked by his words.

"And you," Eric growled. "You would get yourself killed if it meant saving your friends."

"Do you think we're that stupid?" Sookie asked.

"No, I think your human," he replied, his eyes slowly drawing back to Sookie.

"Don't underestimate us."

"Don't underestimate your selves," Eric growled heatedly. "Your lives are too valuable to throw away."

His words brought only silence. Somewhat uncomfortably, Eric drew back from the table. He watched me, possibly for a reaction. But when my lips remained sealed, he started towards the bar and went to grab a Tru Blood, warming it up in the microwave. Sookie's surprised eyes caught mine, her eyebrows raised in question. Apparently this was a side to Eric she did not often have the pleasure of seeing.

I huffed as I saw Eric leave the bar, unscrewing the lid to his bottle to take a gulp while wandering further away from where we stood. When he sat down at the table, I beckoned Sookie to follow my example as I yanked a stool and sat opposite him. With my legs crossed and my arms folded, Eric gave me a tiresome look.

"Were you always so stubborn, Melody?" he sighed as Sookie sat down beside me.

"We need to find these werewolves," I said, ignoring his question completely.

Eric's familiar egotistical smirk played with his lips. "Neither of you have connections to the Were Community. They're not gonna answer your questions because they don't want you to know they exist."

Sookie's voice trembled with her anger and fear for her boyfriend. "Bill's out there somewhere. He's in danger. I can't just go on with my life like that's not happening."

"You know that better than anyone, Eric," I added, watching as something in his expression altered slightly whenever I spoke up for Sookie. "When Godric went missing–"

"Bill Compton is no Godric," Eric interrupted coldly, shutting me up.

Sookie began to sob, "But he's everything to me…"

I rubbed my friend's arm as she began to cry, tears dripping from her melancholic eyes. Eric sat frozen in place, watching the woman sob.

"Please don't do that," he mumbled dumbly. "It makes me feel…disturbingly human."

"Mel and I risked our lives to help you find Godric!" Sookie dried her tears with the back of her hand while I glared at Eric.

"We're not asking you to do the same," I told him bitterly. "God knows you only look out for yourself, but the least you could do is help us." Eric stared at me coldly as I arched an eyebrow, informing him, "We're doing this. With or without your help. But the greater the danger depends on you…"

Eric's determined expression faltered slightly. If werewolves were as dangerous as he made them out to be, then he knew what the outcome for Sookie and I would be. His silence continued said, looking only to Sookie when she whispered tearfully, "Please, Eric."

The brush of the beaded curtain caught our attention. Sookie cleared her teary face and let out a rattled breath, gaining her composure.

"Sookie?" Jessica called timidly. "You gotta get me home before dawn."

She nodded in reply before picking up her bag and moving to stand.

"Come on, Mel…" she mumbled under her breath, turning on the spot to follow Jessica out.

I gave Eric one final, prompting look, but when he said nothing, I sighed and stood from my chair. In a flash, my wrist was grabbed and my head snapped to look at Eric. His eyes were clouded and there was no hint of that gorgeous yet irritating smirk on his lips. He seemed almost mournful.

Could he be regretting his mistake?

"Melody," he murmured. He said nothing more but his thumb stroked teasingly small circles against my skin. His eyes pleaded with me to stay, to say something to him that wasn't angry or bitchy. But I didn't have the strength for a heart to broken-heart. Not tonight.

"No, Eric," I muttered, yanking my wrist away before storming out of Fangtasia, ignoring Pam's raised eyebrow as I joined Sookie and Jessica outside.

"Fat lot of good that did," I muttered, pulling open the door, waiting for Sookie to drive.

"Oh, I dunno," Sookie murmured. "I think you affect Eric more than you know."

I gave her a questioning look but she'd already hit the pedal, driving out of the car park for tonight.

The next morning, Sookie and I drove to Merlotte's for our shift. When Jessica was dropped off and we'd gotten home, a noise inside the house had spooked the both of us. Long story short, I ended up kneeing the intruder's balls, only it turned out to be Jason Stackhouse. Sookie's brother left this morning before I'd gotten the chance to wake up and apologise.

"And you're sure he's alright? Did you tell him everything that's been going on lately?"

Sookie laughed at me. "Mel, Jason's fine. He's been kneed, scratched at and slapped by tons of girls before you came to town."

I giggled before sighing, leaning back at far as I could to let the wind cool my face. "So what've you told him?" I asked, my arm out of the window, enjoying the breeze as we neared Merlotte's.

"That Bill's missing," she started, "and that werewolves may be involved. Oh, and that you're living round mine for a couple of days. He was happy about that part."

I snorted along with Sookie. Jason was a sweet guy and was starting to feel like my own brotherly figure since Sookie and I had gotten so close.

"You sleep ok last night?" Sookie asked, a hint of concern in her voice. "By the time Jason and I went upstairs, we could hear you moving about."

"I had another bad dream," I mumbled awkwardly, turning to face Sookie who wore a soft, understanding smile. I smiled back. "Sorry if you hear me sleep talking at some point. You have every right to kick me out in the middle of the night. God knows Auntie Barbs has tried…"

Sookie laughed and patted my hand, moving the wheel to park. "Wouldn't even dream of it. You're my rock, Mels. You're staying put."

Sookie went to lock the car as I breathed in the morning air. Merlotte's was almost empty but for Terry's truck. I'd come to love the man, even if he had his odd moments. Seeing him appear round the corner, I started towards him, leaving Sookie behind.

"Howdy Terry," I grinned from ear to ear, earning a smile in return.

The cook ruffled my hair like I was a child.

"Morning kiddo," he greeted, smiling as I ducked under his hand. He looked over my shoulder to my fellow waitress. "Morning Sook…Hey, you ok?"

I frowned, turning to see why he was asking her that. Sookie was slowly rising from her crouched position, glancing at Terry and I before returning her frightened stare to the trees. She stepped forward, the both of us following behind.

"Did you just see someone there?" she called out to us, heading in the direction she'd been looking.

"No," Terry replied. "Usually I see things other people don't, cause I ain't taken my medication–

But Sookie was already running towards the trees that outlined the car park.

"Sookie!"

I raced behind her, Terry in tow. She jumped over the roots as she hunted down whatever it was she had seen. We reached Sookie as she paused in a make-shift path.

"Come on out, you big coward!" she yelled out. "What've you done with Bill?"

Panic surged within me. Bill? Had she seen one of the kidnappers?

Terry pushed us behind him, giving us some signal with his arm, as if we were meant to know what to do. Yet we managed to obey, quietly trailing after him, our lips shut. Terry began to scan the ground, eyeing the dirt. He threw away a twig or two as he knelt down on the ground, beckoning for us to take a look.

Imprinted in the dirt was a big footprint.

"Motorcycle boot," he told us. "Size ten."

Terry stood back up, following the footprints until he came to a stop. A frown hung from his face as he looked back and forth.

"Now that's just weird!"

"What?" Sookie asked.

"The tracks end here," he replied, "which don't make a lick of sense unless he turned himself into a bird and just flew away?"

He chuckled but I eyed some marks further on ahead, stepping over them carefully in order not to disturb the paw prints.

"Or a wolf," I called back to Sookie and Terry.

"Yeah," Terry agreed, "or a panther or a coyote, maybe, but I ain't ever seen no wolves in these parts." He came to a stop as he also saw the paw print in the dirt. He crouched down to examine it. "Until now…"

Confirming the tracks, Sookie wandered away, looking for something in particular. I eyed her until she found what she was looking for right by where the human footprints finished. She bent down and picked up a pair of black motorcycle boots, showing them to Terry and me. Terry looked on in confusion but I stepped up to Sookie, my eyes racing over the distance.

"We need to get inside," I hissed to her quietly. "Now."