Hey there fanficers

Thank you so much for the reviews, makes my day to see a review in my inbox. It's really got me motivated to write more frequently. I am so humbled that so many of you have alerted for this story as well. I hope it will live up to your expectations. As a gift for your reviews and alerts making me so happy...here is chapter 3. It is going to be quite a ride, so lets saddle up and giddy up.

Charliane Harris owns them all...I'm just riding them for now. (should that read riding Eric? Grrrrrrowl)

Chapter 3

I decided to use this extra burst of energy I had to knock over a few house chores while I tried to face up to my Eric problem. I threw in some laundry and got out the cleaning basket and set to work around the house. I tidied, dusted and vacuumed and immersed myself in domestic bliss for an hour or so, totally avoiding thinking about Eric and the conversation we needed to have. I was cleaning my bathroom before he crept back into my thoughts.

Eric. I paused in scrubbing the bathtub as I visualised my vampire lover. 6"4' well built, broad shouldered, blonde and intensely blue eyed and pulsing with vitality. Physically, what was not to like. Just looking at him gave a pleasure to womankind and some of the mankind as well. I should know, I've heard a lot of what people are thinking in Fangtasia when Erics on his throne. I smiled a small knowing smile. Most of what people were fantasising was not even close to what Eric was capable of in the bedroom. And it's all mine I thought smugly and I suddenly realised, possessively.

I sat back on my haunches and dropped the cloth I had been vigorously scrubbing with into the tub. It's all mine, Eric is all mine. I felt a little shocked. Is he? Really? How do I feel about that? Do I want him? Does he want me? Can anyone lay claim to a vampire? Do I love him, does he really love me? Can I trust him? Was he trying to turn me with that bite? What kind of future can a vampire and a human have? But I'm not entirely human am I. If I accept my Fae heritage I will live a much longer life. My butt hit the floor and the air rushed out of me with a huff and I started to gasp a bit like a fish out of water. Oh Geez, I don't want to think about this. Why can't everything stay as it is, why does anything have to change. I hugged my knees to my chest and started to shake all over. Everything around me is changing, my relationship with Eric is changing, I am changing and I can't stop it. I sat on the floor and started to fall apart.

I sat on the bathroom tiles and shook. I was afraid to change, afraid of who I am becoming, afraid of losing who I am, afraid of losing Eric but afraid to keep him as well. I was afraid to look at the things that are holding me in a torturous limbo but as I passed through my fear those things from my subconscious came to the surface. I was holding on to a dream of a normal human life. I dreamed of man who would hold me at night and walk with me through my days. Someone who would love me enough to ask me to marry him in an intimate little wedding with my family and friends. A husband to cherish me and protect me who gets me and laughs and loves with me. Raising our normal children in my family home, going to church on Sunday and growing old together watching our grandbabies grow up. A normal human life. I needed to let go of the dreams that won't ever happen for me. I grieved for the things I'd longed for, simple things I had expected to have, but now understood I never would.

Sitting there on the bathroom floor, tears rolling down my cheeks I started to face up to my reality. I am not entirely human, I am part Fairy with a hint of demon telepathy thrown in for good measure. I'd spent my life so far trying to fit into a human world but I don't. If I choose to ignore my Fae part and live human I may live a bit longer than most but would it be living at all? No boyfriend, lover, husband. I couldn't tolerate knowing their thoughts before, it wouldn't be any different now. Being seen as crazy, unable to do much more than bar work. Never having someone I could completely let go with and let my mind be free. Never having my own family. The painful truth is that I would be alone all my life. I have to let go of the dream I held onto or be unhappy and unsatisfied forever.

I cried the dream of my human life away. I felt exposed, raw and vulnerable sitting on the bathroom floor. I dragged myself up walked to my bed and lay down. I felt emotionally drained but there was also a beginning of a kind of peace. I had made a choice and now all I had to do was to follow along that pathway and see where it would take me. Making the choice has always been agonising for me but once I made it I would see it through. I rolled onto my side, curled up and drifted into sleep.

I woke up as the sun was setting feeling a newfound sense of peace and more like myself. I really needed to freshen up so I took a shower, washed and dried my hair and decided what to wear. If Eric was coming tonight it wouldn't be till after midnight as I was supposed to be working tonight. Should I call him? I really wanted to talk to him face to face, there was a lot to be said and I wanted to be able to see his reactions since I can't feel them through the bond anymore. I decided to bite the bullet and go to Fangtasia. Today was the day to stop running and I was on a roll so far. I won't run from Eric. If he was busy I could at least talk to Pam until he was ready.

I chose a soft dark blue dress which dipped at the front just the right amount, nipped in at the waist and showed just enough tanned leg to be a little interesting. My hair I left long and a little curly. I didn't need much makeup and with my dress accentuating my eyes and tan, I was looking good in no time. I gave myself a small smile in the mirror. I would stand out in the club if I was going to be in there but I am not a fangbanger and I refuse to dress like one just to fit in. I grabbed some strappy heels and went out to grab something to eat before I left and to leave a note for Dermot.

It was still early when I pulled up at Fangtasia. Things don't really get going till after 10pm at the vampire bar. Heidi was at the door taking the cover charge. I walked up to her and said hello. She turned to me and gave me an odd bow from the head like I had seen vampires do to those older and higher in position. Okay, I thought, that's new.

"Sookie", she said, "it's good to see you."

"Thanks Heidi, it's nice to see you too. Is Eric here yet?"

"Sheriff Northman has not arrived yet. Pam is in the office though. I will tell her you're here."

She led me through the room to the bar. No sooner I took a seat than Indira was in front of me.

"Hello Sookie." Again with the bow thing "What can I get you tonight?"

"Gin and tonic please." She was back in no time with my drink. "Thanks, Indira" I said with a smile. "Do you know if Thalias arm is ok? If you don't mind my asking that is"

"It is taking quite well. There is only a little pain now and she gets a little more movement every night."

"Is she in tonight?" I was just a little morbidly curious to see how the reattached arm looked.

"No." Indira said with a smirk. "Eric has banned her from bar duties till she can control her temper again. She threw a man across the room and into the wall last night when he asked her for a picture. It was very amusing"

"Was he hurt?" I said a little alarmed, "The man she threw."

"He had his wounds tended to out the back and was quite happy when he came back in."

"Oh, OK then." Indira moved away to serve the other customers. This was one of those things that made me a little squeamish. The fangbanger probably had been bleeding and was "tended to" by a vampire who probably took a little more blood than just from cleaning the cuts. It would have made the bangers night, hence the happy part. For that matter he was probably ecstatic that Thalia threw him into a wall. Fangbangers.

I swivelled around in my seat and saw Pam coming towards me. She looked fantastic as always in a black figure hugging sheath with red pumps.

"Sookie my friend, you look delicious. To what do we owe the pleasure?"

"Hi Pam, I wasn't needed at work tonight and thought I'd come to see Eric. Do you know where he is?"

"Come on back to the office. You can wait for him there."

I slid off the stool and followed Pam out to the back of the bar. She held the door to the office open for me. I stepped inside and went to settle on the couch. Pam took Eric's chair behind the desk.

"Looking good tonight Pam" I said.

"Yes", she said dryly, glancing down at herself "it is adequate."

Pam is more of a conservative dresser. She prefers twin sets and pencil skirts in pastels shades when she's not at Fangtasia. I suspect some of her clothes are original 1950s designer wear and she looks perfect in them.

"So is Eric coming in tonight or is he still busy tiding up after…..you know."

"There has been much to do. We are laying false trails and making it look like Victor is out roaming his territory under the radar. He is known to do this. We can not keep this charade up for long. Very soon Victor and his people will appear to have an unfortunate accident." Pam gave me a satisfied smile.

"What sort of accident and what are the chances of De Castro finding out it wasn't an accident. Pam I'm worried for all of us. This is a dangerous game we're playing at isn't it." I felt my stomach drop as the reality I had been ignoring for the last few days came crashing back home. Hey, I was busy having my own personal drama and I had put aside the very real danger we were in.

"Yes Sookie it is. I think we have done the King a service by eliminating Victor. He was ambitious, bold and relentless and Eric believes his betrayal of the King was only a matter of time. Even if De Castro was aware of this, whoever had a hand in Victors demise will be punished. The death of a regent cannot be taken lightly."

"Do you think we're gonna live through this" I asked apprehensively, "I mean it's not like when we took out Bruno and Corinna. It was just the three of us who knew about it. This time there are a lot more who know the truth." I had real concern about the ability of some others to keep their mouths shut, especially Immanuel and Colton.

"Sookie, Eric has not survived as long as he has by chance. The details are being taken care of. The humans have already been glamoured and the vampires know that Eric holds their lives in his hand. If he goes down so do they. No one will talk."

"So then who is taking the fall for this".

She smiled a wicked little smile. "Eric is a master of the game and few play it as well as he does. It will appear initially that vampires are to blame. It is no secret that Victor and Eric actively disliked each other, so we fully expect to be looked at as suspects initially. However, as the investigation continues the hard evidence will point to the Fellowship of the Sun. It will look like a hate crime against a public figure at a time when he was trying to build the city of New Orleans back to its former glory. Victor had been active in the human press and has been seen as a wealthy public advocate for the rebuilding of the state. Victors death will serve to create sympathy for the vampire rights movement and turn people against the Fellowship. It will be very public and the human justice system will be involved so it will make it a little more difficult for De Castro to find any other culprits. Eric has seen to it that the King will discover that Victor was embezzling large amounts of money and was moving to take the state. Erics position will be secure."

"Wow. Y'all have really put some thought into this. So is there anything I need to do?" It was no wonder I hadn't heard from Eric and I felt guilty that I hadn't considered any of the fall out from my plan to kill Victor.

"You have done enough. Your plan worked perfectly and you played your part well. All that is left is to be shocked when you hear the news." Pams phone started to vibrate. She picked it up and said, "Eric, I've just been chatting away with your lovely wife." She shot me a look loaded with meaning. "She is sitting here waiting for you." She listened for a moment and then hung up. The vamps aren't real big on goodbyes. "Eric will return in a while. He asks if you would wait for him here and said it would be good if you were seen at the bar."

I guess public places are good for creating an alibi. I looked at my drink which was empty and decided I really needed another one. I also needed a little space to sort out how I felt about what Pam had just told me. I stood up and asked Pam if she wanted anything from the bar.

"No, thankyou" she said.

"Well I just might go out and get another drink and be seen around the bar for a while." I left the office and headed for the bar. I made my way out to the main room and no sooner was I there than Heidi was beside me. My heart jumped a little with the surprise.

Heidi smiled at me. "I'll escort you to the Sheriffs booth, Sookie."

She led me over to the booth Eric usually used when he wasn't on his throne entertaining the patrons. No sooner did I sit down than a waitress placed a gin and tonic with a napkin in front of me. "Uh, thanks" I said before she whipped away again. I really am getting special treatment tonight.

Heidi looked at me, "If you need anything just signal and someone will be right over" and with a nod of her head she glided away.

Yep, something is up. There was that nod-bow thing again and I am getting the kind of treatment I only get when Eric is with me. I made a note to ask Pam what this is all about. I hoped Eric hadn't ordered people to be nice to me, the thought of if made me uncomfortable.

Fangtasia was just about in full swing now. The music was pumping, the room was filling up and the mental noise was loud. I took a sip of my drink and settled into reinforcing my shields. Once I was comfortable again I thought about what Pam had just told me. I didn't like that some innocent Fellowship people were going to go down for this. At least it would be human justice not vampire justice they would be subject to. They had a chance of coming out of it alive. I wouldn't. The survivalist in me kicked in and said better them that me. There was no love lost between me and the Fellowship of the Sun.

I had to admit I'm glad Eric had thought his way through all this. I hadn't really thought about what the aftermath would be once my plan had taken effect. I just wanted Victor dead. I went cold and shivered, that kind of oversight is what will get me killed. If not for Erics superior planning skills I may well have been dead already. I hoped this is a lesson I won't soon forget. I realised there was a lot I could learn from Eric when it came to planning and strategy. Like Pam said you don't live 1000 years by chance. If I am going to have a chance at a longer life I'd best learn quickly.

I leaned back into the booth and sighed. So much was happening all at the same time. I was starting to feel a little overwhelmed. I wasn't sure how much more my brain could process today and I still had to deal with Eric. I wish I felt as good as I had after Dermot showed me how to balance and focus my energy. I wondered if I could do it here. I wasn't under sky but that was just to make it easier for me the first time. I was supposed to practice anyway. I closed my eyes and relaxed into the cushioning of the booth. I took a few breaths and thought about the feeling I had when Dermot breathed into me. I started to stretch my awareness out.

I was immediately overwhelmed with thoughts of sex, lust and being bitten, I quickly pulled back and resettled my shields. Oops, I'd reached out in my usual way with my mind instead of my soul. I took a few breaths and settled again, I focused in around my heart and started to stretch out from there. At first nothing happened but then I could sense a vibration. I felt along the edges of it and then moved into it. I could sense the bodies in the room and feel the energy they were projecting. There was so much heat and energy sizzling around from the people in the room I rapidly felt myself start to vibrate with it and heat up. It was fuelled by lust and powerful desires and I wanted to linger there with it but something was telling me to come back. I drew my awareness back and checked my shields.

I opened my eyes to find Erics eyes blazing like lanterns just a few inches from mine. I grinned and closed the distance to place a kiss on his lips. I could still feel the lust of the room singing in my blood.

Eric broke the kiss first. "Good evening my lover, what were you just doing", he asked, "you have created some intense interest."

I looked out at the club. Heidi, Indira, Maxwell and Pam were all looking at me intently and some of the patrons were turning in my direction as well following the vampires gaze. "Oh, I'm sorry" I replied flushing with embarrassment, "I didn't know that would happen"

Erics gaze swept the room and everything quickly returned to normal. He turned his blue gaze to me. "I could smell magic coming from you, what were you doing?"

"Oh, just relaxing my mind." For what ever reason I didn't want to tell Eric about what Dermot had shown me. I drew in a breath and squared my shoulders "Eric we have things we need to talk about tonight but not here. Can we go somewhere private."

"I would love to go somewhere private with you", he said huskily, "but we need to be seen in public for a while tonight".

"Pam filled me in earlier on some of the details." I reached across the table and put my hand over his, "Thank you for taking care of all of this. I didn't really think of what would happen after, which is something I have to improve on if I want to stay alive."

Eric's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "I will always do what is necessary to protect you and any of my interests. I am always ahead of the game" he said with complete confidence. "What inspired this notion?"

"Oh, it's been an interesting few days. I've had a lot to think about."

Just then a waitress appeared with a True Blood for Eric and a gin and tonic for me.

Eric took a sip, looked at me intently and said "Tell me".

"Most of it is for later but I will tell you that Tara's baby shower went really well". I talked a little about the party, completely left out the visit with Cataladies, and I finished with "And Sandra Pelt is no longer a problem".

Eric raised one brow, "That had an air of finality to it my lover, whatever have you been up to."

I leaned closer and in a quiet voice told him about Sandra taking Sam and Jannalyn hostage and coming to my house. I ended it with Jannalyn crushing Sandras skull.

Erics face was completely shut down. "You have taken care of the body?"

"Sam and Jannalyn helped with that, she's in a place no one will ever find." I thought it best not to tell Eric about the portal into Faery at this point.

"There is never a dull moment around you Sookie" he said with some concern.

"Tell me about it. Hence the whole idea about learning to use planning and strategy." I gave him a wry smile.

Eric shook his head. "I am glad you are starting to take your mortality a little more seriously." He finished his drink, stood up and held out his hand, "Will you dance with me?"

I put my hand in his and he led me to the dance floor. He whirled me around a few times and then held me close. I wrapped my arms around him and laid my head on his chest. I felt him lower his head to breathe my scent in. I smiled as I felt a rumble vibrate through his chest. It had been a while since we had just relaxed in each others company and though I knew there was a lot we had to talk about, and most of it not happy, I was content for now to just be in the moment with the man I loved.

The song ended and I tilted my face up as Eric lowered his down to kiss me. In a low voice for my ears only he said "I am happy you came to me tonight." We broke apart and he took my hand and before I had a chance to protest he handed me up onto the platform with the throne. There was a second smaller padded leather chair there now. Eric guided me to my seat and then took his throne, slouched down and assumed his bored Master of his domain attitude. I shot daggers at him with my eyes, I hate being up here, and I saw the corner of his mouth twitch up in amusement.

What in Gods good name am I supposed to do up here? I felt anger and embarrassment washing through me, I didn't know where to look, what to do with myself, and I could feel the curious stares of the people in the bar. I lifted up my chin and gave myself a stern talking to. Get a grip Stackhouse, I will not squirm in humiliation just for his entertainment. I am a southern woman, I am serene in every situation. I am not a high and mighty vampire bored with the world and I refuse to slouch. I crossed my ankles, straightened my spine, shot Eric a look that would kill him if he wasn't already dead and fixed my gaze on the back wall. Eric laughed and then proceeded to start texting on his phone.

Pam glided up and took her place behind Erics chair. She leaned down and spoke to Eric for a while. She looked at me and said "Lovers quarrel? Eric, perhaps we should check to make sure she doesn't have a stake. Sookie has proven she can handle herself, I'd be cautious about upsetting her." And with that she glided away.

Great, no help from Pam. What on earth am I supposed to do up here? I felt charged up and alive after my little experiment, almost glowing. It was getting harder to sit here doing nothing. I glanced at Eric. He was still as only a vampire can be, gorgeous and radiating his dominance and untouchability. I was immediately consumed with desire, pride and anger. I quickly looked down at my shoes hoping I wasn't looking as flushed as I suddenly felt. Note to self, emotions much more intense after doing the energy balance thing. For lack of anything else to do I tried to dissect what I was feeling. The desire part…obvious. Anger, I hate being up here on display but I know there's a reason Eric did it, he did say we had to be "seen" but I don't like his way of doing it. This was Erics usual high handed 'I will do what I need to and not discuss it with you' thing. We will definitely be sorting that out later. Pride, where did that come from? Am I proud to be his wife? To be his? My eyes widened in shock and I struggled for a moment to keep my face composed as a truth descended on me. God help me, yes I am and worse yet, I am proud that he, Eric Northman, is mine. He. Is. Mine.

My brain started racing through the implications of this revelation. I started to feel the beginnings of panic, this was not the time or place to be having this sort of emotional epiphany (a word of the day from last week). I did the first thing I could think of to stop that train of thought, I opened up my shields. The noise was like a slap in the face. I immediately had to concentrate on putting up my shields again, building them up to a point where I could start to sift through the thoughts of the people in the club. Sex, sex, sex, I flipped past quickly. Bite me, turn me, fangbangers never seem to realise how big a turn off their desperation is to vampires. I saw myself a lot in the tangle of thoughts I was sifting. What has she got that I don't have….Who does that slut think she is….Why is he interested in her, shes nothing special….Is she a vampire?...I would let her bite me in a second….kinky sex stuff. Ewwww, I slammed up my shields. I was a bit disturbed that I was featured in so many thoughts and that they thought I might be a vampire. Damn it Eric let me down from here!

I felt my phone in my purse vibrate. I pulled it out to look at the message, glad to have something to do.

You are beautiful this evening. Regal, Magnificent, Mine It was from Eric.

I looked over to see a smug look on his face. I texted back,

Don't try and butter me up, it won't work.

I would love to butter you up, you will love it too.

Not working, still mad.

You won't be for long

I shot a glance in his direction to see his eyes glowing at me intently from beneath his lowered brows. I felt a warmth start up between my hips and my heart beat a little faster. Damn him.

Eric stood up and held out is hand, I took it and let him lead me down through the club, which parted like the red sea for him, and out to his office. As soon as the door was closed he pulled me to him and started to kiss me like a house on fire.

The warmth I felt before started to ignite. It was so easy to just lose myself in Eric and I did for a few moments. When I surfaced for air Eric moved his cool lips down my throat and then paused to breathe in the scent of my skin, fangs lightly grazing my neck. I stiffened as the reality of why I was here pulled me back down to earth. "Eric" I said as I pushed my hands against his chest, "Why did you bite me like you did the night we ki…..the night Bubba sang?"

Eric went completely still.

"You didn't make it pleasant for me, in fact it hurt like hell. You knew you were taking more than you should have. What would have happened if I hadn't been able to stop you?"

Eric straightened up and looked down at me with his face closed. It's not often I wish our blood bond back, but this was one of those times.

"You promised that you wouldn't turn me." I locked my gaze with his.

"I remember", he said carefully. "Sookie, I will not turn you unless you ask me too." He glanced toward the door and back to me, "Even if it goes against every instinct I have."

There was a knock at the door. Eric looked at me his face unreadable. "I have some business to conduct with Mustapha. Then if you still wish we can go to my home."

I was aware that he was asking if I still wanted to be alone with him. If I could still trust him. I looked at him with a hard stare for a long moment and said "Don't do it again Eric, ever."

He stepped closer and put his hands around my face and pressed his lips to my forehead. I wrapped my arms around his middle and stepped into his embrace. I guess this was as close to an apology as Eric would give. We separated and I walked toward the door and opened it. I gave Mustapha Khan, Erics new day man, a slightly over bright smile. "Good to see you Mustapha" I said and I walked out.

Oh yeah, THAT BITE!

Thats how this whole story got started. I got to the end of DR and it just wouldn't leave me alone. Something was seriously up with that. That and the fact that the faeries don't really have a purpose as yet...hello future bombshell...and Sookie is STILL ignoring everything in front of her. My brain started making my own story up and after months of this I started writing it down in bits of scenes in a notebook. Still it wouldn't leave me alone. Then I discovered Fanfic and you bunch of sick obsessives just like me. Now the story is getting fleshed out and I find myself liking this writing thing. And people are reading it! Colour me surprised. (Yes I put u in things like colour, glamour, humour...proper Queens English and all that)

How did you like this chapter, what do you think? We are getting into the action now, things are about to heat up in lots of different ways.

Review away my pretties...