This story is a fan fiction about the work of Charlaine Harris, Southern Vampire Mysteries. Some characters and passages have copyrights belonging to CH.
I want to publicly thank Elfchef for her extraordinary kindness and patience to help me in translation to English. Without her none of this would be possible, so she deserves due recognition. The story is as much mine as hers.

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CAPÍTULO 3

CPOV

"Yes?" I answered the phone as if it would rescue someone from the gallows. I have no idea what time it is. It felt like I had been asleep forever and my body hurts from the awkward position my arm forced me to sleep in.

On the other end of the phone, Andrew talked and talked and I had no idea what he was going on about.

"Andrew can you slow down a little? I just woke up; I'm having a hard time understand anything!" I looked around myself feeling completely disoriented. "What time is it?"

"Eight O'clock!" His reply was well beyond the point of exasperation. He all but shouted at me so much so that I had to pull the phone away from my ear.

"I over slept" Jesus! I slept fourteen hours in a row. No wonder I feel awful!

"Are you okay or not" - It seemed that Andrew was going to explode in the end of the line if I didn't answer him right away

"I am! More or less! So-so!" I almost laughed at my poor description of my state of being. I ended up having to explain every detail from last night, the chaotic state of my arm and how I had come home too tired and slept like the dead. Andrew continued speaking in a rush. He was nervous about my physical state, angry with the female vampire that had my arm crushed, angry because I had jumped in the middle of something that wasn't my concern.

"What were you thinking" He shouted. Again I held the phone away from my ear. I really didn't want to deal with this right now "You have found that they are not physically able to defend themselves?

He was right of course but at the time I hadn't thought about it.

There was an attacker and I wanted to defend the ''victim'' even if the victim was much stronger than all the humans there combined.

Eventually I managed to calm him down. He hung up and left me in peace.

I searched desperately for coffee. Then I walked over to the shower. This was going to be interesting I thought. I have never really given much thought to how difficult it would be to shower with one hand. How exactly was I supposed to wash my hair?

I stayed in the shower feeling the warm water streaming down my body. Gradually my mind drifted back to last night and I did not avoid remembering him. What a colossus of a man, or vampire as Andrew says.

It was almost as if he had a sense of power that emanated from his body and engulfed the space all around him. I'm not even talking about physical strength but of a certain hypnotic power that he distributes as he moves.

Those eyes were so blue, so bright and yet so very deadly.

Is it possible to resist him?

If my aching arm didn't have to be kept out of the stream of water I was sure my mind would have spun other fantasies that would lead my hands to warmer and more sensual places.

I left the shower and looked for something to wear. The night was not cold and neither was the house. I settled for a t-shirt because it was easier to maneuver through my arm in the state it was in.

Putting jeans on was more difficult, sometimes pulling on one side, sometimes pulling another and the final adventure was able to pull the latch and close the button. I was exhausted when I finished. Honestly I had no idea how I was going to last with this one handedness.

It was Saturday and I was not going anywhere before Monday morning. I would try to get used to using one had. That way the next time I needed to leave home it wouldn't take forever to get dressed. Or as an alternative I could always tie a colored orange sheet orange throw my body Buddhist monk type and go to work. Just the thought of the reception I would receive from my co-workers made me smile.

Having long hair usually wasn't a problem right now it was. My hair was blonde and hung down to the middle of my back. I had to dry and brush it. One handed it was proving to be quite the task. I also wanted to wear a little make up because I was pale. This was easy to do with one hand. Many years of experience in applying it in traffic were finally paying off.

I had managed to put on eye liner without taking out one of my eyes.

I looked at myself in the mirror. I liked my reflection. Now to try that several times until I can do it in less time.

I had no patience to cook. Instead I ordered something to quiet my stomach and stave off the hunger.

The remainder of my night was spent on the couch watching TV and reading a book. Some people find it strange that I read with the television on but for me it was always natural. The TV is only for companionship, but for some background noise it helps me concentrate on what I am reading. In my college days, I came across some people that needed absolute quiet to study.

I need some sound; otherwise I began hearing my own thoughts. It was distracting.

EPOV

The bar was empty as I made my way to my office.

I removed my jacket and hung it. Wearing a suit and tie was a complete nuisance, one that was sometimes necessary. When it was not necessary to introduce myself as a reputable businessman, in society, I prefer this way: Jeans, t-shirt, jacket and boots.

There was always an endless supply of emails and documents that required my attention. I began wading through them all when I felt a deep annoyance coming from Pam. It was dominating the bond we shared. There was no other explanation; Vasile had arrived. Seconds later, Pam was on the office door and before she knocked I gave her permission to enter. Her cheeks were rosier than they had been yesterday. She was well sated but more irritated. She was dressed in the uniform of Fangtasia, corset and tight leather pants with black boots that went over her knees. She was the ''dominatrix'' type that tourists love so much. She on the other hand disliked this style as much as I disliked suits.

Pam was the picture of annoyance. Her hands were on her hips and her eyebrow was arched. I wanted to laugh. She is in a sour mood.

"Master, Vasile calls for your time." If she was not a vampire I would swear that she was going to vomit as she said those words. As it stands she merely gestured into her mouth with two fingers and indicated a gagging motion.

I couldn't help but smile. Then I motioned for her to let him enter. Despite her distaste she did so without another word. Vasile approached the door, His infamous cape was billowing behind him and he greeted me with an exaggerated bow. He was always very theatrical.

"It pleases me to see you again" I told him.

"The pleasure is all mines" I motioned for him to sit down.

We were acquaintances for so long, by human standards could even say that we were like friends but unlike humans we never shook hands.

"What brings you by my area, Vasile?" There was a broad decade that has brought him near this region. It made me curious.

"I'm just in transit, as always, Eric. As you know, I never stay long in one place and just thought it was time to visit this area of the world. I will just stay long enough, to see the sights, reconnect with some friends and enjoy the assortments of food in your region"

"Vasile you must be aware" The calm face I wore when he entered was fading. "While you are here you must comply with the rules of society" If he wants to stay he will have to comply with my orders. I do not want any trouble with him. But I also cannot allow him to attack or kill humans as it does in some areas of the world. If he did I had no intention of letting him walk away from any mess he caused. It did not matter if he was a drifter or not.

"Eric you will compel me to drink the putrid substance you call blood?" His tone was pleading and incredulous; as if such tactics would be effective on me. He knows me better than that.

I nodded to reinforce my position. "Vasile you must remember that in this area I am the law. If you want to remain, you will have to comply with my orders and that means that you cannot attack or kill humans" At this stage I did not mention the allowance given for cooperative humans. I preferred he understood that he has to feed from synthetic blood. Otherwise I ran the risk of him walking around the street asking any human if he or she would mind being a donor. I knew he was out dated and couldn't tell the difference between fangbangers and humans that were skittish of vampires.

"Eric, this will be tedious but you are the law and your orders are to be met. You have my word that I will not attack or kill any human in your area" He bowed as he spoke as if his vow was binding. I've known him for many centuries and that gives no confidence. The fact that he has given me his word has not provided any additional security. I would not have reached that age if I strongly relied on the honor of a vampire. Such a thing was nonexistent.

Anyway, he knows that if he fails to comply with my orders he will be severely punished, nor the years or cohabitation are extenuating circumstances. I apply the law blindly, no matter who it hurts.

I answered his bow with a nod of my head. "As long as we have an understanding you are welcome then. Tell me what you have been doing in recent decades"

Vasile leaned back in his chair, crossing his legs making his cape flew over the back of the chair. As I mentioned he was theatrical. He told me about the places he had been and the things that he had seen.

Over the past years he was in many parts of the world, especially in areas of war and upheaval. It was natural for us to gravitate to places like that. For someone like him clinging to the old survival techniques, the war zones of the third world are a constant food supply. Humans may simply disappear no one will point the vampires as the attackers. There are always many other suspects: Government forces, rebels, terrorist groups, or just human's killing one another for no apparent reason.

From time to time he made a few brief forays into the civilized world, never staying long in one place. Almost the entire civilized world has leaders like me, who enforce the law and Vasile not coexist well with this.

He did not say, but I know he was and is against the Revelation.

For him everything was fine before, He had no idea why we would complicate our simple way of living. If you're a predator, why warn the prey of our presence? He does not adapt to new times and does not understand that to us, predators and murderers become tired of living in the shadows.

Not everything was perfect. Many of our kind did not survive the trials of those days. The way we lived forced us to use restraint every waking moment; restraint that takes many years to achieve and a patience that is learned with many centuries. Over the years, it becomes easier. We do not need much blood to survive and personal restraint becomes a source of pride and not sacrifice. For the younger vampires is more difficult. They feel frustrated and angry but the fact of knowing that the law is rigid and does not allow ravings, helps them to maintain control.

Yes we are still predators and yes humans were our prey. Everyone would rather kill a human to feed, not only by blood but also for the pleasure of killing.

Vasile continued to tell me his hunting's, having no idea how this attitude was not well regarded among those of us who took pride in our discipline and restraint. He was recanting a particularly gruesome tale when my phone vibrated.

It was a text from Ryan: Congratulations. The final deal was closed and you are now the sole owner of all buildings in the area. We need to arrange a meeting to prepare the second phase.

I replied without taking my eyes from Vasile: Monday, at your office, 9pm make sure you are alone.

Then I deleted the messages. My action did not go unnoticed by the other vampire in the room.

"I see you're very busy. You have here a little empire" His words left room for me to divulge some information. I ignore him. There is only one person in whom I trust and that was Pam and she not even knows my latest plans.

I know she will not be against the idea of seeing Fangtasia surrounded by a bustling tourist zone. This was sure to put a smile on her pretty face. However, I preferred to surprise her with the whole thing.

"You have some where safe to spend the day?"

"Yes, I have found a cemetery near here" Of course Vasile wouldn't have chosen a house or a hotel. A vampire from another time prefers resting in the ground. At one time or another we have all done this. I myself have done it many times over the last millennia. It was done as a last resort because it was an irritation I hated to endure.

"Very good"

I needed to go over my plans and set topics I wanted to discuss with Ryan and Gerald at our meeting.

I want to decide on the renewal of each of the buildings in person. That way I would hand select which establishment would be for day time/ business uses and which would be the night clubs. Also while I was there I could determine the viability of some and decide on the destruction of others.

I dismissed Vasile and informed him he could enjoy a drink at the bar.

He scowled but parted with a slight nod, he goes out the door.

"Pam"

She appears before me immediately.

"Do not let him out of your sights"

Pam sighed heavily. "Now I have to make to nanny the ''vamp erectus''?" she never ran out of a shortage of names to call someone she did not favor.

"Pam" Vasile's presence may be a problem. It was no time to have vampire's reputation besmirched. He had to be controlled as much as possible. I wouldn't want to kill him but it was something that I wouldn't hesitate to do if he fails to comply with the orders he was given.

"Yes, I know, sorry, we don't want to have problems with him. I'll put him in a tight leash and maybe even a muzzle" Pam was being acidic with her words but they were true. A vampire with no restraint was a problem we simply couldn't have.