The Viking's Heart

Disclaimer: I don't own True Blood or the Charlaine Harris series.

Author: Egyptian Kiss

Pairing: Eric/OC

Rating: MA

Summary: Cassandra "Cassie" Mason has always been special. Her ability to astral project as well as her ability to project her desires have always been gifts that plague her life- conscious and unconscious. When she travels to the small town of Bon Temps to help one of her psychic charges, her world turns inside out- leaving her job as an editor behind when she strikes a deal with the sexy vampire viking, Eric Northman. And what will happen when her gifts do not go unnoticed by the Queen of Louisiana and more than a small time vampire club needs her psychic services?

Chapter Three

Fangtasia's basement, Cassie thought as she took in the surrounding darkness and the familiar smell and that high crack of light at the top of the stairs. There was no dripping sound this time, but Cassie could hear the pounding beat of music that was muffled by the door.

"Lafayette?" Cassie called softly- her skin was covered in goose-bumps and tingling with apprehension.

"Cassandra?" asked Lafayette, the rattling of chains from her left giving her a direction in which to walk.

"Yes," she said, moving with her arms stretched out at her sides to avoid bumping into anything.

"Girl what the hell you doin' back here? You fuckin' up and disappeared last time, like magic," he said, voice mystified.

"I can't always control this. Now, are you hurt? More?" Cassie asked, finally her hand bumped into his chest and Lafayette's chained hands came up to make her face him.

"I don't know. I think I'll be fine. Sons of bitches nearly drained me, but they held off. Asked me some questions about you and they have some persuasive ways, shit I nearly lost my voice from screaming. They know what you look like- Chinese mother-fucker can draw. They know your name's Cassandra too- and I's sorry 'bout that, but I ain't about to get my fingernails pulled out, you know?"

Cassie was horrified at the thought Lafayette was being tortured, thanks to her "help." And now they knew her name, which spelled trouble with a capital T. Shaking off the news, Cassie moved her hands in front of her face and waited for her eyes to fully adjust to the darkness. Straining her eyes, Cassie sought Lafayette's face and scanned his body for further injury. Some severe bite wounds on his inner thigh (bleeding through his pants in a dark stain that was visible), exposed upper chest, and right wrist stuck out in gruesome reminder of just who held Lafayette captive. His skin was ashen and he was shivering, but his leg looked bandaged.

"You should get up outta here before they come back. It's night time they-" Lafayette began and was quickly cut off by the sound of the door opening.

Freezing in place, Cassie pivoted to face the stairs, positioning herself protectively in front of Lafayette. The click-click of heels against the stone floor echoed through the room and Cassie watched a pair of shapely, toned legs descend followed by a lean, curvy torso, and led up a small neck to a beautiful face. The woman was dressed in a tight, red leather dress that clung like a shiny skin to her body, cutting off mid-thigh with a navel-plunging neckline and a sleeveless cut that revealed long arms and wicked, blood red nails. Perfect blonde hair hung down her back in curls and a killer pair of Stuart Weitzman red leather pumps with a 4" heel and pointed-toe shone in the door light- Cassie owned them in black.

"And who do we have here?" the woman whispered sinisterly, her lips curving into a pointed smirk with lips painted a red that matched the shoes and dress. The light from the door illuminated her and Cassie wondered if she got highlights too because that color blonde seemed unnatural in glow, like a halo.

Lafayette tugged her from behind before Cassie could answer and then the woman was there, in her face, watching with an amused expression while Lafayette stood guarding her, as she had him.

"Are you going to be a good blood bag?" the woman asked Lafayette and he cursed up a storm. Cassie was trying with all her might to leave the room, to pull away, but it wasn't working.

"Now I asked, who do we have here?" Pam reiterated, pushing Lafayette with one hand out of the way and up against the wall behind them. She trailed a fingertip along Cassie's jaw and twirled it around her jugular as her digit slid over her skin seductively, the light scratch of her red fingernail making Cassie's heart jump.

Straightening her shoulders, Cassie brought a hand up to grip the woman- obviously a vampire – by her wrist. The smirk on those ruby lips turned into a smile when Cassie gently pulled the finger from her face, experiencing a chill as the coldness trailed off her skin.

"I'm Cassandra and you are?" Cassie said, her voice not wavering. She knew this woman was dangerous and though wanted to jump to Lafayette's side Cassie stood her ground. If this chick wanted to size her up, Cassie would make sure to meet the measurement.

"Pam," came Cassie's response and Cassie quickly released Pam's wrist. "And I was being facetious. I know who you are. But what are you? Other than mouth-watering."

"She ain't got nothin' to say," Lafayette said, his chains rustling as he bravely- if not fearfully- stood back up just behind Cassie. "Hooker, get lost," he said to Cassie, his eyes wide and reflecting fear.

"Hooker, take one step and I'll take off your head," Pam said, mocking Lafayette with her eyes as her fangs slid into place.

"Pam," barked a commanding voice from the top of the stairs where the door was still open. "We have had this discussion before, close the door when you enter."

"Yes Master. But we have a special guest," said Pam, her eyes rolling sarcastically as she agreed with her 'master.'

As flip flops started to descend the stairs, Cassie tried again to turn back to her body; to leave- as much as she was worried for Lafayette she couldn't help him at that moment- and yet again nothing happened. Damned useless power, Cassie shouted in her head, berating herself for not practicing more.

"And who would that be, Child?" questioned that masculine voice and Cassie felt herself get excited at the tone. This voice was like sex slathered in honey with deep, commanding undertones.

As the stranger came into sight, Cassie felt heat liquefying between her thighs and her breath caught. If his voice was sex and honey his body was wet dreams and promised orgasms. Standing at least six foot five, a well-muscled, blonde fox with intelligent ocean blue eyes scanned her from the foot of the stairs before appearing beside Pam. His attire contrasted Pam's as he stood in track pants and a black tank top. However, together the two stood with a stillness that was unsettling, even as Cassie's temperature rose. She took in the defined jaw, the long, straight nose, his mouth that made her want to kiss him and be kissed by him, the way his blonde hair hung long around his face and brushed his shoulders- which were broad, defined, and built. He looked Swedish, like Cassie's by-marriage-aunt, Brenda.

There eyes met and his bored expression changed to intrigue as he looked her over and Cassie realized she was standing in her pajamas barefoot in front of him. It seemed ridiculous, but Cassie wished in that moment that she had her Smashbox make-up kit and her favorite Stella McCartney dress.

"Eric, this is Cassandra," Pam stated, her amusement still dancing in those pretty blue eyes like sapphires to the crystalline blue of her male companion.

"Well, how nice of you to join us, Cassandra," Eric said. His eyes moved over her shoulder and Cassie glanced to Lafayette who had been inching toward the stairs- his chains mysteriously absent. "Don't do anything stupid."

Lafayette paused, incapacitated by fear, and Cassie frowned, her eyes drawing together as her nose crinkled- a sign of her anger. She hated bullies and this gorgeous hunk of man-vampire- whatever, had it tattooed in bold on his forehead.

"Just let him go," Cassie said, clenching her hands tight when those seductive eyes turned back on her, an eyebrow raised in reply.

"And why would I do that? Better yet, why don't you tell me how you got in here? Are you a drainer? Come to find new prey?" he mumbled, his voice searching as he moved into her personal space, her body humming with awareness as her nipples hardened at his tone.

"I'm not a drainer. I'm here to help Lafayette. Just let him go- he's not a bad person. Whatever he did, he doesn't deserve this," Cassie said, even with her lack of evidence to that point. But no, if Lafayette were a bad person her spirit wouldn't have found him. She had only ever found good people in need of help.

"He is an addict and pusher of vampire blood. His goodness is questionable- as is his worth," Pam intoned as she appeared beside Lafayette in a blurred run that escaped Cassie's eyes.

"Well he's worth something to me," said Cassie, stepping back from Eric and then over to Pam and Lafayette- Pam now clutching Lafayette in a one-hand grip.

"You still didn't answer my question," Eric said from behind her, right behind her. His body pressed against her back and a noticeable bulge made her sheath warm and wet with want. "How did you get in?" he whispered the next against the skin of her neck.

"Let him go," Cassie ordered Pam, gripping Lafayette's other arm. The logical part of her brain screamed at her to run, pull away from the fangs lingering so close to her neck and beat feet to survive. But Cassie ignored her own sage instincts and maybe it was how heated she was becoming that was to blame.

"You fuckin' crazy?" Lafayette asked, his eyes focused on Pam who was baring her fangs at Cassie. It was a chilling sight.

"Pam, enough," Eric commanded and Pam retracted her fangs, but her nails dug deeper into Lafayette's arm. "Why don't we discuss this in my office?"

The tugging was finally happening, Cassie realized as she turned back to face Eric. His face was a mask of calm indifference now. His eyes were cold and empty. He faded in and out a bit and Cassie fought against the return now- the irony of which did not escape her. Eric's expression changed to shock as he faded in and out and Cassie tried to form words- to insist he let Lafayette go- but was lost to them; her body jerking upward.

Opening her eyes, Cassie stared into the mild darkness of Sookie's guest room. Taking a deep breath, Cassie flopped back down to the mattress, her head bobbing slightly when it hit the pillow. She was back, safe. Her body was still warm and flushed with the excitement of meeting Eric. Sookie's earlier description of him made much more sense now, but Cassie couldn't deny that man was sexy and strong- it was in every line of his artistically crafted body.

Glancing at her Samsung Intensity, Cassie saw that it was going on 3:55 in the morning. The background picture was of her mother's dog- Wolverine- a puffy, Alaskan Husky with beautiful eyes, one brown and one blue. It had been a long time since Cassie had visited her parents, but she always looked forward to seeing Wolverine, whom she named, and knowing he at least would greet her warmly.

Pushing off the random thought, Cassie rolled over in bed and faced the wall, closing her eyes as she tried to sleep again. Seeing Lafayette and knowing he was alive was something, she could tell Tara that much. Her mind replayed her projection and Cassie couldn't stop her naughty perceptions of Eric the Hot. Cause in her mind, he was Eric the Hot. It was probably unhealthy to fantasize about a vampire sheriff that had no qualms about imprisoning and probably killing humans- but Cassie couldn't help it, he was made for fantasizing. Even his 'child' Pam was a hot number. But Eric took the cake. Cassie had her wild child past and she still enjoyed the cat and mouse of drawing a man in; which made Eric a very dangerous fantasy- the kind that fit Cassie's bad boy bill in tall order.

Tossing restlessly, Cassie took a turn staring at the ceiling. What is a drainer anyway, Cassie wondered. It was obviously not a good term; both vampires had taken on a deadly look when Eric had made the insinuation. And how was she supposed to prey on vampires? Did she look insane with a death wish? Or better yet, did she even look like she had the man power to overtake one of them?

Finally, Cassie drifted off smiling incorrigibly, fantasizing things that were almost too-complicated to be possible. It was only three short hours later that Cassie was woken by the sound of a revving truck, the slamming of the front screen door, and a somewhat familiar voice shouting from the kitchen. The sound of a pot slamming against something and clattering to the floor was what had Cassie jolting to her feet and stumbling bleary-eyed out of the bedroom and down to the kitchen.

Pushing open the kitchen's swinging door, Cassie took in a red faced Sookie and an injured Jason sitting on the floor nursing his left leg. Sookie, who looked about ready to brain her brother, glanced up at her first and her anger instantly became contrite.

"I'm sorry, Cassie. I didn't mean to wake you up," Sookie said.

"Oh no, I just wanted to see what was going on. No worry," Cassie said, looking for the coffee pot- assuming they had one. "Do you happen to have some coffee though?"

"Oh yeah; of course. I'll get on making a pot. Maybe this'll teach you not to just come into a lady's house at dawn, Jason. Don't come sneakin' round here thinkin' you are always gonna get away with your poor manners. Gran would be ashamed," Sookie lectured, lifting the skirt of her long, old-fashioned night gown as she moved passed Jason who was moaning and groaning over his knee cap, and reached into the cabinet above the stove and a black and steel French press coffee pot appeared in her hand. She scooped three hefty lumps of grounds, from a no-name can of coffee, into the bottom of the coffee pot and set a kettle to boiling.

"Mornin' Cassie," Jason greeted, having gotten to his feet and stumbled to the table dramatically. He was wearing a plaid tee, jeans, and a pair of work boots- his hard hat sat on the table next to a pair of work gloves and a yellow worker's vest. His hair was mussed but in a cute way.

"Morning," she said softly, taking a seat beside him while Sookie set out to make hash browns, sausage, and sweet cakes. There was shuffling up stairs and a distant "ya'll can shut the fuck up" from Tara, and then a loud door slam. Sookie looked up from her griddle to shake her head toward the kitchen door.

"Tara ain't into mornin' people," Jason informed her and Cassie gave him a look as she patted at her frizzing hair. Her hair had been fighting her last night to frizz and curl into its more natural form, but Cassie had used her Nick Chavez Angel Drops to de-frizz and hopefully keep the wavy curls forming at bay. Now she had morning hair and was up before seven am; yeah she could understand Tara's attitude.

"What were you doing here this morning, Jason? I know you have food- I just dropped off some groceries. And you can't be raiding silverware since you got most of it last time. You need money?" asked Sookie conversationally, flipping food over as it sizzled and filled the air with a smell that made Cassie's stomach turn over in hunger.

Jason huffed beside her and Cassie wondered if he was angry she had accused him of being a moocher or the fact that she had hit the nail on the head. He met Cassie's eyes embarrassed, turning a shade of pink that made him look even younger, before looking out the kitchen window.

"Geez Sook, you act like I ain't family or somethin'. Can't I just come by for breakfast with my sister?" Jason said, playing off her suspicions.

"Sure can, but wouldn't it have been prudent to wait until I was awake? I mean, I know you got work early, but it ain't this early and Merlotte's don't open for another two hours. So what's really going on here Jason Stackhouse?"

The way Sookie spoke reminded Cassie of her own mother- straight to the point without the frill of excuses. Some might call it an honest quality in a person, but unlike Sookie, Meredith Mason wasn't family oriented; she was a shrew who enjoyed telling others how insignificant they were.

"Alright, so maybe I could use a loan. I got to get my rearview mirror on my truck replaced and that shit's expensive," Jason conceded, accepting the plate of grits, eggs, and bacon Sookie handed him.

"What you need a new mirror for? I just saw your truck yesterday and it looked mighty fine," Sookie asked. She turned off the kettle, which had begun to whistle and billow steam, and poured the boiling water into the coffee pot and let it steep as she flipped sweet cakes in butter she had taken from the mostly empty fridge.

Running a hand back and forth on his neck, Jason shoveled in a mouthful of eggs to avoid answering. Cassie glanced between the two and saw the strong family resemblance as Sookie pointed to different foods for Cassie and Cassie returned a thumbs up on the sweet cakes and bacon. Smiling, Sookie brought her the plate and a bottle of honey.

"Thanks Sookie. It smells and looks great," Cassie said, her eyes lingering on the French press. She hated French press normally, but in a pinch- coffee was coffee.

"You are welcome," Sookie said. Then she rounded on her brother, "Answer me Jason, or you can pay for your own mirror."

"Alright, don't get all uppity on me. See I left last night with Cori, and she and I went back to her place. She wanted to have a good time and I was game, but she was getting a little clingy; so I set her straight- got her knowing I wasn't looking for anything too serious. That girl is crazy, she took a crowbar to my rearview mirrors- and I got to her before she got both. Swear to God, I don't know where she got her temper, but she was going to go for my windshield too," Jason explained, munching on a piece of bacon.

"Don't you take the Lord's name in vain in my house, Jason Stackhouse. You know better!" Sookie reprimanded and Cassie watched as she pushed the press down in the coffee pot and a black, black coffee was strained above it. Loading a tray with cream, sugar, and cups, Sookie brought the coffee over.

Cassie watched the rest of breakfast play out over her plate while sipping her coffee- one part coffee, two parts cream, three lumps of sugar. Jason argued that he was not a womanizing pig and that women knew what to expect when they went home with him. Sookie countered with a hand full of derogatory terms that Cassie didn't completely understand, but got the general gist of. After which, Sookie kicked Jason out and told him to send the estimate over after he got it looked at; to which Jason handed her a piece of paper with a number on it that caused Sookie to start swearing at her brother and his promiscuity.

A quick shower later and Cassie stood in the bathroom smoothing Angel Drops into her hair while watching it curl and wave in a mass of thickness. She had forgotten her hair dryer and straightener, Cassie realized and sighed. Oh well, she thought, I'll deal.

Picking out a flowing skirt that hit her knees in varying shades of pink and turquoise, Cassie tugged it up her long legs, too shapely for her tastes but not too bad given her pear shape, and noticed that her boy shorts were a matching shade of petal pink. She hooked on a three-snap, strapless white lace bra that had pink roses decorating the cup line, and pulled on an off-white vest top that had three large buttons holding it together. A pair of silver hoops and her flip flops later, Cassie was back out in the main living area of the house. Sookie was sitting with Tara in front of the TV in her work uniform, her hair back in a ponytail.

"Hi," Cassie greet, stepping into the room and taking a seat in an overly large, dusty rose armchair.

"Mornin'," Tara replied and Sookie smiled with a "hey."

"So you both have work?" Cassie asked, crossing her legs and ignoring the vibration of her cell which had been going off the entire time she was in the shower. It was her assistant, but she hated to take calls in front of other people- it was rude.

"Yeah, we work till two. Lunch has the best tips," Sookie said.

"Oh okay. I have some work to do too, so I'll probably be looking for a place to fax today. But before you go, I should tell you I saw Lafayette again last night," Cassie said. She went into detail about what happened and what was said and Sookie got really angry and Tara looked terrified, which she expressed in swear words and unshed tears.

When Sookie finally calmed down enough not to rush off to Fangtasia and do something ultimately stupid, she and Tara told Cassie where to find a fax machine- at the general store on Main. They offered her a lift and Cassie accepted. The car ride was quiet and full of tension, and Cassie had never been gladder to get to work in her life. All three said their goodbyes and Cassie headed inside the plain looking building made up of crumbling, faded bricks.

A brass bell rang out above the door and announced her presence to the store clerk, a young girl with braces- the older, colorless kind- and long, red hair that had a bright natural look to it. The girl was flipping through a magazine at the counter and braiding and re-braiding her hair over one shoulder. She looked up when Cassie came in and Cassie wasn't surprised when the teen- maybe sixteen or seventeen- sighed, stopped snapping her gum, and greeted her with a feigned smile before returning her focus to the magazine on the counter.

Making her way to the counter, Cassie glanced around at the ten or so aisles that made up the general store, and spotted the coffee machine and additive setup against the far back wall near the line of freezer doors that spanned the length of an aisle and ended in a door that said 'restroom' above it in glowing red letters.

"Hi. I need to fax some papers and I heard that this was the place to come," Cassie said, smiling her best for the teen.

The girl, Savannah so-say her name tag, was now smiling genuinely at her and lifting her elbows up off the counter from her staring contest with a shirtless Taylor Lautner- splayed out on a three page magazine poster.

"Oh my God, are you a yank? We never get yanks 'round her, not no more anyway. I love your skirt! I have one that's like black and sheer and kinda looks like that one," Savannah said and Cassie fought to stop her eyes from widening and her eyebrows from lifting in surprise.

"I'm from New Jersey. And thank you. But I have papers I need to send out and it's important I get them out before noon. So, do you have a fax?" Cassie asked again, tugging a thick three-hundred-plus stack of papers out of her tote.

"Yeah, sure. It's in the back by the coffee machines. I'll show you how to use it," the girl volunteered and was around the counter and heading to the coffee station before Cassie could deny her.

"What's New Jersey like?" Savannah asked over her shoulder, turning to walk backwards as she faced Cassie.

"It's cooler than here and it's got a lot of city life, but it has its forest areas and trees are everywhere just like here," Cassie explained, watching as Savannah almost crashed into a spinning tower of mini-cereal boxes, but somehow narrowly avoiding it with a clairvoyant jerk to the side.

"Bet there's a lot more to your cities than ours. We got nothing going on 24/7. 'Cept for Vampire Bill, he's new to Bon Temps and he's living up at the old Compton place near the cemetery. Him and Crazy Sookie are hookin' up," the teen rambled, stopping beside a fax machine that looked to be only a few years old.

Cassie couldn't get over how this girl was describing Sookie and her boyfriend. What gave her the right to stick her nose where it wasn't wanted, "Sookie isn't crazy. She's a nice person with good southern manners. And fearing vampires is smart, but talking about them behind their backs might be called stupid."

"You insulting me?" Savannah asked, her arms crossing as she flipped her lopsided braid over her shoulder.

"No, if I was insulting you wouldn't have to ask," Cassie informed her, pursing her lips condescendingly with a raised eyebrow.

"Here's the fax. You can figure it out yourself," said Savannah in a huff before marching off self-righteously for the counter.

Rolling her eyes at the display, Cassie started examining the machine and the pay mechanism and not to long after she was in business- literally. She poured herself a cup of coffee and fixed it up the way she liked it and flashed it at Savannah who was watching like a hawk, and went about running the papers through the machine and depositing twenty bucks every-so-often. She returned her assistant's call and gave her instructions for the meetings she had to reschedule until later in the week. By quarter to eleven, Cassie was packing her papers back up and stuffing them in her bag and heading up to the counter with two empty coffee cups and a mostly full third in her hand.

"You're supposed to pay before drinking them," Savannah snipped.

"Who says? I've got the money and I'm standing right here with my purchases. Ring me up please," Cassie rejoined, noting the lack of magazine on the counter and the fact that a small TV set was playing off to the side behind the counter.

Savannah rang her up and Cassie paid, then she walked out the door and started down the street to her right. Earlier, Sookie had told her Merlotte's wasn't too far from the general store and that Cassie only had to take a right and walk about half a mile up the road before she'd be at Merlotte's doors. The half mile walk felt like two miles in the heat and sun exposure, but Cassie chugged her last coffee- putting the empty cup in her tote for later disposal- and made it inside ten minutes. She took up a seat in the booth she'd occupied last night and ordered up some lunch from Sookie while waving at Tara who was behind the bar arguing with a line of men dressed in construction gear, Jason not among them.

Sookie and Tara got off at the same time and the three headed back to Sookie's house, country music playing loudly through the left speakers of the car, but fuzzily on the right. It seemed that someone had pressed on Sookie's auto-talk button because she was chattering incessantly in the car about random people that had come and gone from the bar during her shift. Tara didn't seem to feel the need to talk as Sookie went on and on, and Cassie couldn't get barely a word in edgewise. Once they got to the house, they had an awkward silence fall over them and then Sookie said she was going to go tan in the backyard and Tara just headed up the stairs without a word.

"You wanna join me in the yard? I have a spare suit and an extra lounger," Sookie offered and Cassie accepted.

Sookie provided her with a tight two piece that fit almost perfectly- though the top was a little loose- Cassie was less endowed than Sookie in the breast department, a B to Sookie's C. However, it fit well enough and Cassie found it comforting to sit silently beside Sookie soaking in the sun. When the sun was sinking low and Cassie was feeling like a fried egg- the southern sun was much stronger and caused her to sweat more heavily- they headed in and shared a few glasses of homemade sweet tea.

A firm, polite knock at the door caught Sookie's attention and Cassie watched as she lit up with a genuine smile,not the too big, pointed one she used at work, and she dashed for the front door. A minute later, Cassie watched as a tall, dark-haired, pale man with brown eyes and thin lips, entered the room arm and arm with Sookie. Obviously this was Vampire Bill.

"Well hello. It is a delight to meet you. My name is William Compton, but please won't you call me Bill," he said like a proper gentleman as Cassie rose from her kitchen seat and shook his hand when she offered hers and he accepted.

"Nice to meet you. My name is Cassandra Mason, Cassie for short," Cassie replied. She got a good vibe from Bill, but something seemed off in his gaze. He was staring at her strangely and when he turned to ask Sookie for an O positive- at her mannerly offer of a beverage- Cassie felt uncomfortably certain he had been looking at her in hunger. And not the sexual kind.

"So Bill, what did Eric say?" Sookie asked, rejoining them at the table where they had seated themselves while she warmed up a True Blood for him.

"Well, as you know Sookie, I can't order Eric to do anything. When I requested that he release Lafayette, he demanded to know how I knew of him," Bill said with a pause. His eyes met Cassie's and she glanced at Sookie then back and him and gave a mental-shrug; she already knew how that ended.

"What'd you say?" Sook pressed as she handed him his warmed blood.

"I told him that we had received a tip and that his safe return was necessary to your happiness," Bill said to Sookie, his eyes bitter. "Unfortunately, Eric refused."

"Lafayette told him my name and he knows what I look like from a picture the Chinese vampire drew," Cassie filled in the blanks, giving Bill a heads up on her most recent foray into Fangtasia.

"This is not good. Eric claims special humans for his own, and he has obvious interest in you. I'm afraid you can't come to Fangtasia with us this evening to try again," Bill answered. "And Sookie, I'd ask that you stay here too. I would like to pursue this alone."

"William Compton don't you get high-handed with me. I'm a grown woman and I'm yours, I will be perfectly safe," Sookie replied, standing with her hands on her hips from the table.

"And I can take care of myself, Bill. I didn't fly hundreds of miles to sit around and do nothing. I'll meet with Eric and I'll convince him to let Lafayette go. I'm very persuasive," Cassie told him, remaining seated but her tone firm.

Sighing, Bill ran a hand through his neatly-trimmed brown hair, "Not to undermine your abilities, Cassie, but Eric is devious and barbaric in his pursuit of anything he desires. He's a thousand year old Viking with the power of a vampire sheriff."

"Well he can bring it, because as long as I've been alive, I've gotten what I want too," Cassie said, arching her back to crack it and then relaxing back into her seat.

"Very well. If you are both insistent upon coming this evening, you had better get ready. We leave in an hour," Bill stated, getting up from his seat, half-finished True Blood in hand, and headed for the back door.

Sookie muttered something about stubborn jealousy and marched upstairs to tell Tara the plan while Cassie gathered herself and went to shower and change. She showered quicker than usual and then was stumped as to what to wear. She perused her bags and found a pretty, white, sequined dress with a cowl-neckline that drooped down to expose a daring hint of cleavage and fell to her lower thigh in a straight cling. It was the only fancy dress she had grabbed, and in truth it was an accident- it had been in with the basket of clothes sitting cleaned and folded on her dryer when she'd come crashing in and out of her apartment before leaving for the airport. Matching the dress with a pair of gold, ankle boots- the only other footwear beside flip flops and black flats that she had brought with her- she pulled them on and applied her make up in a hurry: black shadow, black mascara, and gold lip gloss.

Giving herself the once over and smiling appreciatively at her image, Cassie ran some Angel Drops through her drying curls and entered the living room where the sounds of arguing were going on.

First glance said Sookie and Tara were fighting. Second glance brought Bill into Cassie's line of vision and his tense body and glaring eyes too.

"I want to come," Tara shouted, an arm extending to point at the four-door jeep that was sitting out front.

"You cannot. I cannot protect four humans at once. Getting Lafayette out will be hard enough with two psychic females to watch. You would only be hindering your cousin's return," Bill argued back, his face grave and his tone harsh.

"Please Tara, make this easy on us. I love you and I love Lafayette. We'll bring him back in one piece, promise," Sookie pleaded and Cassie wondered if it would be enough. It was, because not a moment later, Tara took off stomping for the stairs leading to the upper landing.

"So, you ready to go?" Cassie asked, coming more fully into the room.

Both Sookie and Bill stared at her and then one another while Sookie bit her lower lip in worry and ran her hands over the full skirts of her cornflower blue sundress- tank-topped and calf-length with a braided rope of sky blue accentuating her bust-line.

"Yes," Bill said carefully, then led the way to the door and down the steps and politely opened the door for both she and Sookie.

The drive to Shreveport was clouded with country music, Sookie's chatter about work- a second reenactment for Cassandra and a first for Bill- and the sound of wind rushing in and out of the open passenger and driver windows. Sookie held Bill's hand the whole way and Cassie noted he stoically returned the gesture.

As they pulled up to Fangtasia- written in fancy, red script over the door, Cassie noticed the long line of people, all scantily clad and some with fake fangs, and the few open parking spots; it must have been packed inside.

Bill pulled into a spot close to the front entry and handed Sookie out while Cassie took the initiative to open her own door and hop down from the raised height of the jeep. They walked together, her and Sookie a step behind Bill, and cut to the front of the line. Pam, the gorgeous blonde vampire woman, stood taking IDs at the door.

"Cassandra, what a nice surprise. Here in the flesh, I see," Pam commented, her fangs flashing in the glowing red light of the overhead sign.

"Pam, we are here to see Eric," Bill cut in, smoothly stepping in front of Cassie.

"It's packed with blood bags tonight, Bill. I don't know that he could spare the time," Pam said. Her expression went from interested to dry and caustic in seconds.

"Well he can make the time," Sookie said, pushing forward with a fierce look on her face. Cassie wondered if Pam was going to attack her right then and there and looked to Bill for a reaction- none came.

"And what do you say, Cassandra?" Pam asked, her eyes lighting again while smiling a purposefully wicked smile.

"I think I always get what I want, and I want to talk to Eric. In private," Cassie said, smiling seductively in turn. She knew this game, and Pam was a fine player. "Can you give me what I want Pam?"

That wicked smile turned heated and Pam's eyes studied her face then her neck and back up to her lips. Cassie traced her lower lip with her tongue and smacked her lips together silently, suggestively.

"Honey, I always deliver," Pam stated, eyes back on Cassie's as they twinkled and then she was gone in a blink and Bill was ushering both Cassie and Sookie inside.

They made it to the bar and the Chinese vampire from her first visit stood watching them. The club was much more impressive all lit up. Woman danced on raised platforms in three corners of the club and a few scattered in the crowd and on the raised dais behind an ostentatious throne. Eric the Hot sat on that throne, the main attraction by far. Music pumped loudly in her ears and Cassie wondered how the bartender could hear her, but figured it was another vampiric quirk.

"What'll you have?" said the bartender. Bill ordered an O positive, Sookie a gin and tonic, and Cassie ordered a white Russian.

"Coffee fiend even with liquor?" Sookie whispered in question, her nervous smile out in full force.

Cassie shrugged, "It's creamy; it's sweet; it tastes like coffee- it's a superior drink."

"Twenty even," the bartender said, placing their drinks in front of them with marked speed. Cassie wished she could move that quick, it would make being late to work a thing of the past. Twenty bucks for three drinks is ridiculous, Cassie thought, watching as Bill paid for them. She had offered up a ten, but he had graciously declined.

Taking a sip of her drink, Cassie relaxed against the bar, legs leaning against a stool, but not sitting on it. She surveyed the crowd and watched as they gyrated and gave in to sexual urges. It was a typical club, though the vampires did move oddly- too fast at times or too sharply to be humanly possible. A line from the bottom of the raised dais to the bathroom on the right led up to Eric's throne. He sat, now staring in their direction, and ignored his 'subjects.' For lack of a better word, Cassie thought. His ego must take up half the club, how they had enough occupancy to fit it and the crowd- Cassie didn't know.

"We are being summoned," Bill said as Eric lifted a hand and twitched his fingers in a 'come here' gesture.

"Summoned? What are we in medieval Europe?" Cassie questioned, unhurried in moving as she drank more from her glass.

"I think it's stupid too, but we better go," Sookie said coaxingly.

Giving a quick lift of her lips to the bartender, Cassie followed Sookie's lead, which followed Bill's. They were up at the dais a minute later- having pushed through the mass of dancing bodies- and stood at the steps leading up while Eric, Pam beside him, stared down at them. His eyes fixed on Cassie.

"Are we gonna go somewhere and talk?" Cassie asked, breaking the silence. Bill was rigid and Sookie was defiantly standing with her arms crossed glaring at the floor. A look from Bill said that wasn't the right thing to say.

"Cassie, stay quiet," Bill ordered and Cassie's eyes narrowed as her nose scrunched up. She wasn't five; she didn't need someone telling her what to say or when to say it.

"Well are we? 'Cause I didn't come here to stand around being looked down on," Cassie questioned, her eyes locked on Eric's and then flicking over to Pam's amused ones.

"Is she not yours, Bill? She doesn't seem to have proper etiquette," Eric finally spoke, talking to Bill as he assessed Cassie. She hated being ignored and his eyes might be on her, but his words were for Bill.

"Oh I'm sorry, was I supposed to kiss the ground you walk on before talking to you? I'll make a note," Cassie said, voice chilly. Who the fuck was he to ignore her?

A smirk appeared on that bored, beautiful face and Cassie felt her insides jump a little.

Pam said something to him that Cassie didn't understand in another language and Eric returned with the same weird words. They were staring at her and not talking to her.

"I don't like being ignored. And I didn't want to stand at a stage with gawking fan girls either. We can either take this somewhere private, or I can walk out now and find another way to get Lafayette out of your torture chamber," Cassie said in a raised voice. Several vampires and humans turned to listen at her words and a few gasped in surprise- the human women stunned.

"Cassie," Sookie gasped, one of her hands intertwining with a worried Bill's.

"Let's take this to my office," Eric said, standing to his full height and trotting down the stairs in a pair of leather pants and a black-fitted tee. That's a step up from the track pants and tank top- though they had been delicious on him too, Cassie thought.

They walked down a hallway, passing the basement door as they went, and entered a small, serviceable office space. One desk, four chairs, a filing cabinet, and a couch- it was a very sparsely decorated work space.

Pam closed the door and then was beside Eric who sat in a large, leather chair behind the desk- the largest chair in the room.

"Your guest doesn't know how to be discrete, Bill," Eric reprimanded.

"I apologize for her behavior," Bill replied, taking a seat facing Eric while Sookie took the one beside his.

Cassie opted for the couch and took a seat, crossing her legs, and watching them. "I know how to be discrete. I don't know how to take no for an answer though."

"She always gets what she wants, apparently," Pam added, grinning at her master.

"I see. And what do you want, Cassandra?" Eric asked, his fingers pressed together in a steeple as he leaned forward on his desk with his elbows for support.

"I want you to let Lafayette go," Cassie said, putting her arms outstretched against the back of the sofa, spreading her wide and making her dress ride up higher on her thigh.

"And what do I get in return?" Eric asked.

"What do you want, Eric?" Cassie rejoined.

"Cassie don't. Eric, Lafayette is my friend, and I demand that you let him go," Sookie said, butting in with her headstrong anger. "If you don't, I'll go to the police."

That was all it took to have Eric towering over Sookie's chair, fangs bared, and ready to kill.

"I don't take well to threats," Eric responded, voice raspier and sexier as he became angered.

"Leave her alone," Cassie said, standing too. Eric turned to her and her nipples pebbled in response, her body wanting him as it had last night. He retracted his fangs and then he was in front of her, a hand brushing her shoulder and tracing along her exposed collarbone. "What do you want in exchange for Lafayette?"

"I could be convinced to let him go, but could you persuade me?" Eric teased.

Bringing her hands up to his broad, strong shoulders, Cassie stood on tip-toes and met his eyes as their faces were inches apart, "Do you doubt I could?"

Smirking again, Eric leaned into her and stole a hot, wet, open-mouthed kiss before pulling back with blood on his lips. When her eyes landed on his bloody lips, she felt the sting on the inside of her lower lip where a fang had nipped her. He licked his lips and savored the taste for her entertainment, she was sure. Pam was beside them and Eric turned to her, sharing an impassioned kiss with her quickly before pulling back and staring again at Cassie while Pam made satisfied 'mmm' noises.

"Delicious, just like I thought," he whispered and Bill and Sookie's faintly indignant replies were lost to her as Cassie felt her core clench.

In a blur, Eric was back behind his desk- though Pam had not moved and was staring fixatedly at Cassie- and reclining in his kingly chair.

"A vampire has gone missing in Texas. If you and Sookie would join me to help in finding him, I would allow your friend to leave with you," Eric stated.

"No," Bill shouted, his anger blazing as his nostrils flared.

"Oh don't be so dramatic, Bill. It's just a few days in Texas," Pam said, taking a seat on the couch beside Cassie, who had seated herself when Eric made his demands.

"No, it is too dangerous. Vampires will be everywhere and Cassie is unclaimed," Bill insisted.

"Bill," Sookie whispered.

"Why do you want me?" Cassie asked. And what vampire was so important Eric wanted to traipse off to another state to charge to his rescue, Cassie wondered while eying him.

"Your gift could prove very useful to me in this," Eric said stoically.

"And what do you think you know about my gift?" Cassie asked.

"A human who send her spirit in search of another? I'm sure I can figure out some use for you," said Eric amused.

"I'll do it. But I want it to be just me, Eric, and I want five thousand dollars," Sookie agreed while Bill tried to protest.

"Your human is presumptuous Bill," Eric said, "and I will not settle without Cassandra too."

"I have work in another state that I need to return to," Cassie informed him, and the sudden sensation of a hand on her thigh caused her to jerk, her eyes going to Pam. Pam was caressing her thigh and those nails of hers from the night before were trailing upward- they were still a perfect red match to Pam's dress, though tonight's was long and had strategically placed slits that caught the eye.

"Pam, don't touch," Eric reprimanded, his amusement not lost. "As for your work, call in sick. I'll pay Sookie her five thousand and I'll match for you."

"I don't need money and I'm not sick. I traveled down here to help Lafayette," Cassie replied as Pam removed her cold fingers from her tingling skin.

"Consider this an extension of helping your friend," Eric said, smiling. "I'll even double the money- is ten thousand so little to you."

Cassie hated being outmaneuvered; it was too infrequent to be a regular irritation, but she felt its sting right then. "Make it fifteen and I'll call my boss right now. I'm not cheap- in any regard."

Something flashed in those arctic blue eyes and Cassie gave into the slight shiver that erupted down her spine and averted her own to meet Sookie's. Sookie was gaping open-mouthed at her and Bill was doing his best to look unaffected despite his small smile. She felt more than heard Pam's laughter- the couch shaking a little in tandem to it.

"Deal. Pam," Eric stated, and Pam was gone that quickly. "The money will be deposited in your accounts tomorrow morning. Don't forget to make that call, Cassandra. We leave tomorrow night."

As he finished speaking, Pam reentered the room and a worn out Lafayette was tossed to the floor. His body splayed out at Cassie's feet while Pam returned to her master's side. She gave Cassie a satisfied glance.

"Oh my God. What did you do to him?" Sookie shouted and Bill hushed her while helping Lafayette to his feet. Lafayette was staring at Cassie in awe.

"You actually here? What the fuck is goin' on?" Lafayette asked.

"Yes I am here. And I told you, I'm helping you," Cassie answered and stood to help, but Sookie had taken up the spot she would have filled instead.

"Do you want an answer to your question Sookie? I could go into detail for you," Pam baited coyly.

"Rent a horror movie, it'd probably be a less gory adaptation," Cassie remarked under her breath, watching as Sookie and Bill headed out ahead of her, Pam chuckling in their wake.

"Sweet dreams, Cassie," Eric called from behind her and her body gave an involuntary jerk at his use of her nickname- it sounded like a promise on his lips and she hurried out with a 'night' called out over her shoulder.

Author's Note: I would like to thank everyone who reviewed, I really enjoyed reading your perspections of Cassie and my plot thus far. Also, RoswellOracle, a highly esteemed member of the community, was kind enough to make a banner for The Viking's Heart and I'm posting the link to it here in parts because every time I try to post the link it breaks down (part one insert second / part before s) http:/s126. (part two add a dot com to end of word) photobucket (part three) /albums/ (part four)/p96/ (part five) EgyptianKIss/ (part six) ?action=view¤t= (part seven) TheVikingsHeart (part eight) banner (part nine add dot before word) jpg (done.) Sorry about all the parts, it just refused to allow me to post the link as a whole. Just take out the (part...) and put it altogether without spaces and you should be able to see the image. This link will take you to my photobucket accounts picture of the banner. I hope you enjoyed this last chapter- and your first sighting of Eric- and that you'll feel free to let me know what you think. Thanks again, EK!