Disclaimer: In this story there is no money being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.


SURROUNDED BY DEATH

Written by B.N.R.


Chapter 2

The night was long and restless. She tried to sleep but ended up tossing and turning on the bed with her eyes opened like plates, hunted by the days' events.

He wouldn't be able to remember her; as her face had been covered by the darkness she didn't even speak. The officer couldn't know anything about her, only her car, sex, and maybe age; but she would take precautions anyway, at least for some time. However she couldn't use her emergency plan… She didn't have any more money to continue running away. She felt lost.

Sookie got out of bed, had a quick shower and packed everything quickly back. She needed to disappear, both herself and the car. She dyed her hair light brown and put on contacts to change her eyes to brown. She wore a pants suit, took the computer bag over her case and put on some glasses before she exited the room.

As she expected, the clerk was a different one from daytime turn. She signed out and got to the parking lot. She hoped the other one wouldn't remember her. At least the motel didn't have any cameras and with a bit of luck he would be confused with his partners' description of her… If the police did go in this direction… Then they would probably talk first with this guy… The crime was committed during the night.

She drove to a lake she had seen in the map and let the car sink in. When it disappeared she walked back quickly to a village only a few kilometers away, which sadly took an hour, and called a cab in the first phone post she found. She gave the address of one of the houses in the street and waited. When the time arrived, she just walked to that address and waited for a few more minutes. The car didn't take long. It was still very early, just dawn, and none of the neighbors in the street should see her… All the houses had a lot of vegetation in their front gardens which would help to cover her from any early birds. She hoped this action wouldn't be deemed suspicious.

The driver left her at the bus station, as she, supposedly, was on a work trip to Dallas. She found many people waiting to enter on an express trip to New Orleans, so she went there and stayed for a bit. She didn't know how many cameras would there be and she was getting more and more nervous, as the bus had already opened the door and the passengers were entering when another bus parked beside them. She went back around the bus to approach the other, as if she was looking for space to put her bags and mingle with the arrivals. They all got to the lobby and there she found some lockers, where she put in her biggest bags. Just in her business like appearance she got out of there.

She had learnt the Shreveport map by heart and so she walked in towards the business buildings. When she felt she had distanced herself enough from the bus station she slipped into a café to get some rest and cover her tracks.

The rest of the morning was spent walking around, visiting the district like a tourist and resting in a park, where she was able to buy a hot dog and some water, leaving her with only half a dozen dollars. In the afternoon, after a short nap under a tree she walked to a shopping mall, waiting for the time to come, tiring herself a bit more. When the time finally came she went to the washroom and got changed to more provocative, yet elegant, dress and a summer jacket to cover herself a bit, it wouldn't be good to get herself a lot of attention just now.

Finally she went to the club; she had to get a city bus, close to the suburbs although she still had to walk a long way. After a couple of years living in the United States she still hadn't got used to the lack of public transport. There were many people in front of the building, mostly women, waiting for the door to be opened. And wait they did until after sunset, which was about eight during summer.

'Hello everyone.' a voice said from the door and we all turned to it. There was a beautiful young woman with long blond hair and dressed in "soccer mom" clothes attire. 'We will begin now. Please, wait for your turn.

'You.' she pointed the nearest girl 'Come now with me.'

Sookie pushed her way nearer to the door; it was difficult to think they would have the patience to watch every applicant. She was getting nervous, not because of the dancing, she knew very well what men liked, but because of Eric, he would recognize her for sure and she expected a bad reaction… And now she really needed her nerves back so she could get hold of the situation, then she would get the job… Oh! Now she was getting even more frightened. She didn't have a chance. For goodness sake, she couldn't even hear him, how would she know the way to convince him? She wasn't used to this.

After several quick turns in and out of the bar it was Sookie's turn. The interior seemed quite different from last night, with all of the colorful lights turned down and plain white drenching the stage. She breathed deeply and, with confidence, strode towards where a CD player stood.

Her heart beat strongly in her chest and her hands trembled. Eric and a woman waited languidly seated in a made up front row. They were looking towards each other, discussing in tired and sick murmurs. She opened her mind while passing them to listen to the woman's observations.

Silence. Actually, she noted once she got on the platform, it was too quiet.

Sookie stiffened and turned around to face the pair.

'So… Sookie Stackhouse.' Eric began in mocking voice 'We meet again.' She tried a smile 'I wouldn't have recognized you, I might have had too many drinks last night.' His voice had acquired a tone partly joyful and lethal.

She again smiled angelically. 'I just felt the urge for a change of look, you like it?' Without waiting anymore she opened her jacket letting it fall to the floor and went to prepare the music, however, Eric stopped her.

'What are you?' He asked and caught her gaze when she looked at him.

'I'm a dancer.' She responded sweetly, knowing too well that was not true nor what he wanted.

'Do you think I'm stupid?' he continued coldly, changing his attitude dramatically and terrifying Sookie.

Her body petrified, both physical and mentally. Her brain seemed to collapse and only had place for fear. She realized that she should tell the truth, so that he would let her be, yet she couldn't answer, she had learned that only too well.

Eric stood up and walked to her like a hunter to its prey. The woman behind him smirked.

'How could you learn about the raid?'

'I had heard him talk with his colleges earlier.' She responded in unsteady voice.

Suddenly she was pinned to the wall on her back, her feet hanging over the floor. He was holding her by the neck, hurting her, suffocating her.

'Do you think I'm stupid?' He repeated, now in a deadly snarl whispered on her ear.

Sookie was so shocked that she didn't react to any of his actions. She stood there in his hold, quiet and still, with opened eyes looking inside his, straight and without a flinch.

Only after a few seconds her body understood the criticality of the situation. Her survival instinct kicked in. Her breath became superficial and ragged, her heart beats went faster, her face contorted and her muscles trembled.

A moment later her brain cooled enough to think. She now realized that he wasn't normal. His speed, his strength… Even his eyes held a strange ancient wisdom. She understood that he could kill her at any moment and, being who she was, he wouldn't even get convicted.

'I heard him. I swear.' She whispered trembling.

'And how, pray tell, did you "hear"?'

'I can't tell…'

He frowned and she shut down, she didn't understand his reaction but it made her uneasy. He lowered both of them to the floor and released her neck to pull her chin so she would meet his eyes again.

'Tell me!' He demanded softly but implacable 'How did you hear him?'

'I. Can. NOT. Tell. Anyone.' She voiced more confidently, trying to learn from his eyes and face what he would do now to her.

Eric stayed in silence for a moment, eye competing with Sookie. Suddenly he left making her fall to the floor while he walked away.

'Come the day after tomorrow. The police closed us temporally.' He said as if nothing was amiss.

'Ok. But I need some money in advance.' Sookie bargained and he snorted.

'You want money and I, information. Tell me what I want and I will repay you.'

'If I tell you this, then I need something better than money.'

Eric turned around and looked at her expectantly, waiting for her to explain.

'I want protection.'

'Why would you need it?' He continued to pursue coldly.

'Take it or leave it.' Sookie fought with stronger voice.

'I thought it was you who needed the money… And I'm sure any other applicant would do as well as you.' He retorted with amused voice.

'Which one? The fat man, the travesty or the underage girl that came in just before me?' She questioned ironically in his same tone.

'I was thinking in the Rumanian woman that entered third… She looked most delicious.' He said interrupting her and licked his lips afterwards.

'Perhaps… But she can't feed your curiosity.' Changing to a more seductive stance.

'I have many kind of hungers and I can live without satiating all of them. After all, I'm a business man.'

'But I can see this is some information you are dying to learn.'

He smirked and spoke relaxed, acting defeated.

'You win Sookie, let's play business.'

'Promise me protection and a job, and give me now some money… Then I'll tell you.'

'I give you now the job, then you tell me and, if, IF I deem it worthy enough I'll give you some money.

'For what I see' he continued 'the "protection" you want might be silence and discretion. I can promise you that now, a sign of appreciation, as I always give to my business partners, which includes my employees. I might also give you physical security if the need arrives. That is my last offer.'

Sookie thought for a few minutes, valuing the pros and cons… Or more like convincing herself that it was only a wining situation if she accepted.

'Okey dokey.'

'Come with me then.' He stood up, walked to the private areas and entered an office where his associated was waiting, resting on the desk. 'Tell the others that the position is taken, please.' He said to the woman and she left silently. They both sat down, one in front of the other at both sides of said table. Eric then took some papers from a drawer and pushed them to her.

'A contract?' She asked concerned. If the police inspected them she would be found out.

'Of course. You wanted a job and this business is all legal.' He looked at her with strange eyes. 'Sookie, Sookie… What are you in?'

'Oh! Nothing. I was daydreaming.' She defended herself unsuccessfully, took the pen beside the papers and filled them with her fake identity.

When it was all done he took them and read her details in silence, then picked up the phone and dialed.

'Eric Northman.' He said after a while and waited a few seconds again. 'You too John… I'd like to make a reservation for a friend… Yes, one person.' He chuckled. '… You know me, and how much women adore me too.' He winked at her. '… One week from tonight… Yes, that's good… Of course. But John, please do treat her well, she is a business associate… You too, enjoy the night… Yes, yes, call me in a couple of days, yes… They were here too… Goodnight.'

'Thank you.' Sookie said once he had put down the phone.

He leaned his elbows on the table and rested his chin on his palms. Then, looking at her straight into the eyes he spoke with interest. 'The promises are fulfilled now. So… What are you?'

'I'm a telepath.'


A\N: All reviews are very much appreciated


Dear readers,

Thank you very much for your appreciation. I wasn't expecting such a good wellcome, with so many reviews, faves and alerts. I know I said in my profile that I would update soon and I'm sorry it got so long, but the story got stuck at a cliffhanging moment and I didn't want to leave you like that. Finally, though, the update is here and I hope you enjoyed it. The next chapter is not written yet and I will be a bit bussy for a while, however I hope I'll be able to have it uploaded in around a month. If you like the story and are interested in future updates do not worry if they come little by little; I'm extremelly interested in this fanfiction as I'm having a great time writtting it and I'm learning a lot of English. I will continue here.

I want to thank you again for your reviews, they not only help me to improve the story but also encourage me to continue to work hard on it. Especially I need to thank mmendoza658 for the correction of a few errors that sliped while typing and, of course, my great beta who at the moment seems to want his anonymity.

B.N.R.