*Sorry about the wait, this is a pretty huge chapter. I had it more or less done, and then I just HAD to add bits here and there, but now it's done, so enjoy :)*
One Month Later
"Sam, there's another gift on the living room table for you." Eden called from her bedroom when she heard Samara come home from working in the record store.
"Thanks Edie." Samara noted that Eden was not quite as excited when the first five gifts or so came. Eric was always sending her gifts, perhaps to butter her up or make her forget his scary scene at the library or both. Ruby was always harassing her to work for him, she thought it would be amazing, but although they had left the library on amicable terms on that night about a month ago, Samara knew how quickly he could turn, and she was not up for risking her life that way. She went into the living room to find a small flat present on the table. She picked it up and realised it was an envelope… inside were tickets to see Metallica. Shit, she didn't even know they were playing, and if she didn't know then it must be in the early stages. Trust Eric to get her something he knew she would love. Damn him. She had liked all of his other presents too. There was the stunning platinum angel on a chain, which although she really hadn't wanted to… she loved it and wore it everyday. That was about two weeks ago now.
"What did he get you this time?" Eden came into the living room behind Samara.
"Tickets to see Metallica." Samara waved them, smiling.
"Look Sam, I know you're smarter than Rubes. So this mini-lecture probably isn't necessary, but you will be careful, won't you? You told us what happened in the library Sam, he almost killed you! No amount of gifts and flattery thereafter is going to be enough. He's dangerous."
"I know that Eden. You know that I know that. I am not going to work for him, and even if I did, I'm sure I'd be fine."
"You know vampires feed on the humans working for them don't you?"
"I do know that, but I am going to be no one's entrée." Eden laughed at Samara's choice of words.
"I think you'd be more of a dessert. Save the best for last and all that."
"Oh, why thank you." Both girls were laughing when Ruby came into the living room, dressed to impress in a tiny red dress and sky scraping heels.
"Wow, where are you going?" Eden asked, eyeing her friend's ostentatious outfit.
"I've got a date." She winked.
"Who with?" Samara asked her, a bad feeling in her gut.
"A guy I met last weekend."
"A vampire?" Samara knew before she asked that it was true.
"Maybe." Ruby winked. "I probably won't be home tonight, so I'll just go straight to work in the morning."
"You're too old for me to tell you what to do, so take care Ruby." Samara hugged her.
"I see Eric left you another present, he so wants to fuck you. Lucky bitch." Ruby teased.
"In his dreams."
"I'll do it for you if you want."
"Get out of here Ruby." Samara laughingly pushed her friend out of the door.
---
"Sam, wake up." Eden was sitting on the edge of Samara's bed, while Samara was sleeping. It must have been important, because Samara was notoriously grouchy in the mornings, and all who crossed her path before two cups of coffee and a shower were victims of her sharp tongue.
"Fuck off." Samara grabbed her pillow and put it over her head.
"You need to get up grouchy."
"Why?" Samara whined.
"I think Ruby's in trouble." That perked Samara's attention.
"What's happened?" Samara removed the pillow and sat up, leaning on her elbows.
"I got a call from her boss Gretchen today, she didn't come into work. And I tried her cell but it's turned off."
"What time is it?"
"It's like 1pm Sam."
"Fuck, I'm sleeping later and later these days. So Ruby didn't show up for work?"
"No, and it's not like Ruby. I know she's a wild child, but she loves that job."
"I know." Ruby had graduated with a major in Fashion and worked for an up and coming designer Gretchen Banks, and she loved the job. She would never not go into work without a very good reason.
"And she was out with a vampire last night, what if something's happened to her?"
"Okay, be calm. First thing is first, we should call the local hospitals and police to see if they have heard anything and failing that, I… I guess I can ask Eric if he knows which vampire she was with." Ugh, the thought of having to go speak to Eric was something she really did not want to do, but for Ruby… she'd do anything.
"I'll call the hospitals right now."
"Okay, give me five minutes to splash my face with cold water and get some clothes on." Samara rubbed her face and got out of the bed. She decided to jump in for the quickest shower she had ever had. When she came out, she quickly towel-dried her short hair and pulled on some dark blue baggy jeans and a white tank top. She went into the living room and heard Eden finishing her phone conversation.
"Okay, thank you, goodbye." Eden hung up and ran a hand through her long dark hair.
"No luck?"
"Every hospital nearby has not heard of her. So that's the hospitals ruled out, what about the cops?"
"I'll call them." Samara looked through the black book of numbers that the girls kept next to the telephone, and found the local police station number.
"Hello?"
"Hi, is that the police station?" Samara asked.
"It is, how can I help you?" The female voice asked.
"Hi, I was wondering if you could. My friend went out last night and she didn't come home and didn't show up to work today and I was just wondering if you had heard of anything happening to her."
"We don't deal with missing persons until they have been missing for twenty four hours."
"I'm only asking if you've heard anything yet, I'm not asking you to rally a posse and go find her."
"Fine, what's her name?"
"Ruby Windsor."
"I'll check, give me a second."
"Thanks." Samara waited for a few minutes and then the police woman came back.
"We've not heard anything from a Ruby Winston."
"Her name is Ruby Windsor." Samara said, annoyed.
"Well, we've heard nothing from that either. Call back when she's been missing for twenty four hours."
"Thanks for all your help." Samara slammed the phone down.
"No luck there either?"
"They were about as helpful as a chocolate frying pan." Samara got up and paced, thinking about what to do, and only coming up with one idea, which she really was not happy about.
---
"I'll just drive over, ask him a few questions and I'll come back Eden." Samara was trying to reassure Eden. There was still no word from Ruby and as it was almost dark, Samara decided she was going to drive to Fangtasia, much to Eden's dismay.
"Sam, I don't trust him. He almost killed you for God's sake."
"He didn't almost kill me, he just lost his temper." Samara tried to pacify her, although she did not believe her own words.
"I should come with you."
"You need to stay here and keep trying people she knows and hospitals. You need to be here in case she comes home too. I'll be fine on my own Edie." Samara hugged Eden.
"Please be careful."
"Aren't I always?"
"No, not in the slightest." Both girls laughed lightly.
"I'll be okay Edie. Keep trying everyone." Samara encouraged her, and left. She got into her car and drove the half-hour distance to Fangtasia in Shreveport. Outside the club she took a deep breath. As much as she put on the front, she was afraid to go in there and maybe be killed by an angry vampire. She steeled herself. She was Samara Bishop, and she took shit from no one. Her friend was missing and she WAS going to get to the bottom of it. She got out of the car and walked towards the door. As it was a Tuesday night, the bar was not open. She knocked the door and hoped someone would hear… well since they were vampires they really should hear it with their heightened senses and all.
"Why hello." The door opened so quickly Samara almost fell back with surprise but managed to steady herself. Standing at the door was none other than Eric's lapdog Pam.
"I need to speak to Eric."
"Do you? What do you need to speak to him about?"
"That's my business."
"Well if you don't tell me then I don't think I can let you in."
"Pam." Samara heard a voice – Eric's voice, then something in some kind of Slavic language. Pam rolled her eyes and stood back to let Samara pass her. Samara went inside the empty club – empty besides Eric standing there. Wow, he looked good. His hair had been cut and was slicked back.
"Sam, what a pleasant surprise."
"I need your help."
"Come through to my office." He turned to walk away and Samara followed him. They went inside his cluttered office.
"Nice hair." She commented.
"Thank you, it was time for a change. Sit." He pointed to a chair in front of the desk. She sat down and he sat at the chair behind the desk across from her. "I see you're wearing the necklace I bought you."
"Oh." Samara hadn't realised she forgot to take it off. Damn. "Yeah, it's nice."
"It reminded me of you."
"An angel?" Samara asked sceptically.
"Pristine." He smiled that mocking smile that she so loathed.
"I'm not that pristine."
"I beg to differ."
"Oh whatever." Samara folded her arms, aware she looked like a petulant child but didn't care.
"You mentioned you need my help?"
"My friend Ruby is missing. She went out with a vampire last night, and she didn't come home or go to work today. Her cell is off and we called the cops and hospitals, they haven't heard from her."
"I told you young girls go missing all the time."
"Does that mean you have something to do with it?"
"No it doesn't. Young girls who play with vampires as often as your friend does generally meet sticky ends."
"I need to know who she usually hangs around with. She tends not to share that information with us."
"I can ask Pam, she would know better than I would."
"If you don't mind."
"If I do help you, then what'll you do for me?"
"What do you want?" Samara was apprehensive. "You mean work for you?"
"I could mean that… or you know something simple to get over and done with. Perhaps some oral sex." He cocked his eyebrow suggestively.
"What?!" Samara stood up out of her chair, anger flowing through her like electricity again.
"I am joking of course." Eric laughed at her reaction. She had a funny feeling he said things like that just to see what her reaction would be. Asshole.
"Not today Eric, I'm not in the mood."
"I can tell. Alright, I will go ask Pam who she usually leaves with. Then we can go and see if they have your friend."
"I don't remember telling you that you could come with me."
"I don't remember asking." He said with a tone of finality and left the office, presumably to go speak to Pam. Samara sat there waiting for him, taking in the piles of papers, the microwave (she assumed this was for heating up TruBloods), and the sofa. God she was so tired, she could sleep on it right now. That was shocking considering she had only gotten up at 1pm this afternoon.
"Are you ready to go?" Eric asked her mid-yawn.
"Oh yeah, sure." She stood up and followed him outside. "Uh, this is my car." She pointed and went over to unlock it.
"Perhaps I should drive?" He offered.
"Perhaps not." Samara rolled her eyes. Eric laughed and got into the passenger side. When Samara got in, she had to laugh, no one usually sat in the passenger side so the seat was right up to the dashboard leaving Eric's knees somewhere around his chin.
"Sorry, I'll fix that." She leaned behind his seat and pulled the lever which made the seat move back.
"I don't mind small spaces, you forget I sleep in a coffin."
"Do you actually sleep in a coffin?"
"No, but I'm playing on your assumptions about vampires." It was his turn to roll his eyes.
"It's not my fault, blame Bram Stoker." Samara held her hands up in a gesture of innocence. "Where am I driving to?"
"I'll direct you as we go." Samara started the car and drove out of the Fangtasia parking lot. There was not much conversation as they drove to the vampire's house, aside from the directions Eric was giving Samara. She pulled up in front of a small apartment complex.
"He lives here?" Samara asked disbelievingly.
"He will have the technology most vampires have."
"Oh yeah, those light-tight windows?"
"The very ones." Eric got out of the car and Samara followed him. "You should probably stay in the car."
"Hey you're the passenger on my journey, not the leader."
"So you're the leader?" He asked, amused.
"Yes."
"Then by all means, lead on." He gestured for her to walk in front of him. They went up the stairs to the third floor, where Eric told her to stop and they walked onto the landing.
"He lives in that one." Eric pointed to the door which had the number 314 on it.
"So I'll just knock?"
"Just knock and see what happens." Samara raised her hand and knocked the door. The door opened within a second to reveal an older male vampire. He was good-looking like most of them, but his face fell when he set eyes on Eric.
"Sheriff, what can I do for you?"
"We're looking for a human girl – Ruby Windsor." Samara asked.
"I have no human girl here, Eric would be able to tell if I did."
"But I think you might know where this human girl is." Eric told him.
"I don't." The vampire was getting defensive now. Eric stormed across the threshold and grabbed the vampire by the throat holding him in midair.
"So, where is the human girl?"
"Ruby used to be mine, but she isn't anymore." The vampire choked out. Samara looked at the look on Eric's face… it was beyond terrifying. No wonder that vampire had looked so scared when they came to the door, but Samara had never seen anyone look as scared as this vampire looked now.
"Who else has fed on her?"
"Matthias has fed on her. She should be with him." The vampire choked.
"If you are lying, you will suffer for it." Eric squeezed the vampire's throat a little tighter and then dropped him on the floor. He left the apartment and beckoned Samara to follow him. She hesitated. She stepped into the vampire's apartment.
"Are you okay?" She asked timidly.
"I'm fine, enjoy being a meal for this evening." The vampire said spitefully and Samara took that as her cue to leave. Eric was already at her car by the time she got downstairs. She opened it from a distance with her keys and Eric got in. Samara got in to see the angry frown still on Eric's face.
"You didn't have to choke him you know." Samara started the car and drove onto the main road.
"We're going over to Terrance Court. You know it?"
"Yeah I know where it is."
"Drive quickly. I know Matthias, I've had to warn him about his conduct with humans before. It never ends well for the human."
"Okay, I'll drive fast." Samara put her foot down. After a couple of minutes she said: "Eric?"
"Yes?"
"You know how you want me to work for you?"
"Yes." He nodded.
"That's one of the reasons I don't want to." She pointed back the way. "I mean, back there, you were just so scary."
"I'm the Sheriff, I need to have discipline."
"Well, there's having discipline then there's just being terrifying. Like that night at the library, I really thought you were going to rip my throat out. I was actually mentally preparing myself to die."
"I apologised for that."
"I know, and I accepted the apology. But who's to say I won't piss you off again? I'm pretty antagonistic, and if that is enough to earn my one-way ticket to a hole in the ground, then I'll pass thanks."
"I wouldn't hurt you."
"You grabbed me by the throat because I told you to go to hell. How could I possibly work for you when you flip like that? You would almost certainly turn on me."
"Is there anything I can do to change your mind about me?"
"I don't know… be nicer?" She half-laughed.
"I'll give it a try." His face gave no emotion away, so she could not tell what he was really thinking.
"Is this where we're supposed to be?"
"Yes, just park over here." He pointed to the sidewalk and Samara pulled up. They got out of the car and Eric sniffed. "He does have a human female in there." They both walked quickly (Eric much faster of course) towards the small one-storey house. Eric didn't bother knocking the door, the just went right through it, knocking it off of the hinges.
"Sheriff, what are you doing here?" Samara heard a voice and ran into the house behind Eric. It just looked like a normal everyday living room, except for the fact that there were big shutters on the windows. The vampire looked very young, well, his body looked young. He was probably only eighteen or so when he was turned.
"Matthias, bring me the human girl." Eric looked very superior.
"What human girl?"
"Do not lie to me." Eric's fangs came out.
"She's in the bedroom."
"Then take us there."
"Okay… okay." The vampire went down the hall and Eric and Samara followed him. When he opened the door Samara gasped and pushed past him. Ruby was sitting on the bed with a blank look on her face…covered in vampire bites.
"Ruby!" Samara ran over to her and touched her face with her hand. "Rubes?"
"Oh Sam, hey." Ruby said in a whispery voice, unlike her usual confident one.
"What happened to you?"
"Nothing. Matt & I just had a good time. I think two of his friends were here, but I don't remember."
"You let two other vampires feed on her? You asshole!" Samara was about to charge at the vampire but Eric stopped her and then punched the vampire himself. The vampire went to the ground.
"Did you glamour her into forgetting?" Eric asked as the vampire lay on the ground.
"Yes." The vampire was bleeding from the force of the punch Eric gave him.
"Did three of you feed on her last night?"
"Yes."
"Her blood level is low, why didn't you give her some of yours?"
"Because I don't want to." The vampire said and Eric hit him again. He was going to hit him again, but Samara stopped him.
"Eric, don't. Just let him go, and I'll get Ruby out of here." She went back to the bed to help Ruby get off of it.
"You will leave my area before dawn, and you will not return, understood?" Eric told the vampire on the ground.
"Yes Sheriff." Eric left the room to follow Samara and Ruby, and he helped Ruby to walk while Samara opened the back door of the car to help Ruby in. They were driving back to the apartment when Eric announced:
"I need to give her some blood."
"You don't need to do that, she'll heal won't she?"
"Without my blood, I'm not sure."
"Well, okay then." Samara tried to concentrate on driving as Eric bit his own wrist and offered it to Ruby, who drank eagerly.
"She should be fine now. She just needs rest."
"Okay, thank you."
"No problem." When they arrived at the apartment, Eric lifted Ruby up the stairs to the apartment.
"You have to invite me in." Eric stood at the threshold of the apartment.
"Oh, sorry. Please come in." Eric carried Ruby to the room Samara indicated and laid her down on the bed. Samara covered Ruby up and brushed her hair away. She was so relieved to have found her. She knew she had Eric to thank for that.
"Where is your other friend?" Eric asked when they were in the hall.
"She fell asleep on the sofa. I'll tell her in a little it that we've got Ruby home. Which is entirely down to you, thank you so much. I couldn't ever repay you for that."
"I wouldn't say that."
"I suppose I can't really say I won't work for you anymore." Samara let out a little laugh.
"You can. But I would still like you to."
"Okay, you got yourself a deal. You take one snap at me though and it is over."
"Agreed." He smiled what seemed like a genuine smile. The difference it made to his already handsome face was overwhelming. Samara gently shook her head so she could concentrate.
"Okay, then we have a deal." They shook hands. "So what do you need me for?"
"I will be in contact. I must go now. Goodbye Samara."
"I told you to call me Sam."
"Well I'm calling you Samara."
"I was wondering when annoying Eric was going to make an appearance." She mock-frowned. "Goodbye." He left and she took a deep breath, wondering if she had just agreed her life away.
*I hope you enjoyed that. I'm thinking this story isn't as good as my last one, less reviews & favourites so I'm sad, but I'll continue writing it even if only one person wants me to :)*