Goddesses and Monsters

Chapter 4

A/N: I am in the process of updating chapters to correct my errors, so please bear with me.

Again a big big thank you to all who have read and reviewed. Please be aware that this story contains mature themes.

p.s. I should also say that I do not own the SVM or TB.

Eric

As I finished the alert message for the tasting night, my phone vibrated in my hand with another call.

"Pam, I trust matters are going well?"

"Master, I need Chow here with the van to transport Compton back to Fangtasia, Bill's been rather a naughty boy. Oh and by the way, I'll be bringing a date home."

Before I could answer Pam had hung up. Why the hell couldn't she learn to separate business from pleasure? More so, how had she managed to find a decent female in swamps of Bon Temps whilst on a mission to punish Compton? A mission that was turning out to be more than just a slap on the wrist for our Billy boy by the sound of it. I wondered what the weasel had been up to now.

Swinging my legs down from my desk, I sauntered out to the bar intent on looking for Chow. He was a fierce gorilla of a man from Tokyo, and although he may look like a lean sumo wrestler who could squash the blood from your orifices, the man was a formidable warrior. I found him on the stage hosting the club's Karaoke night, which was another of Pam's themed nights as an extra lure to bring in the humans.

The sight would have Pam crying blood through her expensive eyelash extensions. Dressed in a silver lame suit and black shirt, his thick black hair Brylcreemed back à la Elvis, he was holding the microphone whilst murdering a rendition of 'Love me Tender'. I had to bite my tongue to stop myself laughing and was momentarily relieved that I was the owner of this bar and not forced to take my turn up on the stage like the other staff. No doubt I would be forced into an ABBA medley due to my Scandinavian roots. Pam had tried to persuade me with no success; singing was definitely not one of my many talents.

I waited patiently at the side of the stage for Chow to finish and was surprised when cheers and whistles of appreciation rang out at his finish. Chow saw me and nodded, a sign that he knew his assistance was required and handed the microphone off to Thalia who would be doing a classic Madonna number. I shook my head at the ludicrous depths we had resorted to in order to keep the interest in the bar up.

"Master." Chow bowed his head slightly to me and waited for instruction.

"Interesting choice of song Chow, maybe Bubba would be interested in a duet sometime?" I smirked and Chow laughed along with me.

I was very generous to my retinue and we had camaraderie unknown amongst Vampires of my standing. Most Sheriffs were impersonal and strict with their entourage, but I ruled with a fair and just hand, my sense of humour well known alongside my intolerance of disobedience and deceit.

"Pam needs you to take the van to Compton's place, I suppose she doesn't want to get burnt skin all over her upholstery. Take him to the basement and chain him up in one of the cells."

I knew that Pam was perfectly capable of bringing Compton back in the trunk of her car, but she had only just had it valeted and hated getting it dirty. If I had known when I chose to turn her, that she'd be so high maintenance, I may have just drained her instead. It would've been cheaper, after all.

Chow grinned and nodded his assent then sped through the club and out of the staff entrance to where the van was parked in the staff car park. I decided to go back to my office to finish some area paperwork off while I waited for Pam to return, rather than endure the wailing from the stage now some of the humans were 'singing'.

After nearly an hour, I came back out to the bar noticing it was nearly empty and Ginger was closing up. Longshadow was 'helping' her in the sense that she was wiping down the bar as he groped her body, obviously in need of a quick fuck and feed. They looked over at me a little guiltily as I glared at them, a clear unspoken signal to leave. Although she was loyal, Ginger's hygiene was dubious and I would rather not have her spreading her germs all over the bar if it could be avoided. She was skinny as a rake and covered in bite marks, some looking a little infected and I could smell her stench from where I was stood. It seemed that Longshadow's standards were particularly low if he was still into fucking Ginger. I concluded she must be good in the sack, I could see no other reason for it.

I heard the van arrive before Pam and Chow burst through the staff entrance. Chow was first with a silver bound Compton who was groaning and writhing and proceeded towards the basement as instructed. Pam was behind him and she was carrying a woman who seemed to be unconscious. She marched towards my office, obviously expecting me to follow. I sped into my office after her, glowering at her incredulous behaviour.

"You have your own office Pam; eat your take-out in there."

I'd still not looked at the woman she'd brought in. I wanted an explanation about tonight's events with Compton, not to share her food with her. Pam lay the woman down on my sofa and turned to me.

"I found that greasy asshole Compton illegally feeding on this woman in the cemetery near his home, he very nearly killed her. I fought me viciously to get to her, claiming that she was his but it was definitely not consensual. She was close to death and well, I erm…gave her my blood." Pam was looking everywhere in the office but in my eyes and I willed her to look at me.

I raised my eyebrows in surprise. "Pam, you have never shared your blood, why now, why this woman?" Pam looked at Eric for a good minute before she answered, at a loss for a worthy explanation.

"It seemed like a good idea at the time, she was dying and, I don't know for sure, but there's something about her."

They both looked towards the woman who was still unconscious and looked very pale. Her hair was matted with dried blood on one side of her face and I noticed that she smelled faintly sweet, like honey and apple blossom. Her scent was much more appetizing than the foul smelling fangbangers who frequented the bar.

"He tried to drain her? Does she need more blood?" I didn't want to have to take her to the hospital and explain her situation. I wanted to get to that fucker Compton even more now.

"I gave her some to heal but he took much from her, I called Ludwig to come do a transfusion." Almost at the mention of her name, the officious doctor materialised in my office.

"Well, what trouble have you got yourself into now Sheriff?" She asked sarcastically, immediately moving over to the woman on the couch.

As we stood silently watching the doctor check the woman's vital signs, I felt a minute twinge in my blood, like a new bond forming between those that have exchanged blood but not as deep. I shrugged it off as something to do with Pam's strange reaction to this woman, but as I did, I couldn't help but take more of an interest in what the doctor was doing to her. The doc proceeded to lick the back of the woman's hand and stood back as if in shock.

"Part Fairy, part human and…something else." It wasn't often I heard the doc surprised as she'd certainly seen it all.

"No fucking way!" We both said at the same time.

Both our fangs ran down at the word and even though I had only smelt something sweet from her, the thought of Fairy blood made me hard as a rock. She must be masking her scent because I didn't feel the need to drain her at the first whiff of her scent.

"I knew there was something about her when I healed her, I can't explain it, but I know what you mean by the something else."

Pam sat down on the couch now and took the woman in her arms, cradling the top half of her body to her like a baby. To say I was shocked at Pam's behaviour was an understatement; the tenderness she displayed was so uncharacteristic of her. She despised humans and the times she had shown compassion for anyone I could count on one finger.

I crouched down in front of Pam and the woman, wanting to get a better look at her face. I reached over to move some of the matted hair that had stuck to her skin, off her face. She really was quite beautiful, I knew that the Fae were all highly attractive and that extended from looks to blood. Fairy blood was intoxicating to Vampires; it was like the strongest and finest quality wine and highly addictive. The resulting bloodlust from drinking a full blooded fairy was crazy. The need to fuck everything in sight and drain every last drop of blood drove a Vampire insane until the effects wore off. It was like the human equivalent of taking Cocaine or Ecstasy and the resulting hedonism that ensued.

It wasn't until Ludwig spoke that Pam and I snapped out of our Fairy induced daze.

"She needs blood and as I don't carry a fresh supply of Fairy around, it'll have to be a mix of human O neg and one of yours." She looked between the two of us for an answer.

I was quick to answer, knowing that Pam had already given her blood and was feeling strangely jealous of the fact. I had not given my blood to another since I turned Pam, but something about this part-Fae woman made me feel protective and I wanted to help heal her, but also be able to sense her.

I went to bite my wrist in order to pour my blood into her mouth but the doctor stopped me with a surprisingly sharp slap to my wrist. I growled at her, baring my teeth.

"Oh don't give me that face Northman, she's better off with an I.V, it'll be quicker." She grabbed my wrist and quickly inserted the needle into my vein to start a line and a canula into the back of the woman's hand to start the donation.

As soon as my blood started to flow around her circulatory system, I felt a jolt of pleasure. The pleasure was partly sexual but it was like my whole body was being warmed, the sensation causing me to moan out loud.

Ludwig just smiled and shook her head, Pam's fangs had run down even further and I swear if she could have drooled, she'd be salivating like a dog with a bone. We stared at each other in recognition of the feelings coursing through the bond between the three of us. Even though the woman was still unconscious and oblivious to the bond that had been formed, we knew that this connection was right; she was like a long lost love.

After a few minutes, the doc removed the line and held some gauze to the woman's hand. Without any prompt I nicked my finger on one of my fangs, lifted the gauze and healed her incision following with my own small puncture.

"She'll need rest and sustenance; I hope I can trust you to look after her? Your intentions seem honourable."

Ludwig looked at the both of us, obviously a little mystified at our tender responses to the woman. She knew of the relationship between the two races and how dangerous it was, but this was like nothing she had ever seen.

"Of course, she will be well cared for." Before I had the chance, Pam answered.

She was stroking the woman's hair as she looked upon her face like a mother would to her child. Seeing Pam so enthralled was astounding but I had to admit I was very proud of her nurturing abilities at that moment. It bode well for when she was to create a child of her own. I sent a wave of pride and love through our bond causing Pam to break her trance and smile at me.

"She should be fine by sunset tomorrow, but call me if you need to. I'll send my bill."

Ludwig gathered her medical equipment into her bag and nodded and disappeared into thin air, leaving Pam and I with our Fairy stranger.

"What do we do with her? I don't want to leave her but Compton needs to be dealt with" Pam asked.

"You stay with her and I'll deal with Compton, this shouldn't take long." I couldn't help but smile at the thought of punishing him for harming this defenceless woman. I was going to enjoy this.

Pam nodded and resumed her maternal like attentions to the woman. As I looked upon her again I could see that she was barely a woman really, probably only just having reached maturity. Tearing myself away I hastened out of my office and down the dimly lit concrete stairs to the basement.

The basement took up the whole of the square floor of the club and provided not only holding cells and interrogation areas, but light tight accommodation in case Pam or I needed to stay on the premises. Along one side of the space there were two rooms, each equipped with a comfortable bed, a small kitchen for storing and warming blood and a fully functional bathroom. As neither of us took humans back to our private homes, we sometimes bought more worthy partners down to these rooms, hence the human facilities. Both rooms were fitted with the highest security, only accessible to each other by a fingerprint scanner and voice recognition technology. This kind of security was paramount and featured in all our homes. The risks of being a Vampire had increased tenfold with the ever growing support for the FOS and radicals often targeted the less security conscious of our kind, inevitably resulting in their true death.

Adjacent to the resting places was a conference room in which I held Area 5 business that could not be conducted in my office or in the club whilst it was open. Inside this room was a large oval oak table and chairs to sit ten, state of the art videoconferencing equipment and the weapons arsenal. Over the last millennium, I had collected many fine weapons, mostly swords or daggers, but some custom made firearms also. His pride and joy was in my main home above the fireplace, a sword carried with me from my homeland that I used in my human life as a Viking warrior. I had many other swords made for me over the centuries, but my Viking sword was by far the most powerful weapon I owned. Along with the traditional weapons were the latest explosives and firearms. Pam had her shoe closet, I had my weapons.

In the opposite corner were the interrogation and holding areas. These were shielded from the more civilised areas by sliding steel doors once again opened by high tech security systems. Only I, Pam, Chow and Thalia had access and it was in this area that Compton was being held.

I accessed the security, allowing the heavy doors to slide open before waiting for them to close securely behind me. Just inside the door were several hooks holding heavy duty leather gloves that came up to the elbows like gauntlets. These were to protect from the many silver objects that tormented the prisoners such as chains and one of my personal favourites, silver nitrate. As I walked down the corridor between the cells I had to admire the ingenuity of the floor. Such a simple idea, but oh so convenient. The floors were made of polycrete that allowed fluid and matter to be flushed into one of the several strategically placed drains in the floor. This flowed into an industrial incinerator that destroyed even bone. Pam had got the idea from an old episode of CSI (she was fascinated by human TV shows, especially crime dramas), and she was particularly proud of it. I had to admit, it was handy when disposing of remains, a task which Pam detested. I was pretty sure she was the only Vampire in existence with an OCD. It must have been a trait left over from her human personality along with a shopping compulsion.

Compton was in one of six holding cells, behind thick silver coated steel bars. The only way to open the bars was for one of the four 'jailors' to step up to the bars and walk through them. The bars materialised and dematerialised with a spell created by one of the witches on my payroll. They were impossible for the unauthorised to breach and a painful lesson to any prisoner who tried to imitate the move. I pulled up a steel framed chair and turned it backwards, straddling the seat and placing my elbow on the back of the chair. I rested my chin on my hand and regarded Bill who was pacing like a wild animal, naked as the day he was born. I glanced down at Bill's flaccid little cock and smirked mischievously. It was no wonder he couldn't satisfy Lorena and she left him, for a woman no less. A fact that was no doubt, a huge dent in his male ego.

"It appears you are quite agitated Compton, care to enlighten?" Bill levelled my gaze and started to sneer but thought better of it and sighed dramatically.

"You have no right to keep me here, I have done nothing wrong, the woman was willing! It was only when we started to get intimate that she began to protest. By then it was impossible to stop, you must surely understand how hard that can be?" Bill remonstrated in his thick accent. I certainly was a good liar, but I was better and could tell when people were deceiving me, almost as if I could read their minds. Bill's accent thickened and his pupils dilated, revealing his lie.

I regarded Bill and wagged my finger at him like a parent scolding a child.

"Tut tut Bill, I know you're lying, you're positively transparent. It was obvious to Pam that you were feeding without consent, a crime that is punishable by two weeks in silver. As soon as your victim wakes up she will be able to testify to your guilt." I made no move to tell Bill about her being Fae and the fact that I had given her my blood.

Bill's eyes widened in surprise.

"She lives? Since when is feeding on humans illegal? I have not killed her and my punishment is non-deserving, surely she can be glamoured and this misunderstanding can be forgotten? She is only a human after all Sheriff." Bill's 'tell' showed again and I was positive that he was aware that she was Fae, but would not openly acknowledge it.

"That may be the case Bill, but the AVL recently brought in a new law to improve Human Vampire relations. Non-consensual public feeding or sexual activity will be punished. You must have been living in a cave not be aware of it, mind you, your house does rather resemble one and how fittingly ironic for a vampire, hmm?"

I was highly amused, Bill was so easy to rile, Pam would definitely be jealous at Bills anger at the description of his home.

"The Queen will hear of this!" Bill spat petulantly.

I laughed out loud, the sound boomed around the enclosed space sounding almost maniacal. "Oh, I fully intend to inform the Queen, don't worry Bill. I'm sure she'll be….very amused that you couldn't find a willing partner and resorted to preying on defenceless women to get your kicks, and in a cemetery of all places. Are you purposely trying to live up to the stereotypical Bella Lugosi Vampire now that your Southern Gent persona doesn't lure in the women? "

Bill was positively seething and looked about to explode; it was probably the residual Fairy blood he'd consumed. I was surprised that Pam managed to overcome him in such a state, even though she was older. I had had enough of this whiny bitch of a Vampire and roared my displeasure with him, earning a flinch from Bill.

"You will accept your punishment and pay reparation of my choosing to the woman. You will not approach her when you are released. If you are found near her, you will be banished from my area, do you understand?" I was inside the cell with Bill now, my hand firmly wrapped around his throat, lifting him off the floor.

"Yes Sheriff." Bill croaked out and I threw him into the corner. Bill looked suitably chastised and eyed me warily. I was ten times the vampire Bill was; to fight me would be futile.

Chow had been standing nearby the whole time and looked amused at the spectacle. I moved back out of the cell and the bars materialised again, I gave the order for Chow to tie Compton to the chair with silver chains and sauntered away, the smile of satisfaction wide on my face.

When I returned to my office, Pam was still seated on the couch in exactly the same position as I'd left her in, the mystery woman still in her arms. She glanced up distractedly upon sensing my presence, not initially aware that I had returned.

"Any change in her condition?" I asked, hoping that we would get to speak to her before we had to seek our rest.

"She has not woken, but her colour looks better. Where shall we put her to rest?"

I didn't really want to leave her in the rooms downstairs with Compton so close by, even if he wasn't able to get to her. Somehow I felt the need to provide more comfortable surroundings, conscious of frightening her further when she woke. I shook my head incredulously. How could this woman be affecting me so greatly? She was a stranger and an unknown risk, albeit a delicious one. In any other circumstances she would be detained in the basement along with Compton until I knew more about her, my concern for her welfare low down on my list of priorities. My reputation as a formidable Sheriff was well known and respected; I didn't take any shit and dealt with my enemies ruthlessly. His reputation as a womanizer was also well known, I didn't take lovers – I didn't love. To me, my bed mates were purely a fuck, feed or both, but I did make sure that each was well satisfied. I had my reputation to think of, after all.

"I think it is best if I take her to my home, you are welcome to stay there. There will be daytime security if she wakes before we rise, I don't want her running off before we have the chance to question her." I tried to sound unaffected by keeping my tone businesslike, but I could tell Pam understood that I was concerned for the woman but chose not to pick up on it.

Pam rose with the woman in her arms and we left the club to head out to our cars and agreeing that Pam would follow my car, a silver Saab PhoeniX genX, to my home. I opened the back door of Pam's convertible and so she could lay the woman down on the back seat.

Sliding in to the soft red leather driver's seat of my most prized motor, I thumbed the ignition and grinned like a fat kid in a candy shop at the roar of the engine. The roar settled down to a loud purr and I sped off beyond the outskirts of Shreveport where my main residence was located. After about 15 minutes I approached the boundary of my land which was marked by a dozen mature holly trees, which split parallel to a discreet unmarked driveway. The drive carried on for 2 miles, deep in forest until thinning out into lush landscaped grounds that encircled my contemporary bunker style home.

I may have been over a thousand years old, but I moved with the times. It was imperative to adapt and I embraced every new technology, every new style of art or architecture, whilst retaining a respect for the classics. I was very proud of my home I had helped design and build five years ago. It consisted of three stories, two above and one underground. The main entrance and living areas encapsulated modern architecture and comfortable living. Part of the building was hugged by a sloping hill that graduated down to a large lake. The visible parts were a mixture of timber, solar glass and a grassed roof that not only protected vulnerable Vampires from the sun's rays, but captured the energy to provide power for the whole residence. The property ran solely from geo-thermal and solar energy, thus was highly eco-friendly and cost efficient. Where I was prudent, Pam was decadent. Pam's home was an ostentatious neo-Georgian monstrosity decorated in an elaborate and feminine style. Our homes were at opposite ends of the spectrum design wise. Pam hated staying in what she referred to as 'the bat cave', whilst I felt the same about her home which I called 'Barbieville'.

I nodded to the two Were guards that were patrolling the front of the property as I slowed my car and Pam followed me into my underground parking garage, the tempered glass doors sliding closed as we exited our vehicles. The six car garage also housed my collection of cars, a vintage blood red Corvette which I drove just around the time of the Great Revelation, a huge black Hummer and a non-descript Mercedes saloon which was ideal when I needed a vehicle that didn't draw too much attention.

Taking the woman in her arms again, Pam followed me through the biometric security door to first sub-floor. The door opened out into an atmospherically lit private hallway which led off to the various sub-level rooms. Taking the security elevator up one floor to the ground level we made our way through the grand entry hall to the rear of the property where there were some 'human' guest rooms. I chose the largest room which was a suite comprising a bedroom, a living area with a small kitchen and an opulent bathroom. There were sliding glass doors to a decked area that overlooked the formal gardens and lake. I hoped that our guest would appreciate the subtle decor and the view from her room when she awoke, which was most likely to be when Pam and I were at our daytime rest.

Pam lay the woman gently down on the large bed and covered her with a soft grey cashmere throw. I nodded to Pam in thanks and she exited wordlessly from the room to go to her daytime chamber that I had decorated especially for her when she stayed over. I sat at the mirrored deco style desk and drew out some of the stationery, leaving a note for the woman and so she knew that she was in safe hands and that she was not to leave the property unescorted. I folded the note and left it in obvious view on the bedside table for her to find when she rose.

Taking advantage of being alone with such a beautiful creature, I stroked my finger along her cheek in a featherlike touch, marvelling in her soft warm skin. I couldn't help but feel a blush like bloom through the bond we had created and I felt myself purring in contentment as I gazed at the stranger who enthralled me so. It puzzled me how familiar she seemed, the sight of her felt like déjà vu. I could feel dawn approaching but felt strangely reluctant to leave.

"Until the evening little one" I whispered and forced myself to walk from the room, looking back as I closed the door behind me and made my way down to the sub-levels where my main resting chamber was.

Pulling out my phone, I left instructions for my day staff to provide food and clothing for my guest, and informed the security staff that she could roam the grounds freely but not leave, at least not without me or Pam. There was a knock at my door which could only be Pam and she entered carrying what looked like a woman's bag.

"I almost forgot with everything that's gone on this evening. Our mystery woman had this bag with her, wait 'til you see this!"

I humoured Pam, not having either the patience or the interest in women's accessories, especially so close to dawn. Pam untied the ribbon that secured the pouch like bag and proceeded to rummage around, my eyes widening as her arm disappeared inside right up to her shoulder. Pam let out a girlie giggle, obviously excited to show me her discovery of the magical bag. But before I could dismiss her for wasting my time, she pulled out a note and handed it to me, the humour now wiped off her face and replaced by concern. I frowned at the sudden change and took the note and unfolded it, reading it to myself. I took a moment to digest the message, the cogs of my brain putting the facts into place.

"Well fuck me...she's a Brigant!" I laughed incredulously. "We have ourselves a real live Fairy Princess...that horny old bastard never could keep it in his pants."

Pam's grin was a mile wide. "What, FB is Fintan Brigant? She's his kin?" I nodded my grin equally as wide.

"I take it you owe him a favour from his brief message?" Pam added.

I was solemn for a moment.

"He spared my life during a particularly bloody war several centuries ago, the war we were fighting was at a stalemate and both of us were weary of the political wrangling that prolonged the fighting. We agreed to a truce and went our separate ways even though he could quite easily have ended me. He was and still is a very honourable warrior. She must have been in danger for him to send her through the portal alone and knew that I would honour my debt if he charged me to keep her safe."

Pam had calmed herself by now, thoughtful of the implications. "I take it you are bound to honour it?"

I just nodded once. I was familiar with how magical binds worked, blood was exchanged and a spell cast, but this was a spur of the moment verbal agreement. In the Fae realm it was as good as a formal agreement and I knew that there was no escaping this. I too was honourable and I would make sure that I upheld his end of the promise even though, without knowing this request, I would have done so anyway.

"We shall discuss this further when we rise tonight. There will be much to do. Return the bag to our guest before you retire. Goodnight Pam."

"Ok, Goodnight Eric." Pam replied and left me alone once again.

Settling down into my futon like nest of silk and fur, I closed my eyes and allowed my body to relax into the pull of the dawn. I smiled at the knowledge that I was now the guardian of a Fae Princess. The thought of tasting her and sharing her bed had me grinning in anticipation of what the night would bring, for I was sure that when the sun set, it would be a night to remember.

Hope you enjoyed this chapter, if you did please review. Up next; Sookie wakes up.