Jade opened her eyes to a room that was painted white, and the bed she was lying on was covered in red roses. She turned her head, when she felt cold fingers running across her cheek, and she looked to the left only to see Eric lying naked beside her.

"E-Eric?"

He looked at her with a smile that had the luminous sincerity of innocence and lust "You know," he purred, "I wouldn't mind saving your life again and again." He added, "But I should get something in return, don't you think?"

She turned her body towards him realizing she was naked next to him as well. She was exposed to the vampire for the first time and she bit her lower lip, unable to speak, because looking into his blue eyes said it all. They held desire, admiration, and lust. It was intimidating.

"I-I don't know what to say."

He traced his finger across her bottom lip and went forward softly kissing them. When he pulled back, he smiled, and pushed her hair behind her ear.

"You don't have to say anything, love." He responded, his voice velvety and pure.

She felt herself growing weak, and he grabbed hold of her and pulled herself to him, as he helf her in his arms.

"I want all of you." She whispered, placing her face between the crank of his neck, enjoying his cold touch.

He crawled onto her and kissed her lips then trailed down to her neck. "Why didn't you say so?"


"Wake up, Jade."

Jade awoke, feeling groggy and weak. She looked around, noticing that she was in someone's bedroom, and she tried to figure out whose it could be. She sat up, suddenly feeling an intense ache in her head. She held her head in her hands and wondered how long she's been asleep for. She tried to remember the blurry images and the muffled sounds, but she couldn't make it out. She could remember the man that held the gun to her head, but what happened after—?

"Thank god, you're okay," a man's voice said. "How do you feel?"

She whipped her head to the left and noticed a man sitting at the edge of the bed and she quickly stood up, her eyes widening in surprise.

"W-What do you want from me?" She asked, holding herself, afraid of who he could be.

"I'm Alcide, I found you on the side of the road." He looked down with sad eyes and then back at her. "You almost died."

She hesitated and couldn't think how to respond to him and she glanced at the "handsome stranger" known as Alcide. She wanted to remember everything that happened before she woke up to the white ceiling and the sun peeking through the tanned curtains. She looked at him and shrugged, noticing blood staining her hands, and she stepped back into the dresser in panic.

"Is this my blood?" She asked, afraid.

Alcide stood up and nodded at her. "You're okay, you were healed by Eric."

"What happened to me?" She asked, her ears perking up at the sound of the vampire's name.

He stepped forward and placed his hand onto her shoulder. "We're not sure, but someone must've taken a blow to your head with some—"

"It was his gun," she said, finishing his sentence. "He hit me with his gun."

Alcide stood still, his eyes showing anger, and she noticed he had a short-temper by the way he had his nails digging into his palm.

"Did you see who it was?"

She wanted to remember the sound of his voice and his face, but she couldn't. It was all a blur. All she remembered was his muddy boots and his strong hands that covered her mouth. She looked at Alcide and shook her head.

"Do you know why he would hurt you?"

"She has sent me to you. She knew you would come."

She shrank at the thought of those words and went to lean on the dresser, but instead she lost her balance, and fell back. She was still weak and she wondered if it was because of dehydration or maybe it was because she was still shaking at everything that has happened.

Alcide immediately helped her up and sat her down on the bed.

"Lets not talk about this anymore," he said calmly. "Do you need anything?"

"Eric," she answered, looking into his eyes. "I need to see him."


She was going down the ladder of Eric's vault and she stopped when her feet touched the ground. She looked over and saw the vampire laying still, his eyes closed. She suddenly felt her heart pounding in her chest when she thought about Eric being naked next to her, like he was in her dream. She had realized that his blood was in her and she could feel it rushing through her.

"Eric, you saved my life."

He didn't move, he listened with no change in his face, only his eyes had looked at her as if he was hearing every word, even the words she had not said. He answered with the same look, as if the look were holding some circuit not yet to be broken, a voice with no sign of emotion except in the spacing of the words:

"I failed at protecting you. I had promised you—a human—that I would never hurt you. It would've been my fault if you died out there—alone—bleeding out with the dirt and the pavement of the road. I don't think I would ever forgive myself. I almost lost you and the only thing that's running through my mind is: you. Jade, I don't want you to leave this life. You haven't lived long enough to learn that life is sacred and filled with light."

Then turning his head a little, his voice clear, but his eyes breaking the circuit, he continued, "before I saved you, you begged me not to."

"Oh."

"Why didn't you want me to save you?"

Then, as a memory, she felt herself reliving the moment when she stood at the window of her room in New York, looking at a the city, she knew that she was now seeing the answer to that moment. She wanted to die and she had a reason then. It was the night when Charles had left her and it was the night she drank the rest of the V that was hidden away in a shoebox in her closet. She couldn't think clearly and she could see the city forming into a monster, and it was shouting at her. She couldn't make out the words, but it wanted her to die. She wanted to die, because she felt worthless and the thought of death has always been a beautiful one.

"I want you to know this. I started my life with a purpose, telling myself that the world was mine to shape in the image of my highest values and never to give up, no matter how long or hard the struggle." She closed her eyes and inclined her head, shaking her head at the thought of all the mistakes she made during that time. "I've been searching for someplace to forget all the shit that I've done in the past, but it finds you anyways in its own way."

When Eric didn't respond, she raised her head, and she looked at him. His face was as if had been in the moonlight of the moment when she had seen it for the first time: a face without pain or fear or guilt. She thought that it was impossible for her to stand looking at him, at the straight lines of his eyebrows over the light blue eyes, at the curve of the shadow underscoring the shape of his mouth, at his pale skin in his open collar of his shirt and she hoped that soon this feeling would pass. And in the next instant she thought that if her wish were granted—if Eric didn't save her—then the reflection of her own self would've lost all meaning, because she would've betrayed all her goals and dreams.

He furrowed his eyebrows, still not understanding her, and he sat up. "Is that why you're in Bon Temps?"

"I'm here, because of you." She responded, stepping forward. "I want to help you regain your memory and I want to know more about you."

The vampire stood up and approached her with sad eyes. He grabbed hold of her and pulled her in, wrapping her up in his arms.

"Good luck, trying to know who I am."

"Thanks," she replied. "I need all the luck in the world."

He slightly pulled away from her and she realized that he was looking straight at her and she saw a brief sparkle in his eyes and he was smiling at her appreciatively. He led her to the bed and they both went under the blankets together.

He turned to her, grabbing hold of her hand. "I can't wait to wake to you."


"I don't know why I am crying," he said, sadness showing through his eyes

She sat up straight and looked at him with concern. She brought her fingers to the blood on his cheeks and pulled her fingers away, noticing his blood staining onto her own blood on her skin. She knew she needed to take a shower soon, because she was beginning to look like a corpse at a crime scene.

"What happened, Eric?"

She noticed the sinking gasp of his breath, realizing that something awful had happened to him.

"I had a bad dream," he answered her and she noticed the puzzled, anxious look on his face. "Am I evil?"

She seized his arm and spoke intently, leaning forward. "You're not evil, Eric. Not even a little bit."

"He said I was evil."

"It was just a dream."

Moments passed before he stood up and began to wander around the room, looking around, as if he was searching for something.

Eric wasn't scared of death, pain, or fear—he was scared of something that he couldn't understand. She could see it in Eric's eyes that he wasn't going to let this one go.

"Eric, please come back to bed." She begged, tugging at the blanket. "Please, tell me about your—"

"I almost let you die!" He shouted, protracting his fangs again. "I'm a monster!"

"N-No, Eric. You're—"

He interrupted her again. "I left you because of faerie blood. I drank it and I forgot about you."

She didn't respond.

"Jade, the blood was spectacular! It tasted like sunshine and home-cooked bread! I was able to run in daylight and feel warm, water on my skin!" He continued to pace the room. "I was running, enjoying my freedom in the sun, and you were left out to die."

She heard more than she was ready to know and to hear it from him, was shocking. He looked at her as if he was waiting for her to scream in answer, but instead, she shrugged. "It's in your nature…" she said dully.

"So, I am evil," he said. "No human being should be around me."

The look of thought was returning to her face and she remained silent.

"Jade, I'm happy that you're alive but now that you have a full understanding of who I am, I can make a choice for the both of us."

Jade felt nothing but the emptiness of wonder, she observed him which she had glimpsed briefly seeing the full beauty of his worth, and she wanted more of him.

"It's not safe to be around me, Jade. I need you to go back to your car and drive to where ever the hell you were going before you ran into me."

It was the look on his face that drove her up the rising steps of her voice:

"Are you fucking kidding me!?" She shouted, gripping at the pillow tightly in anger. "I'm not afraid of you, Eric. Yes, I almost died, but here I am, your blood running through me. If you were like the vampires I knew, then you would have finished me off and drank me whole."

"Jade," he said very quietly. "I can't protect you."

"I don't need you to protect me," she said, getting up from the bed. "I can take care of myself."

She went toward the ladder, when Eric seized her wrist, and forced her to look at him. "I would never hurt anyone as beautiful as you."

She stared at him, not responding.

"In my dream, I was the one who hurt you."

He let go of her wrist and stepped backward, letting himself sit on the side of the bed. He slid his hand through his blond hair and raised his eyes to her.

"You're not safe with me." He warned her, his eyes sending cold, unpleasant chills down her spine.

She opened he mouth wanting to say something, but then changed her mind and closed it. She needed to get out and breathe, she didn't want to stay put and watch the vampire go through anymore pain. She had to find a way for him to regain his memories and she didn't know exactly where to start, but being here and doing nothing, wasn't going to help him.

"I'll be back," she said confidently, gripping onto the ladder, and made her way up into the living room. She looked down the ladder as if she was waiting for Eric to say something, but when he didn't, she went farther away from the vault.


Jade was in Sookie's car and put the keys into the ignition—the keys she found on the kitchen table—and she pressed the gas, not caring which way she went. She was going to go back to where she found Eric and hopefully find something—anything—to help the vampire.

After awhile of driving, she slowed down when "Merlottes" appeared, and she had this strange feeling to stop there. She pulled into the gravel and parked her car outside, noticing her own vehicle parked to the farther left. She looked at it closely, noticing Eric's blood staining the hood of her car, and she winced at the memory of his body slamming against her headlights.

She shook the thought away and got out, walking towards the door, where she heard oldie's playing inside, when she entered, she waited for her eyes to adjust to the cavernous gloom. A couple sat at the bar, a group was playing pool to her right, and a she saw the back of a man moving behind the bar, hanging beer glasses upside down over the back counter.

Other than that, the place felt empty. Jade was glad. She didn't want people around her, she wanted to be alone and nestled into a booth, and maybe have a drink or two. She spotted an empty corner booth, but she was stopped by a cheery red-head.

"Sit wherever you like," she said, handing her a menu, but stopped midway, her eyes widening in shock. "Miss, are you hurt?"

Jade looked down, realizing that she forgot about the blood on her clothes. She raised her eyes to the red-head and shrugged. "I was, but I'm fine now."

Jade grabbed hold of the menu and thanked her and made her way down, ignoring the face the waitress was making, and she slid into the booth. She didn't bother with the menu, she knew what she wanted, and she pushed it to the side. When the red-head made her way to her, she stopped, and pulled out her paper and pad.

"What can I get you tonight?"

"A shot of whiskey, would be nice." She responded, not looking at the red-head.

She noticed the waitress not writing it on her pad and that's when Jade looked at her, confused.

"You don't want anything to eat?"

Jade shook her head.

"Rough night, huh?" The waitress asked, frowning, her lips pursing in a look of puzzle.

"It's been a rough week."

The waitress nodded, placing the pad into the pocket of her apron. "I'm sorry to hear that," she glanced at the bartender and then continued. "I can tell that you're not from around here. I would be careful, this place carries enough sorrow and pain, and you might end up getting stuck here like the rest of us."

Before Jade could say anything, the waitress walked away, making her way to the bar. She didn't understand what the waitress was trying to tell her, but she believed her. She felt trapped here, like there was no going back until she completed something. She thought that maybe if she helped Eric, then she could forget about this place.

She was starting her fourth drink and she already felt wasted. She enjoyed the warm feeling in her stomach and the light feeling in her head. She took a sip and let her head fall onto the table.

What the hell am I doing? She asked herself, squeezing the glass in her palm. I'm doing one hell of a job at getting Eric's memories back.

"Jade."

She looked up and her pupils shrank, her face going pale. She drew a sharp breath, preparing to cry out, and then her gaze found the small smirk on his face, as the figure sat across from her. Then she froze, her eyes shifting to him and to the bartender, back, and forth, several times.

"Did you miss me?" He asked, his voice reminding her of that summer when they were together.

She didn't respond because she was reliving the memory, when she used to meet him in the woods, by the riverside, and in an abandoned canoe. Those were the times when started to feel the beauty from a vampire's hands against her skin.

"You're drinking, again." He pointed out as he sighed.

She didn't want to respond. In many months of his absence, she never wondered if he had been alive or not. She didn't miss him. She couldn't have.

"What brings you to Bon Temps?" He asked, leaning in closer, his hand softly touching hers before he removed the alcoholic substance away from her fingers.

"I was going to ask you the same thing." She responded, sitting up straight, trying to prove that she wasn't as drunk as she seemed.

"I'm here to save your ass." He said, rolling his eyes. "You need to get the fuck out of Bon Temps, Jade."

"Why are you telling me this?" She asked, noticing the fear, and the slight concern he still had for her.

He looked out the window and chuckled. "The witch, she's here. The one you got away from years ago. She knows that you're here and she has her people on the hunt for you."

"I don't do Witch Craft anymore," she said. "I shouldn't have any use for them."

"You don't understand, it's different now, and they're much stronger. What they did to that vampire—the one you're with—they made him the way he is."

She couldn't believe her ears. She leaned in forward, wanting to know more. "Marnie did that to him?"

He shook his head. "She has help, she has something more powerful on her side, and she has plans for all the vampires in Bon Temps, maybe even the world."

"Why do they want me dead?"

"Because you can stop this, Jade, your power is stronger than theirs." He answered her, before squeezing her hand. "Thanks to your ancestors, you can save us all, and you can even save the vampire you're with now."

She pulled away. "What do I need to do?"

"I want you to run, save yourself." He answered her, but then smirked. "But knowing your stubborn ass, I know you're going to stay." He let out a soft laugh and continued, "You need to persuade the others that are with her and you need to do whatever the hell you witches do and stop Marnie."

"I-I still don't understand what you want me to do."

"You'll know in due-time. I wish I could stay with you, but I have other plans on my list." He answered her with sad eyes and he pushed the drink back to her.

"You're the one who saved me from the man with a gun?" She asked, taking the drink back into her hands. "Why didn't you give me your blood? Why didn't you heal me?"

"I needed the vampire that you're with to give you his blood, so that he can protect you." He answered her.

"I could've died."

He looked away and then back at her. "Be careful out there, sunshine."

Before she could say what was on her mind, which were questions after questions, her old-lover was gone in a blink of an eye. She sat there alone, smelling the beer on her breath, and realized that the past had finally caught up to her and this was how it had bitten her in the ass. She brought her drink to her mouth and drank to her past.


A/N: Hello Readers, I hope you enoyed this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing this. I'll see you soon with Chapter Five. Have a good day ~