Chapter 4 is finally up and you'll be pleased to know Eric's about
Can't believe there's only one episode of True Blood left but how awesome was Eric though?
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To those who ask if 'Melody will date a human?' I have no plans as such but we'll see, after all, it is a TB fanfiction series
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Once again, thank you for your loyalty
With a heaving sigh, I walked out of Sookie's spare room and down the stairs, drying my damp hair with a towel. It was well into the night and I was all for going to bed, but Sookie had had quite the scare at Merlotte's. Someone came after her which meant her life was in danger, again. I popped off the last step and headed into the sitting room in my pyjama shorts and vest. The night air was warm and Sookie's spare bed was pretty cosy.
I rounded the corner to see my friend sitting in the dark, her back straight and taut.
"Hey, Sook–" My words cut short as I gasped, holding my palms up in surrender as the woman pointed a gun in my direction. "Whoa!"
Restlessly, Sookie lowered the gun into her lap and gave me an apologetic grimace.
Slowly I approached Sookie, sitting down beside her quietly with my eyes remaining glued to the gun.
"Guess you were more freaked out than I thought you were," I murmured, palming my hair with the towel.
Sookie glanced down to join my own gaze. She gestured with the weapon in her hands and her voice was unusually timid.
"Terry gave it to me back at the bar, in case they come for us again tonight."
I nodded in understanding. "Well, remind me to thank Terry. But don't go blasting my head off every time you hear a noise, yeah?"
There was no cue to laugh. The situation was frightening and even after all I'd seen in this small town, the idea of werewolves hunting my friend down still scared me to death. I mean werewolves! Who knew what else was out there? I'd come to terms long ago that human beings weren't the only things trying to make their way through life on earth, but when creatures from fairy tales and movies start hunting you down or making love to you, you start to get a whole new perspective on life.
A creak on the porch startled the both of us into silence. With a wary look in her eye, Sookie gestured for me to follow behind as she made her way to the front door. She pointed the gun ahead of her, ready to shoot down the scumbag that was coming after her.
I walked as quietly as possible behind her. My breathing was shallow yet my heart was racing. The door's window shadowed the figure behind a curtain and the sight of it made my breathing hitch. I scrunched my eyes, trying to get a good look at the trespasser.
A small knock on the door tore a squeal from Sookie's lips. Realisation dawned on her face and she began to glare at the window.
"I know I'm new to this," I whispered, "but I don't think werewolf intruders knock first."
"They don't," the recognisable voice came from the other side of the door.
Instantly, Sookie opened the front door, revealing Eric Northman opposite us. My heart fluttered unsteadily at the sight of his tall body, complemented well by a tight shirt and leather jacket. He leaned over us yet his eyes never moved from me. I swallowed under his fierce gaze.
"They came for you." It wasn't a question.
Sookie's brief surprise processed his words and answered, "Just one, this morning."
"He took off before we could get anything out of him," I added. Eric's eyes sparked dangerously.
"I don't want you going anywhere near him," he said, his jaw clenched. "You hear me?"
I felt myself getting angrier and more defensive by the minute. I crossed my arms and bit out, "Why are you here, Eric?"
He paused for a moment at my question and soon his eyes flickered to Sookie.
"I lied to you."
It was now Sookie's turn to sound angry.
"About what?" she growled. Her eyebrow arched in question. "Do you know where Bill is?"
He remained silent for a while until he took a step away from the door. He gestured for Sookie to take a seat beside him on the porch bench and she did so, cautiously. At a glance from Eric, I moved to join them, but positioned myself opposite as I leant against a beam, wary of the vampire and how he could turn me into a horny teenager with a snap of his fingers.
"These werewolves," he started, "I have encountered before." This new information widened Sookie's eyes but allowed him to continue talking. "During the war, Godric and I posed as SS agents in order to track down a pack of werewolves who had been interfering within the war." He turned to me and the instant our eyes connected, my heart fluttered in my chest. "The symbol you found is known as the Wolfsangel. These werewolves we encountered during the war bore the same Nordic symbol you saw." His steel glare returned to Sookie.
"So you were hunting the Nazi werewolves with Godric?"
"This pack dates far back than even the Nazi party," he told us.
Sookie frowned and asked, "So they aren't Nazis?"
"They are far worse than that." Eric's eyes raged with hatred and determination. "These are not ordinary werewolves. They are organised, well-funded, highly trained…"
"Well-funded?" I asked. "Who funds a pack of werewolves?"
"The bitch we came across told Godric their master was one of us," Eric answered, though his eyes remained on Sookie.
"A vampire," I murmured in shock, answering my own question.
"They are fuelled by vampire blood, which makes them more powerful and unstable."
"Why didn't you tell us this last night?" Sookie demanded.
"The bigger question is why am I risking everything to tell you now?" Eric said, his anger getting the better of him. "My loyalty is not to Bill Compton. In fact, it would be advantageous for me and numerous others if he were never found. But…"
His words abandoned him and I couldn't help but watch as a flood of emotions danced about in his eyes.
"But?" Sookie prompted.
Eric looked at me. They were full with an emotion I had not often seen within Eric, perhaps not at all. The vampire was desperate, and out of options.
"But now they're coming for the both of you and I…" Eric paused, his eyes scorching me. "I can't let that happen," he simply put. He glanced at Sookie. "Besides, I owe you."
I brought back Eric's gaze when I asked, "You said you were risking everything to tell us this, what does that mean?"
The coldness crept back into his stare.
"The goal tonight was to keep you out of danger, not put you in more of it." Eric stood from the bench and walked along the porch, heading towards the steps. Before I could stop myself, I lurched forward and grabbed his arm.
"Eric wait," I called, halting his movement. He slowly looked down to where my hand touched him, only his jacket separating our skin. "Don't go."
A small, pleased smile made its way back onto his lips. He turned, his stare remaining on my hand as he released his arm, only to reach and feebly touch my fingertips with his, as if to rekindle the loss of touch over the past days.
"Oh, I'm not going anywhere," he insisted, his eyes only moving up to look at my friend. "Sookie's going to invite me inside." I frowned at his words but felt his fingers now grip mine, holding my hand in his as a silent promise. "So I can protect you."
I felt the need to step away but when I drew back, I found it impossible to remove my hand, and not just because of Eric's iron grip.
"You think all is forgiven because you gave us a few werewolf facts and a big, fat lie?" I asked in astonishment.
"My word is my bond, Melody," he said, his words laced with a silent threat to doubt him again. "I promise to protect you, and I'm going to." His smile grew as he added, "Or have passionate, primal sex with you, a repeat of that night in my office if Sookie were so kind to leave us." His eyes glanced upwards. "Unless you would like to join us?"
Sookie grimaced and I took my chance to push away from him, disgusted with his proposal.
"Invite me in, Sookie."
"No," she answered immediately, much to my relief. I was glad for her determination. Who knew how much longer I could prolong the inevitable?
"We can stand here all night if you wish," Eric suggested, eyeing me as a lion watches his prey. "But I can think of much more comfortable positions Melody would enjoy."
I growled and stomped away from him, yanking open the door and slamming it behind me. I could still hear the light chuckle coming from Eric as I stood in the darkness of the room. Exhausted, I padded over to the staircase and plopped myself onto a step, my head resting against the wallpaper as I listened to the two outside.
"Don't you know you're ruining any chance you have left with her?" Sookie asked angrily but in hushed tones, attempting to keep myself from hearing.
"Who says I want to be with her?" Eric's drawl sounded amused.
"You may think you come across as this heartless, selfish guy that hates all us humans, and you do," Sookie said, "but not around Mel. You're different with her, kinder… Kid yourself all you want, Eric, but you'll do anything for her. And you can't even hide that from the rest of us anymore."
My heart stilled at her announcement and the silence I suffered afterwards became unbearable until Eric finally spoke.
"Likelihood is Bill's grateful to have been kidnapped. You are an irritating little thing, aren't you?" Eric's low voice replied.
"You're an ass," Sookie growled, her voice muffled through the closed door.
Though his reply had been full of annoyance and insults, he hadn't denied what Sookie had accused him of. He didn't deny it…
My hopeful mind wanderings were cut off when a noise in the sitting room caught my attention. Fear spiked my heart like an icicle and I slowly stood, scared of what I might find if I looked around the corner.
"Melody–" a quiet drawl could be heard from outside, before an anxious yell followed behind. "Melody!"
A thud against the door brought my head to turn and I could see Sookie's back against the window, Eric crushing her to it.
"Invite me in," he ordered in a hiss.
Sookie's muffled reply refused. "You can't bully your way–"
A growl from the sitting round broke my stare. I looked on in fright as a large wolf trotted into my line of sight, its eyes fierce as it beheld me. My breathing stopped and my mind raced, ordering me to make a break for it. But I was frozen to the spot, my feet refusing to lift from the floor, let alone run. The muffled argument came to a stop from outside and wind blew my hair, announcing Eric's presence beside me. I could barely glance at him out of fright that the wolf would pounce if I were to look away for only a second. A large hand pushed against my stomach, ordering me to move behind him. Eric came to stand in front of me, his fangs extracted. The sight of a vampire inside the house sent the werewolf into a fit of snarls and barks, saliva dripping from its bloodthirsty lips. Eric in turn growled at the beast, a taunting smile on his vicious expression. It was enough to push the animal into action as it moved forwards, leaping towards Eric and I.
The ring of a gunshot came from behind us and everything went into motion so very quickly. Sookie had made to shoot the werewolf with Terry's gun, but in a blur of movement, Eric had dived in front of the bullet's path, taking the shot as he fell before the wolf. Skidding to a halt, the werewolf moved back towards Eric as he lay groaning, blood seeping its way across his shirt.
"Eric!"
I screamed in fear for him, watching as the wolf suddenly shifted into a naked, long haired man. Eric grabbed onto the man, holding him away from his bloodied chest as the werewolf basically slobbered above him, desperate to get a taste of V.
I raced forward with Sookie in tow, her gun pointed and ready to shoot the man.
"Stay back!" Eric ordered the both of us. "Don't shoot him. He knows."
"He knows what?" I yelled over the man's growls.
Eric held him at arm's length, his voice cold and ferocious as his fangs remained. "Who do you work for?"
"Give me a taste, fucker! Come on!" The man struggled to get to him.
"Who sent you?!" Eric demanded. His hand was wrapped around the werewolf's throat and the man struggled to breathe.
"I…I can't talk…" his rasps told the vampire but as soon as Eric gave him a chance to speak, loosening his hold, the werewolf dived onto Eric, ripping into his wound. His ecstatic moans echoed against the walls as he revelled in the taste of Eric's blood while the vampire only cried out, pained by the viciousness of the man's teeth. He whipped his blood soaked hair back, crying out with happiness, high on V enough to lose his advantage. Eric took the moment to fling him against the wall, knocking the air out of the werewolf.
Taking his leave, the naked man crawled on all fours towards the door, but he wasn't fast enough. Sookie shot his calf and the werewolf clutched at his wounded leg, whining like a dog. Before he could escape, Eric was on him in a second, snarling beside his ear as he hovered over his body.
"For the last time," he growled, "who is your master?"
I watched as the werewolf laughed at Eric's attempt at getting information. "If I tell you, I'm as dead as you are. You might as well kill me now!"
Eric pulled back the man's blood-caked hair, revealing the Wolfsangel symbol branded on his neck. With fangs threatening above his throat, Eric glared down at his target.
"As you wish."
The werewolf howled in pain as Eric ripped out his throat, moaning slightly as blood poured down his own throat and dripped against his skin. His cries were silenced as all signs of life left the werewolf's eyes.
Eric drew back, breathing deeply as if he needed the air. Sookie and I stood in silence, watching a pool of blood gliding further along the carpet and onto the floorboards. Eric's face turned to look up at us, a sheepish smile playing on his lips.
"I got your rug all wet."
I stood frozen to my spot, staring as the body slowly drained of blood. I must have been breathing but it felt as it no air left me and all was silent. My eyes were dazed and my entire body numb as I paid Eric's movement no mind.
There was a dead werewolf in front of me.
I only realised I had been shaking when skin touched my own. Eric stood before me with blood dripping from his luscious lips but his eyes were soft and gentle, a complete 180 flip from seconds before. One large hand gripped me to the world that was spinning out of control below my feet. He held both my shaking hands with his while his other hand slid to cup my cheek.
The colour had drained from my skin and Eric towered over me with something akin to worry in his eyes.
"Melody…" His delicious voice was soft, a way to call me back from the maddening depths I had fallen into. But my eyes remained glued to the body, unable to look away from the sight.
Was this all my life was now? Twisted years of creatures and torment, love for this man and death for others?
Eric looked away from me to speak to Sookie.
"We'll need to get rid of the body," he said. "Do you have a shovel?"
Sookie replied incoherently, possibly as shocked by what had occurred as I was, and scampered off towards her back door. Once she was gone, Eric returned to me. With his hand still against my cheek, he guided my face to his, looking me dead in the eye.
"Melody, I need you to get a hold of yourself," he uttered quietly, the blood no longer moving seductively down his throat. "I can't help you while burying a werewolf before dawn."
"Ok," I mumbled uncertainly, and he knew I wasn't quite there, not yet returned to him.
His fingers inched their way into my hair, gripping so I felt solid once more, held in place by Eric.
"Come on lover," he murmured, gazing into my eyes, his voice almost a whisper. A small smile spread across his lips, void of taunt or self-confidence. Somewhere in my mind I took into account that his thumb was rubbing against my wrist, his breath soothing the frown from my face. "You're safe for now."
I nodded, firmly now. After the past few weeks, this was not the worst thing I'd come up against.
Eric seemed satisfied with my wordless answer before he leaned to place a chaste kiss upon my forehead.
"That's my girl," he spoke silently.
As Sookie made noise enough to reveal her return, Eric drew back from me but kept our hands joined for a moment, his grip firm enough to offer the support I needed. He led us towards the door before he gave my fingers a final squeeze, letting go to crouch above the dead body.
He picked up the werewolf with ease, moving to a stand as he carried the body carelessly. He nodded towards the open door as he addressed Sookie.
"Lead the way," he ordered.
Sookie did so with one last disgusted look at the body that Eric effortlessly cradled. Eric looked to me and beckoned to walk ahead of him, knowing I wasn't keen on watching the dead body in front of me. It was a very short walk to the graveyard, and once there, Eric scanned the landscape for an appropriate place to dump the body.
"There," he nodded towards the metal fence metres away.
Sookie and I reached a new grave where the dirt was still piled high. Eric dropped the dead werewolf on the grass and reached for the shovel in Sookie's hands. Without a word, he began to dig. The grave began to open up enough space until you could see the flatness of the coffin inside. With a kick, Eric shoved the body and it rolled, landing with a thud on top of the coffin. Without a hint of exhaustion, Eric began to cover the body with dirt.
"Isn't this a little disrespectful?" I asked, my eyebrow arched as I watched his athletic figure do all the work.
"Fresh graves are ideal for disposing of an unwanted body," he answered. "The ground's already disturbed so no one will think to dig again."
Sookie snorted. "So much for keeping him alive so we could question him."
Eric paused in his movements to answer Sookie. "That's what I was planning."
"Right," I spoke sarcastically, "but then you decided to take a bullet instead."
Sookie realised something. "You stopped when you saw his brand, didn't you?"
Eric gave an exasperated sigh and mumbled lowly. "It brings back many memories, yes. Unpleasant ones."
"I didn't have much time to listen to his thoughts," Sookie said.
I shrugged, "Well, we'll look for the pack and you can listen in then? That way we can–"
Eric rounded on me. "Do you have no concept of how dangerous werewolves are?" His tone was hard and he regarded me with eyes alight. "They're virtually silent, they have no fear of death and when they've had a bit of our blood their strength can be a challenge." He sounded slightly ashamed at the fact as he added, "Even for me…"
He finished reapplying the dirt and rested the shovel against the metal fence.
"How's your bullet wound?" Sookie asked, changing the subject that was significantly uncomfortable for the vampire.
He stalked over to me, standing close to my body and his fingers danced across my back. Goose bumps prickled over my skin and not only from standing in the cold air in my pyjamas.
"Well, it'll heal a lot faster if Melody here fed me."
"Don't think I'm going to give in easily, Northman," I grumbled in reply, earning a chuckle from the vampire.
He grinned down at me knowingly then glanced at Sookie. "Perhaps Miss Stackhouse could spare me a drop?"
"No chance in hell," she answered immediately.
He smirked. "Maybe the next time you shoot me then." He gestured towards Sookie's house. "I'll walk you back."
Sookie stepped forward and made her way towards the path that led us home. Eric looked at me expectantly, his palm open, offering to take mine. It seemed almost right to do so, like it was where my own hand belonged. I slipped my fingers into his and they fit perfectly, just right. Happy to do so, Eric followed behind Sookie until he caught up beside her, walking beside me with our hands joined.
Sookie spoke up in the silence of the night.
"Do you know anyone named Jackson? That's all I could make out of his thoughts." Her voice was eager. "Maybe that's the person he was working for?"
"Jackson is where he lives," Eric corrected. When Sookie remained quiet, he looked to her and said, "He had a Mississippi accent. Can't you people tell the difference?"
I slapped his arm weakly. "Not all of us have been around a thousand years."
"So he's from Jackson?" Sookie asked excitedly. "Do you think that's where Bill is?"
"Eric, we have to go!" I joined in.
The vampire eyed me uncomfortably, his eyes clouded in his own issues. "I can't. Not yet."
"But–"
"The problems of the world consist of more than your missing boyfriend, Sookie. You shouldn't go by yourself; these werewolves are out looking for you." We came to a halt outside of the house. "You're no good to Bill or to me if you're dead."
"How can you expect me to sit around when we finally have a lead?" Sookie asked.
"It'd be morning by the time you get to Jackson," he answered. "If you're planning on rescuing a missing vampire during the daylight I have seriously overestimated your intelligence." He gave her a serious look. "Take the day to think it over."
"Fine," I agreed on her behalf, reluctantly removing my hand from his to stand on the porch steps closer to Sookie. "We'll leave tomorrow."
Eric smirked. "Oh, I don't think so," he argued, his eyes on me. "You're not going anywhere."
"Excuse me?"
His eyes darkened at my disobedience.
"Have you not listened to a word I've said?" he asked angrily. He nodded towards Sookie. "If she wants to risk her ass to save lover boy then she can go right ahead." Eric watched me sternly. "But if you think for one second I'm letting you run off to a pack of werewolves–"
"You don't have a choice, Eric," I replied. "Bill's my friend too. Wherever Sookie goes, I go."
"Then Sookie won't be going anywhere," Eric replied, allowing no room for arguments.
I opened my mouth ready to scream and shout, but Sookie cut me off.
"It's fine, Mel," she insisted, eyeing me as I turned to gawk at her. "I'll be alright on my own."
Eric nodded in agreement and I growled under my breath, turning back to glare at him.
"What?" he smirked confidently, raising a taunting eyebrow. "No kiss goodbye?"
I gave him a what-do-you-think look, rolling my eyes as he only continued to smile at me. I leaned forward, as tall as Eric while standing on the porch steps so I could easily reach him. I gave him a grateful kiss on the cheek and quickly pulled away before he got any more ideas.
"Thank you for saving me today."
He nodded in answer as his eyes held only me, not in the least bit affected by Sookie watching from the door.
"Contrary to your own belief, Melody, you are still mine," he said.
I huffed but felt my heart skip at his words. Damn my feelings!
"We'll see," I mumbled, earning a pleased smirk from the vampire.
He looked at me through his eyelashes, looking like a God amongst mortals, handsome and brave.
My very own protector, I thought to myself.
"Stay out of trouble, Miss Ryan, and do us both a favour," Eric said.
In a blink of an eye, Eric was gone, leaving my breaths shallow and my lips dry. Still looking to where Eric had been standing moments ago, I called back to Sookie.
"You only said that to shut him up, right?"
"Of course," she answered. "Pack a bag."