Everything belongs to Charlaine Harris. I just stop by to play in her sandbox.

Many, many thanks to my beta treewitch703!

Staring at the sleeping girl in his arms, Eric arched an eyebrow. "Did you do that to her?"

The Sylph nodded. "Yes, sir. No oxygen was reaching her lungs. I could feel it."

Up went his second eyebrow. "You could feel it?"

"Yes sir. I can feel Air passing through every human's body." She explained. "Because of her panic, she couldn't breathe anymore so I had to help her."

"I see. This is an interesting power you have here." He complimented. And then another thought struck him. From all he had gathered from her... "When you said you had to...?"

"I litterally had to, sir." She confirmed. "It's a compulsion. I have to do everything to help her and to take care of her. I will also have to do anything she asks me to."

Eric frowned. "Anything? Rhea, she'll want to go back to her family. I can't let her do that! If she demands it from you..."

"Do not worry, sir." Rhea interrupted him quickly. Eric's frown deepened. He didn't like that. But since he wasn't willing to disturb the sleeping girl in his arms...so not ready for fresh tears...he'd let it pass...for once. "That is the only order Master gave me I'll obey no matter what."

Eric sighed. "Good. Good." He muttered absentmindely.

"If I may ask, sir..." Rhea began, somewhat shyly. Eric cocked an eyebrow and looked at her expectantly. "How will you manage to convince her that we have to stay with you?"

Eric sighed again. "Quite frankly, right now, I have no idea. If only I could get her to listen to me without crying. I could try and explain a few things to her. But as you've noticed, she has a tendancy to cry when she's with me. Actually, I've only seen her calm once." He told her.

"If I may, sir," Rhea shook her head disbielivingly. "It goes against my very nature to suggest that, but why don't you try to glamour her?"

Eric's fangs clicked in place with his irritation. " Oh, why didn't I think of that? After all, it's not like I've been using glamour for a thousand years!" He snapped. "Do you think I'm stupid, Sylph? Don't you believe I would have thought of that myself?"

Rhea dropped her eyes to her lap. "I'm sorry sir. I didn't mean to offend you. I was just merely suggesting it. Of course I should have known that a vampire as old and as powerful as you would have thought of it already. I apologize for the insult."

Good, Eric thought grimly. At least, she knew her place and showed the right amount of respect. "The girl seems to be immune to my glamour," he told her offhandely. If she was going to work for him, she should have all the information necessary.

"Really, sir? But that's wonderful!" Rhea exclaimed. Eric quircked an eyebrow and she quickly explained. "If the glamour of a vampire as old and as powerful as you doesn't work, I can only suppose that no other glamour will work on her."

"Indeed." Eric nodded. That was the silver lining to that particular cloud. "You seem really glad about that." He then added.

Rhea bobbed her head enthusiastically. "Of course. No offense, sir, but I find the thought of anyone being able to control her most distressing. She is a creation of the Air. She ought to be free like a bird, like the wind swirling in the trees. I would hate to see her bend to anyone's will. To see her spirit broken."

So would I, Eric almost answered. But then, he frowned, completely confused. The fuck ? Where did that thought come from ? She was an ungrateful little brat who had done nothing but weep and call for her Gran ever since he had retrieved her. She even had kicked him. Him ! Life would be so much easier if he could simply glamour her. But duller, his mind replied. His eyes fell on the sleeping girl in his arms. True enough. At least, he could be sure that life would be interesting as long as she was around. She would definitely keep him on his toes. That was a good thing. He had seen too many 'old' vampires grow weary of their lives. So bored that they actually chose to put an end to their misery by meeting the sun. Pathetic. Not that it would ever happen to him. Everybody he knew agreed that he had such a 'joie de vivre' ;but life was boring for him as well. Feed and Fuck. And Fuck. And Fuck. Not to forget to throw some business in the mix. But that was beyond the point. Everything was always the same for him but with this little girl around, life was definitely taking an unexpected turn.

It tore at him to have to ask , but he had came to the conclusion that he couldn't do otherwise. "Rhea," He began, cringing. "Could you help me ?"

The Sylph smiled brightly. "Of course, sir. Anything for you, sir."

"Anything ?" He smirked, arching an amused eyebrow. When she didn't answered his bait, he continued. "For me ?" Now he was more skeptical.

Rhea nodded. "Yes sir. Since you are her protector, I am bound to obey you as well. And I will as long as you have her best interests at heart." Interesting. "Though her wishes and needs, other than her will to go home, will always have my full attention first." Eric surely didn't like it. He was definitely used to be the top dog. But he could put up with that, what with her loyalty toward the Brigant mark and all. At least he guessed. It would take some adjustment. But there again, his whole life would have to be adjusted now that he had promised to do this favor for Niall.

"Do you think you would be able to use your little trick to keep her calm long enough for me to explain a few things to her ?"

The sylph nodded enthusiastically. "Of course, sir." She immediately closed her eyes and took a deep breath. He smelled it again. Ozone. And the tingle reappeared at the base of his spine. She was gathering her power.

Eric sighed. Hope it'll work, he thought, not ready to face another round of tears and he shook the girl slightly. "Child," he called softly. She frowned and muttered something along the lines of 'sleepy, Jason, potty under bed, hush'. He smirked and shook her again. "Child," He called again. She stirred this time. Awareness, his blood whispered again. He immediately smelled Ylang Ylang in the air and he watched as Sookie opened her eyes. This time, she didn't start bawling immediately and instead she looked at him quite calmly. He almost sighed in relief. Almost.

"I need to talk to you, child." He told her. "And I need you to listen to me really carefully. Can you do that ?" He asked her soflty.

She nodded sadly. "Yes sir, I can do that."

"Good. Because what I'm about to tell you is really important." He took a deep uneeded breath. "I know that the last few days had been quite awful for you," he told her softly. And she nodded, her eyes filling with tears. "I know you want to go home with your Gran, but you can't, child."

"Wha... ? But...why ?" She stammered. "My Gran doesn't want me ?"

Rhea looked like her heart just broke and she couldn't help but interfere. "Of course, she does, but..." She looked up at Eric and shrugged helplessly, unsure of what to tell to the girl.

"But, you have to remain here, child. Someone wants to hurt you."

"Hurt me, sir ?" Sookie asked, her eyes widenning. Fear, his blood whispered.

He nodded seriously. "Yes, I am sorry to tell you that, but your parents didn't die in an accident..."

She shook her head. "No, no, no. They did. They died in a flash flood a few days ago." Sorrow, his blood whispered as she began to rock back and forth on his laps.

"Child..." Eric began. Fuck, he'd never said that before. "Your parents were murdered." A breeze swirled around them and the floral scent became more potent. Rhea was doing her best to keep her calm.

"No, no, no." She whispered. Denial. "You're lying. Why are lying to me ?" Tears began to roll down on her cheeks. It was different this time. Despair. There was no sobs, no screams. Just tears, pouring endlessly from her eyes. "Why are you lying ?"

Eric cringed. "I'm not lying, child. Your parents have been killed. And the person who killed them is after you. I have been asked to protect you and that's why you're here with me." Eric explained her. "I will protect you. Do you understand ?"

Sookie didn't answer. Her body was wracked by silent sobs and she was shaking in his arms. As Eric looked at her, he felt something he'd never felt before. Pity. She was only ten. She was just a child. And she had already seen too much. Her mind was invaded day after day by other people's thoughts. And yet, she managed to keep madness at bay. Not only that but she had just lost her parents a few days ago. And now, she had also been removed from her house and from the rest of her family. She was in an unknown place with an unknown man. And that man...he... had just told her that her parents had actually been murdered and that her life was threatened as well. No child should have to go through this. And no child would probably be able to remain unscattered after that...

"Do you understand, child ?" He asked her gently, or as gently as he could.

"Sookie," she muttered.

"What ?" He asked, confused. Why did she tell him her name ?

"Sookie," she repeated.

"I heard you the first time, child." He told her, more and more confused. The fuck ?

He watched as blood pooled in her cheeks and his blood whispered, Anger. She took a deep breath, and..."MY NAME IS SOOKIE !" She yelled.

Poor Sookie ! Want more ? Review !