CHAPTER 7

Sookie could hear the buzz of thoughts circling the bar as she sat next to Erik. He stroked a hand through her hair and she knew he was feeling content. She couldn't stop herself from pressing her head into the pressure of his hand like a kitten being pet. His pleasure at her gesture merged with her own and she smiled easily out at the crowd of people.

"Sookie" Erik chided softly. "You're frightening the patrons again"

Sharing his amusement, Sookie laughed and found herself enjoying the nervous looks that people were shooting at her fangs. "They come here to be frightened" she demurred sweetly, leaning over to kiss him roughly. She pulled away to smirk at him. The spark of arousal was sharp and violent and Sookie reveled in it. But before she could pull further away Erik tightened his fist in her hair and pulled her mouth back to his. She found herself straddling his hips and grinding herself onto the stiff bulge in his pants. His pleasure from her movements was only amplified by the now captive audience and Sookie smirked at knowing his exhibitionist tendencies. "We can give them a real show if you want" she purred. But she could feel his regret before he pushed her back.

And he wasn't the only one in the room that felt regret. Sookie turned to smile invitingly to one fang banger who had been staring at the hem of her dress in case he had been able to see panties. She appreciated his imagination as to what kind it would be as well as color. She got up and moved over to where he was standing. She felt Erik's eyes on her back as she stopped in front of the man. He looked to be in his early twenties and was cute in a Goth way. She bared her fangs in a smile as he swallowed nervously. His thoughts had just gone completely blank.

"I thought you might want to know that I'm not wearin' any panties" she told him straightforwardly. She giggled as she moved back to her position next to Erik. He was frowning at her and she reached out to take his hand. He let her, but she sensed his disappointment. He was afraid that their situation here was becoming more of a nest than a bar. If she kept up like this he would have to start getting strict.

Sookie frowned as she pulled her hand away from him. She hadn't had anything but True Blood since being turned and she wasn't being aggressive towards any of the humans so she didn't understand why he was being so judgmental. She had seen him act much worse.

"What do you mean you're gonna get strict with me?" she asked, trying to keep the pout off of her mouth. She didn't want to act like the spoiled brat he seemed to think she was becoming. "I was just havin' fun"

"You have been doing that often lately" Erik said with the frown still on his face. Sookie tried to touch him again but he motioned her away. "You are young and doing well, but I can't encourage your lack of discretion. Your maturity must grow, not stagnate" As he spoke he turned his head from her and began to talk with another vampire. Sookie didn't need to touch him to understand that he meant it as a rebuff and she took it as one. Sitting again in her chair next to his she listened quietly to his conversation. She felt the urge to throw a tantrum but suppressed it with little effort. She knew he was right. Just because she seemed to have started leaps and bounds ahead of other new vampires didn't mean she could stand still in her progress. The faster she learned self-control the faster she could become independent.

An independent vampire could come and go as she pleased. She could visit who she wanted to and she could wear what she wanted to wear. She was getting tired of the standard black leather that Erik insisted she wear at the club, let alone the club itself. She knew that he considered it his home away from home, but she was already bored of the same people night after night with the same pathetic thoughts. Especially since Erik got angry every time she tried to have any fun.

She tried not to think of the years she would have to stay here before Erik thought she was ready.

Sookie's head came up quickly and she rose gracefully from her seat. Her eyes went to the door and to the couple that were standing there nervously. She looked back to Erik for permission and moved quickly to meet them when he nodded his assent.

"Tara, Sam" she said with a smile. The way that Tara jumped had her smile faltering, "Sorry. I know how annoyin' that can be sometimes" she apologized. A quick scan of their thoughts had her working to retract her fangs and smiling again, this time trying to remember how to act human. "You guys should come on to the bar and I'll get you both a drink"

They both stuck together and sat on the stools she held aside for them. She signaled to Chow, the newest partner in Erik and Pam's bar, and he came over to take their order. He had been chosen to replace Longshadow after Sookie had discovered the old bartender had been stealing from the bar. Erik had killed Longshadow without hesitation and Sookie can still remember the thrill it had given her. She shook away the thought as she tried to focus on making her old friends more comfortable.

"How've things been?" she asked politely, ignoring the way Tara's blood was pounding in her jugular. "The bar's still doin' good business?"

"Everything's been fine" Sam said with a tight smile, moving closer to Tara in a protective manner. Sookie looked closer at the woman who used to be her best friend and met her eyes. She was so nervous, wishing that she hadn't talked Sam into bringing her here. Wishing that Sookie was still human.

"It's all right Tara" Sookie said gently, slowly putting her hand over Tara's to console. The tension slowly left Tara's body and she looked deeply into Sookie's eyes. "I'm not gonna hurt you" Sookie continued, wanting nothing more in that moment then for her old friend to believe her.

"You're not gonna hurt me" Tara repeated in a strange tone her eyes still on Sookie.

"You trust me" Sookie continued.

"I trust you" Tara aped.

"That's enough!" Sam intercepted angrily, moving in between Tara and herself. The entire bar went silent and the focus was on the foolish man who had yelled at the young vampire. Erik was by her side in a split second and she looked over to him in confusion. Reaching out to take his hand, she suddenly understood. Flinching back in horror she looked at Sam in apology and shame.

"I didn't realize" she murmured. The softening in her old boss' face was imperceptible for any but vampire. He moved back enough to wrap his arm around Tara's waist and pull her up from her seat. Moving lethargically and looking up at him with confusion, Tara didn't understand.

"I'm so sorry Tara" Sookie said, lowering her eyes to the floor. "I never glamoured anyone before...and I...I'm sorry" she finished lamely. The shocked horror was slow to break through the fog in Tara's mind, but Sookie knew when it was there and felt it like a lash against her skin.

"You should leave" Erik said in his commanding voice. It seemed as if the crowd parted in a practiced dance to leave a space for them to the door. Sam took one furtive look at Sookie and helped Tara from her stool. They were only a few steps away from them when he continued "Don't come back"

Sookie felt the despair mix with the relief in Tara and closed her eyes against the pain. She had come more for some odd sense of obligation then a true desire to see Sookie. And now that Erik had forbidden it, she could go home and tell herself that she had tried her best. She could live the rest of her life without ever seeing Sookie again, and be guilt-free.

"Come back and it'll be an invitation" Sookie said in a harsh growl. Tara's head shot up in panic, but Sookie was already moving back to her seat and didn't look back. She might as well give Tara a good excuse to stay away. The girl had enough guilt issues over her mother and didn't need Sookie to add any to it.

The bar was slow to return to its normal sound level, but Sookie didn't care. The crowd was always happy to see a show and this one would last as a story for a couple of weeks at least. When Erik sat down next to her she didn't look up, simply sat motionless in her chair. She stared out at the crowd without seeing as her mind filtered through all her memories with Tara through her whole life. But when Erik moved to touch her head, Sookie moved away. It wasn't enough to be considered a rebuff, and wasn't noticeable to anyone but him; which was why he could settle his hand back on his chair and not touch her.

Sookie had enough of her own thoughts and memories to deal with without adding Erik's to the mix.