A/N I am finally attempting to thank all my wonderful reviewers personally. Every comment is very special to me and it makes me very happy to know that my story is being enjoyed : )

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Also just wanted to share the following. I signed up to get a 'Word of the Day' emailed to me after reading SVM (haha I know I'm obsessed) anyway I subscribe to Merriam-Webster dictionary and the word of the day for January 25th was 'VAHALLA' I kid you not, what are the odds. Truly a sign to keep writing.

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Dead At Dawn

Chapter 7 – The Fallen One

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Eric's POV

I crashed down into a thick crop of trees ten miles from Sookie's house. My side was aching as the bones levered themselves back in to place but that wasn't why I had stopped. I could not stop thinking of the scene in front of Sookie's house, her face pale, her eyes pained, my hand wrapped around her throat squeezing the life from her. I groaned and hung my head in my hands. No one had ever seen me regret a decision and no one ever would, that's why I was hiding in the forest, I was ashamed of what I had done, intended or not I had hurt Sookie. I snorted out loud, the mighty Eric Northman hiding and ashamed. What the fuck was happening to me? This was not like me at all, I am a Vampire not a snivelling coward this behaviour would be more suited to Bill or that damn shifter but not me.

Leaping up I growled and swung at the closest tree, my fist connected with the trunk and it shattered with a thunderous crack rolling onto it's neighbour. For some reason it's easy demise only angered me further, I wanted a fight, I wanted to cause pain, I would have to settle for destroying everything in sight. Minutes or hours later I was slumped against the last remaining trunk standing in a wide circle of destruction. I felt slightly more in control, my appetite for destruction appeased slightly so I stood up fully intending to return to Fangtasia when I heard something to my left.

Someone was running fast and the wind blew the sent of vanilla and peaches towards me. Ah, Pam was heading home her scent was easily distinguishable on the wind, in fact I constantly teased her about smelling so particular, she was so easy to track. I smirked and decided my child would not appreciate me stalking her through the trees but she deserved to be punished, he had not only left Fangtasia but her attempts at inciting my jealousy over the Were had not be forgotten and definitely had not been forgiven. I was also still harbouring a sense of frustration with the lack of opposition from my former targets and a little cat and mouse game was just the thing to lighten my mood. I set off towards her, she was going at full speed and therefore not paying attention to her surroundings. Tut tut tut Pam, Vampire 101 always be prepared for attack and mindful of your surroundings. I sped stealthily towards her, dampening our awareness of each other in order to gain the advantage of surprise. I was just metres from her now and was ready to pounce. I smirked evilly it was almost to easy. I had already decided the best punishment would be to fly her to Fangtasia and paddle her in front of the patrons, hmm maybe I would even allow some of the vermin a go. I chuckled silently imagining her mortification and that's when it hit me. Sookie's scent was thick in the air as was Pam's arousal. My fangs ran down and I struck out quickly gripping her shoulder as I hissed in her ear.

"Why do you smell of Sookie?"

My voice dripped with venom and I barely recognised it myself so it was no surprise that my child snarled and whipped around with her hand clawed ready to rip me apart. I was pleased with her response but that thought was far down in my mind, all I could think of was Sookie in her embrace with her arms circled around Pam's neck her head snuggled against her shoulder. I snarled and threw Pam from me, she tumbled violently through the air but righted herself quickly landing on the balls of her feet and sliding into a crouch with fangs bared. Yes I was very proud of her, my child was a true warrior but I was possibly more angry than I had ever been, she had encroached on what was mine and to add insult to injury as the saying goes her fingernails had raked across my cheek. I felt the blood welling in the scratches and it started to run down my face dripping from my jaw in a steady stream before the skin started to knit shut.

"Eric", she said shaking herself as she straightened up from her crouch, "What the fuck?"

"Do not 'what the fuck' me Pamela", I roared as I strode towards her. She was on full alert, trying vainly to hold her position but I could feel her fear pounding at my mind, it didn't settle me though and I was growing more agitated by the minute, I hissed out my question again.

"Why do you smell of Sookie?!?"

"I was sitting with her Eric we were close together".

I was shaking my head, "No this is more than that, you are drenched in her sent and I can smell your arousal, what have you done?" I reached forward to grip her arm but she stepped back. I felt like growling at her but I was fighting to remain in control and any aggressive impulse would surely cause me to lose my grip on my anger. I could feel the animal in me lurking just below the seurface waiting to strike.

"Honestly, Eric this is ridiculous we were just si...."

"NO", I roared at her, "Tell me the truth now! As your Master I command you".

Pam's eyes glazed over but I could feel her hurt. I rarely enforced my rule over her, I had suffered enough at the hands of my Master's hands to enforce such degradation upon her.

"Sookie is very upset, not at you, well a little bit at you. She is confused about her feelings for you for Bill and...", she paused.

"And what?"

"And she was very hurt from your attack on top of all the injuries she sustained in Mississippi". I felt the same hot shooting pain in my chest again, I was rapidly starting to regret my line of questioning but I decided I needed to know exactly what had happened before I did something else I regretted this night. "And", I prompted again.

Pam seemed to steel herself and quickly whispered, "I gave her blood".

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Pam's POV

I braced myself but nothing could have prepared me for Eric's reaction. I had only a second to react before I felt his anger slam into me. He lunged and I quickly side stepped and his hand gripped the tree behind me instead, ripping a large chunk out of it, I shuddered at the thought of what the attack would have done to my body. I stood no chance in a fight with Eric he could tear me to pieces in seconds if that's what he desired.

"Please, Master, I'm sorry", I cried and fell to my knees before him

"Your insolence knows no bounds my child", he hissed.

Before I knew it he had me in his arms and then he chuckled...he chuckled? What the fuck was going on.

"Pam you should know me better", he admonished, "I would not end you over a human, especially not when you were trying to fix the damage I caused an..." Eric paused and he reached for his phone as it started to ring.

"I am here", was all he said the second after I heard Sookie's voice filled with concern 'Eric, you have to help Pam she's in danger'. I was warmed by Sookie's concern for my safety but how did she know I was in 'danger'. My master rolled his eyes saying he was with me and everything was well. Sookie started screaming down the phone 'Please Eric, don't hurt her she was just being a friend, she didn't do anything wrong, it was only a bit of blood'.

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Sookie's POV

I was just starting to drift to sleep when Pam's fear and Eric's anger slammed into me at the same time. I knew it was their feelings and not my own. I have no idea how I'm guessing all the blood they had given me over the last few days was causing side effects. Or maybe I was going crazy. I felt the fear again this time with remorse mingled in. What is god's name was going on. Was Pam in danger? Was she being attacked? Surely Eric would know? Maybe that's why he was so angry.

I quickly grabbed my phone and dialled Eric's number. He answered on the second ring with his usual 'I am here', I almost sniggered down the line but opted to start questioning him instead.

"Eric, you have to help Pam she's in danger". He quickly relayed that Pam and him were together and that everything was fine. Fine my arse, I felt like screaming, Pam had been terrified only moments before. That's when it all fell into place. His anger, her fear, Oh my god he had found out about the blood and he was pissed.

"Please Eric, don't hurt her she was just being a friend, she didn't do anything wrong, it was only a bit of blood", I cried down the line. I would never forgive myself if Pam was hurt because of me. I know she probably didn't think all that much of me. Even though she had healed me I suspected it was mainly because of her affection for Eric that made her take pity on me.

"Please", I whispered again when no response came. Would Eric really hurt her over something so trivial?

"Sookie your being ridiculous, I would not harm my own child".

I breathed a sigh of relief, "So what were all the feelings about then?"

"What feelings Sookie?"

Oh great how was I supposed to answer that. "Sookie?...Sookie answer me", Eric commanded. I sighed well I had walked right into this one.

"I felt your anger and Pam's fear and well... I was worried. That's normal though right...after having a vampire's blood?"

"No it is not normal, we need to explore this further. I'm coming over".

"NO! I mean no not now Eric, I need to go to bed. How about tomorrow night?"

"I have a meeting tomorrow night", he replied somewhat evasively and I swear I detected a small hint of guilt from him, hmm I would file that away for later.

"Well how about the night after, I still have a few days off because I was hurt so bad, I guess it's not going to be a problem now with Pam's blood, I should probably stay out of sight for a bit so I don't attract attention". It would be difficult to explain to people that I was now miraculously healed by my very own guardian Vampire.

"I'll be at your house at 8", I could almost see his smile, I could plainly feel happiness from him.

"I'll meet you round the back on the bench", I chuckled silently, oh he was not pleased that he would not be invited inside but I wasn't ready to let him into my home quite so easily this time around.

"Fine, on the bench at 8, See you then lover", and with that he hung up. I clenched my teeth, I did not appreciate this lover business at all. I opened up my phone again and messaged him, 'I am not your LOVER and I never will be!!!' and hit send. Great now I looked like a silly immature girl, I might as well of stuck my tongue out at him, what was he going to think. I pulled myself up at the last thought, why the hell did I care what Eric Northman thought of me anyway?

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Bill's POV

It had been an hour since I had sensed any vampires near Sookie's house, so I felt fairly confident I wouldn't run into anyone. Sookie was in her room brushing her hair, she looked better, almost fully healed and I had a sickening image of her taking Eric's blood as he pleasured her. I growled quietly at the thought. All of a sudden she stopped brushing and looked around the room with an absolutely terrified expression on her face, just as I was about to call out to her she reached for her phone.

I listened intently throughout her conversion. It was obvious she was speaking to Eric and was worried Pam was in danger, good I hoped the bitch was on the receiving end of a stake, I was shocked when she started admitting she had 'felt' their anger and fear respectively. This was an interesting development. Maybe Sookie was also an empath? An intriguing thought, if she could read the emotions of vampires, the Queen would find it a useful ability in tandem with her telepathy. The Queen had been very unhappy with me when we had spoken last night and then again this evening. She was expecting me to bring Sookie to New Orleans before the end of the month.

I had explained the situation but she was quite unsympathetic to my position and would not entertain my proposition for the disposal of Eric either. He was to valuable and a great money maker, my issues would have to wait at least until he made his loyalties clear. In other words if he did not fall in line then he would be eliminated. If I could show that Sookie was also an empath though, I could probably sway the Queen's decision and convince her to get rid of him now. Sookie would be a wonderful addition to the Queen's court and she would be happy as my bonded and in service to the Queen, she just had to let go and allow me to make the decisions for her. I heard Sookie agree to meet Eric in two nights hence on the bench around the back of her house. I would make sure I was positioned close by and hopefully he would give something away that I could report to the Queen. Sookie fell silent and I saw her scowling down at her phone typing something furiously, after sending it though she looked...doubtful? I had no idea what the last part was about. I just wished to take her in my arms and never let go. She was mine, the Queen had promised her to me as part of my payment for securing her services. I huffed slightly and looked back into the room. Sookie had started to undress to take a shower and I felt my fangs run down as I took in her bare back.

Suddenly a snap echoed in the trees and I heard footsteps approaching, I was running towards the cemetery in the next instant. Such a shame I thought, it would have been an enjoyable show.

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Eric's POV

I hung up and just knew that Sookie would be furious. I chuckled and Pam was looking at me as if I had lost my mind. I suppose it was a possibility, Vampires occasionally went crazy, usually with a predictable blood bath at the end or a decision to meet the sun. Neither of those options really appealed to me so I assumed that my sanity is intact.

"Do not look at me like that Pam, I was not going to hurt you, you just needed a little reminder of who is the Master in this relationship", Pam simply nodded at me mutely with a sceptical look.

"Come, we should head back to Fangtasia, you need to close down and I have preparations to make for my meeting tomorrow".

"Who are you meeting with?", Pam asked. I fixed her with a steely glare and she nodded apologetically. I could not help but wonder if my child would ever learn to keep her mouth closed. I suppose my soft handed approach with her was to blame for her lack of respect and common sense at times.

My phone beeped quietly and I roared with laughter as I read the message. Of course Sookie would want to get in the last word. Silly girl of course she would be my lover. I knew this as well as I knew my own name, it seemed inevitable that she would be mine, almost as if it were fate.

"Har du förlorat din herre dum i huvudet? Varför i helvete är du skrattar som en galning?", Pam said looking at me with exasperation but I could feel her concern for me through our bond.

I grinned at her but ignored the questions and took off at a run. I had plans to make for tomorrow evening, one never knew what to expect when dealing with faeries.

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A/N As always please review! I was overwhelmed with the number of reviews for Chapter 6.

Hmm Google translate, not the greatest but the translation for 'Har du förlorat din herre dum i huvudet? Varför i helvete är du skrattar som en galning?' is 'Have you lost your fucking mind Master? Why the hell are you laughing like a madman?' (well it's supposed to say that anyway)

Happy Australia Day!!! to any Aussie's reading :)