Disclaimer: I do not own any rights to "True Blood."

Chapter Seven: Lie in the Sound

~Sorry about the slow updates. I'll try to be pick up the pace. Oh and I apologize if you don't like the fluff. I was in a fluffy mood.~

Eric said nothing as Layla reentered the room. Since Eric and Pam now occupied the bench, Layla sat on the bed across from them. There was a vague selection of food since the plane was for vampires. But there was an amiable assortment of fruit. Layla decided on a banana.

"Got to get that potassium." Pam cheered.

Layla nodded. "That's right. You remember your fruit."

"I like to watch you eat. Usually I find it disgusting but you have a way of making it adorable."

"I forget you require food. I should have got some." Eric murmured.

"That's what you're sorry about? It's not your job to feed me. Nor is it your job to make decisions for me."

Eric shook his head. Pam smiled.

"This is the only way we can finally get out of this."

Layla sighed and took another bite of her banana.

At this point Pam was the only one Layla wasn't angry with. She'd never liked Batista. Now he'd just given her more reason to hate him. Batista's men were drones. Aiden was there. She didn't know why. He hadn't said a word to her since this all started. He just gave her questionable glances. She hated what he had become after he was turned. And Pam would always back up Eric. Darn Pam. If Pam were human, and Eric was her human boss she'd have no problem complaining about him with Layla. Oh well, the way of the vampire. Layla had had just about enough.

Pam had just started flipping through a Skymall magazine.

"Now who would need a blanket with armholes?" Pam started. "That's just a jacket…" She continued. "The word 'snuggie' makes me so happy I don't have a gag reflex anymore." Pam decided as she turned the page.

Layla couldn't help but smile.

"Jag inte gör det förstå henne vrede." Eric got up quickly and stormed out.

"What did he say?"

"He says he doesn't understand you. He doesn't know why you're angry."

"Oh whatever. He knows exactly why I'm mad. He just doesn't know how to apologize."

"He only did what he thought was best. He wants to be done with this just as much as you…He is very fond of you." Pam assured her. She gave Layla a light pat on her shoulder. The physical contact was foreign to Pam. It was more of a slap than a pat.

"That's nice of you to say. But I'm not too worried about that." Layla replied. She didn't want to say anything else. She felt the prying ears in the next room.

Eric would be listening as well. She didn't exactly want to talk about her fight with him. They all had heard it anyway. Layla looked at her watch. It was four in the morning. The vampires would wanting to be going to sleep soon. At least she hoped that they would. Since there were no windows…but vampires normally got tired in the early morning anyway. Eric would want to talk more about everything then. He wasn't going to stop asking how she knew Matius. And she wasn't even in the mood to talk about it. She was beginning to feel a little hysterical. Her coping mechanisms weren't working properly. But that was to be expected. She was in an airplane full of vampires. She was the only passenger on board with a heartbeat. She also didn't have her passport. She didn't have any identification. Layla laughed a little and ran her hands through her hair. She was stuck. If there were a parachute, Layla would gladly use it.

….

Roughly an hour later, all the vampires retired to their coffins. Layla sighed in relief. Eric and Pam made sure they were the last ones to assure Layla's safety. Pam winked at Layla. Eric gave her a unreadable glance, then slowly shut his. This left Layla to her own thoughts. She wondered who was flying the plane. Definitely not a vampire. Layla sat down and tapped her foot impatiently. It was an extremely nice plane. But it was the last place she wanted to be. She went in the bathroom to wash her face. She sighed and relaxed her hands on the sink. There was much to be done. She'd have to go talk to Eric in a little bit but first she had to talk to the pilot.

Layla knocked on the door of the cockpit. A man slowly and nervously opened the door.

"It's okay. I'm not a vampire."

The man smiled and gestured for her to come in. He seemed to be the copilot. The Pilot was sitting in his seat.

"What can I do for you Miss…" The pilot asked inquisitively.

"Layla."

"Roger. This is my copilot Seth."

Seth nodded as he sat back in his seat.

"Nice to meet you." Layla smiled politely. "Mind if I ask a few questions?"

"Shoot."

"You work for Batista?"

"Yes mam. We work for Batista."

"And we're going to…"

"Buenos Aries."

Layla nodded. "Well, I know you have to be loyal and you don't necessarily want to cross a Vampire King, but I'd love to borrow one of your cell phones."

Roger smiled. "Are you in some kind of trouble Miss?"

"Well let's just say I'm not exactly here by choice."

"Look, I'd love to help you but like you said, we don't want any trouble."

"What if I were to tell you that no one would blame you if you gave it to me. Batista will believe that it was taken by force."

"All due respect Miss, that's highly unlikely."

"Look, I promise you. One of you just give me your phones, and when it's revealed missing, just tell him you don't remember giving it to me. He'll believe you."

"But I will remember."

"Look, I would make it where you don't remember but that would require focused eye contact of you both…and you're kind of flying a plane. Safety first."

"You're telling me that he will believe us when we say we don't remember?" Seth asked.

"He won't question it."

Seth shrugged and pulled his phone from his pocket. He handed it to Layla.

"Seth!" Roger chided.

"Look, the girl's in trouble. And she seems trustworthy."

Roger shook his head.

"Thank you so much. And I promise, Just tell him you don't remember."

"Sounds good to me." Seth shrugged and looked over to Roger.

"Roger?"

"Fine. You better not be lying."

"I'm not. I'll give it right back."

"Keep it. It might come in handy."

"Thanks Seth!"

..

Layla strode out to the main area. She dialed Rob's number.

"Hello…" Rob murmured.

"Rob?"

"Layla!" His voice became more alert. "Thank God. Are you alright."

Layla closed her eyes and placed her head on her forehead. "More or less."

"I've been calling you for days….your phone goes strait to voicemail. Is this your new number?"

"For now. Listen I need your help."

"Let me get a pen and paper…..Alright."

"I need you to call Matius Peron's people."

There was a long pause. "Layla, are you sure?"

Layla laughed to herself. "Yeah, I really have no choice. I'm going to have to call in that favor."

"Layla. What's the matter? You can tell me."

"I know I can. But I don't have the time. Will you do this please?"

"You know I will."

"Good. Call them and tell them I'll be there today. Tell him I'm with the party that's coming. I want a private audience with Matius before he speaks to everyone else. Tell him I have two friendly's arriving with me. And could you fax copies of my passport and ID to his office?"

"Done."

" Some cash…you can send me some through expenses. And some decent clothes and shoes?"

"Okay."

"And two hotel rooms separate from the party I'm arriving with…at a different hotel."

"No problem….You sure you don't want to tell me what's going on?"

"I would but I have no time."

"Okay. I'll do it right now, Layla be careful."

Layla nodded. "I will…how did people like the concert?"

"Good. The blood drive was a huge success. The band was amazing. A bunch of security guards went missing though."

Layla shook her head.

"It was a success, you should be proud."

"You're the one who should be proud. You handled it all for me." It was true. Layla was held up almost the whole time by Batista. Rob did everything like a pro.

"When you get back I'll hit you up for a raise."

"That sounds fair." Layla smiled. "Thank you Rob."

"Anytime. Be careful."

"Bye." Layla hung up the phone. She looked out at all the coffins. All of them seemed to still be sleeping. Layla took the cell phone and put it in the back room. She then went back out to the main area. She walked up to Eric's coffin. She stared down at it.

Their relationship had definitely been interesting. She wondered if they'd ever make it in a normal spectrum. Ever since she'd met Eric, it had been nothing but a marathon. There had been nonstop turmoil. She remembered when Eric took her to his house he had bought. That was her favorite memory. It seemed so far away. Yet it was only a few days ago. Though she was pretty sure they'd never be able to settle down and live there in seclusion, it was a nice notion. She'd also have to remember that side of Eric and keep it in her pocket. She wanted to remember that side of him existed. Especially now, when she was so angry with him. She walked over and opened the lid of his coffin.

Eric looked up at her.

"I saved Matius Peron's life….or his undead-life."

Eric sat up slowly. He got out of his coffin and gestured for her to follow him to the back room.

..

Layla sat down as Eric shut the door. Eric sat down next to her.

"Go on."

"That's all you need to know."

Eric gave her a placid look. "Is that right?"

"Look, Pam said you didn't understand why I was angry."

"Pam should have not repeated that."

"Eric, if this…whatever…if this is going to work, you're going to have to communicate with me."

"Let's examine that Layla. When have I not communicated with you?"

"You put me on a plane without my knowledge."

"Did I not tell you what was going on the moment you awoke?"

"That's not the point."

"The point is, you're a hypocrite."

"I'm a hypocrite?!"

"Yes."

"How so?"

"You speak of this communicating with each other. I have been forthright. I always announce my intentions to you. You however house more secrets than any human I've ever known. Each day I spend with you I learn some new, fascinating tidbit. But each day I also learn some new, mystery you insist on concealing from me. Is that not a lack of communication? Is saying you want something from your partner, not giving it, but expecting it. Is that not the definition of hypocrite?"

Layla sighed. "I suppose you're right."

"Good, because I already came to that supposition….that being said, I…. am sorry." The words came slowly, as if he were speaking in a foreign tongue. Speaking a word he wasn't used to using.

"You're sorry?"

"I knew you would not agree to this. I took advantage of the fact you were asleep. I brought Pam along so you'd see how important your safety is to me. One of us will always be with you on this trip."

"Assuming I let you drink more of my blood. So you can be out during the day?"

"Your blood… is…almost as nice as your skin." Eric ran his finger down her arm. "My beautiful hypocrite…Why don't you want to tell me about Matius Peron?"

Layla sighed. "I don't want to fight anymore."

"Neither do I. Why would the subject of Matius lead to a fight?"

"It wouldn't. It's just best that you don't know."

"Why is that?"

"Because he doesn't want anyone to know. I have no idea how Batista knows."

"Most likely he knows some of Matius' subordinates…Being married to Bianca."

Layla nodded. "I don't think he would of told many people. Batista probably doesn't know the whole truth." Layla slightly smiled.

Eric grinned. "This intrigues me. Now I have to know."

Layla shook her head. "I don't think it's my place."

"I'm not exactly in Peron's circle."

Layla sighed. "Fine…Well you know that Matius owns many hotels in Buenos Aries and several other businesses."

"Yes."

"And that he's uber-powerful and one of the oldest, wisest vampires. That he's a world renowned fan of women. He employs only women to work for him. He only creates women-vampire-children, like Bianca… blah blah blah."

"So I've heard."

"Well, we were at this hotel expo in Rio De Janeiro…Ipanema. It was about two years ago. Peron was there as one of the key speakers. Being high profile and being a vampire, no one thought he was even staying at the same hotel. We stayed at this gorgeous hotel, but with horrible service and horrible reception for any electric devices. Anyways, I got a important phone call early in the morning. The room had no cell service. I ran up to the roof of the hotel. It was about five a.m. or so…I was in the middle of my call when I heard something on the other side of the roof. Being nosy, I peeked around the corner, I saw none other than Matius Peron kissing a man."

"Human or vampire."

"Definitely human."

"How do you know this?"

"Well, their kissing rapidly accelerated to them stripping off their clothes. I then proceeded to walk away. It was none of my business. I was just about to open the door and go back down the stairs until I heard Matius speak through a thick accent….What are you doing? Don't!"

"The man seemed to ignore this….I went around and peeked to the side. The man had Matius tied to a cooling unit with silver. He took out some tools from a briefcase he had. He was going to drain him."

Eric listened in anger. Vampires seemed to put themselves in the situations when you told a story of a vampire in peril.

"So, I couldn't let that happen."

"But you didn't know him. It wasn't your concern."

"Well lucky for him, unlike you I possess humanity. I caught the drainer's attention. I glamoured him. Had him sit down to the side. I couldn't touch the silver, so I called Rob up to the roof. He got the silver off. As soon as he did, Matius attacked the man." Layla's eyes shifted back into the memory.

"Watching a naked man kill another by drinking his blood is quite a sight."

"He killed the man?"

"Yes…and he called some of his people up to dispose of the body."

"Who was the man?"

Layla shrugged. "I don't know. Some guy Matius had picked up."

"Being with a man is contradictory to his status of being partial for females."

"That's precisely why he wouldn't want anyone to know about it. That and well, it might seem a little embarrassing that a vampire of his age be fooled so easily by one of us lowly humans. It might make some of his followers disrespect him, or revolt against him. I don't think anyone cares if he is bisexual."

"So he is in your debt for saving his life?"

"He was quite taken. He offered money, hotel shares…amongst…other things. I wasn't really savvy to any of them. So, he said whenever I needed, he'd be there in any capacity."

"This is why Batista wants to use you. He thinks you can sway Matius to subdue, possibly kill Bianca."

Layla shook her head. "I should have put it together sooner. I'm not sure when he found this out, but I'm pretty sure he's known this all along. He didn't care whether I found him a Sherriff or not."

"He has known Bianca was planning something. He wanted her to make her move before he went to Matius."

"I bet you're right." She agreed. "Look, I had Rob call Peron's people. You, me, and Pam are set to stay in a different hotel than Batista's party. I'm also going to talk to Matius before Batista gets to."

Eric grinned. "My aren't you resourceful."

"I am."

"I had requested a private audience with him as well…Pam arranged it earlier. And for a plane, in case things went ary… we will be able leave quickly. "

Layla sighed. "I'm so tired. I was unconscious but I feel like I haven't slept in days."

"Go to sleep. I'll stay awake." Eric pulled her close to him.

"Don't you need sleep?"

"I will sleep later. Besides, I have plenty of energy with your blood in me."

"You can sleep too you know."

She knew what would happen if they exchanged blood again. She already felt too strongly about him. A blood bond was the last thing she needed. Eric possessiveness and fondness of her was a little overwhelming. Knowing exactly how he felt was a tad too much to handle. And him knowing how she felt…

"It's okay to belong to me, to be with me… You don't have to fight it."

-This is exactly what she was talking about.

"Oh yes I do." She spoke softly.

"If it makes you feel any better, I don't like feeling so strongly about you. You bring me nothing but trouble and despair."

"Why are you still doing it then?"

"The pros outweigh the cons." He spoke sincerely. After that, Eric was silent for a few moments. But his blood told that he was discouraged. Something was bothering him.

"What?"

"When we were separated, when you were at the restaurant and Batista came… What happened?"

"I'm fine."

"Tell me."

"He was all disoriented. He didn't remember who he was. All he knew is that Andres betrayed him. He tried to feed from me but I told him to finish off Andres. He did. I think he was in some sort of…"

"Frenzy feed."

"Exactly. Anyhow, when he came to he staked Andres which he'd already drained. I told him the story of what happened at the club. Then I told him about Bianca. He said I still owed him a Sherriff and I argued with him. He was staying in the kitchen since it's windowless…I tried to leave and he said he'd let me go right now if I let him feed from me. He knocked me down on the ground and asked me once more and accused me of hiding something about my blood. So… I threatened to rescind his invitation to the restaurant if he didn't let me go. He withdrew and I went out to the bar area until that Werewolf came in and knocked me out that spell and that… dust."

Eric was displeased. Anger was rising within him.

"I know, I know. I really want to stake Batista too."

"I will not let him touch you again. I should have been there to protect you."

"Really, I'm fine."

"What if you weren't? You can't always be so lucky. You won't always be able to rely on your cunning…Dameon, Batista…they are only the beginning."

Layla kissed him on the cheek. A welcome but unexpected gesture. Eric looked her in the eyes.

"I've never been the damsel in distress type. But it's nice to know that someone has my back."

Eric grinned as he placed his hand on her cheek. He lifted her from the bench and placed her in the bed. He kissed softly. Within seconds, his strategic tongue made it's way gently into her mouth. His hands pressed up her shirt. Layla shivered from the sensation of her exposed skin.

"You taste like bananas…I think." Eric whispered into her ear.

Layla laughed a little.

Eric was partially on top of her now. He inhaled her scent and collapsed his head onto her chest.

"Du drog , du drog." He murmured in his native tongue.

You drug, you drug.

Layla didn't know what he was saying. But she had a pretty good idea.

"Sleep now." He spoke as he laid atop her chest. "I'm not going anywhere. For once let go and rest." He wrapped his arms around her tighter. "I'll be right here…I will not leave you."

Layla was perplexed by his statements. She wasn't really worried about him leaving. And then it hit her. He was worried about her leaving. His blood was urgent. He felt if she didn't stay close, he was going to lose her. He felt he hadn't adequately protected her. He was angry and scared all at the same time. The intensity was almost overwhelming. Layla began to tremble. His blood's sense of urgency was so strong in her. Layla gripped tightly to him. She didn't know what else to do. It was the only sense of relief. She gripped tighter.

"No, no, we're okay Eric…" She whispered. "You know…." Layla clenched her eyes shut. A stray tear escaped them. She didn't want to lose him any more than he wanted to lose her.

"Just…don't leave." She spoke quietly as she opened her eyes to look at him. Eric lifted his head. Layla traced her fingers through his hair and urged his face to move closer. He pulled himself up level to her face and kissed her again. This time it was hard and deliberate. Eric's powerful lips crushed Layla's. Layla's lips formed a smiled at the sensation. She laughed a little. Her words were obviously the release he needed. He grinned widely at the sight of her face. He licked the tear falling down her cheek.

"Well, as long as we're on the same page." He collapsed, calmly now on top of her. His tight, intense muscles had relaxed. Only now he seemed a hundred pounds heavier. Layla had to shift a little under him to get comfortable. Eric moaned in pleasure from the motion. But still seemed to be set on getting her to sleep.

"Later." He seemed to be assuring himself.

"Now you sleep."

Layla was all to happy to comply. It was a little constricting to have a six-foot giant Viking vampire lie on top of you while you try to sleep. But relationships on occasion anyway, are all about sacrifice.

…..

Layla still felt the weight of Eric lying on top of her. She had slept so well, she didn't want to open her eyes.

"Someone's coming, a human." Eric noted. Layla sighed and opened her eyes. Sure enough, the door opened slowly after a few brief knocks. Seth the copilot was on the other side of the door.

"Um, hi." He smiled softly. "We've arrived in Buenos Aries. We are about to de-board the plane."

"We could just stay here you know. You could just fly us back."

"I'm sorry Miss, but I can't do that." Seth spoke calmly. He was trying his best to not be familiar with her.

"Is Layla giving you trouble?" Batista stepped in the room. He put his hand on Seth's shoulder. Seth quickly walked off.

Eric turned his head to look over. He slowly lifted himself off of Layla. He glared at Batista angrily.

"I hope you enjoyed my generous accommodations. I assure you I picked out a lovely hotel for us all to stay in."

"Go to hell." Layla murmured as she sat up and stretched.

Batista chuckled. "Come now. There is much to be done."

Eric rose first. Layla stretched and followed suit. In the main area, Pam was sitting on top of her coffin filing her nails.

The side of the plane opened. Stairs were formed and Seth descended down them.

"You can all follow me now." He spoke professionally with a nervous grin on his face.

Batista and his men were first to walk down the stairs.

Pam went next. Eric gave her a nod. Pam smiled. Last were Layla and Eric. As they reached the ground, the plane's steps were quickly retracted.

"Right this way." Batista walked towards a black limousine. He stood a moment for the driver to open the door for him. He looked at the chauffer perplexedly.

"What is wrong? Open the door."

"Sorry sir, this car is reserved."

"Yes, I know. It is reserved for King of Texas. That is me."

"No sir, this is reserved for Layla Oxley and two others."

Batista turned back to Layla, Eric, and Pam.

"What is this?"

Eric grinned generously.

"Don't worry sir. King Peron is sending you a car. It will be here shortly."

Batista stood in shock as Layla, Eric and Pam all walked towards the car.

"Just remember to call ahead next time." Layla suggested to Batista as she shut the door to the car.

Pam giggled with delight. "Too much chlorine in the gene-pool that Batista. Stupid cow is still scratching his head."

Layla turned around and looked. Sure enough, he was actually scratching his head. It's the little things that count.