A whole new world.

RATED – M

Disclaimer – I searched my piggy back today and realised that i don't have enough pennies to be able to buy Eric Northman and his godly body. Boohoo.

READ AUTHORS NOTE AT THE BOTTOM. IMPORTANT.

Chapter 7

Sookie

I knew it was bad news the moment Eric hung up the phone and turned to me, a distressed look spread all across his face. Everyone was silent for a few moments as Eric passed the phone back to Bill. I wanted him to speak, to tell me what was happening. Had the claim not worked? Was i going to be taken?

Eventually, after what seemed ages, Eric seemed to speak through gritted teeth at Bill 'The queen would like you to become my new investigator of area five'

Bill looked smug, so smug in fact that i would have liked to walk over there and slap the look right off his face. Eric continued to speak 'She has said that she is appointing new investigators into each area from her court. However, she didn't mention Sookie, which tells me she knows nothing of Sookie. You lied to me Bill'

He sounded angry, very angry, but yet there was something in his tone of voice that didn't sound right to me. He was holding something back, i knew it. 'As Sophie-Ann knows nothing of Sookie, i intend for it to stay that way. As there are only three vampires within this establishment that know of her 'talent' i intend to keep it that way also. You will not speak of Sookie, to any other vampire. I will command Pam if i need to but i trust her; so if anyone finds out. I'll know it to be you Compton' He growled, protectively.

Bill shrugged 'I may have lost the telepath but i have been promoted. Of course, i would have preferred a different area but it has all worked out in the end. Now if you don't mind, i shall retire for the evening.'

'Be back he tomorrow night, if the queen is adamant you will work for me. Work for me you shall' Eric had an evil look in his eye; Bill was not going to get an easy ride that was for sure. Bill looked slightly disturbed; perhaps knowing whatever job he was going to be given, wouldn't be a pleasant one. Bill left promptly, nodding his head in my direction as he left and i let out an audible sigh; apparently i had been holding my breath for quite a while. Eric approached me, placing a finger on my lips as i went to speak. We stood there for several moments, neither moving nor speaking; i think i even went back to not breathing.

'Pam' Eric finally spoke and Pam entered the office in an instant.

'Yes?'

'Please track Bill to ensure he is returning home. I do not want him lingering around in Shreveport; then check the bars CCTV promptly. I want to ensure he didn't place any listening devices in the club. He touched nothing in my office so therefore i am not worried. Once you have done that, come back to me. We have much to discuss before i take Sookie home for the evening' He spoke quickly and pragmatically; i hadn't a clue as to what was going on but i assumed i would be filled in once Pam arrived back.

Pam nodded, not bothering to question Eric, obviously trusting his word instantly. Once she was out of the door, Eric turned to me and looked at me, obviously gauging my reaction to everything that had happened. I was more confused than anything. 'Are you okay?' He asked and i nodded.

'Just severely confused' I replied.

'I will clear things up for you when Pam arrives. I will not lie to you Sookie, things just got a lot more complicated'

That wasn't what i wanted to hear; in fact it was the last thing i wanted to hear. What i had wanted to hear at the end of the night was something along the lines of 'Sookie, you will be left alone now, no one will harm you any longer. Fancy another date?' Instead, this was what i got. I was disappointed to say the least, i could have least got a kiss from Eric before Bill rudely walked in. I scolded myself, why did i want that kiss so much? Forty-eight hours ago, i wanted nothing to do with Eric Northman and his vampire world, but here i was wishing he would have been able to kiss me into oblivion like he had in my dreams.

'Do you want to sit down? You have gone really pale Sookie' Eric told me, panic in his voice.

'No, i just need a human moment' I told him 'Where's the bathroom?'

Being alone for awhile in the bathroom had helped me gather my thoughts and compose myself to face the rest of the evening. My watch told me the time was now just gone half eleven and Pam had been gone for about ten minutes. When i returned to Eric, he was sitting on the black leather sofa that rested against one of the walls in his office. When i entered his head darted in my direction and he gave me a soft, comforting smile. It made me feel better. I joined him on the sofa, sitting on the opposite end to him.

'Do you feel better now?' He asked, concern lacing his voice.

'Yes thanks' I replied 'I just needed to gather my thoughts'

He slid closer to me, taking my hand in his - once again i felt his cool skin against mine and my heart raced. I found myself soon resting my head against his shoulder comfortably. He relaxed; i sensed he enjoyed the contact as much as i did. All of this, to some degree was new to me – i meant what i said to Eric earlier, i had never kissed anyone apart from family and friends before and i certainly hadn't been intimate with anyone.

We sat comfortably for the next fifteen minutes until Pam arrived back, entering the room swiftly and standing before us. 'He has returned to Bon Temps Eric and i checked the CCTV and did a check of the club, no devices have been found'

'Thank you Pam. Good work. Now i shall explain what really happened tonight'

I pulled away from him now so as to look at him properly, intent on understanding everything he was about to say.

'The queen has indeed appointed Bill Compton as the new investigator of Area 5. She has also claimed she is placing a person from her court in every area. I'll need you to check this for me please Pam. Call around the different sheriffs and make sure this is the case. I presume it will be because Sophie-Ann is very thorough and she would want to show consistency.' He paused 'Sookie, what i told Bill was a lie. Yes, the queen had not mentioned you when we were on the phone, but i know her well enough and I'm very sure that she has another plan for Bill to procure you. She wants me to believe that she has no want for you by acting like she doesn't know of you. So then i become less suspicious and not expect it when she tells Bill to come for you. I am playing along so far, it's better for her to think she has the upper hand.'

Pam laughed 'She has no idea who she is up against'

Eric ignored her comment and carried on, never looking away from me 'Like i was saying, i will play along for now. He will become my investigator but he cannot be trusted, he will essentially be spying on us – this makes it difficult; we cannot falter Sookie, the moment he sees a chance to step in and void our claim he will and then you will be taken'

I nodded, i understood perfectly for once. I knew he was telling the truth, i could see it in his eyes, just like id known he had been holding back something earlier. He turned to Pam now 'I can feel your confusion through the bond Pamela. You're wondering why we don't just kill him and shake the queen up, having lost her procurer?'

She nodded 'It makes sense doesn't it? Then Sookie can go on a live her life and we can carry on living ours – so to speak'

I felt a pang of anger when she spoke those words although i wasn't sure why. Why was i bothered when she said i could go live my life? That was what i wanted wasn't it? Why was i angry?

'No Pamela.' Eric looked angry now 'We kill Compton and we will both have to face the magister and our queens' wrath for killing a vampire in her court. Also, i would like to keep him alive for the time being because i like keeping my enemies close to me; you should know this by now. I want him to think we are putty in his hands, and then when the time comes, he won't know what's hit him. Do you understand? You do not harm Compton'

'Fine' she replied, holding her perfectly manicured nails to her face and examining them closely as if she was uninterested in the conversation now.

'So, what am i meant to do now?' I asked, finally speaking up.

'There is nothing any of us can do for the moment' Eric replied, standing up, pulling me gently up with him. 'So i will take you home. Pam, I'll be back by dawn. I want a report when i get back of what Comptons been up to since last night' and with that, he escorted me out of the building.

We were silent on the drive home and to be honest, i was glad. My mind was in turmoil and not even the silence of being in the presence of a vampire helped me. I had mixed emotions about everything; too many to even begin to list. Nothing seemed to be balanced in my mind anymore. I wanted to go back to my old life; but then didn't. I wanted to spend more and more time with Eric; but then didn't. I wanted to kiss him; but then didn't. I wanted to go home and be alone; but then didn't. I wanted someone [anyone] to come to me and tell me what to do for the best. I felt bad for Eric also, in some ways; i'd brought him a lot of trouble the past couple of days as he had brought me trouble. It was all just so confusing.

As Eric pulled up to my house he asked me a very important question 'Do you want me to come in?'

And then i broke down.

I was sobbing, uncontrollably; i had no clue why. Maybe the last couple of days and especially tonight had gotten on top of me, i wasn't sure, but I'd had so many emotions going through me at one time i just couldn't take it anymore. I could tell Eric was distressed sitting beside me, not having any idea what to do. I didn't expect that he dealt with crying human girls often.

'I'm sorry' i sobbed into my hands as the seatbelt was being peeled away from me and suddenly i was being lifted up, out of the car; i hadn't even registered the door being opened. As i cried and cried, Eric walked me up the rest of the driveway, through my front door and all the way upstairs to my bedroom. How he knew that bedroom was mine i was unsure of but i made a note to ask him at some point. He sat me down on the edge of the bed, kneeling in front of me as my sobbing began to slow. Before i knew what was happening, he was gently pulling off my shoes and resting them on the floor beside me; he worked, gently as to not cause me any alarm. After he was done, he held my feet and gently swung them up on the bed, so i was lying down before he sat on the edge of the bed where i had just been sitting. He brushed the hair out of my face and i knew i must have looked a mess. 'I'm sorry' i repeated again and he hushed me.

'Get some sleep' He said, wiping my tears away with the pad of his thumb. It was a really sweet, humane thing to do.

'You're not leaving are you?' I felt panicked, i didn't want him to leave me alone here, and I knew that now.

'Not if you don't want me to. I can wait till you fall asleep.' I felt my own blue eyes fall on his and felt this strong desire and need to be close to him. I sat up on the bed properly.

'Please stay'

He nodded before speaking again 'May i ask why you started leaking everywhere'

I giggled a little; leaking? 'The past couple of days have been pretty traumatizing on my emotions. There is only so much a girl can take' I sighed.

'I'm very sorry that you have been put through so much' It was then that it hit me; the sincerity of his voice, the look in his gorgeous blue eyes, the way he had cared for me and protected me even though he barely knew me, the fact he had let me into his world and had been so open to me. I could trust him. I knew then i wanted nothing more than his lips on mine; it wasn't just what i wanted anymore, it was what i needed. He was looking at me, confusion written clearly over his face, like he couldn't tell why i had gone so quiet.

A few moments passed where we continued to just stare at each other; his face softening as he realised why i was looking at him the way i was. 'Say the words' he whispered, eventually cupping my face with his hands once more.

I gulped, the moment was so intense, but dripping in want and need. It was nothing i had ever experienced before.

'Kiss me' I barely whispered before his lips gently touched mine. It was soft, slow and simple to begin with - a lingering peck at best; but it was perfect. It was my first kiss and it was certainly my undoing. As he pulled back to look at me, my instincts caused me to run my hands over his shoulders and down his back and before i knew it, his lips were on mine again; this kiss was different. It was slow, but harder than last time.

As our lips moved perfectly against one another, Eric pushed me gently back down on the bed, following me. He ran his tongue across my lips, causing them to automatically part and his tongue slipped in side and ran along my own. His hands were busy, either running through my hair or up and down the side of my body, stopping at my hips every time. A moan escaped my lips, showing him just how much i was enjoying the kiss and he responded enthusiastically. It wasn't until i felt myself going dizzy from the lack of oxygen that we pulled away and he left another quick kiss on my lips. 'Wow' was all i could get out as i realised my lips were tingling. It was an amazing sensation.

Eric ran his own hand through his hair and chuckled nervously 'Wow' he agreed, turning slightly away from me.

'What's wrong?' I asked when i could gather my voice. 'Have i done something wrong?'

'No' he seemed alarmed 'Please don't think you have done anything wrong. It's because you've done something right.' He chuckled when i looked confused. 'Let me put it this way. If we carry on like that, tonight would be the last night you could say you have never been with a man intimately'

My mouth made a 'O' shape as i realised what he meant; i blushed vigorously red, not being able to believe i'd managed to do that to him.

'What if i wanted that?' I asked curiously, knowing i had been just as turned on by the kiss as he had. I wanted more.

'Well i would ask you if you were serious. It's a big thing Sookie'

I contemplated it. With all the drama going on in my life, especially in the last two days, i was unsure where the next curveball would come from. Did i want to die never had experienced this? No, but I wasn't going to do this out of fear of dying. I looked at Eric, who had left me to it to decide what i wanted. I knew he would be okay with whatever i chose and maybe i didn't have to decide now but being with him right now made me think of everything he had done for me, i was technically a stranger. What time could be more perfect than right now? I'd had just had my first kiss and now possibly my first 'everything else'?

What a decision to make.

Okay, important question; does she 'give it up' now. Or later? I'm happy either way but cannot decide, so review and let me know?

This is the last chapter I'm writing tonight because its 04:15am in the UK and i am tired - but i had to get it out because you have been amazing with you're reviews.

Next chapter i PROMISE will be longer if i get me some more reviews :D

Sarah