Chapter 7.

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EPOV

His hands felt content settled around her throat. It felt right, how it should be. But now here she was. Reminding him of a life that seemed so far away. She didn't have the right to talk about it. She was the one who had destroyed it. She shouldn't get to feel forgiveness. She should have to drown in her guilt. Choke in it for all he cared. Yet that was it, he still cared. Cared enough to still feel the fury, the sting of her betrayal burning in his chest. Time should have healed that, but it didn't. It couldn't.

Eric watched her face, waiting intently for his response. She craved absolution. He could see it in her eyes. He saw the suffering, he had felt the same. They had been united all these years in their pain. He only saw this now.

Being close to her again sparked lingering memories. His body had not forgotten the taste of her touch, as much as his brain had tried. Grimacing to himself he released her. Allowing her to sit back up on his desk.

"Do not mistake my sparing your life as affection"

He glanced at her; her face held a composed yet saddened expression. Nodding her head she smoothed down her dress.

"What is it then?" she requested, standing up.

Flicking his gaze away from her he thought a moment.

"Nostalgia" Eric spat bitterly.

A broken smile painted her lips; waiting a moment she inhaled slowly. Sitting in his chair Eric looked at her.

"I don't deserve your compassion. What I did was cruel. I won't deny that. What we had was never love" Grace paused.

"I don't think I truly know the meaning of the word. But for me it was something real, and I'm sorry that it hurt you".

...

GPOV

Standing before him she felt completely naked. He could read her, she was sure of it. The way he watched her. She just knew it. There was a moment where she debated in telling him the whole truth. How she decimated whatever it was they shared for her King. How it saved his life. She hurt him to save him. To say it aloud was something she just couldn't do. To him it would sound like another lie. Another pity story she had created. She wouldn't do that to him. Not again. She wouldn't let herself become another disappointment.

This was all she was going to get from him. Deep down she knew he had shut himself off to her; she was fighting a losing battle. Faking a smile she took a final glance at him. This was the best it could be.

"Pleasure to see you again Eric."

Her insides screamed at her, wishing to tear themselves apart. They ached for his touch. Anything for another taste.

Grace had been told a thousand or more times how she was a soulless creature damned to hell, she had just laughed it away. She was already there.

She watched his casual expression. Perhaps he didn't care to show how he felt. For that she was grateful. The truth always hurt worse than any lie. Any hope he could show would do nothing, nothing would be the same. The hurt and resentment would still be there.

"Adjö min tidigare älskare"

She let humour fill her voice, no use for the truth anymore. She watched his face darken slightly at the memory. Slipping out quickly she passed the baying crowds of the club. Long goodbyes had never been a strength of hers, she was sure he wouldn't appreciate one either.

Flying off into the night sky she felt like dying. Like waiting until the sun would rise so she could burn in the flames. At least then she would feel warmth. Her body had been cold for too many years. Too many years of being wrapped around her King's finger, bound to him. She was his dog on a leash.

Landing a few streets away from her hotel she composed herself. Outbursts of emotion were never really her style. It was early in the night still, hordes of humans filled the streets. Reeking of sweat and alcohol. She could drain them all. Leave each one begging for death.

She could do what she did best, fuck and kill.

That was always simple. It had been a long time since she had hunted a human, truly hunted. Yet with vampirism in the media's eye now more than ever everyone had to watch their backs.

Russell Edgington had really fucked up the good thing they had going. It was a worldwide new story that rightwing news channels practically had it on a loop.

The whole vampire community had been put on a tighter leash. No sloppy kills, no kills at all, preferably. The authority was not slow in dealing out the true death to those rouge vampires who acted out of line. Deals and laws were trying to be passed; another Edgington slip could ruin everything.

Landing on the ground Grace felt empty. Walking down the street she passed various humans, all of which eyed her nervously. Ignoring their glances she continued in silence.

All of a sudden Grace's attention perked as the night air brought something sweet to her nostrils. The scent of the human from earlier. Licking her lips Grace could taste honey on her tongue. Stopping herself a sense of fear coursed through her veins. She had not tasted honey since she was a human, yet here it was dancing on her lips. She could taste it as real as ever. Her fingers nervously touched her lips, slowly they traced over each curve.

What was this girl?

Inhaling a long breath Grace tried to place her. She was close, a few miles away perhaps. Looking around her surrounds Grace took note of where she was. The shock of the sensation allowed a soft smile to decorate her face. Taking off into the sky she followed the trail of honey.

...

SPOV

The little stint at Fangtasia was playing in a loop over and over in her mind. She recalled with the ease the beating of her heart every time he got close to her. There was something about him certainly. She wasn't blind. He was handsome, plain and simple. Yet it felt more than that, Sookie couldn't decide if his blood still was the cause for all these unwanted feelings. Secretly she would blame it still, that was the rational explanation. Sookie paused in thought.

It was the easier option. Easier than having to rationalise actual feeling towards Eric Northman.

Shaking her head Sookie couldn't believe she was actually contemplating the idea. It was fucking ludicrous. She couldn't let herself fall for him, could she?

"Shit…"

Sookie muttered, feeling that sense of defeat settling in her stomach. A flash of worries overcoming her body.

The answer was yes. Of course she could.

Closing her car door, Sookie rolled her neck as she began the walk up her drive. Crickets chirped in the night air as she walked. A few feet away from her porch Sookie recalled the night she left. A flutter in her chest made her smile.

"Sookie?"

A voice sounded from behind her, a hand landing on her shoulder. Catching her off guard she let out a high-pitched scream. Turning sharply she saw Bill's confused face, before it was ripped away from sight as another vampire threw him to the other side of the porch steps.

As Sookie's human eyes caught up she saw the woman from earlier looking curiously back at her, then at Bill.

Sookie took a step back as she watched Bill lunge at the blonde woman, only to miss her as she caught him again, rolling him to the ground with ease.

She heard the familiar sound of Bill's teeth snapping into place, as he growled at his attacker.

"Get inside"

Bill barked behind him, circling around the woman before him.

Sookie watched intently, standing her ground, flicking her gaze back to the woman from before.

"He meant you harm"

Her hushed tones drawled out into the night air.

She turned to face Sookie.

"You screamed at his touch"

She explained.

Sookie stood gob smacked, watching the pair of vampires before her. Touching her chest she tried to control her pounding heart.

"Your heart races with fear" Grace took a step closer.

"I can feel it"

She closed her eyes, touching her own chest.

Bill interrupted quickly.

"I would never harm Sookie…"

Grace snapped her eyes open and turned to face him once more.

"You already did. Can you not smell her hatred for you?"

...

GPOV

Watching the vampire before her she looked him up and down. He was well dressed, yet her reeked of youth. Perhaps over two hundred. Yet there was something about him that had a taste of authority. Biting her tongue Grace waited for his response.

He seemed to falter at her last words; she watched a flash of pain cross over his features.

"Sookie, do you know this woman?"

He spat out bitterly, not taking his eyes off Grace.

She sensed Sookie's unease.

"I met her earlier, briefly…she knows Eric"

Immediately Grace felt a wave of anger flourish from the man before her. Whoever he was, he didn't like the connection to Eric.

"What is she doing here?"

He questioned sharply.

Grace watched Sookie shrug her shoulders, watched her lip slightly quiver.

"Guarding her"

Grace cut in.

The vampire's face contorted in curiosity.

"Eric asked you to do this?"

He asked anxiously.

Grace felt Sookie's heart race at the mention of her former lover's name. Feeling a twinge of sadness pang through her chest she stayed strong.

Before she could answer she felt his arrival. Tilted her head she saw him hurtling to the ground. He landed with a soft thud, his eyes scanning over the situation.

His eyes found hers immediately.

"What are you doing here Grace?"

Extending her hand she pointed in Sookie's direction.

"This one reeked of fear"

She paused, turning to the dark haired vampire.

"…From this one"

She finished.

Eric looked at Bill, his face dropping slightly.

"Put away your fangs Bill"

Eric spoke quickly. Striding over to where Grace stood, tilting his head forward he spoke softly.

"Menade han hennes skada?"

As he spoke Grace watched his features. The way his jaw tightened as he said each word. He truly cared for the girl. A slow feeling of jealousy spiked through her senses, trying to hold them in she focused on his face. He was asking her opinion. It was something.

Grace stopped to look at the vampire standing behind Eric; she eyed him quickly before speaking.

"Hon skrek när han rörde vid henne. Hon luktade rädsla och hat"

Eric gave her a once over, studying her face before giving a small nod and turning around.

"Does anyone want to tell me what the hell is going on?"

Sookie spoke irritated.

All vampires' eyes turned to the petite human standing, hand on hip, on the porch.

In the moonlight she looked quite delicious. Grace had to stop herself from licking her lips.

...


A/N: Damn you writer's block! Apologies for the length gap in updating, too many different ideas floating around my head for the direction of this story.

Still a work in progress, so please, bare with me.

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Adjö min tidigare älskare - Goodbye my former lover

Menade han hennes skada? - Did he harm her?

Hon skrek när han rörde vid henne. Hon luktade rädsla och hat - She screamed when he touched her. She smelt of fear and hatred.