The Rediscovered Ally

Chapter 7

Alcide stood with his new charge in Eric's office. He had explained to Kalen on the drive over who Eric was and that he would hopefully be able to help.

Kalen continued to be nervous and tense which unfortunately was rubbing off on Alcide. If Eric chose to end the young hybrid there would be no stopping him and Alcide couldn't help thinking that the girl deserved a chance.

Kalen stood in her skinny jeans and blouse staring at her feet where she sported clunky heeled boots. She shifted her weight nervously and Alcide could see her closing her eyes and trying to calm herself.

"How did you know to seek me out?" Alcide asked trying to shift her attention away from her nerves.

"I went to a bar that supposedly a lot of weres hang out in and asked a really drunk guy who the pack master was. They said you would were the person to see and then it was easy to track you down on the internet" she admitted.

"The next time you transform we should be together. I can help you gain more control over the shift" Alcide added.

Kalen nodded in response but went back to ringing her hands in anxiety.

Alcide resumed pacing unable to find more to say. He carved a path before Eric's desk silently swearing to himself as to why they were being made to wait so long when finally the door opened and the tall Viking sauntered into the room.

"Explain" was the only word he uttered as he paused to stand directly in front of the woman who was even shorter than Sookie, completely ignoring Alcide.

Kalen gulped and looked up and up at the imposing vampire in front of her.

"Now!" Eric bellowed doing nothing to calm the young woman's nerves.

"Hey, she's scared, back off" Alcide warned as he moved to stand adjacent to Kalen who was now shaking.

"I was bitten by a were and a vampire when I was out running" Kalen squeaked out. "It happened a couple of weeks ago but I was in the hospital up until a few days ago and didn't realize what was going on until I got home".

Alcide filled in the rest when her voice quivered so much that it became impossible to understand her.

"You have not fed since the transfusions in the hospital?" Eric asked with a furrow in his brow.

"I had raw steak tonight" Kalen admitted with embarrassment.

"Pam!" Eric bellowed.

Kalen took a step closer to Alcide as she stared at the floor ignoring the door flinging open and Eric rapidly firing off something in Norse. In mere moments Pam returned holding a small paper bag and handed it wordlessly to Eric and retreated back into the club.

Eric unfolded the bag and Alcide watched with revulsion as Eric brought out bags of blood. He presented the first bag to Kalen with the simple command to drink.

Kalen finally broke her gaze with the floor and became fixated on the bag in her hands. Her fangs instinctively clicked down and she immediately brought her hand up to cover her mouth.

"I'm so sorry!" she choked out.

"You are part vampire, there is nothing to be sorry for" Eric admonished very impatiently. "Now, pierce the bag with your fangs and drink".

Kalen hesitated for a moment and then did as instructed. It was impossible for Alcide not to miss the look of pure ecstasy that flooded her features as she drank. She depleted the bag quickly and Eric stood by and replaced it with another. Kalen did not waste a second sinking her fangs into the second bag. They repeated the process thrice more and finally Kalen looked up at Eric with a huge smile of thanks.

"This is the first time in days that my throat isn't burning. Thank you!" Kalen said beaming at Eric.

"It is quite impressive that you did not attack any humans in your state of starvation" Eric pointed out with some admiration seeping into his voice.

"What do we do next?" Alcide asked feeling uneasy with the way Kalen was looking at Eric. All he needed was another woman reminding him that Eric had qualities that he did not.

"She will need to learn our ways" Eric said addressing his answer solely to Alcide. "We will need to register her with AVL, teach her to feed, and educate her on vampire law and protocol"

"She also needs to learn how to manage the change and were law and protocol" Alcide pointed out a bit defensively.

"Where do you live?" Eric asked as he swung his attention back to Kalen.

"Here in the city. A condo by the river".

"Where did you spend the day time hours?" Eric questioned knowing that human dwellings were not light tight.

"The sun hurt me so I put a blow up mattress in my walk in closet. It doesn't have any windows".

"The wolf will take you back to your home to pack. It is not safe for you to stay there alone until you learn to fend for yourself" Eric ordered.

"I don't have anywhere else to go!" Kalen exclaimed in fearful confusion.

"You will come to my home. It is light tight and I will teach you what you need to know" Eric replied with exasperation.

Kalen began to shake in fear at the prospect and moved closer to Alcide. Alcide too wasn't comfortable with the idea as he still didn't trust that Eric wouldn't just end the young woman.

"She can stay with me" Alcide said.

"Your home isn't light tight" Eric pointed out.

"I have a finished basement and there is a room down there with no windows. I'll just move a bed down there for her".

"She will need to be taught to feed".

"I can bring her here every night until you think she's ready to be on her own" Alcide replied not wanting to instigate Eric.

"Pam will need to assist in the process as there will be evenings where I am unavailable" Eric said clearly warming to Alcide's idea.

"Whatever you think is best" Alcide said trying to keep the vampire placated.

"Fine, you will go with Alcide and I will have Pam provide you with more bagged blood for when you rise tomorrow night" Eric said addressing Kalen again.

"Thank you for your assistance sheriff" she said with obvious relief.

Eric sent Pam for more nourishment for the new hybrid, gave Kalen instructions for storing and preparing the blood, provided her with his contact information and sent them on their way.

"Be back here tomorrow at 10 pm" Eric said as way of a final dismissal. The wolf and the hybrid both nodded in response and high tailed it out of the office quickly, neither wanting to be in the presence of the sheriff any longer than necessary.

"That went better than I expected" Alcide admitted as he started his truck.

"What did you expect?" Kalen asked finally seeming to relax.

"I'm not sure but sometimes Eric can be a real ass".

"He scares the hell out of me" Kalen admitted. "Thanks for letting me stay with you."

"No problem" Alcide said with an easy smile as he reached over to take his hand like it was the most natural thing in the world.

"Where do you live doll?" Alcide asked when he got to the edge of the parking lot.

"On Crockett in that new condo building by the river".

"My company worked on that building" Alcide said. "So, you haven't lived there very long".

"I was renting an apartment before then and saving up for a place".

"You must be doing really well for yourself, those aren't cheap".

"I do consulting for a business management company and have been saving since after my master's. I didn't want a house because I usually travel a lot".

"What did you tell your boss?" Alcide inquired.

"I'm on a medical leave of absence right now but I'm going to need to figure something out soon" she said with a sniffle.

"I bet Eric will find a position for you when you are ready".

"You think so?" Kalen said perking up some.

"He owns a bunch of companies and I bet he'll figure out something that will fit".

"You aren't worried that I'm going to lose it?"

"I think you are handling this really great and I don't see any signs that you are going to have a problem" Alcide lied in response hoping that he hadn't given away his fear.

Kalen slipped into silence as she watched the familiar city buzzing by the window. She reached for her purse, a cute Vera Bradley floral print, and passed a garage card to Alcide.

"You can pull into the visitor spots in the garage" she said.

Alcide took the credit card like card and maneuvered his large truck down the narrow lane to the familiar spots. He killed the engine and they walked silently up to the elevator bank that led to Kalen's condo.

"How much should I pack?" Kalen asked as she unlocked the door and disarmed her alarm.

"I'm not really sure, it could take a while" Alcide answered honestly.

"I'll pack a couple of bags and I'll be able to come back if I need to, right?"

Alcide nodded in response as he took inventory of the uber contemporary loft like space. Everything was very industrial, clean lined and somewhat masculine. He liked what she had done.

"Can I take my car?" Kalen called out from what he assumed was the bedroom.

Alcide followed her voice into a large space that was indeed the master bedroom. "I don't think it's safe for you to go out unattended right now" Alcide answered as he stood uneasily in the entry to her large walk in closet.

He saw the blow up bed was deflating as Kalen stepped around it while drawing garments from neatly organized rods and shelves.

"So I can't ever be on my own?" Kalen asked but not stopping her packing.

"You will be eventually but for now you need to stay with me" Alcide answered. "Or Eric" he added quickly.

"I guess I can get the car later" she acquiesced as she neatly piled the clothing she wanted to pack. "Can you get me my two suitcases that are under the bed?"

"Yep" the wolf answered as he moved to bend down and reach under the elevated queen sized bed.

He quickly brought her two large black suitcases and Kalen efficiently packed with the skill of a frequent traveler. She moved into the spa like bathroom, pulled out a toiletry bag and filled it quickly with what she needed.

They were back on the road to Alcide's home and when they arrived he easily brought down the double guest bed to the windowless basement room.

"Sorry it's so bare bones" Alcide apologized realizing that Kalen's home was far more luxurious than his own.

"Are you kidding? This is great Alcide" Kalen answered enthusiastically and before he could register what he was doing, he had the small hybrid in his arms hugging her tightly.

"Care to tell me what that was about?" Pam said as she leaned on Eric's large desk.

Eric quickly brought her up to speed about his meeting with the wolf and hybrid along with commanding Pam to assist in Kalen's orientation to her new life.

"So let me get this straight" Pam began in annoyance. "You want me to help train a hybrid while I'm managing all this while you are gallivanting in the king's mansion?"

"Yes" Eric said simply waiting for her to continue.

"Why the hell are we taking time to train a hybrid? They all go crazy! Total waste of time Eric! You should have just ended her! We have too much to do as it is with you kissing Bill's ass."

Eric rose an eyebrow at his progeny and waited for her to compose herself before addressing her concerns.

"While you are correct that the vast majority, if not all, hybrids do eventually need to meet the true death, this one is of use to me" Eric said cryptically.

"How is some young hybrid useful?"

"She will be staying with the wolf. He will need to take her under his wing. He will need to spend time with her" Eric replied slowly. "Much time".

The dots finally connected for Pam and Eric saw understanding in her eyes. "So he will be busy with his new charge and you will be busy winning Sookie back".

Eric simply smiled and reclined in his leather desk chair.

"Do you really think it will be that easy?"

"Yes I do".