Chapter seven

"Like an old photograph.Time can make a feeling fade.But the memory of a first love.Never fades away."

One Year Later (Eden is about 20-21 years old)

I had moved in properly now and Sookie had grown into my new best friend. I had also gotten a job at Merlottes, which was good, because it brought in the dough. I was really happy here, in Bon Temps, simply because well... none of my family had died yet. This might be because I didn't have any family left... but still... no one had died.

I was walking down the pathway I knew well now and found Sookie sitting on her steps talking on the phone.

"Come on Sam, it's my day off" She complained.

Sam must have said something because Sookie mumbled an 'okay' and hung up.

"Hey Eden, I got to go wake up Dawn, you want to come?" She asked hopefully, obviously she didn't find this request very appealing.

"Sure, why not" I agreed, going with her towards her little yellow car that I am sure is about to self combust one day.

We got to Dawns house and she didn't answer the door, but it was open so we went in. Small town means small rules. I laughed at my own thoughts, if we were in Dallas, the door would have been locked several times. I followed Sookie into the bedroom but hit her back since she stopped.

Then she screamed.

"Whoa! Sook, what's happe..."

I froze. It wasn't the position of her body, or her wound. It wasn't even because she was dead. It was her eyes.

"Come on, let's go get help" Sookie told me.

But I couldn't move. I couldn't breathe. I started heaving for air but that still didn't work.

"What's wrong Eden?" Sookie asked concerned.

Her eyes.

They were empty.

They were like my mothers. Like my sisters. Like my fathers.

"I need to get outside" I managed to say and let her lead me away from the body.

We both sat on the front porch, waiting for the police. Jason had come, surprisingly, and was acting really weird, pacing on the front lawn as we waited.

"Why did you act like that?" Sookie asked me.

I looked at her, small tears in my eyes. "Her look... her eyes... they were like my parents and sisters. It just... brought back memories that I am trying to forget"

"What happened to your family?" Sookie asked quietly.

I shook my head, "I'll tell you later" I promised.

The police came, questioned us and then actually took Jason away, which caused both Sookie and I to start shouting at silly Andy for thinking Jason had anything to do with it.

Sookie and I were sitting on my porch swing, waiting for 4pm to come around so she could go to work and I could head inside and rest.

"So, what happened? With your family?" She asked carefully.

I squirmed, looking down at my crossed legs and hands. "There all dead" I whispered.

"I'm sorry" She said sadly.

I shot her a smile before continuing. "My father died when I was 12, my sister, Emily, was only 1. He died of a heart failure at home. I found him on his bed, not breathing, just staring at the wall. Then, when I was 18, Emily was running across the road and got hit by a car; her eyes were open when I managed to get to her... And finally, my mother, who had fallen to drugs to try and ease the pain of losing little Emily, who was only 7, overdosed. I found her in her own vomit on the bathroom floor after five days of nothing from her"

Sookie had tears in her eyes.

"Their faces... the way their eyes were just so... empty, scares me the most, which is why I reacted like that back at Dawns"

"Oh Eden! I am so sorry" She cried, wrapping her arms around me.

I thanked her, feeling good that someone else knew about my bad luck. 4pm eventually rolled over and she left for work and I left for the shower.

I fell asleep on the couch and was awoken by someone knocking on my door. I groggily opened it to reveal Sookie and Bill, or as the locals call him 'vampire Bill'. He came to town a few weeks ago, living in the old Compton house that's on the other side of my house. Sookie's house is the left of mine, his is too the right.

"Hi?" I said, but it sounded like a question.

"Where going to Fangtasia, thought you might like to come" Sookie said, giving me a wink.

She probably thought I'd need a distraction. If she did, she was right. "Whoever calls their bar Fangtasia is certainly needs help, but, yeah, let me go change quickly" I said, indicating that my pyjama shorts and singlet weren't really club wear.

I dressed in a green dress and then met them at the door. "Thanks for inviting me" I said gratefully "I know, Mr. Compton, that perhaps you were hoping this be a date"

He looked at me for a moment; eyebrows high "Sookie made it clear that this was not a date. And Bill is fine"

I smirked at Sookie who blushed.

We all drove quickly, Bill telling Sookie she looked like vampire bait, while I sat happily in the back seat, playing with the hem of my dark green fabric.

Why did I fell as though going here would change my life... I'm all up for changes... but is a change I want?

We pulled up to a building that was pretty bland except for the cursive writing that glowed in neon lights and read 'Fangtasia'.

A vampire greeted Bill, "Long time no see" The woman with long blonde hair that was piled on top of her head said. "And who are your friends?" She added, her eyes lingering on me.

"This is Sookie and Eden" He introduced.

Sookie stuck out her hand expectantly, while I stayed at the back, half hidden by Bills shoulder, who had turned to shake his head at Sookie. Vampires don't shake hands.

"I need to see some ID" She said in a bored manner.

"Oh, how funny! Being carded at a Vampire bar" Sookie exclaimed, handing Pam a pink and white wallet.

I rolled my eyes and handed over my own licence.

Bill led us over to the bar where we ordered drinks and Sookie asked the bartender, Longshadow, if he had seen our dead girls. He had and was very mysterious about it.

I kept my eyes on my drink as Sookie looked around, asking Bill who the man on the stage was. "That's Eric; he's the oldest thing in this bar"

I glanced up at the name Bill said, my eyes meeting Eric's, the man who had saved me a year ago. "Oh Dear" I gasped, looking down at my hands.

Bill and Sookie raised their eyebrows at me. "What's wrong?"

"I know him" I squeaked, risking and looking up, he was smirking at me.

"How?" Bill asked, worry in his voice.

I rubbed my eyes "He saved me from dying when I lived in Dallas..."

"You almost died in Dallas?" Sookie asked.

And Bill said "How did he save you?" At the same time.

"Yes. I was raped and drained by a vampire in Dallas and Eric gave me his blood" I said, answering both their questions quickly, determined to keep my feelings under control.

"I'm sorry honey" Sookie said, her arm wrapping around my shoulder.

I shrugged "I'm over it"

"Oh no" Bill mumbled, looking behind him. "Eric has summoned us"

"He can do that?" Sookie asked, glancing at him.

"He just did" Bill answered, standing and holding a hand out to Sookie, who took it.

I followed them, staying behind Bill as we approached and stepped up onto the stage.

The blonde, Pam, was behind Eric as he sat in his throne, his eyes dancing between me and Sookie. "Bill, it's been too long" He said, his voice sounding as smooth as I remembered.

"Yes, I've been mainstreaming" Bill explained.

"So I've heard, it has been going well?" Eric asked, looking between me and Sookie still. I took a step further behind Bill, feeling as if Eric was concentrating more on me.

"Oh, forgive me; this is Sookie and Eden, my... friends"

Eric grinned "It's a pleasure to meet you Sookie, and to see you again Eden. Please, sit" he offered.

Sookie sat on his right and I sat on his left, Bill stood near Sookie.

"And Sookie is?"

"Mine" Bill almost growled.

I raised my eyebrows, Sookie was his?

"Yes, I am his" Sookie confirmed, looking between the two.

"A pity" Eric grinned, then glanced at me. "So, Eden, who do you belong to?" Eric asked.

Bill looked worried and torn, but I smiled encouragingly at him. "No one" I answered honestly.

"Excellent" Eric stated. But there was something more than the threatening, teasing smile he gave me.

"So, Eden, how is Dallas?" He asked.

I shrugged "I live in Bon Temps now"

He smiled, his lips forming a small smirk "So close to me"

"I didn't realise you lived here, I thought the house I woke up in was yours"

"Oh no, that was my friend Godric's house"

"Pity... it had good decor"

"I'll pass the message on to him" He told me. Eric had turned now, so his body was facing me, leaving Bill and Sookie out of the conversation.

"Why did you leave your family and friends in Dallas? To come here of all places" He asked.

I shrugged, my finger running around the rim of my wine glass "I don't have any family to leave"

"Of course you do. Family for a human is unescapable. Everyone is still alive"

I sucked in a deep breath, tears forming in my eyes.

"Eric... Eden's family-" Sookie started, but I cut her off.

"I don't have any family" I said sternly.

"Did you have a fight with your dear mummy? Or maybe your Daddy hit you, is that it?" He said in a patronising tone. "Perhaps you had a sister that got all the attention"

I felt anger bubbling "Don't talk about my family like that!"

"Oh, so you do have family. So if you do, why did you leave them?" He seemed angry that I would leave my family.

"I have my reasons. Reasons I wish not to discuss with you." I said. I did not want to be having this conversation.

He smirked "I believe someone has some touchy subjects" He said, his finger running up my cheek where a lone tear had fallen, he licked his finger. "Tell me, do you miss them? Do you feel guilty about leaving them?"

"Why are you being mean? Why are you fascinated with my family?" I whispered, another tear falling.

"No reason" he said sharply "I just don't think a person, if they have any, should leave their family. Family should be everything to a human. They don't realise what they have until it's gone. You'll experience that one day... when your family is all gone and it's only you, you'll know how annoying it is to see someone who has willingly left their own family while you have had no choice"

I stood, angry and upset now. "I said I didn't have any family and I meant that Eric Northman. My family is dead. Everyone. Dead. I know fucking well what you are talking about and how dare you" I sniffed "How dare you, accuse me of not knowing what I had. I know very well what I have and what I've lost and I would give anything to simply see them or speak with them again."

And with that, I tipped the contents of my wine glass over his head and then stormed off the stage.

I didn't speak as Bill and Sookie came out and unlocked the car. Nor did I speak during the ride home.

"Eden, do you want company?" Sookie asked as Bill pulled up in front of me house.

"No, I'm fine. Thankyou Bill, for letting me come" I said politely before stepping out of the car and walking up the stairs.

I watched them drive off and then stopped at my door. There, sticking out of the little wire curve from my fly screened door, was a card.

I'm Sorry

~Eric

Was written simply on the white card, with a single red rose attached to it with a pin, I frowned. How did he get here so fast? And why would he care to be sorry? I was a no one... he was a very powerful vampire and I was merely Eric... why would he apologise.

I went inside and put the rose in a cup which then I filled with water. Funny huh, I've lived here for at least a year and have never been bothered to get a vase.

Once that was done I left the note next to it and then went upstairs, hoping for a simple, dreamless, goodnights sleep.

But I was not granted that and was forced into the reoccurring dreams I've had on and off ever since I drank Eric's blood. They left me unsatisfied, wanting and well, horny.

I hated it.

...