Hello Readers! Here is the next chapter of Finding Her. I do hope you like it. Thanks to all those people who alerted, favorited and reviewed this story. I am extremely grateful. Please review. Happy Reading! Enjoy...
Disclaimer: I do not own True Blood...
Finding Her
Chapter Seven
Eric came in early and was already in his office when Pam flitted in. She had a taunting smirk on her face as she declared, "Our little mouse doesn't look so ratty tonight."
Eric raised an eyebrow at that. He knew his little kitten was already there for a while now. He could feel the humming get stronger in his head. His Arya detector worked just fine. He let her do whatever it was that she always did around his club, before going to look for her. But it seemed his progeny already found something about her that she wanted to show him. So he nodded his head once as Pam called out, "Mouse, get in here!"
Eric heard the sound of shuffling feet and to his delight his little kitten dragged her feet into the room, looking very uncomfortable. She looked up at him with a frown and a questioning look as if asking for his approval. He had to school his features into a calm blank as he looked her up and down. There his kitten stood, wearing fresh, without holes or rips, fitted black jeans and to his great amusement a pretty short sleeved purple peasant-top with a tie that went around her waist. She even had a pair of matching purple flat shoes on her feet. He had to stop from smiling; she looked as adorable as a button as they said. Although, that sounded silly because buttons didn't look adorable, but his kitten did.
He could see Pam smirking. She too was enjoying how uncomfortable little Arya was being. Pam drawled out, "Shoulders back and spine straight, blossom. Match your expression with the clothes you wear, for fuck's sake. You will not look or act like a scared, awkward, gawky and inelegant girl. Get some fucking confidence to match that big brain of yours."
Eric watched in fascination as Arya didn't mind Pam's harsh words. In fact she took them just as they were, a correction. She stopped slouching and stood taller, well as tall as she could, had a calm look sliding on her face, spine straight and acted completely nonchalant. Excellent, she was finally acting as if the clothes were a part of her and not something that bugged her. There was not a sign of her earlier fidgeting.
Ginger did good progress on her and he knew that Ginger had tried before and always failed, only his command made his kitten go through Ginger's fashion makeover. Eric looked her over even more and noticed more changes. Her bag was changed from the old worn out messenger bag to a nice brown leather one. He did specify on that, he was glad that Ginger found one for her. Also her nails were fainted a nice barely noticeable pale pink and she had a thin gold chain around her neck with a small gold A on it. Eric mused; his kitten actually resembled a little girl at this point. Thin, pale, curls, big eyes, cute and a little pretty girl.
Finally he drawled lazily, "You do not look as funny as I thought you would, little kitten. The new clothes surprisingly suit you."
She huffed and replied immediately, "Mr. Northman, you wouldn't make Auntie Jeannie and I get these clothes if you thought I wouldn't suit them. You wouldn't make Auntie Jeannie and I get these clothes if you thought I wouldn't suit them. You do not do anything without a good reason. Anyway, thank you for the clothes."
Eric smirked, how very clever she was. It was then he suddenly noticed that slight shine from her earlobe. She had a stud in her ear and her lobe looked slightly red. Ginger got her ears pierced. The humming in his head sharpened just a little as he contemplated how much it hurt her and how her flesh was marred. He growled out, "You got your ears pierced?"
Her hand immediately went to her ear and she blinked and then replied with a slight smile, "Yes. All girls have their ears pierced. I wanted it too, although Auntie Jeannie was very worried that I would hurt and kept on asking me if I was sure."
That was strange. As far as he could tell about his little kitten, he knew that she had no interest in dressing up looking pretty or wearing jewelry like all the other girls. So why would she get her ears pierced? Her explanation did make his rage at Ginger ease down. Apparently it was her idea and Eric had a very good idea how stubborn his kitten could get when she had an idea. He asked monotonously, "Did it hurt?"
She gave him a funny look before saying, "Well, of course. They basically puncture a hole in your ear. It is supposed to hurt. But it was bearable for me."
She didn't notice the cold look that slid onto Eric's eyes or the way his hand fisted on the table, but Pam did. She quickly stated in a bored tone, "Well aren't you a brave girl! So tell me what prompted this desire to self-inflict a hole through your ear?"
Eric's tension eased away as he saw his kitten giggle at his progeny. Then she replied, "I want to wear momma's earrings, Miss Pam. She left them to me. Besides, piercing my ears wasn't that big a deal. Every girl does it, I did it too. It didn't even hurt as much as I thought it would. Just a little scary."
Eric concentrated on her smile as he calmed down, he would have to instruct Mr. Fisher on keeping a closer eye on her. He sneered out, "What's next? Tattoos?"
"No way, Mr. Northman. It was just a normal piercing for earrings; I am not acting out or being even remotely like those strange nonsensical rebellious teenagers. I don't see the logic in actions like that, mine has logic."
Eric regarded her with cold eyes and then snapped, "Keep that in mind, little kitten."
With that he pretended to get back to his work. Pam knew he was still ticked off, but for once she didn't say anything. He was taking in unnecessary deep breaths to calm himself down. It wasn't working in the beginning, but then his kitten's soothing ocean and cherry-blossoms scent filled his senses and he just gave himself up to it. Letting it calm his anger and the humming sooth all his tensions.
He could hear the idle chatter between his beloved progeny and his little kitten. His little kitten as usual was curious and Pam as usual was filing her nails and looked bored. When he was calm enough he turned his attention on the two females before him, his kitten was looking at Pam as she asked her, "Miss Pam why do you call me blossoms?"
Pam smirked a dark little smirk at her as she exchanged a quick glance with Eric. Eric knew exactly why Pam called her blossoms; it was because little Arya smelt like cherry-blossoms. An exotic scent and one that Pam liked quite a lot. Pam drawled at the little girl blinking at her, "Well blossoms, why don't you come to me when you turn eighteen and I will tell you exactly why I call you that."
Eric barely held in the urge to growl, even though he knew Pam was joking. He still sent a glare at her; Pam simply gave a discreet nod with a teasing smirk on her lips. If he was anything like little Arya, he would have pouted. He looked back at his little kitten, expecting her unpredictable response to Pam's teasing. Pam too was looking at her waiting to hear what the little breather would amuse them with. She looked at Pam attentively, for almost a minute. Then she sighed and asked, "Is it one of those things that adult just try avoid explaining by telling me that I am not old enough or mature enough, or is it a distinctly vampire thing that I would not understand because I am human?"
Eric blinked this time and Pam looked at her like she grew another head. Little Arya continued, "If it's the first thing, then I must tell you I am more mature and have more intellect than an eighteen year old, so no need to be sensitive to my age. If it's the second thing, then Miss Pam even if I was eighteen I still wouldn't understand the point properly because I'd still be a human, so my age or lack of it is an invalid point. Therefore, either way, you can tell me now and I will understand it."
He couldn't help it. He chuckled; the little kitten was arguing and debating her way with a vampire, that too for the answer of a simple and seemingly insignificant question. The oddest thing wasn't even that, it was that her logic and her arguments made sense. Pam snapped at her, and Arya couldn't tell, but Eric could, Pam's eyes were light, soft and smiling.
"Are you sure, blossoms? The explanation includes sex, blood and more sex."
Again, it stung Eric. Her words were meant in a jest, but his sudden and recently developed protectiveness of the little girl, made those words rub him the absolute wrong way. He would have reprimanded Pam in some way, but he was also curious to see his little kitten's reaction. She looked at Pam thoughtfully, not at all bothered by Pam's seemingly harsh tone and replied equally thoughtfully, "Well, it's true that having sex with me or giving me or taking blood from me are not allowed till I am eighteen. Therefore, I suppose you could wait till then to show me if I asked you to, but that does not mean you cannot tell me now. There is after all, a difference between telling and showing. But regardless of all of that, I think I have figured it out."
That wasn't the first time he heard the word sex from his little kitten's mouth and it still felt wrong. He wanted to cringe, damn it all to hell; his little kitten should be protected from all of these things. She was just too young. Despite his olden ways, background and knowledge which stated back then that a fourteen year old girl was plenty old to be taught of the ways of womanhood, he felt like keeping his little kitten safe. He blamed his protective instincts and vampire possessiveness for that. Again, despite his strange protective thinking, he also felt proud of his little kitten, she was not naïve. She knew many things of the world that children her age didn't know about and she logically thought everything out, much like a calm calculated adult. Something that even aged vampires couldn't always do; let alone adult humans. His pride in her intellect and her way of thinking and handling situations always trumped his protective instincts. He was a Viking after all, and Viking parents were never the most over-protective lot and they thrived in seeing their young ones becoming strong. His Viking background always puffed its chest when it saw how tenacious and clever the little girl was being. She would become a strong adult one day with an even stronger head on her shoulders. She would become one his most prized workers too. It would most definitely be a pleasure to watch her journey through life.
He watched as the kitten ran a finger right under the bottom of her little chin as she spoke softly, "You call me blossoms, so in effect you are actually calling me a flower. Now, as far as I know, blood and sex are intertwined when it comes to vampires and when you say show, you imply that you will be showing me your explanation by having sex with me and of course there will be a lot of blood during that particular activity. This is also why the question of my age comes in. Now again, as far as I know, vampires pick whom they drink from mostly by scent and the taste of the blood. If that is so, then how do they know how a person would taste good or bad before they even consume a single drop of blood? I guess the same way we humans do, by sight and scent. The scent of food teases our taste buds and makes our mouth salivate. So the same can be said for vampires. Therefore, you call me blossoms because I probably smell like some kind of flower blossom to you, Miss Pam."
If Pam was the childe of any other vampire and had not the training Eric gave her, she would have either torn into the little girl for her audacious words or imitated a gold fish in awe of her reasoning. Pam did neither, in fact, all Pam did was smirk. A large cat-like smirk was painted across her red lips. This was why she liked the little breather. She made things so infinitely more fun. Pam was also sure that one day when the little breather would grow up, a little taller and curvier enough to fill a bra at least, Pam would have her. Well, Eric might have claimed her and planned on keeping her but he was showing no signs of having her in the true sense of the word. But even if Eric did so, Pam would be more than happy to simply turn her. Little Mary-Jean Arya Hollis would make a fabulous progeny for her. Little Arya was already independent, smart and she entertained Pam a lot. All the criteria were fulfilled that convinced Pam to keep her around and actually bother to go through the tedious process of turning her. Pam would never admit it, but there was something adorable about the little girl. Despite the girl's horrible dressing sense, naivety and ignorance about certain matters and that horrible stigma of being actually related to someone as insipid as Ginger, Pam liked her and wanted to keep her around. After all, all of those flaws could be easily corrected. That's right, corrected. All Pam had to do was wait, and even this little creature was making the waiting entertaining.
Besides, Godric said something about protecting her and keeping her safe, something to do with how important she would be. Pam didn't know anything about that but she did know that she wanted to keep the little breather around, in her own way little Arya had captured the attention of all the three vampires, Godric, Eric and Pam. It was the odd kind of attention too, one that was working very well in the little girl's favor.
She smiled a slow wicked smile with fangs and all and complimented with glittering blue eyes, "Correct, little breather! You do smell delicious. Do curb your overactive mind though, you wouldn't want a vampire to suddenly take mind to your words and do something unmentionable to you."
Arya nodded solemnly and blinked once, Pam just winked at her tapped her once on the nose with a bright red nailed finger tip and flitted out of the room. Eric simply watched them with amused eyes. He had seen it all; Pam was actually affectionate to the little girl. Then again who wouldn't? She just awed two vampires with her intellectual prowess and keen observations and did all while still looking like a cute kitten.
He watched as the little kitten turned around to look at him and she declared sagely but her golden eyes were twinkling with mischief, "I think Miss Pam quite likes me."
Eric calmly fisted one hand and grabbed that fist with the other hand and then just as calmly rested his mouth on it and continued to stare at her unfalteringly. He did all that to stop her from seeing how badly his mouth twitched to let out the laughter building in and to smile widely. His kitten just had a way of entertaining him to the fullest.
He continued to stare at her and listening to her heartbeat as well as that pleasant humming in the back of his head. Little Arya first blinked at him twice and then stared right back at him. After a few minutes she blinked once more and then asked concernedly, "Mr. Northman, by any chance are you angry at me?"
Eric cocked his head to a side and asked, "Do I have a reason to be, little kitten?"
She shook her head, the curls on her head bouncing with the movement and replied sweetly, "I do not know, and that is why I asked, Sir. It's just that you aren't saying anything to me."
He smirked, "What do you wish for me to say to you, little kitten?"
She replied with a small pout, "Again, I do not know. But this feels weird."
Eric smiled and motioned for her to take a seat in front of him, she smiled and did so. Eric again held in the urge to smile when he saw just how tiny his little kitten looked sitting in that chair. She even kicked her legs back and forth just a little and the way she waited for him to speak made him feel warmth spread through his body and his heart twinge just a little. He liked being looked at by her adoring yellow eyes, it fed his ego and made him feel like the strongest person ever. At least in her eyes he knew he was. He thrived just a little knowing that she hung on his every word.
He watched her for a few more seconds and savored the feeling of her eyes and then he told her, "I wish you to be here during the weekend, little kitten. You must stay back late since the club's opening time will be pushed back further. There is someone I wish for you to meet."
There was a little frown on her face as she contemplated his words before nodding seriously. Eric continued, "You must look your absolute best and be on your most obedient behavior. The person who is arriving this weekend for a brief visit is the most important person you shall ever meet in your human life, little kitten. I demand perfection."
She nodded once again and then asked, "Sir, is this person a vampire?"
Eric nodded and she asked again, "Should I remain quiet and speak only when spoken to?"
He smirked and replied, "Behave how you did back when you first met me. Respectful but not a complete, how do you say it, ah yes, ass-kisser. This person is entitled to far more respect and obedience than I, little kitten."
She nodded but remained quiet for sometime before she looked back at him hesitantly. The humming turned slightly shrilly as Eric noticed the timid look about her eyes. She asked softly, "Mr. Northman, is there any possibility of this vampire guest hurting me?"
Eric felt a sudden shock of well, shock go through him. His stomach turned and his fangs ached just a little as he remembered the panic and anger from before, to be specific from back when he talked with Godric about her. What could he do to protect her if Godric acted like the olden days? He couldn't do anything, he wouldn't do anything no matter how hollow he felt and his body ripped apart in pain. Godric was Godric and nothing was greater than him, not even a small human who entertained him beyond all else. His fangs did come out in his mouth but his lips remained closed and hid the fact, as a sudden sharp pain tore through his chest and the back of his head. Then he remembered Godric's mellow voice telling him, giving him his word that Arya was safe from him. That Godric himself would offer her protection. What could be greater than a two thousand years old vampire's protection? Besides, Eric claimed her, didn't he? Godric would definitely respect that.
The pain eased and the humming soothed, his fangs retracted and his mind calmed. He looked at her, hoping she could see the determination in his eyes as he told her firmly, "You will be safe with me, little kitten."
She nodded, but a little nervously Eric noticed so he eased her a little by adding, "Do what you do for Pam and I, little kitten. Talk; entertain us and our guest with your wit and that oversized brain of yours. Trust me when I say this, you are quite different from all the other dreary humans. You, little Mary-Jean Arya Hollis are truly an exception."
Eric never gave any compliments especially to petty humans. Who gave compliments to bloodbags, really? But those words that he said to his Arya, he wouldn't take back in any case. He watched in silent awe how her nervousness melted away, her cheeks flooded a pretty light pink, her topaz eyes twinkled, her pink lips spread into a truly magnificent smile and she looked at him with so much joy that his body suddenly felt warm all over. The humming in his head spread throughout his body making it feel almost alive. Suddenly Eric knew; smiles like that, especially Arya's smiles were only meant for him. After all she was his little kitten.
For that night he was content. He knew the bar would be opening soon, so he permitted his little kitten to leave. He sat back smiling and went back to his work. There was sudden ring and he smirked. His kitten was dutifully brightening up his night.
Question: How did the Vikings send secret messages? –AH
Eric's eyebrow twitched. She wouldn't. Not another one. He sighed; he wouldn't even dignify that horror of a text with a reply. A minute later another ring, another message received. He blinked once before he looked at the reply. Damn it.
Answer: By Norse code. –AH
His eyebrow really twitched at that, and he tried his best, but still it happened. A small smile still emerged on his lips no matter how much he tried to suppress it. His reply was lightening quick.
Your jokes are awful, appalling, dire and dreadful, little kitten. –EN
Her reply was quick.
Yet you find me oh-so-entertaining, Mr. Northman. What does it say about your sense of humor then? –AH
Eric had to smirk at that.
Are you trying to convince me to get rid of you, little kitten? –EN
No, just saying my jokes cannot be that bad. They are funny. –AH
Yes, they are indeed funny, little kitten, in a sad and pathetic way. –EN
Then I shall endeavor in getting better with my jokes. Practice makes perfect, Mr. Northman. –AH
Eric blinked hard at that message. She was going to practice her horrible jokes on him. He groaned, but couldn't help but smile for the rest of the night.
Two nights later, Godric arrived nearly at dawn at Eric's home. It was a warm and happy reunion and Eric felt complete. He was happy and content. That evening, even before the sun set, Godric was roaming around the house restlessly, waiting for Eric so that they could go to Fangtasia to meet the little delight called Arya.
Eric remembered to warn Godric about her horrible jokes and about how she was nervous. Together they flew to Fangtasia and as soon as Godric landed and entered Fangtasia, he stated after a deep breath, "My childe, she smells like the ocean and winter. Like you did long ago and still do a little."
Eric looked curiously at his master. He smelt like ocean and winter. Well, he knew his kitten smelt like the cold ocean, frosty winds and sweet cherry-blossoms. He looked around at the empty bar, and he wanted to show everything to his master. But he noticed how his master was searching for the sole reason for his visit and not looking at his infamous vampire bar. So he summoned Pam. Pam greeted Godric with a bow, showing the greatest respect for her master's master. Then she gave him a sweet smile, a true smile before looking at Eric with a gleeful smile. Eric was puzzled before he heard it, soft footsteps coming towards them.
He was stunned as soon as he looked at the direction from where a soft and familiar greeting of, "Good Evening, Mr. Northman!" came from. His little kitten never looked so adorable and pretty before. She stood wearing skinny black jeans with black converse on her feet, all clean and fresh looking. Her hair still in shiny, round and bouncy somewhat chaotic short curls and her torso covered in a bright yellow shirt with black and gray flowers on it. He looked stunned as to how the yellow of her shirt truly made her eyes look like yellow diamonds and all that black along with her hair made her look truly like a little kitten. She smiled at them and came closer. Eric decided she did look acceptable.
He turned to look at his master to find him staring with wide blue-gray eyes at the little girl before him. Eric didn't like that Godric was staring at his kitten for so long, and what made things worse was how his kitten seemed to be studying every single inch of his master. He wanted them to stop, so he introduced, "Godric, this is Miss Mary-Jean Arya Hollis. She prefers to be called Arya."
He gave her a little look to remind her to greet his guest properly. Arya blinked once and then twice before she gave Eric a knowing smirk and then smiled brightly at Godric and asked in a cute voice, "What's up, dude?"
Eric wanted to slap his forehead really hard but he was still stunned, Pam on the other hand snorted. Godric smiled a small smile and looked back at her questioningly, shaking his head a little with confusion. Arya on the other hand was dead set on impressing the new guest. She smiled even brighter, nudged her head towards Eric, pointed a finger in an upward fashion and replied softly, "I don't know, ask the Viking."
Pam gasped before she looked at Arya in a horrified manner and still ended up snorting. Godric on the other hand, looked a little confused before he looked at Eric, but to do so he had to look a bit higher. Then, it hit Godric.
Eric truly wanted to bash his head again and again on any hard and durable surface. Why? Because he was watching his two thousand years old master and a fourteen year old girl burst into stomach aching laughter over a stupidly lame joke.
He waited and watched as Arya clutched her stomach and laughed, her laugh was like warm tickling bubbles in his stomach. Godric was shaking his head and laughing and every time he thought he could stop, he would look at Eric's stony face and start laughing all over again. Godric's laugh eased all the tension from Eric away. He looked at Pam for support but she was grinning like an imp at him. Eric decided that even though his lips wanted to smile too, that joke was the worst joke ever. Especially because the stupid and lame joke was on him.
