A/N This chapter was incredibly difficult for me to write and I'm not 100% sure that I am completely satisfied with it. But I do hope that you enjoy it and as always reviews and constructive criticism is more than welcome.
- I don't own any of the Southern Vampire characters, Charlaine Harris does.
-The song in question: Living Dead Girl- Subliminal Seduction mix.
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Chapter 8
"You look beautiful" Claudine said.
She held me at arms length from her, her eyes wistful as if long lost in a memory when she too felt like the belle of the ball. Claudine had lived a long life by mortal standards and with her beauty I could only imagine that someone, somewhere had gone to great lengths to woo the flawless fairy. But she didn't speak of it. Instead she raised a hand to my cheek, brushing strands of wayward blond hairs away. Her face changed, her brows furrowed, her lips poised to speak.
"Sookie, I know that we were...playful earlier", she paused, "about your intentions with Eric. But you must remember that he, above all, is a vampire. A very powerful vampire with many enemies. With times as tenuous as they are, I want you to think hard on this. Is this really what you want?
The question was not an easy one to answer. But calling Eric an, above all, vampire wasn't an easy comment to rectify either. Calling him just a vampire was something akin to calling a symphony orchestra a band. True a band could be entertaining, but the symphony moved you. The rise and fall of lilting music,The gentle restraint of strings and wind instruments blown wide open by the soaring heights of passionate horns and drums. Gran had taken me to see the Louisiana Symphony Orchestra in Shreveport when I was little. I still remember feeling as if i was not only listening, but feeling the music. I felt that if I were raise my hands that gently falling music notes would appear out of my fingers. And that was the way I felt with Eric. Vampire yes, but he was so much more to me. He had to be. My life had been hard, dysfunctional even. But not so much that I could so easily dedicate myself to a one dimensional caricature of a man. Eric was my orchestra and the bond between us was our symphony.
I smiled in her direction, "Yes, Claudine. I am sure."
She struggled to return the smile. I knew that my decision was hard on her. I knew, as she knew, that in the very likely event that trouble would arise, she couldn't come to me. But we would both just have to trust Eric to protect me. I was ready to do that. He had done that, time and time again. Claudine was clearly conflicted, but pushed her thoughts of my danger to the side momentarily.
"Well," she sighed heavily, "Let's do the unveiling".
It was the first time since she had arrived that I would see myself in the dress she picked out. She turned me towards the full length mirror in my bedroom and I swallowed, taking the whole of my reflection in. The dress was indeed, as Claudine had proclaimed, perfect. Black and tight enough in all the right places so that I would blend in with the clientele at Fangtasia, but modest enough that I didn't feel like a menu item. Done in the softest and thinnest of leather, the high neckline came up to cover the lowest part of my neck, fitting me like a choker necklace. The vest like, sleeveless bodice clung softly to the curves of my breasts and began slowly loosening, yet still tailored and fitted, around my narrow waist and the skirt flared out gently, the fabric ending at a leg baring upper mid thigh. It was short. I'd have to be careful to not expose too much. I'm not overly modest, but I am going to a vampire bar. And my exposed skin glistened. I had spent the better part of the evening buffing, polishing and shining. My new lotion, courtesy of Amelia, smelled of wild orchids and vanilla and left a sparkling sheen on my tan, toned arms and legs.
Claudine had insisted that I finish the ensemble with a pair of black, knee-high boots and a very chic leather cap. After securing my long blond hair in two low ponytails on either side of my neck, she had helped me with applying a smokey kohl liner to my eyes and glossed my lips with the lightest of pink. I'm not one for wearing a lot of make-up, but the contrast between the dark of my dress, the liner and the blue of my eyes was almost electric.
She had called it "biker chic meets go go dancer", and explained all about the vintage 60's dress and style while we were at the shop. Finger combing through my long ponytails one last time and adjusting my cap, I began smoothing my hands over the buttery material of the mini- dress. I giggled, drawing a look of amusement from Claudine.
" I look like I'm about to star in my own music video." Claudine laughed in earnest, her laughter was melodic and light.
"Sookie dear, you are too much." she bolstered herself up with false heraldry and announced, "You are Sookie Stackhouse, the famed and reputed telepath from Bon Temps. Bonded to Eric Northman and seated at the right hand of his power," She bowed at the waist solemnly and the rose laughing, "At least you can look the part."
We broke into laughter that was interrupted by Amelia's announcement that Jason had arrived.
"That's my cue to leave, dear cousin." she held me at arms length again and smiled that same wistful smile before kissing me gently on each cheek. "I wish you a wonderful evening" She leaned away from me smiling again, "You are well loved and well protected this night."
And with that, she was gone. I wondered if that was what it truly meant to have a fairy godmother. I figured Cinderella was probably jealous.
I hopped down the stairs as gracefully as I could in the chunky heeled boots to the "oohs and ahhs" from Amelia.
She gasped, "Oh my goodness, Sookie, you look to die for."
Jason didn't skip a beat, "Good thing her boyfriend is already dead." he chuckled a little too amused with himself. I simply rewarded him with a stern stare that let him know that kind of talk wasn't going to be tolerated. He quickly dropped his head sheepishly.
"Hey, sis, this was on the porch when I came up." as if trying to make amends for the comment. He held out his hands to reveal a small brown shipping box, no name, no address and no return face was showing regret that he had made the "dead" joke and he gave a look which seemed to say, "I'll try and do better". I gently took it from him, examining it on all sides finding nothing of the owner or the sender. After my experiences with mysteriously appearing soda cans and luggage, I was a little leery to say the least. But, and I can't explain it, I felt like the box would be safe to open. It felt protected, like Claudine had said. Still, I ran one of my fingernails slowly to release the packing tape before pulling at the cardboard ends half expecting a boom and really pleased when that didn't happen. Once open, a necklace slid out into my hands. It was exquisite, three black gem stones all cut in the shape of triangles, interlocked with each other, and linked by a silver colored chain. Silver?
Amelia, leaned over my shoulder to examine the gift. "Obsidian" she said after running her finger over the smooth surface. I looked at her with an obvious question on my face. "It's volcanic rock, you know, volcano goes boom, lava, ash" She held up her hands and flitted out her fingers in mock explosion. That's how this was made. But this is old, Sookie. Look at the marks around the triagles," she pointed to microscopic scratches and dings in the pendant that I surely could not see. I was going to have to take her word for it.
"And the silver chain?" I asked. It seemed a bit conspicuous that in less than 24 hours after realizing my love for Eric that silver jewelry would be making it's way to my home. Claudine was admittedly cautiously optimistic about my relationship with a vampire, but not so much that she would intentionally cause him unprovoked harm. The list of culprits of the sender was few.
Amelia handled the chain and the pendant. "No, not silver, my guess would be platinum. See it's not as heavy." She bounced her hand up and down as if she was weighing the piece against an imaginary silver competitor.
"Let's put it on you," Amelia spoke, reaching for the clasp with one hand while turning her finger in a circle suggestive of me turning around with the other. The necklace slid gracefully around my neck. The triangle pendants laying just between my breasts, almost blending in the with dark of the dress. I caught the pendant between my thumb and finger and smoothed the surface again. I wondered if Eric had sent it to me. It seemed like something he would do. He loved to send gifts, and even though up to this point they had been pretty practical in nature, I had never known him not to take credit for something. It was 8:30pm. I'd know for sure in the better part of an hour.
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Fangtasia:
The bar with bite.
Pam thought that surely with all the years of experience combined that they could've come up with a better, more witty, slogan than that. Eric had assured her that the slogan was indeed more "tourist friendly" and she had agreed reluctantly. Besides, she had later learned much to her disappointment that "Mistress of Pain" was copyrighted. She stood at the door, as was her usual place until she grew bored with the throngs of people gushing by her to see a real "live" vampire. There were many nights that she felt like a caged tiger in a large zoo and she knew, instinctively, the whys and hows of what happened to people who accidentally found themselves inside the cage. Yet she stood there dutifully as her Master wished. Tonight she wore one of her favorite ensembles, the black leather corset with blood red silk ribbons drawing it closed. She had chosen a long full skirt which came all the way to the ground. In spite of her complaining about the stifling nature of Victorian garb, sometimes, she longed for the familiarity of what she had once known. This skirt was that at least.
It was just past dusk when Pam felt the familiar stir of awakening. She had found it peaceful and languidly stretched against the soft butter creme of her sheets. To her left had laid her emergency phone, her bat phone as Sookie had called it and Eric had laughed at her for not knowing what it meant. She had made a mental note to rent the movie at some point, but when the Louisiana take over happened and they had all barely escaped with their undead lives, the idea slowly fell to the wayside. She noticed the fire red flashing against the darkness of her bed chamber. Even under normal circumstances, the use of the emergency phone wouldn't have phased her much. The sole intention of the phone was to give Sookie peace of mind. Pam knew that if a true need would've arisen she would have awoken to a very fear stricken yet wildly courageous Sookie Stackhouse hovering over her sleeping face and she on the floor of some filthy unkempt basement instead of relishing in the luxury of her down comforter.
She reached for the phone, two missed calls, two messages. She didn't have to be telepathic or have any preternatural gift to know who was calling. She hit the voice mail button and waited.
Pam, it is Eric. I need you to come in early to Fangtasia tonight, I want to discuss the issue of...my scent. He stammered, as if he were worried someone else may be listening . We also need to discuss the importance of Compton's information. And, my child, I do not pine.
Her second message played.
Hey Pam, it's Sookie. I'm ok, I'm alright, I'm better than alright. Listen, I'd really like to see you tonight, I was hoping we could go to Fangtasia. Call me as soon as you get up.
She spotted Sookie right away and even though it may have disappointed the "fans" at the door for not seeing the scowling, menacing vampire they anticipated, she smiled. A bright, genuinely happy smile to see her beloved friend. As Sookie approached, Pam was more than a little impressed that in tow she had with her Jason Stackhouse, wayward brother extraordinaire. Neither Sookie or Eric had known about her late night visits to the elder Stackhouse. Even though they were with the purest of intentions and despite Jason's more than eager pleas to the contrary, Pam was simply not interested in the boy in a romantic capacity. Her only concern was an attempt to rectify or force reconciliation if need be, the relationship between the siblings, She could not dwell long on the thought that Jason was here or the ramifications of what that might mean. She was too in awe of Sookie. She looked amazing in her vintage 60's inspired dress.
Eric, she thought, would be impressed too. He had been endlessly fascinated with the culture and counter culture of the era. He enjoyed that humans were opening up their minds to new ideas and new experiences and was especially pleased with the sexual awakening that was occurring. He had thought, even then, that someday soon it may be possible for vampires to walk freely among humans. He had invited her to come to San Fransisco to some large human gathering to celebrate free love and open minds. Pam saw it more of a chance for drug addled dirty people to get high and writhe all over one another. Eric, as usual, had been having a great time until he accidentally fed on a young hippie girl who was high on LSD. Accidentally meaning that Pam had totally and completely set him up for it. It had lessened her boredom ten fold to see her master giggling and conversing to the grass and complaining that the concrete was "wavy". Her fun decreased after several hours of,
"No, master, there are not dancing bears here." and "Yes, master that is your hand. No, master I do not see rainbows coming out of it."
Pam was shaken from her deluge of memories when Sookie and Jason approached. Her smile still glowing on her doll like face, she bent to kiss Sookie on each cheek.
"Sookie, dear, how very retro of you." she smiled winking in her direction. "My master will be so pleased to..." she paused to give Sookie the once over again. Had the women in front of her not been the object of affection for her beloved Eric, but also her very dear friend she would have had quite impure thoughts about the young lady...."see you" she finished.
"Thanks, Pam. You look great too." Sookie had plastered her awkward smile on her face, the one that always showed when she was trying too hard to be pleasing. She was nervous and it showed in her speech and on her face."
"He's here" Pam said as she leaned in towards her ear, "and no, he does not know you are coming. It will be...quite the surprise"
Pam stood back and raised her arm toward the open door. Sookie walked in past her, head held high and with determination on her face. Pam couldn't help but smile towards her backside as she walked in to the bar. Jason stepped around Pam to go in. With her vampire speed she spun to place her manicured hands up to his chest to block is entry. She said nothing, but arched an eyebrow and awaited a response.
Jason looked to the ground and kicked the gravel with the toe of his shoe like a scolded child,
"Hey, Miss Pam" he muttered toward the dirt.
"Miss?" she thought to herself. Someone was trying to be on thier best behavior.
"Why, Mr Stackhouse, it has been awhile," she began in her best southern belle drawl " Do tell, whatever did happen to your eye?"
Jason was obviously flustered, "You don't have to threaten me Pam, Sookie invited me here to give me a second chance and besides, she knows about all the late nights you've been spending with me I told her this afternoon."
Pam dropped her hand from his chest and and put her hands on each hip and looked around, obviously annoyed. "Well, shit. I can't have any fun" and with that she flipped the back of her hand towards the open door and ushered him in.
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Eric sat behind his desk with a weeks worth of inventory papers scattered across the top. He had been flipping through them for the better part of the last hour absorbing nothing, cost,revenue, it all steam rolled into one big ball of nothing. Even through the thick walls of his office the familiar thumps of the pumping music radiated through. At one time he had found it a welcome distraction now it was just another noise. His thoughts were captured, captivated, by the last words he had heard before falling into the abyss of his day time slumber.
"I miss you"
His heart, his head were subdued and made prisoner to those three words. They played over and over in his head. He cursed himself for not going to her sooner. For leaving the feelings that she had, that he had, so abandoned. He had decided, he would go to her tonight. In his mind he imagined finding her at her home, dressed in those ridiculous flannel pajamas that hid too much of her glorious flesh, lounging in front of a roaring fire. He imagined himself undressing her slowly and lavishing kisses all along the contours of her petite frame. Except for daytime hours, she would not have the chance to know the pain of missing him again.
He rose, turning to walk to the door when an all to familair ache settled into the center of his bones. A knock came to the door. A young vampire he had just hired to serve as a bouncer stuck his metal adorned head into the office.
"Master Eric, he questioned, "I know you didn't wish to be bothered, but the human girl....she is here'
Eric could only smile in return...I know."
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She was walking steadfast into the bar with Pam and Jason in pursuit with one thought on her mind, "Where is Eric". She glanced toward the back of the dance floor where his throne chair sat ominously empty. Even in her boots she was still too short to see over most of the crowd. She arched up onto her tiptoes for a better view. The din of the music was overwhelming, the heavy bass and synthesized beats pounding in her chest giving her erratic heart beat steady competition. The sounds were dark, dirty and made for dancers to grind against each other in primal abandon. It was part of the draw of Fangstasia to release those animalistic urges under the guise of safety. The pulsating lights of the floor show caressed the revelers in shades of red to match the velvet interior of the bar. She turned back towards the bar to see Jason ordering a drink and Pam nodding toward a young looking vampire with the oddest collection of facial piercings and tattoos. The younger vamp took off for the back. But still Eric's chair remained empty.
" I brought you a drink," the voice was Pam's. In her hand she held a large wine glass with a dark red liquid inside.
"Thanks, Pam, but I don't drink wine very much, I'll just have a gin and tonic" The music was overwhelming, the pulse, heartbeat sound of the instruments continued while a singer screamed something about getting "closer to God"
Pam could only smile, she couldn't help it when her fangs ran down. The heady nature and sexual energy in the room was having it's own effect on her too."It's new Sookie, I designed it myself. You'll like it." she all but promised
She took the glass from Pam and took a quick swallow, It was warm, tingling in her throat all the way down. The thick raspberry liqueur rolled around her tongue, dancing against the thinner taste of vodka and peaches. It was good, really good. And really, really strong. Sookie's head felt light after just one drink, yet Pam encouraged her to finish the glass.
"Wow," Sookie gasped, "That is good. What is it" she asked, her head still a little woozy from the drink and swirling the remaining liquid around in the glass.
"It's called a Vampire's Kiss, charming isn't it?" she smiled looking in the direction of the young returned vamp and nodded in kind to his quickly bowed head. Good, Eric was coming. Pam looked up to see him, just barely hidden in the shadows of the employee only hall way. He was leaning against the doorway, his beautiful blond head resting against the frame, arms crossed in front of his chest. He looked amused yet patient. Curious, but not so much so that he would come into the light and reveal himself. Not yet.
Sookie had returned her attention to her nearly empty glass, she tilted it and choked back the remaining blood colored liquid. She knew why Pam had named her drink what she had. It was, in fact, almost as sweet and intoxicating as the blood that Eric had given her. She was more than a little jealous of knowing that all the hordes of fangbangers in the bar need only to order up the concoction to have a sample of his perfection . She was on the verge of ordering another, hell ordering them all, to keep the skanky girl in the mesh dress beside her from even ordering a sip. She had made the mistake of lowering her shields and listening to the girl's thoughts.
"I hope the blond is here tonight, he is so sexy... the things I could do to him....."
She quickly shut off her mind in disgust over what this tramp had intentions of trying to do with her bonded. She inwardly snarled her nose in distaste and secretly hoped that the girl in question tripped on her stripper heels. Before she could finish or act on the thought of ordering all the drinks and causing Ms. Mesh Disaster to bust her ass, Pam was there ushering her in the direction of the dance floor. Sookie dug in her chunky heels in defiance.
"You came here to have a good time, yes?" Pam asked. It was a rhetorical question. "So, she paused, let's dance"
Sookie, stammered, "But, what about Eric?"
"Exactly, my dear." and she pointed one delicate finger toward the blaring DJ booth, "You're on."
Pam led the way with one arm flung over her shoulder to grasp Sookie's hand. They walked, intertwined with Jason following close behind, through the throng on onlookers both vampire and human alike. Pam stopped as the music started,
"What are you thinking about" the female vocalist questioned. "The same thing you are", another voice through the speaker replied.
The beat that followed was hypnotic, sensual and soon Sookie found herself unable to resist it's call. She twirled and danced, moving her hips seductively to the music that flowed. Whether it was the drink, the environment, or just the thoughts of Eric that now came pouring through her mind like an open flood gate, she couldn't be sure. But she was enraptured by the sounds and by the easy torrent of movement that poured from her body. Eric was here, somewhere, watching, she felt and that only compounded her need to move.
Eric for his part, nudged himself from the shadows, compelled to get a closer look.
He had never, in all his long years, seen such raw and delicate beauty possessed in one woman. He walked closer to the stage, never breaking contact with the rhythmic movements of his lover's form. He stood behind his throne bracing his muscular arms against the solid oak frame. His eyes piercing into the vision of her. In another time this could have well counted with the Dance of the Seven Veils and he, like Herod before him, would be at her mercy and left worshipping at her feet.
His eyes took in the unbridled carnal movements. Surveying her up and down, the knee high black boots which hugged the curve of her toned calves. The sharp heel, which added length and lift to her already defined thighs and her superior ass. He paused and allowed his wet tongue to come out and flash over his parched lips in memory of the way she tasted, the way all of her tasted, and longed for the time in which he had been nestled contentedly between the warmth of those thighs. He looked higher, to the gentle roundness of her hips, which swayed provocatively beckoning him to her. The decadent curves of her ample breasts held tight by the binding leather. He was certain that his child had played a hand in the choice of apparel, knowing full well his affinity for the era. Either that or he indeed had a fairy godmother of his own. Had they been alone, he would've already ripped the dress from her golden body and have been teasing their light pink peaks until wails of delight burst from her mouth. He had decided that when that time came, he would leave the hat and the innocent ponytails that hung beneath it. Unintentionally he felt his fangs come down. He came at last to her eyes, the same brilliant blue as his own, although tonight shone like the most precious sapphires. He willed her to see him.
She turned, instinctivley, knowing her lover was there and watching. Still she danced. Her arms up above her head as her body rolled, passionately in undulating waves, lower. She caught his gaze and in return, did not break it. In one movement she lowered her entire body to the floor only to snap her knees straight again, giving him more than an ample view of the tender back of her thighs and then rolling herself back up again. It was a simple movement, but the effects were devastating. Even Pam could only arch a well defined eyebrow in surprise.
If she had imagined herself a rock star, then Jason Stackhouse had fancied himself her self appointed body guard. Sookie's dancing had garnered quite a bit of attention from vampire and human suitors alike. She was content to toy with them, allow them to think they were sharing a dance, until they got too close. Much to Pam's amusement, Jason who had been standing nearby, arms crossed with one hand up to his lips blocking the smile on his face, intervened. He deftly tapped the accusing male on the shoulder and with one finger pointing to the seat of Eric's throne and wagging another in a "no no no".
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The song ended and Sookie still held Eric's longing gaze. He stepped from behind the solid oak of his throne revealing himself in whole to her. It was the first time that she was able to see him. He stood, his frame towering over the crowd. His long blond hair hanging loose along his wide shoulders. The tight blue ribbed tee accentuating his powerful chest and arms and matching spectrum for spectrum the blue of his eyes. His long powerful legs draped in his cut just right dark jeans. He was a vision. Her memories served no justice to him. Her heart quickened with the sight of him, pounding faster than the now nearly inaudible music. He said nothing, but all she could hear was him.
"Come to me" his silence said and he extended an outstretched hand for her.
Her hand crossed the smooth coolness of his palm and he pulled her up to him, staring intently into her eyes. Electric currents surged through each of them. With a simple movement she was seated in the chair that sat beside his massive throne like seat and Eric was kneeling before her. His thoughts had gone beyond the immediate lustful need to have her, then and there. Instead his thoughts flowed to her courage, her bravery in not only testing the bond, but by coming here tonight to seek him out. He was shamed that a creature so much more fragile than himself could bolster such tenacity when he had not. He was dazzled by this woman, by his woman.
He bent his head to her, the golden locks of his hair teasing playfully across the expanse of her thighs. Eric found the back of her knee and lifted it slightly to meet the pleasurable pressure of his soft waiting lips.
Sookie' sigh bordered on orgasmic, and yet her gaze never broke his.
"You honor me, Sookie. I am yours, for as long as you will have me." He spoke gently turning his head toward her so that her knee now nuzzled against the porcelain of his cheek. "And I have missed you as well."
Sookie's eyes welled with tears, he had heard her. He smiled up at her, that rogue smile that melted what precious pieces of her heart remained in solid form after hearing the gentle purr that was her lover's voice. She could only smile in return.
TBC
