I watched the glow of the fire on the horizon as we drove out of the city. I watched until it disappeared from my view. We'd done it. We'd freed all that we could and burnt the facility to the ground, no other vampire would suffer there. I consoled myself with that knowledge while I mourned for the ones that had been lost. I even mourned the ones we'd been forced to kill because the madness caused by captivity and torture had broken them beyond redemption. I could hear the moans of the injured vampires and Were's coming from the back of the van and I hoped we hadn't lost many and that we wouldn't lose anymore.
"You alright there cher?" Samuel asked breaking me out of my thoughts.
"Huh? Oh, yea. I'm fine." I answered absently.
"In my experience cher when a lady cries, she is most often not fine." He said.
I hadn't even realized that I'd been crying. I wiped the tears off my cheeks and rubbed my eyes. The events of the night had clearly taken a toll on me. I didn't regret a thing but the losses of life that had happened.
"I'm ok Samuel. Its just that, that, so much has happened. Everything is going to be different now. Good different and bad different." I told him.
He nodded; eyes locked on the road allowing me the privacy he could afford me to compose myself. It was my reality now. All the things that were coming for us, the good, the bad, the fighting and likely the dying of both super naturals and humans alike. When I started my mission to free my vampires, I hadn't fully considered what it would mean for all of us. I knew now. I knew my life from now on would be in territory I had never been in before, running, hiding, plotting and finding ways to liberate more super naturals with as little loss of life as possible. I am not ashamed to admit I am scared shitless. I don't know where I fit in this world, didn't even know I belonged to it until very recently.
"How much further?" I asked to distract myself from all the emotions burning a hole in my chest.
We'd been driving for almost two hours. We were in the middle of nowhere. I hadn't seen a sign of civilization for the last half hour. It was black as pitch out here and the dirt road we'd turned onto ten minutes ago showed no signs of life, not even livestock.
"We're here." He said as he slowed the truck and turned into a field.
I looked at him with disbelief on my face. There wasn't a damn thing out here. The path and I use that term loosely was barely more then an old cow path. He didn't say anything else and I stared into the darkness looking for anything. As we made our way slowly over the rutted and worn trail a dark outline appeared in the distance. It was one of those corrugated steel buildings you'd see on a farm to store equipment.
"Trust me. This is the safest place for all of us. It is more then it appears." He stated calmly.
"Do you think I'll be welcome here?" I asked softly.
He brought the truck to an abrupt stop and turned to face me, his eyes fierce and surprised at the same time.
"I thought Aurelias made it clear that you are one of us Susanna. You will be among friends here. You will be hailed as a savior. You saved many lives. You have led us out of the dark after so much suffering." He said fervently.
"I'm no savior. I'm just a human woman with some extras." I answered eyes down cast.
"Look at me." He said firmly.
When I didn't look up to meet his penetrating gaze he growled and swore.
"Look. At. Me. Susanna." He annunciated every word. I looked up and met his determined eyes. "You are a supernatural being; you might have some human in you, but you are more us than them. I don't think you fully understand what it is that you have done. You didn't just help rescue a few dozen vampires, you united factions of super naturals that have not worked together in this way in so long that only the elders remember a time when your kind and ours weren't enemies."
I just stared at him. I had no idea what to say to that or how to feel about it.
"OK." I said lamely.
"Not since the days of…" He started but abruptly stopped.
"Not since the days of what?" I asked.
"It is not my place to tell you. Aurelius or Eric will explain everything to you." He said ending this conversation.
I wasn't having it though. You can't just start a sentence that way and expect someone to leave it.
"Oh no sir. You cannot just say something like that and then expect me to leave it. Not since the time of what Samuel?" I demanded.
"Not since Lilith. Our kinds once lived peacefully. She asked to much and we all payed. I won't say anything more; I've already said to much." He replied.
I wanted to yell at him, but it was clear that what he'd told me cost him. He'd been an ally to me, and I wouldn't risk him further even though my curiosity was burning like hell alive. He put the truck back in gear and continued towards the dark building in the middle of a field in hells hundred acres.
"Be brave Susanna, timid doesn't suit you" He said as we pulled up to the door of the building.
He hopped out of the cab and rounded the back of the truck in the blink of an eye. A moment later the rolling doors of the building opened and Were's and Vampires came to help unloaded the wounded from the back of the truck. Ari was opening my door a second later.
"Are you well?" He asked as I hopped out of the truck.
"I am." I answered with a wink.
Samuel was right, timid didn't suit me. I had done something no one else had dared and succeeded. The lady balls Jason had told me to find I had located and even though I didn't know how to fit in this new world I was a part of, I was damn determined to not show fear. I wouldn't let doubt and fear crush my spirit now.
"Are Eric and Pam ok?" I demanded.
"They are inside recovering and feeding. He wants to see you. He was quite pissed off at me for trusting your welfare to an underling until he saw you fry that vampire into oblivion." He said with a lopsided grin.
"He does realize that I rescued him not the other way around doesn't he." I said cocking an eyebrow.
"We all know." He said with deep respect.
"Oh no. Don't you start with that you're a savior bullshit. I'll deal with it from the others but not you. I'm still just Susanna the crazy girl who accosts ancient vampires in bars. You are still Ari the insufferably smug beast who looked out for a girl he barely knew." I said sassily.
"As you like Susanna." He said and barked out a laugh.
I hugged him and he went statue still. "You're going to get me killed." He muttered running a hand through his dark hair.
I looked behind Ari and saw several dozen vampires and Were's watching us. There was a mixture of expressions of their faces, shock, surprise, curiosity, awe and respect. I took a deep breath; it was time to face the people I'd saved and the others who helped with the saving. It was time to see Eric.
"Come, I'll take you to him." He said and turned heading towards the building.
My heart was fluttering in my chest like a panicked bird. I was going to see Eric. Not the Eric I had known as a captive, but him free and at full strength. I was excited as hell and just as equally freaking out. I followed Ari into the building and the crowd gathered just inside parted like the Red Sea for Moses. I could hear them whispering to each other. I blocked all that out. I needed to have a clear head when I saw Eric again.
Once inside I saw that this was not just some shed in a field. The inside looked like a home once you got past the loading dock. There was a makeshift infirmary in the huge open living area, vampires were being tended to and fed. Were's were being patched up and healed by uninjured vampires. There were piles of bagged blood and medical supplies spread out on tables throughout the area. Ari turned down a hallway and led me towards a room at the end. Pam was standing outside the door looking rosy and well dressed. As we got close to the door her leering gaze landed on me and appraised me.
"Blood looks good on you, really brings out your eyes." She said smirking.
"Thanks Pam." I said with mock sincerity.
I hadn't paid any attention to the state I was in but as I surveyed myself, I saw that I was in fact covered in vampire remains. My hair was crusted with dried blood, as well as my hands, face, and well pretty much all of me. I laughed out loud at the absurdity of how calm I was considering the events of the night and all the things I'd been taken on in the last few months.
"Ugh, I look disgusting." I sighed.
"You look like a warrior." Ari said simply.
Pam motioned to a door to her left. I opened it and was thankful to find a well-appointed bathroom stocked with everything a person could ever need in the way of hygiene.
"I'll send some clothes back and Thank you." She said before striding down the hall.
I slipped inside and closed the door. I started the shower and adjusted the temperature of the water. I leaned against the door while I waited. I was bone tired. I was also completely consumed with the idea of seeing Eric tonight. His words were repeating themselves over and over again. Everything we had said to each other these past few months. One thing he'd said to me stood out. When we are out of here, I don't intend to share you with anyone. Ari had told me endlessly that Eric would claim me, that I'd be his, at some point I had started considering him mine as well. I'd know one way or the other soon enough.
The door opening pulled me out of my thoughts. Pam slipped in with a pile of clothing in her hands.
"I did not know what kinds of things you wear in your outside life. I took the liberty of choosing this." She said with a wicked smile and thrust the pile of clothing at me.
It was a soft pale green sweater with cape sleeves and a plunging neckline, a pair of grey capri jeans and some silver wedge sandals. I was truly impressed with her taste. The underwear she provided on the other hand were positively scandalous. There was hardly a scrap of fabric in the thong she provided but at least the bra appeared to have a bit more fabric which was good considering my chest was hardly small. The sizes were all spot on. They were a pale yellow which would look amazing with my tan.
"How'd you know my sizes?" I asked and immediately regretted it.
"Oh, I know a woman's body better than any man alive." She purred with a lascivious grin.
I didn't have any witty retort so I shooed her out of the bathroom so I could shower. She remarked that I was no fun as she slipped out. I locked the door behind her. I quickly shed my gross clothing and got to work making myself presentable again.
Pam and Ari were waiting for me in the hallway when I came out of the bathroom, fresh, clean, nicely dressed and anxious beyond all belief.
"He is waiting for you." Pam said and gestured to the door at the end of the hallway.
Ari nodded towards the door and then turned to follow Pam. I stood there staring at the door, my feet rooted to the floor. This was the moment I had been looking forward to for months. For us to be on level ground. To be free with him. For us to be able to speak freely, to be able to touch without fear of him being hurt or me getting locked away. I could feel him on the other side of the door, I felt him feel my presence. Anticipation bubbled under my skin, mine and his. I reached out for the doorknob and turned it to open it the same time as he did.
He stood before me freshly showered his hair wet and slicked back except for a few stands that fell across his forehead, he was in a pair of black track pants and a tank top that hugged his body like a second skin. He looked healthy and whole. A lilted smile curled his lips and crinkled the corners of his eyes. The same stunning blue eyes I had looked into for months now shone with pleasure instead of pain. My breath caught in my throat and nearly choked me with the emotions coursing through me.
"Hello Sookie." He breathed.
"Hello Eric." I said smiling.
"Say it again." He said his mind curling around mine.
I felt so much from him and I dropped all my shields and let him in so he could feel everything from me. Our eyes were locked, and we looked at each other like it was the first time and millionth time. Any doubts I'd ever had melted away when his hand took mine and the connection between us ebbed and flowed like an ocean current.
"Hello Eric." I said again.
He took my hand and pressed a kiss into my palm before he crushed me into his chest, his arms like banded steel held me tight as he buried his face into my neck inhaling deeply. I wrapped my arms around his back and held him just as tightly, breathing in his scent. We stayed like that for what felt like days. I'd never felt so content.
He loosened his grip enough to cup my cheek in his huge palm and tilted my head back to look into my eyes.
"Thank you for saving us, for saving me. I owe you a life debt Sookie." He said.
"I so happy that you're free. You don't owe me anything Eric. I helped because I wanted to, because it was the right thing to do." I told firmly.
He smiled at me shaking his head "Such goodness in you Sookie. You are owed the debt none the less. You have the life debts of 74 vampires, 12 Were's and 4 shifters as well."
"What are you talking about?" I asked confused.
"That is how many you freed tonight. They apparently found out about the Were and Shifter communities as well. They had two wings dedicated to torturing them as well as vampires. We lost 26 lives in total. More than half that number had to be put down or took their own lives as soon as they were free, their minds were broken." He said angrily.
My heart broke for the ones we lost tonight, for the families and makers who'd never know what happened to them. I was furious at LODI for the things they were doing. If it was happening in this facility who knew how many others were locked away still being tortured. I was pissed at myself for not swiping more information than I had as we scrambled to get out of the chaos as the facility was raided. I had managed to grab the back up drive off the tech station as Samuel hustled me past it though.
"Eric I can't have that many people owing me. I just wouldn't feel right about it." I said.
"This is how things work in the supernatural world. I know you don't know much about it yet, but I will explain everything to you. You are a part of this world now. Aurelius surely told you that." He explained patiently.
"Yes, he told me that. I knew that part going in. He did not tell me that I was going to gawked at and revered as some kind of savior who would be holding life debts from nearly a hundred people!" I said.
"Calm down. It's not as serious as you think it is. They are not your servants now. They simply owe you any favor you ask at any point in the future as payment for saving their lives. The favor could be anything from protecting you or a loved one to coming over to rake your leaves, it's completely up to you. It is just the currency in the supernatural world, money means nothing to us since we have either had extremely long lives and amassed our own fortunes or, inherited from our makers. The Were's and shifters use it as a currency and point of honor. To refuse them would be a great insult." He said matter of factly.
I stepped out of his grasp and plopped down on the couch. There was so much I had to learn and things I was going to have to accept even if I didn't understand them. Eric knelt in front of me and took my hand.
"I know this is a lot Sookie. I swear I will help you if you want me to or if you'd prefer Aurelius to help guide you that is an option you have as well." He said.
I could see by the look on his face and the fire in his eyes that it irked him to the core to offer another vampires guidance to me. I appreciated the gesture, that he was offering me any freedom I wanted even though it flew in the face of all his instincts.
"Thank you. I will gladly accept you help figuring all this out. Ari is my friend and I hope you won't mind to much if I ask his help if we're in a situation where yours isn't available." I told him.
I could see that was the answer he was hoping for and he just nodded and took a place next to me on the couch.
"Lay it on me then. I want to know what you know about what I am and to which family of the Fae you think I belong to?" I said.
"You're a most definitely from one of the Sky clans, I can taste that in your blood. Judging by the amount of power you have, and I am basing this on the things I saw you do at the facility and what I was informed you did while awaiting your arrival I'd say you're from the Brigant line. They are the ruling family of the Sky Fae. I met their leader on the battlefield once a very long time ago when of kinds went to war. The ruling Prince saved my life for a reason I have never know. I recognize the taste of his line in your blood as well." He explained
"Is the war what happened because of Lilith?" I asked.
"It is. How is it that you know about Lilith?"
"Samuel made an off-hand comment on the way up here. He tried to shut down the conversation, but I wasn't having it. He told me that she asked for too much and all of you paid for it." I explained.
Eric raked a hand over his face and swore. What ever happened back then between vampires and the Fae was obviously terrible.
"Lilith was the first vampire as far as any of us know, she sired thousands and led our race once. The Fae all lived on Earth then. They have their own realm that only they can get to, but they enjoyed our plane and set up their own empire her as well. Lilith wanted the powers that they Fae possessed but the Fae are very powerful beings and she knew they would never bow to her, so she found a young Fae male who just so happened to be a Prince from the Brigant line. She started an affair with him which was forbidden. Our kinds lived peacefully together but there was to be no mingling of the species, it was part of the treaty between the two nations. They kept it secret, no one had any idea. Lilith took advantage of his love and trust and turned him. The Prince became unimaginably powerful with all the gifts of both our kinds and none of our weaknesses. Lilith being his maker had him under her command and wielded him as a weapon to try and enslave the Fae nation to her. A vicious and bloody war that lasted almost 100 years began. The hybrid Prince was banished to a shadow realm, and Lilith was eventually destroyed, but the power that took wiped out most of the elders of all the powerful Fae families and decimated both species populations. A treaty was signed between the species once more that no Fae was to be touched while they were on this plane and that no vampires were to be either. Shortly after the end of the war all the Fae disappeared from this plane." He explained.
"That's horrible. That's why you were so surprised when you met me, because I'm a hybrid?" I asked.
"Yes. Any interspecies mingling has always been forbidden." He said. "The fact that you come from the ruling family's line has huge implications. That is why tonight Aurelius must introduce you as who you truly are Sookie. You will officially be Susanna Brigant of the Sky Clan. You need to tell him under who you wish your protection to be secured. It must either be him or me, as we are the only two elders currently in the state. This does not make you ours, it only ensures that everyone knows you are untouchable." He said.
I just nodded as I sat and processed everything I'd just been told. I came from a ruling clan of Sky Fae; I had no idea what that made me. I certainly wasn't just Susanna Stackhouse nurse and mind reader anymore. My decision to help Eric and the other vampires put me in a supernatural spotlight. It was going to changes hundreds of years of animosity between all the supernatural factions. My head was swimming and I had choice to make and they had to be made right now.
I knew without doubt that I was going to ask to be under Eric's protection. I trust him; we have a connection that is unlike anything I've ever experienced. Ari could and would take the job and I have no doubt he'd do an incredible job, but I don't feel for him what I do for Eric. I had admitted to myself that my feelings for Eric were growing deeper.
"I want to under your protection Eric." I told him.
The smile that lit up his features was beautiful. I got the impression from what I felt from him that my choice meant a lot to him. I felt his mind curl around mine, the first time since we'd begun this conversation. I realized he didn't want to influence me by allowing his feelings on the subject to taint mine and it only made me trust him more.
Ari announced himself with a quick knock before coming into the office Eric and I had taken over.
"Thought you could use this. Still going to be a long day." He said with a wink and handed me a steaming hot coffee doctored up the way I like it.
"God, you're a life saver you know that." I said.
I purred after my first sip, Eric growled, and Ari just smirked at us both.
"He knows how you take your coffee?" Eric asked with barely concealed irritation.
"He has been living in my house for the last week or so. Roommates pick up on things." I said.
"He lives with you?" Eric seethed.
"Calm down Eric. He has only been staying in the guest room so it would make planning this whole thing easier. It was getting to be a real pain in the ass trying to text so much intel back and forth. Are you aware he has a thing for winky face emojis? Most unvampiric thing I have ever seen." I said smiling smugly in Ari's direction.
"If you're quite finished plotting my demise and you're done making fun of me perhaps we can address more pressing issues." Ari said
When neither of added anything else he took that as his cue to bring us up to speed.
"The footage from the raid is all over the internet and every media outlet had picked it up. It is total chaos between the LODI organization and government. The public is also well on its way to either panic or support. Vampires who have any contact with anyone involved in the raid have started calling to find out where to meet and the ones close are already here on nearly here. Everyone wants to know about Sookie." He explained.
Eric resumed his scowling and growling in Ari's direction when he called me Sookie instead of Susanna.
"I have asked Eric to have me under his protection." I told Ari.
"As I knew you would." He said with that smug I told you so face he liked to make at me anytime I had argued that I wasn't Eric's.
"Is there anything else I need to know to inform the rest of the gathering?' He asked us both.
"Sookie will be known to everyone outside this room as Susanna Brigant of the Sky Clan." Eric said and Ari's eyes almost shot out of his head.
"Brigant? As in the ruling Fae family Brigant's?" Ari asked.
"The very same." I said.
"Well your highness..." He started but I threw a pillow at his head. Of course, it missed.
"Don't you dare. I'll blast your smug ass through a wall." I said and let my light crackle down my fingers.
Ari just smirked at me and gave me a dramatic bow. I gave him the finger and Eric muttered under his breath something about children.
"Well then let's get this introduction taken care of so we can start planning." Eric said
Eric turned to me and offered his hand to pull me up off the couch. I took it and felt our connection flowing again. I took a moment and grounded myself in the feeling of it.
"You should know Sookie that there is some ceremony involved in a vampire formally taken a person under their protection. We will have to share a drop of our blood with each other as a sign of the pact as well as so I would always be able to find and feel you. No one knows about your blood donations and it should remain that way." He explained.
"Ok. Is there anything I need to say or do beyond a small blood exchange?" I asked.
"I will offer you my protection formally and all you need to do is accept." He said.
"I'll see you out there." Ari said and left ahead of us to open the gathering and call everyone to attention.
Eric and I walked hand in hand until we neared the open area of the building. He raised my hand to his mouth and kissed the inside of my wrist. Until later he whispered into my mind. Shivers raced down my spine and set off the butterflies in my stomach at the possible meaning of that.
We both stood quietly in the hallway and listened as Ari told everyone what had happened tonight, what we planned for the future and that they all needed to contact any super naturals that they knew to warn them about the LODI agenda and to begin the long task of locating other facilities to try and save as many as we could. He told them that safe houses were being set up and to leave no trail of any kind if they left theirs lives to join the revolution.
Ari motioned to Eric and me to come forward. Eric put his hand on the small of my back and led me to the platform that had been set up.
"I know you all have been curious about the female who started this operation. Without further delay I would like to introduce you to Susanna Brigant of the Sky Clan. Susanna infiltrated the LODI facility and cared for our brothers and sisters. She came to me with a plan to save as many of us as possible and gathered all the intel necessary to carry out this operation. All of us owe her our respect and gratitude." Ari paused and let the crowd take in what he'd told them.
They were all looking at me in awe and gratitude and respect. Everyone was murmuring to each other and I had to close my mind to not be overcome by the barrage of thoughts and feelings in the room. Eric rubbed small soothing circles on my back and curled his mind into mine. All the sounds and feelings disappeared. I was going to be asking about that later, but I was thankful for the respite.
"To all of you who were saved tonight by the actions of this female step forward and make your oath." He continued.
I had not been warned about this portion of the evening. I stood stock still as more than a hundred people stood up, walked to the front of the room and took a knee.
"For what you have done, we owe you a life debt" They all said in unison.
I had no idea what I was supposed to do. I felt Eric nudging at my mind and opened it to him. Just nod your head and tell them you accept.
"I accept." I said with a deep nod of my head.
The room had fallen silent and I knew that what had just taken place was a significant. I was Fae and I was owed life debts by three different kinds of super naturals. Eric took that moment to step forward and I knew our part of the ceremony was about to begin. I was prickling with anticipation. I had never had vampire blood before and was kicking myself for not asking ahead of time what to expect.
"I am Eric Northman and I would like to formally offer my protection to Susanna Brigant of the Sky Clans as an elder of the vampire monarchy of Louisiana. Do you accept my offer and bond of protection?" Eric asked me.
"Yes. I accept your offer and bond of protection." I answered.
Ari produced a small ornate knife from a box on the table behind us and handed it to Eric. He took my hand and pricked my right index finger then his right index finger. We were looking into each other's eyes when we took each other's finger and brought it to our mouths to exchange blood. Eric eyes closed and a hum started in his chest as he sucked the blood from my finger. He licked the wound and watched as I licked away the blood that had pooled on his fingertip. This was far more intimate than I had imagined it would be.
"So, it is done. Susanna Brigant is under the protection of Eric Northman. Let it be known to all that any offense against her is an offense against him and all of the Monarchy of Louisiana." Ari said.
Eric took my hand again and led me from the crowds. I could tell he needed some privacy as much as I did. We walked in silence back to the office, but I could feel him probing the new thread in our connection. I opened my mind back up to him now that we were safely back in the office away from the crowds. I let him explore the new connection as I did the same. This new sense of each other was deeper than before, it was a direct link to each other where before had only been an awareness.
"You want me. Not just as a protector." He said surprised.
'Yes. I've wanted that since we got to know each other Eric." I answered.
I could feel his emotions more clearly and I was just as surprised as he was to find that he wanted me not for my power or potential, not for my blood but for the woman he got to know while he was imprisoned. The months were we could only talk to each other mentally, the snarky banter we developed, he secrets he'd shared with me thinking I'd be the last person he'd ever talk to, the things I had told him trying to give him a sense of belonging, the quiet sharing of companionship had built something between us that neither of us had expected.
"I didn't expect to feel this way towards you. I haven't opened myself to anyone in centuries." He said quietly.
"I haven't ever been able to open myself up completely to anyone. I didn't expect to feel the things I feel for you either." I said.
"Do you still want me now that I'm free? Now that you've seen what I really am and the things I am capable of doing." He said quietly.
I squeezed his hand and smiled.
"Do you still want me now that you've seen what I really am and what I am capable of?" I asked right back.
"I've never wanted anything more." He said eyes burning with desire.
The energy between us was so powerful, it crackled between us and sizzled over my skin. I moved a hand up to his face and caressed his cheek, traced his lips with my thumb and when his fangs snapped down I gently traced one with my index finger pricking the tip and left a drop of blood there that he licked up immediately making him shiver all over.
His eyes were closed as he savored the taste of my blood. I curled my hand around the back of his neck and pulled him down to my face, we stood there our foreheads pressed against each other just enjoying the closeness and connection. He softly kissed one corner of my mouth, then the other. A breathy sign escaped me, and he took the opportunity to claim my mouth in a knee buckling kiss. My body ignited into a firestorm, desire coursed through me and into him through our mental connection. He growled deep in his chest as he took more, his lips and tongue more demanding, his kiss was like nothing I'd ever experienced before.
He lifted me off the floor and I wrapped my legs around him as we stood there in the middle of the room devouring each other like two starving people. The world around us faded away as we explored each other. He pulled back panting, eyes burning, fangs down, I saw the predator and the man at the same time. My blood was on his lips from where I'd sliced my tongue while I kissed him. He looked in my eyes with focused intensity as he bit into the palm of his hand, I watched as blood slowly filled his palm. I knew what he was asking, what he was offering, and I wanted it.
"We'll know each other in ways you cannot begin to understand after this. Are you sure you understand what this means?" He asked.
"Yes, I know. Ari filled me in on all the details of blood exchange. I've spent months getting to know you as best I could. I can call you Eric now, I can touch you, talk to you, feel you, without fear of either of us getting hurt. Nothings ever that simple but I want this Eric." I said.
He smiled at me then, a real genuine smile and he was magnificent. I knew we'd face more trials, but I was ready to face it with him.
"You understand that you will be mine?" He asked.
"Yes. I understand that Eric." I said softly.
"Then take what you want Sookie." He said with a smile.
I smiled back at him and nodded as I pulled his palm to my mouth and drank from him. His blood hit my system with all the subtlety of a freight train. He kissed my neck before he sank his fangs in and drew my blood into him. The world fractured around me and rearranged itself in a whole new way. Eric fell to his knees as our blood combined and our connection expanded, contracted then narrowed to a pinpoint. It was solid tangible link between us that I could find and feel inside me. I dropped my head onto his chest and enjoyed the way our connection felt. He was cradling my body against him while I clung to him, the only anchor either of us had was each other.
We weren't in love but what we had between us was way past anything anyone had ever considered love. It felt like the deepest quietest most essential parts of us merged into one. We were both panting through the fusion of our connection. When the electric fissures sealed and the shocks of our blood exchange finally settled, we sat there on the concrete floor of a plain room, in the middle of nowhere looking into each other's eyes, words had no place here.