A/N- *Peaks over top of computer screen* Hehe… hey everyone! Please don't throw tomatoes at me or egg my house. I know I'm the worst person ever for taking so damn long to update. Last weekend I was in Virginia and literally had no time to write and during the weekday I was overloaded with homework and tests. I love getting C's on Spanish tests! Anyway, I'm quite pleased with this chapter. You'll see that Sookie and Eric's relationship really develops in this chapter. I hope you enjoy!

PS: By the way, it was brought to my attention that I made a tiny mistake. In a previous chapter I said it was January, I really should have said it was around October or November. Now it's late December, around Christmas. So I'm sorry if anyone was confused by that! Thanks for mentioning that to me 88spike!

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"Four years ago I was taken from my home when I came back from work. I lived with my grandmother and she was probably the best friend I've ever had." I took a deep breath and willed myself to continue. "When I came home I walked into the kitchen and there was blood…so much blood. She was… she was lying dead on the floor." I shuddered at the memory of my Gran's lifeless body sprawled out in the kitchen. It was an image that was usually in my nightmares. "I started to scream but a hand covered my mouth. Feli-" I started to say his name but found I just couldn't bring myself to do it. "He put his hand over my mouth. And… and he said…"

I gave a long pause. I just couldn't seem to reiterate what he had said to me. His words would haunt my dreams tonight if I did.

"You don't need to tell me what Fel-he said." Eric quickly refrained from saying his name.

I had been staring at Eric's chest the whole time. I couldn't bring myself to look at his face. I guess I was afraid about what his expression would be.

I gave a little nod. "Okay. Well, then he…bit me and almost drained me. And thinking about it now I wish he had. Instead he decided to spare me. I don't remember much after that. I know I woke up a few days later in an unfamiliar room. I remembered everything that happened with my Grandmother and how he had attacked me. I had no idea what kind of creature he was-vampires hadn't come out of the coffin yet. So I freaked out and tried to escape, but the door was locked. I didn't have to wait very long until he came in."

I had started my rant, and once starting me there was no stopping me. My voice was beginning to become emotionless, yet tears still slowly trickled down my cheeks.

"I think he tried to glamour me into forgetting everything that had happened… But that doesn't work on me and he was less than pleased when he found out. He explained to me that he was a vampire and there was a whole supernatural community humans were oblivious to. I was too terrified to ask questions or even speak. For the next couple weeks or so he was nice to me-always making sure I was comfortable. I guess he assumed that since I'm not susceptible to glamour that if he was good to me, I would become relaxed around him and eventually forgive him." I paused and recollected my thoughts. "How could I forgive the man who killed my Grandmother? I don't think he has much common sense."

Eric gave a dry chuckle and brushed a piece of hair out of my face, tucking it behind my ear.

"I didn't speak for weeks. I refused to talk to him. I would look past him like he wasn't even there. I was practically a mute. For a while he tolerated it, but my unresponsiveness eventually angered him. He was not used to being ignored and is very impatient. One day about a month after he took me he barged into my room. He screamed that he had tried to meet my human needs but that his were greater and he couldn't wait any longer."

I stopped again. This was one of the worst parts, but I carried on and stared at Eric's chest like it was the most interesting thing in the world.

"He pinned me against the bed," I started, willing myself not to choke up. "And he bit me. It hurt so bad." I started to feel my sadness dissipate and become replaced with anger. "After that he took my virginity." Anger swirled through my veins when I remembered the first time he forced himself upon me. "I was so young. Twenty years old. I barely even knew what sex was. I found out that it hurt. A lot."

I snuck a glance up at Eric's face. His expression was blank but his eyes showed sympathy. He pulled me closed to him and I don't think I've ever felt safer.

"It's just not fair," I rambled. "Why did he do that to me? Out of everyone in this world, why me? What have I ever done? I went to church every Sunday and picked flowers for my Gran and brother."

I was full out crying now. My tears were of frustration and rage. It just wasn't fair. God, I was so young and naïve. But he shred my innocence to pieces and helped me build my walls and mask of stone.

We stayed that way for a while-Eric and I. Him holding me as I cried. I feel like this was becoming a daily thing and I hoped Eric wasn't too annoyed by it.

When my tears had subsided I carried on with my story.

"After that he stopped pretending to care about me. He treated my like shit. Every night I lived in fear, wondering if it was the night he would come in and hurt me. A few months later I tried to kill myself." I squeezed me eyes shut. "I had hoped that someone would find me, someone would come for me, but one day I realized that I was alone. There was no escaping. I had been saving up sleeping pills that a maid had been giving me every night to help me with my nightmares. I probably had about thirty or so pills saved up and I took them one night." I could feel the cold, hard tablets slide down my throat as I bent over the faucet in my bathroom. Each pill promised to relieve me of my desperation and pain…and I couldn't refuse.

"Unfortunately that was the night he came to see me. I guess he found me on the floor and called in one of his human doctors. I woke up the next day in a makeshift hospital in his palace. A few nights later when I was allowed back to my room he came in, totally furious. I was his prized possession and he couldn't lose me. The next week was pure hell. He scared me into never even thinking about killing myself." I shuddered when I remembered his threats and punishment. "I was so mad at myself that I didn't try to take the pills during the day.

I didn't try to commit suicide again until a couple years later. One of his advisors convinced him that I needed a friend-someone to talk to. So one day a woman who said she was my personal maid came to see me. She was about fifteen years older than me and the type of person you felt like you could confide in. Since I had trouble reading her mind I figured she was some kind of supernatural being. I think she was some kind of shifter. Her name was Agata and after a while we became very close. She was the only reason why I stayed strong for so long. At first I didn't trust her. I thought she was someone who was reporting and watching my every move. So for a few weeks I completely ignored her. She seemed fine with my silence so she would do the talking. She told me about her childhood and family. I never really discovered the real reason as to why she was serving vampires but I think it was because her family owed some sort of debt. She never told me."

I pictured Agata's sweet face. She crinkled her eyes and nose when she laughed and had very pronounced dimples. Her hair was blonde and she was cute. Not pretty or beautiful-just cute. Like puppy kind of cute.

"One day I began talking to her. I really had nothing to lose. And we became really fast friends. I had no one so I cherished the time I spent with her. I ended up telling her that I was a prisoner and was used for sex and blood. She wasn't surprised. Apparently there were other girls like me in the palace. The only difference was that they were glamoured out of their minds. Agata taught me so many things. She was so wise and cultured. She had gone to college-something I had always wanted to do and she told me so many stories about her times at school."

I continued filling in Eric about Agata and some of the fun times we had taking walks outside with our supervised guard. I didn't tell him, however, that it was Agata who taught me how to speak Swedish. She was actually born in Sweden and moved to America when she was ten. I felt like Eric didn't need to know everything.

"One day after telling her all my stories about Jason I felt really homesick. I felt this overwhelming desire to escape and started to make a plan. I didn't tell Agata of course, I was scared that they would find out through her. My plan wasn't the best, in fact, I barely remember it my adrenaline was so high. I'm not really good with escape plans and no, Eric, I'm not asking for your opinion."

He chuckled but remained quiet, willing me to continue.

"I was caught very quickly and dragged kicking and screaming back to the palace. He was so mad. He said that it was Agata who influenced me to rebel. I knew exactly what he meant and pleaded with him that it wasn't her fault-but he didn't listen. That night instead of one of his usual punishments he brought her to me. He drained her right in front of me and he told me that her death was my fault-just like my Grandmother's."

Her eyes had pierced mine, begging to be saved but of course, there was nothing I could do. I watched in horror as her life was slowly sucked away. I was so shocked that I didn't even realize I was weeping.

My voice was emotionless again. I was too mentally exhausted to even think about what I was saying

"The next day I was so angry. I think I went insane. I smashed the mirror in my bathroom and broke it. I stared at the blood on my hands until I began to shake uncontrollably. I had so much blood on my hands and no matter how many times I tried to wash it off it remained. I picked up a shard of glass and accidentally pricked my finger. That's when I realized that I could end it all-really end it all."

Eric gently raised my arm and inspected it. The scars had faded considerably but with his vampire eyesight they probably stuck out like a sore thumb.

He unexpectedly raised my arm and kissed my wrist. The action made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

"Needless to say I failed. The human who brought my lunch found me and immediately called the doctor. I was in so much trouble. He was so mad he almost killed me that night." I recollected his punishment. He gave me a matching set of scars on my back.

"About a year later I tried to escape again and I almost did. I had gotten to the police station when one of his weres who he had stationed as a cop saw me. He said he was going to take me to a special questioning facility but instead took me back to the palace." I unconsciously reached a hand around to touch the burn on my lower back. That's what I got for trying to escape.

"Then I was tossed over to you one day. I thought it was one of his nasty tricks or punishments." I shook my head, thinking about how lucky I was to be given to Eric, probably the only vampire who was relatively considerate to humans.

"Are you happy to be here?" Eric asked suddenly.

"No," I whispered truthfully. "But I am thankful. I could be back in Nevada, or some other hell."

"Let me see."

"See what?"

"Your scars."

I blanched.

" I-I don't think that's a good idea. They're gross."

"I can guarantee you I have seen worse."

I was very self-conscious about my scars. Each one was a distinct memory of some punishment I had received.

"No… I can't."

I had a lot of scars inside and outside my most private area. I was not about to show those to Eric…ever.

"Turn over."

"What? No!"

"Do it."

"I don't want to."

I snuggled farther into his chest, hoping he'd get the hint. Knowing Eric he did, but he ignored said hint.

"Please?" He added.

I looked into his gorgeous blue eyes and felt myself begin to agree.

I sighed and squeezed my eyes shut.

"Okay. But only my back. That's it."

"Fine."

I rolled over on my stomach and lay my head on the pillow. Eric's cool hands gently rubbed my back for a few seconds and I sighed in bliss. He kept the blankets over my more southern regions and lifted my shirt up to my shoulder blades. His cool fingers tenderly traced the whip-like marks on my back and I shivered.

"I think that's enough." I said, reaching behind me to pull down my shirt, but he stopped me.

"Wait." He lowered the blanket a little to expose my lower back.

"No!" I said but it was too late.

I buried my face in the pillow and tensed when he stilled.

"He did this to you?"

"Yes."

He remained motionless for a few moments before he leaned down and kissed the brand. The feel of his lips against my skin made my adrenaline increase.

"I hate that thing." I admitted.

"Of course you do."

"Your blood kind of made it go away. Do you think it will ever go back to normal?"

Eric ghosted his lips across it once more and I sighed in contentment.

"I doubt it. This has a magical signature on it. The device he used must have had some spell on it."

I could feel my tears begin to build. I would be branded for life. I was his until the day I died.

Eric sensed my grief and pulled my back into his chest.

"I think it's time for you to go to sleep."

I agreed with him. I was so exhausted from telling him my story that I didn't even realize I was tired.

Without realizing it, I had fallen asleep with tears pouring down my cheeks.

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After confiding in Eric I became a lot closer to him. Whenever he was around I felt calm and safe. Now that he knew so much about me I craved his presence. I completely depended on him and was always a little jumpy when he wasn't around. I hated being so dependent but hey, it was nice to rely on someone other than yourself, and he didn't seem to mind. If anything I would say he genuinely cared for my well-being. I still was skeptical that he only cared for me because of my telepathy but I avoided thinking about that. Right now, I needed someone to lean on and he was there.

He never tried to make a move on me, even though I knew he wanted to. Sometimes when he was hungry he'd stare at me like I was a huge chocolate chip cookie. I was always a little scared when he did that but then he'd disappear into his office with some fangbanger and come out very sated.

I'm not going to lie, I was a little jealous of some of the girls he took to his office. Their thoughts were so happy when they reemerged that I couldn't help but feel a tad envious. He was my guardian and protector. As sad as this sounds I needed him. I often fantasized about what it would be like to kiss him. Not a quick peck, but a real kiss. One of those toe-curling kisses that you see in the movies. After a thousand years of practice he probably really knew how to lay one on a girl.

My relationship also developed with Pam. She really was funny in a sarcastic and cynical kind of way. I appreciated that. I especially enjoyed it when she teased Eric. You'd think that the badass Sheriff would punish her immediately for her insubordination but instead he would shake his head, smiling slightly and sometimes make a quick retort which Pam would quickly counter. They were an amusing duo. He reminded me of the indulgent father who just couldn't say no to his little princess and let her get away with everything. This thought amused me to no end.

I was currently sitting at the bar, listening for trouble. My shields really had improved and became quite strong, especially with Eric's blood still swirling in my system. I glanced over at Eric who was wearing a tight vest and jeans. He looked hot and he knew it. He was doing something on his phone and ignoring the customers who Pam so lovingly called the "vermin." His mouth twitched upward every time he kicked someone across the room.

His alter ego of bad ass sex god Sheriff entertained me, because later that night I knew I would be screaming my head off from a nightmare and he would stay with me until I fell back asleep.

My nightmares had been getting better ever since I opened up to Eric about my past. Every once and a while there was a really bad one, and some nights I didn't dream at all. I loved having a dreamless sleep. I always woke up so refreshed and relaxed.

That night, as I sat at the bar, I realized that Eric was one of the best people I knew.

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*Wipes sweat off brow* Phew! Another all nighter! I'm really sorry for any grammar mistakes. And I'm also going to try to update by Monday or Tuesday. Tomorrow night I'll drink lots of coffee and write.

I forgot earlier to thank everyone for all your awesome reviews! They just keep getting better and better! I love you guys!