10. Blame it on the Blood

"You're not needed!"

I awoke with a start. Someone was shouting. I rolled over entangling myself further in the covers. Fighting with them, I eventually managed to free myself. Sitting on the edge of the bed, I grabbed my phone from the nightstand, finding out the time. It was nearly 7 PM. I'd slept the whole day away.

After my 'so long I'd lost count of how many hours' session with Eric the previous night, I'd taken some of the sleeping tablets I'd had when I was staying at Bill's in Bon Temps. God knows why I'd brought them with me to England…just in case, I guess. Once Eric had drifted off into his vampire daytime slumber, I found I couldn't rest, even though Eric had tired me out beyond anything I could remember, I was still wide awake. We'd spent the entire night entwined around one another and while I had my doubts he should be engaging in such a sex marathon, he seemed more than capable. Though when he finally seemed sated in the early hours of this morning, he'd pretty much collapsed into bed. I lay next to him for a while, trying to sleep, but I was restless.

In the end, I'd washed and brushed out my bed-head of hair, checked my bandages were still in place and looked into Hep D on the internet. I discovered very little, other than a reiteration of what Eric had told me. The virus was harmless to humans but would weaken vampires for several months, during which time they must try to keep out of harms way, or else meet the true death. I shut the laptop lid and gazed at Eric. The last thing he needed was to be protecting me. I'd considered calling Bill, then decided that would feel like I was betraying Eric and I just couldn't bring myself to do it. Rummaging though my bag for some painkillers, I'd come across the sleeping tablets and figured I was better off getting some sleep.

"Quite clearly I am," said a calm smooth voice, which I recognised immediately.

I shuffled as quietly as I could from the bed and slipped on a shirt from my case. I padded softly to the bedroom entrance and leant against the wall, listening to them carefully.

"Did she call you?" Eric hissed.

"No. James and Irina are under orders to report back to me each morning," Bill replied coolly, "Had you not been so concerned with your own interests instead of coming to the briefing before you all left, you would've known this."

I poked my head around the wall, catching a glimpse of a bare-chested Eric in just his jeans, as he snarled at Bill.

"Eric, there's a group of antagonists who are actively seeking out Sheriff Cambridge. They seek her true death."

"You let Evie come here knowing that?" Eric spat, "You've put her in danger."

Bill's stance altered, he shifted on his feet, seemingly offended, "No Eric, you put her in danger with Cambridge's progenies," he said, a hint of smugness in his voice, "Only she hasn't been harmed this time."

Eric scoffed, "Shows what you know, Your Highness. She was injured protecting me."

"Ah, yes," Bill said, "Protecting you… It seems she can't quite help herself in that respect."

"Bullshit," Eric snapped suddenly, "It's a pathetic trick Bill. I didn't even think you could sink that low."

I pulled a scowl. Out of the blue, they were talking about something I didn't know about and didn't understand.

Bill turned so I could just see his face and smirked, "Perhaps you should be more careful where you stick your fangs in future Sheriff."

"You did fucking know!" Eric snarled, his lips curling.

"Be careful Eric, though we are not in Louisiana, I am still your King."

"Fuck the hierarchy," he growled, snapping out his fangs. He lunged at Bill and caught him by the throat slamming him into the wall, close to where I was hiding, listening to them.

Bill laughed, "Really Eric, this display of prowess is quite unnecessary and in your state you should really be resting."

I heard Eric snarl once more and decided to make my appearance before they started down a road I couldn't stop with reasoning and a little sarcasm.

"Honestly, you'd think you two were children the way you're squabbling," I spoke flatly, so they'd both recognise the mocking in my voice. I walked by and went to sit on the couch in the centre of the room. I hitched up my legs and folded them under me. They both glared at me, seemingly unaware that I'd heard the bulk of their argument.

"Quit it with the foreplay and come sit down," I teased, though I was more than aware of their fangs. I tried not to look at them.

Eric's hand unwrapped reluctantly from Bill's throat and he came to sit, possessively, beside me. He placed his hand on my knee. I shrugged him off, self conscious of Bill's stoic gaze, as he sat across from me. His eyes seemed to rest on my legs, lewdly.

"So, James and Irina called you?" I said.

"Evelyn, your arm?" Bill noticed the bandages and leant forward. I rubbed them unintentionally.

"It's nothing," I shrugged.

"Eric?"

I raised my eyebrow at him, "He can't," I answered on Eric's behalf, I could feel the tentative anger simmering away in him beside me, "And I don't need his blood. Ibuprofen and whiskey will do just fine."

"Well, the offer is there Evelyn," Bill replied gallantly, proud he could offer me what Eric couldn't.

"Thank you Bill, but I'll be fine. Now what were you saying about Sheriff Cambridge. She's got people after her?"

He cocked his head slightly and looked me straight in the eye, "I'm afraid she has brought you here under false pre-tenses."

I raised my eyebrow, "Go on." Eric relaxed slightly beside me, shifting in his seat, seemingly pleased Bill had admitted fault.

"I fear that her progenies were part of her overall plan."

"How'd you mean?" I asked, a little perplexed, "She planned their deaths?"

"Not quite," Bill couldn't hold my gaze, instead his eyes seemed fixated on my bandage, perhaps he could smell the blood. "I suspect she tasked them with finding someone who resembled her."

"And they found me?"

"Yes," he replied, "Tracing your lineage, Evelyn, it seems she is your relation, on your mothers' side."

"Oh," I spoke, though I couldn't find any words to express what I meant. Hopefully they would understand that 'oh' meant a whole world of different things. Everything that had happened rushed through my head. Had they scouted me out? Had they followed me, before I came to the States? Was my book a complete and total lie?

"The Sheriff has been having trouble with this group of humans for some time now," Bill continued in explanation, but the information remained vague, as Eric scoffed and crossed his arms, "They mistook you for her at the Ball."

"Which is why we got ambushed," Eric added with a glower.

"I suspect that was her plan yes," Bill answered.

"But why? What has she done?" I asked.

"That I do not know, Evelyn. I have people looking into it as we speak"

Eric sat bolt upright and Bill stood to attention a split second before I heard a knock at the door. They relaxed seeing James enter, having opened the door with his key. Irina trailed slowly in behind him.

"Hey," James said, nodding at Bill, before turning to me, "Evelyn, you're not dressed?"

I suddenly became painfully aware of the fact I was barely clothed, "Umm, should I be?" I pulled my shirt further over my knees.

"Yeah, you have that signing at Williamson's in an hour," he answered accusingly.

"I do?"

"Yeah, don't you remember?"

I shrugged, "A lot's happened this week."

James nodded with a heavy smile, stealing a quick look at Irina standing over by the mini-bar. She leaned wearily against the wall, she seemed off her game. Not at all interested, which wasn't terribly out of the ordinary, but there was something different, she appeared to be struggling to even listen to the conversation, let alone do her bodyguard duties. Eric's phone beeped in his pocket, distracting me. He read the message, his facial expression altering drastically and then he stood, punching in a number on his cell and disappeared into the bedroom without explanation.

I stared after him, a flutter of worry bouncing across my forethought, but Bill distracted me with a hand on my shoulder.

"I shall accompany Evelyn tonight, James," he spoke calmly but with an air of authority in his tone, "You and Irina should take the evening off." He glanced at the Russian, who nodded gently in return. An unspoken understanding passed between them.

"Umm, as long as you're sure that's acceptable, Mr Compton," James seemed taken aback, surprised, "That would be great!" Bill nodded his assent. James smiled and scampered over to take Irina's hand, guiding her back to their room.

Bill's cool hand remained on my shoulder, showing no sign of movement which was making me feel a little uneasy. His proximity was exciting my senses. The remnants of his blood in me responded to his touch, making my heart flutter a little in its rhythm.

"Hmm," I coughed, "I'd best go get vamped up." Bill stepped back and allowed me to stand.

He tilted his head, "Vamped up?" he smirked.

I smiled back at him, "Don't ask."

As I headed for the bedroom to retrieve my costume, I walked into Eric, who was pulling on his black jacket ready to leave. He gripped my head in his hands and kissed my forehead. "I have an errand to run," he said with a happy grin, "You'll be ok with King Bill?" he added with a wink.

I frowned at him but kept my mouth shut. I'd thought he'd be coming with me as well tonight. I wasn't sure I was entirely comfortable with Bill on my own, not positive I could trust myself with the draw of his blood in me. . But selfishness gave way to the pleasure seeing Eric more himself again, "Ok," I replied without argument.

With a sideways glance at Bill, Eric snidely planted a deep kiss on my lips and vacated the suite. I turned after him, embarrassed by his possessive display of affection.

"Um, I'll not be long," I said to Bill, shaking my head in disbelief. Bill smirked and nodded.

"Thank you."

"What for?" Bill said, as we walked back to the hotel. The roads were rather quiet, there only being a few cars on the street. But there were several groups of people, couples and groups out for the night with the intention of having a good time. They shouted and laughed with each other and not one of them noticed that I was being accompanied by a vampire.

"Not sure really," I smiled and laughed, pushing Bill playfully with my shoulder.

The book signing had gone off without a hitch and thankfully hadn't lasted as long as the previous one. Nor had I been skewered with an arrow. So all in all, I was counting it as a successful evening. The night was cool, but bearable, which was a god send considering I'd had to venture out in my vampire costume sans the black jacket, which had been ruined by the attack last night.

Bill and I had stopped en-route home, at a bar next to the bookstore, which had opened late for my signing, so I'd had a couple of my new favourite Boston Sour's while he'd had a Tru Blood. I'd recounted the story of my visit back home so far to him. Filling him in on the gory details of the attack last night from my point of view and he'd sat quietly and listened to me ramble on. I have to admit it was rather nice just to talk as easily with someone as I had with Bill, although, thinking about it, I should really put the ease of conversation down to the alcohol consumption.

"Well, you must have something in mind, Evelyn?" he replied.

I blushed, "You've done so much for me recently. I just wasn't sure I'd said thank you to you yet."

"Consider your thanks accepted," Bill smiled as I stumbled forward. He caught my arm, steadying me,

"I'm sorry," I replied, shaking my head, "You didn't want to be chaperoning me tonight did you?"

"Nonsense, Evelyn."

I stood on my own feet and dusted myself off, "Well, in that case, thank you again."

Then unexpectedly, Bill's cool hand was on my cheek, his thumb ran across my lips, which parted slightly at his touch. He closed the gap, stepping into me. I leaned my head into his hand as he took my lips in the most sensual of kisses. I felt my body tense and a knot began to grow in my stomach. Before I'd have to put too much thought into what had just occurred between us, I pulled away.

"Um," I mumbled, running my hand through my hair. "We should be getting back."

I began to walk again but Bill snatched my wrist and yanked me to him. With his hand in the small of my back he pressed my body to his and claimed my lips firmly, which opened magically for him as I felt the tense knot inside begin to unravel. A low grumble escaped him and his grip on me tightened, but he pulled his lips from mine in a moment of restraint. His forehead leant against mine and he sighed, before reluctantly releasing me from his grasp.

"Yes, we should return to the hotel," he agreed and I wasn't sure if he meant it the same way I had or whether he had something more stimulating in mind.

The remaining ten minutes of the walk back was done in complete silence. I don't know about Bill, but I was busy attempting to dissect the mind-blowingly sensual moment that had passed between us. He'd wanted me, right there, right then, on the pavement. He'd wanted to be inside me, and I wasn't ashamed to admit that I'd wanted him too. But what did that mean? For me and Bill, and for Eric? I'd not felt so confused for a long time, but I couldn't deny the feelings that had surged through me at the dishonest touch of someone else and I couldn't entirely blame it on the blood.