And I'm back! So... some of you know, I kinda had to take a break from this story to write I want the truth but not the scars... (my first all human story, check it out on my profile. don't worry about the m- rating.. I like to overrate, just in case)
With that said.... here's another chapter of Adopt a Vampire.. dun dun dun! Hope everyone enjoys it!
They both fell silent when they noticed the scene before them. Six foreign vampires spread throughout the room. Victor seething next to a table filled with various weapons of torture. And at the center of it all Eric shirtless, chained to his own chair with me, bloody knife in hand, standing guard in all my wannabe Buffy glory.
"Are they ever boring?" Russell asked Pam with a smile.
"Never." She shook her head at him. With that said Ben walked in and stopped in his tracks when he caught sight of the room.
"What are you doing here Mr. Madden?" He asked of Victor who quickly turned away from Ben.
"You know him?" Pam, Eric, and Russell all asked at the same time.
Victor went from seething with anger to oddly uncomfortable in mere moments. I could almost see his thoughts running through his head as he devised a plan. I didn't move. I kept my place in front of Eric, bloody knife still in hand. I saw Russell whisper something to Pam, who left his side for a moment. She stood with the front door open and whistled. The two vampires who had accompanied Russell earlier were suddenly at his side. He spoke softly to them and at once they were standing in front of me and Eric. Their sudden appearance threw my balance off and I ended up perched on one of Eric's knees.
Russell looked at Ben and spoke, "Speak, how do you know Victor?"
"Russell this is not your kingdom." Victor spat in Russell's direction, never taking his eyes off of our young vampire Ben.
"I'm sure Felipe wouldn't mind me helping since I am already here." Russell answered Victor with confidence, "Now, Ben, tell us how you know him."
"Well, he picked me up." Ben answered simply, but continued when he saw us all waiting for more. "I was hitchhiking a few weeks ago, when I was still alive, you know." He shrugged, "I was in New Orleans and he picked me up."
"Interesting." Russell rubbed his chin and thought on the situation.
I almost forgot that my chair wasn't a chair until Eric breathed painfully into my ear, "Silver…" I looked down at his arms that were still draped in silver and gasped.
"I'm so sorry." I breathed back. I quickly removed the silver and he hissed when it was peeled from his skin. When I was finished I turned my body on his lap a bit and kissed him full on the mouth. I wished everyone else in the room away, but knew my wish didn't come true when Victor started talking.
"So I picked up a hitchhiker?" Victor shrugged as if he had done nothing wrong. Eric must have regained some of his strength because he lifted me standing, then placed me down on the throne. He walked between our guards, nodding to them both. They stayed where they were, guarding me.
"Ben," Eric addressed him kindly, "do you remember anything from your ride with Victor?"
"I didn't say for you to be released!" Victor spewed bitterly at Eric. "Guards!" He spoke to his men who began approaching Eric.
"Stand down gentlemen." Russell must have had more say than Victor, even if this wasn't his kingdom because Victor's vamps stopped in their tracks. Russell then gestured to Eric to continue.
"Ben, answer the question." Eric broke Ben's attention back to the current problem.
Ben rubbed the back of his head, searching his vapid mind for something, anything. "We talked some, he asked me about my family and why I was hitchhiking. I told him how I didn't really have any family and I was looking for a change, that's why I was leaving New Orleans. He was really nice." Ben smiled at Victor, obviously having no idea that he was pissing Victor off something fierce. Pam patted Ben on the head like a good puppy and he smiled proudly at her.
"Victor? Did you turn Ben and send him to my bonded?" Eric almost sounded as if he were amused at the prospect. He even had a bit of an amused smile on his face, but I knew he was only amused at the possibility of destroying Victor.
"That's preposterous." Victor smiled slyly.
"You mean Mr. Madden is my maker?" Ben asked finally catching up to the rest of us. "Wouldn't I remember something like that?" Eric arched an eyebrow, I knew he wanted to insult our unbelievably slow friend, but he held back.
"Not if he glamoured you first…" Eric said matter-of-factly.
"Oh." Ben nodded in agreement. "Why would he do that?" He turned his focus to Victor, "Why would you do that?" He looked hurt by his maker, abandoned.
"I have no idea what you are all going on about, I assure you." He looked confident and aloof.
"Ben, why did you show up at Merlotte's when you did?" I asked from between the two vamps guarding me. The other vampires in the room looked up as if they had forgotten I was there.
"I don't know. I just felt like I had to go there." He shrugged.
"You felt like you had to go to Merlotte's?" I questioned again, hoping Eric and Russell would get where I was going with this.
"Yeah, like I had no other choice." Ben emphasized his words by nodding his head. Before anything else could be said Russell had a cell phone pressed to his ear.
"Felipe!" Russell greeted into the phone.
"What are you doing?" Victor called across to Russell who ignored him.
"I am sorry to say that I am calling on business, Felipe. As you know, I am here visiting your Sheriff and his bonded." He paused and I assumed that Felipe was speaking, "Yes, everyone is in one piece. Unfortunately it looks like you may need to check into one of your sheriffs." He paused again, "No, not Northman. Victor."
"Russell, this is ridiculous." Victor pleaded with the Mississippi King.
"I'm not quite sure I can explain it, perhaps its better left to Northman to talk to you about it….. of course, I'll let them know you'll be on your way." Well that couldn't be good. With a few more words and nods Russell hung up the phone.
"Boy, come here." Victor was poised on the other side of his guards. Ben's feet moved towards him, while his face showed confusion. I guess he really couldn't resist the call of his maker. Victor was proving us right and I couldn't for the life of me figure out why. "We'll be leaving now." With Vampire speed Victor grabbed a hold of Ben's arm and rushed out the back door, leaving his guards in place by both doors, blocking the rest of us from following.
I hoped Ben would be okay. A maker surely wouldn't stake his own creation. At least I hoped not. Ben might be a little dumb, but it wasn't fair to take his life away because things didn't turn out the way Victor had wanted.
"This is thrilling." Russell said with a grin on his face. "I haven't had this much fun since you two came to visit last." He was of course referring to when I had gotten staked, finally killed Lorena, and stolen Bill from his compound. I tried to step between the two guards Russell and Eric had stationed in front of me, but they wouldn't let me out. I cleared my throat and waited for Russell or Eric to tell them to let me out, but they both had their eyes on the vamps Victor had brought with him and left behind.
"I assure you, your allegiance to Victor is not a good idea. He will be caught and punished for his behavior." Eric warned them strongly, "If you choose to continue to back him, I will make sure you are punished along with him." With that said the vamps one by one moved away from the doors.
I sat back down on the throne and folded my arms across my chest. I was stuck.
"Pam, have you had time to form a bond with Ben." She nodded. As his mentor she must have formed a blood bond in order to have some sort of connection with her student. "Call Bill and anyone else you can get a hold of, find them. Don't do anything until you speak to me, but find them." He made his way back to me and the guards shifted away from me. Eric reached down and pulled me to my feet.
"What's going to happen to Ben? Victor won't finally kill him, will he?" I voiced my concerns.
Eric spoke softly for the first time since we left the closet, "I do not know, dear one. We will do everything we can before Victor has a chance to dispose of the evidence of his indiscretion." That's all Ben was to Eric, proof. I tried not to care about the reason for the search. At least that meant we would hopefully save Ben from being killed.
"How did Victor get Ben to show up at Merlotte's without letting him know he was his maker?" I asked.
"He may have been there, drawing him to bar. He was aiming blindly, hoping Ben would hit the target, you. I should have known he was around, but I was a bit… distracted." He admitted.
Pam hung up her phone and made her way out of the building with Victor's ex vamps in tow. Apparently she had convinced them to help. I hoped that Pam's new attachment to Ben would make her work that much harder to find him.
That left Eric and I alone with Russell and his guards, "Are you two quite sure you don't want to come to Mississippi? I would set you up nicely."
"Not just yet, your majesty, but again we thank you for the offer." Eric answered politely. I reached up and gripped Eric's hand. I noticed he said, 'not just yet' and wondered if he thought we might have to one day flee the state after all. If we did, I guess there wouldn't be a better King to work for, at least not to my knowledge.
"My loss, I'm sure." Russell waved his hand at our thanks. "Either way, come and visit me anytime, you two are full of surprises. Tell Felipe if he needs me to confirm anything I am just a phone call away." He smiled and walked out the door with his guards, who both nodded in our direction.
When the door shut behind them Eric quickly went to lock it. He started back towards me walking slowly, I suddenly felt hunted.
"Are you ready to go home, Lover?" he asked as he crept towards me.
"What about Victor and Ben?" I asked unsure why we weren't out looking for them.
"Pam will find them." He stated simply. "You need your rest and I need to make sure you are safe." He finally reached me and wrapped his arms around my waist. "I think you should come home with me." He leaned down whispering in my ear, "For your safety, of course."
"Eric, I have to work tomorrow night. I'll be plenty safe in my farmhouse." I fought the desire to say yes.
"We'll call the shifter, he'll understand." He was rubbing his hands up and down my side and still whispering in my ear. My strength was faltering. He was right, Sam would understand, but I wanted to work and I needed the money.
"I have to work, Eric." I repeated with less conviction in my voice.
"Fine, we'll call the shifter and let him know you'll be there after dark." He moved away from my neck and smiled down at me, proud of his compromise.
"Deal." I smiled back.
"Deal?" he raised an eyebrow. I could tell he didn't think it was going to be that easy. Before I could respond he had whisked me out the back door and into his car. He didn't even bother to replace the shirt I had cut off him earlier. He was speeding down the highway in no time at all. One hand on the wheel the other in mine.
We pulled into a quiet suburban area and I felt my mouth fall open as we pulled into the garage of a bi-level house.
"What's wrong?" Eric asked as he let me out of the car.
"Nothing, I guess I just pictured Wayne Manor or the Fortress of Solitude, this is more Brady Bunch." I explained with a laugh. I laughed a bit harder when he looked confused.
"I do not understand." His brow was furrowed as he considered what I was saying.
"Batman? Superman?" I continued when he still looked confused. "Where have you been the last seventy years?"
"Building an empire…" he answered after some thought. "Are you saying you think I am a superhero?" He asked with a smirk, pulling me to his chest.
I rolled my eyes and pushed away from him, "Are you going to show me around?" I asked heading to the door into the house.
"No." He answered as he picked me up and threw me over his shoulder. I screamed playfully. "Bedroom" He offered as an explanation to the caveman act.
"I thought this was all about my safety." I laughed into his back.
He threw me down on his bed, "It is about your safety." He crawled towards me until his face was over mine.
"Uh huh." I cocked an eyebrow in disbelief.
"I believe we spoke of you making up to me for spilling information to Victor." He spoke softly as he fingered the strap to my dress. He leaned down and kissed me softly at first. I wrapped my arms around his bare abdomen and pulled his body to mine. He weighed a ton, but he only let me feel a fraction of it. I let my hands feel their way up and down the cold skin of his back. He pulled away from the kiss and looked down at me. He must have felt my remorse through the bond.
"I really am sorry about that." I was sad remembering that I was the reason that Eric was almost tortured. "And I'm sorry I couldn't torture you." Eric's eyebrows raised and he looked amused by my statement. "You know what I mean. I'm sorry I didn't do what you asked me to do. You know, keep quiet and do what I'm told."
"Are you feeling okay Lover?" He asked as he pushed himself higher looking me over. I nodded with a confused look on my face. "You just apologized for not doing what I said." He laughed. What was happening to me? I pushed his shoulder and he rolled to the side to let me sit up. I sat up, my arms behind me, holding me up. I wanted to figure out what happened to me that would make me suddenly want to be obedient. Eric was still lying beside me, his mouth making its way up my arm, over my shoulder, and across my neck. For a moment I had trouble forming a conscious thought.
"You're right, I'm not sorry. I can't believe you thought I would just torture you like that." He stopped and sat up with me, looking down on me.
"Sookie," He kissed my forehead, "my lover," he kissed my chin, "my dearest," he kissed my nose, "my love," he kissed my lips softly, "I never expect you to do anything I say. I wish you to do what I say, but I never expect it anymore." He smiled and pushed me back down onto the mattress. "Now, where were we?" He asked as he pressed his body on top of mine and started searching me with his hands and mouth. I gave into him. I gave into his lips, his hands, and his body.
I woke sometime in the late afternoon wearing nothing but a shirt from Eric's collection. My body was being held down by a now dead two million pound ex-Viking. Somehow I managed to wriggle myself out from under him. I automatically regretted not demanding a tour. I hadn't even walked myself into the room, so I wasn't sure which door led out, and more importantly which door led to the bathroom. Eric would just have to deal with me looking through everything. It was his fault for pulling the mighty Viking act the night before.
Thankfully Eric had thought to put on a lamp for me in the windowless room before dying for the day. I had to be grateful for avoiding stubbing my toes and falling on my face in the dark room. I opened door number one finding a closet that almost matched the size of the bedroom. Door number two led me into the room I wanted most. After taking care of some of my human needs I made my way back into the bedroom. Eric wouldn't rise for another couple hours so I tried door number three. It led me into a hall. I took the stairs down a level and wandered through the living room, dining room, and into the kitchen.
Eric being Eric had a note set on top of a muffin basket placed on the counter top. I didn't know how he did it.
Lover,
I hope you slept well. Please make yourself at home. There should be more food in the refrigerator if this is not to your liking. Please come back to bed in time for me to rise. I wish for you to be present when I wake.
E
I helped myself to the food left for me and went back up the stairs. Eric had left a message with Sam that I wouldn't be coming in until after dark for safety reasons, but I figured I shouldn't get there later than I had too. So I took my shower, dried my hair, and pulled on another one of Eric's shirts. I was going to have to leave uniforms with Eric if he wanted me sleeping over in the future. When I was done it was almost time for Eric to rise so I climbed back into the bed and wiggled back under his heavy limbs. I let my mind wander as I waited. I wondered if Ben was okay. Pam had called a little before Sunrise to let us know that she had found where Victor was hiding out, but there was no sign of Ben just yet. She said he wasn't dead, she could still feel him, but she was having trouble pin pointing him.
Eric's arms tightening around my body pulled me from my worries. He nuzzled his face into my neck as he stretched. It was an oddly human moment for him.
"You're still here." He whispered into the spot below my ear, his cold breath sending chills down my spine.
"I'm still here." I turned to meet his face. "Did you think I would leave you?" I asked knowing that's exactly what I would have done any other day. He didn't answer, well not verbally. The look he gave me said it all. "Oh come on, I have to get to work." I pushed away from him and tried to sit up. I didn't get very far. Eric grabbed a hold of my arm and pulled me back down to the bed.
"No good morning?" he asked with a smirk.
"It's not morning, Eric, its nighttime." I corrected him.
"It's morning somewhere." He replied before moving his lips to mine. He gave me a good morning kiss that nearly set my heart on fire. I didn't even notice at first that he had moved off the bed. When I finally opened my eyes back up I saw him standing beside the bed cocky smile in place. I flung my legs over the bed and stood across from him.
"What are you smiling at?" I asked with my hands on my hips.
"I thought you had to get to work?" He asked as he laughed his way to the closet. I didn't respond. What was the point; he always had something to say back. Instead I picked up one of my shoes that was on the floor beside me and threw it as hard as I could at his head. He, of course, turned and caught it. Stupid Vampire.
"Oops." I smiled sweetly. He just gave me a look and turned back to his closet. He came back out after a minute completely dressed and with what looked suspiciously like one of my uniforms in hand. "Where did you get that?"
"I stole it from your house." He stated as if it was completely normal behavior.
"You stole it…" He nodded. "From my house…" He nodded again. "You know that's not normal, right?"
"I like to be prepared." He said with a smile. "Now get dressed before the shifter gets angry and tries to fire you."
"Tries to fire me?" I asked for clarification. Eric gave me none; he just winked and left me alone in the bedroom.
Ten minutes and two true bloods later we were on the road to Merlotte's. Eric was staying pretty silent. Not that he was always a big talker.
"Have you heard from Pam?" I asked breaking the comfortable silence.
"She's still watching Victor, making sure he doesn't run before Felipe can get here." He answered without looking away from the road.
"And Ben?" I asked.
"No sign, but we'll find him." He reached across the seats and laced his fingers through mine, rubbing circles on my hand with his thumb.
When we arrived at Merlotte's I noticed the place was already really crowded. I wasn't sure if Eric was coming in or not so as soon as he stopped the car I leaned over the center console, kissed him, and dashed out of the car. When I came out of the back hall I noticed Eric was already seated at the bar in a conversation with Sam. He smirked at me and continued talking to Sam.
Amelia was filling in for whatever waitress we were missing at the moment. She rushed over to me and with a quick hug told me what I needed to catch up on. The night didn't seem to want to let up. Three hours went by and I felt like I was still running around like a crazy person. Eric was still perched on his stool by the bar, watching ever little move I made. It was soothing having him so close, but his constant gaze was making me clumsy. I shot him a look hoping he would be the meaning behind it and stop staring at me. It just made him grin. I finally got some relief when his phone rang and took away some of his attention. He still watched me, but his gaze was less intense.
"Sook, we need more napkins since you used half of them cleaning up spilled drinks." Amelia shouted as she rushed past me with a tray full of food.
"On it!" I shouted back as made my way through the back hall. I walked into the stock room and headed straight to where we kept the napkins. If I hadn't been in such a rush I would have noticed it sooner. I could hear sniffing, crying, something. I walked around the corner of one of the shelves to see someone hunched over, seated on a box, and they were definitely crying. I should have been cautious. I should have learned my lesson. I should have left and gotten Eric or Sam, but I didn't. Instead I approached the crying man and placed a hand on his sagging shoulder.
"Sookie?" Ben looked up at me with bloody tears trailing down his face.
"Ben!" I about yelled. I lowered myself down to crouch in front of him and put my arms around his shoulders. I know he's a vampire and a young one at that, but I had been worried about him. "Are you okay? What are you doing in the stock room? Let me go get Eric, he'll be so glad that you're here." I took a breath and stood to run and get Eric. Before I could get away Ben grabbed a hold of my wrist. I turned back to him and the tears were still flowing in full force.
"I'm so sorry, Sookie." He sobbed out before pulling me back to his body.
"Ben, what are you doing?" I asked as fear started to bubble within me. He didn't answer he just lowered his face to my neck. I heard the moment his fangs popped out. "Ben, please stop!" I begged him. He sniffed one more time and I could feel his cold bloody tears landing on my warm skin. Then he bit, hard.
Hopefully the next chapter will come sans interruption...
Encouragement is always loved, healthy critisism is always welcome.
Go read I want the truth but not the scars...
Talk to me. I talk back. I love talking. :)
Peace.