Hey, everyone.

I am a day late, as you might have noticed.

The reason why?

I told you in the last chapter that my Grandmother was dying. Well, she passed away last Friday.

We've been very busy with the funeral and yesterday I just didn't have time for this.

But now I have time so I will update.

Live goes on. Feels kinda strange. My dad and his brother and sisters are now the oldest generation in that part of our family. Not only weird for them but also for me, my sisters and my cousins.

I can't say when I will update again. The funeral is Thursday and we need to go through her room in her nursing home, or whatever it is called in English. The place you put your Grandparents when they are old and can't take care of themselves anymore. We need to have it empty within a week. No pressure, huh?

Anyway, on with the story.

Have fun reading.

Emmetje.

The Other Telepath

Chapter 8

More Then One Visit

Elysa was already laying in bed when somebody knocked that same night on her door. She tried to ignore it but the knocking only went on and only became harder.

'ALRIGHT, ALRIGHT! I'M COMING! CHILL OUT!'

She stepped out of her bed and hurried downstairs. When she opened the door she cursed. 'Holy shit!'

Eric grimaced. 'I didn't know there was such thing as holy shit.'

'Don't go all smart on me now, Eric.' She stepped out of the doorway and gave a small pull on his hair. 'What the fuck happened to you? You're all covered in blood.'

'One of my prisoners came to me with silver. That didn't work out so well.'

'I figured out that much myself. What's with all the silver foil in your hair? Are you thinking about taking a different kind of colour in your hair?'

'Yes. Blood red. What do you think?'

Elysa couldn't help but laugh slightly. 'I would match the colours in your bar very well.'

Eric grinned.

'But seriously? What is with it? You look ridiculous.'

'Pam thought it would be a smart idea if I cut something of my hair.'

'Oh, I agree. A shorter haircut would probably look good on you. Let me see.' She stepped even closer and pulled his hair back. 'Without the foils I think it would make you look very sexy.'

Eric grinned and Elysa let his hair go. 'So? What can I do for you so late in the night and with you looking ridiculous and covered with blood?'

'I need your help.'

Elysa's face fell and she shook her head. 'Na-hah. I ain't going tonight with you to Fangtasia to read people's mind for you. I've had a really bad day and I want to get some sleep.'

'I don't expect you to come with me and I wasn't planning on asking you to read people's mind.'

'What is it then?'

'If Pam finds out that I've blood in my hair, she will kill me.'

Elysa's eyebrows shot up but when she saw that he was serious she burst out in laughter's.

Eric looked annoyed. 'That's not funny.'

'Oh hell it is!' She tried to get a grip on her laughter. 'I'm sorry, Eric. But you're about 900 years older then she and she is your progeny so I find it hilarious that you're afraid that she will kill you if she finds out that you've blood in your hair.'

'I still think it is not funny.'

Elysa gave him a smile. 'What do you want me to do?'

'Do you think you can get it out?'

'Not without you getting a shower. Something that Pam will find out because the foils will be on different places.'

Eric groaned. 'Yeah, I figured out that much myself. Damn.'

'Sorry, Eric.'

'It was worth the try.'

Elysa signed. 'Well, perhaps I do have an idea. Be right back.' She walked back inside.

He called after her: 'You could just invite me in.'

'No.'

She grabbed a washcloth and grabbed a boil that she filled with water and after that she walked outside again. 'Sit.'

Much to her surprise Eric really sat down on the bench without complaining about her ordering him around and she sat down beside him.

'Hold this.' She gave him the boil filled with water and wetted the washcloth. After that she started to rub carefully locks of his hair between her hands with the washcloth and she tried to get the blood out.

'Does it work?'

'Not much. Just a little.'

'A little is good enough for me.'

Elysa smiled while she continued with her work.

'So how come that you had a bad day?'

'I started going through my grandmother's room just like Sookie's room. That wasn't really easy. Then I got the news that my sexual abusive great uncle Bartlett had passed away and left me all his money. Then I figured out that my baby brother is going to a leadership conference of the Fellowship of the Sun. I had a fight with my boss and I had a fight with Bill because I found out that he killed my uncle Bartlett after Sookie told him that he had sexually abused us. Or abused her and tried it on me. I didn't really let him and when he tried it I hit him on the head with a frying pan.'

Eric didn't answer on that and Elysa signed. 'Let me guess. You can absolutely understand why Bill killed him.'

'Yes, I can say I do.'

'I already thought you would. It's not like I'm grieving because he's dead but Bill said that he had done it for me and Sookie and now I've the feeling that I killed someone. And I don't like that feeling at all.'

'I never had troubles with that feeling.'

'You lived your human live a thousand years ago and now you're a Vampire. Of course you never had trouble with that feeling.' She went to another lock. 'Can I ask you something?'

'Be my guest.'

'Did you have anything to do with that murdered woman in the parking lot a night ago?'

'Do you think I had anything to do with it?'

'No. I don't think you're the kind of man that rips his victims' hearts out of their chests. But my boss, some of my colleagues and even Bill think that you might had something to do with it.'

Eric looked slightly surprised. 'Bill really thinks that?'

'Well, I don't really know what Bill thinks about it. After I asked him about it he was to busy warning me that you would try with everything in your power to make me yours then to give me a proper answer.'

Eric grinned. 'And what did you say about that?'

'That you could walk straight to hell because it wouldn't happen.'

Eric looked her in the eye, still grinning. 'We will see.'

'Don't get your hopes up too high, sweet cheeks. You would only disappoint yourself.'

'Like I said: we will see.'

Elysa looked away from his face and continued to work on his hair. 'Really, I can't get that much out but it is a little less then first. Who came exactly at you with silver?'

'You remember the name that woman gave us?'

'Royce?'

'That's one, yes. Well, I found him and locked him up and when I wanted to take him upstairs to ask him a view questions, he came with me with silver.' He growled softly in his throat. 'He pressed a silver cross in my cheek.'

'Ouch. That must have hurt.'

'It did.'

Elysa turned his face towards hers and wetted her washcloth again. She started to rub the blood of his chin.

'Thank you, Elysa. I appreciate it.'

'You're welcome. But like I said before: don't get your hopes up to high. I still think you're an asshole and a jerk.'

'Well, there is a little bit of truth in that.'

'You mean that they're both correct and that you really are an asshole and a jerk.'

'I didn't say that.'

After his chin she went towards the part of his chest that was covered with blood and that she could see. She gave him a stern look before starting with it. 'And don't expect me to do this every time you are all covered in blood.'

'I wouldn't dare.'

'So Royce is dead now?'

'Very.'

'Well, he isn't very useful to you now that he is dead, isn't he? He can't tell you anything now.'

'He came to me with silver.'

'So you decided to kill him?'

'I was hungry and angry. It happened in a flash. My instincts took over.'

'Yeah, right.' Elysa gave him another stern look. 'Hands.'

He gave her his hands and she started to clean them. 'And how are you going to tell Pam that you first visited me in the hope I could help you with the blood in your hair before showing her the damage you caused?'

'Who ever said I was going to tell?'

'Pam is smart, Eric. Smarter then you give her credit for. She will smell me on you and she will know that you visited me before going to her.'

'Damn right I would.'

Elysa and Eric looked up and saw that Pam was standing close to the veranda with her arms over each other. When she saw Eric's hair she groaned.

'Sorry, Pam.'

Elysa smiled slightly while Pam walked towards them and took a better look at Eric's hair. 'This is a disaster. Now we've got to get much shorter then I planned.'

'I said I was sorry, Pam. He took silver to me.'

'Yeah, I heard your story.' She shook her head. 'When Chow told me that you left in a hurry after you came downstairs I knew something wasn't right. And when I saw the parts of the body and after I heard the story of our other prisoner…'

Elysa gave her a smile. 'You did the math.'

'Precisely.'

Eric groaned and Elysa finished rubbing the blood of his hands. 'Thanks.'

She rolled her eyes and took the boil of his lap. 'Don't mention it.' She rose up from her place and walked back towards the door. 'Now I believe you are finished here so if you two don't mind I'm going back to bed because I'm very tired.'

'And we need to go back to Fangtasia because we need to get that haircut over with.'

Eric signed. 'The joy.'

He also rose up and groaned again when Pam gave him a look.

'Goodnight, Elysa.'

'Have pleasant dreams.'

Elysa rolled her eyes again. 'After your visit here I doubt I will have those.'

Pam laughed while Eric looked annoyed and with a last smile Elysa walked back inside.

Elysa signed while shutting of her car. She had parked it before Merlotte's and although today was her day off she needed to be here just to talk to Tara.

She had seen Jessica on TV because her parents had sent a missing report over the television and over the radio. After hearing that she suddenly realised how lonely she was alone in that house and now that she got rid of everything in Sookie's room and in her grandmother's old room and had replaced it with new things, she had the feeling that she needed someone to move in with her.

And Tara was just the person who she thought that would fit in. Because she still didn't like Maryann and she knew that Tara didn't felt comfortable at her place where everything was done for her.

When she walked in she smiled at Tara. 'Hey there, girl.'

'Elysa, what are you doing here? I thought it was your day off.'

'It is.'

'How many times do I have to tell you that coming into work while you don't have to is pathetic? It's like going back to high school and visiting your teachers.'

'Well, I haven't come to see my teachers. I have come to see you. So come on. Take a break.'

Tara laughed slightly. 'Sam will be pissed.'

'Oh, lately Sam is always pissed.'

The two walked passed Sam who was talking to Terry and they pulled themselves back in the dressing room.

'So, what did you want to talk about?'

Elysa started to talk about Jessica and how she had more grip on her then Bill had.

'So basically you've become some kind of stepmother to a Vampire.'

'Eew! You did not just call me that.'

Tara laughed. 'You look tired.'

'Oh I am. Last night Eric came knocking on my door and I was already in bed.'

'Oh don't tell me you two…'

'No! Gross, Tara. He was all covered in blood and he needed me to help him to get it off him and especially out of his hair or else his progeny would have killed him because she was going to give him a haircut.'

Tara laughed. 'You can say what you want but that guy is really all over you.'

'Yeah, I heard that before. But enough about me? How have you been?'

'Confused.'

'About what?'

'Well, you know that I've been living at Maryann's for the last couple of weeks.'

Elysa nodded. 'Yeah, I do.'

'Well sometimes I just want to leave but I can't find the strength. It's hypnotizing. Everything there is taken care of for me. My breakfast is made, my laundry is done, breakfast is served on a silver plate and there is even a chef.'

'Sounds boring.'

'Yeah, I know. And it scares me too. And it not just like I'm used to that everything gets done for me. But there is just something inside me that says: this is weird, Tara. And I don't trust it. But what do you think? Does it sound to you like it's too good to be true?'

'Well yeah. I wouldn't stand it there. I need to do something. I've been having a spring cleaning since I returned here. I replaced almost all the furniture for new ones and I think I will decorate everything too. But you should know that I might be saying this also because I've a conflict of interest in it…'

Tara looked confused 'Conflict of interest?'

'Yeah. The main reason why I came to see you today wasn't only to catch some things up but I was wondering if you would like to move in with me.' Tara looked surprised and amazed.

'Really? Are you serious?'

'Of course I am serious. I feel very lonely most of the time and it will be so much fun to have you around there again. You are practically like a sister to me and we always had the most fun in the world when you stayed over when we were younger. I mean, you stayed more often for the night then you didn't. And I don't believe we've ever wanted to pull each other's hair out like I sometimes really wanted too with Sookie and Jason.'

'Ah, that is not internally true. I was always jealous of you and of your long blonde curly hair. More then once I was thinking about cutting it while you slept.'

Elysa laughed. 'You did not.'

Tara laughed too. 'Oh yes I did.'

'So what do you think? I've been trying to get everything back together and I already moved my stuff into Gran's old room but then I still have two rooms over. Jason's old room I wouldn't dare to touch without his permission but he is now in Texas going to some stupid leadership conference.'

'Jason and God? Does that even get in the same sentence?'

'Apparently. I need to get used to it too. But what do you think?'

'Should I worry about hearing to loud noises out of your room?'

'Noises?'

'When you and your blonde Vampire lover are having a good time?'

'Hell no! What is it with you people and thinking that Eric and I are together?'

'Sweet heart, you just told me that you spend last night an hour long cleaning the blood out of his hair, of his face and of his body.'

'He isn't even invited in so you should not worry about that.'

'I will think about it, okay? And you better get out of here before Sam begs you to take a shift. Daphne isn't doing such great work.'

'Alright. Let me hear soon what you think, okay?' Tara nodded and the two hugged before saying goodbye.

Elysa opened Bill's front door and walked in. She heard the TV was on but she didn't hear anyone talking. She was going to pick Jessica up so they could go over to her place and have their girl's night but it was oddly quite.

'Hello? Anyone home?'

Jessica came out of the living room. 'I just saw my parents on TV.'

'Oh God. Jess, I'm so sorry.'

'I finally get it why they didn't want me to watch it in the first place. It's horrible.'

Elysa swallowed. 'Where's Bill?'

'I don't know. All he told me was: "Jessica, I've occasions to run. Occasions that do not recur your presence. So remain here and do your best to stay out of trouble while I'm gone". And I hate it here. I hate it so much.'

She sounded like she could start crying in any seconds and she walked back towards the living room and curled up on the couch.

Elysa signed and walked after her. She sat down before her on the table and looked at the teenager's face.

'I think I miss them.'

'I would find it strange if you didn't.'

The first blood tears fell over her cheeks and Elysa looked like she absolutely understood her.

'I miss my parents and my little sister. I was always totally horrible to her. I was just such a brat.' It was then that she noticed that she wasn't crying tears but blood. She sat up. 'What's wrong with me?'

'Sweet cheeks, Vampires don't cry regular tears. They cry blood. Bill should have told you that or Eric or even Pam but I guess that they haven't.'

'You guess?'

'Alright. I know they haven't and I will talk with Bill about it later.' She grabbed her handkerchief out of her bag and gave it to her.

'Thanks.' Jessica cleaned her hands and her face with the kerchief before looking at her again. 'You lost your little sister and your grandmother. What do you do when you miss them?'

'I look at their pictures and just sit in the living room and looking at them for a while.'

Jessica looked at her hands for a moment. 'Do you think you can drive me to my parents' house so I can see them?'

'Jessica, you know I can't do that. Bill will go nuts if he finds out. And not to mention that it could go really wrong.'

'I will just stay in the car, I swear. All I am asking is to sit across the street and get a glimpse of them through the window. Just so I can say goodbye.'

Elysa signed. 'You promise me that you will stay in the car?'

'I promise.'

'Fine.'

Jessica hugged her. 'Thank you!'

'Don't mention it. And when I say don't mention it then I really mean: don't mention it ever. And especially not to Bill.'

'My lips are sealed.'

'Okay. But we will be just driving by and we won't stay for long. And we're first stopping at my place because I am not taking you out while you are dressed like that.'

Bill and Eric were in a mall on the woman section and they were talking. Eric's hair was very short and he was wearing a trainings suite.

'The sheriff of area 9 in Texas has gone missing. Had you heard about that?'

'I hadn't but I know that the Vampire who you speak of is called Godric, correct?'

'Indeed. And you will understand when I say that he needs to be found.'

Eric led Bill a little but further away from all the people, especially away from the women who were eyeing him with curiosity. 'And that is where Elysa comes into the picture.'

Bill held immediately still and looked at the older Vampire. 'No.'

Eric held still too. 'I'm asking you politely to give me permission to take her with me to Dallas.'

'You can do whatever you want and you can ask all you want but I'm not putting her in that situation. Not after Sookie. I can not and will not allow you to bring her into these matters.'

'We made a deal, Elysa and I. She would help me and work for me as often as I like and in return I would leave her alone and I wouldn't kill anyone. You probably don't know about this because you weren't there when we made that deal.'

'The leaving her alone isn't working out so well.'

Eric grinned. 'She doesn't matter about that anymore. Believe me. She was more the willingly to help me last night to get rid of the blood that was all over my body.'

Bill's eyes flashed with anger and Eric smiled even more. 'Take her across a state line is something else then a trip to Fangtasia or a visit at her house. Deal or no deal. She will not agree with you on that because it wasn't in your deal.'

'Like I said before, you weren't there when we made that deal so what would you know about it? And as she is not yours I'm only asking this to be polite and out of respect because I know that you care very much for her.'

Bill didn't say anything and Eric gave him a mean smile. 'If I want her I can just simply take her. Whenever I want and without asking your permission.'

Bill's eyes flashed even more with anger and Eric's smile became even wider. 'So is no your final answer?'

'Yes, it is.'

Eric laughed slightly. 'Then I guess I will just simply take her then. And with all pleasure.'

He walked away but he heard that after he had turned his back towards the younger Vampire, his fangs popped out.

He smiled in himself. This was a fun game to play.

Elysa stopped her car and turned the key out of the ignition.

'This is it. The house across the street.' Jessica was wearing a white yellow dress and stared at her parents' house. 'My daddy won't be home yet. But my momma and sister should be there.'

Elysa's eyes filled themselves with tears and she swallowed but failed in swallowing her tears away. 'Jessica.'

'Yeah?' answered the young Vampire absent.

'I'm so sorry.'

Jessica looked from the window towards her and a surprised look came into her eyes. 'Why are you crying?'

'Because I feel guilty. Because you lost your family like I lost my little sister. And I feel guilty because it was Sookie's fault that you became a Vampire.'

'I'm not blaming Sookie.'

'No, but I do. And I feel horrible because she had done it and I can understand the pain you're going through.'

A view tears rolled over her cheeks. 'And I had never whished you would feel like this. So I'm so sorry.'

Jessica wanted to hug her but she suddenly stopped and her head shot around. A small girl with red hair was looking out of the window. 'There's my sister.'

In an eye of a blink Jessica was out of the car and standing before the door while knocking like there wouldn't come a next day.

'Jessica!' Elysa screamed in shock and raced out of her car and towards the teenage girl. 'Jess, you can't see them! Get back in the car! Now!' She grabbed the girl by her arm. 'You promised. Come on!'

She wanted to pull her with her but at that moment the door went open and a woman with half long red hair appeared in the doorway. She and Jessica stared at each other and Elysa swallowed.

'Jessica?'

'Mom.'

The woman walked towards her and they hugged while the woman started to cry.

'Don't cry,' mounted Elysa towards the young Vampire who looked at her.

A young girl appeared also in the doorway and Jessica smiled slightly. 'Hey, Aiden.'

'Where were you?' asked the little girl.

'It doesn't matter. Just call your father and tell him that Jessica is home,' said Jessica's mother.

Aiden ran back inside to call her father and Jessica's mother looked at her daughter again.

'Momma, I would like to introduce you to my friend. This is Elysa. She has been taking very good care of me together with her boyfriend.'

Elysa shot her a look that just screamed "Eric is not my boyfriend" and Jessica smiled devilishly.

Her mother hugged Elysa. 'Hello, Elysa. Thank you so much for bringing her back and taking care of her.'

'Well, you're welcome.'

After a quick hug Jessica's mother took Jessica by her hands again. 'Aren't you inviting us in?'

'No!' Elysa looked absolutely horrified now. 'We can't stay. We need to go home before Bill comes home.'

'Honey, your arms are like ice. Come on in and I will make you some tea.'

Jessica's mother grabbed as well her daughter as Elysa by the hands and pulled them inside. She placed them on the couch in the living room and disappeared then in the kitchen.

Elysa started to yell softly at Jessica. 'What has gotten into you? You've gone crazy and I'm going to get in some serious trouble because of this. Bill will kill me.'

'Eric will never let that happen.'

'Screw Eric and everything he has! I've done something behind Bill's back and that something is going seriously wrong! You promised me you would stay in the car!'

'I swear that it wasn't even me who was doing it. I've these new Vampire control issues.'

'Fuck your Vampire control issues! I can't believe you fucked me like this!'

'I'm sorry, El.'

'Well, if you're really so sorry then you will come with me now and leave this place!'

At that moment Aiden walked into the living room while caring a plate full of sandwiches. 'Here are some sandwiches. Mom is still making some tea.'

'Thanks, Aiden.'

'Yeah, thank you so much.' But Elysa had a face that was standing on storm mode.

'Aiden, you already had diner so don't touch those sandwiches.'

Aiden looked at Elysa. 'You're really pretty.'

'Well that's so nice of you to say.'

'Eric thinks you're pretty too.'

'Oh shut the fuck up about Eric, Jess.'

Jessica laughed slightly. 'It's true. And you think he's hot too.'

'If you think he's so hot then why don't you go fuck him yourself?' hissed Elysa.

'Because Bill won't let me.'

Elysa's eyes turned to storm mode to while she mumbled: 'I hate Vampire men.'

Jessica giggled.

'Who is Eric?' asked Aiden.

'Her boyfriend.'

'He is NOT my boyfriend, for God's sake!'

Aiden giggled with her sister and Elysa felt a small ache in her heart. She swallowed. 'You know, Aiden, you're very pretty yourself.'

'No. I'm not,' said the little girl. 'I've got a problem with my hair.'

'I envy that red hair of yours.'

'You do?'

'Yes. I do.'

'I don't think Eric likes red heads that much.'

'Jess, I'm warning you. If you bring Eric to the conversation one more time then be sure I will kill you and this time you will die for real.'

The door went open and a man stepped into the house. Jessica stood up from her seat and looked at him. The man stopped in his tracks when he saw her and stared at her.

Elysa swallowed but gave a small sign of relieve when the two walked towards each other and embraced each other.

Jessica's mother came also back into the living room and suddenly an awful thought pricked in Elysa's mind. Jessica hated this man because… She got the answer before she could think of it.

Jessica's father grabbed his eldest daughter by her arms. 'How could you do this?'

'Daddy…'

'Do you have any idea what you put your mother threw?' His voice rose up and became angry. 'Why, Jessica? You tell me why!' He shook her and Elysa rose up and tried to come between them.

'Mr. Hamby, you let go of her right now!'

He ignored her. 'You tell me or I will make you tell me!'

Jessica pushed him of her and looked angrier then ever. 'You go ahead, daddy. Hit me with your belt.' Her fangs popped out. 'But this time I will be ready for you.'

Elysa grabbed Jessica by her arm. 'Jess, enough!'

Jessica looked angry at her. 'Do you have any idea what he has done to me?'

'He abused you, mistreated you, hit you with a belt and said horrible things to you. Yes, I know, Jess. But for fuck's sake! Get a grip on yourself!'

'How could you let some bloodsucker bite you?'

'I didn't let anybody do anything to me. But I'm very glad he did. Because now I can get to school you in what it is like to be scared.'

'Jessica!' Elysa's grip on her became stronger. 'You fucking listen to me.'

'I don't listen to you.'

'Hell you will!' Elysa sounded so angry that Jessica was taken back. 'I am not letting you do this, you hear me? And if you will you can be sure that it will only case you a lot of pain.'

Jessica looked angry at her father.

'Baby, please…'

'Mrs. Hamby, I suggest you shut the fuck up!' snapped Elysa. She turned towards Jessica again. 'And you. Get in the car!'

'Make me.'

The next moment she was send flying threw the air and landed against the wall. 'Do NOT underestimate me, Jessica Hamby! Now get your fucking ass in the car!'

Jessica looked up with blood tears in her eyes again and her fangs popped in again. 'El… I'm sorry.' She started to cry and Elysa signed while her anger slipped away. 'I'm so sorry. I don't know what has gotten into me.'

'Your Vampire instincts, that is what has gotten into you.' Elysa walked towards her and helped her up. 'We're leaving, alright?'

Jessica nodded while she still cried. At that moment the door flew open and Bill appeared in the doorway. He looked beyond furious.

'Shit.'

'Someone has to invite me in.'

Jessica started to cry even harder and Elysa put an arm around her shoulders. 'Aiden, invite him in,' said she after that to the younger girl. 'He is not going to hurt you. Trust me. He is going make everything alright.'

'Really?'

'Don't, Aiden. He is one of them. He is gonna kill us all.'

But Aiden kept staring Elysa in the eyes. 'Trust me.'

Aiden looked at Bill. 'Would you please come in, sir?'

Bill raced into the house and stopped before Jessica and Elysa. 'Bill…'

'Get the hell out of here! This is your mess and I've got to clean it up!'

Elysa snapped back at him. 'If you would be a better maker then perhaps it wouldn't have been my mess.'

Bill grabbed her arm and pulled her away from Jessica and out of the house. 'Get lost!'

Elysa stared at him with tears in her eyes when he walked back inside. 'Bill, please don't kill them.'

She didn't get a response so she walked back to the car and leaned against it while she waited for them to get out of the house again.