Unusually cold winds blows through Bon Temps cemetery, seeming to come from nowhere. A shimmer passes through the air above a gravestone, and more cold wind twists around the trees as something appears to be clawing its way out of nothing several feet from the ground. One hand followed by another pops free and two arms emerge, seeming to claw against empty air in order to pull itself free. The torso of a man is revealed, and more wind is suddenly churning, pushing against him now, as though to pull him back in and a vacuum seems to open as he fights against it to release himself. Once free, he falls to the ground, gripping a headstone for support as the vacuum becomes stronger only to cause the air to twist together and finally close itself up. He stands on shaky legs clad in some sort of grey animal skin, and slowly gets his bearings as he reads the name of the headstone.
Adele Stackhouse
The name rings a bell, and he remembers it as the name of the woman who was to birth his bride, but the last time he was able to look through a seeing glass, he found that her children did not carry the spark. He had hoped to check back into the world sooner, but that realm had not been helpful in providing what he needed to make another seeing glass. It took him nearly a hundred years there, but he managed to find a way to break through using the old fae portal that was rarely used in the cemetery. His dead heart felt colder when he laid eyes upon the old farmhouse. Racing up to the door, he viewed the bright yellow paper taped securely to it, and wondered at the pleasant faint scent in the air.
CONDEMNED DO NOT ENTER
Only then did he turn and notice the large machines sitting in what was left of the old driveway, all stationary right at the jagged border of the overgrown yard and encroaching tree line. He entered, ignoring the warning, and found the sweetest of scents pooled within the entryway. He discovers that it's faded out in every other part of the house, but none the less still lingers at the base of the stairs, and he can't help the excitement he feels at the thought of his woman attached to this mouthwatering scent. The house may no longer keep the family, but the scent was unmistakable as a female Brigant, and he knew she had been here recently. Following the slowly decaying scent, he finds that it dead ends at just a few feet from the stairs.
Knowing that he's garnered all that he can from this place, he growls in frustration at not even knowing the name of his bride, and ultimately calms himself and listens for the nearest town. Finding the direction he needs to go, he is off, searching for information.
)()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()(
About two hours after sunrise, I extract myself from Eric's embrace and go out to the living room. I find there is another void in my apartment, in the guest room, and when I look into the windowless room I see that it is Pam. Not surprisingly, there is a pile of what must be her clothes folded up on the dresser. Niall is watching the TV when I reach the living room, and I see a hot breakfast still steaming on the kitchen counter waiting for me. "Humans have such fascinating television shows." He mumbles, seemingly entranced in some sort of soap opera. I set down next to him, and start to pick at my food.
"Thank you for coming to help. Eric doesn't know anything about lemon poisoning."
He turns to me with surprise on his face. "I did not remove the poison from you. By the time I got here Eric was already holed up in your room with you, and I didn't dare enter. Pam made a sudden entrance when she felt Eric's distress, and from what I gather he was none too fond of her being anywhere near you. She made a mess of your front door, which I already fixed, and Eric fed you enough of his blood to burn out the poison and heal you. Which doesn't usually work, but since you are bonded it must have seeing as you aren't dust right now. You two will be fascinating to watch." My cheeks burn red as coals, and I can't but give him a killer stare.
"Don't you dare!" I say, wondering if he'd already peeked at us.
He chuckles, "Only a joke, my dear. But in all seriousness, I am happy that you have reconciled with Eric. You were rather miserable, and even if you wouldn't admit it, I could see it as you walked my halls."
Not sure what to say, I go to scrape my leftover food into the trashcan and rinse the plate clean before leaving it in the sink for later.
I change my clothes in the bedroom, taking a moment to push Eric onto his back into a position I know would be more comfortable for him when he wakes. Grabbing a pen and paper, I think for a moment before a mischievous grin splits my face and I write him a note. Going shopping, not sure how long I'll be gone, come find me if you want to. I leave the note folded in his hand, and kiss his cheek before moving away from the bed.
I see his leather jacket on the chair in the corner and take it with me as I go back to the living room. "I'm going shopping for clothes, and I probably won't be back until late, do you want to come?" He shakes his head, and a bowl of popcorn appears in front of him.
"I think I'll watch this for a while before going home. I'll ward when I leave." He says it in a distracted monotone as he grabs his popcorn and I know he's completely engrossed in the ridiculous show. An idea strikes me and I quickly go into where Pam is resting and I check her sizes. Telling Niall goodbye, I leave without another word.
Popping myself to the only clothing store I had thus far visited, I found it wouldn't open for another hour and instead head to a shop called Sinister Threads I could see down the street. It sounds perfect. Checking my watch I realized it was a little early to try and clothes shop at normal places. I pass through two sets of doors to go into the store, and it only takes a quick scan of the building to find that there are all vampires here. Most, which I sense on the floors above, are I'm sure asleep. But there is one on the same floor with me, behind the register that I walk past, and I realize the windows must be UV proofed. The vampire at the register is a blond man wearing an old fashioned vest, over a thin long sleeve shirt and trousers with a pocket watch chain hanging visible, and really he looks more suited to be in a bank rather than here. I don't question it openly, and quickly head to a section of pink tops.
Time gets burned up easily as I browse and pick out several things I know Pam will like, before going up to the register with nine outfits where the blond vampire is waiting to get me rung up. "How come you don't have the bleeds?" I ask nonchalant, and the he smiles.
"I'm about six hundred, so I can stay up for a couple hours longer than my children. We won't close until eleven. That'll be $1365.95." I search my purse for my bank card while she bags it all up. Panic sets in as I can't find it, and finally I look at him almost ashamed.
"I can't find my card, I'm so sorry, can I come back for that stuff?"
"Certainly, we open back up a little after sunset, if you can't make it back before we close." I thank him profusely for understanding, and ask where the nearest bank is.
He gives me directions, and soon I'm walking into the lobby of a Chase bank located several blocks away. I'm horrified to see the long line with only two tellers working, and wait patiently as the line creeps forward. Finally it's my turn, and after the teller gets my information, cancels my old card and confirms everything, I sit in their waiting area as my new card is produced. It takes me nearly an hour just to leave the bank, and I end up going to the store I had visited in previous days as the other was already closed.
A human woman is at the register when I walk in, and she smiles as much as she possibly can as I start to browse the different racks of clothing. After finding enough to give my limited wardrobe a bump, I get checked out and take the clothes home with a pop before embarking again to browse at several stores not far from Fangtasia. Two malls have been built nearby, so I spend my time simply enjoying myself as I go shop to shop, occasional seeing something I like and getting it. It's not long until sunset, when Sinister Threads opens back up, and I eat a quick meal in the food court as the sun sinks. Not long after it's down, I head into the bathroom, and from the privacy of my stall I pop myself back to an alleyway half way across town. It only takes me a few minutes to walk to the clothing store, and I find it much more alive than before. Several vampires roam through the racks of clothing, many of them woman, and the same man as before is standing near the register. He smiles as I approach, and pulls my bags from beneath the counter.
"It's good that you came back, one of my girls was eyeing a top you had picked out." I see a girl near the wall staring daggers at him, even as he checks my bags. He notices my gaze, and turning to see her, he growls and she scurries off to fix some clothes on a mannequin. "Sorry, she's my youngest. I haven't quite managed to tame her yet."
I can't help but laugh, and look down to go through the motions of running my card through the machine as a bell at the entrance dings loudly. When I look up, the vampire behind the counter seems paler than before, and I immediately throw out a mental net to find out why. I can't help the surprised smile that comes across my face as he opens our bond, and I feel that Eric is behind me. He's mischievous, and the vampire waiting for my receipt to print looks uncertain as Eric's arms come around my waist with a small growl, and he plants open mouthed kisses on my neck. "Has he been helpful?" He asks me, meaning the vampire who's getting my things in order, and I nod slightly.
"He's been very nice." I confirm, and I see him visibly relax as he puts the receipt in one of my bags.
Eric reaches up to grab them when they are offered, and carries them for me as well as taking the rest of the bags from my hand as we exit the store. I'm still close to his side as we walk, and he leans down to whisper. "I did enjoy hunting you when I woke, but I'd rather still have you with me when I rise." Butterflies enter my stomach as he says this, and I wonder if he wants me to move in with him. "Will you be modeling your new clothes for me?"
"Actually these are for Pam." I don't mention that I have new clothes waiting for me at my apartment, since some of those actually are meant to tease him with.
He looks surprised, and I can feel how happy he is that I am making an effort to be friendly with Pam. "Have you eaten?" He inquires, and I tell him about my time wandering around the malls near Fangtasia. "I have to go there at some point to check in and fill out some paperwork, would you care to join me? Pam will be there." I agree, and soon we are walking in the back door, past his Corvette. He heads to the office with my bags, while I take Pam's with me to the main floor to find her. She is lounging on Eric's throne, filling in for him, and looks surprised to see me.
"I bought you some clothes, let me know if you like them." I tell her nervously, handing her the bags and quickly going back to Eric's office before she can say anything.
"I'm sure she will enjoy the clothes." He says as I enter, trying to alleviate my fears. A stack of papers is in front of him, and it only takes a little while before he is done and everything is sorted.
I grab a stack of folders and quickly figure out the filing system, starting to put them away as he opens a conversation. He listens intently while we chat, telling each other things to get filled in on our lives. I can see his attention is especially caught when I tell him about my encounter with Bill. I know he can't help it, and I cringe when he asks, "Do you want to see him anymore?"
"Definitely not." I say it with confidence and honesty and he feels it through the bond, sending me affection in return. Finally I come to stand behind him and play with his hair idly as our talk continues before we go into a comfortable silence.
"I would like to take you somewhere." He says it suddenly several minutes later as he sits at his desk, checking email messages.
"Where's that?" My curiosity makes my senses hum as I anticipate what could be ahead, and he turns to face me with a smirk as he lets me go stir crazy for a second.
"Anywhere in the world. Where do you want to go?"
My mind races. Where to go? He pulls me into his lap as I think, kisses my neck, and holds me as I focus my thoughts away from the gutter and to the question at hand.
When I first went to Fearie, Niall taught the best utility the fae have. He helped me to teleport by taking me all over the world, and eventually letting me take the lead with him on my arm. I mostly went to random places I had seen images of in books, and while my aim was sporadic at first, I quickly learned to use the internet to memorize different places all over the world I could easily go to. I flip through the memories in my head, when suddenly the first time he took me somewhere comes to thought. Suppressing the mischievous, giddy feelings I have welling up, I smile at him with forced serenity, and still can't help but giggle a little. "I know the perfect place that I can take you, when do you want to go?"
"I already applied for permission to go on a two week vacation with the King, so I should have a response to that later tonight." His smile gives him away, intense curiosity and uncertainty at being lead rather than followed mixed together with a determination and excitement that makes his eyes practically glow. "If I get the dates I want, we will leave tomorrow night."
I quickly think over all of the things I will need to do before leaving, and find it odd that the list is so short. Before going on any trip, when I was more human and while in Fearie, I always had obligations I had to attend to and accommodate for before being able to leave. It was like I was a brand new person.
Putting those thoughts away for the moment, I give him a lavish kiss and tell him I need to go home to get prepared for whenever we can go. He promises to tell me as soon as he hears form the King, and I pop away soon after some more kisses.