A/N: Nikki's escape is covered here.

Chapter 10

I

Nikki tied and gagged a still unconscious Ginger. She placed her in the bed and threw the bedding over her and locked Ginger into her old prison of a room. Clutching her flimsy robe around her, she wandered into the back of the bar and looked for something to wear. It was taking up time, but she couldn't very well go outside looking like this. Finally, in the dressing room for the dancers, she found some clothing. It was just as bad as the clothing that Ginger was wearing, she thought with a sigh. But, unless she wanted to forage farther into the back where the vampires might be resting, she would have to settle for this. She pulled on a scrap of material that was supposed to be a dress. It was red with cutouts at the waist and one below the high neckline to show off one's cleavage. It only came a few inches down from the curve of her butt, too. Slipping her feet into high heels, she saw herself in the mirror. She paused and tried to comb her blonde hair with her fingers. She looked terrible. There were haggard circles under her eyes and her cheekbones looked prominent. Her pain was etched onto her face. How could he see me like this and not have had some sort of feelings for me? Were all the times that he had caressed her and sweetly kissed her just a planned strategy to make her fall for him? Had he ever cared for her, even a little bit?

Nikki turned away from herself in the mirror. She used to be so full of life with mischief in her eyes. But, now her eyes were as dead as his were. She didn't want to see any more and she stumbled out of the room. Leaning up against the wall, she took a moment to gather her strength. You can't wallow in your self-pity, right now, she told herself. You'll have plenty of time for that later. She moved to his office and looked around until she found a panel of keys hanging on the way. She needed a car and she saw several sets of car keys hanging among the other keys. She also saw a set labeled 'dungeon'. She paused and her fingers moved to that set of keys. She had to find out for sure and she grabbed the keys and moved into the basement. Coming down the steps, she was thankful that Eric had not chained her down in this place. She probably would have given in after just a night down here and lapped at his blood like an obedient lap dog. She shivered with a chill that was not due to the cold air. Her heels striking the steps seemed to echo around the concrete walls. She hovered on the bottom step and gripped the railing. Stop being such a sissy, she chided herself. But, she smelled death down here. There was an aura of suffering that seemed to linger long past the lives of those who had died within these cold walls. Goose-pimples formed on her arms as she peered into the dimly lit room. She saw tall shelves used for storage and benches against the walls with various items on them. None of them looked like torture devices and Nikki slowly moved away from the security of the steps. Just as she was ready to leave, her eyes looked up and saw some sort of circular device mounted onto the ceiling. Like a wheel of some sort, she thought. She stepped past the shelves and took a closer look at it. There was metal poles attached to the wheel, about five of them, and chained to one of the poles was Tristian. She had thought that he might be in here, if he was still alive. He was grimy and dirty and cuts marred the flesh of his wrists. Nikki eyed those curiously. What was Eric doing to him? She remembered how Eric's eyes had rolled up into his head in euphoria as he had tried to suck Tristian dry. He had gone a little crazy both during and afterwards. Maybe, he was draining Tristian, but not biting him. Since, he knew that he would lose control and not be able to stop himself if he bit him again. Maybe, Eric and Pam were keeping Tristian alive for their own pleasure. Fairy blood cocktails, anyone? Nikki shivered. Maybe Tristian had helped her, even if it was unknowingly. After all, Eric was sipping pure undiluted fairy blood and didn't need her hybrid blood. At least, as long as Tristian was alive. She was sure that Eric's patience and the life of this fairy were connected. Once Tristian was drained completely, she was certain that Eric would have turned his attentions on her. Nikki shivered again and sighed. She wasn't going to get much help from him. Tristian was out cold. His pale face looked ghostly in the gloom. Either drugs or blood loss was responsible for his state. He wasn't so bad off that his true fairy appearance was showing, though. She moved closer to him. She saw that Eric had been smart enough to keep him in the iron blend chains. Just enough iron in them to weaken the fairy, but not kill him. She looked down on him and still felt the urge to leave him here and let the vampires finish him off. Didn't he deserve it? But, that vampire had hurt her more deeply than anything Tristian had ever done to her. She felt a heat behind her eyes and closed them. You don't have time to be sorry for yourself, she told herself. Later when you are alone, you can allow yourself to be weak.

Nikki opened her eyes and examined Tristian. He was still valuable. Nikki knelt and unlocked the collar around his neck. The fairy never even flinched at her touch. Down for the count, thought Nikki. She rose and grabbed his feet as she pulled him across the floor to the stairs. If you had vampire blood, you could probably just carry him up the stairs, she thought. But, you'd also have a built in homing device that would allow Yours Truly to find you, she reminded herself. But, maybe she was already linked to him. It only takes a drop of his blood to do the trick. And vampire blood didn't taste like human blood from what she had heard. It was thick and sweet. Hadn't Eric's kisses tasted like honey? She reached up a finger to her lips and remembered the way his lips had felt on hers. She hadn't been able to get enough of them at the time, but what if he had added some of his own special flavor to the mix? Her finger trailed along her lips and a feeling of tingling warmth settled onto her stomach, like heated butterflies. That heat rushed downward and spread between her legs causing her to gasp. Shake it off, unless you want to go back upstairs and wait for your master to arise.

Nikki squared her shoulders. Even if running away was a futile effort or not, she was not going to just wait here and let Eric take her. She didn't want to be a vampire's pet, not even his. Even if the thought of him made her panties want to go up in flames. You still want him, she thought, even after all that he has done to you. Girl, you have issues. Nikki grabbed Tristian's legs and began the arduous task of dragging him up the stairs. Uh, maybe I should have eaten something because he weighs a ton, she thought. But, she managed it and pulled him to the back dock where she threw him into the large trunk of a shiny, black sedan that Nikki decided to liberate from Eric. With a little smile of accomplishment, Nikki drove off to freedom.

II

By the time that Nikki reached her destination, Tristian was awake. He balefully eyed her from the trunk. She leaned down and pulled off his gag.

"Vampire whore."

"You might not insult me, since I got you out of that dungeon," Nikki replied.

"Good point," said Tristian. "O fair maiden beyond compare will you not release me from my bindings?"

"You're still the biggest asshole that I know," said Nikki.

"Are you sure about that?" he replied.

His calculating eyes examined her closely. Taking in her clothing and her physical appearance. Slowly, a small, smug smile formed on his lips.

"Aw, is the honeymoon over?" he asked. "Did the handsome vampire decide to go all vampire on you and take what he wants instead of asking politely?"

Nikki raised her chin. "Taunting me isn't such a good idea either."

Tristian sighed. "Remove my bindings, Nikki. I won't try to harm you."

"Not, quite yet," replied Nikki. She nibbled on her lower lip. Fairies had a very keen sense of smell, at least, to those things that were a danger to them. "I need to know something."

"What is it? My legs are cramping painfully here."

"Can you smell vampire blood in me?" Nikki asked.

"Worried that your vampire boyfriend might have decided to mark his property?" sneered Tristian.

As Nikki waited and didn't start to release him, Tristian asked, "Can't you tell? There are other signs such as intense sexual attraction and dreams. But, wait, I forgot that you go into heat whenever he's around."

"Just tell me," hissed Nikki.

Tristian sniffed her. "I can smell his stench all over you. And he has been all over you, hasn't he? You already smell like that vampire so I can't tell you for sure."

"You're lying."

"Maybe I am and maybe I'm not," said Tristian.

It was always hard to tell which was worse, thought Nikki. Vampires or fairies. If they only knew how much they had in common. She couldn't trust Tristian any more than Eric.

"At sundown, you will find out if I'm lying or not," said Tristian. "He will come for you."

"If he finds me, he finds you," replied Nikki. She tried to keep from shivering. Eric would be mad, now. Not only had she escaped, but she had taken his fairy prisoner.

"I want a truce," said Nikki.

"Terms?" asked Tristian.

"I set you free and you leave me alone," she said. "And Eric."

Tristian raised and eyebrow. "You still care for him, don't you?"

"Yes or no," replied Nikki.

"I'm not the only fairy that you have to worry about," said Tristian.

"What do they even care?"

"Any breeding female is valuable, even a hybrid," replied Tristian.

"There must be more to it than that," said Nikki.

"You are safest in fairyland. I will not force you into bonding," said Tristian. "Come home, Nikki."

"That place was never my home."

"Where is your home, then, if not with us?" he asked.

Nikki studied him for several long minutes and then bent down to unlock his restraints. She stepped back and watched Tristian struggled to get out of the trunk. He was weak and his muscles were cramped up from being locked in position for so long. But, she dared not get close enough to help him. She pulled an iron blade out of a hidden sheath behind her back. It would kill him, if he were foolish enough to try to attack her. He was too weak to summon the light, the little strength he had, he needed to save to transport him back to the lands of the Fae. Once Tristian managed to get free of the trunk, he shambled away on unsteady legs and moved towards the portal. Before he left, he turned and faced her.

"I owe you a debt that I will honor, Nikoletta," he said, using her formal name.

His eyes glittered and Nikki couldn't stop a chill of fear from trailing down her spine. "You have much to fear in this world and in mine. Tread carefully, little hybrid."

III

Nikki found the Reynard Parish road crew as it was breaking up for the day. She stood a moment and watched Jason as he strode to his truck. Opening the door, he reached in and took out a small towel and wiped off his brow. She looked at his pleasant form. He was as a beautiful as a fairy, so why didn't he have the spark? As she moved towards him, he noticed her and flashed a wide smile. My brother, thought Nikki, as she pulled him into her arms and gave him a hug. Jason resisted a little.

"Whoa, Sook, what's gotten into you?"

"Can't a girl give her brother a hug?" asked Nikki.

"Hey, Sookie," called out Hoyt. "What are you wearing?"

Shit, thought Nikki, she was still in the Fangtasia clothes. "I, ah, thought that I might get bigger tips this way."

"I don't think so, little sis," said Jason, raising an eyebrow. "Those rednecks that come in there will just get the wrong idea. And, I don't want to spend all evening beating them off you."

"You'd do that, wouldn't you?" asked Nikki.

"Sure, of course," replied Jason. "Is something wrong?"

Hoyt gave a wave and sauntered off, leaving Jason alone with Nikki. "I have something to talk to you about," she said.

"Sure, whatever," replied Jason.

He waited expectantly and Nikki felt a moment of guilt. But, this was really a little thing and it was all for the best. She raised her eyes and took Jason's hand. He stared back into her eyes.

"I want you to watch over Sookie," said Nikkie.

"Aren't you Sookie?"

"Nevermind that," said Nikki. "Just keep an eye on her. And I want you to remember that you can't trust Bill or any vampire."

"Bill's a nice guy," said Jason.

"No, he's a vampire," said Nikki. "Never forget that."

"Okay."

Nikki raised her index finger and it began to glow. Jason's eyes widened as he stared at it. "Touch my finger with yours and swear to me that you will remember my words and your promise."

Jason slowly raised his own index finger and touched it to hers. Where they met, a small burst of light occurred.

"Cool," said Jason with his eyes wide. "Oh, I swear."

Nikki pulled back her finger and the light entered Jason's finger and traveled up his arm. Jason watched his skin glowing where the light passed underneath.

"Holy fuck, what's it doing?"

The light reached his shoulder and disappeared. "Is it gone?" asked Jason.

"No," replied Nikki. "It's in your heart, now. There it will remain and guide you."

Nikki leaned in and kissed Jason's cheek. "Goodbye, brother."

She stared at him a moment longer. He wouldn't exactly remember this, but he would be bound to keep his promise and look after Sookie. Giving him a last smile, Nikki walked away and disappeared. Jason shook his head. Why the hell was he just standing here? The last thing he remembered was wiping his brow. He raised his hand to his cheek. And why did his cheek tingle?

Nikki sat in the big, black sedan as the powerful engine purred like a kitten. She was in Merlott's parking lot and looked through the windows into the bar. The sun was still up, but she didn't have time to linger here. She watched those brief flashes of Sookie through the window. She wanted to go inside, but besides freaking Sookie out, she was sure that Sookie wouldn't listen to her. Didn't Sookie try to warn her about Eric? But, she had been too stubborn to listen. She was sure that Sookie was just as stubborn in regards to Bill. Mab had been right. She didn't feel much of a connection to her siblings. If she stayed here and got to know them, would she feel different? Where those feelings just lying dormant under the surface? She hadn't had a normal, human upbringing, thought Nikki. Maybe, she didn't have anything to offer this human sister and brother that were like strangers to her. Yet, Eric would come for her. And, the fairies would, too. No, it was too dangerous to them for her to stay. Nikki put the car in gear and drove away.

IV

Eric woke up under the trees again. The sunlight fell down on him and he felt a moment of disorientation. Had he drank too much of that fairy again? He only had a sip this time and given a little sip to Pam who had purred like a satisfied cat drinking a bowl of milk. With Nikki refusing her blood to him, he had made do with the fairy in his dungeon. A rather tasty fellow even if Eric did want to wrench his neck to the side and kill him for what he had tried to do to Nikki. He sat up and the sunlight shined into his eyes. It hurt, but the pain felt so wonderful at the same time. That was when he saw Nikki leaning against the tree trunk and watching him. She was wearing a flowing short dress of ruffles that seemed to move in the light breeze as if the dress were a living creature. He stared at it and it seemed to change color and patterns before his eyes. He blinked several times and when he opened his eyes Nikki still stood there. But, her smile had turned into a smirk.

"You are playing with things that you don't even understand, vampire," she said.

"How did we get here?" asked Eric.

"Look at what you're wearing? Do you really own something like that?" she asked.

Eric looked down at himself and he was wearing white shirt and pants. The shirt wasn't tucked in and tiny lines of ruffles bordered the buttons that shimmered in the sunlight as if they were opals. He saw even a hint of lace mixed in with the feminine-looking ruffles. No, he most certainly didn't own a shirt like this, he thought. He gazed back at Nikki who pushed off the tree and knelt beside him. She ran her fingers through his hair and cupped his cheek.

"All this could have been yours," she said.

"I don't understand."

"That's the pity of it," sadly said Nikki. "You truly don't."

She got up and turned away as her dress swirled. But, there wasn't a breeze now to lift it so, thought Eric.

"With our magic joined as one, we could have created a place like this for us to enjoy," said Nikki. "To be together."

She waved her hands and Eric looked around. Tall, green trees seemed to go on as far as his vampire eyes could see, like a lush living carpet. Little beautiful flowers grew up among the blades of grass. In the distance, he could see a beautiful waterfall that caused a rainbow to shine in it's mist. The sun was high in a sky of light blue.

"As beautiful a blue as the color of your eyes," said Nikki.

"Wait, did you just read my mind?" asked Eric.

"That's right, vampire," said Nikki. "Scared much?"

A feeling of unease washed over Eric. Sookie couldn't read vampire minds. No one could, he thought.

"Don't get your panties in a bunch," smiled Nikki. "It's only the magic of this place. Once we leave, all the old rules still apply and you're safe from the probing fingers of my mind."

"I'm dreaming," said Eric.

"Who's the smartest vampire in the class," smirked Nikki.

Eric relaxed until Nikki said, "But, there's a little more to it than that."

Suddenly, Nikki's eyes flashed a vibrant green and those flickers of color kept superimposing themselves over her normal brown eyes. It was her fairyness coming out, he thought. Boldly coming out.

"I could have created a world like this for us to be together in with your help," she said.

"It's not real," replied Eric.

"Oh, it's real, vampire," she said. "A place where a creature of darkness could have been happy with a creature of light. We were on the way to becoming as one."

"I want that, too," said Eric.

"Really? You decided to take what can only be freely given," she said.

At her words, the leaves of the trees began to turn brown and fall to the ground. The grass turned yellow and then dried up and died. Eric looked around but everything was turning brown and dying. The sky was even growing dark and shadows fell upon the landscape. The wind began to blow and it stirred the leaves up and they danced among the trees. Eric turned back to Nikki and her hair rippled in the breeze. A tear coursed down her cheek, but she still was the most beautiful thing in this world. A clap of thunder broke the silence and a flash of lightning was seen in the bank of clouds that were rapidly moving in.

"What's happening?" asked Eric.

"My love for you is dying, just like this dream world is."

Eric stood up to grab her, but Nikki turned into a mass white butterflies that fluttered on the breeze and flew away. He watched as they each became spots of light that winked out of sight. He turned around in this darkening and dying world and called her name.

"Nikki!"

The rain started to fall down on him. His hair and clothes quickly became drenched. The rain pelted the ground and that drumming sounded like one word being repeated over and over.

Alone.

Eric jolted awake and bumped his head on the roof of his coffin. He hissed and angrily released the lock and opened it. As his fingers touched his forehead, he felt the bump already going down as he healed. He had dreamed of her again. She had lingered in his thoughts during the day and now she was beginning to haunt his dreams. Vampires don't usually dream and it was starting to bother him. If she would just be sensible and stop being so stubborn. Annoying fairy, he thought, as he got up. He stayed at Fangtasia since he didn't want to leave her alone here. Not that she would appreciate his thoughtfulness, of course. He made his way through the bar to get the key. Was she still refusing to eat? He had noticed how drawn and thin she looked the last time he saw her. Would she wither away into nothing in his hands? Like a beautiful, jewel-throated songbird that refused to sing in it's gilded cage? Eric passed a hand over his eyes and tried to banish the memory of her sad brown eyes. He frowned. She would not die. He would not let that happen. He would force his blood down her throat if he had to. In a battle of wills, a vampire would always trump a fairy.

As he moved into this office, he saw that the keys were all in a jumble and the room key was missing. He rushed out of the office and moved in a flash to the room. He kicked in the heavy door with his vampire strength and stepped inside. A feeling of relief washed over him. She was still there. She was covered in the bedding and the soft curve of her hip caused his dick to harden in an instant. He wanted her. Needed to feel her underneath him as she spread her legs for him and welcomed him inside. He wanted to spend the rest of the night between her legs as he fucked her over and over. As she came in his arms, he would know that she… cared for him. He walked forward and sat on the bed. He would be gentle with her tonight. Within the closed doors of this room, he could say the words that she wanted to hear. Would it hurt him that much to give her some of things she wanted?

Still smiling, he pushed the covers down. But, that smile was quickly vaporized as he stared into Ginger's bug-eyed face. She began to struggle when she saw him and tried to talk around the gag in her mouth. Eric dropped fang and Ginger's eyes enlarged to the size of saucers in fear. He felt a moment of disbelief, which quickly turned to anger. He felt like bending down and sinking his fangs into her neck and ripping and tearing. How the fuck that Ginger wound up in this bed? He knew that Ginger had let her out. It was the only way. As Eric contemplated Ginger's punishment, another thought wormed it's way into his head. In a flash, he left Ginger to her futile struggles and moved to the dungeon.

Down in the gloom of the basement, he stared at the empty collar where the fairy had been. He couldn't believe it. She had taken that fairy with her. The same fairy that had assaulted her and tried to force himself on her. He growled in anger at her. Meddling fairy, he thought. But, a feeling of apprehension soon replaced it. But, not for himself. Nikki was too young and inexperienced to be playing the games that she was playing. And she was alone. All alone.

V

It was dark when Nikki reached her apartment in Jackson. She rushed inside and began scrambling around, throwing stuff into a bag. She cared little about the mess that she left in her wake since she probably wouldn't be coming back here. She moved like a woman possessed and threw her little stash of money and IDs into the bag. She had more, but she had to wait until business hours to get into her safety deposit box. She was so consumed by her actions that she didn't realize that she had left her door open. Nor, did she realize that someone stood on her threshold and watched her.

"Nikki?"

Nikki whirled around, almost expecting to see Eric. He can't come inside without an invitation, she thought. The words to revoke his invitation were on her lips since she wasn't taking any chances in case that dream of him had been real where she invited him in through the window. But, those words only made a strangled cry in her throat as she saw that it was Alcide in the doorway.

Seeing her look of panic, he strode quickly to her and put his arms around her. "Nikki, what in the world is going on?"

Nikki raised her eyes to his and noticed that a lock of black hair had fallen across his forehead. "I….I'm leaving," she said.

"Like a thief in the night?" asked Alcide.

Nikki paused and Alcide's eyes narrowed. "Your're in trouble, aren't you?"

Nikki stepped back and nervously clutched her throat. "I'm fine, don't be silly."

"Oh, really?"

"Yes, I'm taking a little, ah, trip," she said.

Alcide grabbed her arm and Nikki flinched. He quickly relaxed his grip, but didn't let go. "Tell me the truth," he said.

"I did tell you the truth," she said.

"Liar," replied Alcide.

The sound of someone walking down the hallway was heard and Nikki turned frightened eyes to the door. Alcide's heart clenched. She was trying to protect him, he was sure of it. Always so brave, he thought.

"Is it your boyfriend? Did he threaten you?" asked Alcide.

"He…he held me prisoner," whispered Nikki. "I got away, but he will come for me."

Alcide growled deep in his throat. "He didn't hurt you, did he?"

"No, nothing like that," said Nikki.

Alcide caressed her arm a moment and moved to the phone. When he picked up the receiver, Nikki rushed to him and tried to pull it out of his hands.

"What do you think you're doing?" she demanded.

"Calling the police so that they can arrest that fucker," replied Alcide.

With a show of strength that amazed him, Nikki pulled the receiver out of his hands and slammed it back down. "You can't do that."

"Nikki, you have to report this," said Alcide.

"It won't do any good," insisted Nikki.

"You're just afraid, but I'll be right by your side."

"No, please, it's not possible," she said.

"And why not?"

"Because he's a vampire," said Nikki looking into his eyes.

Alcide's eyes seemed to glow and he bared his teeth in a decidedly wolf-like gesture. Nikki took his hand. "Now, do you see why you can't call the police?"

She turned away and began packing her bag again. Throwing in things in willy-nilly. "I appreciate your concern, Alcide," she said. "Please, just go."

But, instead, he stepped to her and turned her back to him. He searched her eyes. "Can he find you? Have your drank his blood?"

"I…I'm not sure," said Nikki. "I didn't on purpose, but-"

Her words trailed off. Alcide swallowed the rush of anger he felt. Damn fangers. Why did they pick on the sweet ones?

"You can't just run away."

"What else am I supposed to do?" asked Nikki.

In answer, Alcide took her bag and began pulling her out of her apartment. She tried to resist, but Alcide gently kept her moving along with him. A fair-weather friend he was not.

"Wait, just what do you think you're doing?"

"Helping a friend," replied Alcide, as he pulled her out of the apartment.