Chapter Ten: Enemy of my Enemy

"... See there's this place in me where your fingerprints still rest, your kisses still linger, and your whispers softly echo. It's the place where a part of you will forever be a part of me."

-Gretchen Kemp

"Of course. What's wrong?" Eric asked after giving the permission. Though was on his feet a moment later as something just felt wrong. His senses were right on the money. Papers shifted and blew off his desk, blonde bangs tickled at his forehead, the light wind created by teleportation had disturbed little else in the cluttered office. He was left looking at Sookie and the true mage as they materialized inside the building, right in front of his desk.

Sookie stumbled and sat on the couch inside the room, with a guiding hand from the mage, unable to bring forward any answer for the shocked seeming vampire nearby. Eric was frowning at Nigel by the time the mage looked back up to him though. To make matters more annoying her 'savior' started speaking to Eric in some other language she couldn't understand.

"There is a complication involving another of my kind. They've taken an interest in this girl." Nigel said politely to the vampire in his native tongue. Thus far he had no reason to distaste the man; he was a parasite, but at least one that understood the need of etiquette.

"Sookie's attracted the attention of a true mage?" Eric didn't know if he should smirk at the irony or curse at the trouble. "What am I suppose to do? If you stopped Russel with a few words what use would I be?"

"He is no longer a true mage, but he is still an exceptionally gifted hedge wizard and three quarters faerie. I will be leveling certain spells for protection here, though you must still be on guard. If Alakant isn't already aware of where she is he will be soon. He will try to get at her through whatever means are available to him. If it is true that she is related to Niahl then even you may not be enough to help her." Nigel shrugged lightly. "Understand that this is not within my normal limits, I can only help her because she is the target of my target."

"Yeah I know the concept." Eric said darkly, scanning the man quietly. It was hard to believe such an unassuming man could take him and every vampire in his establishment to their knees in only a few moments. "Anything I should know about this Alakant?"

"He is insane, but like any of us, driven to answer the questions he is given. Should he come near here, or should he touch Miss Stackhouse I will be alerted. This doesn't stop him from sending others." Nigel offered with a shrug before another wave of wind swept the room with his disappearance.

"Uh...what was all that?" Sookie finally managed to ask. Sort of glad they had been speaking tongues, she'd been so dizzy after just popping into Eric's office she's not sure she'd of understood anyway.

"Bishop was explaining your situation." Eric answered; he made sure Sookie seemed as if she'd manage before sitting at his desk again. "You seem to attract all manner of admirers."

"Well I wish I didn't." Sookie replied a bit more harshly than she'd meant, but her nights weren't going very easy lately. "Can I use your phone? I need to tell Sam I won't be working for a while."

"You can always dance at the bar if you'd like." Eric offered, his lips canting in just enough of a smirk to make her sigh.

"No thanks Eric." She said. "I could use something else to wear, or a place to shower if you have one here."

"We have a few nicer rooms down below. There is the rare occasion when we decide to rest for the day here at Fangtasia. You are welcome to it." Eric said. "I'll figure out some way for you to pay me back later."

"Pay you back? You said I could stay." Sookie almost pouted, but didn't want to give him the satisfaction. Sure, she'd said she didn't want to date him or Bill, but he didn't have to be a jerk. He knew she was poor.

"You do want us to go back to the way things were. That was the intent I read in your voice that night." Eric replied turning his eyes back to the papers he needed to read over. "I'll scratch your back, and then, well, I could come up with a number of things you could do for me."

Without moving his head he just slid his gaze to her and then over her. "I suppose that would go against your wishes, so I will have to think of something else that is fair."

Sookie bit her lip, she couldn't really argue with him. To a point he was acting just like he'd been before his memory had been erased. That had been a bit of what she'd asked for, yet when his gaze looked over her body she could feel a pressure in her abdomen that made her want to take it all back. Instead she shook her head and moved out to go find what he was talking about and find Pam. She could get some clothes and a shower, probably a cold one at the way her minds eye kept focusing on the memories of her times with Eric.

In the office he leaned back in frustration after she'd left, rubbing hands through his hair and knocking the papers down to the rest that had blown off earlier. What the hell was he supposed to do now? It was a matter of time before he couldn't keep up the act; certainly he'd only managed it because of centuries of practice in deception. She had to realize he still cared about her. This was cruel of her, and yet, it wasn't her doing. He could hear Godric now telling him he should protect her, and for one of few times in recent nights he only agreed with the spirit of his maker.

Later that same night...

Sookie had finished showering. During which she had managed to get her mind back on more depressing topics like how she was ever going to pay her bills. It left her finally, with new clothes thanks to Pam, heading back into Fangtasia's main floor. She wasn't sure how long she'd spent in the shower, knowing it'd been at least half an hour, but the club was still quite busy despite the late hour. A search around gave her the information from behind the counter, it was a few minutes after one, so the club would probably open another hour or two.

Dancers were on poles, of both the mortal and immortal varieties, a lot of folks were on the floor, Eric was up sitting in his throne like seat raised on the side stage where they occasionally had bands play. She hadn't seen one herself but she'd heard some amazing things about vampire musicians. Settling at a table she noticed Pam's glances on occasion and had to laugh when a drink was brought at her behest. Maybe she could get used to this Pam owing her thing, she was a lot nicer than usual.

After a sip from her drink, she noticed there was another vampire at her table. She didn't recognize them. Short brown hair, glasses, suit, the most striking feature though was a set of violet eyes that managed to get her to pause as opposed to immediately saying she wasn't interested. He was staring at her without blinking, and she had to admit for the first time she wondered if she hadn't been glamoured for she found herself staring wordlessly back until he broke the silence with a pleasant tenor like voice, lighter and more gentle than many she'd heard, but still obviously masculine.

"Are you not so well? You've been sitting here quietly by yourself for a while now." He queried curiously, continuing with the uninterrupted stare.

"I...well I'm about as good as I can be I guess." Sookie answered, managing to summon up a light, if awkward, smile for the man. "Just not really a place I come very often."

"It is a bit campy isn't it?" He stated, gazing about for a moment at the red and black decor. "Though it does seem very popular with the fans so I suppose Mr. Northman has done a good job. It is his endeavor. I don't particularly understand the appeal."

Sookie had to laugh, somehow she never pictured someone indirectly calling Eric campy and it did cheer her up a little bit. "Yeah, I guess it could be worse. I'm sorry I don't mean to be a downer. I'm Sookie."

She held out a hand, surprised to find he took her hand with a thin glove of a soft fabric she didn't recognize and leaned down to kiss it. His cool lips barely teasing over her skin, and she chanced a glance toward Eric, realizing he was glowering at the man sitting with her. She swallowed lightly and looked back just as he leaned back up and gave his name.

"Christopher Ryan." He offered, relinquishing her hand and smiling gently, a normal enough sounding name. "It is a pleasure to see you in higher spirits. Though I must ask if this is not normally the place for you, why are you here?"

"Trying to scare off my customers?" Eric had interjected before she'd even been able to start thinking of an excuse to give. "Miss Stackhouse has as much a right as anyone to be here."

"Stackhouse?" It was as if a light went off in his purple gaze, he glanced between them both and then grinned. "Marvelous, and no, I wouldn't dare interfere in the business of the great Sheriff of Area Five. It is a pleasure to announce myself, Christopher Ryan of the Arcane Eye. I'll be spending a short time in your area researching. I heard about the recent events with the witches and came to ask about them. As well as other things..."

The purple gaze drifted back to Sookie as he let the words drop off. The way he looked her over made Sookie uncomfortable, it wasn't like a lot of leers she got, in fact there was nothing sexual about it. It was more like a scientist appraising what could be a great specimen. He looked at her like he wanted to cut her open and see what was inside, or play with those insides. She'd of preferred to be leered at. Thankfully she didn't have to say anything else, Pam had taken the mans arm and started to lead him away speaking...Latin if she recognized it correctly. Did all vampires study multiple languages?

"Who's the Arcane Eye?" Sookie tried to stick to important things that might help her.

"They're a group of Vampires that study all other supernatural activity." Eric said with a sigh, joining Sookie at her table much to the chagrin of many other fangbangers hanging around the club. "Sort of a immortal cult based in gathering as much information as possible."

"Well, thanks for getting him away from me anyway." Sookie said awkwardly, glancing around the room a short moment before going back to him. The fans hanging around were downright glaring at her as if she'd committed blasphemy for looking away from Eric.

"Of course. It's my job to look out for my customers best interests." Eric replied, but that lie was so obvious she flinched lightly at it and he added. "You are welcome Sookie. There is a television downstairs; it would probably be safer if you stayed there than sitting in here."

"I know...but it's lonely down there. I can hear all the noise up here and it seemed like it'd be nice just to sit for a while." She said with a shrug. "I'll go back down before I cause anymore trouble."

Which she moved to do, the room was nice, if sort of simple. A bookshelf with a few books, many in languages she didn't speak. A long bed, television, a small collection of DVD's (mostly porn), a dresser, a desk, and a closet, there was a connecting bathroom but it too was sparsely decorated. She had just sat down when she realized Eric had come down into the room with her.

Vampires were too damn quiet for her own good, it drove her crazy sometimes, but at least she was getting adjusted enough that she hadn't jumped - though she wasn't sure that was a good sign.

"Eric? What are you doing? Don't you have to sit out on the floor?" Sookie knew he took shifts with the other vampires, as a part of the deal in running Fangtasia. One of a few of the better looking ones had to be out on the floor at all times.

"I have Pam covering it." He stated, still not looking at Sookie. "What...what do you want out of this? Don't you have somewhere else you could have gone?"

It made her wince again. Good old harsh Eric. She had brought it on herself though. Of course he wouldn't want to really help her after she'd rejected him. "Eric, I don't know...I just did what Nigel...erm what Bishop asked me to do. He suggested this place. Said it was on the other side of a ley line, whatever that means."

"You could have suggested others." Eric pointed out. "You still have friends that live in places other than Bon Temps."

"I know...but I didn't feel safe going anywhere else." Sookie said. "I...I'm sorry Eric, I don't want to hurt you. I can leave if you'd rather I do that."

Eric shook his head negatively. "No. Do you believe them? This Bishop or Nigel, whatever the true mages name is."

"I think so." Sookie nodded lightly. "I...they told me that you..."

The passionate manner in which he stared up at that made her pause, her throat suddenly dry as she looked at the brilliant green eyes of the viking she'd gotten to know so well in past weeks. She knew what he was going to say, but she couldn't protest anymore, with great surprise she knew she wanted to hear it.

"I love you Sookie."

End Chapter

Yay for a sweet moment.

-Aura

To my reviewers: Thanks still for all the support. I couldn't have found the time if I didn't know I had folks interested in what I was writing.