Chapter 10

2004

SPOV

I hadn't seen Eric since the night of Gran's attack back in April, so I was more than surprised when he strode into Merlotte's late one night on the second week of June. Wearing a plain black T, black jeans, and boots, he somehow managed to look both casual and imposing at the same time.

Dawn rushed over to seat him in her section and I picked up from her mind that they'd had sex last year in Fangtasia. It had been a one time thing, though not for her lack of trying. He never screwed the same woman twice, no exceptions.

Apparently, Dawn thought she was exempt from that rule. She was pretty and had an amazing figure that women would kill for, but that was pretty much all she had going for her. She was also excited to see Eric and wondered how he knew where she worked. Her thoughts then strayed to the memory of a certain part of his anatomy and my eyes, widened in disbelief, wandered to the front of his jeans. I chewed my lip and wondered how the hell he got that to fit in there?

She must've remembered wrong, that was the only explanation. It wasn't uncommon for memories to be distorted by personal feelings and such. One of Arlene's ex husbands used to picture her as a fire breathing hag who had talons that clawed money out of his hands. To be fair, that was towards the end of their marriage though.

Eric cleared his throat. I looked up from his crotch to see a smirk on his face.

Busted.

I was blushing something fierce when he waved off Dawn and swaggered over to me.

He inclined his head. "Miss Stackhouse."

"Hi Eric, and it's Sookie," I smiled at him. He saved my life, kept my dad from being dead-dead, and helped save Gran. He more than earned the right to be on a first name basis with me. Hell, he could've asked for my paycheck and I'd have happily handed it over. "What are you doing all the way out here?"

He glanced at Sam who was watching us from behind the bar, and said, "Is there somewhere we can speak in private?"

"Yeah, but I'm on the clock right now." I looked at my watch, "My shift's ending in an hour, if you want to wait."

He nodded, "I'll have a Tru Blood then."

I led him to a booth in the back, cleared the utensils, and asked, "What type?"

"Surprise me." He droned.

I had a pretty good feeling that Eric wasn't even going to touch the drink, nonetheless drink it, but I decided on the one Daddy and Pam said tasted the least like dirt. When I moved to grab an AB negative from behind the bar, Sam got in my face and asked, "Why's he here?"

"To enjoy the ambiance."

"Sookie, why are you always so goddamn difficult? It was a legitimate question, I think I deserve a legitimate answer."

"I don't know," Seeing the incredulous look on his face, I blew out a breath of air, and huffed, "I really don't! Look, if you're so freaking curious then why don't you go over there and ask him yourself?"

After nuking the Tru Blood for the recommended fifteen seconds, I put the lid back on, shook it, and poured it into a wine glass. I placed the drink and a napkin on a tray, and brought it over to Eric.

He was in, what I called, downtime. It was freaky how still vampires could get. The first time I saw Daddy do it, I almost cried because it didn't truly hit me until then that he was dead; in a sense, anyway. I also thanked my lucky stars for the existence of the magic, or whatever is was, that reanimated him.

Not wanting to disturb Eric, I placed his drink quietly on the table in front of him and left to check on the other customers.

I was tallying up the tab for one of my tables when Dawn bumped into me from behind.

"Skank," she muttered, as she filled a pitcher of beer.

"Test Drive," I replied.

"Don't go thinking you're something special just 'cause he's paying you any attention. He'll forget your name the second he blows his load, trust me."

I gasped and slapped a hand over my mouth, "A man who's only after sex? However will I endeavor after such a groundbreaking revelation?"

She turned to leave with the now full pitcher in her hands but hesitated, "I'm serious Sookie, he never goes back for seconds. You're only gonna get hurt."

I eyed her warily and dipped into her mind. There were traces of jealousy and damaged pride, but she seemed to be genuinely looking out for me. Did women do this with each other? Was this sharing of "who not to fuck" part of some sort of girl code or sisterhood ritual that I wasn't aware of?

I shook my head, "Don't worry about it."

And I meant it. Eric was great, amazing, in fact. But, he and I would never be. Not only because I knew I didn't have the power to keep him bound to me, (and that's exactly what being with only one woman would be for him, a leash; a collar; a prison) because from everything I heard about him from Pam, he enjoyed his freedom and autonomy above all. Our complicated relationship would also make pursuing anything sexual, however shallow and short lived it may be, impractical and selfish as all get out. Daddy was connected to him for an eternity; whatever passing fancy I had for Eric wasn't worth dooming Daddy to an eternity of awkwardness around his grand-maker. In the grand scheme of things, I was nothing but a blink, a distant memory, a speck of dust. But they were forever.

Besides, even if he was interested in a quick fuck, I wasn't. I wasn't that girl. I could never just be that girl. That was what Michelle was to too many men who entered and exited our lives throughout the nights, and I promised myself I would never allow myself to be degraded like her. Never be a faceless body with a hole to fill, someone men crept to when their wives were asleep, a quick and easy-

"Don't come cryin' to me after your cherry's popped and you find your heart broken into a million tiny pieces." Dawn said, startling me out of my musings.

My face flushed. I really hated how small this goddamn town was.

The rest of the night went by quickly and, before I knew it, I was throwing my apron in the laundry bag and grabbing my purse from Sam's office.

"The vampire's still here," my boss said.

I stared at him blankly and wished he'd just get to the point.

He ran his fingers messily through his strawberry blonde hair, and sighed. "Look, I know you have no reason to trust me, but just listen for a sec, alright?"

Jesus Christ Shepherd of Judaea! Why did everyone and their momma think they were entitled to an opinion tonight? Knowing he'd never let it go until I listened, I grunted and crossed my arms under my chest.

Sam got out of his chair and walked over to face me.

I had a feeling I'd regret it, but I dipped into his head and sure enough, snarly and red images of me naked with fang marks on my neck, breasts, and thighs flashed through his mind. Oh, he better not put words to those nasty thoughts of his.

"They may look, act, and speak like they're one of us, but they're not. Not even close. They're soulless, immoral creatures who take what they want from you whether you allow it or not. The kicker? You'd never even know it happened, 'cause they got that glamour to make you forget. Sookie, listen to me, stay the hell away from him and for once in your life, quit being so goddamn stupid."

Was I hearing his dumbass correctly?

Hackles raised, I got in his face and whispered, "Did you just call my Daddy a rapist?"

Before his feeble little mind even began to realize that my father was among the 'soulless, immoral creatures' he'd just insulted, I swiveled the right side of my body back then, using the momentum, I propelled all my weight forward into my right arm and punched him square in his Adam's apple.

He went down in a heap. My brother would've been proud.

"Consider that my two weeks notice."

I turned around at the sound of a slow clap. Legs crossed at the ankles, Eric was leaning against the doorframe and looking amused as hell.

I dipped him a mock curtsy, adjusted my purse, and asked, "Where to?"

I was sitting on the porch swing outside of my house, enjoying the balmy night air and mulling over Eric's proposition.

He'd originally intended to ask me to go to Fangtasia on my next night off and listen in on his staff. Someone was stealing money from him, fifty thousand dollars to be exact, and he wanted to know who. Why he didn't just glamour it out of them was anyone's guess, but I'd already made up my mind and would agree to do it - it was the least I could do after everything he'd done for my family.

However, since I'd just become unemployed without lining up a job first, he offered me a position on his staff. On paper, I'd be a financial consultant. I guess it didn't matter that I'd never even graduated high school, nonetheless earn a college degree in whatever major it was that financial consultants studied in because in reality, I'd be his telepath. Not the kingdom's, not the queen's, his. He said my ability would be kept a secret because once news got out, I'd be facing one of three possible scenarios:

I could be killed so no one would have to worry about having their secrets exposed.

I could be claimed by Sophie-Ann Leclerq, the Queen of Louisiana, as her personal pet or telepath.

Or I could be taken by another kingdom and be forced to feed, fuck, and read whomever the monarch wanted me to.

"They can't do that! We have laws against slavery in this country."

I felt stupid the second those words left my mouth. Slavery still existed, it was just less blatant now. Women and girls were forced into slavery everyday by sex traffickers. I'd once read the mind of a prostitute in New Orleans, it was utterly depressing. She was forced into the profession when she was only fifteen by a man who told her he loved her and showered her with little trinkets. When he asked her to move to his home state, she didn't even hesitate. Once there, his demeanor began to change. Eventually, he asked her to help him pay off his debts by sleeping with a guy who'd loaned him some money. She reluctantly agreed and did it once but refused to do it again, even after he threatened to break up with her. The second and third times she'd slept with another man for money was because her "boyfriend" changed tactics and decided beating her was more effective and yielded quicker results. After she decided to get help and leave him, he shot her up with heroine against her will to force her compliance. That was the beginning of the end for her; he'd been her pusher and pimp for the last twenty years. Her tragic tale of betrayal was only a drop in the ocean; I'd read once that the actual number of trafficked women in America alone was upwards of sixty thousand. And that number didn't even include the pets vampires had under their thrall.

"You would be willing." He replied, sitting sideways on the railing; legs straight, back against the pillar, eyes gazing up at the stars.

I lifted my feet from the ground and tucked them under me. "Nope, can't be glamoured." With a little grin, I added, "I still remember meeting you all those years ago... It's not everyday a girl gets to fly."

He seemed taken aback by the news and his blue eyes took on a thoughtful glint. Apparently, Pam kept a lot of things from him. I was beginning to wonder if maybe she had a point. Could I really trust him if his own child seemed reticent to do so?

"She's a better friend to you than you know." Eric said darkly.

Having friends wasn't a concept I was familiar with; I never had any growing up. As if being the freak of the town with my mind reading wasn't bad enough, Jason and I got teased for having the town slut (who slept with half the kids in our school's fathers) as a mother, and for being dirt poor and wearing dirty old clothes that never fit properly to school. Hell, we had lice for as long as I could remember. Nobody, but nobody, wanted to be my friend. Jason at least had Hoyt Fortenberry, but even Hoyt stayed away from me because his momma wouldn't allow him to fraternize with Michelle's daughter.

I shrugged and returned to a topic I was more comfortable with; my baleful future as a sex and blood slave. "Since I can't be glamoured, I could always run away or call for help during the day even if they kidnap me."

Eric turned his head and looked at me pitifully. "Glamour isn't the only method of ensuring a human's submission."

I was positive I didn't want to know what the other 'methods' were. Anything that would force someone into willing slavery was more than likely going to be cruel and sadistic. "Don't look at me like that, I don't need your pity." I nudged him with my toes and said with a cajoling smile, "I wouldn't be so naive if you taught me how to stay alive and free in your world."

He stretched lazily and I took the time to admire his body. Broad shoulders and defined arms, a muscular chest with definition I could see through the tight fitted black T, a long torso that tapered into narrow hips, and long legs that that ended in a pair of bad ass shit kicker boots.

"If you were to agree to my terms and work for me, you would be under my protection."

I placed one foot on the floor and kicked gently, slowly rocking the swing. "Aren't I already? I mean, I'm under Daddy's protection and he's of your blood, so wouldn't I already be safe?"

"In theory, yes. In fact, no. My connection can only get you so far. Any vampire can challenge your father for you. Any vampire within the political hierarchy can simply take you. Remember, before the Great Revelation vampires were forced to abandon their former lives. We do not yet have laws on the legality of taking one's human relations." He paused. "I doubt there will be any soon, either."

Because humans were food, and food didn't garner much thought other than when you're hungry or already eating. I wasn't angry, it was just how things were to them. This whole coming out business was a big change for them too, and it seemed the older they were, the slower they were about getting things done. I suppose time no longer held the same weight when you lived forever.

He continued, "Possessions such as pets and humans under our employ are protected, yes. Human mates, rare as they are, are also under protection. But depending on the reigning power, it may not even be a punishable offense if someone were to forcibly make you their pet. Corbett would be recompensated for a bruised ego, nothing more."

I mulled that over. On the one hand, I'd be a lot safer if I was under Eric's protection. But on the other, I wouldn't even need the protection if I didn't expose myself to other vampires by working for him. So I told him so.

"If you're certain you would never cross paths with another vampire while being so enmeshed in your father's life, then forget my offer."

Well, fuck. "You know I was going to do it for free right?"

He slid off the railing and got down on his haunches in front of me. "Never underestimate your worth."

My breath caught. He truly was beautiful. His wasn't the perfect kind of beauty. Those men never held my interest or attention for long; oddly enough, I found them boring to look at. I'd feel an unreasonable amount of annoyance when I tried to find something wrong, maybe a freckle or an untamed eyebrow, but all I'd find was more perfection. No, Eric was anything but boring. His nose was slightly too big, but you'd never be able to tell when looking at the entire six and a half foot package. It was also slightly off center, but that only added character and distinction to his face and almost made him seem human; relatable, attainable. It almost made you forget he was a vampire. And that would be a dangerous oversight. I could stare at his perfect imperfections forever and not be bored.

Shit, did I really just think that? Up until that point, I was certain I'd never want to be a vampire. I loved the sun and I enjoyed food (a little too much, depending on who you asked). Could I really give them up for an eternity of nights? I shook my head; now was not the time for worries of tomorrow.

"In all my years, I have never encountered another telepath. Your gift could start wars, save lives, and make an insurmountable amount of money. Yet you choose to wait tables and serve these idiots who doubt your ability and question your sanity." He tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear. "Why?"

Uneasy with the direction the conversation was headed, I looked down and didn't respond. How did you tell someone you've just met, yet idolized for most of your childhood, that you were damaged beyond repair? That your self worth is so skewed that compliments make you uncomfortable and kindness makes you look for ulterior motives? That your mother told you so many times that you were worth shit, that you eventually believed it and became afraid of failing so much that you stopped trying altogether?

He placed a finger under my chin and lifted it. "You'll tell me when you're ready. I won't force you." Then, he raised an eyebrow and asked, "Test drive?"

Cheese and rice, damn that vampire hearing! I groaned internally and shrugged, "Everyone gets a free ride but no one wants to keep it." I knew I was blushing something fierce, but I just had to know, "how much of our convo did you hear?"

His fangs dropped.

Oh.

Eric stood and held his hand out. "Your father tells me you've already mastered public etiquette towards vampires."

I took his proffered hand and stood to join him. "I don't know about 'mastered', but I know when to play the obedient daughter and keep my mouth shut."

"Good. You will need to show deference to me at Fangtasia."

I nodded. "You, sheriff. Me, human. Got it, boss."

And I did, vampires were all about appearances. A human treating him like an equal would be seen as a weakness and cause others to question his dominion.

He made a move towards me, but hesitated and stood his ground. He looked angry all of a sudden, and I wasn't sure if it was directed at me or himself.

"A contract will be waiting for you at Fangtasia tomorrow night. Be there at six." He said gruffly.

Without another word, he turned, got into his cherry red Corvette, and took off.

A/N: Ooooh, he mad! I wonder why? ;)

Thank you for all the lovely reviews for chapter 9! Im so glad I have such an amazing group of readers who truly understand the direction this story is going. It feels fuckawesome to know you guys just get it.