Disclaimer: I don't own any rights to "True Blood."

Chapter Ten: I Don't Mind the Sun Sometimes

The Mustang sped down the road at lightning speed. Layla sighed and looked over towards Owen, who was enjoying the speed of the GT 500 all too much.

"You know, If you keep speeding like this you're going to cause attention."

Owen looked over towards her and smirked.

"That whole testosterone level must be rising with excitement. You accomplished your mission, sailing down the road in a fancy car…you're above the law…almost makes you feel immortal right…like them huh?"

"I know what you're doing." Owen concluded.

"You do?" Layla spoke sarcastically.

"You're trying to get under my skin. You're trying to make me get angry."

Layla shook her head. "I have no such intention."

She did realize this was a bad idea. Now Dameon was prepared for her, but she wasn't prepared for Dameon.

"Is this one of Dameon's new cars?" She knew that it was. Every kid wants a Mustang. And since Dameon was turned when he was younger…well old habits die hard.

"This is the car they gave me."

"They?" Layla questioned.

"Your…brother and the other vampires." He finished. Not really wanting to reveal anything else.

But Layla pressed on. "You seem like a normal enough guy. Clean shaven, boyishly short haircut. You have a lot going for you. Why would you mix yourself up with vampires?"

Owen laughed. "Says the one who invites them into her hotel room."

Layla ignored his comment. He obviously didn't have a very high opinion of vampires…but he was still working for them.

"So they're either threatening you or you're just in it for the money.

Owen gave her a sideways glance. "That's none of your damn business."

"Maybe, but what does it matter if I know or not? I'll be dead soon anyways….might as well entertain me."

Owen furrowed his brow. He tried to hide his brief look of concern.

"They're, they wouldn't kill you. I'm just returning you."

"Oh yes, because the vampires just want to chit chat."

He tightened his grip on the steering wheel as he peered down at the odometer.

"Running out of gas I see. Dameon really should have sent you in a Prius."

Owen ignored this remark. He looked up at a road sign. They were about thirty miles out of Houston and they'd got there in about three hours. He really had been speeding.

There's a gas station about ten miles up. But your have to turn off the highway a bit on a farmer's market road."

"How do you know this?"

"I do a lot of business in Houston. I drive this way all the time. Which is why I find it strange we're going this way to get to San Antonio."

"Hush." Owen snapped.

Layla almost laughed. She couldn't remember the last time someone told her to hush.

Owen was silent for a few minutes but nervously looking down at the gas gage.

"So, where's this gas station?" He asked sheepishly.

Layla sighed. "Next road to the left, FM 1288."

Owen followed her directions to a tee and pulled into a small gas station that only had two pumps. Owen sighed. He was about to get out of the car when he remembered he had a hostage.

"Don't try anything cute." He warned. Layla tried not to laugh but her smile was enough. Owen angrily tied her left arm to the steering wheel with the silver. Layla winced.

"You know someone's going to wonder why I'm in this position if they walk by."

Owen looked around. "There's no one here…" He smiled assuring himself as he shut and locked the door.

Layla sighed in relief. Unbeknownst to Owen, this gave Layla leverage to unravel the tight grasp of the silver on her left hand. She almost passed out from the pain after she unwrapped her arm. The silver chain hung on the steering wheel with traces of Layla's blood on it. She was glad that Owen wasn't a vampire. He might of attacked her after inhaling the scent. She tried to think of a plan. Then her eyes suddenly lit up. This was Dameon's car. Dameon always kept a spare pair of keys in the glove box. Layla reached in front of her and sure enough, a spare key and keyless entry sat before her. She smiled in success as she stuffed the keys in her pocket. They would do no good however if the car didn't have gas. She'd have to wait and get rid of Owen after he'd filled the car up with gas. She didn't have the strength to fight him. But maybe she'd use her skills and glamour him.

Truthfully, Layla had only glamoured vampires. She didn't realize that she could do it to humans as well until she glamoured Owen that very same day. But if he caught wind that she got free from the silver he might panic and call Dameon or one of the other vampires. It was almost seven and the vampires would be rising soon. Layla looked at the chain she just freed herself from. She had to wrap herself back up in it…something she really didn't want to do.

Just like ripping a band-aid. She thought. Except this band-aid was like one hundred times the pain. She looked up and saw Owen walking back out of the gas station. She reached with her right hand and quickly wrapped her left wrist back into the silver. She couldn't help but cry out. Owen took notice but he was still a few steps away and didn't know why she was yelling. Her right fingers stung from the shock but hopefully she could glamour him to take off the chains soon.

Owen peered in the car. What he saw must have been sufficient because he quickly looked back and began to fill the car with gas. He opened the door and fumbled with the silver on the steering wheel.

"Doesn't it bother you? To see someone else in such pain?"

He shook his head. "You don't know what all I've seen."

Layla pursed her lips. "You could…tell me." She said trying to sound as flirtatious as she could. Not really knowing how you could flirt at a time like that.

But sure enough, he responded. He looked her in the eyes.

"Owen, take the silver off my arms. I'm not a threat to you."

He quickly complied. Layla bit down on her lip until she almost drew blood as he carelessly pulled off the silver from her arms. She tried her best to maintain eye contact.

"Throw the silver in the trash barrel. Keep looking at me."

He obliged. Though he missed the barrel and dropped them on the floor, Layla didn't nitpick.

This was amazing. She'd never been able to fully control a person's actions before. Sure she could glamour vampires, but it only lasted a few seconds and it required much more energy on her part.

She then heard the pump click, the car had filled up. She maintained her stare.

"Return the pump and shut the gas lid."

He did what she said. Though he simply dropped the pump which made a large clanking sound. Layla prayed the gas station attendant didn't notice.

"Get in the car and drive off. When you begin driving you will remember…." Layla paused. What would he remember?

"You'll remember that you felt bad that the silver hurt me so much and I promised to obey if you unchained me. This is satisfactory to you. You won."

She almost shrugged. She didn't know how to talk to someone under hypnosis.

He swiftly pulled out of the parking lot. Layla made sure to look away. She attempted to sink into her seat to appear more sullen and defeated. She turned her head and closed her

eyes. She prayed that her glamour had worked.

Owen snapped to after pulling out of the parking lot. He looked over at her and studied her wrists.

"As long as you promise to behave I'll let you stay out of them until we get to your brothers." Owen spoke suddenly, as if it were all his idea.

"Thank you." Layla stated, clearing her throat.

"No more snappy remarks though."

"Alright." She agreed slightly smiling. Now all she had to do was get him out of the car.

…….

Eric strode into the Diamondback with his usual confidence. He thought the desk clerk was trying to say something to him but he didn't care. Layla had finally agreed to do something his way, she'd wait a week until they 'carried out their plan.' But Eric was satisfied this would not have to be the case. Maddox was probably already in Austin, already talking to the King of Dameon's indiscretion. And in the meantime he could enjoy a whole week of Layla without any annoying interruptions. Hopefully a week would be long enough to seduce her….

He almost went right through the door of Room 1001. He knew she wouldn't be expecting him. Maybe she was even in a compromising position. Eric grinned.

However the grin soon faded when he found the room once again empty. She couldn't have known he was coming…she must be out….probably eating something. He concluded. Layla always seemed to be "snacking" as she called it.

Eric decided to ask the front desk where his "wife" went. The hotel clerk couldn't have been happier.

"Mr. Yarbrough?"

Eric nodded. "Yes…" He answered surprisingly.

"Your wife left a message for you."

This peeked Eric's interest. She'd actually left a note saying where she was. He grinned.

"And?" He asked the clerk who seemed to be a little dull.

"She…eh Mrs. Yarbrough wanted me to tell you that…" She paused for a moment pulling out a notepad.

Eric tapped his broad hand on the desk displaying his impatience.

"Went to San Antonio to visit her Dad and to see her brother's new house." The girl smiled and looked up at him.

Eric froze. "Who gave you this message?"

Her smile quickly faded when she noticed Eric's mood. "Mrs….Mrs. Yarbrough."

"Was she with anyone?" He asked…wasting no time.

The girl paused and focused her eyes to the ceiling. She tried to remember.

"She was, she was with a man."

" A man. What did he look like?"

"Umm…"

"Around what time was this?"

"I'd say three, three thirty."

Eric shifted in anger. That's all he needed to know. He quickly glided out of the lobby. He didn't care who saw or noticed he was more than human. He quickly got into his car and sped off.

"Pam, why aren't you answering the phone?" He asked accusingly. "Call me immediately." He commanded as he drove his car towards Fangtasia.

..

When he arrived, he noticed that Pam was outside checking people's I.D.'s."

"Leave." He demanded from the people about to enter. Pam shooed them away as she quickly followed Eric into the bar.

"Get these people out." He looked towards Pam who had already taken the hint.

"Alright everyone. We've been shut down by the fire marshal. Time to scoot out." She looked over towards Eric who was fuming.

It was very early in the evening so there were only a few early patrons and tourists. Eric even excused the vampires on duty that night as well. As soon as they were all out, Pam shut and locked the door.

"What's wrong?"

"Dameon has taken Layla." Eric announced. "He has come into my territory and…"

"And what?" Pam asked.

Eric glared back at her. Pam crossed her arms.

"As it states Eric, you have no claim over this girl."

"I've been asked by her claim to look after her."

Pam's eyes widened. This was news to her.

"Maddox?"

Eric nodded.

"She left me an trail by leaving a message with the clerk at Diamondback. They're taking her to San Antonio. Her brother's new headquarters. Apparently they threatened her by pretending to have Maddox."

"They don't."

"I talked to him yesterday. It is unlikely something has happened to him since then, but I could be wrong." Eric paced trying to come up with a plan.

It was obvious her kidnapper wasn't vampire because of the time of day she was taken. But that was hours ago. Eric looked up at the clock. It was now 8:20. Hopefully it wasn't already too late.

….

Layla shifted in her seat. It was dark now her arms still stung, but the excruciating pain was mostly over. She cautiously looked towards Owen, who seemed to be deep in thought about something. She really didn't care. Now was probably the best time to once again practice her glamour skills. They were on the highway now. There seemed to be only a few cars around. She sighed a loud sigh of discontent.

"Owen?" She spoke in the feeblest of voices."What now?" He asked, just daring her to speak out of line.

"You think you could turn on some air? It's really hot in here." She looked over at him, trying to catch his eye. She quickly stopped. If she did that, he'd probably lose control and crash. She had to get him to pull over.

"It's not that hot." He concluded.

Layla contained herself from rolling her eyes.

"I'm just really nauseous." She spoke turning towards the road. "I think I'm going to throw up…." She paused for a moment. He didn't respond.

"Well if you won't turn on some air at least pull over so I don't have to throw up in the car."

"As if I'm that stupid. I'm not pulling over."

"What would happen?" Layla looked around. "It's not like I could run anywhere. If I did I'd probably be attacked by some wild animal. I'd rather be in the car with you than take my chances out there."

She lied.

"You're really sick?"

Layla nodded. Trying to look as sick as possible.

"Please, just for a second. I'll feel better once I've thrown up."

Owen sighed as he pulled off the road onto the median. Layla swiftly flew open the door and hung over the side. She smiled in triumph.

"I don't hear anything…" He spoke as if he really wanted to.

Layla quickly rose from her position and unbuckled her seatbelt.

"Thank you Owen." She smiled as she advanced towards him and kissed him on the cheek.

"For what, what are you doing?"

Got him.

…..

Pam sat down at one of the stools at the bar. Eric continued to pace.

"Going after her might not be the best of ideas. She's probably already I San Antonio by now."

"Not helping." Eric chided.

Though Pam was right. He was acting irrational. But he seethed at the thought of Dameon getting a hold of Layla. He tried not to picture what would happen when he did, if he did, If he hadn't already.

The phone rang. Pam rose to get it.

"Fangtasia." She announced as if nothing was wrong.

Eric continued to pace.

"Hold on one moment." A huge smile quickly spread across her face.

"It's for you." She grinned slyly.

"I'm not taking any calls." He glared at her with utter surprise that she didn't already realize that.

Pam sighed. "It's Layla." She held the phone out to him.

Eric stared in awe for a moment before picking up the phone.

"Where are you?"

"I-35." Layla announced as she smoothly drove the Mustang down the highway.

"Are you alone?"

"I am now."

"What happened."

"Oh just some guy my brother hired to take me to him. But he's somewhere else now."

"You killed him?" Eric asked, a little surprised.

"No. I left him on the side of the highway. About two or three miles ago."

Eric sighed. "Good. I'll see you when you get back. I'll be waiting her at Fangtasia."

Pam smiled. Eric hadn't even figured out how to rescue her yet and she'd already rescued herself.

Layla paused for a moment on the line. "I'm not coming back to Shreveport."

"What?" Eric said as his anger began to rise once again. He didn't remember the last time he'd said "What?"

"I'm going to San Antonio."

"That's ridiculous, you can't go by yourself."

"They have Maddox. I don't have a choice."

"They might not even have him Layla. It might be a ploy…"

"He showed me a video." Layla said, trying not to choke up.

Eric paused. "What is the next town?"

"Nacogdoches."

"Stop there. I'll arrive shortly. Get you a hotel room at…"

He looked towards Pam for the name of a 'vampire friendly' hotel in Nacogdoches.

"Sleep and Stay."

"The Sleep and Stay. Text me the room number."

Layla sighed.

"Layla…." Eric demanded, not taking no for an answer.

"Okay." Layla said as she hung up.

..

Eric gathered himself and slipped on a leather jacket that was hanging in his office.

"I assume you can hold down the fort for a few days?" He asked while not really caring whether Pam had any objections or not.

"Of course."

"Excellent." He began to walk out of the door. Having a change of heart, He slowly turned before he left and faced Pam.

"In the small chance that something should happen to me…. You will be Sherriff. You are a magnificent second."

Pam gestured and took his words as a great compliment.

Eric nodded as he slid outside and into his car. Quickly changing his mind he levitated from the ground and flew off into the night sky.

….

Layla had arrived at the Sleep and Stay sooner than she thought. As she entered she quickly realized why Eric had picked this hotel. It was vampire friendly. The rooms had no windows so the vampires felt free to stay as long as they wanted without interruption. She pulled some money out that she'd taken from Owen.

By no means was Layla a thief, but she didn't have her cash with her and she'd gave the only cash she had to the clerk at the Diamondback.

"How many days?" The clerk asked with an efficient voice.

"Just, tomorrow, two rooms." Layla concluded. She didn't intend on waiting long to save Maddox. Whether Eric liked it or not.

"Three hundred dollars. And notify us at the front desk when you're checking out."

Layla frowned. She only had two hundred and eighty she'd taken from Owen.

"Just the one room actually." She corrected. Eric would love this.

"Alright. Room 311." The clerk mustered a weak smile. Layla gestured as she walked off and texted Eric.

Layla looked around. The décor of the hotel was some sort of a Latin base. The walls were a bright light blue with red zigzags along the top and bottom as a border.

After investigating the room, Layla walked back downstairs to get something to eat.

There was a Mariachi band playing in the bar. Layla entered and sat at a table. She was quickly given a menu and ordered some quesadilla's. She was beyond hungry.

She sighed as she took a sip of her iced tea. Things had been nonstop for the past few days. And now? Now she was in some vampire hotel in Nacogdoches, Texas about to take on her brother and a pack of vampires that held her surrogate father hostage. She thought about ordering a drink, but with Eric coming in the next few hours, alcohol wasn't the best of ideas.

"Are you okay?" A voice murmured as she almost dropped a quesadilla on her plate.

She looked up to see Eric's pale face staring down at her.

Layla nodded and continued her bite as Eric sat down across from her at the table.

"Should have known you'd be eating." He mused as he glanced and studied her for injuries.

"How did you get here so fast?" She asked…already half-way knowing the answer.

"I flew."

"How lovely." She couldn't help but smiling as she took another bite.

Eric examined her arms.

"Your attacker wrapped you in silver again."

Layla nodded. "Almost immediately. They're getting smarter, these one inept minions."

Eric grinned, though his face once more leaked concern for her wrists.

"Apparently not smart enough."

"Apparently." Layla agreed.

Eric continued to stare. He wanted Layla to tell him what happened. She complied.

..

One iced tea and two quesadilla's later, Layla had finished telling her story. Eric smiled as usual and raised his brow. He was impressed once more by her supernatural skills and her nonchalant attitude towards the whole situation that to any normal person would be emotionally devastating. But none of it seemed to phase Layla one bit, except the physical injuries.

The room was extremely cold. It was almost unbearable. Layla looked around but couldn't find a thermostat.

Eric shut and locked the door behind him. The door had three locks. Eric made sure he'd secured all of them tightly. Since there was no window Eric felt sure they'd be safe at least for the night. Layla sat herself down on the bed.

"Something is worrying you." Eric stated as he sat down beside her.

"I owe it to Maddox to save him Eric. But now I'm not sure how to do it. If we go to the King like we'd originally planned; Dameon will kill Maddox before we can get to him. I can't let that happen."

"Maddox came to me yesterday in the early evening."

Layla almost jumped out of her skin. "What?"

"I was searching for you at your house when Maddox pulled up behind me and asked me to look after you."

Layla searched inside herself. She didn't quite know how to react.

"Why, would he do that?"

Eric paused. He really didn't want to tell her. Once he did, she'd realize his intentions to defeat Dameon weren't entirely the noblest of ones.

"Maddox was going to King of Texas. He had the same idea as you. To expose Dameon and his…so that would clear the way of yours and his safety. So he asked me to look after you in his absence."

Layla was silent. She took in the information Eric had just told her.

"So they must have got him some time after you talked to him."

"Yes." Eric spoke wearily.

"What?"

"I thought you'd be more angry with me."

Layla laughed. "If you're asking if I'm surprised that you tried to save your hide and risk Maddox's to somehow impress me with your false heroism…then no. I'm not really surprised by your course of action."

Eric leaned in and caressed her neck as he smiled, revealing his extended fangs.

"You have a….way about you. I've tried to describe it to you before, but I am in…awe of it. You're not like other humans. You don't shy away from what you don't understand. Instead you call it out and accept it. You're able to recognize the truth about me and accept it without fear."

His smile faded into a look of placid concentration as he studied her. Her muscles seemed relaxed and her eyes were set.

"Why don't you fear me? Not even in the slightest bit?"

Layla looked towards him, examining his question.

"I suppose, no…I guess part of the reason is that I grew up around vampires. Not knowingly when I was young but Maddox was there nonetheless. Ever since I was a toddler I've have Maddox's blood. When I was young I felt feelings that I initially felt weren't mine. Feelings of hunger, of lust though as a child it was for food or a toy etc., etc. But as I grew older and especially when Maddox explained it to me, I began to the see world differently. More I'm guessing as you see it. We're all in a state of denial about who we are. But as I grew up I found that the Vampire blood in me had a much more of a solidified sense of knowing who I was than I did. The more I thought about it the more began to realize that these weren't just Maddox's feelings, they were mine as well." Layla looked up and shook her head. "Wow, I've never voiced that realization."

"Maybe you're more like me than you're willing to admit."

"I thought that's what I was doing. Admitting that I'm like you in a lot of ways." She shrugged.

Eric smiled. "I've never been able to have a deep philosophical discussion with a human."

"Nor I a vampire." She concluded.

"What are your extra-vampire senses telling you right now?" Eric once again leaned in closer. This time Layla allowed it.

His kiss was surprisingly welcomed. Layla placed an arm on the nape of his neck and the other in his hair. Eric pushed forward and Layla fell backwards on top of the bed. Eric pushed his jacket off and Layla helped him with his shirt. Eric looked towards her NIN shirt and smiled. He pulled it slowly over her head as he kissed her stomach.

She laughed as his kiss tickled her side, and urged his head to return back to hers.

"Come here." Eric took control and began kissing her neck and ran his hands along her arms.

"If you bite me, I swear to God I'll drain you in your sleep and sell your blood for gas money."

Eric laughed. "Fair warning."

By this time, Eric had already kicked off his pants, and soon after removed Layla's.

"This is going too fast."

"It absolutely is not going to fast. By my count, this is the longest courtship I've had in over three hundred years."

"I'll try to take that as a compliment."

"Please do." He growled as proceeded to move inside her.

"Hi-ya!" Layla whispered though ever so loudly.

"What does that mean?" Eric asked. A little concerned he was not pleasing her.

Layla laughed. "It means you're doing a bang up job."

Eric looked down at her, still perplexed.

Layla had had two sexual partners in her life. Both men of which were human. Both of which were the farthest thing from her mind at the moment.

She felt an almost insurmountable wave of pleasure, and it looked as if Eric felt the same. But she was tired of being on bottom. She shifted her weight and moved on top of Eric.

Perplexed by this, he quickly asked her. "What are you doing?" He'd never experienced this before. It took Layla a second but she quickly found her rhythm. She didn't answer.

Eric laid back for a moment. But quickly caressed her lower back and butt. He traced his fingers along the spot he thought her tattoo was. He tried to remember, but for the life of him he couldn't remember what it said.

After a few more minutes, Layla felt on the brink. Eric being who he was placed Layla beneath him. Layla rolled her eyes but accepted nonetheless. It felt too good.

Eric came first. He tired to resist collapsing on top of her. But his job wasn't done yet. He pressed deeper, and deeper until Layla ran out of breath, she let out a deep sigh afterwards. Then Eric collapsed and laid his head on her chest. He clung to her tightly…already reminiscing, already remembering.

"Hi-ya." He exclaimed. Finally understanding the meaning of the phrase.