A/N: All right, this chapter is the reason the rating went up. We all know about how Eric's maker treated him; it's another to witness it. So fair warning about some nonconsensual although not graphic actions in this chapter. But where angst exists, so does a ray of hope and determination. We know Viviane and Eric are tough cookies, but they had to get there somehow.


Viviane sat in the booth and told the sanitized version of her life. And three vampires and one human ate it up. She heard Thalia snicker from behind the bar. Viviane would leave her out of it – for now.

Sookie burst into giggles when Viviane discussed not having a maker's hold.

"What is so funny, Sookie?" Viviane tilted her head indulgently.

"I imagined Pam being able to ignore Eric and how mad he would be." The young woman produced more giggles.

"Eric would stake me if I didn't heel." Pam's morose demeanor showed Viviane her serious side and her devotion to Eric.

Viviane laughed. "I doubt that." She was living proof Eric wouldn't. He might have wanted to and seriously thought about it 500 times, but she was confident he would never actually do it.

Sookie took deep breaths and tried to still herself after her fit. "Sorry, Viviane, I want to hear the rest."

Viviane continued by spinning a simple and lighthearted story of how she left her maker. In reality, it was a dark and painful, and she didn't like thinking about it. But being so near Eric and talking about her past forced its festering head to the surface.

During her first 15 years as a vampire, she'd risen in his arms every night without exception. The first night of the end, she rose alone. Eric was in another room, worried and upset. – both unusual emotions for him. Viviane left him alone; if he wanted her to know just yet, he'd be there with her. She got up and dressed for the evening.

When she went to find him, she found him pacing. He never paced in the 25 years they'd been together. Vampires don't pace.

"What is going on?" She'd tried soothing him. She'd even taken her clothes off to see whether that would work.

He rubbed his hands through his hair. "My maker is calling me. I have to go."

"OK, so we'll go. How soon? Tonight?" She started thinking about what to pack.

"No."

She turned to him. "What? You aren't going? I thought I was an exception to the rule."

"You are; stop reminding me. You are not going."

"You would leave me?" Like hell she was going to let that happen based on his reaction.

Eric pulled her into his arms. "He is not a nice vampire. I'd rather keep you from him."

Viviane wrapped her arms around him. "All the more reason to go. Two against one."

"He is more than 1,000 years old."

"So? He won't know I am yours. The Paris nest had no idea we were more than companions. Neither did the Greek – Thalia. I won't let you go alone. I will always be at your side." She kissed him and felt him relent.

"Fine, but if I tell you to leave, you must promise me you will." Viviane felt his worry and apprehension, so she readily agreed, not thinking about why he was so nervous.

Eric never spoke of his maker and changed the subject when she'd tried to ask about it. Viviane brushed it off as she packed her things. They set off from the Italian village they'd been staying in and headed for Naples.

When they rose on the second night, Eric told her they were close. She laughed and teased while they bathed in the river. Then he took her, marveling over every inch of her body as though it would be the last time he'd see it. Those moments would be the last carefree ones the pair would ever have together.

She held him afterward, not saying anything, just brushing the hair back from his face while he thought. Finally he spoke.

"Just promise you will leave if I tell you to go."

She sat up and looked down at him where he lay. "How bad is he? Does he mistreat you?"

He looked away. "I cannot say."

"Cannot? As in commanded not to say?" He nodded. "Eric, I have a great love for you, don't ever forget that. I am always and forever with you." She took time comforting him with her body before he said they must go.

Eric could feel the pull in the direction of his maker, all the way to a villa on the outskirts of town. They arrived halfway into the night.

A human led them into an open room with a large fireplace. She stood dutifully at Eric's left and just a step behind him.

"Ah, child, did you bring a friend?" The Roman stood and wandered closer.

"Yes, master. This is Viviane." Viviane bowed to the ancient vampire.

The Roman got right close to her and sniffed. "Did you eat a fairy, dear?"

She shook her head. "I was a fairy before I was turned."

"Who is your maker?" Appius lifted her hair, running his fingers over her pointless ears. She'd held firm, not shivering away from his touch.

"I rose alone. I do not know." That was their story, and they were sticking to it.

"And how then did my child come upon you?" The Roman cupped her chin and examined her closely.

"I wandered, going on instinct for some nights, seeking another of my new kind. I met Eric by a lake. He agreed to help me, teach me what he knew. We have been together since." Viviane relaxed as the Roman returned to his seat.

"Have you fed, dear?" Yuck, she hoped he never called her that again. She was not his "dear."

"A bit, but not enough." She'd shared a nightwatchman with Eric to top the thirst off, but she needed much more.

The human reappeared. "Show the lady the way to town and wait while she dines." The vampire turned to her. "You are welcome here for now. My child and I have catching up to do, don't we, Eric?"

"Yes, master." She turned to see his head hanging in a sorrowful way and had wanted to caress his cheek with her fingers.

Instead, Viviane nodded, offered her thanks and followed the thin Italian into the village where she fed. Not long after she left, she felt Eric push their bond closed. As she walked slowly with the young man, she wondered what Appius and Eric were up to right then. The man opened the door for her, so she started back to the common room when he stopped her.

"Master says he is not be disturbed tonight. You cannot enter."

"Why not?"

"I just do as the master says. Please follow me." He led her to the day chamber. It was large and had several pallets around. She felt the pull of the sun; dawn would arrive within the hour.

She sat on the one the man pointed at after he returned upstairs. She settled back to listen – what she heard shocked her.

She heard Appius saying crude things and hitting someone. She also heard the distinct grunts and slapping of flesh that came from sex.

Eric. She covered her mouth to stifle any sounds. That's why he didn't want her to come here – his master abused him. She made herself not cry; she could do nothing to stop it. Viviane forced herself to get it together for Eric. He would not want her pity or for her to even know. She could play along for him until they could make a plan.

The two men came down a while later. She flashed her eyes to Eric and smiled as though she knew nothing.

"How was your meal? I trust the boy was no hindrance." Appius flopped onto a pallet two away from hers; it was the largest and most stuffed.

"He was very versed on the local drinking hall. It was very easy." Viviane kept her voice light and breezy.

Eric started to lay on the pallet between them, but his maker stopped him. "You will sleep at my side from now on."

Eric gave her a pained look as he complied. He stretched out facing her and tried to give her a reassuring look. But nothing would reassure her then.

Viviane was good, very good – she didn't flinch or move when Appius ran his hands over Eric's body and kissed his neck. She bid them a good rest and turned onto her back and waited to be dead to the world.

The next nights passed much the same, except she sometimes hunted with them, luring unsuspecting men to their fangs. She often spent the nights away, admiring art and watching the ocean. Viviane hated herself more and more for hiding from what was going on.

After a few weeks, Appius decided Viviane and Eric needed to learn to fight with the spear. It was something he planned to train Eric in but said she might as well learn while she was there. She wished during every practice session that she could stab him through the heart. He described her as ferocious, a formidable young opponent after two months.

During these evenings, he sometimes made strange comments about her beauty but how he was not interested in women. Sometimes, Appius got too close to her or ran his fingers over her back in an overly familiar way. It made her uncomfortable, but she thought nothing of it. Appius focused his sexual attentions on Eric and the human men they fed from.

Her sexual attentions were lacking. Since they'd arrived, she'd only had Eric once when Appius was at some sort of meeting. She resorted to touching herself one night and a couple of humans she fed from on other nights. At first, she felt guilty about it, but Eric told her one night to not deny herself what she wanted. This was part of the vampire nature, that she should embrace it. The unspoken truth was that he could not as long as his maker demanded his attentions elsewhere.

Appius made her uncomfortable on a great many levels during the months she stayed with them. It became increasingly clear that he had no plans to release Eric again. This life of enduring Eric's nightmare wore on her, but she would not leave his side unless he asked it of her.

These plans abruptly changed one night when she woke to someone moving inside her. It wasn't Eric; he wasn't awake and the intruder was too small. She long had practiced not moving when she woke until she took in her surroundings for danger, so this night she remained still as though she'd not risen. Sooner or later, he'd finish and it would be over.

The painful bombardment continued as a cool hand groped a breast that had been exposed before she rose. It was only a moment after she woke that she felt Eric rise and his subsequent anger.

"Master, what are you doing?" Eric's movement near her pallet pushed air across her exposed lower half.

"Finding out what has you so enthralled. She is as tight as you." Appius rammed into her, but she remained unflinching. He sniffed her neck and licked it.

She felt the resolve roll through her maker before he spoke. "Wouldn't you rather have me, master?"

Viviane wanted to tell him to not do it, but she couldn't move or speak.

Appius stopped his movement as if he were considering it. He thrust once more before pulling away. "Women are just never good enough. Now turn around."

Viviane wanted nothing more than to run from the room instead of bearing witness to what Eric was enduring for her. Appius' movements and groaning increased and soon he called out. She heard him slump against Eric's body.

"All right, I am going out for a council meeting." She heard the Roman slam the door at the top of the steps.

Neither she nor Eric moved. She finally opened her eyes to see Eric sitting cross-legged with his back to her. She moved to sit up as he turned to face her. He came to her, pulling her skirt down and helping her right the top of her dress. Still they said nothing as she put her arms around him and buried her face in his neck.

She broke the silence with her request. "I want to go to the ocean. Take me." She felt him press a kiss into her hair before he pulled her to her feet. They were silent as she put her belongings into a bag. Both knew this was their last night together. He dropped all the coins he had into her bag.

They needed to feed, so they glamoured a couple of drunks outside a pub. They left them passed out in an alley. She would have to feed again that night.

Eric held her waist as they walked at a human pace to the water's edge, still not speaking.

She followed him to a secluded cove they'd ventured into a few weeks ago when Appius was away. She stripped her dress, dunking it into the waves over and over again to rid it of the Roman's scent before spreading it across a rock. She waded into the surf and Eric followed, having shucked his tunic. She swam to a rock that was submerged but not so deep that she couldn't sit on it. Eric joined her.

He spoke first. "Viv, I am ..."

She shushed him with fingers to his lips. "No, it is not your fault he is a monster. Some day, I will return the gift you gave me and give you the freedom to live your life without someone controlling you." She kissed him. "You made him stop, and for that I could never be thankful enough."

Eric pulled her to his side and nuzzled her hair. "You are mine; no other vampire should touch you. I should be able to protect you."

"Stop. Don't. Let's not end our time together this way." She straddled his lap and hugged him. Viviane leaned back and looked into his eyes. "Erase him." He knew what she wanted and took her slow as she rode him while the sea beat against their skin and the cliffs. She let the bloody tears she'd been holding in for months out. "I don't want to go, Eric. I want to stay with you. I don't think I'm ready."

He stilled within her and caressed her face, staring down at her. "It's necessary. You will be fine. Go to the Paris nest if you have to." He leaned down and kissed her. She resumed moving against him until they both crested on a wave of mutual pleasure. Viviane clung to him and sobbed.

"I hate this. I want to hate all of him, but I can't. I wouldn't have this life or you if he didn't exist."

Eric rubbed her back and let her cry, pressing his lips to her temple.

She looked up at him. "Maybe I should try to stay. Maybe it won't happen again."

"Viv, if you won't go on your own, I will ask you to leave." His sapphire eyes flashed with pain.

She nodded. They were silent for nearly an hour, just resting on the rock intertwined.

"I'll stay on the continent." She watched his face as he nodded. "I will always come if you call. You could find me again, right?" She ran a finger over his face, memorizing it.

"Yes, always." Eric slipped off the rock and began swimming them back to the cove. Once they could put their feet down, he pulled her to his lips. Then he broke away. "You should start out. As much as I want every final moment with you, I want you far away from here tonight. As far as you can run." She nodded and pressed herself to his lips once more.

Then she left the sea and dressed. Her garment had been damp still, but the running would finish drying it. She turned to see Eric still standing in the water, watching her. She called to him, and he brought his dripping wet form to her. She stepped onto the rock she'd used for her dress so she could be even with him for once. He laughed when she met his level.

"I need you to walk away first. You must. It will be easier for me to watch you go." She blinked the tears back before she hugged him again. "Please." It was a tear-laden whisper. He nodded and bent to grab his tunic and sandals. Viviane watched every muscle move as it disappeared under his clothes, wondering whether she'd see him again. Immortality was a long prospect, and it was one she hadn't thought about beyond Eric.

Viviane thought he might kiss her once more, but he didn't. Instead, he asked one thing of her.

"You are a survivor. Survive for me."

"Only if you do the same. I cannot continue this existence without you even if we are to be apart." She couldn't stop the tears.

"Stop. No more tears, Viv. No more. Now you are truly free to go where you want, do what you want, be who you want." He stepped toward her and wiped her face. "If you are happy, I will be able to feel it. Be happy for me until I return to your side. He will not keep me forever." He kissed her long and deep before he released her and walked away.

Viviane fell to her knees and sobbed. The only thing that made her clean her face and set out was the hope he'd given her. If she could find happiness, he'd know. She could do this for him, so that maybe he could endure his maker's torture.

Viviane set off for the north and made it to the outskirts of Rome, where she'd ran into Thalia again. It sparked a different kind of life.

The beep of her cellphone pulled her back to the present. Pam asked about knowing her maker, so she told them about the French court while she read the message.

It was from Victor Madden: "I found one of your purses. I am in Area 2 if you would like me to bring it to you."

Viviane's irritation spiked, and Eric soon appeared, leaning over her shoulder. She casually allowed him to see the screen while they bickered over his centuries of wearing tights.

Eric gave her a murderous look; she knew it wasn't actually for her – this time. "Are you done playing the Sister Grimm?" He wanted to take action and now.

"I suppose. Someone did die in my story – me. Though I wouldn't call it a tragic ending – I'm rather enjoying my name in lights." Viviane stood and began her goodbyes. While she exchanged numbers with Bill so she could meet him at Merlotte's the next night, Eric pulled Sookie into the hallway.

Viviane's original plans included spending time with Pam, perhaps even a platonic sleepover, but she overheard Eric tell Sookie about the sleeping arrangements. Viviane winced when she heard the young woman whine.

"Why can't she just get a hotel?" Sookie nearly stomped her foot. Viviane wondered how Eric put up with that behavior; perhaps it was a rare occurrence.

Viviane decided to not drag this out and trotted into the hallway. A little more fun wouldn't hurt anything; it might even prove her point from last night to Eric.

"Don't blame me, sweet cheeks. He asked me to stay with him."

She heard the young woman huff before Eric gave her some excuse about needing to discuss a lot with Viviane. It was all true; they had a lot before, and with Victor's text message and Viviane's stunt, the list grew.

Viviane kept walking and began to pick up her mess in Eric's office. She pulled a few things she wouldn't need for any of her other scheduled performances and set the bags on the couch. She walked back into the hall to find Eric working his brand of kissing magic. The way Sookie's heart beat told Viviane it was well on its way to working out for him.

Viviane leaned against the wall; Eric knew she was there and pulled away. Sookie frowned a little when she spotted the vampire audience. Time to push another button – he would lay into her anyway.

"Ready to go, lover boy?" Viviane giggled when Eric glowered down at her before he went to get Pam despite saying he would get Bill. Viviane watched the woman admire Eric's butt as he left. Viviane smiled – it always had been a nice one.

The vampire waited for Sookie to refocus before she inquired about her work schedule. "I would enjoy talking with you, oh pillager of his dead Viking heart."

Viviane's statement put Sookie off kilter, so she laughed. It put the woman at ease, but only a small bit. Viviane stepped closer and heard Sookie's heart rate skyrocket. "Stop being nervous. I am loyal." If only she knew how much, Viviane thought. Eric returned, so she tossed her bag to him and asked him to get the others. "Be chivalrous." Another button pushed. Then she walked out to wait at the car.

Soon enough, Eric appeared with her bags and gave her that look he always did right before he told her to shut up, so she said nothing. He actually looked a little surprised when she didn't say anything snarky.

Once they were both inside the car, she spoke. "Thanks for getting my bags. I have an image with Felipe." He nodded. "So this text message."

Eric frowned at her while she snapped her seat belt. "Pam was instructed to keep Sookie with her at all moments until dawn. They will go to Pam's home, which Pam will enjoy. Something about a slumber party." He shook his head when Viviane laughed. "I don't want him in my area. Call him for his location."

Viviane pushed the requisite buttons and waited for the Snake to answer.

"Ms. Riga, I thought you would get back to me sooner." Victor was as smarmy over the phone as he was in person. She couldn't wait to end him.

"I was entertaining. It is what I do. Where are you at? We wouldn't want to inconvenience you, so I can drop by and get it tonight." She wanted to inconvenience him into final death.

"Oh, I could just come to Shreveport."

"That won't be necessary. Eric doesn't mind bringing me."

"I am dealing with a matter in Mansfield."

Viviane looked to Eric. He mouthed, "Close."

"So Victor, where should we meet you?"

"The matter is at Creswell Cemetery."

"Excellent. We will see you there. Thank you for guarding my purse. I'd hate to lose that one. Coco Chanel gave it to me. Goodbye." She hung up before he could say anything else. "Yuck. What do you think he's up to?"

"No telling yet. But now he has no reason to show up in my territory."

They sat in silence, each piecing through the evening, as they sped to Mansfield.

"Viv, don't push more buttons with Sookie."

"I can't promise anything, but I will make an effort to not push them in relation to you." She tapped her fingers on the door handle. "And I won't promise to stop pushing your buttons. I haven't done it in a long time."

"Don't push them in front of Victor."

"Of course not." She grimaced. "Yuck, I am going to have to touch him."

"Why?"

"He always kisses my hand. I hate it, but he thinks it's only a matter of time before I sleep with him." Viviane shivered. "I'd be tempted if I thought I could get a stake in him in the process."

Eric roared with laughter. "I think you could get a stake in most men. They never see you coming." He turned sober. "Don't do anything just because you think it would help me with this situation."

"Eric, you know I'm on your side and I would do whatever it takes to aid you. And you're right – they never see me coming. Like that rat fink in Belgrade. You are the only one who sees me coming."

He laughed again. "What about Richard?"

Viviane turned violently in her seat to face him. "You promised you would never speak his name to me again."