Sorry for all the errors in my first posting of this chapter. I was having some issues with my internet connection and my revisions didn't get saved the first go around. Hopefully, I caught most of them, but if you catch any I missed, please feel free to PM me, so I can fix them.
Chapter 12 - Friend or Foe
Tara heard the bedroom door open and close, followed by the sound of heels clicking on the hardwood floor. Turning on her sided, she pulled the blanket over her head, bending her knees closer under her protruding belly.
The intruder let out an annoyed sigh.
"What do you want, Pam?" Tara mumbled, not bothering to lift her head from her pillow.
"I thought I should check on you?"
Tara poked her head from under the blanket to glare at her. "Why? It's not like you give a shit."
Pam held out her hand, inspecting her manicured nails. "True," she said without a hint of remorse.
"Then why the hell are you bothering me?"
"Eric is out wallowing in self-pity, Alcide is held up in his room, refusing to come out, and I'm bored."
Tara rolled her eyes, adjusting her pillow. "Do I look like I care? Just leave me the fuck alone."
Pam ignored her and sat down on the edge of the bed by Tara's feet.
"Look, I don't like you and you don't like me—".
"Hmm, I wonder why that is, Pam? Could it be because you're a total bitch and you tried to kill me on more than one occasion?"
Pam tilted her head slightly, a ghost of a smile playing across her lips. "You and your Wiccan buddies fucked up my face, but that's all blood under the bridge, right? I think we're beyond that now, don't you?"
"No, not really," Tara deadpanned, before cutting her eyes away.
"Anyway, despite how much of an annoying bitch you can be, I think we both can agree that Eric..is…" Her voice trailed off suddenly.
Tara sat up, folding her arms in front of her. A sharp pain shot up her back and she grimaced. "What about Eric?"
"He's out of sorts. He's not at his best when it comes to making decisions when he's...preoccupied. The last time Eric behaved this way, he was under a spell, but with you he's…different."
Tara's face flushed with anger. "If he's so different than why did he let his sister brain fuck me to satisfy his own selfish need. Sounds like the same old manipulative Eric to me."
Pam looked uncomfortable for a moment. "He's sorry about that, so am I. Eric would not have done it he didn't think it was absolutely necessary, at least not to you."
Tara glared at her for a minute longer. She never seen Pam look contrite before and it made her suspicious. There was no love lost between them, that's for sure. She knew that Pam couldn't care less if she lived or died. Hell, a couple of weeks ago Pam was trying to turn her into a happy meal. The fact that she was sitting here, trying to convince her she was sorry that Eric had betrayed her trust was almost laughable.
Tara raised a brow at her. "Why are you all of sudden being nice to me?"
"Eric told me you were different and for some reason I believe it. You obviously mean more to him than that half-breed fairy or he wouldn't have commanded me to protect you with my life. He didn't even ask me to do that when he thought Russell Edgington wanted to drain the bitch. If I don't learn to at least be civil to you, I'm afraid I might lose him for good this time."
"And you'd really do it? Lay down your life for me?"
Pam's blue eyes turned steely. "Yes. If that is Eric's will. Whether I like it or not, I have to obey him."
Tara closed her eyes, not able to stomach what she was hearing. She reopened them, seeing Pam through new eyes. She actually pitied the vampire. "How can you stand Eric having total control over you like that?"
Pam gave her a look as though the answer should be obvious. "He's my Maker. He's good to me and I've always trusted his judgment."
"But what about your free will, your right to choose what you want and not what Eric thinks is right for you?"
A small smile touched the vampire's painted red lips. "It's a small price to pay for the gift he has given me. Eric took me from the gutter of my life and gave me purpose and immortality."
"He orders you around," Tara insisted.
"Eric rarely forces me to do anything I don't want to do. Besides, taking orders is nothing new to me. In my former line of work it was a requirement, one I did very well."
Tara looked down at her hands on her nonexistent lap. Tears sprang to her eyes, blurring her vision. She thought of the people who had once controlled her life. Her abusive, alcoholic mother, the evil Maenad who placed her under a spell and was ultimately responsible for Egg's death, and Franklin Mott. She still had nightmares of how the vampire kidnapped, tortured and raped her for weeks.
"I won't let Eric control me. I won't ever let anyone make me feel weak like that again."
Pam shook her head. "There's one thing I've learned, honey, it's that letting a man tell you what to do doesn't make you weak. In fact, if a woman is skilled enough, she can make a man think he has total control when it is she who holds all the power. You can bend a male, human or otherwise, to your will without him even being aware of it."
Tara looked up at her then. "I don't want to control Eric either. I want him to see me as his equal, his partner."
"Sorry to break this to you, but I doubt that's ever going to happen. You're a human and Eric is a thousand year old master vampire. He may love you and even respect you to some capacity, but you'll never be equals."
Tears tightened Tara's throat as she struggled with what she knew to be the truth.
"Then I can't be with him."
Pam studied her face for long moment. "Eric has kept himself at a distance from human emotions for over a millennium. It won't be easy for him to open up and submit to the needs of others in place of his own. Give him more time."
"After what he did to me tonight, I'm not sure that I can."
She noticed Pam's gaze settled to her stomach. Feeling self-conscious and somewhat protective, Tara crossed her arms over her belly to shield it from view.
"I was a mother once," Pam said with a wistful look in her eyes.
Tara's felt her brows crease. She never figured Pam as the nurturing type.
"Early in my career as a working girl, I had the misfortune of getting knocked up by one of my johns. I don't even know who the bastard was. I was lucky Madam Evelyn took a liking to me early on or she probably would've turned me out into the streets. Instead, I was instructed to cater to men with particular taste. Surprisingly, my popularity grew as my stomach swelled. I guess mother's milk nourishes all." She chuckled at her own joke while Tara scrunched up her nose.
"One of my patrons was a bit overzealous, causing me to go into labor when I was barely into my third trimester. My daughter did not survive. I barely had the chance to hold her before her pale, limp body was ripped from my arms."
Tara felt sick to her stomach. "What did you do after she died?"
Pam sighed. "Madam Evelyn gave me two days to grieve. After that, I put it behind me and I went back to work."
Tara shook her head in disbelief. "What? How can you put something like that behind you as though it never happened?"
"We do what we must in trying times, even if that means turning off our hurt and grief."
"Why are you tellin' me this?"
Pam face softened. "You're going to have to turn off your pride and anger against Eric if we are going to survive what the Authority has planned for us." She looked pointedly at Tara's stomach again. "Keep in mind that you have more than yourself to think about now."
Pam got up from the bed, preparing to leave.
"Does Eric know?" Tara asked, wondering what his reaction might have been to Pam's tragic history. Was that the reason he turned her? Did he see that deep down Pam was still grieving and felt sorry for her?
"No," Pam answered quietly, looking over her shoulder. "I never told him about the baby."
"Why not?"
"I have my reasons."
Tara watched her walk out the room, closing the door behind her.
Soft tapping on the balcony French doors drew Tara's attention. She turned to see Eric hovering in the air before landing gracefully on his booted feet. She recalled Pam's words, 'He is a master vampire. He may love and respect you, but you'll never be equals.'
After a moment's hesitation, Tara got up from the bed and went to open the French doors.
He stood at the threshold staring at her intently.
"May I come in?"
Tara crossed her arms over her chest, tapping her bare foot against the cool hardwood floors, keeping her face expressionless.
Eric looked uncertain, as though he thought she might slam the door in his face? It would serve him right, she thought.
"Come in," she said finally, backing away from the door. He didn't need a invite to enter her room, though he kept up the pretense by hesitating before stepping through the doorway.
Dim light came from the shaded lamp on her night stand, casting shadows on the walls and across his pale face, making his cheeks look hallowed, his eyes dark and intense.
"Tara?" He reached out to touch her face.
"Don't!" She admonished, moving out of his reach.
His hand dropped back to his side as his shoulders slumped forward. He looked so vulnerable, so hurt. She forced herself to look away from him. Her hands fisted at her sides. In spite of her anger, a part of her wanted to run into his arms, wrap her arms around his narrow waist and kiss the hurt away. It had to be the bond filling her with this need to be close to him.
"I know there is no excuse for the way I treated you, Tara. I only hope that in time you'll find it in your heart to forgive me."
Tara gave him the evil eye, trying her best to keep up her tough girl persona. "Controlling other people is in your nature, Eric. That's what you vamps do. I was stupid to think this could work."
Eric expression hardened. "What are you saying, Tara?"
"Once we're done dealing with the Authority, that's it. We'll go our separate ways. I don't want to see you anymore after that."
"Tara, that is out the question. We are bonded." His voice sounded strained, as though he was barely keeping his emotions under control.
"I AM NOT YOURS!" she screamed. "You can't fucking control me or force me to stay with you."
Eric's pained expression nearly did her in. She turned away, her heart pounding so loudly within her ears she wondered if he could hear it over the deafening silence in the room.
"What of the child your carry?" he asked, his tone dark and frighteningly calm.
"I can raise it on my own," she answered, lifting her chin.
"What about the child's father?"
She turned to face him. "It doesn't have one."
Eric closed the distance between them and placed his hands on her stomach. She didn't resist his touch. The baby moved inside her. Eric's eyes lit up.
"He feels my presence." She heard the fascination in his voice.
"He? What makes you think it's a he?"
"I saw him in a dream. He was standing in a meadow full of wildflowers waving to me."
Tara met his gaze. How could that be possible? "I-I had the same dream."
A smile teased the corners of his mouth. "He has sandy blond curls." He reached up to rub the pad of his thumb over her cheek and under her chin. "And creamy brown skin and beautiful angular cheekbones like his mother."
Tara found herself lost in his gaze, unable to turn away. "And blue eyes like…" The realization swept over her like tidal wave. "…his…father."
Eric nodded."Yes…like his father."
She gasped. "Oh my god. You? How?"
Eric shook his head, amused. "I think that's pretty obvious."
"I thought vamps couldn't impregnate women."
"That is correct, for the most part. Vampires are essentially dead, which means our seed cannot fertilize an egg. Apparently, that does not hold true in our case."
"I don't understand."
"My Maker, Godric, told me about finding my eternal mate, the Heart of Anubis, the one person on this earth that my heart would literally beat for. In essence, he believed that my eternal mate would have the power to bring me back to life." He cupped her face with his large hands, looking into her eyes. "The first night we made love my heart beat for the first time in over a thousand years. I believe our union was destined from the start and so was this child. You are my eternal mate, Tara. You were made to be mine and I was reborn to be yours."
Stunned, Tara pulled away from his embrace, her mouth gaping. This was crazy. Out of the millions of people on this planet, why her? She couldn't wrap her mind around what he saying. It was too unbelievable. Too farfetched. He wanted her to believe that she was destined to be with him. That she possessed some unknown power inside her that could jumpstart his heart. The whole thing sounded insane.
She stumbled back, her knees suddenly feeling weak. She needed to sit down. Her weariness must have showed in her eyes because he slid his arm around her shoulders and proceeded to guide her towards the bed. She sat down, starring up at him, her throat feeling as dry sand.
"What the hell does all this mean?"
"It means that we are to be parents soon."
"We?"
"Yes, do you think I would not want to be a part of our son's life?"
"How can you be? You're a vampire."
Eric frowned. "I've been Pam's maker for over a hundred years."
"This is a baby, not a vamp," she snapped.
"How do you know that? I am his father."
Tara blinked. He was right, she didn't know. How the hell was she going to raise a baby vampire? She thought of Jessica and was filled by panic. Sookie told her that when Jessica was first turned by Bill, she'd been out of control and nearly killed her own parents.
Tara stared down at her stomach. Oh god, does this mean I'll start craving blood too?
Eric knelt down on his hunches so that they were at eye level, gently placing his palm on the curve of her belly.
"Our son, whatever he may be, will grow up with two parents that love and cherish him. I can't force you to stay, but I am asking you to let me be a part of your life. I promise I will protect you and our son to the ends of the earth."
Tara placed a tentative hand on top of his. "I know you will."
There was knock on her bedroom door. "You alright in 'dere, Tara" Alcide voice filtered through her door.
"I'm fine, Alcide."
"Can I come in?"
Eric's eyes blazed hot. She felt the rage inside him building through their blood bond.
"That's not a good idea right now, Alcide."
"You sure?"
"Yes. I'll talk you in a little bit, okay."
There was silence then the sound of footsteps moving away from her door.
Eric stood up, his face becoming a hard mask. "You better talk to him, Tara."
"He's harmless."
"Then explain to me why you were in his bed today?"
"I told you nothing happened," she said, feeling her own anger erupting with his. She didn't want to stoke the flames anymore than she already had. It would be like dousing a fire with gasoline. Taking a deep breath, she attempted to regain her control.
"Do you really want this to work, Eric, or not?" she asked in earnest.
"Yes, you know I do."
"Then we need to set some ground rules. One. You're going to have to learn to trust me. Two, she said, ticking it off her finger as she spoke, "If you ever want me to trust you again, never, ever screw around with my head. That goes for you, your creepy ass sister, Pam, or any of your other vamp buddies. And three, you need to treat me as your partner in this. If you can't do that, then we might as well end it now."
Eric gave pensive look. "I can do that."
"Good."
"There's just one more thing you should know, Tara."
She crossed her arms, preparing herself. "And that is?"
"I will not share you. If Alcide ever tries to come between us again I won't hesitate to drain him."
She frowned at him, her temper rising again. "That brings me to number four. Don't say vampy shit like that. It scares the hell out of me."
He gave her a sardonic grin, showing off his fangs. "As it should."
He caressed her cheek. "Go take a shower and get dressed. I'll fix something for you and the baby to eat."
Tara blinked, temporarily distracted by this new tidbit of information. "You can cook?"
"I've picked up a few skills here and there over the centuries."
All of sudden, she got a vision of Eric wearing nothing, but a chef's apron and hat, holding a spatula. "I bet you have," she teased.
"Get dressed, Little Rose," he said leaning over and kissing her on the forehead.
"Stop being so damn bossy."
"You need to take some of your own advice."
He tossed a smile over his shoulder as he walked towards the bedroom door. "I'll see you downstairs in fifteen minutes."
For three nights, Nora searched the ancient text and historical database for anything she could find on supernatural, accelerated births. Nothing. Nothing at all.
She leaned over her laptop staring at the screen filled with scanned ancient scrolls. "Bloody hell! What am I missing?"
"Maybe I can be of assistance."
Nora jumped at the sound of her mentor's voice. Only Salome, the regal, raven haired beauty, was old and stealthy enough to sneak up on her.
She pointed towards the laptop screen. "What is it you seek, my dear?"
"Uh...it's nothing really," Nora answered nervously. "Just some research for a friend."
Salome, dressed elegantly in an sleeveless, Armani sequins black dress with plowing neckline, leaned her shapely hip against Nora's desk and smiled. "A friend? And what exactly does this friend have you researching in our ancient scrolls."
Nora closed the lid on her laptop then turned back to look up at her. "Boring stuff, really. Nothing that would interest you, I'm sure." She tried to smile to cover her uneasiness.
Salome's unwavering dark eyes searched her face. Nora got the feeling the 2000 year old vampire possessed the power to look right into her mind. She forced herself not to squirm under the weight of her scrutiny.
"I thought you and I were friends, Nora."
Nora blinked. "We are, Salome. Why would you question such a thing?"
"True friends don't hide things from each other, now do they?"
"No, of course not."
Salome placed a hand on the arm of Nora's chair and leaned closer until their faces where only inches apart. Her voice lowered to a whisper. "Friends trust each other and share everything, right?"
Nora nodded, licking her lips.
"Well, then," she said leaning back and smiling broadly. "Tell me what you're working on and maybe I can help you."
"I-I was looking for information on supernatural pregnancies."
Salome's gave her quizzical look. "Between Weres?"
"No, the mother happens to be human and I'm not sure who or what the father is. The most amazing part is that the woman's fetus grew to ten centimeters practically overnight. I've never seen or heard of anything like this before."
Salome got a strange look in her eyes. "I did once, just after my turning."
Nora eyes widened. "Really? Where?"
"In Serbia, the Balkan Peninsula."
"What can you tell me?"
"I know the child's conception and birth was rather significant. It caused quite a stir among the vampires in that region. They called it a Dhampir, a half human, half-vampire.
Nora sat forward, intrigued. "Why were the vampires so concerned?"
"A child begotten from a vampire and human is born with all the powers of our kind, but able to walk in the sun. This is something vampires have sought after for many millennium. Legend says that when a Dhampir reaches adulthood, it is more powerful than even the oldest master vampire, though the one I speak of died very young. There's been no record of a Dhampir in close to 2000 years."
"So what you're saying is if a vampire can actually procreate with human it will create some type of super vamp that doesn't burn in the sun."
Salome nodded. "If what I've heard is true."
Nora laughed. To her, the whole thing sounded preposterous. "A Day Walker? Like Blade? Doesn't that seem a bit outlandish."
"Many folklores and legends are stemmed in truth, Nora, though man has often twisted the facts to serve their own selfish agendas." Nora detected a bitter edge in the older vampire's voice.
Her thoughts shifted to Eric and the conversation they had about finding his eternal mate. Was he telling her the truth about Tara? She wanted to believe what Godric had told them about the Heart of Anubis was all rubbish. If Eric actually found his true eternal mate then where would that leave her, especially if he somehow created a child with that human.
"Is there something you're not telling, Nora?"
Nora jerked her head back in Salome's direction. "Uh, no. I was just thinking how unbelievable this all seems."
"Why don't you take me to meet this woman you speak of. Let me determine if the legend is true."
"I..I can't. She's in a very fragile state right now.
"Perhaps I can help."
"She's sort of antsy around people she doesn't know, especially vampires."
Salome toyed with the charm on her necklace. It was a winged bat made of onyx, trimmed in gold with a red ruby in the center, an exact replica of the one Nora wore around her neck.
"You know who the father is, don't you?"
Nora's shifted her gaze towards her laptop, drumming her fingers over the smooth surface of the lid. "No. How would I?"
"He's a vampire, isn't he?"
Nora kept her mouth closed, afraid she might give away too much. Salome was a master at getting information out of people. She seen her in action before in the interrogation room. The most resistant prisoners found themselves telling Salome their deepest, darkest secrets without her having to lift one finger or issue a solitary threat.
"Does this have anything to do with your brother? Is he the father?"
Nora stared at her in shock. "M-my…brother?"
Salome smirked. "Yes, Eric Northman, the former Sherriff of Area Five. The same vampire who is responsible for the death of Nan Flanagan."
"Salome, I've never—".
"There's no need to lie, my dear," she said, rubbing her thumb across Nora's bottom lip. "It doesn't become you. I know you're protecting him."
Nora swallowed, feeling her chest tightened. "How did you know he's my brother?"
"I vetted you to be a member of the council. Do you really think I would've taken you under my wing without knowing every aspect of your life before and after your turning. Why do you think I chose you, Nora? It was because of your loyalty and sense of family."
"Please, Salome, you cannot tell Roman. He wants Eric's head on a platter and if he finds out about the baby-." Nora stopped abruptly, realizing her mistake. Salome's face darkened.
Oh shit! Nora thought. Not only had she said too much, but it was obvious her turn of phrase had offended her mentor.
It was no secret that Salome was sensitive about the stories of her youth, how she manipulated King Herod and was responsible for the beheading of the man the human's called John the Baptist. Many believed she requested the martyr's head on a platter in tribute to her mother, Herodias.
"Please forgive me, Salome," she said, down casting her eyes. "I didn't mean to offend you."
Salome took three paces away from Nora's desk then turned back around to face her. With a dismissive wave of her hand, she said, "I no longer care what the Christians say about me. However, I do care what you think."
Nora was taken aback. Why would a vampire with Salome's grace and standing give two penny's about what she thought?
"I'm truly flattered that you hold my opinion in such high regard."
"Why should I not? You are my sister in arms. We fight for the same just cause." She fingered the charm on her necklace again.
Without thought, Nora mirrored her movement, touching her own charm. "Yes, we do."
"I promise you, Nora, I will not tell Roman. This is strictly between us. Take me to see the pregnant female. If what you say is true and her unborn child is a Dhamphir, she and your brother may be in more danger than any of you realized."
Nora contemplated Salome words. She loved Eric with all her heart and would do anything to protect him. Perhaps, Salome could be of help. It would certainly serve Eric well to have another ally within the Authority, especially a Guardian.
"Yes, I'll take you to her tonight."
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