Chapter 14

Six months later.

Pamela Ravenscroft looked at the walls painted the right shade of crimson that suggested fresh blood without being overly kitschy. She thought that it really added to the overall ambiance of the bar. Dimly lit the walls would take on a pleasant glow that made Pam's skin look especially nice which was always good.

All around her were boxes in various stages of unpacking. She'd ordered some very ornate hanging lanterns and candles in tall black pillars to adorn the tables. The bar itself had arrived a few days ago and it was now taking up a good portion of the far wall. The industrial fridge was due tomorrow and after that the drink stock including several cases of synthetic blood. Longshadow was in charge of that because she did not care for heavy lifting. It really did a number on her manicured nails.

It was all coming together. She'd gotten a good deal on the property and the required licenses were easy to obtain. Leaving Sophie-Anne had proved a little more challenging and she was required to make regular appearances at court but the arrangement pleased her nonetheless. The vampire queen of Louisiana had been good to her and taught her how to maneuver through the tricky vampire hierarchy. Pam proved adept at it and knew without a doubt that she would be queen someday.

But for now she had her bar, her vampire bar, and that was taking up the whole of her attention. Presently she was waiting for some vampire from Bon Temps who was coming to apply for a job as a waiter. According to Longshadow he'd sounded okay on the phone but Pam trusted her own judgment and no one else's. She looked at the wall clock. Eric Stackhouse was due in about five minutes. She hoped he wasn't a total idiot.

At exactly eight o'clock the double doors opened and Pam's maker walked back into her life. If she'd been human she would have fainted from shock. As it was she came down hard on one of her imported bar stools.

"Hello Pamela." Eric said softly as he walked slowly towards her. Pam looked on dumbfounded at the tall, blond man in the Walmart jeans and pressed polo shirt.

"How can you be here?' she whispered through the stiffness in her throat. "How is it possible?"

Eric stopped in front of her. "I wanted to see you but I didn't have the courage until now." His eyes never left hers, which were wide, round and the color of English violets just as he remembered. She was still so lovely.

"You knew I was here?" Her lips formed the words as if she didn't quite comprehend what she was asking. "You actually knew?"

The pain in her words shamed him and he looked down. "There was an article on the newspaper. It had a picture of you and said that you were opening a vampire bar in Shreveport. I recognized you so I came here but you weren't around. I met your business partner and he said that you were looking to hire."

Pam laughed unpleasantly. "You actually came here for a job? That wasn't a cover?"

Eric smiled. "I need to work. We don't have much money and I am limited by my being a vampire as to what I can do. I thought you could use me but you're not obligated by our prior acquaintance"

"Prior acquaintance?" it was too much "God Eric you are my fucking maker."

"One who left you alone when you were still too young to fend for yourself. I was your maker and I should have taught you what you needed to learn but I knew very little myself."

She shook her head. "I still needed you."

"No you didn't. You were better off by yourself. It allowed you to grow without being affected by my circumstances. I was a wretched vampire and I did not want you make you like me. But you have to know that leaving you was one of the hardest things I've had to do."

"If it hurt you that much why did you do it?'

"I had to. I couldn't stay. They were after me and it was only a matter of time before they found me and you as well."

"Who Eric? Who was after you?" she demanded frustration and raw hurt getting the better of her. "What could threaten the most powerful vampire I've ever come across?"

"I've no power Pamela. I have nothing." He kneeled in front of her, his stature putting them face to face. "I am nothing Pamela."

"It's Pam." She said through the red blood tears that were flooding her eyes.

"Pam" he repeated "It suits you." Eric's fingers ghosted over the soft skin of her face very gently. The digits trembled slightly. "I've missed you Pam."

She sniffed and allowed the tears to fall. "I've missed you Eric. Where the hell did you go?'

The vampire sighed. "There is something you need to know, something that I couldn't tell you when we were together, something about what I really am."

TBC. I took a cue from True Blood and jumped forward. Don't worry we are still going to get a lot of how Eric slowly adjusted to living with Sookie. He is still a long way from okay even now. It will all work out in the end thought.