Author's Note: Hi everybody. I want to apologize to everyone who has been following and enjoying Sins of Her Brother. I am so sorry that I have let months go by without updating. I suck donkey balls! Please forgive me. I'm going to try harder to be more disciplined, and take the time to write at least a little every day. Thanks to everyone for reading and I just want to say again that I promise I AM NOT going to abandon Sins of Her Brother or my second story Aftermath. Hope you all enjoy this update. Your feedback means so much to me even though I know I don't deserve it.

Chapter 14

Sookie charged up the stairs to change her clothes. They were all going out! She was finally getting out of this house! Eric hadn't said where they were going, but she honestly didn't care, just as long as she got to go outside. He said she didn't need to change but she was going to anyway. She had on a pair of old jeans and a tee-shirt but she wanted to change into something just a little nicer regardless of where they were going, especially since Pam was all decked out in her fancy kimono. Of course, Sookie knew that no matter what she put on, she would still look like Plain Jane compared to Pam.

She hurried down the hallway until she came to her bedroom. Reaching out, she placed her hand on the doorknob to her room. Her lip curled, she knew that Eric was mocking her with this damn doorknob. The knob itself was made out of some kind of smooth-cut crystal; it was gently faceted but it still seemed to reflect every color in the rainbow. The darn thing twinkled! The metal-work surrounding the knob was overlaid with intricately carved bronze. It was the fanciest, most ornate doorknob in the entire house. Oh yeah, he was mocking her all right!

She opened her door and walked quickly through the bedroom and straight to her bathroom where her walk-in closet was located. She scanned her small collection of clothes, finally choosing a simple jean skirt and a white blouse that was casual but still feminine and pretty. Selecting a pair of white leather sandals to go with the outfit, she headed back to the bedroom to change. The sandals had been a Christmas present from Lafayette two years ago, and she smiled thinking about him. She quickly stripped off her jeans and tee-shirt and tossed them on the bed. She put on the fresh clothes, tucking her blouse loosely inside her skirt and slipped on the sandals.

She started to head for the door but stopped abruptly. She hadn't been outside in so long, that this felt special; like a treat. She wanted to look pretty. Turning, she walked over to her dresser where she had arranged her cosmetics and small collection of jewelry. She chose a blue headband to match her skirt and a pair of silver hoops with a matching bracelet. Gran had given her the earring and bracelet set for her sixteenth birthday. She brushed her hair and then slipped the headband and jewelry on. Next she put on some pink lip gloss, just a hint of pink blush, and some light mascara. She grinned at herself in the mirror, feeling ridiculously happy and excited. She did look pretty.

I wonder if Eric will think I look nice?

Wait. Where the heck had that thought come from? She frowned, her reflection turning stern in the mirror.

Who cares what he thinks! I just want to look nice for me, that's all. I don't need the approval of that arrogant a-hole.

"Cupcake, what is taking you so long?" Pam's voiced yelled impatiently from downstairs.

"I'm coming right now," Sookie called back.

She ran out of her room and down the upstairs hallway toward the staircase. Now that she was dressed and presentable, she wanted to be out of this house just as badly as Pam did. Her "night out on the town" awaited.

v—v-v—V—v-v—v

Eric maneuvered Pam's Lexus through the front parking lot at Fangtasia, heading toward the back of the building and the private employees' entrance. He glanced at his passengers. Pam's fangs were already down and she had a were-eating grin on her face. She was no doubt anticipating the pleasures in store for her tonight. In the back seat, Sookie was practically bouncing up and down with excitement. The first thing she had done when they pulled out of his driveway was to roll down both windows in the back seat for the "fresh air." The car had turned into a wind tunnel. He had half expected her to hang her head out the window like some brainless mutt. Eric suppressed the urge to roll his eyes like a human. Pam and Sookie were acting like they had been imprisoned in some dungeon for a century. It had only been eleven days, and they had spent that entire time in the lap of luxury! He had kept them inside in order to keep them out of harm's way. Why couldn't they understand that? He parked the car in Pam's reserved parking space right next to his Corvette, but before he could get one word out of his mouth, Sookie and Pam jumped out of the car.

"Wait just one damn second" he said irritably.

They both turned toward him wearing identical frowns.

"What is it? I want to go inside" Pam said impatiently.

Eric held his temper in check. It was just as well that they were going to be separating for the evening. The past eleven days had reminded him why he and Pam didn't normally share the same nest anymore. He loved his progeny, but when she was in a foul mood she made sure that everyone around her suffered as well.

"I'm going to speak with security out here for a few minutes. You and Sookie go on inside and when I'm finished, I'll come in and join you" he said.

"That's it?" Pam asked. "That's what you wanted to tell us? Well, I know I couldn't have gone on even a single second longer without that valuable information."

"Pamela! That is enough!" he nearly roared.

Completely out of patience, Eric's fangs snapped down and he snarled at her. He clenched his fists tightly in an effort to keep from punching her in the face.

"Ok then!" Sookie yelped loudly, surprising both vampires. "We'll go inside now. Come on, Pam!"

Grabbing Pam's hand, Sookie began dragging her toward the back entrance, leaving Eric standing by himself with his mouth open.

Gods-damn it!

Now he had frightened his human. His night out with Sookie was not beginning as he had envisioned it. He was eager to begin moving things along with her both professionally and personally. Especially personally. She had been in his nest for eleven nights now, and with each night that passed he wanted her more. It shocked him to realize that he was more interested in bedding her than in using her for her telepathy.

Eric turned and scanned the parking lot just in time to see Compton come around the corner from the front of the building. Bill nodded at him in greeting.

"Sheriff, we weren't expecting you tonight."

"Pam is acting like a human bitch on the rag. I'm leaving her in your care for the evening."

"I'm honored" Bill replied dryly. "We've tripled security as you instructed; six guards inside and eight outside, plus I've put Thalia on the perimeter."

Eric smirked. "Good choice."

Thalia was strong and almost as old as he was, she had a perpetually bad attitude and a hair-trigger temper. Nothing would get past her. Under normal circumstances he would never use Thalia for any duties that involved Fangtasia. But nothing that had happened in the last week and a half was normal.

"She's patrolling outside, yes? Not inside?" he asked.

"Absolutely" Bill said. "She won't come inside unless we have an incident."

Eric locked Bill in his gaze. "There had better not be an incident, Bill," he said icily. "You are here to prevent any more incidents."

The younger vampire dipped his head deferentially. "I understand Sheriff."

Without another word, Eric turned on his heel and headed inside.

v—v-v—V—v-v—v

Sookie grabbed Pam's hand and began dragging her toward the back door and away from Eric. She hated it when their fangs popped out like that! When they were mad, their lips drew back making them look like growling tigers.

Pam chuckled behind her. "In a hurry, are we Cupcake?" she asked.

"You know Pam, I do have a name and it is not Cupcake. And I'm just trying to keep you out of trouble. Why do you have to be so snarky all the time? It's like you want to make him mad!"

They were almost at the back door when Pam suddenly shifted, seizing Sookie's wrist in a vice-grip and pulling her in close.

"Let's get one thing clear right now, little girl" the vampire said, her voice low and cold. "I don't need you to look out for me. I allow you to serve me simply for my convenience, nothing more. Secondly, my relationship with Eric is none of your business, so don't presume."

"I … I didn't mean …" Sookie stuttered. She swallowed and tried again. "I didn't mean to insult you, I'm sorry."

Pam continued squeezing her wrist for a moment longer and Sookie began to wonder if she was angry enough to break it, when suddenly the moment passed and Pan relaxed.

"That's alright Cupcake, you didn't know any better" she drawled. "Now let me give you some advice. When we go inside, do not show fear to any vampire you meet. Deference yes, but fear, no. Fear is a sign of weakness and Eric Northman does not choose the weak. Understand?"

Sookie stared at Pam, not understanding at all. Eric Northman does not choose the weak? What the hell did that mean, what in the world was going on now?

"Um … yes … I think so" she lied.

Pam grinned and held her hand back out to Sookie.

"Good. Now don't worry Cupcake. Just follow my lead and you'll do fine. Push the red button beside the door."

Sookie looked over and saw a call-box mounted to the wall, just beside the back door. She reached out and pressed the red call-button. Instantly, a voice barked out, "Name?"

"It's me, you shithead," Pam smirked. "Open the door."

Sookie heard a locking mechanism engaged, and then the back door was pushed open and the straggly black-haired vampire she remembered from that first night was glaring down at her.

He's the one who decapitated that man, Sookie thought. Visions of the severed head, blood shooting across the floor, and this black eyed vampire drinking from the bloody neck flashed through her memory.

The ugly vampire looked from Pam to her, and then back at Pam again.

"Paaammmm," he sneered. "I'm so relieved to see that you're on the mend."

"Just a minor inconvenience, Longshadow," Pam sneered back. She grinned at him cruelly. "I see you've been promoted to opening and closing the back door. Congratulations, I'm so happy for you. You finally have a job that's perfectly suited to your vast talents."

The black-haired vampire's fangs snapped down and he hissed. Pam continued to grin.

"Out of the way, underling, I've got business to attend to," she said. Then she was pushing past him and pulling Sookie along with her down the long hallway.

Sookie tried to calm her racing heart. Why had she thought she wanted to go out? She wanted to be back in Eric's house, fixing Pam a blood or ordering stuff for her off of the internet. She did not want to be in a vampire bar surrounded by these volatile, unpredictable creatures. Her breath started to come faster and faster.

"Chin up, Sookie," Pam said in a very no-nonsense way. But she patted her on the back.

"Remember what I told you. You are not weak. You wouldn't be here if you couldn't handle it. You are now in the retinue of Eric Northman, so act like it."

"I don't even know what that means, Pam."

"It means that you are under Eric's protection. It means that no one will dare touch you. It means that you have value."

For a moment, Sookie was so stunned that she forgot to be afraid. She stared at Pam, dumbstruck. She had value? No one but Gran and her small handful of friends had ever thought she had any value. And had Pam just paid her a compliment and called her by her real name?

Jesus Christ, Shepherd of Judea! What was going on? Sookie shook her head as if to clear it. She didn't understand these vampires and their crazy mood swings. How had she ended up here? How had this happened to her life?

Pam snapped her fingers in front of Sookie's face.

"You still with me, Cupcake?"

"Uh … yeah, I am."

Show no fear. Sookie took a slow deep breath. She could do this. She straightened her back and squared her shoulders. She had value.

Taking hold of Pam's hand, she asked the vampire "where to?"

"To the main bar room. There's a large circular booth in red leather that is always reserved for Eric. That's where we will sit. Lead the way, Cupcake."

Without another word, Sookie led Pam down the hall and into the bar. As soon as they entered, every eye both vampire and human, turned toward them. Show no fear, act like you belong here. Lifting her chin, she led Pam over to the round red leather booth that belonged to Eric. Pam immediately sat down and Sookie slid in behind her.

Almost instantly, a tall female vampire appeared by the booth, causing Sookie to jump a little. They moved so darn fast! She hadn't even seen her approach. This vampire was tall for a woman and very beautiful. She had long black hair and dark chocolate brown eyes. Her skin was not as pale as Pam's or Eric's. Sookie thought she looked Middle Eastern. Even though Pam couldn't see her, the vampire bowed before her.

"Mistress Pamela, this is a delightful surprise. How may I serve you?"

"Felicia, do be a dear and call my favorite pets in for me" Pam said.

Sookie watched Pam rummage around in her purse until she came out with a cell phone which she handed to the vampire, Felicia.

"You'll find them in my contacts. Call them all, don't skip even one" Pam said grinning. And her fangs popped out. Felicia grinned in return.

"I will call them immediately, Mistress. Since it is still early, most of your favorites are not here yet."

"That'll be fine, Felicia. In the meantime, bring me a Royalty Blend. Sookie, what do you want?"

Sookie had been watching the exchange between Pam and Felicia about "pets" very closely; and she was surprised when Pam actually addressed her, again by using her real name.

"Um … I'll have a gin and tonic, please."

Felicia smiled seductively and her fangs popped out too. It was a little disconcerting. Then the vampire turned and zipped behind the bar, Pam's cell phone still clutched in her hand.

Sookie glanced around the room. The bar was about half full with humans milling about and vampires sitting at various tables throughout the room. There were also three vamps dancing on elevated platforms. Sookie knew she was staring, but she couldn't help it. The way they could move their bodies was almost mesmerizing. It reminded her of bullet-time in that Keanu Reeves movie, The Matrix, that Jason had dragged her to.

Jason.

Oh God, a wave of grief seemed to rush out of nowhere and swamp her. Where was he? Was something horrible happening to him right now? Would she ever see him again?

"Your drink, Mistress."

Sookie looked up. Felicia was back with Pam's blood and her gin and tonic. She took the drink and sipped it while the two vampires continued talking.

Across the room, she noticed the black-haired vampire again; Longshadow, Pam had called him. He was standing in the shadows with his back against the wall, staring at her. Sookie felt the hair on the back of her neck rise up. Longshadow had his head lowered but his eyes were fixed on her. His mouth was slightly open and she knew his fangs were out, even though she couldn't see them clearly. She had dealt with enough mean drunks at Merlotte's to know a threatening leer when she saw one. She scooted closer toward Pam.

"I haven't introduced you properly," Pam way saying. "Felicia, this is Cupcake. Cupcake, this is Felicia."

"It's nice to meet you, Cupcake," Felicia said.

"It's nice to meet you too, Felicia. But you can call me Sookie. Only Pam calls me Cupcake."

v—v-v—V—v-v—v

Eric entered his bar and immediately saw Pam and Sookie sitting in his private booth, talking to Felicia. He was eager to collect Sookie and go, so that they could begin their evening together. He ignored all the over-eager fangbangers and headed directly for his little telepath.

"Ladies," he greeted them.

"Eric," Pam replied, as Felicia bowed. "Sit down and join us. I was just instructing Cupcake on how to conduct herself in a vampire bar."

"I'm surprised you have time for that Pam. I thought you'd be with your pets by now."

"Felicia has called them for me. When they arrive, I intend to fuck them all."

Eric grinned at his child and glanced over at Sookie. She had her eyes glued to the contents of her drink and was blushing furiously. Yes, it was definitely time to go.

"I think Sookie and I will take our leave now. We'll be back around four, to pick you up. Enjoy yourself."

"Likewise," Pam replied.

He offered his hand to Sookie, and after a moment's hesitation, she took it and maneuvered herself out of the booth. She gazed up at him and bit her lower lip. It was an endearing gesture. Wanting to get her out of Fangtasia, Eric draped his arm around her shoulders and began walking her toward the back door. He was well aware that everyone in the bar was staring at them.

They entered the rear hall and made their way to the exit. He felt Sookie press herself against his side and was pleased. Progress. Longshadow was on guard duty in the back and he opened the door for them. But Eric didn't bother speaking to him, didn't even spare him a glance. He ushered Sookie outside into the night and toward his Corvette.

"We're not taking the Lexus?" Sookie asked, surprised.

"Of course not. The Lexus is Pam's vehicle; the Corvette is mine."

He opened the passenger-side door for her and helped her in. She was very careful not to let her skirt ride up as she sat down. Eric smiled to himself. Her modesty was quaint, and surprisingly, he found it arousing. He shook his head. What the hell was happening to him?

Eric rounded his Vette and climbed in behind the wheel. He gunned the engine and tore out of Fangtasia's back parking lot, around the corner, and through the front parking lot. Fangbangers scattered in all directions. He laughed as Sookie squealed and covered her eyes.

The night awaited them both.