AN: Thank you, everyone.
P.S: Did anyone else see ASkars at the Golden Globes.......? (Sorry, I just had to mention and admire his beauty)
Enjoy!
Chapter 14: The Damage is Done
I sure was proud of my tan. I had spent more than a few hours soaking up those rays this afternoon, and my tan was really starting to show. I was lucky enough to have the skin that respond to the sun as soon as I stepped out into it. I had also gotten some reading done. All and all a good day. I was a bit tired though, since I had set my alarm for me to have time to tan today. Alina was walking about nearly as soon as the sun went down and I wondered if she had been awake for a while and just waited in that danky old hole. I had a True Blood waiting for her and she gratefully drank.
"Have you ever been a blood-sibling before?" I had curiously been thinking of this all day. She didn't look offended, like I thought she might.
"No, it is rare. Vampires are really jealous of their lives, why would they share it with a dying one who couldn't keep himself alive?"
"Will everything work out okay?"
"Oh sure, why wouldn't it?"
Eric called soon after. He didn't have much to say to me, just told me I didn't need to watch the exchange, as a reminder. I handed the phone to Alina and she listened to everything Eric had to say. She barely spoke a word, and hung up without a farewell.
She looked at me, her clothes looking a bit wrinkled from her sleeping arrangements. I didn't really want Bill to see her this way, it would already take some convincing for him to accept her blood. I stood up.
"Here, follow me." I lead her to my room and rifled through my drawers. All my pants were probably too big, like they were for me right now. Although, I was sure I would regain my weight, and my breasts normal size soon enough. Her tight black pants would probably be fine – we just had to change her shirt.
"I don't need -"
"Did you even bring clothes?" I asked her, remembering her coming to me last night empty handed.
"Yes, I tossed my bags into the wood before I saw you. Eric got them last night and brought it back to his place," she said. "It was too close to sunset for him to drop them off here."
I nodded. "Well, just, here, these are a couple shirts you can choose from," I gestured to the bathroom door off my room. "You know, look presentable."
She gave me a weird look. "You are a strange human," she said. I smiled my crazy smile, just to prove how true that was and left her alone to get ready.
I looked in the mirror in the bathroom off the hall, to see that everything was in place. We were going to Fangtasia after the visit to Bill. My heart leapt as I thought about Eric and last night. I closed my eyes, trying to breathe evenly, so I could be right minded when I approached Bill tonight. I couldn't deny that I was very eager to see Eric later. I hopped a bit out of the bathroom, feeling light even with all these heavy situations threatening to crush me.
I had to be in New Orleans soon. And, tomorrow was Easter and I had no plans. My heart dropped as I felt sorry for myself. Jason abandoned me. Amelia was in New Orleans – oh, hey, I would be seeing her! I pulled out my cell phone from my jean pocket and looked through my contact list. I hit send, and waited for her to pick up.
"Sookie?" Amelia asked, confused.
"Guess what? I'll be in New Orleans on Monday," I said, cheerfully. I exited the bathroom to see Alina waiting for me at the front door. She has chosen a baby-doll pink top, which suited her perfectly. Her black high-heeled boots were in place and I suddenly felt very dingy next to her.
"No way!" Amelia squealed. "What for? Oh, I'm so excited, Sookie! I've missed you!"
"I miss you too. I'll be there with Eric. We have to do some things for the King, but I can see you during the day."
"Right, I heard about the King's party. It's the talk of the town. So...is everything alright with you and Eric?"
I knew Alina could hear everything, so I really hoped Amelia wouldn't bring up the blood-bond. "Everything's fine. I'll talk to you when I see you. I have to go now, though, I just wanted to give you a head's up."
"I can't wait. It's really boring around here now that I've met you Sookie. There was always something going on in Bon Temps and I never thought I'd say that about a small town."
I laughed, so thankful she didn't put her foot in her mouth like usual. "I'll see you soon, Amelia."
"Bye!" she cried. I hung up and opened the front door.
"Who was that?" Alina asked curiously.
"My friend. She used to live here with me, but she moved back to New Orleans recently. I was just telling her I'd see her soon," I said, as we began to walk across my property and to the grave yard.
We silently made our way past the tombstones. Most people find cemetery's creepy, but I had grown accustomed to how not scary they were from living next to one. We walked through the gate and trees, Bill's house sat in front of us. I always found his place daunting, all dark, grey and dreary. Alina had probably seen worse in her long life for she was unfazed. Just before I was about to knock on the door, I turned to her.
"You aren't going to glamour him, will you?" I asked her apprehensively, the thought striking me.
She scowled. "Eric told me to if I had to."
I started, "Oh, no. Please, don't do that. Give him...the choice," my voice faltered at the end.
"I thought you wanted him to get better," she said.
"I do."
"Then I'll make him better."
"Please don't glamour him."
"You're a contradiction, my dear," I saw her eyes flash, irritation plain as day. "My orders are to make him better whether he likes it or not. You should be thankful that this is turning out how you wanted. Eric asking me to give my blood to him was crossing several lines and he did that for you, for your former lover."
My own stubbornness broke through. "I don't want to force him into something he doesn't want."
"Didn't he already object to this?" she countered.
I don't know how she knew that. I kept my mouth shut. She reached out and knocked on the door. My thoughts and feelings were conflicting in battle internally.
Bubba answered the door, beaming. "Miss Sookie, I heard you on the other side but I waited until you knocked." He gave me a gigantic hug and I couldn't breathe he was squeezing me so hard.
"Put her down," Alina snapped. Bubba did so, and turned to the stranger. I wondered if Alina knew that he was Elvis. Given the fact that she hated the United States maybe she never familiarized herself with the legend before her. "Are you Bill?" she asked. Okay, so no, she didn't know the King of Rock. How weird.
"No, I'm Bubba. Who are you?" Bubba looked confused by the situation.
"Bubba, this is Alina, Eric's child," I said quickly, putting a comforting hand on his arm.
"What about Ms. Pam?"
"Ms. Pam is his too, but Alina is his first," I said. God, the whole concept was extremely puzzling. I didn't even know if I said that right.
"Nice to meet you, Miss Alina," Bubba bowed his head. Oh, we did not have time for this. Alina appraised him with a disgruntled look.
"Okay, Bubba, Alina is here to help Bill, can we come in?" I asked politely. Bubba nodded and we all piled into the house and went up the stairs to where Bill was, in his room.
I knocked hesitantly, and a groan on the other side of the door was the only sign I would get that it was okay for me to enter. Bubba waited outside and Alina followed me in. Bill looked worse than before. I could tell that he was dying and he didn't have much time left. I wanted nothing more than for him to feel better. Maybe the idea of Alina glamouring him into taking her blood would be alright.
"Bill?" I rushed to his side and fell to my knees. "Bill, you're gonna get better soon, I promise." I pushed back the hair from his forehead; he was clammy, and grey. I turned to Alina, whom stepped forward. "This is Alina, Bill, she's Eric's child. She'll be your blood-sibling."
Bill started, jerking, opening his eyes to stare at me, confounded. "No," he rasped.
"Bill, please," I said, grabbing his hand. He was too weak to yank it away.
"Sookie – I said...no," he coughed. I can't tell you how unsettling it is to see a vampire respond humanly like that.
"You're dying," I stressed, trying to make reality as harsh as possible. Anything to get him to reconsider. "Bill, just...Alina is willing and so should you be."
Bill looked over my shoulder, to where Alina stood. He looked away quickly, looking shamed. I never realized what this must be doing to his ego. Looking so weak in front of other vampires couldn't be at all encouraging. Alina crouched down beside me and looked at Bill curiously.
"You are...Eric's," Bill wheezed.
"Yes. I will give you my blood now," she said. I stepped away, as she went to go bite into her wrist. Bill shook his head. I caught a bloody tear leak down his face. My heart broke and I felt my own tears trail down my cheeks.
"Bill, please," I begged. When would it be enough? Did I have to reassure him and beg him until he was within an inch of his life?
"If you do not take my blood, I will force it on you," Alina spoke frankly, giving Bill a condescending look. "Really, this is ridiculous. Take what you need." She bit into her wrist, and her blood oozed out of the two puncture wounds, slowly, thickly. She brought it to Bill's mouth. His eyes bored into mine as he licked, he gripped her arm and fed. I didn't look away, his eyes purposefully staring at me.
I didn't like watching vampires feed unless it was in the act of sex, to which I was involved in. But it was okay, though a little personal, as I watched Bill respond to the blood entering his system and the blood leaving Alina's system. There was some moaning, and a noticeable tent under Bill's blankets. I wondered how often vampires exchanged blood with one another. They seemed to enjoy it. My face was hot and I felt incredibly shy watching – but also, aroused. I wish I could leave, this was all so unsettling. I stayed put. I was not unconscious of the fact that Bill was probably getting off watching me, but there was nothing I could do. I wanted him to feed and he was.
Finally Bill grunted, jerked and I saw a wet stain on the blanket where he came. Alina groaned and pulled her hand away. I wondered about her lover back in Greece – obviously they must have an open relationship. She licked her own wounds and stood up, unfazed.
Some colour had come back to Bill's face. I mean, not much, since he was a pale vampire, but enough to make him look more alive. He grunted, blood surrounding his mouth, he brushed it away with the back of his hand.
I cleared my throat, feeling rather bothered by the display. "Are you better?" My voice cracked. God, how embarrassing. The two vampires were already cool as cucumbers, but I was flushed, self-conscious and more than a little disturbed.
Bill nodded. I could almost feel a shift in his chemistry as he regained part of who he was. He sat up in the bed, struggling but it was the most movement I'd seen from him in a while.
"I'll be back tomorrow," Alina said. "We should be getting going, no?" she turned to me, her expression bright and excited.
"Oh, right," I said, making the quick decision not to be here for the exchange tomorrow. "Bye Bill, I'll see you after I get back from New Orleans!" I waved at him.
He frowned. "New Orleans? Why are you going there?"
Alina was impatient to leave. I don't think she'd appreciate if I had sit-down conversation with Bill about all that had passed since he'd been incognito. "Um, can I explain later?" I asked.
Bill looked displeased, but said goodbye. Alina and I made it back to my house where we got into my car and drove on over to Shreveport. My mind wandered over what had just happened at Bill's. I felt a bit guilty on how I responded to their exchange. I was blushing just thinking about it. I did wonder if Alina felt used. No, probably not. That's not how vampires think.
I pulled up close to the employee entrance. Fangtasia looked busy tonight, despite it being a holiday weekend.
"Let's go through the front. I want to see the bar," Alina bolted out of the car and opened my door before I could. She yanked me to my feet, and with her hand in mine, dragged me to the long line.
It felt weird being this close to her. She really was beautiful. I caught a couple of frat guys look at us appreciatively, especially at Alina.
"We don't have to wait with everyone else," I mumbled, wishing these men would stop winking and licking their lips at us. I think they could tell Alina was a vampire – no human looked like she did.
"Oh, okay," she said, she let go of my hand and skipped to the front of the line. Did she really just need to orgasm to feel better? Her mood had increased euphorically since Bill had her blood.
A vampire bouncer gave Alina an appreciative once over, and then saw that she was with me. He opened the velvet rope and the two of us beat the line. I could feel Eric close, and I was so excited to see him. I wasn't really dressed all that nicely, I should have put on a nicer pair of jeans, or shoes. I looked around to see that Eric wasn't in his booth or at his throne.
Suddenly Pam stood beside us, she leered. "Alina, I think we'll have to make you a regular, you're enthralling the vermin."
Alina grinned, and her breathtaking smile probably stopped more than a few hearts.
"Eric is in his office," Pam said to me. "Appius and Franz are here."
I inhaled sharply and promptly forgot to exhale. Okay, so maybe I still did care about them. Although, I had to say I felt better than Alina was here – I couldn't see her allowing anything to happen to Eric.
"Did they tell Eric they'd be coming?" Alina asked, not looking as panicked as I felt.
"Of course not," Pam sniffed.
"So, should I go in?" I asked, shakily. Pam shook her head, the blazing lights and banging music drowning out my rapid breathing.
"Stay with Alina," Pam instructed and disappeared among the people. I looked at Alina who motioned for me to follow her to the bar. We grabbed ourselves a drink and I showed her Eric's booth. Quite a few regular fangbangers gave Alina an appraising look. Who was this new girl in our master's booth?
I read a few dirty minded males imagining Alina biting them. Oh God, this was even worse than when Eric was out on display. I put up my mental shields. I began fretting over what was going on in that office. I twisted my fingers together, anxiously hoping everything was okay. Alina was nicely distracted by all the action going on in the bar. Unlike Eric who would brush off clingy fangbangers, Alina would talk with them. Every one of them would have a conniption fit, when she spoke. I had a hard time not smiling at the desperate people, so eager to please this ancient vampire.
My eyes flicked in the direction of the hall that lead to the bathrooms and Eric's office. Pam stood there and crooked a finger toward her. I nodded, and mentioned this to Alina. She excused herself from her many admirers and the two of us made our way to Eric's office. Pam stood at the closed door and opened it for us. Appius and Franz stood in the middle and Eric sat behind his desk, we entered. Pam shut the door.
"Alina!" gasped Appius. The two of them looked surprised to see her. "What are you doing here, child?" Child? Really? I looked at her, expecting her to scoff at his words, but she smiled at him sweetly.
"I came to see my master," she explained. Her and Appius met and kissed briefly on the lips. Wow, calling Eric her master sounded so weird. I already found it bizarre on those rare moments that Pam called him that.
"What do you think of the irreplaceable Sookie Stackhouse?" Appius beamed at me. I did not like that choice of words. Nope, not one bit. I frowned. Eric gave me a reassuring look. I wanted to walk over to him, but that would require me passing Franz who was staring at me spine-chillingly.
"She is rather peculiar, isn't she?" Alina added. She and Appius looked like they were reunited old friends. What the hell? "But, I find myself fond of her. I think she'll keep Eric in line."
"Oh, Alina, Eric doesn't need any more women to watch out for him," Appius replied. Alright, I was officially unnerved, once again. He was so...I couldn't think of a word, but I felt awful when I was around him. Maybe part of that had to do with feeling Eric's waves of resentment directed at his maker.
"Well, I'm not around much anymore," she shrugged and pulled away from Appius so she could plop down on Eric's sofa. "Sookie, sit by me," she held out her hand and I gravitated toward her easy demeanour. I sat, keeping my eyes focused on my knees.
"Oh, look at that," Appius put a hand to his dead heart. "Eric, you certainly know how to choose beautiful women; just like I know how to choose beautiful men."
"So, Franz," Alina said, her tone sharp and sudden. "How are things going for you?" She spoke oddly, channelling the linguistics of the twenty-first century.
Franz silently stared, his jaw tight. "Well. Thank you, Alina."
"Now, Alina, you aren't here to stir up trouble are you?" Appius intervened. The pleasant smile on his face looked like it'd never waver.
Alina's bright features darkened. "Are you?" her voice was like ice, and I felt it in my bones. Holy shit. Eric stood to his feet, looking like he was the only one undisturbed by Alina's shift in mood. Alina got up as well, leaving me behind on the couch.
"My Alina," Appius said, his startled expression smoothed out. "Do you not remember our agreement? I thought we had moved past this." His words were loaded with threat.
I noticed Pam wasn't in the office at all. When had she vanished? I looked over at Eric who had stood in front of Franz. Well, to me he was in front of him, they were both facing Appius and Alina.
"We have moved past that," Alina insisted, her features looking manic. "You're the one who is stuck with what was. You want another girl? After a millennium of being celibate of women you suddenly want this one? Eric's one?"
"Alina," Eric said calmly, a warning.
"Alina, if you do not –"
"Don't tell me what to do, Appius," she spat, stepping closer to him. My eyes widened when I saw her grand-maker take a step back from her furious presence. I was terrified. I was expecting a full on gouge out the eyes attack.
Appius stood his ground. "My dear, I can tell you what to do. Stop your advancement," he ordered, a commanding tone that I hadn't expected from him. Alina hesitated and I wondered just how strong the connection between a child and her maker's maker was. "Eric and I have been telling you for years your temper will be your downfall. It's a good thing you hide away in Greece, away from most other vampires, because you would have been killed centuries ago," Appius seethed. His previous look of joy at seeing her was replaced with anger and distaste.
A slow, eerie smile came upon her lips. "And I have been telling you for years, Appius. If you interfere in Eric's life it will be yourdownfall." Possessive vampires – it was sweet to see her so protective of Eric, but did he really need protecting? Maybe when he had a destructive maker like Appius, it was needed.
"It's a good thing you have Eric," Appius recovered after her words. "You would be a much different vampire if you had been mine."
"I would have killed you."
"You wouldn't have had the chance. Now, this is becoming ridiculous. I'm not even sure what we're fighting over. Eric, you will tell her to leave, this instant." That was an order from his maker. Eric's features twisted.
"Alina, leave." Another order from a maker. Alina had no choice. She spun on her heel, gracefully, abruptly surprising all of us.
"I wouldn't try anything stupid if I were either of you," she announced and left the office. I felt considerably less safe. The attention would be all on me now that Alina wasn't here. My heart dropped to my shoes, I swear.
"A thousand years and you still can't control her, Eric. If she weren't so special I would say she was a horrible mistake," Appius said. Eric growled, deep in his throat.
"Due to the turn in events, I'd like to ask you to leave, Appius," he said, his eyes flashing with suppressed anger. Well, it wasn't suppressed to me – I could feel it all, paralyzing me.
"Eric, don't be upset because of your irrational child," Appius caught Eric's face. He didn't speak for a moment before, "Very well. Need I remind you that if Alina does anything suspect; I will inform your King of her presence here. I seem to recall his fascination with her..."
"Goodbye," Eric said through his teeth. Franz gave me an awful look of promise. I closed my eyes, until I knew they were both gone. I heard the door shut, finally, and I looked up at Eric whose back was facing me. "This problem will be dealt with soon." He was on the couch beside me, swiftly, pulling me into his chest. I leaned against it, grasping his shirt in my fist. "I apologize, darling. I didn't know he'd be visiting tonight."
"It's okay," I mumbled, nuzzling closer to his hard, beautiful body. "Alina is scary," I said after a while.
Eric didn't respond. He stroked my hair soothingly and I felt my eyes droop. No, I didn't want to sleep. I shuffled, to keep myself awake.
"I tanned today," I told him.
"I can see that," he replied, brushing his long fingers up and down my arm, setting my hair on edge. "Now we need to fatten you up."
I pulled away and sat on my knees. "Excuse me?"
"Lover, you have been looking rather thin," he stuck his hand in my waist band and pulled it back, to show me just how much room my jeans had left over. I could probably fit both my arms in there. "I like you proportioned."
I didn't have anything to say, other than I had noticed my curves had diminished as well. "My boobs have shrunk too. I think I might have to go down a cup size." Eric tackled me so that I was flat on my back and he was flush against me. I noticed how his feet were off the couch from the knees down, where as I was the perfect height for the length of it.
"That is more of a reason for you to eat up, Sookie," he kissed each breast through my shirt. With his face still pressed against my chest he said, "That reminds me. I owe you for last night."
I felt a pleasant shiver make me weak. "You don't owe me anything," I said.
"Mmm," he said, brushing his nose between my breasts. "You had all the fun."
"You didn't have fun?" I asked, feeling self-conscious. I thought I had done good. I mean, he had a happy moment.
"Oh, my lover, I had maybe too much fun. But, I love it when you are at my mercy. Last night, I was weakened by your mouth, your touch, your blood – I was hardly the powerful Sherriff I have a reputation of."
"I'm sorry I embarrassed you," I teased, poking his rib cage.
"You can embarrass me whenever you want, as long as I get to reciprocate. I didn't get the chance last night and it's been bugging me," he said huskily in my ear. I was the one weakened now. Oh dear Lord. His hand travelled down my side to my thigh where he curled his hand around it, and lifted it up so it was hitched around his hip.
Before this went any further, I had a few more questions. "Eric, I need to ask you some things, prior to what's about to happen," I huffed, having to squeeze it out of me before I was too distracted.
He stopped his caress of my body and stared me in the eye. I loved his weight on me, between my legs, it felt nice, comforting. I wrapped my arms around his shoulder. He waited for me to speak up.
"Right, well, I've been thinking about what you are to me," I said. I have to say Eric couldn't look more surprised if Bill came dancing into his office in a tutu.
"You're initiating this conversation?" he asked, bemused. I realized he might be under the wrong impression.
"Well," I said again. "I want to know what I should call you."
"Eric," he said promptly. "Or," he ground into me and I gasped. "Master. Or The Best Lover Ever. Or Mine – Sookie, I would love it if you called me yours," he kissed me deeply and my head spun, from his erection pressed right at my center and his tongue assaulting my mouth. When he allowed me air, I tried to remember what I was talking about, but it was difficult with him laying open mouthed kisses on my neck.
"Eric," I started. Right, I remembered. "Wait for a second." He immediately pulled his mouth away and stared down at me. "What I was trying to get at is...if someone asks me who you are – in the sense like, what are you to me, do I call you my boyfriend? Because that just seems weird. How...do you refer to me?" I felt myself blush and he brushed his pale hand along my cheek.
"I don't think I was ever called a boyfriend before," Eric said.
"So?" I hedged.
Eric kissed my forehead, and played with a lock of my hair. "You and I are blood-bonded, which is deeper than a trivial relationship such as the one you mentioned – I am hardly a boy and you are hardly a girl," he squeezed my left breast to prove a point and I rolled my eyes. "Anything else?"
"You didn't answer," I said.
"It is what it is."
"How vague," I grumbled, feeling myself pouting, even thought I didn't mean to.
"Sookie," Eric said, his voice taking on a serious edge. "Earlier this evening, you felt..." Eric's hand slipped easily in my too-big jeans. He cupped my center and I ground my teeth, keeping silent, while his fingers slipped past my panties and inside me. "Aroused," he kissed my neck. "What was happening, my love?"
"Umm." I felt like he knew exactly what had been happening. His fingers stroked my core and I groaned, trying to keep my dignity. I reached down and yanked at his erection through his pants and he hissed.
"Game on, lover," he thrust into my thigh. I began unzipping him, fumbling to bring him into the same position as I. His finger crooked up inside me and I froze, quivering from his internal caress, his thumb playing with my nub.
"Eric, please," I said. I became all hot, and I needed him so much. He shifted up onto his forearms, to give me more room to pull his pants down. We were both desperately clawing at one another, trying to join our bodies in the most intimate way. Eric was pulling my own pants down. It wasn't the most romantic setting or scenario, but it didn't matter, we weren't in the mood for slow love making. We were so close, his length was right at my entrance, I was panting, he was silent and concentrated, when there was a knock on his office door.
Eric swore profusely, pulled up my pants for me and his own, rolling off me and to the door. He opened the door silently, his glower speaking for itself. I could feel his intense arousal and irritation as if it were my own – and it probably was too. I buttoned up my jeans, but was too worked up to get to my feet, so I lay down on his couch.
Alina strode into the office, looking as if she was oblivious to her interruption, although I couldn't see how she didn't know.
"You have to deal with Appius," she said. "We can break our agreement."
Eric looked at her in disbelief. "Now?" he asked pointedly.
Alina glanced at me, then back at her maker, determined. "You need a plan."
"Alina, we will discuss this at a different time. Leave," he ordered, aggravated.
She crossed her arms. "Am I supposed to go back to Sookie's?" she asked.
"Go to Pam's, Sookie and I are going to my place, now," Eric motioned to me and I got off that couch faster than I thought possible. I jumped to him, eager to get back to his house.
"Eric, you're going to give me my time!" Alina shouted after Eric who dragged me out of the Fangtasia and to his Corvette.
"We're getting away from everyone," Eric growled, I jumped into the passenger seat and pulled my seatbelt on as he gunned it out of the lot, several fangbangers taking pictures as his car left.
I couldn't relax. I was so desperate to get back in Eric's pants. I giggled at the thought and Eric smiled back at me, a glint in his eye.
"You know, dear one, you could always call me your husband."
Jesus Christ, Shepherd of Judea.
R/R!