AN: Real life is crazy. Updates hopefully will be more regular from here on out..cross my fingers!
I walked next to my dad's left side, slightly tucked behind him. I felt loved at his blatant message of how important my protection and safety was to him.
I announced my love of New Orleans not long after landing. Everyone was putting off waves of giddiness, daring, excitement, joy and confusion. I was practically bouncing with giddiness the longer I was surround by the high levels of positive emotions. Occasionally there would be some jerk faces in the crowd throwing off the current of easy emotions.
"Erikson how do you like the city so far?" Eric asked tapping my chin to get my attention.
"This city is totally awesome Dad." I grinned, my enthusiasm obvious.
"It's about time to get Erikson back to the hotel." My mother the never-ending party pooper said giving me a firm look, and I held back a groan. "Eric he has matured a lot this month for his age, but I do not want him out here when woman start flashing their bits…Now that he is truly too young for."
"What a shame mini me," Pam taunted flashing me a wicked smile.
I grumbled and followed Eric back to the expensive hotel. I was sent up the family suite alone with Ralph my were-lion body-guard while Dad and Pam discussed business and mom split-up from everyone so she could catch a few minutes of alone time in the gym. I spent my time asking Ralph odd random questions "ever wrestled an alligator? What's your favorite food, chicken or tuna? Ever wanted to take a bite out of Ziggy the Zebra at the Zoo?" while flipping through the endless list of TV channels.
Finally Eric returned with Pam, both were bored and angry. "How was your evening?"
"The tour was great," I said pulling my ear buds out to be respectful.
"Come with me" Eric motioned for me to join him. I glanced over my shoulder at Pam who just shrugged cluelessly.
"Where are we going?" I asked curiously as we stepped on the elevator.
"To the front desk, I'm expecting a package." Eric answered smoothly, his facial features impassive. If there was one thing I really liked about my dad it was his honesty. Not that my mom was a lair, she just really tried to protect me and shield me from her emotions, so she was prone to glossing over the hard truths.
"Cool," I followed a little behind watching closely to how he walked not realizing I was mimicking his movements. He was always on alert, never dropping his guard.
The hotel was quiet and upscale not exactly what you'd expect from a vampire hotel in New Orleans but oh well. The air smelt crisp and welcoming. The live donors were kept in a private room in the back that you had to purchase a special pass for. The small human restaurant smelled divine and the gift shop was more like a mini mall.
I admired the scenery while Eric spoke with the boringly passive man at the front desk. Without speaking we headed back up to our suite.
"Here," Eric said commandingly thrusting one small book and another much larger one, more like a giant tome in my arms.
"What's this?" I asked a little wary.
"This one here," He said tapping the old tome fondly before continuing "is my personal accounts of all the creatures that I have ever encountered that walk this earth. It will tell you a little about them; how to recognize them, how to influence them, handle them, but most importantly it will tell you how to kill them. And the other is a small guideline book given out to all registered newborns by the authority."
"Oh," I muttered stunned.
"Now just because I'm giving you all this information doesn't mean you can act on anything you learn. Not until you're trained. I will teach you how to defend yourself, I will teach you about the world, about our world. You will grow into a magnificent Dhampir."
"A what?"
"It's a gypsy term for a hybrid vampire human child." Eric clarified. "I've found a few answers in their old stories."
"About me?" I squeaked surprised, apparently my old man was a "finding answers" junky.
Eric sighed and pinched his brow. "Yes, I'll tell you more at a later date. I still have some research to do."
"Okay"
"Erikson this book here is for your eyes and your mind only. Pam or I will answer any question you my have. I do not want your mother to know about the content of this book. Not until she's decided her future, her fate. There are things in this book, secrets that we must keep from the humans." I nodded mutely, my stomach in knots from the gravity of our conversation.
"Promise me my child, give me your word."
"I promise," I squeaked my voice giving away my nerves.
"Start with the newborn material we'll discuss it on the way to area two." He ordered. More homework! Life's peachy.
I read for hours, taking notes occasionally.
I ignored my stomach as it twisted in pain. A headache started faintly as I watched television and grew until my nose started bleeding. "Oh no," I mumbled quietly trying not to alert anyone while rushing to the bathroom. I spent a long time trying to get it to stop bleeding. Finally it stopped. Tiredly I cleaned the room up not wanting my Mom to find the mess. She was so much happier now that she thought I was getting better. Completely drained I made my way to bed. Apparently my Dad's blood only worked for a small while.
—
The next afternoon I woke and ate a small lunch and gulped down some royalty.
"Erikson would you like to go check out the mall or an arcade?" My mother asked. She was happy. I smiled tiredly and yawned.
"No, I stayed up way too late. Can I go back to bed?" I asked turning my tired blue eyes on her.
"Yes, but Erik once we get settled in Bon Temps later this week, I'll be insisting on a bedtime. You'll be back in school soon. You can't stay up like you have been." Mom lectured her hands on her hips.
"Yes, ma'am!" I murmured dodging her kiss afraid she'd notice how warm I was.
"I'll be reading on the balcony." She left me to go back to sleep.
I woke again to Pam pulling the covers off me. "Wake up runt, Eric wants us to do a security scan of the vampires coming to pledge tonight. We're to supervise the process, and then later Eric will work with you on basic human fighting skills."
"Alright...alright," I said rolling out of bed chugging the fresh O blood bag that Pam handed me. "Thanks" I sighed my stomach settling.
"So where's my monkey suit?" I groaned good naturedly as Pam placed an outfit on the bed.
I pulled on the light tank top, button up my dress shirt and tugged on the sweater. I glanced in the mirror and sighed this was going to take a lot to get used too. "I look like a pompous preppy," I grumbled.
I ignored Pam's laughter. "You'll get used too it."
"Sure I will." I teased back.
We stood side by side texting. Pam was frustrated and bored giving the vampires that passed us little attention. I kept track of the numbers, only twenty-seven were not pleased with the takeover and only two we're worrisome.
"There are a lot of pleased vampires here tonight." I texted Pam impressed New Orleans was the opposite of Las Vegas.
"Many here in Louisiana have wanted him to over through deCastro for a while now." She sent back. I asked a few questions about politics in general, "it's all about age little man and the loyalty of your followers. Eric is well-respected in the States and he has many old, old friends in Europe."
"The whole United States?" I texted fast my heartbeat increasing.
"And Canada, he doesn't care for the lower America's reminds him too much of the old world."
"Wow!" I murmured letting the knowledge settle in my brain
I stood by my mothers side, who was standing next to Eric's left, as Pam walked to his right. I tuned out his speech, though I still nodded and spoke on cue. I spent most of the pledging surfing the web, texting with Pam who mocked Eric's boring speech that we'd heard enough of during the past week. Only eleven of his subjects decide to leave the state.
I loved watching my parents together. There was so much love between them, but their stupid headed, grown up over thinking ways kept them from fully expressing it. They laughed, he would find little reasons to touch her, and she would flush and smile brightly when he'd place small kisses on her mouth. They were moving past all the guilt and anger but something was keeping them apart still. It was frustrating.
The fatigue and stomach ache returned as I was blocking hits and kicks from Eric. I followed his instructions to a tee, I tried relentlessly to pin him, to touch him even, but he was so much better. No doubt my Dad now was a skilled warrior.
Once he called our training to an end I drank my water with relish, wiping the little bit of blood from my nose discreetly on my pants. I stared at Eric's sword and imagined some of the battles it had seen.
"Here" Eric said placing it in my hands after he removed it from its fancy scabbard. "It's a little heavy for you right now but back home I have something more fitting for you. Now slice it sideways, up down side to side."
"It's heavy, what does it say?"
"Protect thee, my heir, my son, my life, and a prayer I've forgotten how to say, I never learned how to read my birth language before its extinction." He admitted, disappointment and guilt flared for a minute with-in him. "When I was a young vampire I cared to much for battle and not enough about education, preserving our heritage. Through me you are connected to a thousand years. Godric taught me the importance of the past. It pleases me that your mother has taught you Swedish." I handed him back the heavy sword and grinned, I totally had the coolest Dad ever.
I yawned shaking my head to fight back the exhaustion I felt. "Your mother spoke to me about making sure your schedule settles back into a routine. Let's move up to our suite you need to sleep my son."
I laughed as he put me playfully on his shoulders. I squealed like a girl when he tickled my side after he tossed me on the couch next to my mom.
"G'night Mom" I murmured kissing her cheek and hugging her tight.
"Erikson do you have a fever?" Her worry and concern was back full force.
"No, just still hot from my workout." I smiled spilling another white lie.