Characters belong to Charlaine Harris. I just gave them my hometown and a little bit of my attitude.
~oooOOOooo~
"What do you mean, Sookie? 'Everything changed'?"
What do I mean?…
"Things weren't the same after that. It felt like I was keeping secrets." I sigh. "I should have just asked Eric about what my Great Grandfather said but I didn't because I was afraid to. I was afraid the answer wouldn't be good and I was afraid it would start something between them."
"You feared Eric would harm your great-grandfather?"
I shrug. "Yeah. But it wasn't just that."
"What else?"
"Niall could've killed Eric." I could've gotten caught in the crossfire. I close my eyes and take a deep breath. "In the end, it didn't matter anyway."
"Why?"
"Neither of them killed anyone."
Amelia looks visibly relieved.
"So no one died," she comments.
Slowly I open my eyes and meet Amelia's gaze. "I didn't say that." I pause. "It just wasn't either of them who did it."
"Tell me, Sookie…"
I settle back in to my seat and continue my story.
~oooOOOooo~
Eric and I quickly fell back into our routine. For the next week or two, each night, about twenty minutes before closing Eric would show up at the bar to escort me home. If the weather was nice, we'd walk. Otherwise, we'd take the Corvette. Thankfully, his briefcase didn't make another appearance.
As for us, we didn't spend any personal time together, but I welcomed the break. I chalked it up to us both being preoccupied. Eric's business took up much of his waking hours, while keeping my shaky nerves in check occupied much of mine.
As it turned out, our strange, yet surreally comfortable routine was to be short-lived. One night Eric stopped in at the Dog well before closing. Mid-week, the bar was pretty dead (ha ha). Immediately, I wondered what was up: It was much too early for him to be accompanying me home and I knew it was unlikely that he would sit in the bar and wait for four hours.
Looking at him, I could tell that something was wrong. Instead of seating himself at one of the empty bar stools, he just leaned with his side against the bar. Usually the other bar patrons held little interest for him, but tonight he seemed to be keeping one eye on the door, looking for someone.
Waiting...?
"Hey." Dragging a towel across the bar's puckered wood, I closed the distance between us. At the sound of my voice, he turned his eyes to meet mine. "What's up? You know I don't get out for a few hours."
I forced a smile, but a hint of worry could be heard in my voice.
"My child is coming," Eric replied, his lips twisted into a wry smile.
"What?"
"Pam."
"Oh..."
Wordlessly Eric nodded.
"When? Like now?"
"Tonight. This is why I am here."
I didn't exactly understand why Eric's reaction to Pam visiting would be to come see me, but I tried to hide my confusion. As it was, I didn't have much time to be confused anyway.
Without another word of explanation, Eric turned to face the door. Following his lead, I locked my eyes onto the entrance. A few seconds later, a petite blonde woman wearing a red trench coat, black skinny pants, and black leather booties walked in followed by a large, powerful-looking male wearing a black leather jacket over black jeans. The man had long coal black straight hair, a craggy nose, and a straight line of a mouth.
Even if I hadn't known them for what they were, I still would've regarded them as the oddest couple the Dog had seen in quite some time.
As the two made their way over to Eric and I, the blond woman gave me a little smile. I didn't know if she meant it to be comforting, but it wasn't, even with her sweet, round milkmaid's face. I recognized her immediately as the void I'd encountered before meeting Eric.
I turned to look at the man. Observing his distinctive features, I wondered if he were Native American.
Apparently the curiosity was mutual.
"Who is your friend, Eric?"
The Native American's words jolted me out of my reverie. I tore my eyes from the two newcomers and glanced back at Eric, who remained silent.
"Never mind the introductions, Eric," Pam said, her eyes traveling from Eric to me as she continued. "I'm more interested in knowing what's for dinner?"
My breathing hitched as I met her gaze.
Eric's eyes hadn't shifted from the blonde's.
"She's mine, Pam." Eric's words were quiet and low.
"That," she drawled, "hasn't stopped you before."
"It stops me now." Despite its lack of aggression, Eric's tone was forceful in its matter-of-fact absoluteness.
Pam seemed to be somewhat more inured to Eric's demeanor.
I watched as they engaged in a silent battle of wills; a potent energy could be felt bubbling just beneath the surface.
Suddenly Pam broke the stare-down and I felt her eyes on me.
"I remember you."
Wordlessly, I nodded.
"I came in here last year. I guess I missed it then." In two quick steps, she was at the bar, her face directly in front of mine. "I'm not missing it now, though." My heart lodged in my throat. She paused before continuing, "Long Shadow?"
"Delicious."
Shocked, I lifted my head to look past Pam at the one she called Long Shadow who now stood behind her. He smiled at me. Even without fangs, I was scared to death.
"Eric," Pam finally moved out of my personal space and took a seat at the bar. "I can hear her heart racing." She smiled at Eric. "You'll have quite the treat later. Are you sure you don't want to share?"
Eric finally pulled his eyes from Pam and focused on me. I worked hard to control my breathing.
"Yes, Pam." Eric and my eyes locked. "I am sure."
I let out another silent breath.
Pam seemed a bit perturbed by Eric's inflexibility. She set her lips in a pout.
"Well, that's no fun," she complained, turning to look at the dance floor. "What am I going to have for dinner?"
I shivered while Long Shadow smirked. I was glad I was behind the bar. Sensing yet another pair of eyes on me, I turned to look behind me and spotted Sam at the other end of the bar.
Sam and I locked gazes and he motioned for me to join him. Smiling tightly, I turned back to the vamps.
"My boss needs me for a minute. I'll be right back to take your orders."
"Don't worry about us," replied Pam. "No hurry. Maybe later."
Eric glared at Pam. Somewhat shocked, I could see that he wanted to beat the crap out of her. I was only too happy to be leaving them.
I joined Sam at the other end of the bar.
"Hey," I threw my boss a smile, albeit a weak one. "You really need me over here or you just rescuing me?"
Sam wasn't much in the mood for jokes. He handed a pint of Guinness to a customer before pulling me off to the side.
"Are they bothering you?"
Smiling wanly, I shook my head.
"The blond woman is Eric's child. Not sure about the Native American guy. But she has to do whatever Eric tells her. He told her I'm off-limits."
Sam nodded, and let out an ugly laugh. "Thank God Eric is a selfish prick I guess."
I slanted my eyes as I looked at my boss.
"Just...I worry about you. And him. And this whole situation. All the time."
"I know. And I love you for it. You know that, don't you?"
Sam grinned. "Any more talk about the blood substitute?"
"Still coming down the pike," I answered, keeping my tone light. "It'll be here soon."
Grabbing a towel, Sam began to wipe down the counter.
"Sookie," Sam swiped at the counter vigorously. "You have no idea how much I pray that that's true. For your sake…"
"Yeah, I know." Glancing at the other end of the bar, I saw Eric, Pam and Long Shadow deep in conversation.
Following my gaze, Sam's face contorted. He said,
"I wanna talk to you after they're gone. Okay?"
Uncertainly I nodded. I figured there was a chance Eric would take his "friends" and leave early. Maybe the other vamps really needed to eat. Maybe they'd have to glamour some people. Maybe I wasn't as safe from them as I seemed to think.
Not wanting to dwell on it, I forced myself to focus on getting back to work.
The stars aligned in my favor when a bachelor party of about ten made their way into the bar.
Until I caught a glimpse of the hungry look on the two newcomers.
Silently, I prayed for the night to end.
AN: Sorry! I never thought it would be this long between updates. What can I say? Work seems to take over my life a lot lately. Thanks for sticking with me.