Annie had turned silent. She could say nothing and she could do nothing. Russell had declared that he was leaving to find Sophie-Anne, much to Talbot's annoyance. Apparently the pair of them weren't getting along as splendidly as people assumed.
Eric stood quickly and offered Annie his hand. She couldn't help but notice how he only held two fingers out towards her, much like a gentleman would offer to take a lady's hand. She curled her fingers around them and allowed him to haul her to stand. They rushed through the halls and Eric found a quieter room, slamming the door behind him and dropping Annie's hand.
She watched him for a few moments before he stopped pacing. His gaze turned to the cabinet on the wall and he felt anger suddenly flow through his veins. Annie noticed his gaze narrowed and his chin jut out in front of him. She took a moment to glance at what he was staring at before she walked towards him.
"What is it?" she wondered.
"The crown," Eric nodded towards it.
He took a few steps closer to the cabinet and Annie's brows furrowed. Didn't they have other things to worry about? She didn't know, but she could see that Eric looked concerned. He looked more concerned than she had seen him before.
"This crown was my father's," Eric told her. "It was stolen when my family was murdered by a pack of wolves...the same wolves that Russell Edgington seems to be in league with. It is the last thing of my fathers."
Annie looked to Eric and he continued to stare at the crown. She moved her hand to his forearm, doing her best to soothe him. She doubted she was doing a good job, but she only hoped that she brought him some comfort. It took another moment for Eric to wrap his arm around her waist and nestle her to his side.
"My father would have liked you," Eric suddenly declared to her. "He never appreciated my ways with women."
"Oh?" Annie wondered; her brows arched as Eric smirked to her. "How so?"
"That is a story for another day," Eric assured her and she wrapped her arms around his waist to hold herself tightly to him. "But Russell Edgington murdered my family. He can go fuck himself if he thinks I intend to turn you into a vampire. I'll have my revenge on him soon enough now."
"How?" Annie worried. "Pam is in trouble too, and as much as I dislike her, you need to save her."
"I will," Eric promised Annie. "But I need to act quickly. You...I need you to come with me."
"Where?" Annie asked of him.
Eric took her into his arms again, throwing his head over his shoulder to look back to the crown in the cabinet.
"I know a place."
...
Eric stood outside the small apartment, knocking on the door until he heard her come to him. Annie stood behind his shoulder, still dressed in the white robe. Her hands were wrapped around one of his and she continued to look around, making sure that no one had followed them. Eric had promised her that they hadn't been seen. He knew what he had to do.
He had to rip away a part of Russell Edgington. He had to go to Pam to free her and then claim he was going to turn Annie, but he would destroy Russell's happiness. He would ruin him and he would come back for Annie.
"Where are we?" Annie tried to push him for answers.
"Have I ever told you about Ginger?" Eric asked her.
"No," Annie said. "Does she work for you? I think I spoke to a Ginger when I called Fangtasia."
"The one and only," Eric nodded back to Annie. "Just stay hidden for a moment."
Annie felt Eric push her behind the door as it opened. She saw him move to rest on the doorframe, folding his arms and entertaining a lazy smile on his face. Annie rolled her eyes at the sight of him. Obviously Ginger wasn't immune to Eric's charming ways.
"Eric," she seemed startled. "What are you doing here?"
"Hello, Ginger," Eric greeted her. "Are you going to invite me in?"
"That depends," Ginger pouted, fluffing her hair up on the top of her head and shuffling from one foot to the other. "Why do you want to come in?"
"Oh, you know the answer to that," Eric mischievously replied and Annie could have sworn she heard Ginger squeal loudly.
"Come in," she demanded. "So this is it? We're finally going to have hot and passionate sex!"
Annie would have laughed if the situation had permitted her to, but she said nothing as Eric took hold of her hand again and led her into Ginger's small apartment. The blonde looked instantly dissuaded at the sight of Annie and Eric couldn't help but grin at the sight of her forlorn expression. How long had Ginger lusted after him?
"Not tonight, Ginger, sorry," Eric told her. "I need you to do me a favour. My friend here is in trouble and she needs somewhere to hide for the day."
"What?" Ginger snapped out. "Is it dangerous?"
"No," Eric lied. "No one knows she is here. I just need you to keep her here and safe for a while."
Ginger pouted and Annie knew that she was instantly disliked. Obviously she didn't pretend not to know why.
"And why is she wearing a robe?" Ginger continued. "And what trouble is it? Is Pam still being held hostage?"
"One question at a time," Eric urged her. "But none of the answers really concern you, Ginger. I just need you to stay here and give Annie your sofa. Can you do that for me?"
"Do I have a choice?" Ginger flapped her arms by her side. "I'll fetch the blankets...considering we're not going to fuck tonight."
Ginger walked away and Eric watched her go, that glint in his eye that Annie had been so used to seeing. He looked down to the brunette and Annie moved her hands to his shoulders which were still bare after she had stolen his leather jacket. Eric kept his grip on her waist as she stared straight ahead at his chest. He knew that glamouring her had made her change. But he still remembered what had happened hours earlier. He still remembered when she flinched from him and sobbed loudly. At the same time he didn't know what he would do if he couldn't hold her like he did.
"You'll be careful, won't you?" Annie whispered to him. "Don't do anything completely stupid."
"Just slightly stupid," Eric tried to joke with her and he tucked her hair behind her ear as she looked at him with an arched brow.
"I'm serious," she promised him. "Just be careful and everything shall be fine."
"I will be," Eric assured her with a nod of his head. "And you stay here and do not open the door to anyone."
"I'll do my best to get along with Ginger too," Annie promised Eric. "Although she does seem to have a deep crush on you."
"Many women do," Eric replied and Annie slapped his chest with her palm. "Now, now," Eric whispered, catching her wrist and pressing his lips to her open palm.
He felt her shudder and convinced himself that glamouring her had been the right thing. She closed her fingers around his neck as her other hand pushed his hair behind his ear from where it had fallen. It took a moment for Eric to wonder if she was contemplating kissing him. He moved first, dropping his lips to her forehead before they could even try to be intimate. It just didn't feel right to Eric at that moment. He was never one to shy away from such encounters, but something inside of him told him to be slow with her. She may not know what she had been through, but Eric knew.
"Right, I have blankets and pillows," Ginger's voice called out when she came back into the living area. "And I expect a pay rise."
"Of course, Ginger," Eric humoured her.
"Be careful," Annie urged him, wrapping her arms around herself as Eric turned on his heel and strode towards the door.
He looked back to her and gave her a solemn nod before he took off into the night. Annie remained mute as Ginger locked the door and dropped her hands to her hips, cocking her head to the side.
"So you must be the woman he's transfixed with."
"Is Eric ever transfixed with anything?" Annie dared to wonder.
"Trust me, honey," Ginger drawled. "I've been trying to bag Eric Northman for years now and you've come along to ruin my dreams. I'm feeling pissed off."
"Sorry," Annie offered pathetically and Ginger nodded.
"But don't think I won't give him up without a fight. One of these days he might come crawling to me and I can't be held responsible for that."
Annie bit back a laugh as Ginger glowered to her. She nodded, her face trying to be impassive as she did so. "Of course."
...
"Don't you have some other place to be?"
Russell's voice took Eric off guard as soon as he stepped into the basement of Fangtasia. He took a few moments to continuously glance around, his eyes narrowed and gleaming as he did so. He could see Pam collapsed by the wall on the other side of the room, the smell of death lingering in his nostrils.
"Not when I can feel my progeny's pain," Eric responded. "You shall have your wish by tomorrow night. I shall take her underground."
"What the fuck is he going on about?" Sophie-Anne demanded, evidentially unimpressed with what had just happened.
"His little human killed a vampire, my sweet," Russell said to his new wife, picking her hand up and kissing her knuckles. "I demanded Mr Northman change the girl as punishment. It seems he is rather reluctant, but I suspect that shall change soon enough."
Pam felt Eric help her to her feet, protectively wrapping his arms around her and holding her to him as she cupped the back of his neck and sighed with relief. He was here for her now. She knew she would be safe. She had always felt safe with Eric.
"And it will be done," Eric lied to Russell and then noticed the pile of blood and guts on the floor, his brow arching. "I take it you took care of the Magister?"
"He married us and then I disposed of him," Russell confirmed with a slim smile before wrapping his arm around Sophie-Anne's shoulders.
She obviously looked disgusted at the motion, but there was nothing else she could do. She remained silent, her arched brows and expression of distaste was enough to tell Eric that she had been given no other option. No doubt she would live a life of luxury however. Russell Edgington was not a poor man.
"I also found out more about Sookie Stackhouse," Russell continued. "It seems that my dear bride knew more than she was letting on."
"Really?" Eric asked, glancing over Pam's shoulder.
"But we shall discuss all that later," Russell waved a hand. "I have business to conduct and my new wife would love to come with me. Besides, you still have just over twenty four hours to make your new vampire."
"As you say," Eric responded.
He knew that he sounded forceful. He couldn't stand there silently knowing that the man across from him had killed his family. Eric would take his revenge for that. He would destroy Russell and he didn't care who got in his way. He said nothing as Sophie-Anne complained to Russell on their way out from the basement, his eyes fixed on them with a permanent glare.
"What the fuck is happening?" Pam demanded as soon as they were alone.
"Annie killed Jonathan," Eric told her. "Russell wants to punish her by turning her into one of us."
"And what did Cinderella have to say to that?"
"I won't do it," Eric said. "It doesn't matter what Annie thinks. I have no intention of turning her into one of us."
"And do you have much of a choice?"
"I do if I get what I want." Eric told Pam, moving his hand to cup her cheek lovingly. "I'm going to kill Russell Edgington."
Pam's face was usually one of sarcasm and mocking, but Eric saw something else behind her eyes right then. She shook her head.
"You cannot be serious."
"He killed my family, Pam," Eric whispered to her, bending down to look her in the eye. "He has the crown my father wore when he was murdered. Russell destroyed my human life. I cannot let him get away with that."
"And how do you intend to kill him?" Pam inquired.
"I have a plan," Eric assured her, "but you play no part in it. You're to go to Ginger's apartment. Annie is there and I want you to keep guard over her should anything go wrong."
"You want me to babysit your little princess whilst you go on a suicide mission?" Pam snapped, pushing Eric's hand from her. "I won't do it. I'm coming with you. Fuck Annie Walters."
"Pamela," Eric said; his voice low and full of warning. "This is not for you to involve yourself in. I am your maker. I haven't commanded you in years and I don't want to start now. I can cope with this on my own. I need your help."
"No, Annie needs my help," Pam contradicted him. "And why should I help her?"
"Because you'll be helping me," Eric retorted with haste. "I don't have time to stand here and argue, Pam. Now, will you please go to Ginger's apartment?"
"Fine!" Pam snapped. "But don't blame me if she ends up hurt at the end of this. I warned you about falling for a human, but you didn't listen. Nothing good can come from being so close to her. You know that, Eric, you just won't accept it."
...
A/N: I am so happy with all the reviews for this story and I am so happy everyone is still enjoying it. Do let me know what you think. Next chapter will have Pam and Annie have a bit of a discussion.