"Get away from me!" Annie roared at her father as she was dragged back into the house, her hands pushing her father away as she did her best to escape his grip. Her fiancé was behind them, swaying as though he had no care in the world as his gaze remained fixed on the back of her head.
"Shut up, Annie," Donald demanded from his daughter. "You know that Eric Northman is a fang and I told you what would happen to him if he came back here."
"Yes," Michael drawled, his hand going to the small of Annie's back, his fingers running up her spine as he whispered into her ear. "I'm going to have so much fun with Mr Northman."
Annie lashed out then, finally pushing her father from her as she allowed her palm to make contact with Michael's cheek. She watched on as his head fell to the side and she moved again, unable to contain herself as she went to slap him again, but this time he caught her by the wrist and twisted her arm behind her back.
"Feisty, isn't she, Donald?" Michael chuckled and Donald glowered at her.
"Feisty is not necessarily the word I would use," Donald muttered. "Never mind, you can deal with her if you wish. Be ready to leave for the facility tomorrow morning. Mr Northman will…well…let's just say he will suffer more heartache than he can handle."
"Stop it!" Annie yelled as her father began to walk away and Michael released her as she rushed to the bottom of the steps, falling to her knees as her father turned around halfway up the steps to turn and look at her.
"I have done everything you have asked," Annie said, trying not to cry as she looked up at him. "I have done everything…please…just let him go…I will never see him again…I will do anything…"
"And what makes you think I will do that?" Donald asked her. "You will do as I ask despite what I do with Mr Northman."
"No, I won't," Annie said defiantly. "I will spend the rest of my life trying to do anything to get away from you if you hurt him. I will fight you…destroy you and mommy as best as I can. Do you think I will be compliant? Don't you get it…he's the leverage you have over me…"
Donald seemed to consider her words, but he shook his head back and forth, chuckling once and then turning to walk back up the steps. Annie watched him go as Michael walked up to her, his hand on her shoulder as he kept her on her knees and she sobbed lowly, her mind whirling as she tried to figure out how to save Eric from the mess he was in.
"Don't worry," Michael said. "I'm not in the habit of hitting women who hit me."
"Just abusing them?" Annie checked and he chuckled before leaving her on the floor, knowing full well that she would get up eventually. She had a vampire to visit soon enough.
…
Annie was silent as she stood in the control room of her father's facility, her stomach doing nothing but churn and her heart beating faster than usual as she remained silent, listening to the humming of machines as she watched a white room through a pane of glass. Michael was stood behind her, his hand on her back as she kept her eyes on the glass. She could hear her father and the Governor whispering behind her while Willa also remained mute. Annie's mother had decided not to join them that day, claiming that she had to fly back to New York for business to do with her campaign.
"Are you not going to ask what will happen?" Michael whispered as men in white coats began to take their seats at the controls.
"I'm sure I'll find out soon enough," Annie responded, her tone laced with venom.
She was dressed in a tight fitting pencil skirt that came down to her calves. The black skirt contrasted with the white blouse she wore, while the black blazer she wore was draped over her shoulders. The heels on her feet made her soles ache, but the didn't complain. She could barely think of what she was going to see. She needed to see him to make sure he was alive.
"Alright," Truman spoke, his voice high and loud as Annie remained on edge. "Bring them out."
Keeping quiet, Annie took a step closer to the glass, her eyes fixated on the sight before her as four figures moved into the large white room. Annie moved a hand to the glass as soon as she saw Eric in the room. Her eyes widened as she noted three balls begin to drop from the ceiling. Furrowing her brow, she remained still with bated breath as Eric picked a ball up along with two other people.
But then the person without the ball was gone in a second. Annie barely saw the silver hit them and the vampire disappeared. Shrieking in horror, Annie's hand came to her mouth as Eric bared his fangs.
"That's barbaric," Willa was the one to whisper.
"Silence, Willa," the Governor demanded from his daughter as Annie continued to watch on.
"Stop it," Annie demanded as two balls dropped from the ceiling this time.
Turning to glare at her father, she moved with haste, but Michael caught her around the waist, stopping her from going any further.
"Now, now, Annie," Donald spoke in a hushed tone. "You're missing the show."
Michael forced her to turn the other way, making her look at Eric as him and a woman remained, clearly intent on surviving as she glared at Eric and they circled each other. Eric looked dishevelled; Annie could see that. His shirt was undone, baring his pale chest while his pants hung low around his hips and his feet were bare.
"Stop it!" Annie shrieked again. "You can't do this!"
He said nothing more while Annie shook her head and the final ball dropped from the ceiling and Annie watched with bated breath. But he caught it. Eric caught it before it even fell to the floor.
"Impressive," Michael was the one to say as the vampire was destroyed and Annie shook her head.
"He certainly is impressive for a vampire," Donald agreed. "Mind you, he is quite old, isn't he?"
"Leave him alone," Annie said again with haste as Eric was led out of the cell again. "Just leave him be. What you are doing is disgusting and I am pretty sure it is illegal. Just release them-"
"-No can do," Truman said. "You see, we need to observe Mr Northman a bit more. We find it fascinating the way vampires feel…however…we do want to monitor his emotions and that is where you come in very handy, Miss Walters."
"What?" Annie demanded to know what he was talking about.
"You see, we're not only interested in vampire's physical traits but their emotional ones too…for research purposes. Therefore, we need you in a room with him…so we can monitor him."
"And if I refuse?" Annie asked.
"I don't think you'll refuse a chance to be with your lover, even if we are watching," Michael told her and began to lead her through the corridors of the camp while Willa remained silent, her lips pursed as she watched Annie and the rest of them go.
Annie had not complained as she was led to another room and pushed inside. She almost tumbled, but regained her footing as she saw him there. The room was basic, with only a table and two chairs, but Eric was on the other side of the table, silver chained to his wrists and ankles.
"Eric," Annie gasped, moving with haste and bypassing the chair she was supposed to sit on as she took Eric's cheeks into her grip. "I'm so sorry…I didn't know…"
"Sh," Eric urged her in a whisper, automatically trying to move his hands to hold her back but failing miserable. Instead he moved his face, pressing his forehead against hers as his nose brushed hers. "You have nothing to apologise for."
"I do," Annie told him. "They're watching us now…behind the glass."
"I know," Eric whispered back to her, well aware that he could hear them despite his low tone. "They're observing me, no doubt."
"No doubt," Annie agreed loosely, still bent slightly as she kept her forehead against his. "I don't know what to do, Eric…"
"Get out," Eric told her, his voice stern and harsh as his gaze lingered on hers. "You know that they will kill me here regardless of how much you beg. I want you to go…get away from your bastard of a father and your wet shit of a fiancé…I want you to have the life that I can never give you."
"Stop it," Annie begged him, unable to stop herself from pleading.
"No," Eric said just as forcefully. "I am not leaving here alive and you can."
"I…I don't care if they're watching," Annie spoke softly to him, her hands finding his hair. "I love you and only you. Do you understand that? And I will do anything I possibly can to make sure you get out of here."
Eric didn't bother to contradict her. Instead he smiled once.
"And I believe you," Eric said. "And…you know…Annie…I love you."
Annie smiled then, the motion genuine as she took in his words. Eric caught her off guard for a moment as he saw her lips turn, his mouth moving to capture hers with haste, his lips moving with haste while Annie let him, not complaining one bit about the motion.
"Listen to me," Eric demanded from her. "From the moment you walked into my bar I knew that you were something else…but I never dreamed that I would care for you as much as I do now. I never thought that I would be the one falling for you because women tend to throw themselves at me."
Annie scoffed then, hitting his chest lightly.
"But I think, in the end, I care for you just as deeply as you care for me," Eric told her. "And you definitely look sexy as hell in that tight skirt."
Eric knew he had hit a nerve at the man who was stood behind the glass. How could he not have?
"I'm going to try," Annie promised him. "As hard as possible."
"I don't doubt you," Eric said, but what he did doubt was her ability.
"Get away from him, now."
Annie almost groaned lowly as she heard Michael's voice enter the room. She was about to protest, but Michael took her by the arm and pulled her from Eric, watching as the vampire bared his fangs to him.
"Michael, is it?" Eric spoke in a mocking tone.
"That is Mr Burrell to you," Michael snapped back.
"I don't give a fuck," Eric said with a roll of his eyes. "Do what you want to me. I don't care. You see, I know my Annie and I know that you can never keep her locked up like you intend."
Michael scoffed. "You speak as if you care more for her own freedom than you do your life."
"I do," Eric said, "because I know that men like you are nothing but assholes…abusive and vindictive assholes…but you can rest assure that if I die then your life will be taken by me beforehand."
Michael laughed then as Donald entered the room along with Truman.
"You're in no position to make threats, fang," Michael said. "Don't worry, I'll let Annie come and see you before I kill you."
"Enough, Michael," Truman said. "Mr Northman needs to rest before we reveal his surprise. I have no doubt that will overwhelm him."
"What surprise?" Annie demanded.
Donald smirked. "You see, we found his progeny and his sister…Nora and Pam," Donald spoke. "And we have a new drug that we really do want to try out on one of them. We just don't know which one."
Eric seemed to lash out then, his fists banging on the table as Annie shook her head slowly, knowing full well how much Nora and Pam meant to him. She might not like either of them that much, but they were family to Eric. They were everything to him and they had been by his side for years. Annie had been with him for months. She didn't even know how long. Everything seemed to be happening too quickly for her liking.
"I've had enough," Annie suddenly snapped.
"She's not the only one," another voice mumbled into the room and Annie turned to see that Willa was stood there. "What you're doing is horrible. He…she doesn't want to marry Michael…how can you force her into this? It's disgusting and cruel. You're all disgusting."
"Willa," Burrell said and Annie watched on as Willa gave her a small nod, seeming to communicate something with her before
Willa moved to her side, her hand stretched out and Annie wondered what she was doing before she pressed something into her palm, taking her hand and squeezing it slowly. Annie let her palm close around it, sensing that it was small and cold, but it had jagged edges. It was a key. What did the key do?
"No," Willa said, releasing Annie's hand and moving to the door. "You're all the monsters here and not them…and I'm going to stop this."
She moved with haste then, bolting through the rooms as Truman and Michael went after her, yelling loudly.
"Apparently their daughter is as out of control as mine."
Annie moved quickly then, slapping her father with haste and using her knee to hit him in the groin before going to Eric, using the key to undo a lock to the handcuff as she pulled at it.
"No!" Donald roared loudly, still doubled over in pain as guards entered the room.
Annie let the key fall onto the table then, standing in front of Eric as he used his free hand to unlock himself, his motions quicker than hers. But what she hadn't anticipated was the firing of a bullet. In their haste to stop Eric from escaping, a guard released a bullet, but it didn't hit Eric.
The vampire had no idea what was happening until he felt her weight against him. Annie had fallen forwards; her body seemingly limp as he wrapped his arms around her, looking down as he inhaled the smell.
"No!" Donald yelled again, standing up and looking on as his daughter collapsed against Eric. "You idiots!"
"Sir…it was an accident…I meant to hit the fang."
Eric bared his fangs and looked down to the blood pooling out of her stomach. The bullet was lodged in her stomach. It hadn't come back out. Eric didn't know what to do. He knew that the bullet needed to be taken out for her to survive.
"Give me my daughter," Donald demanded from Eric, seeing how Annie was slowly paling, her eyes closed as she remained limp. "Give me her! She needs a surgeon!"
"She needs blood or she isn't going to make it to a surgeon," Eric snapped back. "Let me give her my blood and go with her. She needs it to survive. You know that. You know that it is the only way you are going to remove the bullet from her."
"You want her to take your blood?" Donald checked, trying to tug his daughter away from Eric, but failing miserably as Eric kept her cradled against him.
"I want to save her," Eric hissed. "Think what you want about me, but I love your daughter and would do anything for her. You…despite everything…she is your fucking daughter and I am trying to save her fucking life."
But Donald said nothing and Eric rolled his eyes, moving to perch on the edge of the table, one of his arms remaining securely around her waist as his other hand went to his mouth and his fangs ripped his skin from his wrist before he pressed it against Annie's mouth. He knew he had to get her to drink as much as possible.
"Eric," he finally heard her whisper his name and her eyes fluttered open before Eric bent down to kiss her forehead and look back to Donald.
"Do you have surgeon here?" Eric demanded.
"Yes," Donald spoke. "Of course."
"Then we need to find him."
"You have done enough," Donald said. "Hand her over and I will take her to him."
"You idiot," Eric snapped. "As soon as that bullet is out of her then she will need more blood. I can give it to her, do you understand? I'm trying to save her fucking life and you stand there and argue with me."
The guards in the room were silent as Donald weighed up his options, the sight of his daughter barely breathing enough to made him consider trusting Eric. He suspected that he would have no other option. Despite everything his daughter had done, she was still his flesh and blood.
"I want guns trained on him the entire journey," Donald snarled at the men. "And whoever shot my daughter…prepare to suffer the same fate."
Donald began to lead the way as Eric followed, looking down to Annie as she managed to look up at him, her eyes rimmed red.
"I must love you," she whispered up at him. "I just took a bullet for you."
Eric couldn't even smile at her humorous attempt as he kept walking, knowing full well that he could save her life. How could he not?
….
He was forced to stand in the corridor under guard as Annie went in for her operation. He would have paced if possible, but it wasn't. He suspected that if he moved then they would shoot him. He didn't know how long he had been stood there before Donald demanded for him to move into the room. It was white and smelt of blood, plus there were tools everywhere. Annie was laid on the bed in the middle, her eyes closed as monitors beeped around her.
"She's lost a lot of blood," a man in a white coat spoke as Eric looked to him, suspecting that he had to be the surgeon. "The bullet was lodged into her stomach. If vampire blood can heal her then you need to give her some quickly."
And Eric did just that. He moved his wrist to his mouth once more and tore at it, revealing the blood before he rushed over to her bedside, perching on the side and moving his hand to the back of her head. Cradling her gently, he pulled her up, placing her mouth onto his exposed skin and urged her to drink. She struggled to swallow, clearly unsure of what was happening.
"Come on, Annie," Eric urged her. "Come on."
"Is it working?" Donald demanded, standing the other side of the bed and watching as his daughter drank slowly from Eric.
"Yes," Eric said. "But I need to stay here for a while. She's drinking slowly and it might take a while."
"As soon as this is finished then you're back in the cell, Northman. This changes nothing."
"Saving your daughter's life means nothing to you?" Eric checked as he adjusted himself more comfortably on the bed.
"She would never have taken a bullet if it wasn't for you," Donald said. "You are merely rectifying what you did wrong."
"You're an idiot," Eric mumbled.
"Careful, Northman," Donald warned him. "I owe you nothing."
"Shut up," he demanded from him. "You don't owe me anything, but surely you owe your daughter something, don't you? After everything she has been through, you owe her something more than an arranged marriage and torture."
"Don't lecture me on Annie," Donald demanded. "Or I'll have you staked right now."
Eric pursed his lips as he continued to cradle Annie longingly, urging her to continue drinking as Donald watched on. Eric knew he would never change Donald's mind. He doubted anyone had ever managed to do that.
….
A/N: Do let me know what you think!
