Chapter 7

A.N Finally getting back into writing old stuff I used to love. Hope people are still around, or even just want to start reading from the beginning like I had to.

Enjoy, guys! Please leave your feedback, I really appreciate it.

Also, I will say I haven't gone over this to edit it fully, but I probably will eventually, because I know there are some errors in other chapters too.

Thanks.

I sat on the bed, my hand throbbing after hitting the boarded window several more times, along with the door. I could see the bruise begging to form. Suddenly, I heard the key turn in the door, and I am on my feet on high alert.

I relaxed slightly when I saw it was only James, but I remained standing.

"I apologise, Miss Newlin, but I have been asked to bring you downstairs." I was not impressed at being summoned, but I didn't argue as we made our way down stairs.

We came up to a set of double doors, which James opened and let me in. I went through and heard them shut behind me. The room was a basic living room, and there was no one in it. I looked out the window and saw that it was dark out. This window was not boarded like mine, but the fact that it was night meant I wasn't even going to contemplate escaping through it.

I remained standing for a few minutes before I decided to sit on one of the comfy looking, yet stylish sofas.

"Glad to see you made yourself at home." I jumped up and turned at the sound. I saw Eric standing behind the sofa smirking. He must have come in very quietly. I narrowed my eyes at him.

"If I am being held prisoner here, I may as well be comfortable as I can be." He chuckled. For the first time I noticed a small, plump man stood beside, and slightly behind Eric.

Eric noted I was looking at the other man. "Miss Newlin, it is time we discussed our contract." I looked at him dumbfounded. "I bought you to work for me." He said, the smirk still playing at his lips.

"So, I have a choice?"

He laughed, "Not at all. This is a formality."

"Well, I just won't sign it." I regretted the words as soon as they came out, because Eric had moved so the sofa was no longer between us, and leaned over me.

He looked amused, "You will sign it, won't you?"

I felt a pull at my insides, and I nearly said yes; but I refrained and gave him a confused look. "No." His expression changed, first going murderous to a look of curiosity. I wasn't sure which was more frightening, Eric wanting to kill me or being Eric's muse.

Walking away from him and sitting on the sofa furthest away I indicated for the Lawyer to sit too, which he did after getting a small nod from Eric. I looked at Eric, "I think the game just changed." I said realising that being his muse could be a good thing. He had tried to glamour me and couldn't, he was not going to kill me until he knew why. "Let's talk business."

We – the lawyer and I – talked for a while, deciding what I could reasonably ask for, with Eric looking pissed and making small contributions. Particularly when I said I wanted a Porsche wrote into the contract.

"So, we've got a $45,000 salary and I get to keep tips. A land rover – because Mr Cheapskate doesn't want to sprig for the Porsche. An average of $2500 Christmas bonus dependent on performance throughout the year. An allowance for all things for performances, providing all receipts are provided for. These include anything I deem reasonable, and can provide an explanation for. Board provided for by the employer completely. Free drinks, whether on shift or not, at 'Fangtasia'." I said reading over the contract, smirking at Eric while I did.

"Is that everything, little Evelyn?"

I smirked a little, "I want a puppy too?" I questioned seeing how far I can push before he has enough.

Suddenly, a new voice made itself known, "I see this is going well?" I turned to Godric to see that he was smirking in at what was happening, indicating he had been listening for a while.

"Great, actually." I said with a smile to him. He was genuinely amused, and I couldn't help smile at that. I no longer felt scared; that was until I looked at Eric's face and saw, and felt, his anger. I felt myself falter, but tried to keep a smile. "Shall we sign, Mr Northman?" I asked, on guard for him, to flip.

He gave a sadistic smile to my surprise. "Yes." He said simply, signing his name and handing me the pen to do the same, which I did then handing it to the lawyer who signed the witness box. "Let's go then. I will show you your new work place, Miss Newlin."

###

It took around twenty minutes to reach the vamp bar in Shreveport. I noted the tacky bar that had fang bangers filing outside of. They were all wearing leather, lace, chains, latex or a combination. I almost laughed. This was literally the kind of place my dad and Steve would be inclined to call "gardens of sin". It was clear that sex was a thought on everyone's mind when they decided to rock up to Fangtasia.

Thinking about what I was wearing was almost worse. Eric had told me to put on the white number I would sometimes wear at Carmilla – which he had apparently bought, along with about three other of the outfits. I looked ridiculous next to all of the other humans in there that were typically wearing black, red or occasionally purple. I was glad that Godric had said something when I complained about being in under wear when I was just being shown around and not even on shift. I was just supposed to be shown the ropes, and I didn't think it was necessary to wear a full outfit and this was the compromise. I was in a pink skirt with a white corset, feeling like a lost little girl that ended up on a vamp ride at Disney.

"I look ridiculous." I stated, and heard a small noise from Godric who was in the passenger seat. I think it was an attempt to refrain from laughter. When Eric didn't say anything I continued. "I'm ruining the image of this place. I think I should go back and change."

Suddenly, he was out of the car and at my door opening it without a word. I got out, and saw there were many fang bangers looking over at me in awe. Actually I think they were in awe of the ancient vampires I was with.

I stood there looking at Eric incredulously. "Just for that comment, I think you should wait in line." He said, pointing to the queue that was outside of the venue. I noted the blonde woman at the front carding everyone.

I laughed, "And just for that, I think you should know that I am 20 and will not get in." I raised my eyebrow defiantly.

"Pam will let you in, won't you, Pam?" I looked to the woman at the front who was not looking at us, but nodded anyway. There was no way she was human if she heard Eric from that distance.

I rolled my eyes, "You're not serious?"

He looked back at me, a small, triumphant smile playing at the corners of his lips. I decided to play on Godric's fondness for me, turning to him with a pout.

"Godric?" I asked, widening my eyes to plead my case.

He smiled slightly, "Always good to make friends." He said and I gawked at him.

Then, they were gone (stupid vamp speed) and I had no choice but to make my way to the back of the line.

The vamp that was in front of me spoke, "They're pretty tame in here, don't worry. The Sherriff doesn't let anything against the rules happen in there…..I mean unless he is doing it himself." My eyes widened at the short vamp, who tried to turn the conversation to a lighter subject. "I'm Harry, and this is my human, Pete." I looked at the other man who I didn't realise was with this vampire until then. I had never heard of a human belonging to a vampire either, wonder if he brought him like Eric brought me? I was lost in my thoughts, and it took me a second to realise the awkward pause developing.

"Hi, erm," I said with a smile. "Clearly, my manners have escaped me. I'm Eve." I said with a smile, taking both men's hands, not gasping at the coldness of Harry's like I did with Godric's. "Never been to a vampire bar like this before, it's….a lot." I searched for the right word.

Then Pete spoke, "Don't worry, you look fabulous, and if you got those two vamps watching your back it's all good." I laughed, and he smiled a genuine smile back at me. It was clear after that that Pete and Harry were a thing, and I highly doubted that Harry brought him. I guess I would have to ask someone about that 'my human' thing. Definitely not Eric, maybe Godric.

The girl behind me spoke then too, "Honestly, I went to a vamp bar in Miami. I had no idea what to wear and I rolled up in jeans and sneakers." She laughed, before telling me that at least I looked better than that. I opted out of telling them that this was what I was told to wear.

I got to the front of the queue and Pam looked at me with slightly hooded eyes. I was trying to decide if she was just bored of surveying me in a sultry way. I watched as she looked me up and down before a slow smirk graced her lips. Her eyes worked their way down my body before slowly returning to my face.

"Twenty, huh, doll?" I was feeling a little uncomfortable at the way she was looking at me. It was in a way guys often looked at me when I was on stage. A sexual way. A way I never experienced growing up in a Christian girl, when most – pretty much all – events I went to were church ones. Something I had also definitely not experienced coming from a woman.

I tried to give a friendly smile. "Yeah, so you can't really let me in."

She raised a perfectly shaped eyebrow at me, before smirking and giving me the same bored-sultry expression as before. "Carry on in," Well it was worth a try.

Upon walking in I was a little shocked at how similar and dissimilar the place was the Carmilla. There were vamps and humans mingling. The humans drinking the overpriced alcohol and the vamps drinking/holding bottles of trublood. I heard the human behind me get told that cell phones and cameras were not permitted, which made sense. There was clearly a female vamp almost biting a male human in the corner, before she got tapped by, I'm guessing a vamp that worked there and she stopped.

They did have performers here, vamp and human alike. The vamps were using their super human speed to whip around the poles – wait, poles? It was then that I realised my one mistake with the contract may have been not seeing the place before signing. Surely Eric didn't hire me to be a pole dancer in a vamp bar with creepy guys staring? Could he?

I saw Eric stood next to Godric who was sat on an oversized throne. Well oversized for him, which made me think it was likely Eric's, as I could picture him sat very comfortably on it. A show of dominance and respect. Godric was Eric's maker, of course he couldn't let him stand next to him as he sat.

Pulling my attention away from them I looked around the room. I definitely stood out like a sore thumb, as the majority of peopled- humans and vamps – were looking at me. Some as though I was their lunch, and others like 'what the hell is she wearing. Clearly, she didn't get the memo'.

Deciding my best option was to go to the bar and scope this place out. I made my way over, looking at the bartender and seeing he was human, I decided I didn't think he would have heard my exchange outside about my age. "Can I get a whiskey and coke, please." He nodded and as he was making it I added. "Eric said it was on him." His eyes doubled in size, before looking up to the Viking who was looking at me. I smiled up at him and he nodded to the bartender who quickly made my drink without a word. I took it making my way to the stage where my vamps were. I nearly laughed at my own joke, but settled for a smile as I approached.

"Having fun?" Godric asked and I gave him a big smile in return, before pouting dramatically.

"Can't have fun with one drink. Really think I should get a bottle or something." I said, redirecting my pout at Eric, hearing a chuckle from Godric told me he thought it was amusing, and from what I had learnt if I kept on Godric's good side he wouldn't let Eric do anything bad to me – I mean, as long as he was there.

I was surprised to see Eric chuckle, with real amusement in his eyes too. "I don't think a little thing like you could handle a bottle."

I glared, before returning a devious smile. "Try me. Irish roots, you see, Mr Northman." I said pointing at my hair. A little pang when through me thinking about my family, and my life a few days ago. That was until Eric said I could go and tell Kevin – the bar tender – to get me a bottle.

Around an hour later, I had drank the majority of the expensive strawberry vodka and was talking absolute shit. "I don't get why…Europe have different drinking laws…I thought it was based on the level of damage to your body? Like do eighteen year old European's have the same bodies as twenty-one year old Americans? No. It's stupid!" I said to Eric who was not listening, but rather talking to a woman that had 'given' herself to him. I turned then to Godric, feeling the room spin a little at the fierceness I did it with. "You understand me, right?"

His full attention was on me, "Of course." He smirked, amused.

"I think you are making fun of me. But at least you listen." I sat on his lap, as he was still of the throne, probably against my better judgement. "That's why you're my favourite." I added, sticking my tongue out at Eric when he glanced my way.

Looking back at Godric I noted a hungry expression on his face, which he quickly tried to mask by looking away. "I think it might be time to get you home." He said, not looking back to me. I laughed standing up, trying to stop myself from wavering too much.

"Not a chance!" I said, "Us bible people get wine every Sunday, but we never get to get drunk. I'm gonna party until the sun comes up….well, maybe a little before. Don't want my vamps getting crispy." He couldn't help laughing at that.

I looked at my bottle and saw it was almost empty. I was feeling 98% drunk, but of course those 2% over powered the rest and I asked Eric for another bottle. He declined but he said I could order more drinks if I needed them.

So, of course, I got more. Six to be exact, and I am sure that was at least five too many. I didn't forget anything that night, although some parts I wish I could. I made friends with some of the dancers, decided to test my weight at the pole – it was a disaster, but I will pretend that was due to my intoxication –; I almost made out with a random vamp in a corner, but was stopped by Pam (probably because Eric told her). And then, I promptly passed out in the toilets. Brilliant. I don't think this was my best plan as an adult, but I will use it as a learning curve.

###

I woke in my bed in Eric's house with the worst headache I'd ever had in my life. I rolled over, which was a mistake because my stomach churned and I ran up to my ajoining bathroom to puke up everything in my body.

Vodka is not good, Eve. Don't have that again. I thought to myself as I could taste every single ounce of alcohol I had drank last night, and experiencing it the second time was one of the worst experiences of my life. I'd never been really drunk before, the closest I got was when I went to Michael's and we had a couple of bottles of wine so we both had a pretty good buzz going.

Looking around the bathroom I saw it was really nice. Marble tiled throughout, and I was very excited to see that the large shower had been stocked with toiletries. I also almost jumped for joy at the sight of a brand new toothbrush and toothpaste by the sink.

I brushed my teeth before my shower, and again after for good measure. The shower was great, large jets pelted over me and I lathered my hair with shampoo. After I felt sufficiently washed I just stood there for a while, thinking about everything.

I thought about what my dad would say about me living in a vampire's house, and working for one. He would have definitely have had a worse reaction than Steve. He would have beaten me black and blue before reading me Bible verses of the sins I was committing, and telling me that God hates vampire and vampire lovers. I hadn't even realised I had started crying until I turned the water off and stepped out, looking in the mirror.

Staring at myself I thought about what everything that had happened means – I have no family now; I'm reliant on a vampire to ensure I don't end up on the street; and I have to do what he says otherwise I could lose my job. Great.

When I had gotten dressed in some jeans and a t-shirt that was in my duffel bag, I went out of the room. Today I was not locked in, which was good since I was starving. I made my way downstairs and saw James was already in the kitchen cooking something that smelled great.

"Hi," I called and he looked to me with a smile.

"Good afternoon, Miss Newlin." He replied. "I was going to bring some bacon and eggs up to you."

"Thank you, I am super hungry!" I poured myself a coffee from the pot that was the other side of the kitchen, before making my way to the island and sitting on one of the stools.

He didn't say much, other than general conversation – the weather was even brought up. Apparently it was much cooler for fall her than usual. When I had polished off all of the food, as well as three glasses of OJ I decided I was still tired and my headache, while a little better, was still there. I said bye to James, and made my way back to my room for a quick nap, which of course turned into a five hour hibernation nap.

I woke to a gorgeous sight, that I thought I was still in a dream, but when I realised I wasn't I shot up nearly colliding my head with Godric's, but vamp reflexed saved me from concussion.

"I scared you, Evelyn?" He posed it as a question, but my racing heart that I was sure he could hear meant he knew the answer.

I lied, however. "No, no. Just startled, not every day you wake up to a handsome vamp looming over your sleeping form." Then I thought about what I had said. "Actually that sounds terrifying." I laughed and saw one of his genuine smiles grace his face.

"You need to get ready," He said and I must have looked a little confused. "We're going to fangtasia in about 30minutes."

I thought about more alcohol and showing my face there after embarrassing myself last night and nearly passed out and threw up all at the same time. I didn't get chance to protest because Godric was already shutting my door to let me get ready.

Guessing I was not required to wear anything stupid tonight I opted for a basic black bodycon dress and strappy heels. My dress was three-quarter sleeves and had a pretty sweet heart neckline. I was so glad I had showered earlier and could just shove my hair into a quick up-do, do a very basic makeup look, and run down stairs with four minutes to spare. Despite this though I could see Eric looking agitated.

"At least you don't look as bad as you did last night." He said, with a look of disgust.

"I don't need to be reminded, thanks. Vodka is evil. You wouldn't have experienced it right? You Vikings only got mead and wine, right?" Godric stifled a laugh, and I smiled triumphantly at Eric.

"We Vikings were known for our drinking, and I did say a little thing like you couldn't handle it."

I rolled my eyes, deciding if he was going to be an ass I was going to prove him wrong. "It was a learning curve. I just…need…to….not drink Vodka." The way I stumbled to words while trying to form the right sentence obviously made me look stupid, and Eric enjoyed watching my falter judging by the smirk that formed.

###

The whole way there I was trying to come up with a plan of how to one up this arrogant ass of a Viking vamp. As soon as he pulled in I jumped out of the car and made my way to the line. Godric was the one to call to me, confusion clear in his voice.

"I am going to make friend, Pam will let me in wont you Pam?" I chuckled at her confused face as she looked concerned towards her maker Eric.

"You can pay for entry if you do." He said trying to threaten me.

I laughed, still walking towards the line. "I can deduct it as a business expense under my contract." I didn't look back to see his face, but I could tell he was seething and burning holes into the back of my head.

However, when I reached the back of the line both he and Godric were gone, and I smiled triumphantly. That was soon diminished when someone spoke to me.

"Do I know you?" A human guy spoke to me, he was clearly here alone, but he was talking loudly and I knew this could go wrong. I decided to play it cool and give him a smile.

"I don't think so, you ever been to Dallas?" He shook his head still looking at me.

"What's your name?" I raised my eyebrow.

"What's yours?"

"Nathan."

I smiled, realising we were at the front of the line now and Pam was looking at him expectantly, but he was looking at me, and I noted he was swaying – probably why he was talking so loud before, and why he had come to a vamp bar alone.. "I think you're too drunk to be out." I watched his eyes soften a little, realising what I was saying was true.

"You're probably right." He looked down, replying softly.

I stepped around him going into the club, "You get home safe now, aright?" I said and he nodded a smile on his face. I didn't notice Pam looking curiously until I turned towards her, and she gave me a smirk. "He was intoxicated. Can't be having that in here right?" She chuckled at my joke, before turning back to the line of people, and I went inside.

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