When I got to the back storage room, I didn't know exactly what to do. So I sat down on a crate of beer and started playing angry birds on my phone hoping it wouldn't take too long for Sookie to come get me.

Before I knew it, I felt a cool rush of air glide past me and someone whisper behind my back playfully in my ear, "So, does your boss know that you are hiding out in the back playing on your phone. I know I would not tolerate such behavior of my employees. I could 'show you' what I would do to those employees if you'd like. You might like it."

After nearly jumping ten feet in the air, I quickly turned, holding my hand to my chest hoping that my heart would be so kind as to jump back into my chest, to see the blonde, handsome man standing in front of me. I knew he was tall when he walked into Merlotte's, but now with him standing over me, I couldn't help but notice he was enormously tall. I'm 5'7", but he was way over 6" tall and then some. He was even more beautiful up close, perfect in fact, with a chiseled face, defined muscles, and if he turned around, probably the best ass on the planet. Suddenly I wished he'd turn around just so I could internally prove my point. Who knew God made such perfection? He obviously noticed my staring because the smirk he had only got bigger. That look snapped me back to reality right quick. Was that a threat he just gave me? I wasn't sure because of the playfulness in his voice. Wait, who does he think he is? He thinks he's Mister Hottie-Tottie , that's who. He knows he's eye candy. There's nothing worse than a guy who knows the ladies find him attractive. I've met enough in my travels to know.

So, after regaining my composure I said, "Ummm, I'm not technically on the schedule tonight, so no I don't think he would mind." not really knowing what else to say. It's not like I could say I was hiding out from him, though I had a sneaking suspicion that he already knew that.

He moved closer to me, leaning over my head and said, "Interesting." It looked like he was…. Sniffing me? What the hell? What's up with all the sniffing? Do I smell bad? I never wanted lift my arm and smell myself so bad.

He continued, "You want to come outside and continue this conversation, don't you?" He said this while staring into my eyes with an intensity I had never seen from anyone. It was like he was trying to look into my soul, like a force was trying to get inside my head and twist my thoughts, but I was able to push it back.

Breaking the trance, I said "No, Not really. I need to go find my sister." After which I maneuvered around him and started to try to walk out of the room. I didn't know this guy from the next, but Sookie didn't seem to want me to get to know him, so I had to figure he wasn't one of the good ones, if you know what I mean. My sister was not going to steer me wrong. But, he didn't seem to pose an immediate threat to me either. He let me walk by with no problem. I didn't know what to think other than 'what a shame, he's flipping HOT'! Yes, I need a life and a good lay.

Before I exited the room he asked, "What are you?" which instantly stopped me in my tracks.

I turned around and replied back to him in all honesty, "A little confused by all of this."

"Do you share any talents with your sister?" Eric further asked.

"She and I share lots of talents Mister Northman, that is your name, right, such as being able to tan like no other, make a mean apple pie, and play the kazoo." I replied, knowing what he wanted to hear, but not giving him the answer he was looking for.

He smirked as if my answer had amused him. But, as quickly as the smirk was there, it disappeared and he seemed to be deep in thought as he let me walk on out of the room.

The hunk, I mean Eric, soon followed me back to where Sookie, Bill and now Pam were sitting. I could see from across the restaurant that Sookie and Bill looked worried, but Pam sat there looking like she was bored to death. Dressed like she was heading to a ladies luncheon, I didn't think that Merlotte's was her usual cup of tea.

With those long legs, of course Eric quickly passed me by and got to the table first. "Sit." He commanded me as he sat down at the table as well. Rude much? As much as I hated to do so after being 'commanded', I did sit down, not to appease him but because I was too curious about what the hell was going on with these people. I gave Sookie a confused look to which she returned a defeated shoulder shrug. Looks like we were both in the dark as to why the two blonde vamps were here. We were to find out why soon enough though.

"As interesting as this night has become, I did come here for an entirely different reason. It seems that $60,000 of my money has gone missing and after looking at the situation I have come to the conclusion that it must be someone that works for me. Miss Stackhouse (looking at Sookie), I want you to come to Fangtasia and use your gift to help filter out who that person is. Make sure to bring your sister along as well." Eric said with a self-serving smirk as he turned to look at me.

"No Eric, I will not go and neither will my sister!" Sookie said angrily.

"Bill, I strongly suggest you get your pet under control. I was asking nicely, but you know that was just a courtesy. And by the way, Arabella is mine. Be there at 9:00 sharp tomorrow night." With that Eric and Pam got up and exited in what I can only describe as vampire speed, not waiting for a reply from the rest of the table.

"What just happened? What did he mean by 'I'm his'?" I asked panicked as Sookie sat there with a dumfounded look on her face.

"Bill, can he really do that?" Sookie asked hoping that this would all just go away.

"Unfortunately he can and he just did. Arabella, I am truly sorry." Bill said with a look that matched his sentiment.

"Bella, I have a lot to tell you, but it's better that we go home and talk there." Sookie said as she got up from the booth and walked us towards the door.

Outside of Merlotte's, Eric and Pam stopped to have a quick conversation.

"So, it seems that Sookie's sister has intrigued you?" Pam said with a smirk as she was not a huge Sookie supporter. Pam always thought that Sookie was wrong for Eric, but he wouldn't hear of it. It was clear that the older Stackhouse girl and Compton were beyond committed to each other. Eric was not going to find what he was looking for there. But, Eric was if nothing else persistent and always got what he wanted, whether it was good for him or not. And of course, there was that nasty competition with Compton. Boys will be boys she thought with a bored sigh. Still she held out hope that Eric would switch his intentions to the other Stackhouse girl. If nothing else, Pam thought the younger girl was definitely hotter, well, at least more her type.

"Yes, she smells different, definitely not completely human. Her scent is very similar but at the same time different from Sookie's scent. Something else is going on there. She also could not be glamoured. But, to tell the truth, I'm seeing the sister as a means to an end. I will have Sookie as mine soon enough and finally give Compton his comeuppance. The sister is the key to getting all I want." Eric said to his progeny.

"I'm not sure that I'm following Eric." Pam said confused and disappointed, but then she hopefully added, "Can I play with her?"

"NO! You will not touch her Pam. I'll explain my plan at Fangtasia… Come." Eric said as they both got in his car. As they drove away Pam thought 'I love him, but he always keeps the best ones' to himself'.

Bill kissed Sookie and said his goodbyes to her and Arabella before leaving Merlotte's separately so that the sisters could talk. He was head over heels in love with Sookie and would do anything to protect her and make her happy. This now seemed to include trying to do his best to help Arabella navigate this minefield she had just inadvertently stepped into. He began frantically going over different scenarios in his mind, trying to come up with plans to get Eric and Pam out of their lives. He was younger, much younger than Eric for sure, but he was crafty and knew some important vamps. This was going to take some planning for sure.

When we finally got back to our home, I was exhausted. This night was turning into the night from hell, but as tired as I was, I needed to know what the hell just happened.

"Arabella, please sit down and let me explain." Sookie said after getting us some coffee from the kitchen.

"Vampires can lay claim to a human if they so choose, and it appears that Eric has chosen you. This means that you are his human and no other vampires or pretty much no one else can touch you."

"Why would he claim me Sookie, he just met me? I don't even know if you could say we had a real conversation. This doesn't make sense." I replied, still not fully getting what was happening.

"It's pretty obvious that Eric claimed you because he sensed that you are different, like me. Vampires like to have those with 'abilities' under their control because it adds to their power. Did you see him trying to sniff you? It's how they know if someone is different or not." Sookie added.

"Yeah, he did. I thought the sniffing was a little weird." I said. It was making a little more sense now, although strangely, a part of me was a little saddened that it was just my 'abilities' that the vampire found attractive, and not me. Oh my God, what the hell is wrong with me? I really need to get some sleep and put my priorities in check. Not to mention I had to get up in just a few hours and deal with the random guy I hit with Sookie's car. Who knew that being home for a short period of time would lead to more excitement than I ever saw in the two years of travelling with Jess. This was not the kind of excitement that I would have ever asked for though. Who would?

After a moment of silence while I was going over the encounter with Eric in my head, I remembered the intense staring contest we were in. "Sookie, he stared at me in a really intense kinda way. It felt like he was trying to get into my mind. Was that a vampire thing too?" I asked.

"Yes. He was trying to glamour you. Vampires have the ability to get humans to do what they want or make them forget things by staring deep into their eyes and speaking to them in an alluring manner. It doesn't work on me and it looks like it didn't work on you either. Thank God." Sookie responded.

"This is all a little overwhelming Sook and I'm not sure I even know what to make of it. This all seems like something you read about in a book, not actual real life."

"Yeah, I know what you mean Bella. Hopefully we'll go tomorrow night and Eric will realize that he's not going to get anywhere with you and he'll drop it." Sookie said, trying to make me feel better.

"Sookie, even if I wanted to go to… what was the name of the place?"

"Fangtasia." Sookie replied with an eye roll.

"Really? Fangtasia? How original. Anyway, even if I wanted to go there, which I don't, I can't. Tomorrow night is supposed to be my first night working at Merlotte's. How's that gonna look if I call in the first night I'm supposed to work. I just can't do that, especially not to Sam." I said, thankful that I had a good excuse to not go.

"Oh that's right. I forgot about that. You're right though. I'll call Bill and have him talk to Eric." Sookie replied.

"Look, I'm beat and I need to do some things in the morning so I definitely need to go to bed. " I said, but continued, "Sook, you haven't come out and said that Eric is evil or nothing, but I need to know, do I have anything to really be worried about?"

"I'm not going to lie to you Arabella. I really don't know. He's definitely not like Bill, that's for sure. And if I were you, I wouldn't go out of my way to make him angry. He's not one to tolerate that, or so it seems. There's one more thing that you should know though. He has been trying to break up Bill and I the entire time we've been dating. For some reason he thinks that we'd be perfect together and that Bill doesn't deserve me."

"If that's the case, why would he claim me?" I asked slightly disappointed.

"I don't know Arabella, and that is what worries me the most." Sookie replied as we got up and headed up to our rooms to go to sleep for the night.

"Bella, you should also know that no vampire can come into a human's home without an invitation. So he can't come into our home. I wanted you to know so you can sleep some tonight."

"Thanks Sook. That does make me feel a little better. Goodnight." I replied.

"Goodnight Bella."