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….
The drive back to Bon Temps was pretty quiet. None of us seemed to really want to talk about what had just happened, all for different reasons. When we were getting close to home, Sookie finally spoke. "Um, Bill. Would it be okay if I slept at your place?" She just wanted to feel safe again.
"Yes, of course. You should know that you need not ask. You are always welcome to stay with me. Arabella, will you be okay on your own at home?" Bill replied.
"Yeah, I'll be fine. You can drop me off here. I wouldn't mind a little walk to clear my mind." I said as he stopped the car at the foot of our driveway, and let me out. After we all said our goodbyes, Bill proceeded on with Sookie to his house.
Walking up to the house, I noted how beautiful the sky looked and how peaceful everything was. Even the crickets must have been sleeping because it was very quiet. I basked in the silence and the moonlight. It had such a calming effect on my heightened senses. As I started to walk past our garden I saw that the flowers were still blooming. I stopped and bent over to smell them. They smelled amazing. So, I picked a few hydrangeas and peonies and proceeded up to the front door. They'd make a beautiful centerpiece for our dining room table. All of a sudden I started to feel tired, more than I should have. My eyelids were starting to get extremely hard to keep open and my muscles felt like a ton of bricks. Maybe those weren't aspirins that Pam gave me after all. That'll teach me to take drugs from someone without asking what they were. Well, at least I should get a good days' sleep, right?
Opening the door took some effort as I tried to locate my keys in my purse in my state. I desperately wanted to make it up the stairs to my bed before passing out. I'd only fell asleep once on a floor. Jessalyn had convinced me to participate in an upside-down margarita contest in Tulsa (we had really good fake id's). That night was the reason why I will never drink tequila again and why I would never want to sleep on a floor again. As I walked in I wondered why it was so dark in the house. I could have sworn that Sookie and I left some lights on. My mind was getting hazy though and my vision blurry. My only thought was to get to bed, but I didn't want to trip over something on the way, so I walked towards the staircase, holding on to anything I could to steady myself on the way to flip the light switch on. Once I did, I saw blood splatter all over the wall. Then some blood hit my face. I started to scream as I looked up and saw poor Tina, dead, parts of her hanging all over the ceiling fan. Oh my goodness, poor Tina. Shit, what if the person who did this was still in the house? I shakily reached into my purse to get my cell phone to call 911. I dialed as fast as I could but I felt like I was moving in slow motion.
"911. What seems to be the emergency?" A voice on the other end answered.
"Oh my God! Please you have to send someone here now. Someone's been in my house… and killed mmmmm…." I started but the pills were finally taking their intended effect and I began to pass out onto the floor, dropping the flowers and the cell phone, and knocking my already bumped head again.
"Ma'am? Ma'am? Who's been killed? Stay on the line ma'am. Don't hang up. You'll be fine ma'am. Help is on the way." These were the last things I heard before finally slipping into unconsciousness.
….
Bill and Sookie had arrived at his home just a couple minutes after dropping Arabella off. Dawn was approaching in two hours, but there was something that he wanted to do before he had to go off to his hidey hole. He had purchased an all-day spa package for Sookie earlier in the week and had intended to give it to her for their six month anniversary, but it seemed like she could probably use it more now, given the events of the night.
"Sookie, come with me to my office." Bill said with the look on his face unreadable.
"Okay, what's up? Is everything okay? You're not in trouble because of the Longshadow thing, are you? You were only protecting me." Sookie asked nervous about what might happen to him because of her.
"No, I'm fine. Just a slap on the wrist, that's all. Don't worry about that." Bill replied and then picked up a beautifully wrapped gift off of his desk, handed it to Sookie and said, "Sookie, I had meant to give this to you under happier circumstances, but I think it makes more sense to give it to you now."
Sookie took the gift and started to unwrap it slowly. She didn't know what it could be, but if it was anything like the packaging….
"Oh my Bill. Thank you! It's just what I needed now." Sookie exclaimed as she wrapped her arms around Bill and kissed him all over his face. She had always wanted to go to a day spa like the one Bill had gotten her the gift certificate for, but never had the money or time.
"I want you to do this today. You are to be pampered from 9:00 am til 5:00 pm, no ifs, ands, or buts about it Sookie. You need and deserve this." Bill said as he looked lovingly at Sookie.
"Oh, but this would be nice to do with someone. I don't think that Arabella could afford this though." Sookie said with her smile faltering.
"Sookie, you need to take time for yourself. When's the last time you did something just for you?" Bill asked.
"I… well… I guess you're right Bill. It would be nice to just forget about everything for a day." Sookie replied.
"Yes, and don't take your cell phone either. You'd just get dragged into something, like usual, and wouldn't be able to enjoy yourself." Bill said.
Sookie laughed. Bill was right. That usually was the case. "Okay Bill. I won't. In fact, I'll just turn it off now." Sookie said as she turned off her phone and headed to bed for a couple hours before heading to the spa for the day.
Bill was glad that he was able to do this for her. To be honest, he didn't know what kind of punishment he was going to have to face for killing Longshadow. So, in the meantime, he wanted to do anything and everything he could to make Sookie happy.
….
I woke up around 4:30pm lying all alone in a hospital room with a sugar water IV drip in my arm. I didn't know what happened after I passed out, but I was glad to see that I was alive and seemingly in one piece. I saw the nurse call button and pressed it, hoping to get some answers.
A nurse came in soon after I pressed the button. "Oh, Miss Stackhouse, we're so glad to see that you are alright."
"Yeah, what happened to me?" I asked wondering, well , just that.
"All I know is that an ambulance brought you in early this morning. It seems that you hit your head pretty hard and suffered a concussion. The police wanted to ask you a few questions once you got up." The nurse said.
"I'm sure they do, but I just got up and feel like death warmed over. Could you stall them for an hour so I could freshen up at bit, maybe eat something?" I asked as those were the first things I wanted to do, not recount finding my beloved pet cat dead in the ceiling fan.
"Oh, don't worry, I'll get a food order in for you, and you can find a shower and toiletries in the bathroom over there. You were cleaned up a little when they brought you in, but it's never as good as hot shower. I'll tell the cops that they can come in at 6:30pm. Is that okay with you?" The nurse replied.
"Yes, that would be great. Thank you so much. I really appreciate it. Oh, has anyone contacted my sister or brother?" I asked, wondering if Sookie and Jason knew where I was or what had happened.
"The police tried to contact both, but from what I could gather, neither could be reached." The nurse said and then added, "Here, let me take out that IV for you. Alrighty, all done. I'm going to get cracking on that food order and let you get cleaned up."
"Thank you." I said as the nurse left the room.
Jason not being able to be found, well, that was no surprise. He'd always been a little scattered. He'd turn up, eventually, like he always did. But Sookie… it wasn't like her to not be able to be reached. I knew she was mad at me at Fangtasia, but I didn't know why. However, she didn't seem too mad when we separated, but she didn't want to come home either. I was starting to get teary-eyed while feeling a little all alone. No. I will not give into this feeling. So, I got up, got my butt in the shower, poured the soap in my hands and desperately tried to wash everything weighing me down ... down the drain.
….
Sookie finally finished her spa day around 5:15 and headed back to Bill's to retrieve her phone, which she intentionally left there so as not to be tempted to turn it on while being pampered. It took her about 45 minutes to get back. Knowing the time, she knew that Bill would be getting up soon. It was winter and the sun set particularly early this time of year.
Sookie walked into Bill's house and into his office to get her phone. She turned it on and saw she had 8 messages. The first was Jason telling her that he and Amy were going to head to a campsite in order to be one with nature for the next few days. 'When did he like camping? And when did he even notice nature let alone want to be one with it? Did he even know what that meant?' Sookie thought as she shook her head, but then went on to the next message. It was Detective Andy Bellefleur asking where she was and saying that he needed to speak to her immediately concerning her sister. 'Oh my God, what's happened to Arabella?' She thought as she cancelled out of voicemail and called Andy.
"Hello. This is Detective Bellefleur." Andy answered.
"Andy, this is Sookie. What's going on?" Sookie asked frantically, wanting to make sure that her sister was okay.
"Oh, Miss Stackhouse, your sister is fine, but she is at Shreveport Memorial right now." Andy replied.
"Why is my sister in the hospital Andy? What happened?" Sookie asked.
"Well, that's what we'd like to know as well. We're going to be questioning her at 6:30." Andy responded but added, "By the way Sookie, where were you today?"
"I was at the spa Andy. If you have any further questions, you'll just have to ask me them at Shreveport Memorial." Sookie said as she hung up on Andy.
Bill had heard everything on Sookie's end of the conversation (vampire hearing and such) and was glad that it was sunset now so he could get up and go with her to the hospital. He left his hidey hole at vampire speed to be by Sookie's side.
"Bill! You scared me. You know I hate when you do that." Sookie said after she had nearly jumped out of her skin. She didn't think she'd ever get used to vampire speed.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you, but I heard your conversation. What happened to Arabella? " Bill asked Sookie with real concern.
"I don't know Bill, but she's in the hospital. We need to leave now." Sookie replied grabbing her stuff and heading to her car with Bill in tow.
….
It took Sookie and Bill about 20 minutes to arrive at the hospital. When they got there they went to the front desk and got Arabella's room number. Even though they got there in record time, to Sookie it seemed like a lifetime. Having just lost her Gran so recently, she couldn't bear to lose any more family members, especially not her sister.
"Oh my word Arabella, what happened?" Sookie asked as she and Bill burst into Arabella's room.
"Well…" I began as there was a whoosh into the room. Eric had arrived in the room looking mad as hell as he grabbed Bill by the throat and growled, "I let you drive my pet home and she ends up in the hospital. What the hell happened Compton?" How was he going to exact his revenge scheme if Compton gets his pet killed?
"Eric, put him down!" Sookie and I screamed in unison at the irate vampire.
Eric dropped Bill, not because he wanted to, nor because the Stackhouse sisters were demanding him to, but because he sensed other humans were approaching and couldn't afford to be caught in such a compromising position, not with the vampire rights amendment awaiting approval. The anti-vampire zealots would be all over that and the AVL would have his ass in a sling.
Just as Bill was standing up and straightening out his clothes, Andy Bellefleur and Sheriff Bud Dearborn walked into room. 'Oh great, now it's a party' I thought to myself.
Andy began to greet everyone, "Hello Miss Stackhouse, Miss Stackhouse, Vampire Bill and…" He had stopped because he didn't know who Eric was.
"Eric Northman." Eric answered.
Andy followed up with, "Yes, well, can everyone please leave so I can ask Miss Stackhouse here some questions?"
"Andy, please, your sister Portia used to babysit me. You know my name is Arabella, use it. And as for everyone else in the room, as far as I'm concerned, they can all stay." I said irritated, at everything.
"Andy, just get on with the questions." Bud said to Andy. Oh, he just earned a few points in my mind.
"Fine. Miss Stackhouse, I mean Arabella, when we arrived at your home after your 911 call, you were lying unconscious and your cat was swinging around on the ceiling fan splattering blood all over your foyer. Can you explain what happened?" Andy asked, tactful as ever.
"Thank you Andy for making me re-live such a pleasant experience." I answered sarcastically.
"Tina's dead? Sookie exclaimed. She didn't know yet that our cat had been killed.
"Yeah Sook, I'm sorry you had to find out like this. After you and Bill dropped me off, I opened the door to our home, but the lights were off. I went to turn on the lights, and when I did, I saw Tina hanging from the ceiling fan. It was horrible. Blood was everywhere. I was worried that it could've been the work of that killer running loose, so I called 911. While on the call I must have slipped on the blood on the floor and fell and hit my head." I said, trying to not mention that I had some sort of drugs in my system from Pam to the cops. "I don't know what happened after that because I was unconscious.
"Well, that seems consistent with the crime scene. But, and think real hard here, did you see anyone in the house?" Andy asked, hoping that he could get more info. There was a killer loose and he didn't have any clues that led to anyone, well anyone other than Jason Stackhouse. That boy was too stupid to kill a fly, let alone anyone else, so Andy didn't really think it was him. Andy needed a break in that case before another person got killed, and in this case it looked like it could be another Stackhouse.
"No. I didn't see anyone Andy. Sorry." I replied, not really sorry, but actually glad that I didn't see anyone because I wouldn't have been able to defend myself in my drugged state.
"Thank you Arabella. If you can think of anything else, please call us." Andy replied but then added, "Sookie, Bill, where were you two last night and today?"
"Bill and I went to his house after dropping Arabella off where he stayed until coming here tonight. I left his house at 8:15 to drive to the La Linda Day Spa and Salon in Monroe and was there until 5:15. You can call them if you'd like." Sookie responded.
"Well, I guess that'd be all. Thank you for your time." Andy said as he and Bud left the room.
"Oh my stars Arabella. I am so sorry that I wasn't there with you or here today." Sookie said sincerely.
"So you were at a day spa all day?" I asked, curious.
"Yeah. Bill thought I could use it after everything. He suggested I not take my phone so I could enjoy the day." Sookie replied, a little sheepishly, after all, her sister spent the day in the hospital while she was getting pampered.
"Oh." I replied sadly. What shitty luck I have. She gets a spa day and I get to find our poor cat killed and my head cracked again. Perfect.
"Did you have anything to do with this Bill?" Eric asked. It was curious that Bill sent Sookie away in such a manner.
"No, I did not. To even imply it is an insult. I would never hurt Sookie or her family. I am worried though. There is a serial killer running amuck in Bon Temps who seems to be attacking those who congregate with vampires. Sookie and Arabella's grandmother was the last victim. You're sheriff of this area, Eric. Shouldn't this be something you look into?" Bill replied.
Eric had heard about the murders in Bon Temps, but they were humans, so he didn't pay too much attention, but now, knowing that the victims all had dealings with vampires, he couldn't discount what Bill was getting at. God he hated when Bill was right.
"It was never noted publically that the victims had dealings with vampires, Bill, so why would I care? Now that I know, I am bound to investigate further." Eric replied.
"What about Sookie and Arabella? They can't stay in that house. It's clear they are intended victims." Bill said, not trying to scare the sisters, but just trying to face reality.
"I would be more than happy to house them at my place. It's probably the safest place they could be." Eric said with a smug grin on his face. This could work out great.
"We will not be staying with you, Eric. We will not be kicked out of our own home because of some crazy killer. We've lost enough. We will not lose our home now too. Right, Arabella?" Sookie exclaimed.
Well, even though I didn't quite know Eric's intentions with offering us a place to stay, it did sound enticing. Two members of our family had now been murdered in our home. I wasn't exactly jumping at the idea of living there again, but I certainly wasn't going to let Sookie live there by herself. And when Sookie had her mind set on something, there was no changing it, as in this case. "Thank you for the offer Eric, but we'll be staying at our home."
Eric could tell that Arabella was wavering in her decision, but decided to let it go. He had day people that he could send to watch the girls during the day and vampires at night. He could understand not wanting to give up your home. These girls were brave, maybe to a fault, but brave nonetheless. He could respect that, even if they were only human.
"The nurses said I could leave after the questioning, but I guess there's some paperwork to fill out. Sookie, could you find out what I need to do?" I asked because I really wanted to get out of the hospital and back into my own bed.
"Sure sweetie. Bill and I will go right now. Eric." Sookie said as she nodded goodbye to Eric, took Bill's hand and left the room with him.
After they left, I asked Eric, "How did you know I was here? I don't think you'd be the first person Sookie would call." I said with a small smile.
"No, I wouldn't be." He responded with a chuckle and added, "Well, I did tell you that I was going to call on you shortly. I went to your home and saw the police scouring about. I found out you were sent to the hospital and came to find out what happened. Now tell me, you didn't really slip on the blood there, did you? What really happened?" He asked, knowing that I had lied during that part of the story.
"No, I didn't. Pam had given me some pills last night that I thought were aspirins for my headache. Evidently they were something a little stronger and made me pass out. I didn't want to tell the cops about that, because it had nothing to do with what happened and plus they'd probably end up asking a lot of questions that I know I didn't want to answer, nor you would want me to answer." I responded truthfully.
Eric pondered on this. She was not only beautiful, but smart and resilient. This type of situation would normally bring out the worst in a human, but it seemed to make Arabella stronger. She was sensible enough to realize that it would not have been in anyone's best interest to divulge what happened at Fangtasia. As she had implied, it had nothing to do with what happened at her house. Plus, he was grateful that she didn't say anything that may have gotten Pam in trouble. Those pills were… slightly illegal. He knew Pam had given them to Arabella to help her get a good long sleep, not to endanger her. Thankfully Arabella was able to realize this. She would make a good pet for a while. However, it concerned him that she could have easily been the next victim of the killer if he/she had stuck around. Humans… they were entirely too fragile.
"Eric? Are you there?" Arabella asked as he stood there, lost in his thoughts.
"Yes… It was wise of you to not mention the events of earlier in the evening." Eric replied.
"You're welcome." I said with a smirk.
"I didn't say thank you." Eric responded. He was not one to say such sentiment, not to a human at least.
"No, you didn't, but I think that may be what you implied." Arabella said now with a larger grin.
Sookie and Bill returned with some papers. "Arabella, you're going to need to sign these. I can't believe how much it costs to stay here for less than a day." Sookie said as she looked over the hospital bill.
"Oh, I hadn't even thought about that. I don't have insurance. Do you know if they do payment plans?" I asked, not looking forward to going into deep debt.
"Here, hand me those papers. I'm sure I can get them to reduce some of these charges." Eric said as he took the paperwork from Sookie and walked out the door.
"He's not going to glamour the collections department, is he? Because, to tell you the truth, I don't think I'd mind in this case." I said to Sookie and Bill.
Bill smiled at me. He could understand where I was coming from. Sookie on the other hand felt entirely different. "Arabella Grace Stackhouse. Our family does not take things like that. If we have a bill, we pay it, no matter how hard, you know that."
"Yes mother." I said to her. It was easy for her to say that now. She wasn't the one looking at thousands of dollars' worth of hospital charges.
The nurse from before then walked in and said, "Well Miss Stackhouse, your paperwork seems to be in order. Here are your discharge papers. Be sure to follow the instructions so you don't end up back here." She said sweetly.
"Oh. Thank you. You've been very kind. Wait, I didn't sign anything yet. Don't I have to sign something? And, do you know how the hospital will bill me?" I asked.
"Oh sweetie, that nice gentleman, Mister… Mister… well, I can't remember his name. Anyway, he left his credit card info and said that any charges for your stay should be billed to his card. You're a very lucky lady. Take care." The nurse said as she picked up the used food tray and took it out of the room.
"Why would Eric pay for my stay?" I asked Sookie and Bill.
"Well, knowing Eric, there's probably some hidden agenda. Don't think he's your knight in shining armor, Arabella. Eric never does anything without a reason, and that reason is not always noble." Bill said worried about what game Eric was playing here.
"Okay, well, thanks for the warning Bill. I understand he's not the nicest player on the playground, but I am grateful to not have to pay that bill." I replied. A small part of me couldn't help but wonder if maybe Bill and Sookie had it wrong about Eric, maybe a little. I guess that small part of me wanted to believe he wasn't all bad.
Since I didn't have any fresh clothes here and Sookie came in such a rush she didn't have anything to offer me to change into, I had to go home in the hospital gown I was in. I didn't care though. All I wanted was to get into my own bed and sleep this nightmare of a week away.
….
Eric hadn't returned back to Arabella's room. He instead took care of the hospital charges. He knew it would be a hardship on his pet to have to pay those charges. That kind of worry would be a distraction to her and in the end to him and his revenge goals. It was much better to just make it go away. Afterwards he proceeded directly to Fangtasia.
"Pam, come with me to my office." Eric requested as he walked in.
"Yes, of course. Is everything okay?" Pam asked noting that Eric had that 'I'm all about business look' on his face.
As they each took a seat in his office he began to explain to Pam what happened to Arabella.
"Shit Eric, I gave her those pills so she'd have a good sleep, not so she could possibly be a murder victim." Pam said, knowing that it would not be wise to get his new pet killed, especially before he even had the chance to taste her. Damn, Eric would really be pissed then. Not to mention, Pam kinda liked this human. A rare thing indeed.
"I know Pam. I don't blame you, but I do want you to get some of our day people to watch over Sookie and Arabella, just until this killer is found. Also, go see what's going on there. Those police in Bon Temps make Jessica Simpson look like fucking Einstein. The only way those idiots will be able to find the killer is if they showed up at the station with a sign saying, 'It's me. I did it." Eric replied.
"I'll get right on it Eric." Pam said as she got up to take care of business.
"Thank you Pam." Eric said. He noted to himself how easy those words flowed to his child, but how he could not say them to his pet. Huh.
"Oh, and while you're at it, could you send in Yvetta? I'm feeling a bit parched." Eric requested. Even though his pet stirred things inside of him, what with her beauty and blood, he knew it would be a while before she submitted to him. He wasn't going to wait around for her. He had needs.
"Of course." Pam replied with a nod and left to go find the dancer. Yup, Eric always took the good ones for himself she thought.