As usual I struggled to keep up with Eric's long strides, as we weaved our way through the house. It felt like we were in a rush to get wherever fast. In fact, where was he going to take me? Was he going to bring me to Fangtasia? Is that where he's going to use his favor? He never did tell me exactly what I was doing. He just said he needed someone with "my talents", I could only guess that means the psychic abilities. What was I going to do? Read a person to find out what was going on? Then what? Would he tell me the last thing he heard about Beth? My God it's been days since she's gone missing. I hope she's alright. It's been days since anyone heard anything from her, she's not going to be okay. She's gonna be a mess…if she's not dea-

I couldn't help bringing my thoughts back to Beth's demi…situation. I hope someone else had gotten a clue of where she was. I didn't have my phone so I couldn't receive any news form anyone.

I needed to get something else on my mind. Anything…like how are we going to get where we're going? With that thought, my stomach rolled and I felt like my feet were whisked out from under me, "We're not flying are we?"

That was the first-time Eric looked over his shoulder at me since he started moving. He knew I was trailing behind him and seemed to prefer the silence until I dropped the question.

"Fuck no. I'm never taking you flying again. I am not putting up with your banshee screaming ever again. We're driving," Eric stated as we came to the end of another long hallway that finally had a door.

I ignored his "banshee" comment and followed him into, what I was assuming, the garage. It's not my fault I'm scared of heights, like any other person. It was a completely rational fear. There was a real risk of dying when you get lifted into the air. If it wasn't for the Valium that my doctor prescribed I wouldn't have made it down here in that flight. Anything could happen while you are in an airplane. But what was even scarier was when Eric lifted me into the air. There was nothing to protect me against the icy air that whipped past us during that night. Nothing to rest my feet against while he held me bridal style in his arms. The only thing I relied on was Eric to hold me and pray he decided not to drop me. Just remembering that night started to make me feel nauseous. God I would never do that again.

Eric gave me one last look of disgust over his shoulder, whatever that look meant it must have been for me. Eric turned forward and he flicked on the light switch by the door and revealed two sporty looking cars. Both seemed like nice cars, I didn't know enough about cars to make any statements about them. One was black the other was red, all together they looked extremely expensive. Eric approached the black car, which was the closest to him. I had to walk around the front towards the passenger side of the car since it was had been back into the garage. As I walked past I saw the Porsche logo on the hood. I guess he had money then? How much did a Porsche cost again? I knew I couldn't afford it but doctors could. How did he get his money? Did he sock it way in a savings account and let it collect interest? Bill did say that he was old right? How old was he? If he went that route and hid away the money, he's gotta be pretty old to have this much. But that was illegal right? Well I imagine that didn't matter to Eric. He didn't seem like the type to play by anyone's rules but his own. I climbed into the car as Eric turned the car on. The interior of the car was all leather and smelt that way, there wasn't a speck of dust inside the whole inside was immaculate. God, he was a car guy. I buckled up as I watched him place his hand on the stick and shift into gear. Then took off down the drive.

"There's no need to buckle. My reflexes are much better than a human's," Eric stated while shifting into second gear.

"It's a habit," I replied watching as he shifted into third gear.

"Never seen a manual transmission? Would you like for me to teach you?" Eric gave that half smile without taking his eyes of the road, "I've been driving since cars were invented. Once upon a time there was only manual transmission. You're more in control of the car if you drive manual."

Makes sense he would have one with that statement. Eric seems like the type of pers-vampire to always be in control of everything. Why not his car too?

"My first car was a stick," I replied.

"Really? I'd like to you handle a stick sometime."

"Ha, ha, yeah you wish. Besides, I'd be terrified of wrecking this thing the first time taking it out."

"You that bad of a driver?"

"No, it's just a really nice car."

"I'm guessing a good girl like you has insurance."

"It's illegal not to have any, and besides the point. I'd be scared of someone ramming into, or me being so nervous accidently tapping a car in the parking lot."

"You need to learn how to relax."

"I know how to relax," I huffed.

"Sure you do."

"I know how to relax," I said a bit more forcefully.

"Do tell."

"I like to read."

"What do you read? Steamy romance novels?"

"None of your business."

"Oooo, that's a yes."

"No its not!"

"I bet you read the ones with Fabio on the cover."

"No I do not!"

"No I bet you read those corny, completely incorrect, vampire romance novels."

"I do not! I read Jane Austen."

"Boring, every girl who likes to read; reads Jane Austen."

"I'm fine with boring."

"No, you're not."

"Yes I am."

"You wouldn't have gone with me so willingly if you were not okay with boring."

"What?"

"You would have put up a fight if you didn't want your life to change. But here you are."

"I didn't ask for my life to change. I'm doing this for Beth."

"Yes, but you could have easily let that incompetent sheriff's office handle the situation. Instead you decided to drop everything and leave your safe boring life to return to Bon Temps to find your 'friend'."

"Beth is my best friend."

"Was, if I remember correctly."

"That doesn't matter. What matters is that I'm here for her…even if she doesn't know…"

"Sounds like you're in love with her," Eric teased.

"Despite telling you multiple times now, she is practically family. So damn right I love her. She's practically my sister."

We finally reached the end of the longest wooded driveway I had ever been on.

"Not going to blindfold me?"

"Mmmm, kinky. Didn't know you liked it like that."

I took a deep breath before I replied, "Don't you want me to not know where you live?"

"First off I don't need to do that, you don't know the area-"

"Right now, but I will."

"Which comes to my second point, you should know where I live. How else are you going to find your way back when I summon you?"

My heart stopped, "Summon me?"

"Call on you, whatever you want to call it."

"What do you mean?"

"On your phone," Eric remarked as he dug around in his pocket and procured a small blocky oval shaped object. He held it casually out for me in his hand.

"My phone!" I took the item from him.

I flipped it open to see I had four missed calls, three voicemails, and five text messages. I scrolled through the missed calls first. One of the missed calls was from my mom, I imagine she left a voicemail. I hadn't contacted her in a while so I'm guessing she was worried. Another was from Sookie, which I was surprised she called. But then again I went missing. The last two were from my brother, Austin, I'm guessing he left a message also. We hardly went a day without speaking so he was probably extremely worried. I went to the text messages next.

Austin: Hey, where are you?

Austin: Getting worried. Haven't heard from you…tried calling. Obviously you didn't pick up.

Austin: What's going on? Why haven't I heard from you?

Austin: Call me

Austin: Adriane…call me

Four of the five had been time stamped for yesterday, with the last one being this morning. Austin was really worried. I felt awful that I hadn't contacted him. I didn't want to listen to the voicemails with Eric in the car. I even though I bet he already went through my phone I wanted a little bit of privacy when it came to listening to my voicemails. I closed the phone and pocketed the device.

"Thank you."

"I took the opportunity to put my number in it," Eric said with a smirk.

"What?" I flipped the phone back open and scrolled through my contacts for his name. Instead I found, "Sex Dream God". The burn returned to my neck. Just after I thought he would let it go! I pressed the "edit" button but the phone was swiped out of my hands.

"That's my phone!"

"Ah, ah! You can't go changing my name."

"That' not even your name!"

"Oh I think it is."

"Your name is not…that!" I waved my hand around for a dramatic gesture.

"If not that what is it? 'Lord of Fucks'? 'My Wet Dream'? 'Pussy Plunger'? 'Tongue of the Gods'?"

With each dirty name he listed off my neck burn creeped up to my face. I couldn't think of anything to say back to him. So, I slide down in the seat and crossed my arms over my chest.

"Oh come on Adri, don't pout. It doesn't look good on you. I'm just fucking with you. You can change the name back to whatever you want," With that he handed my phone back.

I quickly changed the name to something more appropriate. Then sat silently staring forward, not wanting to begin a conversation with him. So instead I observed the interior of the car, taking in all the features it had that my own car did not have. Features I had yet to see in a car but knew nicer newer cars had. Like the bright display that shown blue on the console.

"You want to play with it?" Eric playfully asked.

"What do you have on here?" I asked, while internally debated if there was a double-entendre. Knowing Eric it probably was.

"Oh some mp3s from my IPod," Eric replied.

I reached forward, while Eric eyed me as I pressed the button. The name of the song didn't appear on the screen, only the file name as he saved it. "Track 20" ran across the blue screen in white letters. A beat that I felt in my chest began to emit from the speakers, the bass must have been turned up. At first I didn't recognize the beat, but then it hit me. I turned to look at Eric, the song completely shocked me.

"What?" Eric asked with a smile on his face.

I started laughing as the "mmmmm" began and "shorty had them apple bottom jeans". I felt myself laughing harder as the song continued.

"I would have never pictured you listening to this!" I laughed.

"It gets the women dancing at Fangtasia. It's catchy and I found myself enjoying it the third time I heard it."

"Oh my God, you're a Flo Rida fan," I giggled.

"They might enjoy their country in the deep south. But once you get to the city the pop music plays," Eric replied.

I snickered at his reply but sat silently enjoying the car ride. I found myself bobbing my head along with the beat as the song continued onward. I was surprised that I was beginning to enjoy the car ride. Half way through the song I found myself poorly rapping alongside T-Pain and Flo Rida, just enjoying the song. Lightly bouncing in my seat with each word, as close as I could get to dancing in the car. Completely forgetting Eric was there in the car with me, and pretending I was in the car with a friend. After the song finished I laughed and "woo"ed, turned slightly backwards in the seat to look over my shoulder, forgetting my friends weren't in the car to enjoy the song with me.

I was in the car with Eric, not my friends. This wasn't a cruising section downtown. This was business, Eric was taking me to read someone's mind and get information from them. I slumped in the seat as the next song began, another song I absolutely loved but couldn't bring myself to enjoy it also.

"I never pictured you as a rap or hip-hop kind of girl," Eric stated.

"What did you picture me liking?" I asked keeping the conversation going.

"Something they would like around here, country or some shit like that. Maybe some boy band pop music."

"Well Flo Rida is more pop then rap in my opinion," I replied.

"Hmm," Eric hummed in agreement.

Even though there was music in the background we stayed silent the remainder of the car ride.

Once we pulled into the parking lot and stopped, I unbuckled myself and got out of the car. I followed behind Eric as we entered the empty club. There was music playing in the background. Just like the first time, the music was more a mix of pop music and rock not matching the interior of the club. Eric trailing lightly behind me, passing the area where the bouncer would stand. Where he placed a hand on my lower back as he gently guided me towards the bar. I saw Pam and Longshadow propped up against the bar.

"Took you all long enough to get here," Pam sneered as we approached.

"The human took longer than expected to get ready," Eric replied pushing me forward.

"I don't even know why you brought her," Longshadow growled and approached me. He was dressed similarly to the first time we met. He was in a worn sleeveless shirt that was fading from black to brown, with his jet black hair falling around his shoulders and sneering at me with his heavily lined eyes. His fangs clicked into place as he began to breath on me, "Besides being a tasty snack she'd be useless in this fucking matter."

Eric growled stepping forward and Longshadow retreated back to the bar. Eric draped his arm over my shoulder and brushed his nose against my neck causing my skin to crawl, "Adri will be working for us from here on out. So, she'll be under my protection."

"The blood bag gets a nickname?" Pam asked raising an eyebrow towards Eric.

"You will address her as Adriane, seeing as she doesn't let anyone but me call her 'Adri'," Eric addressed Pam. I inwardly cringed every time he called me by that "nickname". It was something my family called me as a child in a sing-songy voice. That was not something I wanted to be called as an adult. Like a grown man being called "Billy" when he would rather be called "William". But, I reminded myself. This wasn't the place or time to undermine Eric.

"I remember Adriane Martinowski," Pam almost hissed my name out.

Eric lead me to a table. He pulled out a metal chair that squealed as he pulled it out against the concrete floor, like nails on a chalk board. Which caused me to flinch, he pushed me down into the seat by pressing on my shoulders till I collapsed into the seat, "She'll be assisting us with looking for the culprit that stole our money."

So that was what my task was going to be. That's why he needed my "unique" ability, just like I suspected. I shouldn't be surprised. I was going to read whatever person he brought to me. That was easy enough. If it got me closer to finding Beth, I would do it. Eric pushed my seat into the table. His hands were still on my shoulders when I looked up at him, "Stay." He commanded and began to walk over to the bar.

"Bring in the first girl," Eric directed the order towards Longshadow.

Who only nodded and headed to the door next to the bar. I was guessing that led to some back office.

"Eric, why did you say that human will be under your protection?" Pam murmured as soon as Longshadow was gone, "She'll only cause problems."

"Relax, Pam, I know what I'm doing," Eric smirked as he leaned back against the bar.

When Longshadow shoved the swinging the door wide open it slammed against the wall, I jumped at the loud bang of the door. He stormed into the club dragging someone behind him. A girl? A woman? All I could tell was that the person he was dragging was a female. Her shoulder length hair wasn't much help, but under the dirty torn clothes showed the curves only a female would have. Longshadow pushed the girl forward and into the chair across the table from me. She fell forward against the back of the chair. Before she could recover, Longshadow grabbed her and shoved her into the seat much like Eric did for me, but much more forceful. The girl hissed as she was slammed into the metal seat, probably bruising her. I had yet to see her face, as her unkempt dirty hair fell into her fell over it. I looked at her sympathetically after she brought her hands onto the table. I could see the layers of dirt that covered her skin. They were holding her here for quite some time.

"Speak," Longshadow growled as he shoved her forward. Her head banging against the metal table. She groaned as she sat back up, a bit of blood was on the table top. She spat on the floor, then wiped the back of her hand across her mouth.

"Longshadow," Eric warned, "That's not how we treat our guests."

Longshadow backed off and returned to the bar. The woman straightened up, squared her shoulders, and whipped her hair over her shoulders by swishing her head from side to side. Revealing her face. Even caked in dirt, slime, and now blood. I could recognize that face anywhere. Her eyes bore into me like chips of emerald ice, showing malice in them.

"Beth?" I asked, only to receive a cold stare from across the table.

Sorry for the short chapter but I wanted to leave it with Adriane seeing Beth again. But we got a little of pleasant conversation between Adriane and Eric. I edited this chapter multiple times just to keep it from becoming to heavy. I wanted Eric and Adriane to finally have a conversation where she wasn't brooding, thinking too much, and just ever so slightly enjoying his company. (Even if it wasn't a lot.)

But! Beth is back! Let me know what you think of that!

Thank you to mmelody6, musicluver246, and WickedlyMinx for leaving reviews with the last chapter! Thank you to all of you who have followed and favorited the story since the last chapter! I can't believe that I'm up to 200 followers and 118 favorites! I love all of you!

As always please read, favorite, follow and most importantly review!