Disclaimer: I do not own Southern Vampire Mysteries or True Blood. Though, if I did…. Well… you know how that shit works out.

A/N: Thanks to DaniD32, manniee, murgatroid-98, lisbeth.21, xxericbitesxx,and Ophelia Weasley for reviewing. Once again I'm going to give you all color guide, as some shit goes down in this one.

Brown- troubled/worried/fearful

Amber – Confused

Black – Serious/Angry/Stormy/Stressed

Blue-Green - Surprised

Like a Switch

He stared at the door of the bar as he was leaning against the car now. With a very soft sound Eric let his eyes shut and his nails dug into his arm for a moment. He could remember back in his days as a Viking, even now… he glared down at the ground; he'd never had to resort to hitting a woman for her to obey him… dominate them yes… but never actually raise his hand to one. A small hiss moved through him in a moment of disgust as he glared off to the side then blinked as he felt her mind poking at the bond. He raise a brow slowly and looked to the side to see her holding her guitar over her back and then looking up at him.

Their eyes made contact and he grunted as she immediately looked away. Slowly he moved forward to her and grasped the case from her. He didn't know why exactly he felt the need to make up the bruise on her face. His hand launched out and grasped her wrist and he felt her form tense. His eyes widened but narrowed before he slowly pulled her stiff form to his own and leaned back tucking her to his front. "Don't move…" He bit down on his thumb and felt her immediately tense as his hand came down and began around the bruise, which had lessened from the blood in her system, but not enough… he wanted it gone.

He let it smear over the bruise, staring quietly as he kept an arm tightly around her arms before mumbling softly, "Does it sting?" He got no answer… he fought back a small growl before he simply lifted the girl's chin. Staring up at the gray eyes he saw that familiar glaze that was calming but now alarmed him. She couldn't go into another withdrawal… if she did than she would have another break down and frankly, selfishly; he did not want to deal with another one. His thumb moved up and against the blood before he lowered his head and began to lick it away.

He was relieved as she flinched away from him but his hand remained on her head to keep it still. It was soon enough that it was wiped away and he simply watched her as her gaze remained forward. Slowly he sighed as he stood up straight and moved away opening the door. Gently he pushed her down into the passenger side and then shut the car door. He moved to the other side before sitting down in the driver's seat and looking over as she was staring quietly at nothing in particular. His hand shot for her before he let his hand come down on her thigh. She stilled and looked at him.

Her fingers came up and rubbed her face before immediately looked way from him. A frown made him scowl for a moment before she interrupted the silence, "It's not fair." This made him pause and slowly look at her as she was staring away from him, "I can come at you with everything I have and you're back to normal like nothing happened with in moments…"

He listened to this for a moment, it was completely childish but his fingers came up and brushed where he hit her as she continued simply, "Yet when you hit back I have a big ugly bruise." She was capable of talking civilly to him, he threw this fact away as he was more interested in her reaction. He grunted however as she buckled up and then continued simply, "Let's go, the sooner we get to the house the sooner I can pack everything away…" Her fingers ran through her hair brushing it over her shoulder and letting her arms cross on the open window and her chin rest on them while her guitar had been shoved in the back in the process of his moving.

He quietly watched her back before starting the car and letting his eyes move back ahead. Once again he didn't turn on the lights, he simply backed out and then paused. "Your friend in there… what is he?"

He knew he was an empathic, but his fangs… his eyes turned to the girl as she didn't move for a few moments then replied back in that soft voice he felt his annoyance rising at, "Hanska is Hanska. I never discern species except for vampires."

"A little racist don't' you think?" He found his voice acting accordingly but neutrally as he let his eyes drift to her then back ahead, "Separating the two groups like that."

"…Everyone Else isn't what scares me Eric, it's your kind that does." The silence held as he stared at her before she murmured, "I didn't give a damn if you all had your rights. Just as long as me and mine were left alone out of it all…" So she was one of those, not on the Light of Day, not religious. Not with complete vampire league either…

Equality, yes, coexisting yes, association, not in particularly... He guess it made a little sense while she had been so terrified when she had first entered his office then. She had had no intention of associating with vampires and had no will, want, or need to. He knew her friends had dragged her into this situation and now, by all means her owner he was not helping the matter. He slowly pulled the car over to the side of the road deciding for the moment it was best not to drive. His hand outstretched and he stated very simply, "So how is the change?"

"Don't touch me." He ignored her and let his hand rested on her back lightly then he shut his eyes. For a few moments he leaned back in his chair then yanked. There was a yelp as her form was yanked back, his arm resting at her back as she stilled on his lap and he grabbed hold of her chin now examining her face as she had tensed once again.

He felt different, he seemed different, but I still didn't trust the bastard at all. My hands came up and moved to his wrist to pull it from my jaw. I then found this was becoming impossible as what I was only starting to see as more and more an ancient brute was not going to let me have my way this time. I felt the anger in me that had died start to cook up old coals before his hands clenched lightly on my jaw as he was done and my form was released.

"…" I found my way back to the perch I had been on staring out at the window before he spoke again.

"Is this Hanska what you are?"

I almost flinched, but my tensing took care of it as I simply replied, "Hanska is Hanska and Me is me." My eyes shut, "Why don't you simply get that?"

"I understand who you are perfectly well." His voice was light but I sensed irritation in him… it was odd…. I looked over my shoulder staring at his aura but not reading it… I was actually feeling him. However light it may be, I could feel a part of him inside me… and I didn't know if it was good or bad. He simply stared back at me before I slowly turned and found that I really couldn't put up with this much longer. "I am asking What you are though…"

"…" I felt the window behind me rolling up, the doors locked and the darkness held between myself and this blonde, animated, attractive, corpse was only lightened to me by the color that floated transparently around him. Shutting my eyes slowly I tried to will it away only to find it was stubborn… why the hell would it work like this now? I decided right then, the mood ring auras were becoming just more than a pain my ass. Reaching up I felt the numbness in my cheek and then tapped it for a moment with a small stare… there was no feeling except a normal one. My eyes narrowed and recalled his smearing of blood on it before I looked back up at him now. "Don't like bruises Eric?"

He lowered his head so we were inches apart and I blinked as the shadows of his face made him quite eerie. Staring for a few moments I felt that lazy ease fall back over me before he leaned forward with his lips beside my ear, "No. I don't." Staring quietly ahead of me I grunted as his fingers moved onto my lower back and followed up before he leaned back against the chair. I squirmed on his thighs for a moment before replying, "I'd like to go back to my seat now…"

"To bad." I gritted my teeth as an arm moved around my stomach and he started the car again. My eyes narrowed as it went tight as he stated simply, "I don't want you to."

It was the most terrifying experience that I had ever had. My head was buried into his chest and my hands clenched onto his shirt by the time we had pulled into my driveway I found myself almost close to crying before I yanked away from him and crawled back to the other side. Opening the door I rolled out of the car and lay on my back staring before crawling over to the grass! "LAND!" I splayed my arms out in a motion of hugging the ground. The quiet took over the yard at my moment before I slowly got up and stared at the fine leather shoes in front of me. Looking up I stared at Eric's face. He held no amusement as he held almost no aura… that was curious.

I sat back on my backside as I watched him before a hand came out. Quizzically I stared at it before following it up to his face before taking it. His hand clamped onto it and I was yanked up and onto my feet. My breathing was soft as he kept a hold of mine before I felt confusion go through me. I tugged lightly blinking as he simply kept hold and then looked back up slowly, "…Um…" I yelped as he grabbed my chin and stared again at my cheeks. Was he OCD on them or something?

He seemed out of character to me… and even more so as his lips came down onto the cheek that had been bruised before his hand came up and ruffled into my hair. I jumped away from him and yanked my hand from his own watching his face go neutral again. Keeping my hand protectively to my chest I tensed and watched his aura become a little clearer. His lips began to pull into a simple line and then a smirk making me raise a brow as he stated, "You don't trust me at all do you?"

I slowly let my form steady before I shut my eyes and shook my head. "…" I pointed at him now, "I have no want, reason, or rhyme too…" Opening my eyes I blinked as his eyes narrowed and he let a hand move over his mouth. I then clenched my hand after I stopped pointing at him, "…"

"..What are you feeling right now?" The question threw me off guard and my hand dropped to my side. I looked down for a moment before looking back up at him and then back and forth before pointing at myself. At his nod there was a simple stare.

"…I feel numb." It wasn't a happy statement, it wasn't upsetting… It was just… there. I looked at the ground for a moment as this feeling continued in my mind before slowly looking back up, an itch on the back of my neck made me reach up and scratch it before grunting and yanking a tick off wincing. I felt around my hair immediately and ran my fingers through it immediately in a mild flip out. I then relaxed, as there was nothing found. My mind going back into its single simple line of numbness instead of panicking. I looked off at the house for a moment as he was still staring at me.

"I hate ticks."

His eyes narrowed on her for a moment at this comment before he slowly shrugged and turned. His walking food source was feeling numb, he wasn't sure if that was good or bad… she had her comical moments but other than that… he wasn't too sure if he liked this almost empty feeling on the bond. The Viking and male in him told him it was just simple female emotions.

The vampire in him was concerned of the unhealthy state that a human's mind could land them in if they weren't as lively and vivid that was their normality. This could lead to bad sour tasting blood… it was bad for business…

He would have to fix this matter… turning he began back towards the house, dark and desolate as they had left it. He reached back and grabbed her shoulder tugging her ahead of him and then moving towards the house. He paused for a moment as watched her move almost to easily with no resistance before getting to the door and entering. He grasped his cell phone as he followed her in, wincing at the minor annoyance that was the light as she flipped a switch on.

Opening it and used the voice dialing for Pam and watched her quietly from the corner of her eye as the dark calico came running up and began to rub against her legs.

"Yes Eric?" He stared for a moment and then looked away from her ahead at the wall before stating simply, "Call my home in Red Springs and have Imeal set up the empty room for a college student. Also to stock the kitchen, inform him I'll be back tomorrow night."

"Is the little girl giving you some trouble?" A clear amused voice came from her making him grunt and then look back at the crouching 19 year old stroking the cat's fur.

"Plenty." He hung up and turned to her. "…I'm going to get the boxes." He watched her eyes flick up and stare at him for a moment, he blinked and then moved forward. His hand came and grasped her chin as he crouched down, the cat hissed at him and he wasn't sure he blamed it. He analyzed her form for a few moments then got up and sighed, "Don't do something stupid while I'm gone." He grasped the jacket he had over a chair and moved for the door.

"I want to come with." He paused and looked over his shoulder looking through his hair at her. There was a few moments of silence before he looked her up and down. The Viking tried to decide if that was actually a good idea. Being with people would show her what he was taking from her. Keeping her here though with her thoughts was likely to cause her to fall deeper into herself. It was a lose lose situation either way but to which degree would it end?

She wanted to come with… he supposed he could humor her now… he nodded lightly and she immediately moved after him out the door. The cat didn't follow as it disappeared into the shadows of the house. He looked over his shoulder to see her lock the door and stick the key in her pocket before there was a moment of pause and she looked back.

He reached up and beckoned her. She didn't move as she stared at him but as he turned and moved away, followed at what he could determine was a respectful distance. She didn't want to be touched or talked to… she just wanted to come with. They moved quickly back to the car and he stared at her guitar, then back at her. Once inside he watched her buckle up before chortling, "I'm more than likely much more efficient than that simple strap of cloth."

"I don't feel safe with you."

He looked over and stared as she reached up and brushed the fang marks, he frowned looking back ahead. "I liked it better when you felt things, you're not as annoying."

"Fuck off." He blinked several times before looking back at her.

"What was that?" A light glare was his return and he blinked as she simply repeated the phrase. His hand tightened on the wheel and he felt part of it give before he exhaled slowly. For a few moments all he did was look ahead before letting it go. Starting the car he began ahead and felt at ease around this little doll.

It wasn't something he liked. Glaring at her now with no particular intent he looked back ahead and then stated, "You're to stay with me while we're at…" Where the hell sold boxes at this hour.

"Walmart." He blinked and slowly looked at her before nodding. He himself didn't go shopping, he had people to do that for him but agreeing with her he turned onto the main dirt road again. "…Why did we even go by the house?"

He gave her no reply as there was no reason for it really. He opened his mouth to say something when the phone rang. Squirming in the seat for a moment he pulled it out and placed it to his ear frowning. What he heard made him almost swerve off the road and slam the breaks to avoid from doing so. He stared ahead for a few moments before looking at her slowly, "Do you have full boxes at your home?" A small frown reached her before she slowly nodded.

"Good." Turning the car around he began immediately towards the house again. Eyes narrowed and hand clenched on the wheel tightly.

I wondered what happened, as his pale knuckles were almost snow white as his hand was wrapped so tightly on the wheel. My head bowed lightly as curiosity was moving over my mind and I felt some thing warm going through me. I had to look, his aura was getting brighter and brighter by the moment, the majority of it was brown. A dot of amber mixed as well… I saw black and I grew concerned.

"Eric." There was a moment where at the high speed, which I was trying to ignore, I fought back the gulp in my throat from the thoughts of crashing as I made eye contact with him, "…Who was that?"

"Why?" Was the immediate snap. I didn't flinch; I didn't feel like it was worth it as I slowly looked ahead as he slowed to the drive way and up it. Pulling in I got out immediately and grabbed my guitar case remembering it this time and moved to the door not answering him till it was unlocked and I could gaze at him again as he was staring off with a frown on his face.

"…..What's happened?"

His eyes turned to me and narrowed as his face grew firm and he held a completely composed look. "..Go get packed, you have an hour."

"An hour!?" I stumbled over the thresh hold of the door and fell onto my ass, "I thought you said I had till tonight!"

"I was wrong, you have an hour and we'll be taking a morning flight back to Shreveport. I do not have time for this, go get packed or I will pack for you."

"But I have to unpack other things before I can use the boxes, some things are so fragile if I handle them to roughly they'll br-"

"Kylie!" His voice was sharp and I shut up immediately as I stared at him, black was quickly gaining and I clenched my hands into fists. "I don't. Care. Go pack NOW. What you have will go, what you don't won't! Am I clear?"

My eyes flicked up and I stared at him for a few moments in the eye. That numbness left in my anger before I bit the inside of my cheek and felt blood of my mouth and turned my head spitting it out immediately before more filled. This time I swallowed before getting to my feet. "Artemis! Apollo!" I called as I turned back into the house, the two came running and I reached into the laundry room, the two cat carriers that my parents had bought soon in my hands as I opened them for the two to go in.

"The cat's-"

I cut him off snarling, "GO."

I watched him pause and stare for a moment before glaring and looking off to the side.

"Fine, I have no time for this, go start to empty boxes. I'm timing this hour. Do not worry about clothing." I stared as he glared at me, "I'll take care of it later. They're unimportant at the moment and will waste your time if you pack them."

"We can't catch a morning flight though Eric, you c-"

"Go Pack Woman!" He snarled, I flinched as I wasn't staring at someone that was scary or a vampire, but rather the shadow of a man deeply concerned about something. "I'll taking care of it!"

"…Fine." I turned and paused taking a glance at his aura one last time before running into the house.

His colors concerned me. Something had clearly knocked Eric off his kilter and it was messing with him. I didn't see him as able to be like this but right now something had happened to make him worried. He was worried and nervous… covering it mostly by a steely shield

I think if he was still human he might be having a panic attack. I felt it in my mind, I didn't know why either but the fact he was worried over something was making me rather unsettled as well…

What ever he had been informed of in that phone call had him worried.

I really really hoped it wasn't something to bad. Deciding that it wasn't worth thinking about right now though with my own thoughts in disarray and needing to focus, I moved immediately down the stairs into the basement and I threw away the fact of what just happened and reached for the first box in front of me. One hour was all I got and I needed to use it to the fullest of my ability now. Particularly if we were leaving when it was up.

Shutting my eyes as I threw the contents out I couldn't help but think how much I was going to financial suck from him through college for this. It brought me a little more satisfaction as I threw the empty box to the side and started with the next one in front of me.

A/N: Okay! So things are picking back up, and the plot is taking an interesting turn. Keep in mind this is sorta kinda following the true blood line, so it'll be kinda interesting.