A/N: I would like to thank everyone that reviewed and showed their support. I really appreciate it. I hope you like this one, and if you don't then I'm sorry. I'll try harder on the next one.

Chapter 3: Person of Interest

"What do you know about her?" Days had passed since Eric's encounter with Celeste at Fangtasia and in her home. He could still taste the sweetness of her skin in his mouth and his hands buzzed from the sensation of touching her. Celeste had been on his mind nonstop. Even when he slept, Eric would awaken with a strong desire and urge that drove him on the verge of madness. His appetite for her had not been satisfied and the hunger that lingered over him ceased to vanish. However, Eric found momentary release from his uncontrollable suffering from humans that happily and willingly threw themselves at him. Sometimes there would be three or four women in his bed, but the gnawing desire would only increase and he would find other women to (hopefully) fill his insatiable appetite. Eric cursed himself for lacking self-control and letting Celeste have the horrible effect on him. Fangtasia was still buzzing with people when Pam sat down next to him to tell him what he wanted to know.

"Her name is Celeste Isabelle Monroe." Pam started in monotone, showing no interest whatsoever in the topic at hand. "She is twenty-four, currently works as a bartender at a bar outside of Bon Temps called Henry's Grill. Very popular place when it comes to sports and karaoke."

"What else?" Eric tapped his fingers on the wooden arm rest and scoped out the area, hoping that a familiar person that had made him feel distressed and empty would come in.

"Her parents died in a car crash when she was nine. Went from orphanage to orphanage until she finally settled with her uncle when she was sixteen, She lived in Montana during this time. When she came of legal age she moved to New York City and shared an apartment with a friend. After that, her record gets a little more interesting." Pam said with a smirk, leaning closer to Eric.

"Tell me." However, just before Pam was about to speak, a familiar face walked in. The corner of his lip turned up in a grin.

"This better be good Eric. I only have fifteen minutes until I have to go back to Merlottes." Sookie placed her hands on her hips. Eric always liked seeing Sookie Stackhouse in her uniform. The tight fitting white shirt with the Merlottes logo on it starched across her breasts, making them looks firmer and bigger. The tan shorts also did amazing things to her ass and legs.

"I have a job I would like you to do." He waited for her response and when she did say anything he continued. "The incident with Longshadow made me . . . curious, about how my other businesses are being run and how the finances are being handled. Especially since I am not there personally to deal with them. I would like you to attend meetings with me and listen in on my employees. Of course you will be graciously compensated. "

"Am I going to be attacked again?"

"Of course not. You will be with me the entire time." Eric said this with a smirk.

"Well Bill's coming with me then."

"No, he isn't. I can't have another incident like last time happening." Eric recalled Bill killing Longshadow in his presence and the results of his actions. Bills affection for Sookie clouded his judgment and made him irrational. He would kill every man, woman, and child if it meant keeping is beloved safe.

"Well then you can forget it." Sookie turned on her heel and walked out of Fangtasia. Eric sank deeper into his seat. He knew that Sookie would never go without Bill, but if he presented her with the next best thing then he could most certainly persuade her to agree with him. Eric got up from his seat.

"Pam, where is that bar at?"

* * *

Celeste put the twelve shot glasses on the table and grabbed the Tequila and Scotch. She had no idea why the overly large group of thugs wanted Tequila with Scotch, last she checked it made a horrible combination. She crossed the spouts of the drinks to make an X and quickly filled the dozen glasses in a row with one quick sweep. The men greedily took their drinks and gulped them down in one go, yelling and thumping chests. They banged the shots on the table and yelled for more.

"Okay, okay!" Celeste yelled above their drivel. She quickly filled their glasses and slapped her hands on the table and told them to pay twenty-four bucks before moving to the next customer at the bar before the gang could yell at her again. "What can I get you?"

"A dirty margarita." Said a woman.

"How dirty you want it?" Celeste yelled over her shoulder as she started to prepare the drink by the cabinet where all the liquor was.

"Filthy." The woman replied. Celeste stifled a laugh and presented the woman with her filthy margarita.

"That's five bucks even." The woman pulled one out of her pocket and gave it to Celeste. For some reason the bar was really busy. Celeste could barely get a moments breath as the customers rolled in one after the other, and to her dismay, in large groups. But there was supposedly a huge sports event. Football and other sports were coming to a close as the season came to an end. The bar was crowded and there was only one other person working with her, Lucy. Who was drinking more than she was making actual drinks.

"Having fun?" Celeste asked as she switched a few bottles with Lucy's and filled a cup with ice.

"Totally, it never gets like this." She said with a huge grin.

"Well you can count on a huge paycheck at the end of the week." Both shared quick silent glances with each other and burst out in laughter, continuing to prepare the drinks they had forgotten about. Celeste ran to the other end of the bar and handed a man his drink and took different orders at once. She was working on five drinks a once when another customer moved up to the bar.

"Hey, welcome to Henry's Grill, what can I get you?" She said while focusing on the drink she had at hand.

"How about you and I get out of here and head back to your place to finish what we started." The man said in a low, but husky whisper. Celeste laughed.

"You're funny. Seriously what do you want?" She pulled a bottle out from under the counter and poured a warm brown liquid into a shot glass, sliding it down to the customer on Lucy's end.

"You." He placed his hands on the counter in front of her; however, she didn't seem to notice. She handed the last few drinks out that she had.

"It seems to me you've had a few too many drinks already." She said with a grin. Celeste looked up at the man and her breath hitched in her throat. "What are you doing here?" Celeste wiped her hand on the black apron around her waist. At the sight of him, her mind immediately went to what happened in her bedroom sometime ago.

Eric leaned over on the counter and gave her an once-over. "You look absolutely delicious. But I prefer what you had on the other night; much easier to take off."

"Really?" Celeste grabbed a rag from under the counter and started to wipe it down. "Maybe it would be easier to take off; then again, you'd still have to get your hands on me." She said in a teasing tone.

"I will. Don't doubt that." Eric leaned in closer and grazed his forefinger against her chin. "You're already getting used to my touch." Celeste leaned in closer, their lips barely touching.

"What do you want Eric?" Celeste nipped his bottom lip with her teeth, pulling away before Eric could pull her in closer. She threw the rag back under the counter and waited for him to answer.

"I need a favor." Eric leaned over the counter and focused wholly on her. Unfortunately for him, she was so busy that she couldn't focus on him. He watched her as Celeste focused on making the drinks and passing them to customers. She quickly collected the money and stuffed it in the already filled pockets in her apron.

"You need a favor? Does it involve some heavy touching?" She said with a smirk, giving him a quick glance.

"Sadly no. I know how disappointed you must be." Eric leaned in closer to her; he took in a deep breath and inhaled her scent, locking it away in his memory. He was about to continue telling her about the favor needed when suddenly to men went behind the bar.

"Where the hell have you been?" Celeste yelled, giving them her full attention. She placed her hands on her hips and waited for them. Eric looked at them too. They were completely disorganized and apologized countless times to Celeste. They fumbled under the counter and quickly wrapped the black aprons around their waists. One of them quickly passed by her and went next to Lucy.

"Where have you been Josh?" Celeste yelled at him while she prepared a few beers.

"I'm sorry Cici! I had to take my friend to the airport."

"I don't care! You were supposed to be here forty-five minutes ago! Lucy and I have been working nonstop for the past two hours." She yelled in his direction again. Eric watched Celeste as she scolded . . . Josh.

"Sorry. I had to get some things done."

"So a phone call would have been asking too much from you Josh?" Celeste slid the beers down the table and took the money, shoving it into her apron. Josh shook his head and continued taking orders and making drinks. "I'm getting sick of your bullshit Josh, I really am."

"Yeah well I'm getting sick of you too Cici." He slid a bottle in her direction and she put it under the counter.

"Do you really want to do this now?" She asked in a patronizing tone. Josh looked at her and scuffed. "I'm serious Josh. You're always late and dicking around. And it's pissing me off. You fuck up one more time I swear to God I'll go to Henry." With that, the conversation came to an awkward and abrupt conclusion. Celeste let out a deep breath and wiped down the counter. Eric stared at her for a moment. He had only seen a few sides of her, she was kind and caring, had a sense of humor, and most of all was a tease and very tempting. Eric wanted to learn more about her and with Pam informing him of her past, he would figure her out very quickly . . . or so he thought. He liked what he saw though. Watching Celeste scold her fellow human and get heated up with anger and frustration was stimulating and exciting to Eric.

"I like seeing you angry." He said. Celeste looked at him and sighed. She had forgotten that he was still there.

"You're not the first to say that." She shrugged her shoulder and removed her apron, going around the bar to Eric's side. Celeste walked past him and went to the back and returned with a large container. Eric went to her side and spoke as she cleared down a few tables and wiped them down, placing the dirty dishes in the container.

"I still have a favor to ask of you."

"Eric I'm busy as you can see. Come by some other time." Celeste grabbed the container and returned to the back, Eric quick on her heels. She entered the kitchen, set the container next to the sink and came back to see Eric waiting for her. He grabbed her hand and went out the back door next to the kitchen and pinned her next to the adjacent wall.

"What do you think you're doing?" Celeste said in complete frustration. Eric smirked and traced her bottom lip with his thumb. He made a hissing sound.

"That almost hurt." His hands slid down her sides and rested on her hips. "My little Celeste. What are you doing to me?"

"I don't know what you're talking about." She hissed back.

"I most certainly think you do. Since our last meeting I've missed you quite terribly."

"So I've heard. Having four women in your bed at once must be very difficult for you." Celeste replied in a mocking tone. One of Eric's hands went to her face, cupping her cheek.

"If you gave yourself to me then I wouldn't have to go to such measures to find . . . release." Celeste smirked at his response, her hands slowly slid up his chest and she chewed on the corner of her lip.

"You said you needed a favor. What is it?"

"I need you to come with me to Fangtasia. Some things have come up and I require your services."

"Require or desire?" Celeste said in a teasing tone.

"Both." There was a momentary pause. Eric pressed his body closer to hers, causing Celeste to gasp in the sudden influx of pressure. Eric moved his hand to the back of her neck and clutched a hand full of hair, taking in her scent again. She was intoxicating and irrisistable. He felt her move her pelvis back, his arousal growing between his legs. He grinned and decided, just to see what she would do, to release her. Celeste let out a faint whimper that would only be detectable by a vampire; Eric's grin grew. "Since you have this gift of keeping people away," Celeste could sense the double meaning in his words. "I need you to look after a person of interest for me."

"You want me to be a body guard?" Celeste huffed at the idea. She only used her force field to protect herself, rarely anyone else. Not only that, she thought Eric would have had a more interesting and personal favor to ask of her.

"Yes."

"And this person?"

"Her name is Sookie Stackhouse. She works at Merlottes and is a mind-reader." Celeste laughed a little too hard at the last sentence and started towards the back door.

"Okay, no you're just screwing with me." She said through small fits of laughter. Eric went to the door and blocked it with his body, crossing his arms over his chest, before she could open it.

"As much as I wish I could, I am not. She will only work for me if Bill Compton goes with her, however, I have strictly forbidden him not to."

"Am I supposed to know who that is?"

"Bill is Sookie's . . . lover. When it comes to her safety he is irrational and childish."

"So you want me to convince both of them to let this Sookie person go because she will supposedly be safe with me because of my ability to make a force field out of thin air that is nearly impenetrable all so you can handle some business and get her alone?" Celeste said with a sharp tongue. Eric bit down on his bottom lip. When she put it that way, it almost seemed true. But he didn't want to get Sookie alone, he wanted to get Celeste alone, away from everyone in Bon Temps. Eric was only using the business thing and getting Sookie to tag along as an excuse for her to be with him. Yes he would look after Sookie and make sure she didn't get into too much trouble, but his main objective was to make as many moves on Celeste as possible and have her in his bed before they returned to Bon Temps.

"I'm not using you to get Sookie alone. Remember that you and I made a deal. I only wish to make sure she is safe when we travel."

"Sure you do. And for future reference, if I'm traveling, it's where I wanna go, not because you need a body guard to protect your person of interest." Celeste put her force field up and pushed him aside, opening the door and going back to the bar.