Thank you for the reviews, everyone! Some time jumping in this chapter!
~Eric!~Eric!~Eric!~Eric!~
Eric's POV
~Eric!~Eric!~Eric!~Eric!~
"I have one question for you though." She looked at me curiously. "Would you move in with me?"
Now:
She looked at me surprised. "Yes; I would love to."
I landed on the ground and she kissed me heatedly. I quickly and eagerly returned it with a smile on my face and hers as well. I stopped kissing her though, since she had to take the test tomorrow. She adorned a slight frown, making her lips look more kissable. I chuckled and kissed her again.
"Thank you, Bella." I gave her one last light kiss before setting her on the ground, keeping an arm around her. "We can talk more about that tomorrow, okay?" She nodded. I led her to the front door of the house.
"Can you tell if Sookie is still awake?" she asked me.
I concentrated my hearing on where Sookie, and Bill Compton, were. They were talking of how much they disliked me; defamation. Sookie had also mentioned of not being able to wait for Bella to arrive; Bill agreed. "Yes, she is. It seems she is waiting for you. Her boyfriend is here as well."
She was genuinely surprised. "You mean the vampire with her earlier?" I nodded, and she came closer to me for support, which caused me hold her even closer. "Don't leave me. I don't trust him or her anymore."
"I won't." I quickly thought of another possible solution, if she was agreeable to it. "If you woke up early enough, I could have someone bring you from Shreveport in the morning. You would only need to go in and get what you need to bring with you."
She looked up and nodded before kissing me. "Thank you. Will you come in with me?"
I smiled, happy she would do such a thing. "Of course." My smile turned into a smirk as I thought of how Bill Compton would react and how I could make his life miserable if he tried anything; even better would be making him leave my area. I heard Bella chuckle.
She pulled on my hand to get my attention at first, but kept pulling to the door. "Eric, will you please come in?"
"Why thank you, my lady." I bowed and kissed the back of her hand, like was common and proper over a century before.
She giggled and I winked when I looked back up. We went inside and she started towards the second story. Sookie came out of her room, followed by Bill. She saw me and wasn't happy.
"What are you doing in here? How did you even get in?" she asked me quickly. "Bella, you need to come over here by Bill and me. You can't trust him."
I could feel Bella's disbelief as I informed Sookie, "Bella wanted my help to get ready what she needs for tomorrow."
Sookie stared at me for a short second before accusing me. "You glamoured her! Eric Northman, I rescind your invitation."
I noticed Bill smirking, and growled, as I was forced out of the house. Bella turned to Sookie, mad, and I think my emotions were a little overflowing because I felt her became angrier. I kept my eye on Bill, noticing how he kept close to Sookie, and how sometimes he concentrated. It was then my theory came to be.
"Sookie, Eric did not glamour me. I can't be glamoured actually. I invited him in because I wanted his help. Eric, come in." I instantly rushed to her side.
Bella and I stared at Sookie and Bill and vice versa. Bill may not have noticed I was paying such close attention, and had kept partially concentrated on Sookie. It was easier for him as he was touching her. I heard footsteps and a heartbeat getting closer.
"What's going on out here?" the old woman voiced.
Sookie turned to Adele. "Gran, it's okay. You can go back to reading."
Adele rolled her eyes, and I heard and felt Bella trying not to laugh. I felt my own lip twitch in amusement. Bill agreed with Sookie and said nothing was happening, but I saw more to it than Bella likely did. He looked like he was concentrating on something, making my theory even more plausible. I spoke up and told Adele the truth against the Bill and Sookie.
"Mrs. Stackhouse, it seems your granddaughter thinks I glamoured Bella into letting me in when Bella merely wanted my help."
Adele turned to Sookie. "Is this true?"
Sookie looked madder, and Bill concentrated again. "No! He glamoured her!"
I felt Bella become more annoyed. "I can't be glamoured. You, however, are entirely hypocritical. You are with a vampire, yet you seem to think I can't be with one."
"I'm 25; you're only 18. You don't have enough rational thought yet, or experience to make a proper decision about being with a vampire," she explained. "Eric, I rescind your invitation."
I was pushed back out, and felt Bella being overcome with disbelief, irritation, and anger. Sookie Stackhouse and Bill Compton were quickly becoming on a list that usually resulted in death. I saw Bill smirk, which merely increased my ire.
I heard Bella whisper. "I rescind your invitation, Bill."
The look on his face as he flew through the air being pushed out was absolutely incredible. It was one of astonishment and anger, as well as shock. I stepped aside to avoid being the impact and laughed as he landed on the ground roughly with a grunt of pain. I heard Sookie gasp and yell for Bill. He pushed himself up off the ground and walked over to the door beside me.
"You need to leave, and leave Bella alone," Bill had the nerve to say.
"No." There was no need for him to get pushy on something that didn't belong to him.
"Sookie, though I may be younger than you, I have more rational thought and experience than you do. I took care of my mom since I was a little kid." I heard Adele gasp however a growl escaped through my lips. I didn't know this. Bill looked over at me in question, but a glare quickly made his eyes divert back to Sookie. "As for experience, I have dated a vampire before; it's why Charlie sent me here." I growled at the mention of the Cold Ones; vampires who sparkle? How can you take them seriously? Besides, how dare they leave my mate alone in the woods unprotected against a deranged vampire?! They better hope I never meet them. Bill and I exchanged glares every so often as Adele hugged Bella.
Sookie was upset, and spoke as such. Bill, on the other hand, looked calm as he concentrated hard on Sookie. Since he is so young, he would have a more difficult time of being able to perform what I thought he was doing with such a distance.
"You are still too young and shouldn't be with him," she insisted. "Bill, come in please." He ran to her.
"Eric, come in," Bella whispered. I rushed to Bella's side faster than Bill did to Sookie. I wrapped my arms around Bella so I wouldn't do anything rash and so I knew Bella was safe. Bella put her hands on my arms and kept them there.
"You can't trust him, Bella. He isn't a nice person."
Bella smirked, which made me chuckle since it looked odd on her face. She was so sweet, and no longer as innocent. "You're right." I tensed; did Sookie convince her I wasn't good? I would kill her and Bill if that was the case. "He's not. He's a nice vampire to me and a threat to others." I immediately relaxed back to the state I was in previously. I turned her some and kissed her quickly but passionately. "For that matter, how do you know you can trust Bill?"
She looked shocked. "He saved my life."
Bill looked too smug and overconfident for someone who saved the person he claimed to love as an act of kindness. I decided to inform every one of my theory.
"Did your boyfriend tell you that with enough of their blood they can manipulate your emotions?"
I felt Bella feel shock for a second that turned to trust. That thrilled me, but I didn't let anyone see that. Sookie looked at me, then Bella. "That's what you're doing to her, isn't it? Did you know this, Bella?"
"Yes, I trust him though," she commented, even though I had failed to mention it to her.
"Sookie," Adele called. She looked to the woman. "Leave Bella alone. Eric's intentions are honest when it comes to Bella."
Bella smiled at Adele, and she smiled back. This made me smile a little as well; I was glad some of Bella's family accepted me.
"Gran, he's manipulating her," Sookie exclaimed.
Bill's face was one that had a slight smirk. I knew very much he was doing exactly as we were accusing him of.
"Or Bill is the one manipulating you," Bella stated.
Sookie turned accusing eyes on Bella then turned to Bill. "Tell them they are wrong!" I felt pity coming through the bond from Bella. I wondered why.
"Of course not!" he exclaimed. I could see through the act he was trying to put on. He may have been good enough to fool some especially humans, but to an 1100 year old vampire, he sounded fake and rehearsed.
Sookie smiled, believing him. "Do mind of I stay with you tonight?"
"Of course not," Bill smiled.
Sookie turned towards Adele, and didn't see the look on Bill Compton's face that clearly showed this is what he wanted. "Gran, I'm going to stay at Bill's tonight."
"Okay, dear." She had a small smile, as though she knew.
Sookie ran to her room and packed. Bill was left standing out here, and I kept studying him. He looked very smug and pleased. I knew he was up to something, but the question is what did he want with Sookie Stackhouse? His expression quickly cleared once he realized I was staring at him. When Sookie came back out, they left quickly.
Bella, Adele, and I were left in the house alone. Bella walked to the couch and sat by Adele; I followed and sat on the chair on the other side of the coffee table. Bella told Adele about her plans to stay with me in Shreveport. She understood, and with a mischievous smile, she said to 'have fun'. I smirked at this; it appeared she knew what had happened. Bella told her she would be back tomorrow. She hugged her then Adele went to her bedroom to read some more before going to sleep.
Bella and I went up to her room to gather what she was taking. I took in the room when I walked in. The bedding and curtains were medium and light purple, and were the ones in the trunk of the car the night we met. I saw the flowers I sent in a vase on the dresser and smiled. She retrieved clothes, pencils, and a few necessary things for humans. Once it was in a bag, I picked her up and ran down the stairs at vampire speed. I went out the door and started flying.
"What about my car?" she asked.
I smirked. "You don't need to worry about that. I'll have someone bring you out here, and then when you are finished with the test, he can pick you up and bring you to your car. I'll come when the sun goes down."
She nodded and laid her head on my chest. I felt her sadness and hurt, and the wetness of tears on my shirt.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"I'm fine," is the only response.
I sighed; I hated when people did this. It's the main reason you know for sure they aren't fine when they say 'I'm fine'. "No, you're not."
She looked up at me. "Do you really think Bill could be controlling Sookie's emotions?"
I thought of how he acted around her. He concentrated on her when her temper rose; he looked smug when it worked. "I do. He is enough of a jerk to do something like that. He has calmed some since we first met, but he was very young then. His maker certainly didn't help things. I don't like him, nor do I trust him."
This caused curiosity to pulse through her like her blood. "What happened the first time you met him?"
I smiled at the memories of that time.
~Eric!~Eric!~Eric!~Eric!~
Flashback
I was roaming the streets of San Francisco when I heard a woman scream through the slightly chilly night air.
"That's right, whore. I like it when you struggle." The man's voice was accompanied by the sound of a knife flipping out.
The woman became quiet, and for a moment, all was silent. I ran at vampire speed and with my hand severed the man's throat, but didn't decapitate him. Blood covered the woman's dress, but she didn't scream. She just gasped largely. The blood was pouring out of the man's throat. It seemed a shame to waste blood, but I had other matters to attend. I pulled my hand closer and sucked some of the blood off. It was tainted with alcohol, and certainly didn't stand out; it appeared it wouldn't matter if the blood was wasted, not for someone my age. A younger vampire would perhaps stumble upon his dead body and drain it, but I wouldn't bother.
I listened to the woman's heartbeat, and breathing, and slightly scented the air. There was no fear running through her veins, just shock. "You're not afraid," I commented.
She took a gasp of air before she answered. "I'm no stranger to dead bodies."
"The streets can be dangerous at this hour," I informed her while pulling a cloth out of my pocket and started wiping my hands clean of blood. "A lady should really be more careful."
"If I meet a lady, I'll let her know," she retorted. I smirked and silently chuckled for a moment. She was witty; I liked that.
I looked up at her and noticed she was beautiful, as was her dress. I stepped over the body and walked towards her. I reached into my pocket. "Now, that is a lovely dress. I'm sorry about all the blood," I told her sincerely. For some reason, I felt I had to apologize to the woman I just met.
"It's, um… it's fine." She said flustered.
I pulled some money out of my pocket and handed it to her. "This should cover it." I admired her bosom for a moment before looking back at her face.
"Thank you, mister," she responded.
I smirked and ran away at vampire speed, hearing her gasp in surprise. I started running towards where I would find my next meal, and entertainment. I fully intended to return tomorrow night to visit her brothel. It was known among the city.
The next night, in a different suit, I arrived at the brothel and was shown to a parlor. The madam greeted me, informed me her name was Pam, and showed me all of the women she had available so I could choose.
"We have something to satisfy even the most exotic fancies," she informed me as her girls posed and tried to look enticing. The Chink, we call her Rubber Ruby. Show the gentleman why, would you darling?"
The girl, in a red negligee, lifted her leg up straight, indeed like rubber.
"Mm, delightful," I commented. She turned back around. "But it is you I came to see."
I put a seductive look on my face, and she looked a little annoyed yet desire was there as well.
"A good merchant doesn't compete with her merchandise, sir," she told me, though her body obviously stated she wanted to.
I leaned in closely. "And a good customer knows everything has its price." I walked around her and examined the women before me, all excited at the prospect. I heard Pam take a breath to calm her body. It was then I heard the other vampires, who had apparently drawn attention to themselves. They were draining one of the girls, and glamouring her to say what they wanted. As enforcer of the area, it was my duty to stop them. I walked out of human sight quickly and started using vampire speed until I found them. Pam followed and watched.
"I am just a blood bag; my life is meaningless."
"Good little, whore," said the vampire. "Now say, 'drain me, Daddy, drain me 'til I'm dead.'"
The vampires laughed. "Drain me, Daddy, drain me 'til I'm dead."
The young male bit back down and continued to drink. I chose this moment to walk in using vampire speed with my fangs out. The woman stood up; I recognized her as Lorena Krasiki, a nearly 150 year or so vampire. The vampires were both undressed to undergarments. I immediately picked her up by the throat and held her.
"Get your hands off of her!" the young male shouted.
"William, don't!" Lorena tried to order.
He stood and ran to the fireplace and broke off one of the wooden candlesticks. I threw her into the wall, where she fell to the floor. The man tried to stake me, but I held the make-shift stake in place. I knew Pam was watching. Lorena stood up, and William kept trying to force the stake into me.
"Lorena, you procreated," I stated with smile. I chuckled. "And he is protective; how sweet." I said and looked at her.
After realizing he couldn't win, he asked, "Who are you?"
I looked at him. "Eric Northman, but to you, the true death." I pulled the candlestick out of his grip and threw it out the door. Pam stepped to the side to avoid being hit, and I heard her gasp. It hit the door on the other side of the hall.
William looked back to me after the shock wore off, and tried to reach out; presumably to reach his hand in my chest and pull my heart out, as though he could. Lorena sped over and stopped him. She put her fangs up and looked at me.
"Eric, please, he's new. He doesn't understand," she begged. I considered letting him live.
"I understand perfectly. If Mr. Northman wants a fight, he can fight a man," William antagonized.
I started laughing. "Well, he is brave and loyal. Strong for one so young," I pointed out. I retracted my fangs, still staring at him. "It would be a shame to waste a promising vampire," I looked at Lorena now. "Simply because his maker failed to educate him on how to treat his elders."
"Thank you," she answered nodding.
"Hm." I kept my eye on Lorena, and William.
"We did not know this was your territory. We deeply regret any inconvenience we may have caused," Lorena rattled.
"Oh, it is the lady you owe the apology to," I told them.
They looked stunned for a moment before hesitantly looking at Pam then back at me and I remained in the same stoic, authoritative position I had been in.
"And five hundred dollars for every girl you drained," Pam stated boldly.
Lorena turned towards her in shock. She was certainly not pleased with having to deal with a human civilly. I smirked after a moment. Lorena gave a curt nod.
"We are sorry," Lorena said. Pam inclined her head in acknowledgement. "Aren't we, William?"
I had still been smirking at Pam until now. He walked up to me and stared for a moment before walking out of the room and speeding away. Lorena looked scared for a moment.
"You had better get him under control," I told Lorena before she nodded and sped away.
"I believe we have a debt to settle," spoke Pam.
I turned to her and smiled. I walked over to her and kissed her roughly. We went to one of the rooms and continued further.
End Flashback
~Eric!~Eric!~Eric!~Eric!~
I told Bella the story in a condensed version, and one of my favorite lines she said (about meeting a lady on the street). We both laughed at that.
"That's funny. Did anything happen after that?"
I smiled. "Yes. You've met her before. It's Pam."
She looked shocked. "She was nearly killed?"
I stared at her in disbelief for a moment. "That's the first thing that comes to your mind?" I chuckled as I shook my head; it was surprising that is what she thinks about.
"Well, the comeback doesn't surprise me. She's still like that. However, it's still hilarious!"
I chuckled at her antics and landed on the front lawn. I carried her to the same bedroom as last night. I laid her on the bed and put the bag on one of the tables in the room. I looked at her a little lustfully. Her arousal hit instantly and she started undressing quickly. I chuckled.
"Eager, are we?" I asked, walking over to her.
She nodded. "Yeah."
I leaned in, and she wrapped her arms around my neck before kissing me on the lips. She truly wants more. With regret, I pulled her arms from their hold and backed away.
"As much as I want to, you need your rest if you are going to wake up early enough to go to Bon Temps in the morning to take the test," I reminded her.
She frowned, clearly not happy. "That doesn't mean we can't continue where we left off earlier."
She climbed onto her knees and started undoing the top buttons of my shirt. She got two undone before I pulled her hands away. I leaned down and kissed her.
"I'm sorry, Bella. You need your rest."
I kissed her one last time before releasing her hands and rushing out before I gave into the strong desire to keep claiming her. I went into my office and gathered some files and documents that need reviewed from various ventures and brought them out to the living room. I sat on the couch and went over them, making notes on some and signing off on others. I heard Bella moving around in the room, before coming out into the hallway. I sighed slightly, knowing she wouldn't get much rest; she could be just as stubborn as I was it seemed. She made her way to the living room.
She walked up and leaned over the couch from behind me. She moved her head around and kissed me; I eagerly kissed back for a short minute, but stopped.
"You need to try and get some rest, Bella," I insisted.
A pout adorned her lips. "I don't want to. I want to continue from before."
"Exactly. You want to; however, you need to rest."
She sighed and looked pouty, but I didn't intend on giving in. The only part I ever saw was her neck up. She kissed me on the neck, going closer to the spot where I bite her, and heard Pam coming up behind us. I knew she didn't expect Bella to be here.
"Well, isn't this a nice surprise?"
I quickly rose and came around the couch, now noticing the compromising position Bella had been in and the lack of clothing she had on trying to seduce me. She hid behind me with her arms covering her chest. I chuckled.
"I do say I have to agree," I commented before stepping beside her to turn and admire Bella's body better. The heels made her legs look even longer, and the muscles in her taut stomach were revealed as she only had on panties. She looked delicious.
She blushed and quickly stepped out of the shoes before running to the bedroom. I heard her climb in bed after putting the shoes down. I chuckled.
"It seems Bella is shy," observed Pam.
"So it seems," I agreed. I looked at her. "Can you and Longshadow handle Fangtasia?"
"Yeah." She paused, debating on whether or not to ask. "I thought she was going back home to Bon Temps?"
I sighed. "She was. Sookie was there waiting for her with Bill Compton. They planned on cornering her and trying to convince her to stay away from me." I felt her getting upset at this. "I believe they were even going to try and glamour her." She was mad now, and I hadn't even gotten to the worst. "Sookie and Bella got into a fight, and Compton's reactions and actions lead me to believe that he is manipulating Sookie. He looked like he was concentrating on her, and when he did, she would pretty much do whatever he wanted."
"If that's true, you only need evidence to bring to the magister. You can't go on speculation alone and expect a conviction. If he is doing that, he's breaking the law." She paused and became gleeful. "Does this mean we could end Bill Compton?"
I smirked for a second. "No, however unfortunate that is."
She didn't appear too happy about that, and I agreed. I couldn't do anything though.
"So, do you hear what dear Bella is doing right now?" she asked, with an air of mischievousness.
I focused on the room, and the sounds I heard made my fangs extend. I heard Pam chuckle. "Come back after you finish at Fangtasia; we need to talk more."
She nodded and took off, still chuckling. I zoomed into Bella's room.
~Eric!~Eric!~Eric!~Eric!~
After Bella fell asleep, I untangled myself and got up. I ran to my room and dressed before speeding back downstairs. I knew Pam would be back soon. I went to pick up my files I had been looking through on the various business ventures I was involved in. I carried them to my office, laying them on my desk. I sat down and picked up the phone. I called Bobby and informed him of his new task of taking Bella to Bon Temps High School in the morning. I also added that if she arrived in anything other than perfect condition, the results would be dire. His shaky voice agreed.
After I finished that, Pam arrived. She automatically came in here. She informed me of the damage and the money the club made tonight. It was a good profit. The only damage was a couple of tables and chairs. That could be fixed during the day.
"So, did you have fun?"
I looked up from the file I was reading on Bill Compton on the computer. This was a quick change of subject. "Yes."
She smirked. "What?" I asked.
"You are head over heels aren't you?" I rolled my eyes. "Admit it, you're in love."
I sighed. "Yes, you're point is?"
"She's human." That's all she needed to say. I could feel and see concern coming from her.
"I am well aware of that." I stared in her eyes for a minute. "Why do you care if she's human?"
"I remember the stories you and Godric told me about mates. If something happened and you couldn't make it in time…" she trailed off, with the known ending unspoken.
I sighed, worried. I had thought of that. "I know. I'm worried about that myself. We've only known each other two days. We haven't gotten to that part in our conversations yet."
I knew she was worried about me, and I couldn't blame her. If the stories were true, I dreaded the thought of what would happen even more than Pam, or Godric. According to legends, it is even more painful to lose a child than your maker.
I stood up and walked around to sit in the chair beside Pam. I took her hands in mine and looked into her eyes. "I have every intention of turning her. If something should happen, I want you to become a maker." Her eyes teared up with blood.
She rushed forward in a rare display of emotion and wrapped her arms around me. I held her tightly to me and kissed her forehead as she started to cry for a minute. "Don't talk like that," she mumbled against my chest.
I smirked. "It needed to be said, but let's not make a habit of this emotional stuff. Agreed?"
I felt her smirk and a short laugh escaped. "Agreed."
I kissed her head again before she sat up. She grabbed a Kleenex and cleaned herself up. "Besides, I'm still right here and Bella's safe asleep."
She smiled. "I know."
I leaned back in the chair as Pam got comfortable again. "Bella accepted the offer to move in with me." I smiled. I couldn't wait until she didn't have to worry about school in the morning.
Pam smiled. "Congratulations."
I nodded. "I can't wait until tomorrow is over, then I won't have to worry about keeping her awake at night." I smirked as I commented. I wouldn't have to worry about the time, merely whether or not she is hungry, and of course other human moments.
Pam chuckled. "Are you going to bring her to Fangtasia often?" I raised an eyebrow, and she rolled her eyes. "If you are, I need to know so I can figure out a way to keep the humans off the stage more. I saw her become uncomfortable when the guy climbed up there before you kicked him."
I thought before nodding my head, noting that I would be bringing her. "How do you plan on keeping them away?" I wondered.
She thought for a minute. "Maybe we could install a black velvet rope blocking the path."
I smiled. I liked that idea. "Have it done soon."
She nodded and took out her phone. I stood up and went back to the other side of the desk. I read more of the file about Bill Compton before Pam got up and came around to look as well. She read the part I had on screen before I felt disbelief.
"Well, this could certainly cause problems," she commented.
I nodded. "I think so, too."
Bill Compton is not all he appears to be it seemed.
~Eric!~Eric!~Eric!~Eric!~
It was now nearing the time to wake up Bella. Pam had just gone to the bedroom she had here, since it was too close to dawn. Since it was still dark enough outside, therefore inside, I walked to Bella's room and lied down beside her. At the moment she needed to wake, I kissed her once before gently shaking her.
"Bella," I said.
She stirred before opening her eyes. She smiled at me, and I smiled back. "Good morning," she mumbled.
I chuckled. "Good morning, my Bella. You need to get ready now if you're going to make it to Bon Temps in time."
She nodded. "Okay."
She leaned over to kiss me before sitting up. She gasped, and looked at me guiltily. "I forgot; I'm sorry."
"What?" I asked.
She took on a sheepish, but still guilty expression. "I forgot that I agreed to start working for Sam Merlotte tomorrow; that was before I came to Fangtasia."
I raised my eyebrow. "Sam Merlotte?" I hoped she meant someone other than the shifter.
She nodded. "He owns Merlotte's Bar and Grill. It would be as a waitress."
I repressed the growl threatening to escape. "No."
She looked shocked. "Why?" she exclaimed.
"I don't trust the shifter. Besides, I was hoping you would entertain the crowd at Fangtasia with me; after about a week that is."
"After about a week?" she asked to confirm. I nodded. "Why?"
I smirked and kissed her on her throat. "I'll let you guess."
I instantly smelled her arousal, and she blushed. She quickly began her human routine and was done in around fifteen minutes. I walked with her down to the kitchen. She ate breakfast and grabbed her purse that had pencils in it before sitting in the living room to wait for Bobby to arrive.
He arrived just in time and I kissed Bella on her way out. The look I sent Bobby assured Bella would be safe. I locked the house up before I retreated into my bedroom to get ready to sleep for the day. The last thought on my mind was of Bella.