I hope you enjoyed the previous chapter. I want to thank everybody who took the time to read the story. I am definitely enjoying this and I hope you're enjoying it too.

Disclaimer: I am not the owner of these characters. The original story and the characters belong to Charlaine Harris. I am only borrowing them for a little while.

Chapter 3

Every story has two sides, and we need to know the other side for this one...

Eric's POV

"I'm free," I remembered those words as if it was today. The feeling of freedom was new, yet it took over my heart and my soul. It was liberating! I will never forget Ocella' death! Sookie killed him and I will forever be grateful for that. The freedom that I felt that night was unique and that power of free will was indescribable. That day, for the first time, I felt hope. But with my damn luck, hope had lasted only so long.

I left to Shreveport that night, leaving Sookie with the promise of my return "I have to return to Shreveport to see about Pam, to arrange for the things I must do now that Ocella is dead. But as soon as I can, we'll be together again, and we'll make up for our lost time." Little did I know what was waiting for me in Shreveport.

I met with Sookie after that day, but not in good terms. I wanted to keep her from finding out about Freyda, but Pam couldn't keep her mouth shut. Even after I commanded her not to tell her!

How to explain to her that I have been trying my best to break the deal that Ocella made? I have been trying to get out of it, but Felipe de Castro have made it impossible.

Victor took full advantage of his position and made his daily goal to make my life a living hell. His death was nothing but a relief. Curiously, Felipe felt the same. Even if he didn't voice it out loud.

However, other things had come to the King's attention. While Victor's death was a relief for Felipe, but now he saw me as a threat.

Of course the King wanted to know who had helped kill Victor because those involved would be tried as traitors to the crown. He really didn't care about Victor, but he had to keep appearances in front of his Sheriffs. So far, he hasn't found any information, but for how long?

Felipe de Castro and my maker have ruined my life once again. I was resigned to just live to the fullest the short moments that I get with Sookie. To live every minute as if it was the last. But my maker had made sure those moments were cut short. Only the gods know how much I hated him when he was alive. Now, I hated him even more.

I heard footsteps and I knew who that was. I didn't need to see his stupid smile. I wanted to erase it off his face. He entered the room with much enthusiasm and I knew that it won't go well for me.

"Well Eric, we are finished going through all of your assets. I must say that I am impressed of all the different accounts that you have, and the amount of money in them. I am thankful for your donations to the crown. I will make sure the money is well used."

I opened my eyes and his smirk was the first thing I saw. A thousand different ways to kill him crossed my mind within seconds. I looked around and the same walls that have confined me for the last few nights were still here.

The same old, plain brick walls. The only features that decorated the walls were my dried blood and the silver pins that held silver chains. Silver chains that now held me prisoner at his mercy.

I strengthen up, as much as I could; trying not to pull on the chains. My hands were pulled apart until almost tearing my muscles. The silver burnt my skin, but I stared at Felipe de Castro's ridiculous attire to keep me from showing any pain on my face. His cape made him look like a cartoon from the medieval times and he definitely behaved like one.

Suddenly, my senses were in full alert. My vision blurred, and it was then when one of Felipe's guards brought a human. The woman's mouth was covered with a black piece of cloth and her hands were tied with a piece of rope in front of her. Her face was dirty with tears and black makeup. The guard left the room leaving her here.

My fangs were instantly out and I launched at her, full force, but the silver chains around my wrists held me in place. And they hurt. They hurt badly. I hissed from the pain and hunger.

I could barely control myself; my body continued pulling forward towards the woman while the silver kept digging deeper into my skin with each pull. I risked to have my hands amputated, but I was too hungry.

Felipe pulled her by her hair until she was in front of him.

He looked at me with malevolence in his eyes. "I heard that you are on a special diet. Three nights going on four without feeding. Or is it four going on five? I think I lost track." He said while his free hand followed his ridiculous autocratic gestures.

I growled out of hunger and anger; I had a strong desire to drain the human.

He smiled at me and sank his fangs in the human's neck with extra force. The human struggled against him, but his hold kept her in place. All too soon, her body went limb and she fell on the floor. Dead.

The last few drops of blood were still coming out of her ripped neck, and were piling on the floor. The smell took over my body. My mouth was too dry and my body hurt with hunger. I could picture myself tasting that blood. I wanted to taste her.

The same guard entered the room again and dragged the body out. Her piled blood was still there. On the floor. Tempting me. My entire vision zoomed in on the blood while the room stopped existing for me.

His non-welcome voice brought me out of the trance and my eyes were fixed on him. He cleaned his bloody mouth while speaking to me.

"As I was saying before we were rudely interrupted with my meal... Now that the money subject is out of the way, we need to discuss other matters." He said while folding the bloody napkin and placing it inside his jacket's pocket.

"You have been trying to disregard your maker's contract, and wish, of your marriage to the queen of Oklahoma. You know that any respectable vampire would honor his maker's last words. Unfortunately, now that your maker found his final death in your wife's hands, it is up to you and me to make sure his wish is fulfilled. Of course, in this case, you are not willing to do so... yet. This is why I made it my duty to help you prioritize your decisions.

"There are many things that I shouldn't have to tell you since you already know them, but I feel the obligation to do so because it seems that you have forgotten. A marriage between two vampires has more value than one with a human, and unfortunately Mees Stekhuss falls into that category.

"Freyda has graciously taken a like on you and for whatever reasons she wants you by her side. I understand that your age and experience are invaluable. Not to mention the power that comes with it. Personally, I know many others that would be better suitable for her, but who am I to refuse her wish.

"It is up to me to decide whether this marriage takes place or to grant your freedom. Of course, if I do the later, then you could continue your marriage with Mees Stekhuss.

"I find terribly offensive that you took Victor's life on your hands without my authorization. Not that I would ever authorize it anyway.

"But the fact that you dared to make such decision, overpowering my word, is considered betrayal to your kingdom, punishable with the final death. You went to great pain planning against victor, and you were not alone. That sole information shows me that I am surrounded by traitors. I am willing to bet that your progeny was involved, but who else was part of it?"

For the name of every God I have ever known, this man could talk! His need to be the center of attention boiled my almost dry blood inside my veins. But no matter what, I will never betray those that put their trust on me.

"Nobody. I already told you everything I know. You are using Victor's death to punish me for it, even though you really didn't care for him. You knew what he was doing. Yet, you turned your head the other way and chose not to see."

Felipe paced across the room, impatiently. "That was not the question I asked." He stopped across the room from me and smiled.

"Phillip!" Felipe de Castro called and a vampire walked into the room. He stood in front of Felipe de Castro, waiting for his orders. "Mr. Northman is sleepy. Wake him up."

Phillip walked out of the room at vampire speed and then returned with a bucket. Without wasting any time, he threw the contents on me. This time I closed my eyes and prepared myself for what was coming. The liquid burnt my opened flesh at first touch, and continue burning as it slid down my naked body, piling up at my feet. My body was on fire! I cringed my teeth and growled loud. They were growls of pain. Phillip left the room without saying a word.

"Are you awake now Mr. Northman? The water mixed with silver should help you to stay awake." Felipe looked at me with a sadistic smile, enjoying the moment. I wanted to kill him. My mind was plotting a thousand different plans for his final death, and all of them were overdosed with pain. But there was one little inconvenience; all of my plans required me to be free.

"Good. Let's continue with our conversation." He paced in front of me and continued talking, "As I was saying, it is up to me to either make you comply with your maker's decision or to free you from it. I see myself liking the idea of your permanent relocation to Arkansas. I ensure you that Mees Stekhuss will be protected. I will personally protect her." His smile told me all the things that he was planning to do to Sookie.

I growled, angry at his statement. How could he fucking dare to threaten my wife! I pulled the chains to break them off the walls, but to no avail. That only hurt my wrists, muscles, and now my bared bones.

"Let's go straight to the point Mr. Northman. Either you honor your maker's last wish or I would be forced to take over all of your assets which include your progeny, your wife, and all the vampires that report to you. Fangtasia, all of your houses, and your bank accounts are already mine. Would you like me to have Pam and Sookie too? Sookie can spend her days and nights with me. My house is big enough and so is my bed. I still don't understand your obsession over her. Maybe I should taste her and see what's the big deal with her. Think about it and we will talk tomorrow again."

He left immediately, leaving me here for another day, week, or who knows how long. One of us will have to give in, and that won't be me!

I hope you enjoyed it. If you have any questions or comments feel free to do so. I would like to know if you're enjoying the story.