Hi! Enjoy you'll get another chapter later and that'll be it for this week :)

This is a Story About Control

Sam stayed in the room until Mercedes fell asleep again, he quietly went downstairs into his office and let out a deep sigh. He didn't know how to handle this and he didn't know how he was going to convince Mercedes to stay until he could find a way. She kept repeating that he was horrible to her but she never mentioned anything about her parents.

"Mr. Evans." He heard after there was a knock on the door, he turned and saw Sara standing there.

"I thought I told you to go home." He said checking his watch.

Sara nodded, stepping into his off and closing the door. "I did but I came back to prepare dinner for Ms. Jones and to tell you about your brother." She replied.

Sam groaned. "Can it wait until tomorrow?"

"No, it can not." Sara answered, handing him an envelope. "I asked my son to trail him and this is what he found."

Sam opened it and pulled the pictures out, he skimmed through them before shaking his head. "What am I looking at?"

Sara sighed. "Exactly what you think it is… I was fearful that Steven was using again but he's not, he's a father and trying to get to know his son."

Sam ran his hand through his hair. "Do you know how old he is?"

"Seven."

Sam sat back on his desk and shook his head. "That means he was still in high school, who's the woman he got pregnant with?"

Sara shrugged. "This was all my son could get for me…"

"Thank you. Is there any way your son could find out information on Mercedes? I have a feeling that something terrible is about to happen."

"Certainly… Do you know anything about her besides her name?" Sara asked, grabbing a piece of paper and a pen.

"Just that she has a brother and that her Nana took care of her. Her name was Elise but I'm not sure if it was her maternal or paternal grandmother." He replied.

"I'll pass the information along and get back with you when I can." She said before walking out to prepare dinner.

Sam went over to his desk and rubbed his temples before he started doing some last minute accounting trying to keep his mind from wandering about the woman who was sleeping in his bed.

"MERCEDES!"

Mercedes jerked awake, feeling sweat all over and seeing that she was in a dimly lit room. She started to panic before seeing the tray of food on the end table that was still steaming and let out a soft breath. She was safe, she was still at Sam's being held hostage.

"You're not being held hostage." She heard and her eyes grew seeing Sam walk out of the en-suite bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist and another towel draped around his shoulders that he was using to dry his hair with.

"I- so you're reading my thoughts now?"

He looked at her hard before walking closer and placing the tray of food on her lap. When he was close enough he saw the beads of sweat on her forehead and chest. He pulled the towel that was around his shoulder and wiped her forehead, then lightly did the same to her chest.

"You should eat before it gets cold. Sara, came back just to cook this for you." He explained and she just nodded.

"So she does take care of you cause you're a brooding vampire."

Sam leaned in close before smirking. "Sara does not take care of me. I am a grown man and I can take care of myself, she didn't come to cook for me."

Mercedes narrowed her eyes at him. "You seem to really want me to eat, I'm guessing vampires prefer their victims to be full before biting them." She quipped.

"Isn't that more up your alley. Feed them then throw them into ovens or is it only with kids?" He bounced back.

She held back her smile. "I'm sure I could make an exception but you wouldn't have much to offer me."

"Wow… I would say get a room but here we are…" They heard and looked towards the door where Stevie was standing. "I did what you asked, this was waiting there."

Sam looked at Mercedes one last time before walking over and grabbing the manila envelope from him. "Anything else?"

"Nah, everything was still intact and I had Jake and a few of Noah's men keep an eye out." He replied moving past his brother, smiling at Mercedes as he hopped on the bed next to her.

"Dude." Sam said, shaking his head. "Let her eat in peace."

"I haven't done anything." Stevie replied dismissively. "So, the Grinch let you in his room… that's a first."

Mercedes giggled. "Grinch also fits him, I've been calling him a vampire this whole time." She quipped and Sam rolled his eyes while Stevie chuckled.

"Hey, we can make Grinch seasonal for the holidays and vampire for every normal day." He joked, making her laugh harder.

"I love that, maybe something special for Halloween like Ghoul."

Stevie nodded. "I knew I liked you, what did Sara make you? She's seriously the best cook."

Mercedes looked down at the food, smiling. "Beef stew, crazy. This is what my Nana would make me when I just needed some comfort food." She replied and Stevie smiled at her.

"Well." He said, shifting so that he was in front of her and grabbed the tray. "I can personally attest to just how amazing this is and you don't want it to get cold, here." He scooped up a spoonful and presented it to Mercedes.

She smiled before allowing him to feed it to her and immediately groaned. "Wow, that is really good. I can't remember the last time I had food this good."

Stevie blushed. "I haven't had Sara's cooking in a while either…"

She took the spoon from him doing the same. "We'll share. I used to share food with my little sister all the time when she came over, it drove my nana crazy." She said holding the spoon up and he gladly accepted.

"You have a younger sister? Maybe I have a chance with her since Sam here clearly isn't letting you out of his sight." He joked and she laughed.

"Well, had… she… passed and I doubt that vampire wants to be babysitting me."

Stevie looked over his shoulder and could tell Sam had some form of feeling towards her. "What is your other favorite food? I'm a fan of her homemade pizzas, she used to let me help her make them."

She smiled seeing that he clearly adored Sara. "Well hopefully she'll bless me with that honor one day."

Stevie nodded, pushing the tray closer to her and slipping out of the bed. "I'll ask and see." He said before walking away to leave but stopped at his brother. "Don't mess it up." He muttered, then left completely.

Sam shot his brother a look before looking back at Mercedes who seemed to be in better spirits. That was Stevie way around anyone who ever met him, he was so easy and calm. Sam often wished he could have that effect on people but then he would immediately remember that people annoyed him to great lengths.

"Your brother is nice." Mercedes said, taking another bite of food. "How is it that you are so grumpy and your siblings are so… not grumpy."

Sam sat the folder down and walked over to the bed. "They didn't and don't carry the same burdens as I do and they never will." He answered and for a moment Mercedes saw sadness in those green eyes of his.

She sighed before scooping up some stew and holding it up to him. "I've never seen you eat before…" She said and he frowned.

"I think I want to keep it that way." He replied, jokingly. Mercedes scuffed before sitting up on her knees and moving closer to him.

"Vampires eat, so eat." She said holding the spoon closer, he smirked, shaking his head.

"No, thanks." He replied, pushing the spoon away. "I'm going to get dressed, enjoy the food."

Mercedes furrowed her eyebrows before grabbing the knot on his towel. "Eat." She said and he sighed before begrudgingly taking the spoonful of food.

"Happy?" He asked and she just looked at him before scooping up another and presenting it to him. "Mercedes…"

"Which one is it?" She asked and he froze.

He took the bite of food, shaking his head. "Which one is what?"

"You didn't want to eat and I haven't seen you eat since being here except once." She said and he shook his head. "I had a friend who was just like that, so I'll ask again, which one is it?" She questioned scooping up another spoonful.

"I have body dysmorphia… happy? You're not the only one that doesn't like getting personal. The only difference is I haven't forced you to do it like you just did me." He said before walking out.

Mercedes sat back down and hit herself on the head. "Good job, Mercedes." She muttered to herself.

"Quinn, why haven't you touched your food?" Mercedes asked, sitting next to her friend.

The blonde haired woman sighed. "My parents… they expected me to look a certain way and now it's hard for me to eat regularly without feeling bad about it." She replied.

Mercedes and Quinn had been living together for a few months and Mercedes was starting to see a pattern in her eating habits which were becoming very concerning to her. Whenever they would eat out which was incredibly rare, she noticed that Quinn would just take a few bites then move her food around like she was eating.

"Why would they do that?" Mercedes asked and Quinn looked away.

"I was in pageants and being brought up to be a socialite so can't be Lucy Caboosy… they sent me away when the weight wasn't coming off fast enough and told me that if I didn't come back twenty pounds lighter, I wouldn't be living with them." She explained.

"Oh… wow, I didn't know. Is it difficult? Are there any comfort foods we could get?" Mercedes asked and Quinn shot her a sad smile.

"Just… if you notice me not eating, say something. Just don't do it harshly… it'll make me not want to do it even more."

Mercedes smiled and nodded. "Okay deal! I can promise to try."

Quinn wrapped her arms around Mercedes, hugging her. "Thank you, Cedie!" She said. "You really are the best friend I've ever had."

Mercedes hugged her back. "You're mine too."

Mercedes finished her food, deciding to take it down to the kitchen herself. She was sure if she didn't try to leave that Sam wouldn't scold her for leaving the room. She walked carefully down the stairs, she could tell by the weight of the tray that it wasn't a cheap one. She remembered her family had a set of special dishes that looked similar to the ones Sara had been serving her food on.

She walked into the kitchen and placed the food down before hearing muffled talking, she knew it was wrong to eavesdrop but she still slowly inched her way to the voices.

"Are you certain this was all that was left there?"

"Dude, I checked and that was all that was there." Stevie replied and Sam took the contents of the folder and looked through them before shaking his head in disbelief.

"This… this can't be… holy fuck." Sam said. "She can't see these and you can't speak about this to anyone."

"Sam, did you read what it's saying? There was an investigation into her, and she was arrested… she was arrested for murder."

Mercedes let out a gasp before quickly covering her mouth and running back upstairs. She needed to get out of there and she needed to get away from Stowe, if Nathan was already here then she needed to get as far away as she could.

She threw off the shirt Sam put on her and looked around for the clothes he had Sara bring up for her. "Shit, shit…" She said looking around before grabbing her phone and sending a text.

"Mercedes, I need to-" Sam said, stopping when he walked inside. "Oh, sorry… I should've… knocked." He said looking at the scar on her back before she turned, quickly grabbing the blanket and wrapping it around herself.

"I… can you let me get dressed." She said, right as her phone went off. She looked at it and felt the air leave her lungs.

Sorry, sugar. You gotta stop running.

"We need to talk." He said, taking a step closer and she shook her head replying to the message.

"No, we don't. I need to leave." She said, dropping the blanket figure he'd already seen her so it didn't matter now.

Sam watched and she pulled on a pair of jeans and a shirt before looking for her shoes, he walked over by the door and picked up her heels and handed them to her.

"You don't need to leave Mercedes…" He said and she huffed.

"You can have the bookshop, I'll make up a bill of sale tomorrow. I'll have to break my lease… I can pay whatever you need me to pay to cover the rest of it." She said, slipping her shoes on as her phone chimed again.

You gotta face this demon.

I can't!

Jane died trying to help you and ran after. You're the only one that can stop him.

Unique… please.

No.

Mercedes wiped her eyes, wanting to scream, everything was spiraling and she had no control. All it took was her brother sending her a three word note for her to revert back to that scared girl running for her life. She'd been here for a year and hadn't looked over her shoulder once but she should've known better, she should've known buying something that big would put him on her radar, especially since she had to register the building.

"Mercedes, I get that you feel this need to run but you can stay here… you are safe." Sam said, interrupting her thoughts.

"My brother is a dangerous person and I just… I can't let him get to me, not here. This little town is perfect and I don't need my past ruining it so I have to go."

Sam gently grabbed her arm, pulling her into him. "You don't, you are safe." He assured as Mercedes began to cry and try to move out of his embrace. "You have nothing to worry about, this town may be small but we rally."

She placed her head on his chest, trying to figure out a way to leave without anyone knowing. "I believe you." She said looking up at him and she did but she still couldn't risk it. Sam looked down at her, using his thumbs to wipe her tears away.

"I see the gears working in your head, it's okay to trust vampires, you know?" He replied before leaning down and placing a tender kiss on her lips. She kissed him back figuring she should get the feeling out of her system now because she was leaving after her opening, she would just have to go around Samuel Evans.

"Welcome to Timberholm Inn, how can I assist you today?"

"Yes reservation for Jones, party of two."

Marley tilted her head, smiling. "Jones? Any relation to Mercedes Jones?" She asked, accessing their reservation as the man shook his head.

"Can't say that I know that name." He replied.

"Mhm, it's a common last name. Here's your key and I hope you enjoy your stay!" Marley said, handing him his key as a beautiful blonde came smiling.

"Everything set?" She asked and the man nodded.

"Sure is, come on, let's get settled."

I want to say that things start to get brighter but you know the saying about going through the storm first.