AN: Tara makes an impact on some of the faeries and learns a little about vampire hunters, while Sookie meets with Queen Sophie Anne.

Elijah is reunited with Tara, only to drop some heavy truth bombs on her.

Songs for this chapter:

Cooler than me- by Mike Posner

Find your love- Drake

I need a doctor- Dr. Dre

Trigger warnings for a moment of DV and rape reference, although I wouldn't exactly call it DV, because technically they aren't dating, their relationship is currently the way Queen Sophie Anne depicts to Sookie. But there is unwelcome intimate moments, it's really subject to interpretation, though it should be taken for what it is. A misread moment on behalf of a hopeful fool.


"So what's in New York?" Tara asked after she slowly exhaled the last drag of her cigarette. Elijah took the bud and pressed it into the ashtray, snuffing it out. Tribal art decorated the heavily tattooed arms that wrapped around her as he leaned back in his lounging chair on the balcony outside of his room. They were each wrapped in his obsidian bedsheets and he'd situated Tara in his lap while she smoked.

"What's in Bon Temps is the better question. Besides bigots like Macey?"

"Tracey,"

"Close enough. Did you really fuck Stacey's man?"

She bit her lip and smiled. "Yes, once after they stopped seeing each other. In the car they bought together. It was trash though, not my finest moment,"

"There's a lot of trash in New York, too," Elijah admitted. His voice drawled on sleepily. "But it has an appeal like no other. Of course, you've got your Bon Temps bigots when you go to certain- like Chinatown, Little India, places like that. They're not fond of anyone but their own kind. Neither is the Upper East Side. But then Central Park and Times Square, in the heart of it all and it's just an amalgamation of culture from all over. It's bursting with vitality, and the young and hopeful,"

"You spend a lot of time people-watching, don't you?"

"I'm very observant. I've watched many of people come of age, fall in love, break hearts, grow old. Sometimes together, sometimes not. People coming into the world, people dying. I've seen some of the most scandalous things unfold, somethings were amazing experiences. Very human things, I've observed touring the area which brought me to the conclusion, most humans aren't so bad. But they're definitely flawed,"

"What about you?" She traced a spear, inked into his forearm. "Have you ever fallen in love in New York? Or anywhere? As old as you are, I'm sure there had to be a time when someone caught your fancy for a little more than a late-night rendezvous,"

"No," Elijah quickly replied with a sudden scoff.

With her head resting against his shoulder, she turned to face him and sat up. She frowned at the sudden scowl on his face.

"Well, I have. Three times,"

He snorted and laughed. "Impossible. You told me you hate New York,"

"Nah, right here at home. Okay, well maybe twice because I'm not counting the unrequited kind," she chuckled. "But I definitely have been bitten by the love bug. Obviously it didn't last or I wouldn't be here with you,"

"Mhmm,"

"You've seen a lot of beautiful and awful things, haven't you?"

"I've seen a lot of things, how about that. Nothing or no one as raw as you, though. I could see it in your eyes, you're so over everyone's shit you didn't even want to humor me when I approached you. If I didn't have the assured attitude I carry, I'm sure you would've started throwing hands,"

Tara relaxed into his embrace again. "I thought you were a white and spoiled trust fund baby, why would I wanna humor that? Most rich people just want to lorde their power and think they can influence me to their fucked up, capitalist way of thinking. My perspective is my perspective and that's only going to change when I see it fit," then she frowned. "Why did you approach me? You know Jessica would probably have went for you, and if you flatter Pam enough she'll spread it wide open for you,"

"Jailbait is a hell no. First of all, she's too young and there are rules regarding the age of consent when it comes to vampirism. That's why she was made underage as a punishment to her Maker," he explained. I thought all vampires didn't know each other, Tara thought, wondering how he knew so much about Jessica's origins. "Also, she wouldn't present much of a challenge. Being so young and naive, she'd be easily done for. Pam, on the other hand, would need something to gain from it. In either case, there is no challenge since they're so predictable,"

"Oh, so I just happened to fall into the convenient category, huh?" She scoffed and attempted to rise from his lap but he held her tight and pulled her back against his chest to graze his lips against his ear.

"I won't lie," His voice dropped an octave as he continued. "I saw a gorgeous baby vampire with a banging body and those lips… the tight little corset you were wearing… Fresh meat. I wasn't exactly thinking with the right head. And the prospect of a mutually gratifying teaching moment with you was too tempting to pass up," Tara pouted at that admission. "Combine your inner struggle about learning control with the fact that I can assist and well, it was just a matter of time until you'd see the opportunity as I did. The challenge was taming the fire in your eyes and convincing you to leave with my white spoiled ass," he grinned with too much satisfaction. "Tonight at least because I'm not one to give up easily,"

She pulled away successfully and turned to face him. "Elijah, I grew up in a town where the only other black people out of a handful of us, are probably related to me. I promise you don't have to be black to get to know me, you just can't be a fucking idiot. I mean, it's different now that I'm a-" she made air quotes. "A hot vampire," Elijah laughed. "But this is still the south. It ain't all rainbows and sunshine for black folk out here,"

"Well, I've been around a long time. Tasted every color of the rainbow and I've come to two conclusions. Men don't do it for me, and it doesn't matter how gorgeous a woman is. If she's a fucking idiot, she's an instant no. And you," he held her close, sliding his hand down her stomach and legs. "Although somewhat misguided thanks to your sham of a Maker, are the smartest and sexiest woman I've met in a very long time,"

In an instant, he flipped them over and stripped them of their sheets.


Third time's the charm. That's what Tara told herself as memories of her experience with one-night stands turned out. First there was Sam and that quickly became complicated since he was in love with her best friend. He had to project those feelings onto her when Sookie rejected him in favor of Bill, which irked Tara since all she wanted was for him to make her forget her life for a few hours. Fuck me, make me forget. That was what she told Franklin and Tara vowed she'd never entertain the affections of a vampire again since sleeping with them apparently made them think they had some claim to your entire life. Her night with Elijah wouldn't have ever happened if she were still human. No way, Josè, no way in hell! She'd have to be blind, deaf, and dumb for human her to go near a vampire again.

And here she was again, in the arms of another one-night stand, except he was a human and she was a vampire. The script had been flipped. She wondered if she was taking advantage of him since he'd had her blood. Drake had come on so strong and Tara could only do so much to resist her vampire urges, especially now that she knew how to take care of them. Now that she thought of it, Elijah was to blame. He had awakened something in her that only he or another vampire could fulfill because the bloodletting with a human wasn't something she couldn't master in one night. If Elijah were human, she would have drained him three times over! He'd done this on purpose, he wanted her body fiending for him.

Well, fuck Elijah! He was history as far as she was concerned. She focused her mind on Drake and how amazing it was to be amongst humanity and human values once again. It was an instinctive fact that Tara's humanity would always remain close to her heart, vampire or not.

"What are you thinking so hard about?" Drake asked in her ear as he hovered over her on the bed.

"It's just good to feel human again. I needed this,"

"Glad I could help," he chuckled. The lighting flickered then, and Drake clicked his tongue and sat up. "We gotta go, the elders want to see you,"

"Fuck," Tara said as she speed changed into her outfit. "They can all read our minds?"

"Just mine, considering the fact that I'm human. But even if they couldn't, I'm sure they heard you. At the very least, felt the energy we created. They can sense stuff like that, maybe because they have that allure that just entices others, kinda like how women are always drawn to Sookie's brother. They can feel and give off the energy,"

Tara laughed. "No fucking way, it's in him too?! I feel less like a dumbass now, I used to have the biggest, dumbest crush on him,"

"Who could blame you, the fae charm is irresistible. The same way your vampire charm now is and be warned. There are the faeries who get off on playing with fire, only if you try it here, they'll all blast you,"

Tara detected jealousy. "Consider me warned," she said after a shudder.

Drake brushed a lock of hair away from her face after he finished dressing himself. "Just be honest with them. And be yourself. Any information you can give about the vampire following you will help them protect you. And I'll be right there with you the entire time, I just gotta take care of something right quick. Then I'll be back to get and we'll get you where ya need to go,"

She nodded and smiled before he planted a sensuous kiss on her lips before he parted. God, she could get lost in his lips! But not now. Almost two hours of moonlight was already gone and she couldn't afford to waste the night if she was going to effectively evade Elijah. She wished she'd taken the time to know more about him as well since the elders needed info. She knew he was over nine hundred years old, and had an influential Maker. He was somehow affiliated with the Authority. There wasn't anything solid she could really tell them, since being a vampire herself, she knew instinctively from her experience with Bill and Sookie that vampires didn't like their weaknesses being made public knowledge. Tara was perceptive enough that any move the faeries would make on Elijah would likely be detrimental to all vampires. All she could say about him was that so far, he was a powerful vampire who appeared fixated on her for unknown reasons.

She sighed and fixed her hair into a top bun and pulled on her blue jacket before she left the room. She was surprised to see a group of scantily clad faeries awaiting her right outside of her door. They were extremely beautiful and Tara felt like a whore in church with the lustful urges that coursed through her.

"How y'all doing, ladies?" she managed to get out confidently.

They giggled and a brunette with sparkling eyes rushed forward, taking her hand. "Tara," She sounded as if she was from London. "You are indeed beautiful, though you look far too much like a vampire. Maurella won't like that,"

"She certainly won't," another beauty said, while the rest shook their heads, murmuring in agreement.

Surely Maurella, the faerie elder was fully informed that Tara was a vampire. "Who the fuck is she expecting, Mary Poppins?"

The brunette giggled along with the rest of her faerie friends. "Come on, we're going to the beauty studio for a quick makeover. It'll give you more of an ethereal appearance," she tugged her along. "I'm Claudette,"

"I'm Claudia,"

"I'm Claudija,"

"I'm Claudellen, and that's Claudwina,"

"Why I got to look ethereal? Claudia, Ellen, Winona?" The faeries only giggled and led her up the stairs.


Initially concerned they were going to make her look like a stripper, matching their own provocative attire, Tara was pleased when the makeover consisted of a few sprinkles of faerie dust over her and a simple spin. When she halted her spin, she realized she was dressed in a white cotton, layered gown, her hair was pressed in silky smooth curls, and she had a gold layered necklace as well as a bundle of bracelets and rings adorning her wrists and fingers, also in gold. She looked under her skirt and saw her feet had on strappy gold heels. Looking in the mirror, she saw her makeup was smokey, neutral, and seductive. She looked so beautifully benign, instead of the tough nightlife outfit she'd previously worn.

She grinned. "Not bad, Claude- people,"

"She'll love it. Just don't do the fangs," One of the Claude-something's said. All Tara knew for sure is it wasn't Claudette. The group led her into the main hall of the castle-like structure to stand before a heavily pregnant woman, who was rubbing her belly in front of a throne. A handsome man with a vest, a loose tie, and an armband stood next to her. He smiled warmly at Tara, who gave him a nod of acknowledgment.

"Tara Thornton, I've heard a lot about you," The woman, who Tara guessed was Maurella, spoke. "My name is Maurella. Let me begin by extending my condolences for the situation you've found yourself in. After a rough summer with vampires last year, I'm certain the last thing you wanted was to be a vampire, especially commanded to do their bidding like feeding on humans,"

"It ain't been a picnic out there, that's for damn sure,"

Drake appeared, seemingly out of nowhere, walking up behind Maurella. He nodded at her and her companion before he stepped beside Tara. Claudette and company giggled. On the inside, Tara was burning with embarrassment as the only reason why they'd be giggling was if they'd gotten a mental flash of Drake's recollection of their recent, earth-shattering- festivities. The fae were not subtle at all as Drake's impassive expression morphed into a cheeky smirk as he smiled down at Tara.

"Do you know why or how you're here?" The man with the vest asked. He had a delightfully modern British accent, just like Claudette and company. Tara shook her head. "Vampires don't breach our plane, there's only been one prior instance when a vampire nearly drained your companion Sookie Stackhouse. Somehow you have crossed over with no trace of her blood, fae or otherwise in your system. What do you remember about coming here?"

"Elijah was out cold, but he was about to get back up. I knew he was gonna be pissed so we just hauled ass to Sookie's and when we got there, she did her thing and we were here when we stepped through the door," Tara shrugged. "I just thought Sookie's light powers invited me?"

"This is the same account we got from Drake," Maurella said, nodding in TDH's direction.

"I told you I can vouch for her. I let her feed from me so she didn't vamp out and then Sookie gave blood. Tara healed me and this was after she snatched my silver chain,"

The man with the accent stepped forward and displayed the silver chain, which he held up for Tara to see. She saw it was a silver medallion that had the all-seeing eye symbol on it.

"Is that the Eye of Ra?" She asked in awe.

He handed it to Drake, who put it on. She then realized it was the one she broke in an attempt to curb her urges.

"That it is," the vested man said. "We hope you don't mind, but we had Sookie sort through some of your belongings to see if there's anything in your background that might explain your ability to breach our plane,"

"What, like if I'm one of y'all?"

"Unfortunately you're not. We would have felt you, always,"

"But we did find this," Maurella added.

He pulled out another silver medallion, identical to the one Drake donned. "Oh my God. Please don't tell me we're long lost relatives,"

Drake laughed heartily, and Tara's comments earned amused smiles from the two faeries before her, as well as giggles from Claudette and company. "I told y'all she's funny,"

"This was from a box labeled things your father left to you," the male fae explained.

"How'd Sook even get this?"

"Your mother dropped it off after she deemed your undead status as dead," he reached his free hand out to her. "I'm Claude, by the way. Claude Crane. You've met my sisters Claudellen, Claudette, Claudia, Claudija, and Claudewina,"

"Say that three times as fast as you can," Drake chuckled.

It must have been her vampire urges or being in this faerie plane too long, but Tara could swear she felt a spark when she took his hand. A literal jolt that left a tingling sensation, which started at their point of contact, rippled in waves through her body, settling in what she thought she ought to temporarily deem no man's land until she could get her lust, blood and flesh, under control. Fuckin A, faeries didn't play!

For a moment she and Claude were each stunned. Then he recovered quickly while the Crane sisters gasped as if scandalized and dispersed. Maurella issued the male faerie a reprimanding look.

"I'm guessing you've no idea what this is? Or where it came from?" Claude asked, refocused on the medallion. Was he embarrassed?! What the hell was he thinking that sent his sisters off running?

"Uh, Drake is probably the expert, since he has one too," Tara suggested, picking her heart up off the floor. She was ready to get the hell up out of here, these faeries and her experience with Drake had her head all fucked. She also remembered he had a tattoo of the symbol on his chest.

"Well, there are legends that this used to symbolize vampire hunters. But not much is known about vampire hunters, aside from the fact that they're extinct, the silver medallions are the only sign of them. They were a secret society," Drake said.

"Wait, wait. Vampire hunters?! As in Blade, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, on some Van Helsing, Frankenstein shit?!" Was Drake one?!

"There are only legends, as far as we know. Drake acquired his from a fallen friend, but yours was inherited to you by your father. It's possible that your family, if the legends are true, were somehow affiliated with the hunters ages ago. If there is hunter blood inherently in you, it could be what brought you here. It's what's keeping your humanity intact," Claude explained.

"It means we can trust you, Tara," Maurella added as Drake nudged Tara's arm in merriment. In theory It sounded like a good thing to have the fae as an ally, though why did Tara have a bad feeling about this? She was a vampire at all, it was unheard of. Her mama's words came to her. Satan in a Sunday hat.

"So," Maurella continued. "What can you tell us about Elijah Stormer?"


Sitting in Elijah's den with the vampire queen of Texas felt eerily similar to sitting in Russell Edgington's study a year prior. Another high-ranking vampire who could possibly wield or strong arm way too much influence that could be dangerous for the human public and vampires alike. It wasn't even the fact that Tara had become a vampire, it was the fact that Sookie's blood literally lured vampire interest into her quiet little town.

Vampire crack. She was fucking sick of it. And yet, that was the very thing that was going to preserve the lives of those she cared for.

"Sookie, relax, I don't bite unless I'm hungry. And right now I'm not hungry, I'm merely curious," Queen Sophie Anne attempted to convey soothingly. Sookie didn't believe her one bit, last time she was nearly drained!

Everything the queen was doing from the towels to the quiet, relaxing music to ensure her comfort only rendered Sookie that much more uneasy. Evil had an enticing way of luring a person in before they bared their fangs. The queen was certainly a beautifully wrapped package, dressed in all white silky gown with copper-colored hair and matte crimson lips, she could captivate anyone.

"You're not gonna drink from me, but you can have my blood in a glass. I'm not gonna end up like a drained Capri Sun for any vampire like it's my fault you're undead and can't see the sun!"

The queen flashed forward, baring fangs. "I am not just any vampire, I am the mother fucking Queen of Texas. Do remember that there are vampires who wouldn't give you half a chance before they drain you of your sweet and succulent elixir that's going to open so many doors for me. And don't let my extravagantly lavish lifestyle fool you, I possess a level of self-control Bill and Eric could only dream of," Sookie gulped and gaped in her blue eyes. "Now. Would you like a bite between the thighs or-"

"My wrist is fine," she stated quietly.

The queen sighed. "You really are a dullard," she huffed and snatched Sookie's hand and sunk her fangs into her wrist, though quite more gently than expected. She drew a sharp breath as her blood flowed into the queen's matte crimson grin. "Well, I've certainly never tasted anything like that before. Shall we get to the negotiations?" She said after taking just a sample amount.

Though internally impressed at her self-control, Sookie still had her own conditions. "That depends. What does Elijah want with Tara?"

The queen rolled her eyes. "I forgot you're always on about your friend, your brother. Your co-workers, "

She frowned at that. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"You understand you've been leveraged to me in exchange for your full cooperation in ensuring Stormer's repossession of your beloved friend? You'll be kept safe and get her back but she belongs to him now. There is nothing you can do about it,"

Nothing but give her the option to choose for once, Sookie thought, only giving the queen a blank stare.

"Neither of them know it yet, but she has something he's been searching for, for a very long time. They'll figure it out eventually,"

Her heart panged with this information was another eerily reminiscent moment of Eric's longtime grudge against Russell. "Please don't tell me he's on some revenge mission,"

"Normally I'd let you speculate over it solely for my own amusement, but you'll probably run to her and blab that little faerie mouth, prompting her to make moves that will greatly inconvenience what we have planned somehow," She rolled her eyes again. "He's not going to hurt her, Sookie. Sure, he might manhandle her a little, but what's a relationship devoid of passion? A dead cow. And who wants that? They're drawn to one another for a reason, you know,"

"I don't know! None of this makes any sense! This is all a bunch of bull hockey, isn't it? Tara hates Elijah and Elijah can't take the damn hint that she's not into him,"

She rolled her eyes. "It's a classic case of boy wants girl, girl hates boy, and girl tries to kill him repeatedly but when she finally gets a chance to, she won't," Then she shrugged. "Or maybe she will, who knows? Only time will tell, really. Maybe he'll grow weary of her shrew-like behavior and be the one to usher her into an untimely true death,"

Sookie scowled at the queen's blatant amusement. "Either way, you're mine and she's his if you both want protection from my fiancée, that is," she smiled and stood up.

The blood in her veins flowed slower as it chilled with anticipation. "Who's your fiancée?"


Maurella huffed an impatient sigh once Tara left to join the Crane sisters. Then she looked at Drake. "She wasn't very forthcoming with us,"

She couldn't be serious, it was as if Maurella's ears were defective. "Can you blame her?" Drake scoffed. "She don't even like being around vampires, let alone being one. And right now she's caught in a tug-of-war between her Maker and this vampire sheriff, struggling to keep her fangs in while vampires are losing their shit over the drop in Tru Blood. Anyone with any common sense would see that she's the sort of vampire you could trust if there is such thing as a trustworthy vampire,"

"I can vouch for her," Claude said, nodding his head.

Maurella rolled her eyes slowly over to him. "You vouch for your own lust, same with you," she gestured to Drake. "Have you forgotten why you're in this business? Why you were born into it?"

"It's the hunter in her, I felt, Maurella," Claude insisted.

"She is a vampire and she knows too much. She'll choose her own kind over us, any day," the fae elder insisted. "Clearly, she's protecting the sheriff. Take care of this and let's be done with it. It's time to bring Mya home as well," the pregnant fae left the throne room for her royal quarters.

Drake spun on his heel and stalked outside, thinking the system, the code he typically lived by was starting to seem quite fucked up. He went out into the woods and stood before the pond, just looking at his reflection. Tara wasn't an enemy, there had to be a way to get them to see that.

"Hey, hey, hey! Why so glum, Champagne Papi? Surely you're not going to give up that easy,"

"I know what you're thinking," Drake stated as Claude walked up next to him. He could only blame himself for bringing Tara further into his attention. But she was worth saving and he was certain Claude knew it too, unless he was just being Claude. Either way, it would work to Drake's advantage.

"Ironic since I'm the one who can literally hear those disturbing thoughts of yours churning. Even if I couldn't, you're not hiding it very well. You're jealous your assignment is up and you can't have her anymore. But I can," he grinned wide like a maniac.

"You want her to yourself, you're as twisted as the fucking vampires, man. You know she doesn't have much time. Help me fix this shit!" Drake turned a glower on him.

Claude laughed. "Need I remind you, there's a petite little beauty in a vampire bar waiting on you to return? So she can snatch those braids out and put that hair in a perm?"

It was always tedious listening to Claude's blurbs on anything pop culture related. He'd take any opportunity to turn a sentence or phrase into a dumbass reference. "You know, all your references to pop culture just reminds me of a senile old man that no one even listens to,"

"Ignore this then. Tara is up for grabs and I will be seeing her soon. Very soon,"

"Whatever, man. If you feeling her, that works out since that means we're straight with Maurella. If you think I'm actually let you touch her though,"

"Oh, Drake! You're only saying that because of your baby mumma drama. But it will require a team effort to see to Tara's safety," he sighed and clapped his hand on Drake's shoulder. "Not to worry mate! You'll find the spark again, it won't be a problem once she's here. In fact, I'll go recruit her myself so you can see Tara off in the meantime,"


The news report in addition to the Tru Blood factory bombings was really just the icing on the cake in the shit sundae that was how Sookie's was going. The fact that Russell Edgington was still alive was one thing, having the general global public aware of it was another thing.

The queen gave her a placating smile after she flipped off the television set. "Don't worry, Sookie. It won't be for much longer. I will see you at Switzerland this weekend. And you," she turned to Jason. "Must forget everything we've discussed tonight until I tell you to remember,"

"You got it," he said with an eager nod. "Do I have to forget you too?"

Queen Sophie Anne turned a grin on Sookie before her guards opened the door for her. "I'll brief our ambassador and we'll rendezvous this weekend,"

She sashayed out of the den with her guards in tow. Elijah's progeny gave the queen a deep curtsy before she walked in abruptly, with some of Elijah's entourage, both vampire and human. They each looked every bit like the nightlife attendees at Fangtasia. Pale with a shoulder-length obsidian bob complete with cherry red tips and Betty bangs, Sookie was sure Elijah doubled as his progeny's personal stylist. Unless it was the other way around. "Phone call for Sookie Stackhouse," she held out a cell phone towards her.

"I gave him my cell," she said with a huff as she took the device.

"We merely wanted to ensure we can trust you," the vampire said with a leer. Either all vampires were some form of bisexual or the ones at Fangtasia were just really open-minded.

"Stackhouse," Elijah said from the speaker. "We land in an hour and we're going straight to positions. Are the coordinates mapped out yet?"

"Yes. Already sent them to you,"

"Your little trick with Pam wasn't cute and it's not funny,"

"Yes well, Tara's my best friend. She's like a sister and I'll do anything to protect her, even if it's from you,"

Sookie wanted to grin the cocky grin she was beaming on the inside, only Marceline was watching and she was certain vampires didn't take kindly to being made a mockery of.

"Hopefully she still feels the same way about you,"

"Don't threaten me, Elijah. Tara won't like that,"

"Yeah, we'll see about that," he disconnected and Marceline sneered while she took the cell phone back.

"I'll show you to your car," she said as she placed a hand on the small of Sookie's back.

"Hey, that's okay, I got this Mary," Jason insisted as he came out of his glamour daze.

She glared at him and removed her hand. "It's Marceline! I hate cops," she hissed before she walked away with the human staff.

Once inside his police car, Sookie pulled out her own cell phone. "Who are you calling?" Jason asked.

"Eric," When Eric answered, she didn't waste any time. "I wouldn't call if I didn't seriously need your help, but I'm in a bit of a pickle,"

"So am I. We may be able to help one another out,"


Mya was just about ready for her shift. She thanked her at times lucky stars that she only had a two-hour shift. All she had to do was spend an hour in the box, playing eye candy, and then walk around with a tray of shots. The humans always tipped her well for the overpriced tequila shots anyway. Her tips almost made up the amount she made selling her blood.

"Kind of skanky to be selling vampires your blood considering what hunter blood does to them, isn't it, luv?" a chipper, grating voice said behind her, as she primped her hair in her compact mirror. She wore a slicked-back high ponytail that was imbued with volume, though her locks were pin straight down her back.

She snapped her mirror shut, turned around, and cocked her head. "Shouldn't your kind have an invitation requirement? I mean, y'all are evil after all,"

Claude shrugged. "We probably should. But at least we're not vampires. Your beloved is expecting you,"

"Then he can come get me! I'm not going anywhere with you,"

"He's working,"

"Well, why can't someone else do it?"

"There is no one else. All of the others have been sent back until the invocations start. Drake wants to take care of this personally," he gave a small inflection at the tail end of his sentence and Mya knew that was deliberate. Why didn't he just fucking say what was on his mind?!

"Because then I'd be impeding on your relationship, it's not my place,"

It was frustrating he could just dive into her head, at the same time it saved her from wasting her breath.

"What the hell does that mean? You mean he's still on the same vampire?"

Clause raised his hands in a light surrender. "I think you should speak with him yourself. It's not safe for you, the vampires who have had your blood may send their undead offspring after you if they make a connection to their symptoms. Come to the fae plane, Mya. You won't be alone and you can smooth things over with Drake," he held a hand out,"

Mya sighed. "I want him out of this business while we focus on our babies,"

"Only you can convince him of that. If you come,"

She reluctantly agreed and took his hand and shook it.

"Excellent!" He clapped his hands. "Pack your bags, dear, there's little time to waste,"


"You start your glamouring campaign tonight. You did an exceptional job coaching Newlin," Bill said from the bedroom desk that formerly belonged to Roman. "I'm sure your Maker would be proud,"

Eric couldn't afford to be triggered, not now. "Leave Godric out of it. You can't be that far gone, Bill. How will we survive as a species if we kill off all humans? What will sustain us?"

Bill grinned a sarcastic smile as he stood up. "No one has suggested killing off the human population," his voice was meant to appease. "Humans are only pushing this world further towards its destruction. Now, the ban on public feeding being lifted was quite hasty, I admit. I'm sure more will die that way. But once we gain public favor, humans will trust us again. And then the second phase can begin,"

"What are you suggesting?" Eric asked in a throaty drawl.

"It's not me suggesting it, it's Her. Her will," His expression was hauntingly hopeful, as in he truly believed he was being led by the divine, relinquishing his entire belief system to the hands of Lilith. He suddenly snapped his head to the side in alarm. "Take a security detail with you on your glamouring campaign," Bill flashed out of his new Chancellor's quarters.

Lilith's will wasn't going to go over well at Switzerland.

The naivety of humans to actually believe what Steve Newlin was feeding them had to be some form of cognitive dissonance. Surely they couldn't truly believe it was being handled as Newlin insisted. Copycat vampires out to make a name for themselves because vampires aren't as detached from human emotions and desires as society deems them, they too suffer from mental health, just as humans. Of course, everyone in politics lied through their teeth, but Bill was no politician. He did have the ability to do things without the conviction he truly held, until his emotions overcame him in favor of reason and morality. At present, his true conviction was thoroughly misguided. Something about that blood had skewed his thinking to ways the fool hadn't even fathomed as a human. At this point, his humanity was dwindling.

If there was anyone who could level Bill's humanity, it was Sookie Stackhouse. Eric hated to bring her into this, but she was the only influence above Bill that could possibly get him to see that the god he worshiped was a godless god. Sookie wasn't just food, and Bill was a mainstreamer. No doubt, he was feeling lost and needed something to believe in and since love no longer drove him, why not the divination of a mad god?

He collected Nora and finally walked out of the Authority headquarters feeling one step closer to the freedom of the tyranny that the Authority now was, although freedom for vampires and humans alike was contingent on how the Russell Edgington situation was handled. Just then, a conveniently timed phone call from Sookie came through on his untraceable cell.


Tara paced down near the pond. It was too damn sunny on this plane, and while she was grateful to see the light of day once again, this place was probably draining her. At least without a fresh dose of Sookie's blood. Maybe she needed full fae blood? Oh, hell, she'd drain the fuck out of any unfortunate fae who offered, they smelled so damn good when she first arrived. Still, Elijah would be impressed at her self-control. Would she even see him again? Or would he just let her go? He wasn't as crazy as Franklin, one of the only things that made him tolerable. Oh, hell, if Elijah was tolerable now, she truly was losing her shit. Clearly, it was time to go if her thoughts were spiraling.

"Clearly," Claudette said from behind her.

"Oh hey! I'm telling you. Um, where's Drake?" Tara spun around and grinned sheepishly.

"He's already there. I'm to transport you to your exit. Your original Maker will be awaiting you, instead of the scary one you can't stop thinking about," she beamed a wide smile.

Tara held up a reprimanding finger. "Why don't you just stay out of my head?"

"Do you want us to kill him for you?"

No! Her mind immediately screamed. Claudette raised her brow.

"I mean, I think, eventually pursuing me will get old and he'll fuck off," she said hopefully.

"You don't have to deny yourself pleasure Tara. As long as you're enjoying yourself, that's all that matters,"

"Claudette, I need to get out of here," she tsked, not wanting to entertain this conversation or have any thoughts regarding pleasure if it wasn't to be kept private.

"Right," Claudette agreed with a nod. "Well, then," she held a hand out to Tara. "Shall we?"

They disappeared into a beam of light when Tara took her hand and a moment later, they appeared in another clearing, next to a well. Drake was there as well, looking contemplative.

Claudette nodded at Drake and gave Tara's shoulder a small squeeze. "I'll leave you both to it,"

She turned to walk away and Drake pulled Tara closer by grabbing her hands. "Hey, how are you feeling?"

"I'm about ready to get out of here," she admitted.

"You want me to come with?"

"Pam's got me. I don't know if I can thank you enough, Drake,"

He flashed an assured grin and brushed her hair away from her face. "Just don't blab about the hunters and we'll be good. I mean, chances are they're extinct but we don't need vampires nosing around, feel me?"

Tara smiled in agreement. "What about you? Are you going to look into it? The whole hunter history?"

Drake nodded. "I mean I might as well. If it'll explain what happened to my buddy, I owe him that much,"

"Do you think there are other vampires like me? Who may have hunter's blood in them?"

"To be honest, that really sounds like sacrilege, you can't be a vampire and hunter," he sighed. "But keep doing what you do, Tara. You're strong and it's your heart, not just your vampire strength. Get your Maker to bring you to Switzerland, aight? Or I might not see you again,"

Memories of their earlier romp sent tingles throughout Tara's body as Drake dipped his head to meet her lips. His kiss was as passionate as a goodbye kiss could be and she found herself wishing he could come with her. There was a lot she needed to clear up with Pam, first.

She pulled away slowly as he pressed his forehead against hers. Switzerland couldn't come quickly enough! "Good luck, Tara," he whispered and took a step back. "Just take a step right there, next to the well and you'll go through,"

She stepped next to the well and suddenly she was inside an old and dusty townhouse, with white sheets covering the furniture. She was back in her blue jacket over her zippered crop top, and skintight jeans she'd donned before her fae makeover. Looking out the window that was broken and half boarded up, she saw the nighttime sky and the woods. Apparently, she was in the middle of nowhere but Pam would be along to retrieve her. As long as it wasn't Elijah! Opening the door slowly, she peeked outside. No Pam in sight but there was a walkway leading up to a black gate surrounded by bushes.

Tara stepped off the porch and skipped happily down the walkway. When she got to the edge of the walkway, the scent of what she identified as Fierce, Elijah's signature cologne, crept into her nostrils. Oh, fuck! With a gasp, she spun around immediately but was yanked backward by a hand grabbing her hair. Her emotions and current disposition took a swan dive into unfavorable territory.

Another cold hand covered her mouth and a cool huff of breath grazed her earlobes as she was pulled to the ground and into the bushes.

"Don't make a sound or whoever is in that house is going to fucking die," Elijah's voice demanded in her ear before he turned her around slowly. She came face to his face with his cobalt glare and sucked in a breath as he placed a finger to his lips. She was surprised to see his hair was flat ironed, though it still had body. He leaned disturbingly close and inhaled deeply. "Jesus. Do you realize what you've done?"

"What do you mean? Where the fuck is Pam?!"

"This is dangerous territory to be in for a vampire, Tara. Those aren't just humans, they're some sort of witches who hunt vampires. They only released you so you can lead them back to either me or The Authority," he peered out of the bushes. "We need to get out of here,"

He stood up, pulling her with him, and looked around, keeping a firm grip on her arms. Then he put his arms snugly around her waist. "Hold on to me tight,"

They shot up into the night at an enhanced velocity exceeding that of even vampire running. She had to keep her eyes shut. After about half an hour in the air, they'd landed on a snowy bank in an unfamiliar area. It looked to be a dimly lit park. Tara's legs were locked around Elijah, she realized, when she opened her eyes and looked up at him.

He searched her face, with a look of concern, reminiscent of worry. Or was it longing? Tara didn't have much time to question it when Elijah kissed her with an eager urgency. She immediately jumped down and broke away, slapping his left cheek. Their time was up since he was a huge, creepy stalking liar! He had no right to put his lips on her again. Shock coursed through her a moment later when a left backhand met her own cheek and she was sent flying. When she landed she was at Elijah's feet, he moved so damn fast, then he yanked her up.

"Why do you insist on this uphill battle? I am older, I am stronger, and I'm in possession of you. You won't win,"

Tara cupped her cheek and glared at him. "So this is going to be our thing then, you slapping me around?"

"You force me to defend myself again, then you will meet the back of my hand, if only for the fact that you blatantly disrespect authority. Though you can trust you'll meet my fury over all the ways you disappoint me through other means," he assured quite nonchalantly for the anger that blazed in his eyes.

"Why can't you just let me go, what the fuck do you want from me, Elijah?!"

"To drain your blood of what it's been polluted with. I can smell him on you," in a flash he pulled on a glove covered in silver mesh and brandished a silver blade. Before Tara could react he'd grabbed her arm, singing it with the silver glove. She screamed as he kept a firm hold on her, slicing her wrist with the blade. "Quiet, you'll wake the sleeping humans,"

"Fuck you!"

Elijah pulled her to the ground and let her blood run until she felt too weak to hold herself up anymore. Her vision grew hazy and trying to make out what was going on only made her head spin so she closed her eyes and rested her head against Elijah's chest. It boggled her mind how moments ago, he'd just slapped her across the street, yet he was cradling her tenderly and soothing her with quiet shushing.

"Am I going to die?"

"I won't let you," he murmured, stroking her locks.

Disoriented for about half an hour, she laid there in his arms until a wave of nausea came over her.

"I'm gonna vomit," she murmured.

"It's about time," Elijah leaned her over his arm and as soon as her head tilted down, Tara began vomiting blood and something vile tasting along with it. It took fifteen minutes of heaving and expelling the blood and whatever else was in her system before it stopped. A flashback to having an exorcism in the woods flashed in her mind as she wiped her mouth with her wrist. She noted it was nowhere near as nasty as what she'd just upchucked.

She was still weak, though the haziness was now gone. She sat back on her knees and looked at Elijah. "What the fuck was in me?"

"Mugwort. It's an herb they use it to track you so they can find you and kill you. It also slowly weakens you over a period of days,"

"They?"

"The guy you were fucking, comes from a family of warlocks who are also vampire hunters. That's why he let you feed on him, did you realize you didn't have to glamour him to drink his blood?" Tara nodded, trying to make sense of what she was hearing. She fed on Drake and Sookie. Sookie's blood didn't seem to have the draining effect on her as Drake's did since she'd fed on Sookie before. She thought it was the faerie plane that was draining her but was it hunter blood? Oh my God! "He can't be glamoured. If I hadn't done what I just did, they'd be on your trail to where we're headed next. We can't stay here for long they'll be able to track you here, where your blood is,"

Elijah stood up, holding out a hand for Tara. The fact that he had silver gloves to pull out at any time unnerved her and that was beside the fact he thought to put his hands on her. She pulled herself to her feet, ignoring his hand, and put her hands on her hips.

"So they're trying to kill me? Why wouldn't you just let them, Elijah? All this trouble I've put you through,"

He mocked a somber face and a sobbing voice. "Because then you'd be dead, genius,"

"So?" Tara said, clearly not amused.

"I just saved your life, Tara and it wasn't for nothing. Now you get to thrive in your ungrateful undead life, what with slapping my hero kiss and all,"

"Is that your weird way of apologizing to me for how you just treated me?"

"It's my way of saying if you ever run off and get into trouble again, you can bet your ass extreme measures will be taken on my end to make sure you come out of it in one piece. You need blood,"

It sounded like Elijah was saying he cared for her and her safety, without actually saying it. Which begged the question, why did he give a shit? Asking him would only get another sarcastic response so she smoothed her hair and nodded instead. "Where are we?"

"Canada. We need to find a pub and some winter clothes. The Authority is unhinged in America but here they're still pushing Tru Blood. They're not so friendly towards vampires here so it'd be best to blend in until we can leave," he halted for a moment, pushing his raven locks and his feather behind his ear while he listened to the distant sounds of the night. "Someone is getting ready for a night out," he nodded his head. "This way,"

She walked along with him silently along a sidewalk near the street, noticing that his fingers kept brushing against hers. Eventually, she shoved her hands in her pocket. He seemed impatient and awkward. Tara didn't feel as if she should be the one to break the silence, feeling instead she needed the quiet time to gather her thoughts. She'd just had an amazing experience with Drake, only to find out he was a hunter who meant to kill her. Why the hell was it that one-night stands always ended up deadly or terribly complicated when it came to her sex life? Maybe the no-strings ish wasn't the life for her and this was a sign that she was meant to be monogamous. All she truly knew was that the Sanguinistas were batshit crazy like Russell Edgington and their humans are only food policy was probably emboldening the hunters, who were already taking action, scouting their victims like deadly vipers. That's why Drake was drawn to her. He had played her like a fiddle. If she wasn't so pissed, she'd be hurt.

"I'm sure if we hold hands we'll look like an actual couple instead of a couple of hungry vampires,"

Tara side-eyed the hell out of Elijah and his suggestion as he walked alongside her, attempting to maintain his nonchalant expression. "Now why in the hell would we want to do that?"

"So we don't rouse the suspicion of being vampires. Being a vampire is practically public enemy number one these days," he replied exasperatedly, with the air of annoyance that she should know this already.

She stopped walking and turned to face him. "Why don't you just admit it's because you're not over this weird little crush you have on me and you know I can't stand you so you just want a false sense of feeling closer to me. The circumstances just happen to be real convenient, don't they?"

Elijah raised his brows in mock consideration. "Crush? Tara, I already have you," he smirked. "You're mine, it's a done deal. I was only asking for your hand out of courtesy for your current depleted condition. If you prefer it, I can always just-" he reached for her hand but she yanked it away, holding it just out of reach. "Give me your damn hand," he prompted menacingly.

"Maybe I will if you apologize to me," she responded with a light shrug.

"You slapped me and I slapped you, so-"

"That's not what I want an apology for. I'd backhand the hell outta anyone who swung at me too. But you kissed me, without my consent. That will never be okay," she crossed her arms over her chest.

"You're offended because I kissed you? Are you serious?"

"Mmhmm," Tara nodded. "Dead serious. My freewill has been fucked with more than enough times because of some supernatural shit, so my right to consent or not consent is important to me. I'm already forced to be here with you because of whatever the hell you did to get me here. Don't come at me with all them rapey vibes or we won't ever get along,"

"Jesus Christ, you're fucking dramatic, Tara," he said, non-committedly. "Let's move along now," he waved her forward.

"Apologize to me, Elijah!"

"That would require actual remorse on my end, which isn't-"

Tara whipped around, opened her mouth, and screamed help at the top of her lungs. Her piercing scream rang out into the night until Elijah clamped his hand over her mouth and pulled her behind an alleyway. He pushed her against the wall.

"Would you shut up?!" He hissed. "So much for being discreet,"

"Muh-pomogize ooom ee!"

He sighed and slowly removed his hand. "You are childish," he murmured softly.

"No, just unsafe with you, especially if you're planning on keeping me against my will. Who knows what you'll do to me,"

Elijah narrowed his eyes and furrowed his brows. The concern in his eyes was evident as he looked her over. "I would never cross that line. In time you'll understand I intend to keep you safe. I am sorry I've made you feel otherwise," he reached for her hand, this time gently. "It really would be safer for us both if you took my hand. You need your strength and if we encounter trouble before then, I'm confident we'd be outnumbered due to your near-drained condition. There could always be hunters or drainers lurking,"

"And?"

"And obviously I'd like to hold your hand because it would make me feel slightly less hated by you even if it's not true. You're not going anywhere, Tara. Indulge me,"

He finally seemed sincere in requesting her hand, though Elijah was none too pleased on being called out on his affections that Tara clearly wasn't returning. It felt, for once, that she had the advantage, and Elijah was willing to meet her where she was at, though she figured she shouldn't push her luck. He insisted he told no lies which meant he would still silver her to assert his dominion over her, as per his crystal clear rules.

Tara gave a soft pout before she took his hand. His face softened significantly though he still wore his perpetual expression of languid disinterest, which meant he was pleased as he interlocked their fingers. He was good at masking his emotions for the most part though his lust for Tara showed through given the way he pursued her. Still, she was wary because as it was with older vampires, their lust for power was ongoing and Elijah was no different. His quest for possessing her was also a power quest. He'd once told Pam protection wouldn't come cheap, meaning he didn't give a damn about the vampires in his Area, just asserting his authority over them.

Protection wasn't cheap but what did that mean for Tara?

"You're contemplating pretty hard," Elijah said as he pulled her along. As they walked out of the alleyway, music could be heard coming from a nearby house.

"The night I just had, the things I've learned,"

"There's a lot more, to be discussed behind closed doors. It's vampire business," he whispered. He led her up the steps of the house playing music and knocked on the door. It opened to reveal a young woman dressed as if she was preparing to attend a Kiss concert.

"Are you home alone?" Elijah asked.

She nodded, marveling at the sight of each of the vampires in front of her. "You're real-life vampires aren't you?"

"Invite us in," He ordered after he pulled her into his influence.

The pale-skinned petite young lady released a breath she'd been holding. "Won't you both come in?"

Elijah guided Tara into the human's home by taking her wrist in one hand and palming the small of her back with his other hand. Then he closed the door behind him and explained to the woman who was still glamoured that Tara was going to feed on her. He would heal her wounds and after they left, she wouldn't remember this encounter.

"You're going to let her live?" Tara asked as Elijah bit into his wrist and poured his blood into a glass.

"Would you rather she died? She'll be glamoured, it will be like it never happened,"

"But she'll have your blood, that means she'll dream of you and you'll always be able to feel her,"

The dreams she had of Franklin haunted her often during her human life, during times of high stress. She was positive the woman would only have erotic dreams of Elijah, similarly to the way Tara dreamed of Franklin, save the horror aspect. One thing that did not sit well in her gut was Elijah shoving his tongue in her mouth, and then turning around and offering his blood for some random woman's erotic fantasies.

An untamed grin spread across his face. "Do you have a problem with that? You hate me anyway, right?"

Tara slumped down on the couch. Whatever sort of relationship he aimed to have with her, this sort of mindfuck and his teasing was not the way to go about it. "Don't fuck with me, I don't have the energy for this shit, Elijah,"

Apparently, he had to press her. "Just be honest with me. What are your concerns?"

Well fuck me then, she thought before she grabbed the human and bit into her jugular. Her blood tasted exquisite, this woman maintained a near-perfectly balanced diet. It was just what she needed to replenish her own body after the mugwort poisoning. Being that she didn't want the woman to die, she bit into her wrist.

Elijah reacted quick as lightning, pouncing on Tara and pinning her arms down. "I poured my blood in a glass so she can be healed without any link to me. There'll be no blood bond, which is what you were about to do by feeding her your own blood, straight from your vein,"

"Drake's had my blood,"

"After he poisoned you with his blood. You won't be able to feel him, the poison weakens your vampire abilities, but he will be able to track you. That's why I had to get it out of your system, so he can't do that,"

"Give her the blood then and let's get the fuck out of here,"


Everything felt ten times better after releasing the tension that Tara often built up. Except Elijah had her back in his graces and he couldn't touch her. Not yet, at least, and not without her seeing him in a predatory light. He almost didn't care and if it wasn't for the fact he was trying to gain her favor he would go for it, only he was not trying to drive her further away from his affections. That was what prevented him from doing what he typically did when a woman showed resistance to his charms. If only he could simply glamour her. But even with vampire women, he was the flame that would engulf them, igniting further passion, but here Tara was ice cold, there to battle his desire, incinerating his attempts to touch her in any and every way with her cold flames.

There was only one person left to prey on since it couldn't be Tara and something needed to quell his yearning. She would make for his lover or his victim tonight with how hot his lust burned.

"Uh uh, you leave her alone," Tara demanded when she noticed his eyes on her.

The woman looked confused.

Elijah scowled at Tara. "What did you expect would happen?"

"Can't you control it? Yo old ass?"

Before he could answer, there was a knock at the door. The woman answered it and two men walked in with another youthful-looking woman.

"Whoa Delilah, you started without us!" One of the men said. Then they noticed Elijah and Tara and gasped. "Is that a fucking vampire?!"

"They look too young," Elijah murmured low enough for only Tara to hear.

"These are your friends? How old are y'all?" She asked.

"I'm twenty-one," the newest woman said.

"Babies," Elijah muttered. "Let's go," he tugged on Tara's arm but the other man rushed in front of them.

"No, I swear, we're cool. We can- we can all party, yeah?" The leer he gave Tara nearly induced Elijah's homicidal nature, until he heard her soothing voice.

"It's all good babe, let's hang for a while," she said, playing a part. Elijah sat back down and pulled his baby vampire into his lap. Babe? Elijah was babe now? He found it interesting to see where the night was going to go with Tara playing along. Maybe she would warm up to him, acting the part. Delilah's friend settled on the couches in the living room across from them while Delilah lounged in a LazyBoy adjacent to each couch.

Tara seriously hoped her scene didn't encourage any cute ideas in Elijah. He pulled her into his lap a little too enthusiastically. She changed her mind about staying when one of the men pulled out a bong. She signaled to Elijah her readiness to leave. He shook his head. "Are we really gonna try this? Can't we just glamour them and get out of here?"

"Don't worry. It won't affect us, we're vampires,"

"So you've tried it before?"

Elijah didn't answer, just held his hand out for the bong. He inhaled it, holding his breath for a moment before he blew it out.

"See? I'm fine," he passed it to Tara who watched him for a moment.

"We got a babysitter!" The guests laughed and pointed until Tara rolled her eyes and inhaled her own hit.

Nothing happened for a few moments until it did. It happened harder than any high she'd ever had. Suddenly Tara was floating and it felt more amazing than the best sex she'd ever had. In her mind amazing sex translated to Elijah, who was sitting next to her, no doubt feeling the effects of his own high. Unable to contain herself, she grabbed his cheeks and dropped a kiss to his lips, igniting the flames within.

After glamouring everyone to leave, he took her to the bedroom and Tara couldn't believe she was going to let him in again, at the same time she couldn't resist his expert touch. He already knew the things that would make her body swoon, knew how to make her body respond to his.

He wasted no time guiding her to the bed, and pulling off her blue leather jacket, then squirming out of his own coat. His hands flocked to her cheeks, cradling her face as their tongues engaged in a duel for dominance. His kiss forced her down onto her back and he unzipped her top down the middle. Feeling how hot her heat for him burned him sent all the blood in his body rushing to one spot, the very spot he ached to feel her from, once again. He intended to take his time and savor her while she was receptive to him.

Slowly, Elijah pulled off her pants and then the vest he wore over his mesh tee, which came off next as Tara crossed her legs in a seductive attempt to play coy. He pushed her legs apart and slid her down to the edge of the bed to climb on top of her and seduce her with another mind-numbing kiss. Tonight, Tara would belong to him once again because the feeling of the moment was far too tasty to refuse.

"Tell me you want me," he urged in her ear.

She giggled in response and kissed him instead. Something about it was strangely familiar, and it wasn't the fact that they'd been in this situation before. Not in New York, not a few days prior, but it was like he'd always known her.

"Say it," he pressed, nibbling at her lips.

"Mmm... You just want an ego stroke don't you?" She cupped his manhood and he gasped in part satisfaction and part frustration that she wasn't complying. He reached his own hand down between their legs and swiped his fingers along her slit, through the silky fabric of her thong. Tara moaned in his ear, jerking her hips up for further stimulation.

"Do you want me, Tara?" He paused his fingering of her slit to give her an opportunity to answer.

Her chest heaved with a shudder. "I do," she moaned.

Elijah grinned and pressed his forehead against hers. "Good girl,"

He used his vamp speed to pull her thong off and once again settled himself between her legs, hovering chest to chest over her. "You are beautiful. And you're all mine, do you know that?"

She needed to understand that. He didn't fully understand it himself, but something about being intimate with her made everything feel right and make too much damn sense. And yet, there didn't appear to be any reason why, besides an instinctive feeling that aligned with the need to protect her. A deep rooted, unshakable need to fuck her senseless and protect her with everything in his power, maybe even his life.

Maybe it was since he'd had the pleasure of being her first lover a decade prior. It wasn't something he did often as virgins tended to become very clingy and beg him to turn them. That wasn't the case with Tara, she'd always been attached to her humanity. Only she didn't remember him and he wanted to badly for her to admit how much she wanted him then.

Though Elijah didn't understand it, he didn't question it, choosing only to give into the unquenchable thirst for their bodies to find ecstasy in one another.

Tara didn't anticipate, even with how powerful their night together was, that her body would become a fiend for Elijah's touch. It was as if he'd had her countless times before with how he understood what her body wanted and needed. She supposed nine hundred years would render anyone exceptionally skilled in the art of seduction. Somewhere along the way he'd reworked his charms on her since she could swear just an hour ago she'd bitch slapped him for putting his lips on her. And then he'd slapped her back, sparking her lust since she liked it rough and they couldn't contain themselves which is how they landed in some random human's bedroom. Wait, what the hell?!

That couldn't be right, but as her thoughts attempted to drift towards how her night had actually transpired, he went to work worshipping her breasts. Distracted, she unhooked her bra to give him better access and his palms covered her perky rounds, massaging and kneading them.

Tara looked up affectionately at Elijah while he dropped kisses on her collarbone and watched for her reaction. A vividly descriptive and familiar deja vu cemented the moment as a core memory as their gazes locked in a smile. With it came potent emotions that she was unprepared to disclose. How was this possible? He insisted they'd been someone to each other once and called her Toni, the name she used in New Orleans. Had she crossed paths with him and just didn't remember? If that was the case, why wouldn't he just tell her? She wondered as stone-cold sobriety washed over her. Apparently, it hit Elijah too.

Tara sat up, as her shock turned into anger, now remembering the way her night went. Elijah had forcibly kissed her and she'd demanded justice for it, only for him to turn around and try to slide up in her skins again like he was daddy who had it on lock. She scowled with protruding fangs. She'd never felt more violated by him than this moment. He was really about to take advantage of her marijuana-induced passion and she was pissed.

By the look on Tara's face, Elijah figured she must have felt it too, the moment of deja vu. It flickered then it was gone. The subsequent moment sobered her up, as it did for him. Once he regained clarity and saw the new expression on Tara's face, disappointment twisted in his guts. There was no way she'd trust him now and it was her own damn fault! He pushed himself off of her and sat quietly next to her, fully expecting her to strangle him, until he had to check her once again. Instead, she took the opportunity to dress with vampire speed while she faced away from him.

"You fucking played me," she snapped.

Oh, please! How twisted she had things. "Tara, stop making shit awk, you kissed me-"

"Can we fuckin' go now?" She wouldn't look at him. Elijah pressed his lips together and quickly dressed as well.

"We need to talk,"

"I don't want to, I just want to go!"

At last, his patience had reached it's limits with her defiance. He snarled with his fangs protruding and pinned her against the wall. She produced her own fangs as well. "You will not defy me, I said we need to have a conversation! You have slipped through my fingers twice already and endangered the lives of vampires and humans in doing so. I could bind you in silver and put you in a coffin tonight where you will suffer for years until I decide you can come out, just to teach you a lesson,"

That would have to be a last resort because she was in his grasp again and he had no intentions to make that short-lived.

"You will not escape me again, Tara. You need to listen,"

Tara looked up at him and retracted her fangs since even through his threat, his intonation had a paternal concern to it, as well as an air of disappointment.

"I've kept you from expiring by being hunted. But since Russell Edgington has revealed himself to the public, hunters and drainers are going to be a problem very soon. Vampire attacks have been on the rise and humans are already fighting back,"

Well, obviously, Tara thought. She nodded, listening.

"There is a committee, sort of like the United Nations, but for all of the shadow world to meet with a select group of humans. Vampires, wolves, shapeshifters, witches, even hunters. Only the humans are not exactly human. I just found out they're fae. Like the people you were with,"

She had already been briefed on the Switzerland meeting, but she figured she'd let Elijah explain since he apparently knew everything. "There is a meeting this weekend to discuss moving forward regarding the Sanguinsta agenda. We've been asked to attend, along with Sookie. Your hunter will be there as well,"

"What about Russell?" Elijah loosened his grip slightly and stepped back.

"Anyone who is pushing the Sanguinsta agenda has not been extended an invitation or any knowledge regarding this meeting. If they do breach the walls of Switzerland, they will be executed on sight,"

"That's comforting. Is Pam on the list?"

Elijah knew she'd bring up her inept Maker sooner or later; Pam, who should have anticipated that Elijah would send her the wrong location so he could get to Tara first, thankfully wasn't on the list. She was not going to drive a wedge herself between them.

"She is not. But she is also not a known Sanguinsta, so that's in her favor," That was his best attempt at assuaging her and simultaneously curbing his own envy that she still preferred her original Maker.

"Elijah, I need to see Pam. She was supposed to meet me here and I need to figure out what Sookie has to do for her, for turning me,"

"You're serious, aren't you? You do understand Pam made you and left you to rot? The only reason she didn't want to give you up was because I was taking you away. Much like a toddling child, she didn't want or appreciate what was once hers until someone else got a hold of it. And now, to collect on that debt, the fae owes her, no doubt to take back something she never wanted in the first place," Elijah shook his head, clearly disgusted. "Did you mother hate you that much that you find this acceptable?"

It stung how many times he reiterated that Pam didn't actually want her. But he didn't know shit about Lettie Mae to be bringing her up. "Fuck you, you don't know Lettie Mae and you're wrong for bringing her into this,"

Having been thoroughly briefed on Tara's life as of late, he merely smirked. "The fact that you can't even call her your mother, probably because she disowned you as soon as you turned, speaks volumes. I know more than you would imagine, Tara. I know how shitty and cast aside you've been treated," he stepped closer again, taking her chin in his hand. "And you should know I'd never treat you that way,"

Elijah had a way of triggering her emotions and she absolutely hated it, being that it made her feel so damn vulnerable and spread wide open. She could argue and curse him all she wanted, but they both knew it was true. Life had treated her like shit, everyone who was supposed to take care of her chose to abandon her instead for their own selfish reasons. And when she did find someone to hold close to her heart, all the supernatural bullshit tore them apart. That's why she wanted Elijah in the first place, this was supposed to be an easy, no-strings type thing, and yet, all the damn strings from her night with him had wound her so tight, she feared her life wouldn't ever be the same.

A blood tear ran down the side of her cheek. "What else do I need to know?"

"We've met before. A long time ago," And I deflowered you. And bit you. And glamoured you.

"That's why you called me Toni,"

"Right," he said slowly. He increased the distance between them by taking a few steps back.

"I only went by Toni when I was NOLA the past year, it wasn't that long ago,"

"No, but ten years ago in New York was a while ago. You told me you hated New York, but not why,"

Tara realized why he was speaking so calmly, to ease her mind about what he was about to tell her. A sickening, hot flash of alarm washed over her.

"Elijah, please don't tell me you're talking about the worst fucking night of my life," the urgency in her voice pained Elijah.

What could he really say, other than the truth?

He didn't respond, just stared in a somber fashion with his baby blues.

Baby blues. That's what Lafayette called him, but Tara could have sworn the guy who'd drugged and raped her was Marco, who had green eyes.


AN: As I was writing Tara's meeting with the faeries, I just HAD to throw in a Claude moment. Two questions, is the vampire queen just really perceptive, or does she KNOW something that no one, even Elijah doesn't remember? And now that Tara's feeling that magnetism that draws her and Elijah together, will she warm up to him? Of course, her spotty recanting of the past is going to make him look very bad in her eyes until he can clear it up.

I have their decade-prior meeting worked out for the most part, but since it's underage and somewhat mirrors their very first meeting centuries ago (which is what gravitated him towards her ten years ago, it's that find you in every lifetime and situation type gravitational pull) I don't want it to be redundant, but I feel like they're both equally important in shaping who they've come to be since they met in 2011. You guys know that True Blood, up until the last episode of season 6 takes place over a span of a few weeks, right? And it started in a near future lol

Anyways, so Elijah is captivated at every meeting whether or not he remembers her, and Tara is... hard to get lol at the same time she can't stay away so each of their meetings are slightly different. So I'm going to do my best to flash back to the prior times they met, hopefully it's not too redundant, if it helps, their initial meeting and the aftermath shaped who Elijah is a vampire, and Tara's teenaged meeting with him shaped a lot of who she is now.

Switzerland meeting is coming up, Eric and Sookie are going to team up to try and talk some sense into Bill and then we'll get back to the BS Holly and Jessica are dealing with!

If you are enjoying this story, don't forget to add comments, kudos, and share :) forgive me for any typos or grammatical errors, I proofed this the best I could but I will check as I read this back.