Author's note: Thank you for the wonderful feedback! It's always nice knowing that there's people out there who are enjoying the story, hope I don't disappoint. I have no interest in regurgitating the show's scenes word for word. Soon there will be AU added to the storyline, with a few tidbits that are pulled from the show.
I always liked Eric because I've seen him as a survivor who doesn't apologize for who he is. Bill always gave me icky vibes. Deceitful, shady, gross.
Sookie and Evie are sisters. If you've never had a sister before, please let me explain the complicated relationship. I personally have five older sisters, so at times I feel like an expert. There's an undeniable sense of loyalty and love. But there's also competition, jealousy, resentment, and irritation. It is what it is, and given the time of day, or the wind direction, these feelings can morph from one to the next. But god help anyone who is deemed a threat. I plan to write these two accordingly.
This chapter is shorter and is in Eric's POV.
And here he thought it'd be another boring night.
Between Sophie-Anne's desperate demands, Pam's sulking, and one of his vendors threatening to increase their costs for delivery, Eric was in no mood to appease the masses. He'd considered locking himself away in the office with the excuse of needing to catch up on neglected paperwork but decided against it. Fake paperwork sounded marginally worse than dealing with breathers.
His sour mood only intensified; the moment Bill-Fucking-Compton skulked his way through the door.
Leave it to the Queen of Louisiana to send her little lapdog after he refused to respond to her last fifty texts. Pompous, arrogant, and dull as dirt, Bill Compton was the perfect way for Sophie-Anne to show her displeasure. Eric's aversion for the other vampire entertained that savage bitch. One day he'd pay her back by giving the Civil War loser the true death. Perhaps she'd smirk a little less when one of her cherished little toys were taken away.
Instead of silently fuming in his in his loathing of all things Bill, he should be thanking the little pissant for the entertainment he was about to provide.
The eye candy on Bill's arm was unexpected. Usually, a self-imposed loner, Bill typically avoided anything that required him to associate with anyone, let alone a human, for any length of time. It was widely known in the vampire community, that Bill was Sophie-Anne's highly paid ass kisser. He had worked for the Queen for decades. What wasn't known, was what he did exactly for the Queen.
Tonight though, Bill Compton was pulling out all the stops.
Once he got over his initial disgust of Bill's unwanted appearance, Eric let his gaze move to the breather attached to Bill's side. Petite, blonde and perky came to mind, as the couple moved from the bar to a booth tucked away in one of the corners. Her attire was a shock against the sea of leather and redneck plaid. The contrast was like night and day, making Eric even more suspicious of Bill's arrival.
Another group of rowdy University students flowed through the door. Heaving a sigh, Eric eyed the new crop of fresh faces. So far this was the fifth group to appear. Aside from being barely tolerable, they hadn't caused much of an issue. But it wouldn't take much to change that.
Just one small insignificant incident with one of these precious students would avalanche into a PR nightmare that could take days, if not weeks to recover from.
Perhaps if the representative from the local school hadn't been such an enormous prick, he may have seriously considered their request to ban the LSUS students from his establishment. But the jackoff had rubbed him wrong, with his condescending tone and pompous air.
So, he'd told the idiot to fuck off as politely as he could, as he outlined all the reasons why he wouldn't place a ban on the students. By the time the meeting was over, the representative was sweating through his high buttoned shirt, as he rushed out the exit.
But he had reluctantly relayed to his employees to ensure the safety of any student who wandered in. His hands off policy had been met with disdain, but they were all in agreement that they'd rather go sunbathing in Venice, than endure a visit from Nan Flanagan and her goon squad.
With one eye on Bill and his side piece, he watched as most of the students made their way over to the bar. If they were anything like the other young humans who'd stumbled in tonight, they'd be leaving as quickly as it took to buy a round and suck it down. It seemed Fangtasia had made its way onto a scavenger hunt.
But it appeared to be two stalling at the entrance. Unlike the rest of the lemmings, they appeared to be cautious, unable to fully commit like the rest of their friends. The tall brunette was moderately attractive, but not overly impressive. But the shorter one, with tanned skin and impossibly long hair, piqued his interest.
She wasn't the most extraordinary creature he'd set eyes on. After more than a thousand years on earth, there was some stiff competition. She was a little too short, barely taller than a child. High cheekbones, pert little nose, and large mouth made up an interesting face. And also, vaguely similar to another.
"Sisters." Almost as though she could read his thoughts Pam appeared out of nowhere, laying her arm over the back of his chair. "Or in the very least cousins, though I doubt it. And they smell delicious."
Intriguing. So far neither had looked in the other's direction, almost as though they were clueless the other was there. The coincidence was uncanny, and that stimulated his interest. "Who are they?"
"The one who arrived with Compton, the Stepford wife looking one with the stick up her ass, is Sookie Stackhouse." Disdain dripped from her painted lips as he took in the woman across from his old buddy Bill. Sitting up perfectly straight, dressed for church, she was what every southern mother wanted their daughter to be. Prim and proper. From her perfectly styled blonde hair, fake flashy smile, and coy little glances she acted the part. "Longshadow said she asked him about two breathers who were here a few weeks ago."
With a huff of humor, Eric lifted a brow. "Sookie?"
"Don't get me started on these stupid new age names breathers are giving their spawn."
"What of the other?" Flashing his gaze to the other, the difference between the two was like night and day.
Perhaps not in physical appearance. She too had the same golden blonde hair, but unlike her sister it was unfashionably long, flowing down her back in barely manageable waves. Their facial structure was similar but instead of a large smile on her lips, hers were drawn down in a slight frown as she lurked on the edge of the crowd, delicate features showing the weariness she felt in joining her peers. Even their fashion sense was at odds. While this Sookie girl dressed up for the occasion, the other sister chose less form fitting clothing. Her colorful, thin strapped tank top flowed around her tiny frame, showing off tanned toned flesh.
"Everly Stackhouse." Interrupting his inspection, Pam sighed. "Same address, in some nowhere town. But she came in with the newest group of co-eds. Fangtasia seems to have become the highlight of some sort of scavenger hunt. It actually hurts my head the stupid shit these humans do."
That's when things stopped being dull.
Just seconds after the younger Stackhouse spotted the older one and was attempting to pull her friend out of the bar she'd been spotted. A chill went up his spine, like he was witnessing something extraordinary. The timing was surreal. Theoretically the tiny human should have been able to make her escape. The bar was crowded, and there was no reason for her to be caught. It was like the older one just knew the other one was nearby, as she jolted in her seat and her previously happy expression vanished.
As entertaining as the exchange was between the two, Eric snorted a laugh when Everly expression turned into disgust the moment Bill Compton entered the picture. Their shared dislike for one another was clear. He couldn't fault the tiny human for her hostility toward Compton, it was a typical reaction. But Bill's animosity to a human, that was peculiar.
"Bring them to me." Eric murmured to Pam, as Bill said something that earned him a heated glare.
"Do I have to retrieve Bill Compton as well?"
"Unfortunately." He replied dryly.
Sadly, Bill's new pet wasn't just a tad bit stupid, but had a death wish as well. Bringing photographs of murdered girls to his bar, asking his employees questions was insulting. Even if he had a notion as to who had ended their lives, he would never implicate himself in such a pathetically human matter. At least the baby Stackhouse could see her older sister's social blunder for what it was, as a look of horror flashed over her face.
It was nice to see at least one of them wasn't a complete idiot. Even better, her disdain for Bill wasn't a temporary condition. If her facial expressions hadn't clued him in, her words made it clear she held no love for him.
Feeling he'd been cheated a few moments of cheap entertainment, Eric decided to test the waters with the tiny girl. And hit paydirt.
He quickly concluded she hated being the center of attention. But showed remarkable courage for a breather and a vicious sense of humor. The tattoo was proof of that. It had been a long time since he'd seen the Perthro rune. Hundreds of years in fact. Though it stood for so many other things, it mostly centered around a female's fertility, and hence the vagina. To be vindictive enough to have it put on a group of testosterone filled boys, showed how creative she was in the form of payback.
He'd been looking for some cheap entertainment, but instead he found himself stumbling onto something . . . more. For one, the girl smelled like honey. Not from manmade lotions or spray that burned his nose, but the kind only found in nature. Thick, sticky, golden nectar. He hadn't noticed the scent when she first approached, but the moment she'd moved her long blonde hair over her shoulder a wave of honey invaded his senses.
Her increased heartrate only intensified the aroma.
A quick glance to Bill Compton's pinched face told him three precise things. One, he smelled the same thing he did. The second, he wasn't shocked. He was familiar with scent. Most troubling, was number three. Compton was keeping secrets because humans did not smell like this.
Waiting until Bill raised his glance to his, Eric shot his nemesis a glare before turning his attention back to the confusing puzzle before him. The top of her head barely reached the middle of his chest, and though all humans were painfully frail, her petite body made her seem even more delicate.
Placing his hands on her shoulders he was hit by another wave of that sweet, intoxicating smell. Her skin was smooth, and as his thumb moved over the fresh ink, he smirked when he felt her shiver. His intrigue was rudely cutoff, by a polo wearing douche who's body language screamed of some sort of attachment with the intriguing creature before him.
Letting his fingers briefly tangle in her hair before pulling away, he put some space between himself and the fascinating puzzle piece.
Perhaps Eric had only started this game to push Bill's buttons because he was bored. It was relatively easy to rile his adversary, Bill had always been such a tedious sourpuss. Claiming the Stackhouse girls were under his protection, which meant shit in their world, something even Bill knew showed desperation. Another piece of a puzzle.
The night was suddenly showing promise, and Eric was eager to see what unfolded.
Even the stupid jock, who was now only realizing the permanency of tattoos, added spice.
The group had been quiet determined to succeed the silly game, having checked off most of the list. And where they were close to being done, instead of feeling a sense of victory, Eric could practically feel the tension hanging around them like an oppressive cloud.
Just one more challenge to go. Who was he to stand in their way?
"Well, I can help rectify that."
"That's not necessary." The pocket sized blonde quickly blurted out, taking a step back. "Really, I'm sure you're real . . ." Large eyes, the color of the sea widened in panic, as she seemed to struggle with something to say. "busy running a bar and all."
"What kind of host would I be if I didn't see to the needs of my patrons?" He replied, clearly enjoying the unease he was creating.
The internal struggle the little Miss Stackhouse was battling could be seen in her overly expressive eyes. Curious to see if she would show a little spine, or turn tail and run, Eric waited at the bottom of the steps.
"Absolutely not." Her older sister sputtered, stepping past a fuming Bill, who shot him a filthy look before responding.
"Sookie, you can't just -."
"Don't Sookie me." Hands on hips, Sookie glared. "He may own this bar, but he can't force anyone to do something they don't want to do."
Eyes shifting to scan the bar, Bill's patience was quickly fading. "He can do exactly that. He's the Sheriff."
"I don't care if he's the Queen of England." Sookie snapped.
Pam scoffed from the stage. "He's not anatomically designed for that."
"I'll do it." The tiny human said, after she was done with her internal struggle. Almost clueless of the chaos swirling around her.
"Excellent." Eric smirked.
"Evie, don't be stupid." The muscled ape stepped forward, only to have Longshadow block his path again.
Something hard passed over her tiny features. "Grady, you told me not to be a killjoy. What's wrong? Aren't you having fun?"
Stunned, the boy sputtered, his face turning red. "I didn't mean for you to whore yourself out to some vamp."
"Enough." Casting a hard look at Grady, then to the crowd, Eric put his hand on the small of Evie's back and nudged her forward. "Longshadow, off the top of your head, how many ways can one do a body shot?" A slow oily grimace curled on the Native American's features. "Human ways Longshadow, let's not traumatize the customers."
"A few come to mind." Longshadow said. "Mundane and boring."
"But still entertaining if it is done right." His taunt hit it's mark as Grady glared. Keeping his hand on her, he could feel her muscles tightening in trepidation the closer they got to the bar.
"I thought you couldn't eat or drink." She spoke softly, and he could feel her watching him from the corner of her eye.
"There is a difference between can't and don't." A slight confused expression moved over her face, before casting an unamused look at Bill. It seemed Bill was passing off inaccurate information, and Eric wondered other deceit dull as dirt Bill was spreading.
"Neither have a purpose, and both are tasteless. Food won't fill us up, and when we're thirsty, human beverages don't quench the thirst. We can eat and drink like breathers, it won't kill us, and it has come in hand in the past before the Great Revelation when trying to blend in."
"You really don't have to do this." Licking nervously at her lips, he could feel her increased heartbeat against his hand. Her scent nearly rolled off her in waves. "I know you must think all of this is stupid."
"But I feel . . . obligated to help you in your quest tonight. So, I'm willing to take one for the team." Reaching the bar, Eric didn't miss a beat and quickly lifted her up and perched her on the bar top. "I always wondered why humans used shot glasses when there's other more entertaining ways to do this."
Her eyes shot up to his, and his hands were on bare flesh keeping her in place before her brain had a chance to force her body to react. He heard Grady and his friends protesting in the background, Eric sent the tiny blonde a leer. "Don't loose your backbone now Everly."
Looking past his shoulder to where her sister was yelling to get off the bar, she looked back at him. "Evie."
"Evie?"
"No one calls me Everly."
"Interesting." Both knew he was lying, and she huffed at him in annoyance. Motioning for her to lie down, she looked ready to argue but it was fleeting as she shifted and laid on her back. Moving around the bar, he sent a wink toward Bill, who could only silently seethe from his spot. The dark scowl on Sookie Stackhouse's face guaranteed it would be a long night of groveling to get back in her good graces.
The stupid shit deserved it.
Picking up a bottle of top shelf tequila. Moving his attention back to where Evie was staring up at the ceiling, a determined look on her face, he went to move her tank top up to expose her tanned, firm stomach.
"I think you humans say, 'lick, sip, suck'." Grabbing a saltshaker, he leaned down close. "So where should I put the salt?"
Her eyes tore away from the ceiling tile to shoot him an suspicious look.
"You're scholars." Flicking his blue eyes up to the stunned students, Eric gave them a look. "Did you know there are seven spots on a female body that are the most sensitive?"
"Only seven?" Pam drawled.
"The ears." To make a point, Eric tucked a strand of blonde silk behind her ear, making sure to run the pad of his finger over the shell of her dainty little ear. Honey wafted up, and he suppressed the need to laugh at her nervousness.
"Neck." Drawing his finger down to her neck, he felt a shiver pass over her skin. "Wrist and fingertips." Ghosting his hand down to her arm and down he lifted her small, delicate hand and ran a fingernail from her thin wrist up her hand and over each tip. He kept his eyes pinned on her face, enjoying how she went from anxious to curious.
"Will you get on with it." Bill snapped.
With a sigh, Eric rolled his eyes at the other vampire before dropping the tiny hand. "Never knew you to be of the voyeuristic type."
"This is unnecessary." The brunette argued back. "Let Everly go."
"Evie." Eric tossed back into Bill's confused face. "Apparently the little Stackhouse doesn't like to be called Everly." Bill scowled. "Evie, would you like to backout?"
That torn look flashed over her face again, With a sigh, she leaned over and snatched a wedge of lime out of the bucket and leaned back down. "Let's get this over with."
"You heard the lady." Smiling victoriously back at Bill, Eric picked up the tequila. Making sure her top was out of the way. "Don't move. I'd hate to make you wet."
Leaning over her he took in the sight before dipping his head down and running his tongue up her slender neck. The sudden burst of sweetness on his dormant tastebuds was astonishing. It took sheer willpower not to react but couldn't stop himself from taking a deep breath before standing back up and sprinkling salt on her damp skin.
Uncapping the bottle of tequila, he pushed her top up higher to bunch under pert breasts before pouring a generous amount into her navel. The sensation of the liquid hitting her skin caused her stomach muscles to clench.
"Careful." He said while taking the lime from her fingers. The uncertainty in her eyes had him pause, but she lifted her head when a second went by and took the fruit into her teeth.
"Lick." Leaning down, he licked at the salty skin, disgruntled her taste was dampened, he moved quickly to her stomach. "Sip." Instead of sipping, he lapped up the liquid, huffing a small laugh when a slight giggle passed her lips and made her stomach muscles roll. "Suck." He stared at her for a moment, could hear her heart pounding frantically, waiting to see what he was about to do. Leaning over, he thought for a brief second of letting her off easy.
But when her scent rolled off her, he quickly ignored the previous generosity as his fangs dropped down and he let his tongue trace her lower lip before sucking the lime into his mouth. Standing up, he stared down at her.
"What are you?" He hadn't meant to say anything, but his curiosity was getting the best of him.
Before she could reply, they were interrupted.
"We have to go. Like now." Sookie said frantically to her sister. "There's going to be a raid."
Blinking her eyes, Evie looked over at her sister. "What?"
"Are you an undercover agent?" Narrowing his eyes, Eric looked down at the human. He was annoyed to be interrupted, but more so that she was now claiming an impending threat. It was something Bill Compton would pull, setting him up with the human authorities. Especially when Sophie-Anne was pissed that her texts hadn't been answered.
"No." Bill's pet sputtered, as she brushed off Bill's frantic look, being her to shut up. "But the guy in the ballcap over there is, and you're about to be up to your eyeballs in officers."
"How do you know this." Sookie paused, her gaze moving to her sister, who was now staring back wide eyed. If she'd been nervous before, Evie now appeared to be truly worried.
"Why would we care?" Suddenly at his side, Pam stood her full height, towering over the short human as she glowered down. "We haven't done anything illegal."
"Oh yeah? Well for your business, there's a vampire, Taryn, who's currently feeding on the man he kicked in the woman's bathroom." Folding her arms over her chest, Sookie Stackhouse foolishly glared up at Pam before grabbing her sister by the arm and pulling her off the bar.
Before he could react, the front door burst open as police officers in SWAT gear charged in, creating instant panic.
"Come." Moving to the back office, he spared a glance back to make sure the others followed. He watched as Evie's friends fled out the front door, leaving their friend behind. Humans were always such a disappointment. For all his posturing, her dear boyfriend hadn't done a thing to get to Evie. Useless.
Throwing the backdoor open, to the alley, Eric turned and watched as Bill lifted Sookie up into his arms for a quick escape.
"No, wait." Twisting her hands into Bill's shirt, Sookie looked up at him expectantly. "I can't just leave my sister." Bill looked ready to argue, and if it wasn't for the possibility of the officers making it to the alleyway soon, Eric may have waited to see the impending exchange. But time was not on their side.
"I'll get your sister back to campus." With a sigh, he looked over to Pam. "Find safety." She didn't look pleased, but with a slight nod took off into the shadows.
Not waiting around to argue with Bill or Evie's sister, Eric closed the distance between them and pulled her close before taking off into the night she looked up at him. "They left me." Her disbelief could be felt, and not knowing what else to say, Eric took off into the murky night.