The time that he was in the mansion was more than enough time to drive him to insanity. The constant need to be on his toes, listening, watching, putting himself in the way to show 'loyalty' to Russell...it was exhausting.
He was bored out of his skull. There was nothing to do unless you were being paid to be there. The only person he could do anything with or talk with was Talbot, and he was more interested in showing off his grand residence and expensive tapestries than anything else…well...anything else Eric wasn't allowed to do with him.
Eric had caught on to the subtle gestures he had received from Talbot...and he wouldn't lie that he had sent some of his own as well. It was the perfect in for him. He knew he wasn't ugly, and parading himself towards the sexually frustrated housewife of Russell Edgington would certainly set him up with some favors.
Until that opportunity presented itself…he was stuck marveling at artifacts that didn't concern him, except for one, and playing card games.
"We're playing Karnoffel."
"Oh, I'm sorry." Eric chuckled, slowly feeling his lifeless soul dying all over again. "I haven't played this game in centuries."
"Russell taught me this game when I was still human." replied Talbot.
"And how long have you been together?" asked Eric.
"Mm, just shy of 700 years." mentioned Talbot. "Although sometimes it feels like 7 million."
"Well, I hope he knows just how lucky he is."
"Oh, believe me…. he knows." smirked Talbot. "And what of you sheriff, was someone able to catch you? Someone special?"
The question made Eric pause and his smile weaken only slightly as his mind rushed towards her face. Everything that he loved about her rushed through him before he caught himself and smiled back towards Talbot.
"What seems like a lifetime ago."
"Oh, darling. I am sorry." Talbot empathized, placing a hand on Eric's arm.
They were interrupted by a screeching Sookie using her vocal range to erupt the whole house. Russell dragged her kicking and screaming out of the study and into the foyer, calling for Carlo, one of the many gorilla's.
"Take this." said Russell, handing him Sookie. "And have Timothy bring the car around."
"Where are you going now?" asked Talbot, glaring at Russell and speaking over a screaming Sookie.
"I have business." replied Russell, stepping into the dining room.
Eric felt another fight coming on between the two and figured keeping his mouth shut would be for the best. Sookie yelled at him from the background to try and save Bill, a futile attempt and one he genuinely laughed at. Fuck Bill Compton.
"Mr. Northman." said Russell, catching Eric's attention. "Would you accompany me this evening?"
"It would be an honor." he replied, slightly bowing in respect.
"You never take me anywhere!" screamed Talbot, throwing down his cards. "Because you prefer to be in the company of sycophants."
Russell and Eric shared a glance as Talbot stormed into the foyer before turning back for the last word.
"Deep down, my darling, you're a very weak character."
Talbot stormed off mumbling the rest of his anger in a foreign language. He stormed up the stairs as Eric came to stand in front of Russell.
"He's in one of his moods. Oh well…never mind. We have much more pressing matters at hand. We're gonna see an old friend of yours." smiled Russell, looking at Eric before walking into the foyer and coming to a stop at the end of the staircase. "And I hope you don't mind…we'll be taking a very special guest with us."
Eric's interest peaked as he stepped into the foyer. His eyes landed on a pair of heels taking a step at a time. His eyes roved up the familiar legs hidden by a beautiful white lace dress that hugged every familiar curve. Her delicate hands glided down the bannister, her wedding ring donned making his insides grow hungry. His eyes continued their trail, up her arms, up her delicate neck that he had spent many nights kissing, and sucking, and feeding from. He paused there, scared to continue for her knew he needed to center himself or else he'd blow his cover.
"Ah, my little creampuff! You look positively radiant!" gushed Russell. "I hope you don't mind the circumstances, but you will be joining me and my guest this evening."
Eric took that opportunity to raise his gaze to fall onto her beautiful face. Her hair was down in waves like he liked, her makeup simple except for the eyes, her lips as beautiful as ever that he wished to consume for his own. He noticed her brow furrow slightly in confusion at Russell's words before taking the extra steps into the foyer.
He watched her eyes slowly turn to meet his own, noticing when her body became completely ridged. He saw her hand grip the banister as a safety net, her feet frozen to the ground like cement. He could tell she was trying to calm her emotions, keep them hidden, keep their relationship hidden.
"Mr. Northman…may I present to you my beautiful ward and confidant, Ms. Aurea." replied Russell, holding out his hand for Aurea to take.
"Aurea." replied Eric, slightly bowing and taking notice of her slight shiver when he said her name.
"Oh, come down dear!" laughed Russell, goading Aurea down the stairs the rest of the way. "Mr. Northman will cause you no harm. He is in fact your sheriff. Sworn to protect you. Other than myself of course."
"She is from area 5?" asked Eric, watching intently as Russell took Aurea's hand and helped her down the rest of the stairs.
"She is." replied Russell. "She is in my area and under my protection from now on, isn't that right darling?"
"Yes." she whispered.
Eric felt his spine harden at her words but held his emotions back as he watched Russell laugh gently before kissing her knuckles.
"Now Mr. Northman. She is very important to me, and I am entrusting her to your care this evening." said Russell, turning to Eric and looking at him with hard eyes. "Is this something I can do?"
"You have my word, your majesty. I will treat her as if she were my own." he replied, bowing out of respect.
"Good." smiled Russell, gently placing Aurea's hand into Eric's own. "My, you took make quite the gorgeous couple. Much like Talbot and myself did back in the day. If you're careful Eric, I'm not against rewarding those loyal to me."
Eric and Aurea stood silent and still as Russell laughed and turned towards the front doors. "Away!"
They followed him outside, Aurea's hand suddenly gripping Eric's as tightly as she could. It was the only way she could confirm he was real and the only way she could root herself back to earth and keep up this façade. His own grip returned hers as they stepped up to the limo. Russell entered first followed by Aurea. Eric gently touched her lower back, guiding her inside before climbing in himself.
The car ride was quiet as they ventured off of the estate and to Lord knows where. Neither Eric or Aurea were keen on the knowledge of where they were going, except Eric had a pretty good clue. Opera music played as they drove down the highway. Aurea sat facing the two men which was highly uncomfortable for her so she spent most of the drive looking out the window.
"So, Eric…may I call you Eric?" began Russell, catching her interest.
"Certainly."
"What exactly is your relationship with Miss Stackhouse?"
Aurea felt her already cold dead body run colder at Russell's question. No matter where she went, she couldn't escape fucking Sookie! She rolled her eyes which probably made a noise with how hard she rolled them in disgust before clenching her fists.
Eric took quick note before replying.
"Well, her lover, Bill Compton, is, um-was a constituent of mine. I'd kept an eye on that because I knew she was of interest to my queen." replied Eric, feeling he ghosted that question well.
"So, no personal attachments?" probed Russell. "You have to admit she is quite delectable."
"I do not get attached to humans." replied Eric, his eyes looking forward, boring into Aurea. "My tastes…lie elsewhere."
Aurea met his eyes in incredulity as Russell himself looked to Eric to find his gaze set on her. Panic washed through her at his boldness. What the fuck was he doing? Russell laughed evilly as she tore her eyes away, back to the window.
"Lorena thinks you killed one of my werewolves." replied Russell, turning the conversation back.
"Hm, I killed a werewolf. Wasn't aware it belonged to you." answered Eric. "To save myself if you must know as well. I was at Sookie's when it happened, to try and gain intel regarding Bill's disappearance. It attacked me."
Eric seemed to be responding as if he was explaining himself to her. No doubt she was fuming since this car ride started. Hearing that he had been at Sookie's would no doubt fan the flame of irritation she had against him already when it came to her.
"Only a very young and very foolish vampire could be killed by a werewolf. You are neither."
"Only a vampire with no self-respect would allow a werewolf who attacked him to remain alive. They are base primitive creatures, and I will freely admit that I despise them. You're the first vampire I met who didn't feel the same way."
"Of course, I do." defended Russell. "They're more dog than man. Stupider than dogs, actually. But it seems beneficial to me to use them rather than destroy them."
"You could at least keep them outside." replied Aurea. "They smell horrid."
"I'll see what I can do." smiled Russell.
"How exactly do you use them?" asked Eric, his question one of seriousness.
Russell looked hard at Eric before turning to Aurea. She shrugged her shoulders and looked back out the window, showing she cared less about what he did with his mongrels. Though she felt the need to pipe up on that.
"He gives them his blood."
Eric looked at her in slight shock before turning back to Russell who simply shooed away his look.
"Oh, come now. I know that you yourself have been dealing, so don't pretend to be a vampire fundamentalist. If all the supernaturals would stop squabbling among themselves and unite, we could conquer humans in a matter of days."
"This is your plan?" asked Eric.
"I prefer to call it my dream." replied Russell.
"Well I like this dream."
Aurea turned her eyes to Eric to gauge whether he was serious or playing along. He had such a poker face she couldn't tell. And that annoyed the shit out of her.
"I mean do you remember how the air used to smell? How humans used to smell? How they used to taste?" gushed Russell.
"I remember everything."
Eric slowly turned his eyes to bore into her own. She tilted her head slightly in confusion. Did Eric know who Russell was? By the look on his face and his words, it seemed he had caught on to something while he was there.
"Preening little fool that he was, Adolf was right about one thing. There is a master race. It's just not the human race."
Both men laughed at their plans and jokes as Aurea went back to looking out the window. If she could sigh, this would be the most epic time to do it. Bored to tears. She had no clue still where they were going, but if she was being brought along it most definitely had something to do with her powers.
"We'll deal with your Magister problem in time."
That brought her attention back to the two men. What the fuck happened that Eric had the Magister to deal with? He was an irritating out of date asshole but you still didn't want to cross him, and by the look on Eric's face, he was none too happy about passing the Shreveport exit. Oh, what she wouldn't give to go home. To smell the hillbilly sweat in the air, the glowing neon lights of the club, and her place next to the man in front of her.
New chapter up! Hope you all are hanging in there with the quarantine. I hope you enjoy and let me know what you think!
