It was bad. It was worse than I could have expected. Eric was a romantic to the core and a gentlemen to boot, when he wanted to. The thing was, while I enjoyed going on dates with him and getting to know him better, our relationship was not moving on. It was as if he was afraid of touching me. I could see the emotions, the want, the need and the lust in him but the vampire was not acting on it yet. And that teasing, coupled with other needs growing deep inside me, was driving me crazy, causing me to have bouts of dizzy want for that sweet energy of life.
So, yes, it was bad. I was bad. Jumpy. Aggravated. Edgy. I was hissing instead of talking and glaring everyone's way instead of smiling. I was utterly sulky.
I was hungry.
My mouth felt dry even after I gulped down half a bottle of water and I licked my lips nervously, breathing heavily. The sounds and the scents mingled together to form one huge mist over my eyes and as I looked around the bar I couldn't help but see only the reddish auras of the living ones. The breathers. The humans. The ones that had that enticing elixir of life in their veins.
Suddenly, the creak of the doors broke through the fog and my eyes swerved that way immediately. As if a predator watched a prey, I surveyed a nervous man enter. Instinctively, I licked my lips, feeling up his strong and lively aura. He looked so… delicious.
"That one's mine," I whispered hoarsely as I grabbed the menu from the bar and Sookie watched me go slightly confused.
I made my way to the man who sat down in one of the corner booths and smiled at him my most charming smile. He looked up uncertainly.
I bent over the table, showing just a bit of my cleavage and handed him the menu.
"Welcome to Merlotte's," I said sweetly. "Your every wish is our command."
The man stared at me wide eyed as he licked his lips nervously and gave me an unsure smile.
"Could I recommend something to you?" I propped my elbows on the table, leaning on them. His smell was intoxicating. A living breathing and walking dinner ready to be gobbled up.
"Yes, please."
"Would you like something… hot?" I cocked my head and ran my tongue over my lips slowly. "We have some utterly delectable choices."
"Ahh, um," the man's eyes seemed to be glued to my chest as I drew away from the table and bended my back, giving him a full view of my breasts. "Whatever you recommend best, miss… miss-"
"Lily," I whispered as I winked at him, spreading just a tiny bit of my succubus charm. "Just Lily for you, sweetie."
The man breathed out heavily as I turned and walked away, swinging my hips ever so slightly. Half of the men in the bar ogled at me return to the bar and Sookie met me with her mouth agape.
"Lily!" She exclaimed, looking alarmed. "What in the world was that?!"
"Whatever do you mean, dear Sookie?" I drawled as I placed an order for a bacon and cheese sandwich to the cook.
"THAT!" she whispered harshly pointing at the slightly dazed man and I gave her an innocent look.
"You will have to be more precise, Sookie, I'm no mind reader."
"You were practically offering yourself to him! On a platter!" she flailed her arms almost hysterically and I sensed fear and worry flush from her in waves.
"Hmmm," I mused as I turned to look at the guy. He was staring at me and I gave him a wave and an inviting smile.
"There! You're doing it again!" Sookie walked around to face me. "Lily?!"
"Can't I even be interested in men now?" I asked as I raised my brow wonderingly.
"Not when you're dating Eric the Sheriff of the vampires!" she hissed at me and I shrugged. "Lily, what is wrong with you?"
"Nothing is wrong with me," I waved my hand nonchalantly. "AND, I am not dating Eric."
"It looked to me like you were," Sookie retorted.
"It's one-sided," I replied coolly. "So very much one-sided."
"Lily, he's been coming here every evening and taking you out for the entire last week and a half!" Sookie exclaimed in a slightly raised voice. "Every single evening!"
"So what? I need a living man," I whispered out as I stared at the human in the corner booth. "Someone… deliciously alive."
"Oh my gosh, Lily?" Sookie covered her mouth with her palm in surprise and realization. "Lily, you're… you're…"
"Hungry," I breathed out as my eyes glazed over with want.
"No, no, no…" Sookie shook her head in despair. "This can't be happening! No, wait, take mine! Lily, cant you fee-"
"I don't feed on friends," I hissed as my eyes glowered angrily and Sookie fell silent.
Meanwhile, I grabbed the plate with the sandwich from the counter and a seductive smile replaced the frown of my lips. "I'm taking a break, Sookie. Cover for me."
"W-what?" she shook her head worriedly. "Lily! Eric might come in any minute now!"
"So let him come," I replied as I swerved across the bar hall and towards the man in the corner. Time to feed the man… and to be fed myself.
Eric entered the bar in his usual manner, his steely blue eyes looking around the hall for the one human he felt so attracted to lately. He rose his brow slightly as he didn't notice her by the bar and he turned to head towards his usual corner. Perhaps, she was in the backroom.
His head was still turned towards the bar, so he didn't notice Sookie practically rush to him. Meanwhile, Eric cocked his head sideways slightly curious as he noted that almost all of the clients on the bar seemed to be looking in one particular way. Just as he turned to follow their gazes, Sookie stepped right in front of him and beamed him one of her signature smiles. Eric could tell she was nervous. Very nervous.
"Eric, what a surprise!" she exclaimed, grinning from ear to ear.
He gave her an incredulous look as he replied, "I've been coming here for a few weeks now. What's so surprising about me coming today as well?"
"Oh, just…" she looked confused. "Don't you have some matters to attend to? You know, run Fangtasia and all?"
"Since when do you care about my business?" he asked, cocking his brow. "Is there any reason as to why I shouldn't be here tonight?"
"Ah, no! No, not at all!" Sookie beamed another smile and motioned to the tables. "Would you like to sit?"
"I'll take my usual place, thank you," he retorted as he wondered what could have come over the woman this time. She was still standing there in front of him as if trying to block his view from something.
"Sookie?" he inquired quietly as an eerie feeling crossed his mind. Something was off tonight.
"Eric," she whispered as she looked up at him almost fearfully. "I don't think you should-"
She didn't finish though as Eric thought he heard a familiar giggle and without any further ado he pushed Sookie gently, yet firmly, aside and passed her by, his eyes falling on a very indecent and very infuriating view.
Lily was sitting with her legs crossed over on one of the corner tables, showing off her perfectly sculpted legs to some mediocre pathetic human. The man looked almost melted on spot as he took a bite from a sandwich Lily was holding up to his mouth, his tongue running over her elegant and graceful fingers. She giggled at the act and cocked her head playfully to a side, her eyes smirking at him invitingly.
"Eric," Sookie whispered, unsure as to what she should do, but there was hardly anything she could have done as the vampire crossed the hall with a gust of wind.
His arms reached out for Lily and he pulled her down from the table with such force that her soft body hit his chest. The vampire pressed her closer to himself as he bared his fangs at the insolent human. The latter cringed back further into the seat and his eyes stared at the supernatural in front of him fearfully.
"Eric!" Sookie was behind him already, her voice worried and confused. "Eric, no!"
"You," Eric's eyes fell on the woman in his arms and she raised her head to look up at him. "How da-"
"You don't smell good," she said out aloud and for a short moment Eric's fury was taken over by confusion as Lily seemed almost in a trance. Her eyes were misty and glazed, staring at him almost emptily.
He shook her lightly by her shoulders, calling out her name, "Lily!"
The girl blinked as she frowned at the force with which he was pressing her arms. As she blinked a few more times, Eric could see her eyes clear a bit and realization seemed to finally dawn on her.
"You're coming with me," Eric hissed out as he pressed her wrist and tugged her after him, not listening to her yelp of protest.
Though still slightly confused, his mind felt more enraged by the indecent display he had just seen and Eric's fingers clasped around the woman's arm even tighter, which caused another painful gasp.
"Eric, let go!" she squirmed as he pulled her out of the doors, but instead of letting go of her arm he swung her around and pressed her closer to him, his lips crashing onto hers with all the passion and rage he felt.
Before long, she kissed him back, just as fiercely, if not more, their tongues dancing around each other, their lips bruised from the force of the kiss. Eric leaned his head down, pushing her into the wall right next to the door, and Lily arched her neck, giving him more access. Something hot and yearning uncurled at the pit of his stomach, a strange sensation, foreign to the vampire. Lily moaned and Eric couldn't help himself, his teeth nibbling on her neck where the tantalizingly delicious blood pulsated just beneath her skin. He was careful not to break the skin, though.
"Eric…" she breathed his name. "Please…"
He halted slightly, listening to the beat of her heart, her warmth seemingly spreading to his cold and dead body. Somehow, he knew he would not be able to stop now. The jealousy and possessiveness were still churning deep within him. Eric had to claim her as his now or never.
"Eric," her chocolate orbs stared at him and there was want there, a deep overpowering want but the Sheriff could not make out if it was lust or something else. There seemed to be something hidden, something dark in these eyes and he wondered if there were things and secrets she was not telling him.
And then, his phone rang.
Lily blinked, the lust clearing from her eyes and Eric cursed Pam for her bad timing. The enticing woman in front of him cleared her throat and looked away, her lips quirking up in amusement at the situation.
Eric flipped the phone irritably all the while keeping Lily caged against the wall.
I stared at the ground in silent thought, listening in to Eric's conversation. I could only hear Eric's brief one-word answers, though, which meant I had no idea what they were talking about.
I still could not believe I had almost lost it. It was like a haze had come over me and I could not think clearly. My inner nature had almost taken over. Which meant one thing only. I had to feed. And soon. The moment that Eric took me away from the man in the diner, he looked so angry and… hurt. There was sincere and real pain hidden in his eyes. He truly cared for me in his own, conceited and Eric-like way.
And still, he was a vampire. I was a succubus. This would never work. I will not repeat my mistakes.
That was the moment that I felt a prickling surge of hatred, animosity so deep it made my skin crawl. I furrowed my brows in wonder, glancing around the yard surreptitiously. I'd felt this hatred before for the past few weeks but I'd never paid it any mind. Humans were strange creatures and hatred was inherent to their kind. But this unbidden malice was too strong to belong to a mere passer-by. My eyes swiftly glanced around, seeing nothing but empty cars. The hostile emotion receded and I stood there confused. Then, a car moved in the courtyard and I watched it go slowly towards the road. I could see a woman behind the wheel and for a moment I wondered if she was a jaded lover of Eric. Now wouldn't that be ironic? But then, the car turned around to exit the parking lot and I saw the sticker on its bumper. "Love will save the world," it said.
Love will save the world.
Love will save the world.
Love will save the world.
It echoed in my head like a broken record and I blanched at remembrance.
Love will save the world.
The Holy Order of Our Lord's True Love.
Love will save the world.
"Lily," soft hands brushed my cheek and I blinked, trying to focus on the deep voice. "I must go take care of some business. Wait here for me with Sookie. And don't think even for one minute that this is over."
I turned to look at Eric and he must have seen the fear in my eyes for his beautiful brows furrowed together in thought.
"What's wrong?"
"I-" thousands of thoughts crossed my mind, memories, rumors, speculations. "I just…"
I was unable to voice it. The Order had found me. I didn't know how and when but they'd found me. There was only one thing they were after – my demise and death, not in that particular order.
"Lily?"
There were memories of them stalking and hunting me tirelessly. There were rumors of what they did to my kind and how many of us they had slain. There were speculations on how they killed demons and incubi and succubi. On how they'd kill me if they had the chance. And suddenly, I did not wish to die. I did not want to end my existence. After so many years of running and hiding, I had finally found the courage to settle down. I had never thought the Order would target me. I was so careful in what I did. I had not run into them for more than a few hundred years. I thought them extinct.
"Lily?" the urgency in Eric's voice woke me from my musings and I smiled.
"Sorry, Eric, sorry," I shook my head. "I was lost in thought."
"Wait for me here, Lily," Eric's voice was strangely commanding and strict. "Do not run off on your own anywhere, do you understand me?"
I smirked as I snaked my hands up his chest, "Why? So you can finally finish ravishing me to your heart's content?"
He gave a low growl and then pulled and pushed me, manhandling me back into the bar, "Sit here quietly and wait for me to come back. And no funny business, you hear me?"
And then, he was gone. I did not hear the tires screech so I figured he must have run. Something huge must have come up at his bar. I stood by the doors, contemplating, when Sookie came over to me.
"Lily, are you alright?" She asked. "What happened?"
"Complications happened," I muttered as I glanced over at the table where my former dinner should have been sitting. The man was gone.
"Complications?"
"Yeah," I bit my lip, thinking. I needed to get rid of the Order. To hide my tracks. But first, I needed to feed. My mind has cleared somewhat after the wonderful making out session with Eric but the hunger would be back and soon. I did not have much time.
"Sookie, can you cover for me?" I asked, pleading her with my eyes. "I must find someone to feed on and fast before I lose it again."
She nodded in understanding, "What about Eric, though?"
"What he doesn't know won't hurt him," I muttered. "I'll find someone as soon as I can and then go home. When he comes looking, tell him I went back to my apartment."
"He won't like this, you disobeying," Sookie shook her head in exasperation.
I smirked, "I'm sure he'll survive."
She snorted at my retort and gave me a brief hug goodbye. I exited the diner and steeled myself. I had to find some life force and soon. If I want to do this right, Eric mustn't know.