Eric said nothing as he let me drive the SUV for once. I had music blaring in the speakers, something odd that I'd found at a party. There was a pleasure as I forced the vehicle to limits I usually didn't. It was as we drive that my phone rang. I let the speed drop by releasing the accelerator peddle, hand snatching the phone without looking. The button on the wheel to mute was clicked as I put the phone to my face.
"This is Miss Lynwood," I speak up after a moment to focus on flicking the blinker on.
"So, how's the night?"
The usual smile I'd found he brought out wasn't there. "Fan-freaking-tastic. Is it that time already?"
There was a pause as if Ben were checking the time. "Bit later. They have a documentary on that was interesting."
I pulled to a stop in front of Fangtasia, ignoring the look from Pam at the door and those in line to get in. It was the fire lane and not a parking spot. Eric didn't shift the slightest.
"Can you wait a few moments? I'll call you right back."
He chuckled, fiddling with something. "Sure. Don't keep me waiting too long."
He hung up with that purring pleasant tone. I slowly turned to look to Eric as the phone was put to the cup holder. He was frowning at me.
"A new toy?"
My eyes narrow, lips pursing.
"You've neglected your work for days."
"No. I haven't. Your things are all taken care of. Just because I am not up all night and at your side doesn't mean I haven't got things managed as I am supposed to. Ginger is doing her job, just as she agreed."
"And this situation?"
Something in me feels the need to snarl and lash out. "Eric, I am far from the mood to talk over my day. A number of things have happened that I'd wished to never think on or confront. I'm going out with my friend. I'm getting trashed. I'm forgetting everything from the last twenty-four hours for at least a short time."
"We will speak of this."
I meet his eyes, softening a little. "Don't be stupid. I need you and Godric to at least smooth something with the Authority and Bill. I'm not avoiding it all together. I just need a breather beforehand."
He shifts, hand moving to the handle of the door. His eyes search my face, heavy with something thought and unsaid.
"Do not loose your wits. We will speak of it when you return."
I nod, smiling sadly at him. He turned, pulling the handle. "It wasn't an animal of sorts."
Eric stills, door not pushed open yet. I stared at a fixed point on his shoulder. "The girl in Bon Temps." I took a breath, sounding distant as I thought on it. "I would say an animal in human form. Savage. Reveling in the screams and pure terror it brought."
My weight shifted back, hands falling limply in my lap as my attention slid blankly to the dash clock. His head turned back as I lifted my hand to look at it as if to search for something.
"Honestly," I speak up again as I look at the pale blue veins so easily seen through my pale skin. "After tonight, I get why my step father insisted I not share blood." I looked to his eyes. "It wasn't just to spite you, Eric. It was a promise I'd made my step father. Now, I understand it was a bid to at least give me some peace."
He said nothing. Those blue orbs told me he understood. I searched his face, hand lifting out to touch his. My hand was hot over his cold one on the middle console.
"I'm sorry. I didn't expect it to get so messy."
"You expected something." He had a faint frown that was not reaching his eyes. They had this soft light to them that I couldn't place. I didn't want to place it. My eyes flicked away, head giving a faint shake while my hand slid away.
"I don't know what I expected. I knew they would come for me. I thought I could use your position and age to keep them clear. I didn't expect to suddenly have these changes. I don't even understand what brought them about. I'd thought I could just work for you and go about caring for Sook and Jason."
"And how long would you have 'used' me?"
I shrugged, hands rubbing over my skirt clad thighs. "How ever long it took. How ever long you would keep me." A wry smile was chasing off the worried look on my features as I glanced at him. "I didn't expect to actually like you and Pam as more than just my employers."
He leaned in some, sly grin in place. "Is that so?"
I shoved at his shoulder. "Get out. I'll be back later."
He looked at me, eyes flicking hard to my mouth. His chest lifted, pulling in air as if to smell. Then the door was open and shut in a blink. Turning forwards again, I let out a breath to gather myself. Grounded, the music was put on low and I contemplated what I really wanted to do.
I laughed hard, swinging with my hands grasped with another woman. We were on the outskirts of the large party I'd happened across. I'd called Ben back, but apparently he'd been using the phone in the office. The clerk said he'd either gone to his room or left. I'd not bothered to have them check.
The small fire lit up a bit of the dark in the wooded area we had claimed. Breathless, we let go. She fell to her rear with another laugh. I kept spinning for a few steps to calm to momentum and keep balance. A vehicle was open near us with the music on loud. They had offered some food earlier and I had questioned it originally.
At the moment I was thinking that may not have been a swell plan, but I wouldn't regret it. That sandwich was rather good, as was the odd drinks they were sharing. I felt the buzz of alcohol and that odd feeling of the world distorting around me. Either it was the drink or food, but one was drugged and it wasn't a roofy.
Something caught my eyes, a play of light or something. One hand extended out, giggling as I stumbled over a guy smoking from a pipe. Others laughed too, waving as I was constantly distracted. Time felt off, cutting in and out as I laughed, drank and danced between people all over the place.
Touch enamored me. Something about it felt different than usual. But, I'd never actually done drugs other than alcohol and pot once or thrice. I'm not sure when I first felt like I was out right being watched. Something set off my attention, pulling my focus from the touchy feelly dancing I'd been having with a college boy. He was apparently higher than I was.
I blinked, head turning as I stilled. It took a number of moments of looking toward what ever the feeling was for my mind to catch up. White. White hair and eyes similar to… I stepped away from the boy rather like in a daze.
The male stood still in the mass of people, hands in his pockets as he looked right at me. It felt like time was moving on without him. That face was perfect and yet similar. My head tilted as I stood with a gap between us. Thoughts slowed by the alcohol and what ever the drug was, I hardly noticed people moving around us or between us.
Rather like a slow motion, one hand slipped from those slacks to lift out toward me. It wasn't an offering hand, something about it was like a motion that expected something to happen. And I jerk, as if struck in the chest.
Air forced from my lungs, arching forward as if struck in the diaphragm. One hand went to my chest as I let out a choke of sound. My heart gave that alarming stuttering that I thought the doctor had gotten rid of. Heat flooded me, eyes burning.
I let my head fall back, groaning in air as the discomfort and aching seemed to level. My teeth felt different, eyes warmed and flesh buzzing. It was better than what they said vampire blood did. I felt strong. I felt powerful. And that dull ache in my mind from my power was gone.
My eyes fluttered shut, pulling in a breath in ecstasy. Nothing felt out of reach. Everything was obtainable. Nothing could harm me. Some form of pull snapped my eyes open in alert attention. The man smirked, looking beautifully cruel. The hand slowly turned, still held out between us. That pale palm showed views as oddly blue as my own.
My brows quirked, mind still a bit addled by the things in my system. My own hand offered out as if to mimic. My usually trimmed to the quick nails were long, darkened. His nails were darkened just as mine, as if a purple/black paint had been coated over them. His had been trimmed and filed.
It all clicked, hand pressing into his. His own closed firmly around mine, drawing me in. Steps uneven, I almost fell against him. He was just as hot as I felt, warmer than a shifter. He was too perfect looking, nearly unnaturally so.
"How very lucky you are," the male speaks lowly.
It was the voice from the phone earlier. I would recognize it anywhere. He lifted my hand, turning his head the slightest to look toward my hand as if examining. My jaw was gripped, tilted as if examining everything that made me. I was too in awe, too out of it to do more than look at him.
"When did you last eat?"
My mouth opened, teeth feeling odd with my tongue and lips. "I had a sandwich a while ago. You're the man from the phone."
His brow gave a tick, eyes intense on my own. "You've fed within the last…You don't understand. Do you?"
He let me go, looking very disappointed. My hand that he had held lifted to see the nails.
"It doesn't hurt…"
His head lifted, sensing something. Turning a bit, he acted like he was ready to leave. I grabbed his sleeve.
"Wait."
Our eyes met. "How? How do I keep it from hurting?"
He leaned in, whispering.
When I blinked, I was standing in the middle of the party. Hands took hold of my own, feeling normal again as they pulled me back to dance.
A/N: Sorry for the late update. I honestly forgot to update. I have a number of chapters ready, but I had wished to hold off and put a bit of space in between them all. I've been rather distracted with a story a friend asked me to write her for The Lost Boys. I don't think I'll be posting that to the public just yet. It's a lot harder to write than I had originally thought. I would like to thank all the reviewers and people who favorite and follow. It means a great deal and helps fuel the flame to write for this story. I'm reluctant to say I sort of lost my love for the show during the last season and I'm trying to get myself to finish this. Still pushing through it! Thank you all again. I'll try to post the next update in a week or so.