"Ben!"

I was sailing out the front door, wood frame cracking with the force used to rip it open. The male in the yard had paused as we'd both noticed the other at the same time. I was in just underwear, launching attack instantly.

The snarled call carried well over the yard, heat already out and the downed tree from the night before flung at the man with a sweeping motion. Ben was rushing from the house with Jason at his heels. It was the height of the day, he couldn't go vamp if he wanted. I think.

The male dropped fast, tree soaring inches over him. But he dropped the body, blood of it on his bared flesh. Wide amber eyes looked up to stare at me ripping across the lawn toward him. The lawn mower was up and flung with a hurl of my hand. Handsome features looked alarmed, eyes glowing a little and teeth like my own displayed as he snarled back.

It may have been the mostly naked woman rushing him. It may have been my flinging things at him with clear show of my power. It may have been he was being confronted. But he was on his feet, running quickly. He moved as quickly as I did, a tad above human. But he was agile, weaving out of reach of things hurled at him.

"Stop!" I roar and lash out to grab.

He'd been mid jump over a bush. I slammed to my knees, heaving in breath as my hands extended out to hold. The male heaved breath, clouds of steam leaving his mouth as it did mine. He was frozen in air, mid leap. Where my change had been less obvious physically, his was more. His eyes fully glowed the amber. There was a difference to the cheek bones and brow line.

Amber eyes looked back at me, eyes wide and unable to move. I couldn't move toward him, heaving in air as I felt the struggle that this was. His teeth were larger than my own, nails thicker and not as purple, solid black. But those eyes looked to have won something as they stared longer at me. His gaze pointedly went to the mess of scars at my ribs.

"Shit," Ben calls as he catches up, dropping his shirt around me to help cover. "Jason's on the phone with the police. You got him?"

I couldn't talk, the break of focus would lessen hold on him. But there was a sharp cracking sound from me, breaths coming quicker and struggling more. Ben looked alarmed as he looked to me. Warmth flooded from my nose, struggling to ignore it as I tried to keep grasp on the guy.

Holding humans and the like was one thing. Holding vampires was near impossible. This-this was just as hard as holding Eric back. My head pounded, vision getting dark around the edges as sheer will kept the hold. The guy went a bit lower, arms trembling as they extended out toward him.

Ben quickly looked behind him. Just us. No Jason. Fangs snapped down and he was across the way. I had a moment to see the wide eyes of the male, alarmed. Then there were vicious snarls like from an animal. And my hold was ripped away.

I tumbled to my hands and knees in the yard, eyes shut as I rode the pain out. It lessened quickly, change sliding away again. At this rate, I think I'd have a hang on the changing. Ben was back, hand resting on my shoulder. My head lifted, eyes on his with the silent question. Catching my breath was harder than the pain that was now gone. He had a bit of blood on his side that looked like claws had got him. But he was fine.

"Jason's coming."

I lifted a hand out, wobbly. His hand firmly took mine, pulling me up and against him. I didn't argue it, sagging into him and letting my head rest on his chest. I was tired. So tired. He tilted back to better hold my weight and shift my arms into the sleeves of his top.

"Police are on the way."

Jason had his hands on his hips, looking out at the yard. "You get him?"

I lift from Ben, head down and giving a wordless shake. Jason frowns, looking to Ben with sharp worry. Ben was mostly supporting my weight, feet weaving and knees giving as I try to head back toward the house.

"Shit!" Jason calls, quickly reaching out as well.

"Fae?" Ben calls loudly. "Fae? Can you hear me?"

My head rolled to the side, gasping. My gaze wouldn't focus. Jason understood quickly as he saw the blood on my face.

"Quick! We gotta get her in."

Ben swung me up against him. Jason lead the way, holding the broken screen out of the way. He motioned at the couch, moving to get some things.

"Happened when we were kids. Saved our asses from a fire in the woods," Jason calls back. "Nothing critical."

He came back into the room, leaning around Ben to lift a lip. Jason paused at the razor sharp teeth, lip still lifted. He moved his hand closer, a large cube of ice between his fingers. He tucked it up under the lip, tilting my head back.

"Her ma said it was too much strain on the brain. Just takes her a few moments. Kinda like getting hit hard in the head."
There was a cough, bloody water dribbling a bit out. Ben used some of shirt he'd put on me, tilting my head. Jason shifted back, waiting as he watched.

"Ow," I rasp out, eyes wincing shut.

"You good now? Whiskey? Sure Sook has some."

"We should get her cleaned up before the cops get here," Ben offers. "Go check the body over."

"Yeah. Yeah, you're right."

"We can't tell them what he looked like," I hiss lowly at Ben as we clean up. We were both in the bedroom, blood washed off with a rag shared between us.

"Hardly a point to argue. But they will question what you saw."

"Then I say I saw a guy, couldn't make out features."

Sook pulled up as the last cop finally left. The sun was starting to set. Niall slid out of her car, frowning down the drive at the cop car leaving. Ben stood on the porch in a new shirt. Jason stood in the drive, looking to my back in the yard.

I snapped my phone out, ignoring the two as I stormed into the darkening yard, staying in view.

"Where's she going?" Sookie asks.

"Faelyn?" Niall calls out.

"Get here. Now," I hiss into the phone, eyes snapping around the dark trees surrounding the house. The phone was hung up before I could hear his response.

"Get in the house!" I call loudly over my shoulder. "All of you!"

"Fae! What's going on?! Why were there cops?!"

I wave blindly. Ben motions them in. "We'll explain inside."

I was already messaging another person.

"What happened to my door?"
"Fae," Jason calls as he lightly pushes his sister into the house. Ben stayed on the steps a moment longer, frowning out at me.

"Fae."

"It changes things, Ben. I need to speak with them. Stay inside."

"And you?"

"I'm far too pissed to stand for anything."

He frowns at the steadily darkening yard. But he nods and moves in. I stood tall in the yard. There was a gust of wind that disturbed my hair. Bill was frowning, head lifting as if to sniff. His focus flicked over my own features. I was furious, stuck in a half change. My eyes hadn't shifted back fully. The pupils were human, but the color was still different. The teeth refused to change back. No claws yet.

The attire was quickly pulled on cotton shorts that were Sook's and a shirt that was from Merlotte's, Sook's as well.

"You requested we speak."

There was a loud sound before Eric was stepping from the dark to stand closer toward me, frowning toward Bill.

"Northman."

"Bill."

The animosity was sharp between them. "There's a definite problem," I snap over their glaring.

Both looked down to me. Eric finally noticed the changes, Bill frowning at the sharp teeth easily seen as I spoke and the small scent of blood as they kept cutting my lips, inner cheeks and tongue. They healed nearly as quickly as they happened.

I motion out at the woods. "There's another in the area."

"Another?" Bill searched my eyes.

"Your father?" Eric asks, seeming on that line.

My gaze shifts up to Eric. "Remember when Godric showed up? The night Godric took me to eat and then back to the house? The male that I had been flirting with. Turns out he's like me."

"Demon?" Bill speaks up. "Another? And we hadn't noticed?"

"Honestly," I snap as I sneer up at him. "There are three in this area. And none of you noticed until I started changing. Not the fucking point. The fucking point is that this one is obviously sending a message."

"Explain."

"He's killed three women now, including the one he was trying to drop off here. Ill timed on his part. We took off after him, but he got away."

"Do you think he is the one to attack you when you were younger?" Eric asked the question that I'd hoped to avoid.

My eyes close, hand lifting to my face to help fight off the rage of emotions. "I think so."

"According to texts and what I can gleam from the Authority," Bill speaks up, arms crossing as he thought. "Males are territorial. They will attempt to push out another male or kill it. If your father is in this area, then that means there will be confrontation between the two. The question is why it would come back after this time, possibly knowing the territory is claimed."

"First off," I hiss, aiming a finger at him. "Not an it. He. Dark hair, tan skin, amber eyes. Tall and built like a swimmer. Smells a lot like me. Second off, don't give a shit if they kill each other. But he's going to be smarter now."

"You said you chased after him," Eric tests. "You used your power?"

"Nearly as hard as holding you back," I grumble toward him. "Nearly fainted." My head lifts, looking up at Eric. "Terrin. The vampire. You seen her of late?"

"Her nest has reported her missing. We've had four go missing since your arrival."

I nod, patting his arm. "She's dead. He ate her. Saw her with him the night before. He was staying at the motel in town for a bit."

"How would you know?" Bill pushes, intrigued.

"Got a friend I was visiting there. Saw him. Tried to lay on the charm. Don't care what he wants. I want him dead or gone."

"So he's been feeding in the area and can take down at least a young vampire."

"That's not my point in this. Keep an eye out. Spread the word. Let the Authority have him instead of me."

Bill lets out a sad sigh, shoulders sinking. Pity was clear in his gaze. "He will be accepted, but they want a female."

"Well, they can all fuck a goat," I snip, standing tall as I could with my arms crossed.

Eric had shifted closer, looking ready to fight. Bill lifts his hands, taking a step back to show he didn't want to fight.

"I never said I agreed. There are those who follow the bible and wish for you. A second coming of Lilith is prophesized."

I huff, gaze turning away. "I don't care who that is or about it in the least. Just get the word out. If you see him or a male that looks like me, white hair and skin, steer clear. Keep guard up."

It was a dismissal Bill understood. He spared a pointed look to Eric before taking off. I tensely stood there, arms shifting from just crossing to hugging myself some. Large hands grasped my shoulders.

"Your eyes and teeth."

My head lightly shakes, glancing out at the dark. "It wont change back. I think I'm too wound up."

"I couldn't feel your distress. My blood should still be in your system."

A shoulder lightly rolls under his hand. "Think it was me eating that guy's arm. Or something." My eyes stare at his chest, where I knew wounds had been the night before. "Where is Godric?"

"He's dealing with the Authority on your behalf."

"And this house guest?"

"Remains as of yet."

A silent nod is given. "You wont look at me."

I flushed a bit, eyes shutting a long number of seconds before looking up at him. "I hurt you, Eric. I'm ashamed of myself."

"Not of eating a man's arm?"

That gained a weak smile up at him. "Not really. I figured out what it was Godric was giving me a bit ago. Explains a lot."

He gave a hint of smirk, eyes searching my face. "You look better. Perhaps we can feed you more."

That got a laugh, hand lightly batting his chest. "Don't start, Eric."

His hand lightly grips my chin, lifting my head to better see the sharp teeth. A finger carefully lifting the upper lip to expose.

"And what is your real plan for this male?"

My eyes sharpen as they flick to him, pupils shifting as there is a sharp pulse in my heat. But it stops there. It was enough for his hand to still, cold blue eyes locked upon mine. A sly, wide smirk that promised violent cruelty was returned to the snarling smirk I gave him.

"I will hunt him down and rip him apart."

"That's the Fae I know."
Sookie was right. Eric and I were very alike. Loath as we were to admit it. We stood like this for a long while in the yard. Him seeing me as I truly am for the first time aside from the rush of the night before. And I relaxed in his hold, hand resting at his still chest. The claws grew as I felt the painless burn of change warm and fill me.

"How has this 'Ben' faired with you?"
The contented moment of peace and understanding was broken. I smile a bit, glancing toward the home. "Well. I didn't have time to organize a donor for you today."
"Then you can offer."
I shift a bit back, wry grin aimed to him as my hands fall away and I feel the change slip away to just the teeth and hint of eye color. His hands slid from my shoulders with the forced space between us.
"To be safe, I'd say we shouldn't. Keep an eye out, Eric. The male knows about you and may target you."

I turn, starting toward the house. A cold, large hand snags a wrist, small tug pulling me back into him. Air gushed from my lungs, hands daintily pressed to his chest to steady.

"Don't be a fool, Faelyn."

"Can't change what I'm good at, Eric."
"I should take you back now. Keep you clear of all this."

"And who will keep my family safe? I'm not some princess waiting for Prince Charming to show up and fight for me."

He smirks, eyes flicking long over my lips. "As resolute as any shieldmaiden." He leans in, noses nearly touching. "Perhaps in a previous life you were."

I push on his cheek, laughing lightly at nearly a giggle. "Sure. We both know if I was around then, sure. But I wasn't. And I'm rather sure Sookie is possibly about to blow up with me not being in to explain ruining her screen door and the frame. Night, Eric."

He let me pull from him, glancing back with a playful wink as I neared the light of the drive.

"Want me to call a donor to be there?"

"I'm not incompetent," he calls back in a tone that was light.

I saw the smirk before he shot off into the night sky.