Chapter 48: Cities in the Dust
She let him cherish her. All of her. It was sinful, not being able to take his time with her. He wanted her forever but also all at once. Nothing and nobody had ever felt like her. Their bond held him in a chokehold and he completely and willingly surrendered to it. The taste of her… It was sweet and spicy, smooth like the finest liquor, and filled him with fire. He could live off the taste of her alone.
Her panting breath swirled around his skin, warming him to a fever. Her legs straddled his hips and she held onto his shoulders and she rose and fell on top of him like the ocean waves, hugging each edge of his shore. His thumb traced the edge of the bandage of her thigh, taking care to not hurt her. No one would ever hurt her, not now or ever again. She was his. He was hers.
For as long as she wanted.
Olivia had promised him an empire, power, and riches beyond belief, but he knew all he desperately needed was only what he had right now. Being inebriated with her blood and intoxicated with her pleasure felt like the freedom he so longed craved. With one kiss she became all he ever wanted.
She cradled his face and kissed him more, driving him deeper into madness. Her heart was erratic, her pulse rising into a crescendo with each breath. He wanted to push her off that lustful edge and fall down with her. Grasping her whole body, he took her from the chaise and back to bed, laying her on her back. He fought off the growing feeling of heaviness inside his skin, telling him to fall dead and giving in to the rising day. On the bed, he joined her again. She just felt too good to stop. He wanted more time, he needed more time. Why was there never enough time?
Do you promise?
When he thrusted deeply into her, Olivia moaned his name. Over and over again, just calling for him, desperately wanting more. He grasped her completely with his whole being, kissing his own name off her lips. Knowing the curtains were on a timer and would close automatically, he decided to throw caution to the wind and stay up until they were done - if they were ever done. She had him. She had all of him. There was no telling where his body ended and hers started.
I promise I'll let you go.
He told himself he would give her a million reasons to stay. But he would still keep that promise, he would let her go no matter how painful it would be. But right now, she wasn't going anywhere. Right now she wanted to be here with him. She wanted to be his and he was going to honour her wishes with every piece of his body. Olivia's body squirmed and trembled under his weight, her breath uneven. Crying out in pure pleasure, she threw her head back against the bed and held him tightly as if he were about to let her go. He wouldn't. Not now, or today, or tomorrow if he was lucky.
Because Eric knew for certain now that what he felt for Olivia ran much deeper than just her blood in his veins.
Olivia walked down a beach wearing a long mauve gown with tiny clear jewels hand sewn through it like stars. The golden light of the beautiful setting sun reflected off the jewels, making her glitter. The bottom of the skirt dragged on the sand, brushing the top of her bare feet on the sand. Her hair was braided and coiled, with little white flowers tucked under an elegant vermeil crown. She walked along the edge of the water, towards Eric who looked absolutely breathtaking. He looked even more stunning in the daylight. The Viking wore black breeches and a refined tunic, his hair was messily pushed back, and his eyes sparkled a blue that put the vast ocean next to them to shame. His skin looked warm and rosy, full of life, as she was sure he once had been. But it was his smile that hypnotized her. It was carefree and real, and he looked at her as if only she existed. When she was by his feet, he handed her a heavy sword.
And then she woke up from the strange dream and into a far stranger reality.
She was wrapped in his arms, in his bed, in his house. His right arm ran over her ribs and his large hand rested over her left arm, holding her back against his naked chest. She couldn't say for certain, but she was pretty sure Eric touched her in some kind of way ever since he…. Kneeled. He simply did not let go. If she wasn't naked in his bed at the right moment she would have thought this was a dream too.
It was quiet and comforting being pressed against his hard body, surrounded safely by his strong arms. It was truly peaceful. She stayed here for a while, replaying the odd dream in her head. The blood dreams with Eric had always felt incredibly real, but this had been different. Her hands could feel the weight of that sword in her hands, despite never holding one in her whole life.
Finally waking up sometime later she opened her eyes again, making acquaintance with her surroundings. The thick velvet curtains blocked most daylight from shining in. There was a rim of light shining from the side edges of the heavy fabric which illuminated the room enough for her to see, but not enough that seemed to harm Eric in any way. The two could stay like this for as long she wished.
Feeling too comfortable to get out of bed just yet, she quietly shifted, rolling onto her back and facing him. She got to see his face in the faint sunlight, a light she had never seen him in. It wasn't quite as ethereal as it had been in her dream, but Eric was still somehow even more breathtaking during the day. He was just so freaking beautiful, it was no wonder she always dreamed of him.
He had soft skin and light blonde hair on his chest and lower stomach - all his muscles were defined, even when dead asleep. Broad shoulders and long legs, which were currently laid intertwined with hers. His face had a striking beauty she had never seen before. If someone told her Eric was a descendent of a God, she would have believed them. She studied the faint scars spread across his body, proof that he had been mortal once. It was hard to believe a man like this could have ever been a living and breathing creature like her once.
What she found most interesting was that he looked the same, despite everything being different. She thought his blood would make him look different, or make her feel different, somehow. But she felt the same. The same being relative, of course. She could now reach into his mind. Still no thoughts, but she could sense him, like reading a signature, an imprint of some sort. He was no longer a void.
Their blood bond hadn't changed how she viewed him, or how she felt about him. The only thing that had changed was… Well, everything else. Eric knew what she was - what she really was, apparently - and he had wanted her anyway.
Not for evil, just for himself.
She discovered a lot about herself last night, and not all of it made sense. All she was sure of, was that her mother would be receiving a very pointed phone call later tonight.
Feeling hungry, Olivia decided it was time to leave Eric resting in peace (no pun intended). She slipped from his arms, quietly putting on the day dress she brought with her, grabbed her few personal items, and carefully tip-toed out of his bedroom and into the dark hallway. Olivia had no idea how deeply vampires slumbered, but she felt daring enough to explore the house a bit before she left.
The upper hallway had the staircase that led downstairs and 2 other doors, plus the bedroom. Door number 2 revealed his bathroom which was sexy as hell - dark marble with white and gold veins running through the polished stone, dark walls and all golden metalware. The glass encased walk-in shower probably fit eight people, and his large stand alone bathtub sat by a bay window, adorned with pink orchids on the sill overlooking his beautiful garden.
On the gold framed mirror above the sink, she took a look at herself. Her hair was shiny and soft, her skin glowed and her teeth seemed whiter than usual. Even her stomach looked flatter and her breasts looked a bit plumper and lifted. The sex was phenomenal, yes, but she suspected her glow had more to do with the vampire blood running in her veins than the orgasms.
"Damn, we gotta be charging more for this stuff," she muttered to herself as she washed up in the sink.
There were only a few imperfections left. She could feel the claw mark on her thigh, it stung and inched under the bandages. And the skin on the left side of her neck felt tender, but there were no visible marks she could see. His bite felt nothing like she expected and his blood even less so. She noticed the bite she had on her wrist from Chow had faded completely.
The bathroom also had a door that led back into the bedroom through a large walk-in closet that looked professionally organized. His belongings were so neat and tidy Eric probably thought Olivia was a hoarder.
Back out in the hallway, next to his bedroom the only other door revealed a massive home theatre. It had a deep-set leather couch, an 80 inch TV with surround sound, and wall-to-wall shelving units stacked with DVDs, and VHS tapes, filled with every movie, TV show, and documentary she had ever heard of plus a thousand others that she didn't.
"Guess he must like movies then," Olivia muttered, eyeing his extensive collection. She faintly remembered Ginger mentioning Fangtasia was a DVD rental store pre-Great Revelation. She could only imagine Eric taking vampire Sheriff meetings in a freaking Blockbuster.
On her way downstairs, she stopped on the second floor momentarily. She could see Pamela's closet was directly below Eric's TV room, and her bedroom door was wide open, revealing a room painted and decorated in deep red - but the bed was empty. Wherever that traitorous bitch was sleeping, it wasn't here. Good. She still carried her wooden stake with her, inside her tote bag, and she would have a hard time convincing herself not to kill her if she was asleep here.
The memory of the Compton Estate was just disgustingly rotten now. She was shown off like a race horse, like a living piece of luxury meat without even knowing. All because she had trusted Pamela. She didn't blame Eric for this, but for all the maneuvers he pulled to control his affairs, his subjects and Olivia, she expected Eric to have caught wind of what Pamela had planned. She guessed Eric must be pretty pissed at his vampire daughter.
Shaking it off, she finally floated down the sun-drenched main floor of the Northman residence. The window curtains were all open on this floor, flooding the beautiful warm white walls and deep luxurious fabrics in the bright late morning light. Part of her was still unsure if this was or was not a dream. She had to watch her feet walk down the stairs to believe she was touching the floor at all. Her mind picked a deep voice from the dining room and she thought it to be strange. Carefully making her way around the corner, she followed the sound.
One evening, we took over what we thought was an abandoned apartment, since it was empty when we arrived. I was rotating with another sniper, and while I was off, I went hunting around to see if there was something I might use to make the ride more comfortable. In an open drawer of a bureau, I saw all this sexy lingerie. Crotchless panties, nightgowns—very suggestive stuff.
Not my size, though.
What the hell?
"Hello," called out the voice out loud. She found a man sitting at the head of the dining room table, reading a copy of American Sniper. She had forgotten how annoying it was to overhear minds reading books. Olivia hadn't set foot in a library since she was 7.
The tall stranger with the oddly familiar face had shaggy brown hair and pretty deep brown eyes. "You must be Olivia."
"Samuel," her brain completed, suddenly recognizing him from the many times she had driven up and down her street. From grocery stores, the dry cleaners, and the Denny's parking lot. He had always been inside a pickup truck, and she had never made the connection until now. Bobby Burnham always mentioned him, but they hadn't met yet.
"Yes," he gave her a tight lipped smile. "Your other bodyguard. Bobby is outside your house. He'll call when the cleaners are finished."
Olivia immediately wished Samuel had been her primary guard instead of Bobby this whole time. He was much nicer and also kind of handsome but in a rugged way. Let's just say she would not have minded having him sitting in her kitchen nook reading soldier memoirs. But then again, who knew what kind of secrets he had, or what bodies he had buried in order to work for Eric. Being a vampire, you don't generally tend to get upstanding citizens to do your bidding.
She shook her head in disbelief. She had just given herself to Eric completely and she was already eyeing another man in his house. But on the other hand… Fuck it, none of it mattered anyway. Her bond with him was for appearances and protection only.
Right?
"There's food in the kitchen," Samuel nodded down the hallway.
"Thank you," she made her way towards the back before she said or did anything stupid.
She tried to push away the unpleasant memories she had of this particular kitchen. Once she pressed against the door, it just revealed a pristinely clean and white marbled kitchen, with warm off-white cabinetry and more golden metal accents - no tortured rapists or body parts. On top of the kitchen island, there was a colourful feast of fruits, cheeses, cured meats, different kinds of bread, and… Wine, which made her laugh. The fact Eric thought she ate like a Roman Emperor was absolutely hilarious, especially when the truth was so far from it. She had eaten children's cereal with milk for breakfast every day for as long as she could remember.
Olivia sat on the bar stool in the middle of the island picking away at the feast in front of her, absolutely lost in thought. She was trying to absorb and process everything that had happened last night. From the Casino deal, finding a way to finance it, visiting the collector, Pamela, Debbie, and Chow, being a fairy, then… Eric.
Good God, Eric.
Being connected to him was already a whole different experience than what she had with Chow. When she reached for him, it didn't feel wrong or like wearing someone else's skin. Eric was easy. He felt very much like an extension of herself. There was a strange pull to it, like looking up to the sky for the very first time and meeting the moon. He was bright, vibrant, and passionate. It was hard to describe, but Eric felt more alive than most people her senses had ever reached into.
Sex last night also felt different. It was different. It meant something beyond lust and temptation for both of them. It had nothing to do with power and control, and everything about just the two of them. And that was perhaps the most dangerous thing she had ever done in her life.
Olivia could not be falling for him. She was here to make money - a lot of it - and then get out. Falling for him, wanting to live in this chaotic insanity would be madness, despite how heavenly it felt in the rare instances of quiet.
There was a sudden noise behind her - the unmistakable sway of the kitchen door. Samuel entered the kitchen, bringing something behind him. No, not something, someone. A dwarf woman in scrubs and lab coat, carrying a big doctor's bag. An actual little woman.
"She's here to see you," Samuel told her, looking like an actual giant next to the lady in tiny scrubs.
Olivia didn't mean to be rude and stare, but she had been caught off guard. "Why?"
"You got a wolf scratch on you, don't you?" Her voice was deep and raspy as if she was a smoker. "I'm here to give you a rabies shot."
She stopped eating her cube of cheese. "A what?"
"Have fun," Samuel nodded and left the room, the book still in hand.
The two women were alone in the kitchen, and Olivia dove straight into the woman's thoughts.
"Ah-ah!" Her voice cut through the room. "I wouldn't do that if I were you," the dwarf woman said, a warning tone in her voice.
Olivia froze in place. She hadn't even moved a finger. "Do what?"
"Read my mind."
In a jolt Olivia stood, the legs of the stool screeched against the stone floor. She stared the woman down, arms and legs in a wide stance. She knew. The fight or flight instinct kicked in. Where the fuck was this last night? The two remained at a standstill for what felt like the longest minute. Olivia's eyes darted to the backdoor. She could definitely outrun this woman, but Samuel was built like a truck, and Bobby would be guarding her already packed bags. She didn't have to read their minds to know they had been instructed to not let her run. And she wasn't going to test Eric's promise so soon either.
"Relax, kid," the doctor rolled her eyes, waving her small bony hand. "I'm not a threat to you. Quite the opposite actually, Mr. Northman asked me to come check on you. He said you may need stitches."
"How do you know?"
"That you need stitches?" She squinted her small blue eyes behind her thick glasses.
"No. That I-"
She couldn't say the word. It was stuck in her mouth. She could last night to Eric, but now nothing came out. Another very uncomfortable silence passed by.
"I'm a non-human doctor for non-human creatures, dear. Now sit back down Miss Carson, please. And let me take a look at that leg."
For whatever reason, Liv sat back on the stool and let the dwarf doctor approach. Eric had mentioned he would call a discreet doctor to take a look at the wound. She had trusted him with worse.
"I'm Dr. Ludwig, by the way," she said, putting down her bag on the stool next to her, the seat was counter height for the tiny woman.
"Olivia Carson," she said out of politeness. The doctor already knew who and what she was, but it felt like the right thing to say.
The woman nodded. "And I was joking about the rabies shot earlier. You can get a lot of things from werewolves, but not rabies. Now, let's take a look-see."
Still not feeling any relief from not getting injections, Olivia lifted the skirt of her dress and unravelled her gauze bandage. The deepest layers were bloody, and the initial one had stuck itself to the scab and it hurt to peel off. Now looking at it in daylight she could see it was much worse than remembered last night. The skin felt hot and swollen, the edges of the scratch were pink and angry. The blood still glistened in the gash, unscabbed. She knew right away it needed stitches. And maybe some heavy duty antibiotics.
The doctor looked at it closely. "Oh, that's not too bad. It may leave a scar, but you'll live."
"I didn't think I was going to die."
Dr. Ludwig chuckled, putting bright blue nitrile gloves on. "Bold statement coming from a fairy working for vampires."
In shock of being called a fairy for the second person in less than 24 hours, Olivia fell silent. Did everyone but her know? It was starting to feel like her true nature was some kind of inside joke at her expense she was never a part of. She watched the doctor pull all sorts of dark amber glasses out of her large leather bag. Curiosity pulled at her.
"Have you treated many fairies before?"
"Well," her brows shot up. "I used to. But there are very few traces left of fae in this world."
Her jaw tightened. The doctor had only confirmed what Olivia knew all along - there were very few like her. They weren't hiding anywhere, living rich, full, and authentic lives on some hidden island. She was indeed alone.
"Eric told me there was a portal of some kind? And some kind of… Prince?"
The doctor frowned slightly, adding drops of strong smelling liquids from the amber bottles into a mortar. "Ah, yes. The fairy prince decided it was time to leave this realm and recalled every fae to their homeland. Unfortunately, their half-fairy children and their human families were not allowed in. You are a descendant of them."
"I'm sorry," her eyes closed. Why hadn't she ever learned about any of this? "They just left their families behind?"
"Cruel, I think so too. But they had no choice." The woman added a green powder and yellow crumbs of something unknown to the mix and started mashing it all together with the pestle, making a green paste. "Fae are naturally attracted to chaos, it's why they came to this realm in the first place. No one really knows why after thousands of years being here the prince decided to force everyone back. Some say it's because humans were far too destructive for their tastes, others say it was because the fairies were causing too much harm to humans. Damaging the fabric of society or whatever."
Scooping the paste with her gloved fingers, the doctor spread the cool ointment on her gash. She felt the burn immediately. "This may hurt for a second-"
"No shit!"
Breathing through the pain, she watched the doctor methodically repack all the bottles back into her bag and pull out a steel metal case. When she opened it revealed a suture kit. This was going to get so much worse. Olivia needed the distraction.
"Why do you think they really left?"
"Well, I think it was vampires. As I'm sure you know by now, fairies are like catnip to them. It's kind of sad, actually."
"Why sad?"
"A vampire's first rule is self-control. Without it, all they are is a bunch of blood thirsty animals, void of any rationale, soul, or humanity. The mere presence of a fairy threatens their very core beliefs. But yet, the two are deadly attracted to each other. The chaos connects you."
Olivia's brow creased, a pang of concern growing inside her. "No one's lost control near-" the Queen. The Queen had. What did that say about her?
"Did Mr. Northman?"
Her head snapped back at the woman. "Lost control? No. I don't think it's possible for him to not be in control of everything all the time. It's kind of a problem, actually."
Dr. Ludwig smiled at her joke. "Did it stop stinging yet?"
Olivia had been so enthralled by her own thoughts she didn't even notice the burning tingles on her leg had subdued. In fact, she didn't feel much of anything. "I think so," she poked her thigh near the edge of the gash, but all she felt was a slight pressure. "Yeah, it's numb."
"Oh good. Okay, I'm going to start the sutures. I recommend you look away. I'm afraid if you faint your bodyguard may kill me. He strikes me as the type who shoots first, asks questions later."
Fair. Olivia twisted her body, facing the feast of food on the countertop. "Okay, so, what are fairies, really? Are we talking cute tiny Tinkerbells or evil forest creatures?"
The doctor paused for a moment. "You don't know?"
"No, apparently the topic never came up at dinner," she said sourly.
The doctor sighed. "Fairies were a little bit of both. There were several different types - water fairies, which you probably know as mermaids. Forest fairies, sky fairies, mountain fairies, fire fairies… Some of them had pointed ears, horns or wings, but the ones that lived among people looked just like humans. You had to blend in back in the day, or else you'd end up in a pyre."
Part of her still believed humanity hadn't gotten all that better. There were plenty of humans who set out to kill vampires, as some kind of vigilante vampire hunters. Or a bit more brainwash-y cult, like the Newlins, who still very much liked watching vampires burn.
"Faes were also incredibly temperamental. They love hard and fight harder. And yes, some fairies were bad, depending on who you ask, just like with everyone else."
Liv could feel the doctor touching her thigh, and slight tugs on her skin, but no pain. It was still unpleasant.
"And they could all read minds?" She asked, trying to think about anything but the needle piercing her skin. She could feel chills all over her skin.
"Not all," Ludwig said over the clinking of the needle holder. "Abilities varied greatly depending on fairy type. Some could harvest the power of the sun, create illusions, super speed, teleportation, flight, shapeshifting. And of course, healing, telekinesis, and telepathy were common."
For the first time in her life, she actually felt disappointed her powers were actually the lamest one. "Other than telepathy, I can't do any of that."
"You're lucky your powers even manifested. The fae bloodlines are so diluted now that most people go their entire lives without even knowing they have it."
"I wouldn't go as far as calling it luck," Olivia grumbled. "Reading people's minds sucks."
"I bet it does," the doctor called out. "Here, read mine."
She pondered the odd request for a moment, especially when the doctor pointedly asked her not to just five minutes ago. Olivia stretched her mind out.
I can't guarantee there aren't mics and bugs all over this house, so listen carefully, kid. I have been collecting genealogical information on the fae bloodlines for decades now. There are people out there who are very interested in my work - interested enough to kill for it. Beware of a vampire called Bill Compton. There's no time to share the details, but what he has planned for you won't work. It will just kill you both.
Olivia felt cold chills that had nothing to do with the needle going in and out her body, threading her skin shut. This warning had come about 12 hours too late. Olivia let out a forced laugh. "Dr. Ludwig! You have such a dirty mind."
"You would too if you were as old as me," she nodded, pleased Olivia understood the message.
The two fell quiet. Eating an unhealthy amount of grapes and cheese, she let the doctor finish her sutures in silence while mulling over the warning. She didn't know why, but she thought it had something to do with her blood allowing a vampire to withstand the sunlight for a minute or two. Or was there more about being a fairy no one was telling her?
The prospect worried her so much she considered drinking the whole bottle of wine. Would being bonded to Eric be enough to stop Bill? And what exactly had he planned for her? And why did the doctor think it wouldn't work? What if the Collector struck against Eric and he-
She shuddered at the thought. No, she had to have faith Eric could hold his own. Maybe not holding Pamela, but he was good at ruling and killing. But still, it stirred memories of her past she wished to forget. All she knew is that she had to prevent Eric from getting hurt at all costs. She couldn't bear the guilt of it.
"All done dear," the doctor said. "Thirty-three stitches. They should dissolve in a week or two. No showering or getting the wound wet for 48 hours, and let the ointment be until then. It will stave off infection and keep it sedated."
She felt cold and clammy head to toe as she now felt brave enough to look at the claw marks on her thigh. It looked like a little cross-stitch artwork on her skin, with green goo spread all over it, but it didn't look too terrible. It may even end up looking like a cool scar. The doctor put a new bandage over it and packed up her things.
"Thank you so much, doctor. For the stitches, and for the lesson," read warning.
The doctor nodded, and her eyes acknowledged what went unspoken. "You are welcome, dear. How long have you been with Mr. Northman?"
The use of the word 'with' did not go unnoticed. Dr. Ludwig however, did not seem to judge whatever relationship she was implying.
"About six months."
"Oh-" she arched her brows with a grin. "I'm actually surprised it took this long for him to call me then. He must take good care of you."
Olivia almost choked on a piece of prosciutto. "I'm just his accountant."
"No, you're not," her smile turned wicked. "I'll send him the invoice for the house call. Have a good day, Miss Carson."
"You too, doctor."
She watched the woman make her way back out of the kitchen. Dr. Ludwig kind of waddled like a penguin while carrying the heavy leather bag.
Taking a deep breath, she decided to work inside the study, away from the living and breathing audiobook that was Samuel. She pulled out her laptop and plugged the ethernet cord in. She had spent the past three days working on the Casino proposal and presentation and now she had a shitload of money to launder, and about three dozen accounts to check on. Folding in Anthony Grey's business into the portfolio still left a bad taste in her mouth and she had to keep a hawk-eye on this walking audit ticket. There were no more get-out-of-jail-free cards.
Samuel had left her working undisturbed until about 5 pm when he softly knocked on the door. According to Bobby, her house was clean and fixed. She packed her laptop and headed out to his red pickup truck parked out front. It only hit her then that the Escalade would be no more. She felt the choking tightness in her chest once again. Chow didn't deserve what he got. She couldn't help but think she had signed the vampire's death sentence. She didn't mean for him to die when she gave herself away. She didn't know he would use her as a bargaining chip to get home. She didn't know any of this would happen.
Despite her every effort, Olivia felt she had very little control. And that was not who she was - it was not who wanted to be. A very wise vampire once told her relying on others makes you weak. She looked down on her wrist, remembering his mark was gone. Eric's blood had erased it. But Chow had taught her a bitter and valuable lesson that she would not forget. Chow shouldn't have asked Eric to kill his enemies. He should have done it himself.
Getting out of the house, the sun setting behind the ancient trees, painting the house in the dark purple hue of dusk, its crown of light dipping behind the roof. The curtains of Eric's bedroom were shut, but the memories of what happened behind them would forever live with her. The darkness that overtook her whenever he got too close, the fire his touch spread on her skin, the peaceful madness that was his kiss - she liked it. She grew to crave it. The way her senses reached him, it felt right. And she had to protect it.
She could continue living helplessly, just hoping with all her heart that Eric would not suffer a similar fate. But she wasn't going to risk having any more blood on her hands. And they were far from clean already. She knew what happened to people who stood to protect her, and they all paid in blood. Olivia had almost lost Tommy when they were younger, reckless and far too bold.
Maybe it was their bond talking, she didn't know, but Olivia couldn't deny it any longer. She could not risk Eric's life, no matter how invincible he claims to be.
Olivia didn't know how yet, and she knew it would be dangerous, and it wasn't going to be easy and perhaps even impossible to get away with it. But Olivia was going to kill Bill Compton.
Sitting above it all, he watched the most delightful sins unfold right in front of his eyes. But his mind was elsewhere. It was inside the dream he had last night, reliving it over and over again. It was very rare that vampires had dreams at all. But his had been incredibly vivid, and he replayed it in his head with all the focus and clarity he could muster, trying to memorize every second of it.
Her blonde coppery hair cascaded down her back, dipping in the turquoise bubbly water. Her body emerged from the steamy fog like a beautiful ship crossing unmapped oceans. Tall stone pillars surrounded just the two of them under the light blue morning light, ancient brick walls enclosed them in this little private piece of heaven. Roman baths, he figured. The water was warm, and he could taste the minerals on his tongue.
He gazed at the perfect lines of her arms rising above her head, bringing water above her crown and letting it cascade down, her fingers moving running through her hair. He could not watch it any longer. He just had to have her. He could feel the shivers ripple across Olivia's burning hot skin the second his fingers curled around her hips. She didn't pull away, as she recognized his body instantly, without even looking.
His hands traveled down her thighs, and he pressed against her, feeling the heat radiate from her skin. He kissed the curve of her shoulder, and she melted into his lap, surrendering to her own desires. He let her fall into him, both bodies plunging lower into the water where they both became weightless, suspended only by ancient roman waters and their own wanting.
The rest was a blur. He didn't know how much of it he had dreamed, or if it was replayed images of last night. But he enjoyed the memories all the same. The images of being outside with her during the day were a strange figment of his own imagination, but fascinating in any way. It had been a thousand years since he's seen daylight, he didn't even know if the memory of it was anything like the real thing. But the taste of her in his mouth when he had woken up to at dusk had been very real.
Once he caught a glimpse of the same beautiful amber yellow hair crossing the club floor below, he knew it was time. Time for reckoning what was owed. He made his way downstairs, his progeny's crystal blue eyes followed. The two hadn't talked since last night, but they both knew it hadn't been over. Far from it.
He summoned her as he passed the bar and walked backstage towards his office. The echo of Pamela's stiletto heels echoed behind him, and they both entered his office, where Olivia sat at her usual desk. She was feeding a hefty pile of money through her counting machine. She gave Eric a look, and Pamela a different one.
An awkward heavy silence filled the room, transforming tension into a physical entity. Through their invisible bond, he knew Olivia was still angry at Pamela and he could not blame her for it. His progeny closed the door, chin up high and eyes colder than usual. She was not sorry about what she had done.
Eric walked to his own desk, leaning back on his chair. Pamela remained standing.
"It seems we have some issues to settle," he broke the silence, and he could feel Olivia vibrating.
His human was wearing a pencil skirt and black silk blouse with the sleeves rolled up. He wondered if she had a wooden stake hidden between her decadent legs, and how he should probably take it away from her before Olivia did something incredibly stupid. It was the equivalent of a toddler holding a gun.
Pamela rolled her eyes. "I'm sorry about Chow." She said quietly. She wasn't one to ever be sorry about anything, but it did sound genuine.
"Did you kill him?" Olivia asked defiantly.
She paused, considering that she almost had. "No."
"Then fuck your sorrys," the accountant said between her teeth.
This was going to be a trickier maneuver than he thought. Feelings aside, they all needed Pam's license, and they all needed Olivia's laundering scheme. So the two fierce women in front of him would have to find a way to work together again, without killing each other. When sex was not the answer, money usually was.
"Pamela, your intentions were noble but what you did put all of us in danger," Eric started, seeing a tremble run through her body. "The three million dollars Bill Compton gave you,"
"What about it?"
"They now belong to Olivia. Consider it punitive damages." Pamela took a sharp inhale, the ice in her eyes turned into fury. He tilted his head at her surprise. "You didn't expect me to let you keep it, did you?"
"It's a three million dollar reward," she repeated.
"It's a three million dollar mistake," he retorted. "Or you would rather want me to put a price on your betrayal instead?" His voice was glacier cold. "Because you would not like my answer."
"No." Her brows knitted together, and her fists turned white.
"Good. Wire transfer it to Olivia's retirement fund."
Pamela snapped. "I was counting on that money for the Casino. But fine-"
"Keep it." Olivia spoke up.
Eric looked at her surprised. Helping her retirement fund was his way of showing he intended on making good on the promise he made her last night. Now she didn't want it?
"In exchange for 6% of the Casino," she added, looking Panela straight in the eye with the fearlessness only she could have.
"Say it that again and I'll fuck, kill and eat you, in that order."
"You said it yourself, you need the money for the Casino, don't you?" She smirked. Bold move for someone standing within slap reach of his progeny.
"Did I fucking stutter when I said this was going to be a vampire owned Casino? Unless you're going to become my little sister, I don't want your fucking money."
"Brave words for someone who is on a clock to raise 45 million dollars," Olivia responded, hiding a smirk.
Not only was Olivia right, and this would force them to continue working together, but her part ownership could mean…. There would be a faint reason for Olivia to stay.
"Do it," ordered Eric.
"What?"
"And make it 7%," he pressed, growing tired of her insolence. He had let her go unpunished for too long and it did not serve her well.
"No!"
"8."
"Eric!" She roared.
He raised slowly from his chair, pulling her painfully through their bond. Her body jerked forward slightly, feeling the burn in her stomach. "Fine!" She cried out, the tips of her fangs slipping out of her pale lips. When he released it, she spoke again. "Three million for 8 percent of the Casino."
"Good," he sat back down. "You're dismissed."
Pamela's fists were wound so tight it wouldn't surprise him if her acrylics dug blood out of her palms. She stormed out of the office, cursing out the poor dancers in the locker room. He pitied the soul who went home with her tonight.
Olivia looked slightly stunned standing in the middle of his office. "Thanks," she muttered.
"You can thank me on opening day. There's a long road ahead of us before we can call this a win."
She nodded, understanding the enormous effort it would take to actually pull this whole thing off. But for now, he was just in awe at how beautiful she was. At her brilliance, and tenacity, and how making business deals was just a reflex for her. She saw it, she wanted it, she got it.
He walked around his desk, approaching her like a large cat stalking his favourite prey, wanting her taste in his mouth again.
"We need to talk about last night," she whispered, her beautiful brown eyes gazing at him unwavering. She put on her accountant mask, the responsible professional one. "Our jobs should come first, and there needs to be some kind of boundaries-"
"You're right," he could feel an ache in his gums. "We should pick a safe word or two."
Her eyes widened for a second, and she shivered when his hands slipped around her neck, as it always did. He remembered that strange dream again. He remembered sinking in the blue water with her in his arms. But for now, he was going to drown in her.
Pushing her hips on top of her desk, their lips collided again. Their bond was like a magnet, pulling them tight together, making it painful to be apart. He breathed her, he kissed her, he savoured everywhere he touched. That was until his left leg brushed against something sharp, and hot, right between her thighs.
"Is that a wooden stake strapped to your thigh," he broke the kiss with a grin. "Or are you just happy to see me, Miss Carson?"
Her lips were raw, and her hair was tossed and messy just the way he liked. "It's not for you."
"Oh," he laughed. "Who is it for?"
"Bill Compton," she said, blinking her long eyelashes.
A cold chill overtook him. He grabbed her arms tight, and there was nothing sensual about it. "Are you out of your mind?"
"Quite the opposite actually. I am not going to sit here and do nothing because you are betting Bill Compton isn't brave or stupid enough to…" her strong voice faded from her lips.
"To do what?" He pulled her closer.
"Collect me," she lied.
That was not what she was going to say. She wasn't going to wait for Compton to strike against Eric. Letting her go was becoming increasingly more difficult.
"Don't," he shook her arms. "Just don't-"
"What does he want to do with me, Eric? What does he want that could be worth three million dollars? That he is willing to kill for?"
"Bill Compton willing to kill is a very low bar."
She shook her head, not letting herself get distracted. "What could be so terrible that no one has the courage to tell me?"
The truth was, he did not know. Another truth was that he did not want to find out. He didn't think he could stomach it. If he knew, he would have to kill him. And he was the Authority's favourite contractor. The Queen owed him a shitload of money - killing him off would make her look suspicious. God knows the shitstorm it would bring.
"I'll give you two reasons not to go on with whatever insane plan you're conjuring in your head," he hissed. He nodded at the stake. "The first one: strike me."
She shook her head. "No-"
"Stab me," he dared, letting her arms go and quickly unbuttoning his shirt down to his navel. He could feel her heat on his bare chest. When he was done he raised his hands. "Do it."
Olivia still sat with her legs straddled open on her desk, looking up at him both angry and confused. She hesitated for many long and painful seconds. But the instant her right hand moved towards the weapon, he ripped the belt off her skin with one hand and threw the stake across the room with the other. It pierced through the Jack Daniels mirror hanging above the safe with such force the glass didn't even shatter. It struck it like a bullet, burrowing itself in the drywall behind it.
She softly gasped, wide-eyed and frozen in place. Though most vampire hunters stalk their targets and kill them during the day, there are hunters trained in combat who have successfully killed vampires during the night. But it took years of training, and Olivia - though physically strong - did not have years to spend learning the art of killing.
"The second reason," Eric added. "Is that I would have to kill you."
"What?"
"Self-defence is different, but if you seek out to kill a vampire I must kill you."
"Says who?!"
"Says me. It's the oldest written vampire law. And in these parts, it's my law, and I abide by it. No exceptions."
She frowned, speechless for a long minute. Her beautiful brown eyes defied him every second she held his gaze. There was also a third reason - money. The very thing that was spilled all over the table, spread all over the floor, filled his safe, overflowed in the bins on the couch. If Bill was killed, all fingers would point to Sophie-Anne, his biggest borrower. Best case scenario, other vampires and Kingdoms would become wary of making business deals with the Queen, who really couldn't afford to get shot in the foot right now. Worst case, the Authority would investigate his death, starting with his local sheriff and they would certainly find out about their blood business, about Olivia, and all the money they've been hiding from them, and how. Neither scenario would end up with Olivia being alive. He couldn't accept that.
Her voice was cold and calculated, but he could very much feel the tsunami of emotion inside her. "You tell me I can't run, and now you tell me I can't fight. If you know me at all, you know I can't just stand by and do nothing-"
"You can be mine, that's all you can do."
Her jaw clenched and her beautiful brown eyes turned dark right in front of him. He felt hot thunder strike through their bond as she got off the desk, smoothing her clothes and her hair without breaking eye contact.
Before she also stormed off she struck him again, this time with words that pierced him right in the middle of his chest, all the way through. "Being yours is not enough."
A.N
Hello earthlings! How have I missed you!
My posting break is done, I have enough written to resume my weekly posting schedule for a while.
UGH this ending absolutely breaks me! Olivia why art thou so cruel :(
Anywho, give me so love in the comments xoxo