Kyra carefully walked down the rickety steps leading to the musty basement; the metallic smell of blood still washing over her, crowding down her throat until it was all she could taste. "Eric?" She whispered; panicking when he didn't answer, knowing that with his ability he would have certainly heard the shaky word. She began mumbling a hasty pray that her fears were unfounded and Eric was just being his usual obnoxious self. Her heart pounded painfully in her chest as her fingers curled around the dented knob of the boiler room door.

Gathering what little shreds of courage she had left after her terrifying confrontation with Eric's progeny, Kyra turned the knob and forced the warped door open. The smell slammed into her so harshly that she took a step back, covering her mouth as she fought back the need to gag. "Oh, Eric," She whimpered, "Oh, God, please no."

She reached out a hand, feeling it tremble as she silently cursed her lack of vision for making this situation so much more worse. The concrete floor was slick beneath her boots, and it caused her to slide as she slowly stepped into the tiny room. Her fingers brushed the stout back of chair as prays began to tumble from her lips again. She braced herself against the worst as she gradually lifted her hand.

Kyra was unable to stop a small sob of relief as she felt the cool skin of his neck beneath her fingers. "Thank you, God." She choked out as she followed the length of his arm down to the crook of his elbow. Several thick IV needles were still jabbed carelessly into his vein, blood pumping from the medical tubing. She knelt, her jeans sucking up the sticky blood that had pooled beneath the chair as she quickly pulled the IV from his arm; feeling the punctured skin close under her fingertip. She invented a few colorful names for Malcolm and his band of moronic friends as she reached up and gently pulled the blindfold away.

"Eric, sweetie," Kyra demanded softly, tapping his cheek lightly. "You need to wake up for me so I can get some blood into you. Come on, Viking, wake up."

"Put your hand on me again and I will remove it from your body and drink from the stump." Eric growled out, the words sluggish and betraying how much blood he had actually lost. Kyra let out a small laugh heavily weighted with relief as she stepped away from him, holding her hands up in a mock surrender. "Please forgive me, Oh Viking King, for putting my filthy commoner hand upon your visage. You ungrateful ass." She sent him a glare over her shoulder as she felt along the wall to the rusted shelving unit, pulling a True Blood from its hiding spot. "Do you have any idea just how terrified I was? I could smell the blood the moment I opened the front door. I thought they had staked you."

Eric groaned as she cranked open the bottle despising the idea of having to suck down the swill that it offered. He had watched this process enough times to know what was coming next as Kyra dumped a small amount of the vile brew down the drain. She set the bottle down, reaching for the small pocket knife. Her teeth sank delicately into her full lower lip as she smoothly ran the blade across her palm, reopening the jagged wound there and quickly catching the flowing blood with the bottle. "I would like to take this opportunity to change my pervious opinion of feeding from you directly," He stated, the words slow and thick in his mouth. Not that his opinion had changed on the matter in the least, despite the number of times she had offered.

She flashed a smile at him, calling his bluff as she tossed her wine colored curls over her shoulder. "Uh-huh, sure you would. However, I have a feeling that if I get near you right now you'd most likely drain me with the amount of blood that you have lost. So, I'm going to just stick with this for now, thank you very much." She gave the bottle a swirl before sliding a straw into its neck, kneeling next to him again. "Now, open up like a good boy. Here comes the airplane."

"Fucking bitch," He snapped but was unable to keep the smile from his lips as she raised the bottle so he could drink. His eyes roamed over her face as he sucked down the rancid synthetic blood as quickly as he could, even her delectable blood was unable to mask to potent taste of the chemical brew. He had come to crave the taste of her blood over these last, final days; needing to feel it run down his throat like a starving man needed a steak. He pulled away, forcing himself to swallow the last horrid mouthful.

"Do you need another one?" She asked. Eric grimaced at the mere thought, "I would rather die." Kyra laughed as she set the now empty bottle on the floor, "Poor thing." She cautiously inspected the wounded hand with her fingertip, hissing slightly at the stinging pain. She moved to stand, most likely heading towards the medical supplies she had brought down a few days earlier. "Don't," Eric stated causing her to still, "Bring it here."

Her tilted her head to the side but did what he asked, raising her hand until she felt it brush his lips. Eric's tongue snaked out, lapping at the slash; he nearly moaned at the undiluted essence of her blood as it exploded across his taste buds. It tasted like the rain, fresh and clean, so pure that he knew he'd never get enough. His eyes raised to her face, watching as heat splashed across her cheeks, her eyes wide.

His fangs came out brushing against the smooth silk of her flesh causing a small gasp to fall from those lush lips of hers. Eric knew that he was only a few moments away from losing any sense of control and though normally he wouldn't care, Kyra deserved better than that. Instead he sank a fang into his tongue, sliding his blood along the jagged cut before pulling away. "Better?" His voice was barely more than a rough growl. She flexed her hand, feeling the newly healed skin. "Naturally." She commented, but he caught the gentle waver in her voice, betraying the emotions she tried to control.

The chirp of her phone caused her to jump, she pulled it from her pocket and a mechanical voice recited off the time. Twenty minutes until sundown. "Pam will be here soon." Kyra stated softly, putting her phone back. "Along with someone named Sookie and her boyfriend Bill."

"Sookie and Bill?" Eric prompted, his eyes narrowing. She nodded, standing. "Yeah, they were at the club while Pam and I talked. Sookie pretty much demanded that she and Bill came along. I didn't have much of a choice but include them. Sookie seemed like she was worried about you. Though, not nearly as much as Pam."

Eric rolled his eyes, "Somehow I doubt that. How did Pam take your little talk? I'm surprised she didn't kill you." Kyra stilled, her hand coming up to the scarf around her throat before forcing a small smile, "She threatened to, several time actually. She's scary as hell. But she has great taste in shoes." The smile fell as she ran her fingers over the silver chains that secured him to the chair. "Are you ready for this?"

"Yes."

"Fast or slow?"

Eric raised an eyebrow, chuckling softly, "I'm not sure, tell me, when I take you in your dreams; is it fast or slow?" Heat exploded across her face, "You're a complete ass, you know that?" But even as she was frantically snapping insults at him, he could smell sweet desire from her.

Kyra hastily crossed her arms, leveling him with a withering glare which only made him smile again. "Fast," Eric finally answered. Concern instantly flared in her smoky eyes as her teeth worried her lower lip. A hand curled around the thick chain that was draped around his neck and chest, she took a steady breath before yanking the chain from him in one fluid pull. He roared out a curse in his native language as melted, charred, hunks of his flesh were torn from his body.

She hesitantly took hold of the one wrapped around his hips and thighs, tears welling in her eyes at the pain she was causing him; but she swiftly, mercilessly, rid him of all the silver that had bound him. Kyra stumbled away from Eric once she had finished; pressing herself tightly against the wall as he raged, throwing the chair so hard that it splintered against the water heater, water gushing from the punctured tank. For the first time, true fear licked down her spine. Would he turn on her? Would he hurt her?

He was suddenly in front of her, caging her between the hard planes of his body and the wall. He towered over her and she would have given anything to be able to see his face in that moment. She inhaled, forcing her body to stop shaking; pushing aside her sheer terror as she raised her head, hoping that she was looking at his face. "I wouldn't blame you if you killed me."

"Do you want me to?" Eric asked, tracing a long finger over her lips, trailing it along her skin before slowly pulling her scarf free. The dark purple bruises that marred her neck, hideous and painful looking, exposed before she could stop him. "Pam did this to you?" He asked, tilting her head back so he could examine the blotches better. Kyra nodded slowly. A deep growl rumbled in his chest as he gently ran his thumb over the marks. "Why didn't you tell me?"

Kyra's fingers circled his wrist, pulling his hand from her neck. "I didn't want you to worry about it. I mean, not that you would or anything. They'll be gone in a few days. It's really not that big of a deal. A few bruises are nothing compared with what you've had to deal with over these last two weeks."

A very human emotion suddenly welled in him as he eyed the small human in front of him. Kyra, with all of her compassion and fire, was the first honestly good person he had ever met. He didn't want to admit it, the mere thought annoyed him, but he had come to rely on her. She had become his guardian, his champion simply because she felt it was the right thing to do. She had defended him, placing herself between him and the cruelty of the others, acting as his shield. Her unwavering kindness had only brought her pain, yet, she had never once uttered a word of complaint; instead she offered him her life as recompense for the travesties committed against him.

He became suddenly aware that she thought they would no longer have contact with one another once she freed him and returned him to his life. The fiery redhead was sorely mistaken. He unexpectedly wanted to keep her, to possess her entirely.

He wanted to make her his.

Her heart stuttered as his large hand curled gently around her throat, her breath catching as he leaned towards her. "I do have a request." She managed to get out, her hands trembling as she laid them against his chest. Eric hand slid up, tangling in her wild curls, lapping at one of the darker smudges on her throat. "And what would that be, little human?"

"My life for my cousin's." Kyra whispered, "That you let me take her place." He pulled back slightly, "You would do that for her? Die for her?" She swallowed then nodded, "Her mother has already lost so much. She wouldn't survive the loss of her daughter too. I know I have no right to ask such a thing from you after everything that has happened but, please, take me instead of her."

Eric paused, his face hovering above the curve of her neck, shooting a dark look towards her face. "Was this the reason that you aided me so that I would spare your cousin out of gratitude?"

"What? God, no! Eric, this has nothing to do with that. No, I helped of you because it was the right thing to do. Malcolm and the others had no right to do this to you. What they did goes beyond criminal. I didn't have any kind of motive to helping you, I swear that I didn't. I just- I know that you're going to take revenge for this, and that's totally within your right, but I'm just hoping that you're willing to take my life instead of my cousin's. That's all, no secret motives, no hidden agendas."

He could tell she wasn't lying, but he couldn't wrap his head around the idea that she was willing to forfeit her life for that of her bitchy cousin. She was so disgustingly noble and naïve, he had never known another like her in his long life. "I agree," he stated against the silken flesh of her neck.

Her relieved sigh brushed against his cheek, her fingers twisting in the filthy material of his shirt. "Thank you, Eric." She took a small, steading breath before tilting her head to the side. The temptation was too great for him, Eric drew her deeper into his arms, his large body enveloping her lithe frame completely; his fangs sliding out, aching for another taste of her pure blood.

He struck, sinking his fangs deep as he held her tightly against him. Her blood hit him like a fireball, coursing through his veins as a tidal wave. Eric groaned, swallowing great, greedy mouthfuls of her addicting flavor. Fresh rain, wildflowers, and gentle breezes; God, she tasted like the springtime. He couldn't get enough of it.

A soft, mewling noise escaped from her as he fed. She had prepared herself for pain, for the rush of adrenaline, and the terror but none of it came; instead, heat flooded her again, that sweet desire coiled tightly until she pressed herself against the hard planes of his body, her nails biting into his shoulders. She groaned helplessly in his ear, her hips rocking against his in a vain attempt to ease the sudden heat that swamped her. Her pussy clenched, achingly empty.

Kyra nearly cried as his hand slid beneath the thin material of her tank top, resting against the heated skin of her stomach. His fingers slid passed the waistband of her jeans and panties. She was sinfully smooth and drenched, her heat nearly scorching his flesh. He pulled away from her neck, lapping at the wound a few times before resting his forehead against hers. His fingers wrenching a soft sob from her lips as they explored furthered, sliding through slicked skin with ease.

Her teeth sank into lower lip as she rocked against his fingers as they curled, circling her aching clit. Pleasure tore through her, fire pooling in her stomach until she thought she would go crazy from it. God, her dreams couldn't even compare. Her body twitched as he slowly sank a long finger inside of her, her breath exploding out of her in a low moan.

His lips brushed along her cheek, her eye, until his tongue traced her ear. "Is this the first time anyone has touched you?" Eric growled as her warm honey covered his finger. He drew it from her, even as her pussy clenched to keep it inside; nearly purring at the bereft noise she made, before adding another finger. He nipped at her ear, a sharp punishment, when she didn't answer him immediately. "Tell me, Kyra. Tell me that you haven't allowed another man to touch you. That your hot little pussy knows only me."

She tossed her head back, but her eyes shifted away from him, "Malcolm." A growl rumbled deep in his chest, a noise of animalistic rage; he thrust his fingers harder, deeper; catching her when she arched wildly against the sudden invasion. "That twisted little fuck doesn't count." Eric snarled, "I will tear him apart for even thinking that he had the right to put his hands on you."

He pumped his fingers faster then, the Viking warlord in him rising up as she pressed herself closer to him, at the soft, feminine noises she was making. He was the first to hear those sounds, the first to feel her drenching heat; a pure male sound came from him, answering her breathy whimpers as he drove her higher.

Kyra had never understood why her friends gushed about sex like they did until this moment. Sheer, explosive pleasure consumed her until sparks of color exploded behind her eyes. It was beyond physical though, as it always was with her. Eric, there was something about him, something that made her feel completely and totally safe even as she body spiraled out of control.

His emotions were wild and protective as he held her to him, as a warrior would hold his woman as he laid claim to her. She didn't delude herself into thinking that he actually cared for her. He felt some affection towards her but it had never gone any deeper than that. She wasn't even sure if vampires could feel love as a normal human did, but she also didn't doubt that Eric would, at this moment, kill to keep her in his arms. She knew that for these few, short minutes she was the safest person in the entire world.

Her stomach coiled tighter as her muscles clenched around his fingers. She was on the edge, delirious with pleasure but terrified to fall into the unknown. "Come for me, lover," Eric demanded hotly against her ear, his fingers thrusting harder, deeper. "I want to see you come."

She heard her cry out as the pleasure burst inside her. Her climax was like a tidal wave, tearing through her, destroying her, as she held tight to his. Hot pulsing relief spasmed through her cunt, causing it to grip tighter about his plunging fingers, soak his hand, her thighs with a rush of liquid.

Eric gently slid his fingers from her, licking her juices away as she tried to control her shaking breaths. "Delicious." He stated once he had gotten the last of it. She glared at him but the blush splashed across her cheeks and the dazed look in her eyes soften the look considerably. She gave up on look fierce, leaning forward to brush a delicate kiss against his lips. "Thank you."

He raised a blond brow at her reverent words but quickly remembered she couldn't see his questioning look. "What for?" She laughed, leaning back against the cool cement wall. "For that. All the different scenarios I was expecting, somehow an amazing orgasm was not one of them." She tilted her head to the side, getting a thoughtful look on her face. "Actually, I didn't expect to still be alive either, so maybe I'm thanking you for that too?"

He chuckled, shaking his head at her logic. A thundering pounding at the front door cut off his reply. "That must be the others." Kyra stated, moving to step around him. His hand caught her chin, tilting her head back until he could look into her gray eyes. "Don't think that we have finished because we haven't. You think that you can escape me either by death or distance but let me make one thing very clear to you, Kyra: You belong to me."