"Pam is insane, you know that right?" Kyra stated from the doorway to Eric's bedroom, knowing he would hear her comment over the shower. It was another thing she had learned about Eric, he enjoyed being clean. The first thing he did when they returned to his apartment was shower, claiming he couldn't stand the smell of the club on him. He and his surrounding were always kept immaculate. "Eighteen stores yesterday, Eric, eighteen stores in like three hours. I'm pretty sure she was trying to kill me. No one but a vampire could keep up with her."

Eric shut off the shower, vigorously toweling himself as she continued her little tirade. "Why are you telling me this?" He demanded, as he strolled from the bathroom, the towel draped over his shoulder, "I'm not your friend, little human."

"You took Momo from me," Kyra said, "I miss talking to people. Pam doesn't like me and Alphonso doesn't really talk. He just sits there and reads until the sun goes down. It's almost like you don't trust me not to run while the sun is up, Eric."

"I don't trust you," Eric scoffed as he yanked on clothes, "Alphonso's job is to make sure that you stay and that your human needs are taken care of so I don't have to deal with them when I wake. He isn't here to be your friend."

Kyra crossed her arms, leaning heavily against the doorway, "Why keep me here if you hate it so much? You act like I'm nothing but an inconvenience to you but you won't let me go."

"The why isn't important, human," Eric snapped, "All you need to know is that-" Kyra waved him off, "I'm yours. Blah, scary vampire crap, blah, blah. You're putting me in a catch twenty-two here, Eric. You hate me for inconveniencing your life but you won't let me leave either."

Eric paused, turning towards her, "You think I hate you?" She looked away, tucking her hands into the back pockets of the skin tight jeans Pam had bought for her last night; "I don't think you like me. You certainly don't act like you do."

"If I hated you, little human, you'd be dead," Eric stated simply, "Come sit, there's something I need to take care of before we leave." Kyra rolled her eyes but did what he asked, carefully making her way towards the large bed. She skimmed her hand over the satin sheet as she waited for Eric to finish packing.

The first few nights Kyra had stubbornly fallen asleep on the couch after Eric had proclaimed that they would be sharing his room but she would always wake the following evening in his bed; usually with him using her as his personal teddy-bear. She had been stunned the first time she woke to him curled around her, his long limbs tangled with hers. After the initial shock had worn off, Kyra had been flooded with an overwhelming sense of rightness; as if she belonged in this man's arms. That feeling was quickly blown away by an inferno of rage a few moments later and she tore herself away from him. That confusing little feeling was still there every time she awoke.

Kyra sighed, running a hand through her loose hair, another demanded request from Eric. Her emotions were beginning to run wild. A part of her was terrified of Eric, another raged at her captivity; but there was another piece of her that was beginning to care for him, and that scared her. Eric wasn't a human, he didn't react the way a human man would, and she had no idea where she stood with him. When she had asked to trade places with her cousin, she had figured that Eric would kill her in Audrey's stead. But he hadn't, instead he had kidnapped her, never letting her out of his sight. He wasn't kind to her but he wasn't cruel either, his words sometimes hurtful but never with malicious intent. She couldn't figure out what she had done that had made him decide to keep her. And Kyra also couldn't figure out why she wasn't fighting him anymore.

"There is something that we must take care of before we leave," Eric said, breaking her out of her thoughts, as he sat next to her. Kyra tucked a knee beneath her chin as he continued, "You and I need to perform a blood exchange."

Kyra blanched, "You want me to drink your blood again? Why?" Eric shook his head, "A blood exchange is different. I take your blood as you drink mine. This forms a stronger bond that lasts longer. When someone drinks my blood the bond that I share with them is temporary, lasting only about a week. When an exchange is performed the bond is far stronger and lasts several times longer."

"Are there any side-effects other than the usual ones from drinking your blood?" Kyra asked warily.

"If an exchange is performed too many times the bond becomes permanent, a full bond. There have been cases of bonded feeling the emotions of the vampire. I highly doubt that will be the case with us, however. This is as much for your protection as it is for my peace of mind. Dallas has a very large vampire population and not all of them would accept only a verbal claim. My marker may be the sheriff of the area but I will have no power there," Eric explained. He looped an arm around her waist, pulling her until she sat between his legs, "I don't like this idea but I won't have another try to take you from me."

Kyra leaned back against him, "Do I have a choice?"

"In this instance, yes. A bond won't form unless both parties agree to it. It can't be forced," Eric said, "It is one of the few acts that we vampires consider almost sacred, only the bond between marker and progeny is regarded more highly."

"Have you ever-" She began but Eric cut her off, "No, I haven't. I've never performed an exchange with a human because I've never claimed a human before. It's not something that I take lightly. I've kept humans before for sex and blood, but you are the first human that I've claimed."

"Why?" Kyra asked, somewhat shocked. "I have never felt the need," Eric replied with a shrug, "I considered claiming one for her unique abilities but I worked out an arrangement with her instead. I wanted her only for her abilities, perhaps a snack here and there; but nothing more."

"Sookie?"

"Sookie."

"Pam said that she could read peoples' minds," Kyra stated, "She was trying to use Sookie to find you." Eric snorted, "As I said, the only useful thing about Sookie is her ability." Kyra fell silent in his arms, her little white teeth worrying her bottom lip as her mind worked through the information.

She sighed a few moments later, sinking fully against him, "I'm scared, Eric. I barely know where I stand with you as it is and, this; this is going to change things. That scares me."

"I have been alive for over a thousand years and you are the only human I have ever claimed. That is all you need to know."

"Pam?"

"I changed Pam, gifted her with eternal life, made her my beloved progeny; but I didn't claim her. You're thinking too hard about this, little human, I'm not asking for a full bond. A month, two at the most, and then my blood will fade from your system just as before," Eric replied.

Kyra was silent a heartbeat longer before nodding, "All right. If it's truly the best way to keep me safe while we're in Dallas, I'll perform an exchange with you. But, I do have one condition." Eric sighed as his hand loosely circling her throat, his thumb stroking along her jaw, "Why am I not surprised? Tell me, little human, what is it that you want? Money? A house? A car perhaps?"

She burst out laughing, "Yes, Squeakers, the blind girl wants a car. What I was going to ask was that you were a little nicer to me." Kyra felt Eric stiffen behind her before his fangs slid out and he pinned her to the bed by her throat; snarling at her as he loomed over her. His hand constricted threateningly.

"How am I not nice to you?" He growled at her, "I have been nothing but kind to you. I have provided food and clothing for you; I have even permitted you to plunk out butchered attempts at music on my piano that is worth far more than you. I could use you, drain you, destroy you without anyone ever questioning it; but I haven't. Your every need is seen to, you want for nothing here. You are nothing, nothing but a scarred, hideous, disgusting piece of filth. You have no worth to anyone; even your own kind is repulsed by you and your deformity. Despite this, despite your obvious wretchedness, I have brought you into my home, protected you, and provided for you. How have I been unkind?"

She flinched as he roared at her, her hands pushing futilely at his chest. Kyra tried to fight the tears that pricked behind her eyes but they refused to be quelled, instead racing down her cheeks as his words sliced into her. She turned her face away from him as she cried, something she hadn't done since her parents' deaths. Eric shoved off of her with a disgusted noise, "Pathetic." He yanked her from the bed, ignoring her struggles. He flung her into the bathroom, sending her crashing against the large soaking tub, her pain laced yelp echoing off the tiled walls. "Clean yourself up, mongrel. I won't have you in my maker's presence in such a sordid state. We are leaving in ten minutes. Do not make the mistake of having me come to get you. Do you understand me?"

Eric turned to storm from the room but almost inaudible whimper caused him to pause. Kyra was pressed tightly against the tub, clutching one arm against her chest; her tear streaked face twisted in pain. His rage bleed from him as something ugly settled in his chest as the scent of her pain reached him. He had injured her.

He exhaled heavily, turning back towards her. She recoiled at his approach, watching him like a rabid dog. "Let me see," Eric stated, kneeling in front of her. His hand carefully circled her arm, drawing it towards him. Kyra's eyes darkened into thunderheads as he gently probed her swelling wrist with feather light touches.

"Your wrist is fractured," Eric said a few minutes later. She yanked her hand from his loose grip, tucking it against her chest again, "You did this." Her voice was thick with her tears and budding fury.

"I am aware-" Eric began but Kyra cut him off with a scathing glare, "Don't you dare. Don't you dare downplay what you've done. You did this. You hurt me. How dare you? All I wanted was for you to talk to me, to treat me like a damn person every once in a while. Instead, you turn into Mister freaking Hyde. Saying all those terrible things to me, making me cry, and then physically hurting me. There is nothing that you can do, nothing that you can say, that will make this right."

His eyes narrowed, "Be very careful what you say to me, human."

"Or what?" Kyra shot back, "You'll kill me? You'll lock me away and drain me? I trusted you. You're a complete narcissistic ass but I never once thought that you would actually hurt me. I thought I was safe with you. I stupidly believed you when you said that you would protect me; I guess it's my fault for assuming that meant from you too. Only monster do what you just did. You're a monster, Eric."

"I'm a vampire," Eric snarled at her. She had the audacity to roll her eyes at him, "That doesn't make you a monster. Your choices make you a monster. Like Malcom. Remember him? He was the one that tried to rape me than beat me into a bloody mess while I was trying to keep your stupid ass alive. He's going to kill me when he comes back and finds you gone. I'm going to die because of you, Eric."

"He's not going to kill you."

"Why? Are you going to beat him to it?" Kyra shot back. She leaned back against the tub, scrubbing at her face before letting out a bitter laugh, "My entire life has turned into a cluster fuck. All because I decided to help you, because I decided to save you. No good deed goes unpunished, right? God, maybe I should have just let them kill you."

Eric jerked back from her, pain burning through his chest at the rancorous words. A heavy silence formed between them, ugly and acrimonious. "I didn't mean that," Kyra softly offered a few long minutes later, "Even after all of this, I would have still saved you." A thought crossed her mind causing her to let out a groan, "Oh God, I've turned into Bella."

"What?"

"Bella from the Twilight series. Momo made me read them. They really were terrible books. The main character is a teenage girl that falls in love with a vampire that's terrible for her. She gives up everything to be with him, completely changes herself for him. I complained so much about her and now I am her. Crap-cakes."

"Are you saying that you're in love with me?" Eric asked a moment later. She stilled, a look of panic crossing her pale face. Kyra chewed on her lower lip as she contemplated her answer, "I think I was starting to. I care about you or, at least, I did before all of this happened. You're a massive jerk with a wicked superiority complex but you aren't a bad person. I trusted you, you made me feel safe. So, yeah, I think that I was starting falling in love with you."

Eric allowed the silence to build between them again. He was a vampire well over a millennium old; he had killed more people than he could possible count and never once had he ever felt remorse over their deaths. He existed only for his maker and progeny. Love was far too weak of a word to describe what he felt for them; they were the only ones that he cared for.

Or so he thought.

He studied the small human in front of him. She had saved him at the darkest point of his very long life and had asked nothing in return but to be allowed to save someone else; expecting death as her reward. She was unlike anything he had ever experienced before; a kind, compassionate person that acted without thought of personal gain. She adored life, finding joy in the smallest of moments; bringing light when there was none to be found. He wanted that joy, that light; he wanted her laughter because he lost his own long ago. He had claimed her, taken her from her life and she still laughed, still found joy. She was an anomaly. A unique creature lost in a sea of bovine.

And he was the one to crush her. He snubbed out that light. He had taken her laughter. After everything, all the horrid pain she had experienced on his behalf; she had cared for him. And he had broken that too. He was ancient vampire with bloodstained fangs and hands but never once had he ever considered himself a monster.

Until this moment.

Eric stood suddenly, yanking his phone from his pocket. Using his speed, he dialed and his call was connected on the first ring, "Alphonse, I need you to come and take the human to the hospital. You are to stay with her until as she receives treatment than return her to her apartment. After which you will make sure that every bill she has is paid and her rent is taken care of. She is to want for nothing, do you understand me? I expect her at the hospital within the next fifteen minutes."

"Eric," Kyra said after he hung up, "What are you doing?" Eric knelt in front of her again, cupping her tear stained face in his hands, "I release any claim I had over you, Kyra Dane. You are free of me. As repayment for your actions, you'll always be safe and provided for until the day you die. Of this you have my word."

Tears welled again in her eyes, "I don't want your money, Eric." He pressed his forehead against hers, "Min lilla människa, låt mig försona det enda sättet jag vet hur." Kyra sighed, her breath warm and sweet against his skin. She wrapped her uninjured arm around his neck, pulling him into a soft embrace, "I have no idea what you just said but I forgive you, Eric. You and I, this, may be over; but I forgive you and I'm glad that I met you." (My little human, let me atone the only way I know how)

A knock rang out from the front door of the penthouse. Eric pulled away from her, easing her to her feet then nudging her towards the door, "Alphonse will be by tomorrow with your things." Kyra nodded slowly, pausing in the bedroom doorway, "Goodbye, Eric."

"Goodbye, little human."

"Are you certain that you don't want me to walk you to your apartment, Miss Dane?" Alphonse asked as he smoothly parked in front of her building, "Your pain meds should be kicking in now."

Kyra laughed, "They gave me hyped up version of aspirin, Alphonse, it's hardly Vicodin. I'll be perfectly fine. Thank you, by the way."

"For what, Miss Dane?"

"Being there tonight, I guess," Kyra said with a shrug, "And over the last couple of weeks." She heard Alphonse turn in the driver's seat until he could face her, "It was no trouble, I assure you. May I say something?"

"Yeah, of course."

"What Mister Northman did tonight was inexcusable; however, he isn't a bad man. I owe him my life, my family owes him their lives; and I will spend the rest of my life willingly repaying that debt to him. I've been his day-man now for well over ten years, and I can honestly say that no one has ever affected him the way that you have."

Kyra sighed, "Alphonse, I met Eric a whopping four weeks ago. No one can affect anyone in that kind of timeframe. Crap like that only happens in the movies. Look, I'm well aware of the fact that he's not a complete douche canon; he's not actually a bad person but that doesn't mean I'm just going to overlook the fact that I am now wearing a brace because of him. Sure, it's only a couple of hairline fractures but they wouldn't be there if it wasn't for him. Eric is a good man but even he doesn't get to behave however he wants without consequences. That's just the way life works, even for vampires."

The man let out a long sigh, as if he was disappointed with her. He left the town car, making his way around to open her door for her; helping her from the vehicle. "May I say one more thing?" He asked as he walked her to the front entrance. Kyra glanced up at him, "Sure."

"I asked my wife to marry me after our third date."

"What did she say?"

Alphonse smiled, opening the thick glass door for her, "She said yes. Sometimes, Miss Dane, it only takes a moment, a single conversation, to know that you have found exactly what you weren't looking for. Take my word for it, Miss Dane; you will be that man's only regret in his very long life. In a thousand years, when you and I are long since dead and buried, he will still be asking himself 'what if'."

He left Kyra in the lobby of her building, his parting words weighing around her neck like a millstone. She made her way towards the elevator, smacking the call button than stabbing the button for her floor. The elevator doors slid shut, entombing her with her thoughts.

Did she hate Eric? No, of course she didn't; but did that justify what he had done, the way he had acted, absolutely not. She didn't want to be anyone's regret but that didn't mean she was going to go running back to him either. She wasn't some lonesome, pathetic heroine in a mushy novel.

She was stronger than that.

She was better than that.

Her resolve firmly back in place, the doors eased open. Kyra unlocked her apartment door, setting her purse on the table next to it as she strolled into the living room. "Momo? Are you home?"

Her best friend stormed from his bedroom, yanking her into a tight hug, "Baby girl! You're home; I missed the crap out of you. What happened to your hand?"

"I got into a fight with a vampire." Kyra stated, waving off his concern, "It's just a couple of hairline fractures. The brace can come off in a week. They didn't even give me any good pain meds for it."

Momo laughed and led her to the couch, roping an arm around her shoulders as they cuddled together, "Did you at least win?" Kyra laughed, snuggling into his side, "I think I did." He stroked her hair, tucking her closer to him.

"It was Eric, wasn't it?" He asked a few minutes later. Kyra nodded, "We fought, well, he fought. It was an accident. Not the fight, that was all him; the fractures. He didn't mean to."

"Doesn't make it okay."

"No, it doesn't. He knows that, he let me go."

Momo pulled her onto his lap, mindful of her sore wrist, "You're crying, Ky." She nodded but didn't fight the tears that were streaming down her face, "I know but I'm not going back."

"Never said that you should," He stated as he rubbed soothing circles along her back, "I can't help you if you don't tell me why you're crying, Ky."

"I'm an idiot."

"You're crying because you're an idiot?"

"Yes."

He just rocked her as she sobbed into his shirt. It was a long while before she calmed down, her sobs easing into soft sniffles. Momo set her on the couch, returning a few minutes later with a damp washcloth and a large cup of tea. He toyed with the ends of her hair as she wiped the salt from her cheeks. Kyra settled back into his arms, taking sips of her tea. They sat in an easy, well-worn silence until she set her now empty mug on the table in front of the couch.

"I fell in love with him, Mo." Kyra admitted, her voice harsh and broken. Momo pulled her tighter against him, "Oh, baby girl."