Back to Mattie's POV. While Bill does make me swoon, I was missing her. BTW, we get to see Eric's more pleasant side. This one's for you T!

I do not own any of the characters from Southern Vampire Mysteries. They all belong to Charlaine Harris. Bless her for sharing them with us. Mattie is my very own.

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Chapter 10

We pulled up to Fangtasia about an hour later. I took my time getting there. If Eric was so hell bent on talking to me, he was going to have to wait. Bill had let me drive since I was stressing about going to the bar. He knows driving my car always relaxes me.

There was a blond female working the door. Bill told me she was Eric's child, Pam. Funny, they kind of looked alike to me. I laughed at that thought. I looked just like my dad too.

"Pam, this is Mattie." She nodded her head in my direction. "We're here to speak with Eric. He asked that we come this evening." Bill spoke to her. I just nodded my head and smiled.

"Certainly. He's in his office." Pam waved her hand in the direction of the back room.

Bill put his hand on the small of my back and guided me through the bar. It was fairly early by vampire standards, so it wasn't exactly hopping yet. I glanced around the room surveying the clientèle. There were a few scary looking, Gothic college kids in the corner. They were sitting with a younger looking female vampire. She looked bored, but they were staring at her hungrily. There were a few vamps behind the bar, some human cocktail waitresses serving drinks, and another skinny looking human manning the counter in the gift shop.

"It doesn't smell in here Bill." I said under my breath remembering that vampires have incredible hearing.

"That may be because none of the vampires here are that old. Or powerful for that matter. Pam and I are the oldest here with the exception of Eric." Bill's lips barely moved as he spoke. We continued on our way to the back.

I picked my hand up to knock on Eric's door, but he had opened it already. He motioned to come in and shut the door behind us. Only slightly unnerved, I took a seat on the couch. Bill joined me.

Eric sat down in his chair and plunked his boots up on the desk, crossing his ankles. There was a knock at the door, Pam entered, nodded at Eric, then Bill and I.

"As I mentioned earlier, I was able to identify the vampire you eliminated last evening. He was sent on an errand for his maker. It appears that Mickey is still holding a grudge against Sookie and Myself for turning him in to Salome some time ago. Apparently his previous punishment did not convince him it was unwise to take revenge. I have spoken with Salome and the situation will again be handled. I am sure she will have him wishing himself finally dead before she is through with him."

Bill filled me in on the background information regarding Mickey and his attack of Sookie.

"There won't be any repercussions then? For me I mean?"

I wanted to be clear that I wasn't in any danger of punishment myself or needing to pay some sort of fine.

"It has been handled Matilda. You needn't worry about it any longer." What was that supposed to mean? Did he settle up for me? If he did I was pretty sure I would end up owing him a favor, something I didn't want looming over my head.

"Just give it to me straight. Am I going to end up owing you for this Eric? I want to know now so there are no surprises."

"Of course you will, but we will....how do you say it?.... Jump off that bridge when we come to it." Eric flashed me one of his million dollar smiles. Was he being nice to me? "We have other things to discuss. I have a proposition for you."

"OK, I'll bite.(haha) What do you have in mind?" I can be nice too. I'm not stupid.

"As you well know, there are many things you need to learn about your ability in order to use it properly. Do you even know what you're truly capable of? Why do your eyes glow when you get angry with me? How do you control it? These are things that need to be looked into." He glanced in Bill's direction. "Compton has pulled together some research on the subject. I am sure he will be able to teach you some of the more valuable lessons about your senses."

So, this was what he did while I was sleeping. Mystery solved.

Bill's thumb was sliding back and forth across my palm when he looked at me. " I do have your best interest at heart my dear. I thought maybe I could help you understand things a bit better. Would you like that?" I nodded.

"Yes, thank you. There wasn't much I was told when I learned about all of this years ago. I've basically been denying it, running from it. I should know. It would be safer for us." Bill leaned over, kissing me on the forehead.

Eric stood up and began walking around the room.

"You require intensive physical training as well. There is no one I would trust to help you with this. If you would accept, I would like to train you myself."

I was flabbergasted! Eric was almost treating me like a friend instead of an asset. Maybe I was wrong about him? Then my bubble burst.

"Being that you will be in my employ, I would like to ensure that you're trained by the best and I am the best."

Jeez Eric, egocentric much? "Who says I'm working for you? I have a job already."

" I have spoken to the shifter about your employment. He will be removing you from the payroll, effective immediately."

"You can't do that! How am I supposed to make any money? I have bills to pay!" That entire statement just sounded stupid. I live with my boyfriend and everyone in this room knows that. I don't pay for anything but my cell phone, car insurance, and gas. I knew I should really being offering to pay Bill for some things, but I knew he would never let me.

"If you agree to work for me, you will be compensated on a per job basis as well as for your training time and materials. I can also offer you a health plan. You may even get some use out of it, based on your job description." He pulled a chair up in front of me and sat down leaning his elbows onto his thighs. His sapphire blue eyes were staring intently at me. "Do we have a deal Mattie?"

"Yeah, I guess so. It's not like I really have a choice. When do I start?" I was already sleeping with a vampire, why not work for one?

"Good, then it's settled." Eric seemed pleased with himself. He walked over to a large cabinet on the wall. He took out two black t-shirts and handed them to me. "You can wear these when you are working here." I stared at him with my mouth open. What could he possibly want me to do for him here? "I need to see for myself what level of restraint you have in a room full of vampires. You'll start your training here tonight.

I reluctantly made my way to the ladies room to change leaving my purse in Eric's office. I couldn't believe I was getting myself into this. I moved here to live a normal, quiet life devoid of any bizarre supernatural situations. This was shaping up to be the exact opposite.

When I returned to the office, Pam was gone. Bill and Eric were looking over some papers. They both looked up when I walked in the room.

"Compton, would you excuse us? I need to speak with Mattie privately." Bill and I exchanged confused glances.

" I will be right in the bar sweetheart." He kissed my lips and squeezed my hand before he left. Eric closed the door behind him. He came over and sat down on the couch next to me.

" I am unable to be with Sookie at every moment of the day. She is left vulnerable in the daylight hours while I am indisposed. I would like it if you would watch over her, guard her. I need to know she is safe. Will you do this for me?" He was asking me this as a favor, it wasn't an assignment, and yet it was.

"Of course Eric. I would never let anything happen to her. You know she'll hate this though?"

Yes, and that is why you must not tell her anything. I asked Bill to leave so no one would know this but you and I. Earn her trust and she will let you get close to her. She is my mate, my bonded. I would die for her. She is my world. I know you can protect her. If you will do this for me, I will be the one owing you the favor."

I was in shock. Eric was trusting me with his most precious treasure. He had even let down his guard and let me see what was really behind those eyes. That was the moment I knew just how important our alliance was.

"I won't let you down."

There was a knock at the door. Pam entered the office with a clipboard.

"Pam will be training you this evening. You can follow her out to the floor. I will check in with you later." I nodded and got up to follow Pam out into the bar. We walked past Bill. I could tell he was dying to know, no pun intended, what Eric and I spoke about. He followed us through the bar.

"What pray tell was that about?"

"Nothing to worry about sweetie. We can talk about it later. I'm going to be here a while. Why don't you go home? I can find my own way. My keys are in my purse in Eric's office." Bill shook his head.

"Certainly not. I'm not leaving you here without a way home. That's ridiculous. I'll stay. I can have a blood and amuse the patrons." I smiled, reaching up to give him a kiss. He was every bit the perfect gentleman. Unless of course I asked him not to be.

"Thank you. Now you be good around those humans or you're in trouble when we get home." I waggled my eyebrows at him.

"I like trouble." He waggled his back.