True Blood – The Viking and the Wolf
Chapter 3
Once the sun was up she left the house. She was glad no one would really be up at that hour because she looked suspicious wearing only a shirt that was way too big on her. At home she showered and dressed in clean clothes. She went into the living room to eat and watch TV. She ended up napping until dusk and was awakened to the sound of the doorbell. She turned the TV off and went to the door, opening it to Eric. She stepped out onto the porch but looking at his face told her he had business on his mind.
"I have been thinking about what you've told me. I have to look into this. I'll be back tomorrow night. Try to stay out of trouble." He said and took off.
Torolf was upset that he was leaving her so abruptly without answers, but before she could go back into the house he returned. He held her face gently between his large hands.
"I care deeply about you. I shall return, I promise, do not worry." He said in the Swedish dialect she understood better than English.
She gasped softly; he had said it with such intensity and honesty she believed him instantly. It didn't seem like him at all but she realized this was the kind of thing he'd share with only one kind of person in the world. A person he cared for and trusted.
"Go back inside." He said and it sounded more like a desperate request, silently asking her to stay in until morning.
She obeyed and stepped back inside the doorway. Once satisfied Eric took off, quite literally, leaving Torolf awestruck.
Torolf decided to catch up on her sleep that night but in the morning she just couldn't stay inside. She ran errands and done the shopping and then decided to take a walk in the afternoon till almost dusk, but this gave her a bad feeling the second she was a block from home.
"Well hey there! I see you got home alright." A male's voice had called to her from a car on the other side of the street.
Torolf turned and it took her a second to realize it was one of the people who had been in the vampire's house. Torolf smiled in response to him before she spoke.
"Oh yeah I did. They let me go with a warning. My parents came to get me." Torolf lied and he seemed to buy it or was preoccupied with something on his mind. He was looking at her like it was his lucky day.
"Hey you wanna come see something really great? You must be awful mad at those vampires for what they did to you. We've been developing something that'll help out everyone they've ever wronged." He said.
Warning bells went off in her head but she ignored them. She knew it was a bad idea and that Eric had asked her to stay out of trouble but if she could find out what they were planning it would help out a lot. She tried to stall to get more information out of him.
"Well yeah I'm mad but I gotta get home by dark. I'm a minor after all and my parents were pretty mad too. I'm lucky they let me out of their sight at all." She said.
"We'll get ya home by dark. Ya just gotta see this." He said again and his grin had bad news written all over it but Torolf was curious.
If they believed she was on their side she could get them to tell her anything.
"Oh alright if it wont take too long." She said and got into his car.
They didn't drive long, not two minutes and to her horror they stopped in front of Eric's house. Torolf couldn't hold the gasp in her mouth and the man took it as horror.
"Oh you remember." He said in surprise.
"Yes." She squeaked out.
"Don't worry we've infiltrated the house. It's ours now they cant get back in." He said.
Whether or not that was true Torolf knew Eric could still get in if they were there. Pam had done the same thing. Torolf thought they might be setting a trap for Eric. She followed the man into the house and could hardly believe her eyes. About twenty people flooded the first floor.
"By the way I'm Chad. We're remnants of an organization that was around when Fangs first came out of the coffin. I know that was hundreds of years ago but we've stayed out of sight till now." He rambled.
There was no doubt he believed she was on their side but she could barely focus on what he was saying as she took in the sight around her. There were buckets of red chunks that looked like fruit cocktail in heavy red syrup all over, the stench almost made her retch.
"Sorry about the smell, vampire remains. Good for drawing a bunch in and for the bombs." He told her which brought tears to her eyes.
He took the tears as amazement.
"I know amazing right?" He said and she nodded slightly to keep up her charade.
She then looked to the living room and the couch she had sat on only a day before. An odd object in the room caught her eye and an animal in a cage. It was the same animal as before. Her eyes were wide but no one but the animal could see.
"Ahh yes quite a sight right? An ancient Egyptian artifact, just wait till you see what it can do!" He said but she couldn't listen anymore.
She had to get out of there. If Eric returned to find her not at home he'd follow her here and it was clear they were setting a trap for him. Torolf backed up and turned to the door, the vampire chunks were also making her sick as her over active imagination unwillingly pictured Eric that way. Chad was worried about her, he touched her arm but she pulled away.
"I'm sorry. This is all great but… it's after dark and…" She couldn't finish, fearing talking about the vampire remains would cause her to throw up on Eric's lovely entry rug.
Chad understood and handed her a paper.
"If you'd like to join us, this is how to reach us. Let me drive you home."
"No that's ok I need the fresh air." She said as she hurried out of the door before he could follow.
He didn't follow and she could tell he was afraid to go out in the dark. Torolf felt she had dodged a bullet but as she walked she felt like she would soon have to dodge another bullet. The darkness seemed to be creeping in around her, which made her walk faster until she broke into a run. She made it to her driveway, pausing to catch her breath but she stopped breathing in horror. She patted her pockets and realized her keys were missing. She prayed she had just stupidly locked herself out from all the stress but she had the sudden deep desire to get into the house for safety. She then remembered the spare key in the garage and realized this had been her plan all along though she had wanted to be home before dark. She thought she were losing her mind as she jogged into the back yard to the shed where the door opener to the garage was. She cussed at herself for making things harder than they needed to be because hiding the key in the shed would have been easier and quicker. She flicked on the shed light and went behind the door reaching for the opener. She damned her shortness and her father for putting the button so high up. Her imagination ran wild from adrenalin, thinking anything could come from the darkness and snatch her as she imagined herself smelling like a neon snack sign. She climbed on a shelf and reached but slipped and fell backwards. Though instead of falling to the ground she fell into something cold and hard that set her on her feet again.
"What are you doing?" Eric's voice suddenly asked.
She shrieked and turned around to face him. She was so grateful she almost started crying and he stared at her like she was crazy. At seeing her face he realized something was wrong.
"What is wrong?" He asked as he held her by the arms.
"I'll tell you everything I just want to get in the house!" She said as she cried in frustration. "I cant get the fucking garage open!" She added as she pointed to the button.
Eric released her and pushed it, having no trouble with his long reach. Torolf quickly went out of the shed to the garage and grabbed the key. Eric followed her to the back of the house. She unlocked the door and went in leaving Eric stranded at the doorway. After a second Torolf noticed he wasn't there and turned to the door, in her haste she had forgotten that she had never invited him in before.
"God Damn it! Get in here!" She demanded.
He rushed to her, shutting the door as he went. His arms swopped around her in comfort.
"What is wrong? Tell me." He said and she struggled to control her hysterics.
He rushed her to the living room where he sat on the couch craddeling her in his arms.
"I was so worried I wouldn't make it! I was worried you came here looking for me to not find me and then follow my scent to your house. Oh my God I was so stupid I could have killed you!" She exclaimed.
"That's not likely. What are you rambling about why were you at my house? You missed me that much?" He said with a smirk but she was serious.
"He saw me on the street. One of the people from the vampire's house. He was babbling about something that would help people hurt by vampires and he believed I was on their side so I went with him but then he stopped at your house. There were vampire remains in buckets! Buckets and Buckets of them! They're making bombs and the artifact was there with the animal. It's Egyptian, it's an ancient Egyptian artifact."
Eric was extremely tense as Torolf explained all this.
"I think the artifact can change vampires into animals. Can the remains of vampires be used to kill other vampires?" She asked as she began to calm down.
"No those bombs were most likely to lure more vampires to that spot once they had me, since I am the sheriff many would come to my aid. This is unsettling. I'm glad you got away but I'm very angry you did not listen; though you've found out important information. I'm sorry you had to worry. I would not have entered the house. Their stink was all over it. I was on my way to you when I smelled your fear." He said as he held her.
He was staring off as if deeply thinking but he looked at her and met her eyes.
"I have something to ask of you." He said.
"Anything." She said.
"I want you to drink my blood. If you drink it I'll be able to sense your emotions. I'll know when you're in danger. I was putting it off because it would attract others to you but now I fear I will go mad if I cant sense you." He said.
"A twenty-four seven Eric beeper? Sign me up." She said and he was glad.
"But if you drink from me I'll need to feed." He said.
"So go feed." She said.
He swallowed hard as he closed his eyes and opened them again, she watched him closely.
"I'm asking if I can only feed from you from now on. I only require very little blood, though I haven't fed since we first met." He said.
"If I drink from you and you feed from me wont that defeat the purpose?" She asked.
"Not if I feed from you and then you drink from me. If you eat something you'll be fine by morning. I don't anticipate taking on those in my house tonight. We both need to rest."
"Ok, I trust you." She said.
He moved slowly to her neck but she stopped him.
"No not there. If I need to trick those people again they'll see and get rid of me. It might help us to have this option." She explained.
"Smart." He said as he undid a few buttons of her shirt.
His fangs were fully extended now, but she stopped him again. He sighed softly in annoyance due to his irritability with being hungry.
"They could still find it there. It has to be completely out of sight." She told him.
He then moved so she was laying on the couch with him over her. Her heart pounded and he grinned.
"Well there's only a few places that out of sight. Your back or legs. I hate feeding from the back and no one should see your legs where I bite you." He said.
"Ok the leg." She said and he had her pants off easily.
She gasped as he lifted her left leg and brushed his cool lips along it.
"Is it going to hurt?" She asked as he came to a stop at the inside of her leg just above the knee.
"Not the way I do it, I promise." He said softly and then bit her.
He was right and the experience was such a rush. He took no more than a blood donor would give, which was all he needed. When he was done he licked the wound clean, leaving not a drop of wasted blood. He lifted her to his lap again, holding her head in her light headedness. He bit his wrist and held it to her mouth.
"Drink." He ordered and she obeyed.
It tasted sweet and she wanted more. Her strength returning, she held his arm to her mouth.
"Ohh greedy aren't we." He said in amusement and she drank more, taking about as much as he had from her.
"Not too much." He said and made her stop.
Torolf lay there in bliss for a moment. A little blood remained around her mouth; he bent and licked her clean barely brushing her lips. He was truly happy to have this connection to her now; it put his mind at ease. After a moment he helped her up, getting her pants back on just as quickly.
"Now for you to feed." He said and they went to the kitchen.
He watched her cook for a while until he couldn't stand it and left the room but he found himself always coming back, compelled to watch her.
Watching her made him remember human things he thought had been lost forever. For a long time he had been struggling with learning to mainstream and treat humans as equals, but it was so hard when most humans had so much hate for vampires. It wasn't just hate for vampires humans had, it was hate for anything and anyone associated with them. Eric hated to bring Torolf into this with him but he had always been selfish and she seemed so willing to throw her human life away. Torolf was making pasta with chicken and promised not to use garlic. She turned to him when she sensed he was in the room again. He went up to her and gently brushed his fingers across her cheek. She blushed and watched him closely. Slowly he leaned closer to her as he lifted her chin. Her heart was pounding and she closed her eyes. He brushed his lips to hers and then pressed them firmly to hers. He pulled back and she looked at him. His mouth was open slightly and she could see his fangs were out. She raised her hand to his face and gently brushed her fingers on his lips and his fangs. He closed his eyes and slowly wrapped an arm around her. He opened his eyes and when they fell on hers he latched his lips to hers. With his hand holding her head and the other holding her around the back he lifted her effortlessly to his level. Even though he could hold her up forever he backed her up to the counter and placed her on it. Torolf never wanted to stop kissing him but suddenly he pulled away, stepping back and breathing heavily as he stared at her. She was shocked.
"What's wrong?" She asked.
"Nothing, we just shouldn't get carried away." He said.
"Why not?"
"Because you're a minor and you're human laws restrict sex with minors." He told her.
"But I give my consent!" She stated as she hopped off the counter and up to him.
He put his hands on her arms, restricting her from getting closer.
"Even so I do not want petty human police in my business. I am sheriff, I cant even break the tiniest human law in this city. Please understand how hard this is for me." He told her.
"Ok I understand, but you're lucky my birthday is next month." She said with a grin as she turned back to her dinner.
He stared at her.
"I've created a monster." He said to himself and she laughed.
Soon Torolf had eaten and she and Eric seemed to be able to enjoy some moments of peace and normality. There was time to kill before dawn and they watched mindless TV since Eric didn't want to do anything else.
"Eric?" Torolf broke the silence during a dull commercial.
"Yes, little wolf?" He replied, thoroughly enjoying his choice of a nickname for her.
"What are your intentions with me?" She asked.
He sat, staring at the TV blankly.
"To make you vampire, if you wish to be." He told her.
She was shocked it was as simple as that, but she was curious why he'd chosen her.
"Why me?" She asked.
"You were afraid but you were not afraid of me. You thought I was going to kill you but you did not fear, like you wanted death to come but still wanted to live. Are you suicidal or just lonely?" He asked as he finally turned his head to the left to look at her.
"Lonely… I'm so lonely." She replied softly, barely a whisper.
He brushed his fingers on her left cheek and then cupped her face.
"So lonely you'd give up your human life for an eternity of blood and death?" He asked.
"Yes, at least I will be loved. I could face anything as long as you were with me." She replied.
"Yes." He said simply to acknowledge all she had said were true.
He then kissed her deeply, giving her the tiniest hint of things to come after her birthday. All too soon he stopped kissing her but she kept her arms wrapped around his neck.
"No, please." She begged but he moved her away.
"I'm sorry but the sun will be up soon. I need to rest and you should too." He said.
"Where will you sleep?" She asked.
"I would like to stay close to you. Have you a basement?" He asked.
"Oh yes! We have a storm cellar too, there's no windows, deep underground."
"Perfect. Show me." He said and she led the way.
It was a small empty room except for a few previsions along one wall in case of a storm, but it was impractical in the city storms rarely ravaged it badly. Though the room could also be used for a panic room if needed. Torolf opened the door and turned on the light.
"Do you need a pillow or anything?" She asked.
He smiled softly.
"No, I'll be fine."
He replied and kissed her forehead.
"Goodnight my little wolf. I shall see you at dusk. Please rest well and do not leave the house without me." He pleaded and she nodded.
He then went to lay down and Torolf turned out the light as she shut the door. The basement was open and bare without windows and exposed concrete. She found it made her feel even more alone without Eric beside her. She went back up stairs and was surprised by the light, she didn't like it. It was too bright and hurt her eyes. She was sure it was due to Eric's blood in her and she disliked it because Eric couldn't be in it with her. She would rather never face it again without him. She went to her room and tried to sleep but found it impossible even though sleep threatened to consumer her. Finally unable to stand it she grabbed a pillow and thick blanket, going back down to the basement with them. She didn't turn on a single light, Eric's blood helped her see a little better she realized. She went into the storm cellar and shut the door. She laid out her blanket and curled up next to him. She was asleep in seconds.