Author's Note: I do not own Trublood Sam I am, but I really like Eric's juicy ham :p

Awee okay, that was kind of dirtyyyy, too much? ;D

Thank you all for the reviews and putting me on your alerts and all that jazz; you have no idea how loved I feel haha

More soon!

She hadn't meant to say that. She was thinking it, but she didn't mean to say it. Lydia put her hand to her lips instantly as if to steal the words and force them back in her mouth. No such luck though.

Frustration flashed across Eric's eyes and he growled lowly, inching closer to her, predator-like. "What do you mean?"

Lydia stepped back, almost tripping on her heels, she gulped, then spoke softly, nervously. "Well uhm...when you ask me if I'm afraid of you, I think you mean am I afraid of you draining me or turning me, or am I afraid of you tearing me into little pieces. Don't get me wrong, uhm, that's not exactly my idea of a good time or anything, but uhm..." Lydia paused, switching her gaze from the floor to his eyes. Staring at him, she couldn't seem to find words anymore, and forgot what she was saying altogether, entranced and horrified of his cruel type of beauty all at once.

"..but what?" Eric's voice pulled her again out of her thoughts and back into the present.

Gathering herself, Lydia continued to look him in the eyes and said "You should already know by now what I really frightens me about you."

Eric paused for a moment, staring at Lydia with an unreadable gaze. Then his expression cleared as he spoke. "You do not like to be glamoured."

"Bingo."

They looked at each other, neither moving or making a sound except for the soft breathes that whispered past Lydia's lips. He seemed to be examining her, sizing her up possibly. But for what reason, she couldn't say. Once again, she was the first to break the silence.

"You never did answer my question."

"I don't have too." Again he was unreadable, a marble sculpture made beautifully but lacking in passion and expression.

"I know you don't have to, but I'd appreciate it if you would all the same." Calm and polite Lydia pressed on.

Eric moved away from her, and very ungracefully plopped on the couch. Slightly sneering her answered. "I dealt with a problem."

Lydia sat on the edge of the desk. "So why did you kill him?" For some reason, possibly because somewhere inside she hadn't accepted she wasn't dreaming yet, she wasn't mortified by his actions. Lydia had always been a fairly good judge of character. While she could see the infinite line of cruelty and chaos he could create if angered, in the madness he lived she could see reason. Eric's actions seemed far from careless.

He was looking at her in that strange way again, then he answered "I discovered he had begun to plan an attack on my bar and it's patrons. The man was insane. I did what was necessary."

Lydia remained silent, mulling things over in her head. Assuming he wasn't lying, and it's not like he had a reason to be dishonest, he could easily kill her, then she could understand his reasoning. She herself had been witness to several cruel actions against vampire rights supporters, and even mainstreaming vampires that had come into her work sometimes would be refused service. The world was an unkind place, and she knew this very well. Sometimes in order to survive, you needed to be unkind back.

Eric's voice pulled her out of her thoughts again. "You may leave now. There is a car out back that will take you home." As he spoke he rose from the couch and opened the door, then lead the way to the exit.

Lydia followed, befuddled. When she began to walk to the car, Eric grabbed her wrist suddenly. He wasn't rough, but his grip was firm. His hand was cold, and she shivered. Still though, she felt herself flushing at the same time. Grinning, Eric leaned to her ear and whispered "We'll be seeing each other soon ." Then he released her, and Lydia quickly got in the car.

After telling the driver her address, Lydia looked out the window and watched the stars and city lights blur into one another against the dark curtain of night. Tonight's events had shone a light on one secret, one question, but she couldn't help but wonder how many more awaited her in the shadows; and in Eric's words.

Answers would reveal themselves in their own time...and she had a feeling Eric would too.