Bonnie raised her glass and toasted her meal with Eric. She was staring at the vampire prince in front of her – he was looking away and for a few seconds a look of extreme pain crossed his face. But as she put her glass to her lips, his intense gaze was back in her face, and whatever had troubled him was seemingly gone.

A lecherous grin appeared as he leaned over to pull a lock of hair out of her face.

"My dear fire-starter, I do hope that you are enjoying the meal I had specially prepared…"

Bonnie started to answer in the affirmative, until she was interrupted by a cold voice behind her.

"You'll certainly need the energy if you're going to keep up with Eric"

Eric leaned back in his antique chair and laughed, lazily answering his progeny:

"Bonnie meet Pam, Pam meet my newest beautiful gift – an elemental witch"

In Swedish Eric hissed: "Be nice!"

Pam stopped, frowning, but a few moments later it hit her, and licked her lips once she understood what Bonnie was. Before even her fangs could pop out, Eric had moved to her side and flung her into the wall. And then, since Pam could not or would not control herself – presumably the memory of that witch in Mexico that they had drained together not 10 years ago, whose blood had been sweet ecstasy, had not faded – she would have to be taught a lesson.

In as much a test of his new acquisition, as of his progeny's obedience, he instructed Pam angrily – "You will stay and whatever happens you will not move! I am your maker and you will obey me."

Moving much faster than Bonnie's eyes could follow, her food now totally forgotten, a chair appeared several metres away with a disgusted and unpenitent Pam roughly pushed into it.

Not quite understanding what had just occurred between the two vampires, Bonnie was confused, had she just witnessed vampiric domestic abuse? Was Eric with Pam? But her musings were interrupted, when she found herself yanked from her chair and into Eric's embrace, whose arms encircled her protectively.

Eric's whispered words found her ear: "You're lucky that you're with me… I do not deny Pam many things, but you". He inhaled her scent: "You are an exception: beautiful, powerful and…"

Knowing that Pam could hear all that he said, Eric smiled viciously as he turned them both to face a bored looking Pam. He pulled away slightly so that he could look into Bonnie's eyes:

"And she just tried to eat you…"

His blood raced as he watched Bonnie's eyes turn murderous – yes, Pam had forgotten that witches were not generally fans of vampires, and deserved whatever she got. This hatred, revealed as her eye flicked from Eric to Pam, just made him want her more. As the flames licked up Pam's wooden chair and the screams started – he knew that it was this, this combustible mix of death-dealing power and righteous vengeance which had attracted Damon.

Damn. Eric had promised to deal with his pesky maker.

Gah, why could he never just enjoy the pleasurable side of things, like the screams of torture?

And then, as if thinking his name brought the devil, a crow flew a little too accurately in through the window.