A/N: We take a look at some of the relationships in this story. I like the fact that there just isn't one going on, although Eric and Payton's relationship is the main story.
Chapter 15: Love is in the Air
Bill and Hadley
After the insufferable Nan left to go field phone calls in another room, Bill moodily sat down at his desk and wondered if things were spiraling out of his control. He wondered if everything that he had done to sit in this office and on the throne was worth the price he had paid. Nan's arrival signaled nothing good. Damn that witch, he thought. How could a mere human have such control over them? Yet, power she did have. He remembered being held in her clutches at the cemetery. He remembered having the power to control his own actions being taken away from him. Yet, Eric had been above her power because of the girl. That girl had to be the key to ending this conflict. Marnie was afraid of her, enough to try to kill her in cold blood. As usual, Eric Northman was in the middle of everything. His keen eye and instincts had sought out the girl before things had started. Having the girl and all her powers under Eric's control also made Bill nervous. He couldn't actually trust Eric Northman. But who, except for Jessica, could he really trust?
That was when he heard a tentative voice from the doorway.
"Bill?"
He looked up to find Hadley standing there. Her blonde hair was sleek and straight. Her large, doe eyes were perfectly framed by her bangs and, for a moment, he stared into them. She was wearing a simple dress in a pale blue color that left her shoulders bare. Her arrival had surprised him and he tore his eyes from hers to see the bodyguard that he had assigned to her standing behind her.
"I'm sorry, Sir," he said. "But, she insisted."
Bill got up and came around his desk as Hadley moved forward. Standing before him, her eyes searched his.
"Is it true?" she asked.
Bill wasn't sure what she meant. There were so many things that were happening. He felt a moment of fear that she might have figured out that he had desired her for so long. She might have figured out that he had taken steps to ensure that she was free of her former master. Yet, he had not pressed this advantage when she was at her weakest. He had taken steps to make sure that the troubled Hadley was restored to the promise of her true potential. He found that, as tempting as it had been to keep her in the way that Sophie-Anne had done, he cared enough for her to let her go if that was her wish. As he had promised to her, his help came without any strings, only his undeserving hopes.
"Is it true that your life is in danger and that you sent me away so that I wouldn't know how terrible things really were?" Hadley asked.
"I didn't want to worry you and your safety is of the upmost concern to me," replied Bill.
"So, you kept things from me and sent me away for my own good?" she asked.
"For your protection," he replied.
Hadley reached out and slowly took his hand into hers. Bill felt the warmth of her skin on his flesh and looked down at her small and delicate hand. He wanted to take it into his other hand. He wanted to pull her body close to his and feel the way her soft curves would mold against him. He wanted to look into those large, doe eyes as he made love to her. He wanted so many things, yet he simply let her hold his hand.
"You don't get to make those decisions for me," said Hadley. "I want us to be different. With your help, I've grown past the days of being a vampire's pet. I want more than that. I want to be a friend, a partner and a lover. Please, tell me that this is your wish, as well?"
Bill felt the flash of something that felt like his stomach had fallen to the floor. He paused and tried to get his betraying senses under control. He then reached out his other hand and took Hadley's delicate hand into both of his.
"It's all that I dream about," he haltingly said.
"Then, you have to let me in," said Hadley. She took her hand out of his and touched his forehead and said, "Let me in, here."
She then moved her hand down to his heart and said, "And, let me inside of here."
"I….I've never done anything to deserve this," said Bill.
"You believed in me when no one else did," replied Hadley. "I want to believe in you. I want to be able to trust my feelings for you. I want to stay with you and feel these feeling grow into love."
"Is that possible?" asked Bill.
"When you care for someone, anything is possible," replied Hadley.
Bill smiled and said, "How did you get so wise?"
"Someone opened my eyes and showed me that my life was worth living again," replied Hadley.
"I only tried to show you what I knew all along," said Bill.
Hadley rose up on her toes and slowly moved to kiss Bill. Their first kiss, he thought, as he felt the softness and promise of her lips on his. As his hands moved around her, he could hear the beating of her strong heart next to his still and silent one. He felt as if he could listen to that sound forever.
Sam and Tara
Sam drew Tara inside his trailer and waited while she tried to reach Lafayette and Jesus. He could tell by her growing frustration that she wasn't successful.
"Damn," she said. "It just keeps going to his voicemail which is full."
She turned her gaze to him and said, "Maybe, I should wait for him at his house."
"It isn't safe for you there," replied Sam. "Marnie knows that's where you are staying."
Tara sank down to the couch and said, "Did I do the right thing, tonight? I once again managed to screw everything up and put everyone in danger."
"Hey, hey," softly said Sam as he took a seat next to her. "You did the right thing for all the right reasons."
He softly touched her cheek and said, "Without us there, there's a good chance that an innocent girl would have been murdered. We did something right, Tara Mae."
"I shouldn't have let you take such a risk," replied Tara.
"Why?" asked Sam. "Because you want to keep me at arm's length? Because you don't understand how I could care about you?"
"All I know is that whenever I start to care about someone, something bad always happens to them," replied Tara.
"I'm still here and I'm not planning on going anywhere," said Sam.
"You're either the bravest man that I've ever known or you're a complete idiot," replied Tara.
"I'm going to tell you something," said Sam. "You are damaged goods, Tara Mae."
"What?" hissed Tara. "If this is you trying to make me feel better, you can f*ck off."
She tried to get off the couch and away from him, but he grabbed her and held her down. Sam looked into her eyes and, not for the first time, Tara felt the animal magnetism of his gaze.
"Let me finish," he said. "You had a totally screwed up childhood and a mother from hell who's inability to love you had a hand in how you turned out. You continue to make bad decisions when I know that you are a smart and intelligent woman. You're the one who holds yourself back and who hides her heart away."
Sam's grip on her turned into a caress and, now that he stopped holding her down, Tara felt powerless to escape from him. His hand rose to her face and he gently touched his fingertips to her chin.
"I know these things because I'm the same way. I'm just as damaged as you are. I can understand you better than anyone else. I've never pushed you because I was always afraid that you'd run away. But, you still ran away. Now, you're back and I'm not going to be the old Sam who just took whatever scraps of affection that you were willing to throw at him. I want it all. I want you, Tara. I want you beside during the day and in my bed every night."
"You are a fool, Sam Merlott," said Tara.
"I've been called a lot worse," said Sam. He smiled and added, "You have called me a few choice names in the past."
"I…I don't know how to love someone," replied Tara.
"I'm not sure myself," said Sam. "But, I am sure that we can figure it out together."
"The blind leading the blind?" asked Tara.
"Just give us a chance," replied Sam.
He leaned in and kissed her lips and then he pulled her into an embrace. His soft lips and scruffy cheek brushed against hers as he moved to her ear. His warm breath blew in her ear and Tara pulled him in closer. He felt so hot and she couldn't stop herself from wanting to feel his body next to hers.
"What I am going to do with you, Sam?" she sighed.
"You're going to join me in my bed and make love to me for the first real time," he replied. "I'm not settling for anything less."
Tara got up and turned to Sam. She held out her hand and waited for him to take it.
"Then, what are we waiting for," she said. "Because, all I want is to feel you laying naked beside me."
"Just laying?" grinned Sam.
"Do you want me to spell it out for you?" asked Tara.
Sam got up and Tara pulled in the direction of the bedroom. "I think I might like to hear that," he said. "Just so I'm clear on what you are expecting from me. The non-censored version will do."
Tara giggled and Sam thought she always had the prettiest smile. It was a shame that he never got to see it very often. But, things were changing around here and he was going to be seeing that smile much more often.
Payton and Eric
After the visions in the scrying mirror were revealed for Eric to see, he had kissed her. Payton felt his lips on hers and knew that she should try harder to pull away. She felt as if her feelings were somehow betraying her. The touch of his lips on hers felt different and she wondered if it was his blood at work. But, it was such a sweet sensation that she found that she didn't want to resist. It was then, that Eric pulled out of the kiss and gazed into her eyes. His fingers cupped her cheek and softly caressed it. Slowly, a tiny smile formed and he leaned in again to kiss her on the cheek. He let go of her as his fingers trailed down her arm. Payton wondered why he didn't press his advantage. Surely, he has kissed enough girls before to know when they were willing. Payton stared into those eyes that she had once thought were only cruel. Yet, wasn't this predator showing her mercy? Didn't she see other things shining out of his eyes? Hadn't she come to know that hidden beneath that attractive and arrogant exterior was another side to him? And, hadn't she been privileged enough to have witnessed this softer side for herself?
"The future is not as certain as people like to think it is," said Payton. "Instead of a linear line, the future is like a river that flows to the sea. It follows it's own path through the mountains and the valleys until it reaches it's destination."
"Is this what you tell yourself about those visions of us that you have seen?" asked Eric.
"Those visions of us are merely shadows of possibility. Every man's fate is decided before his birth and yet he still has freewill to make his own choices. Though those two statements seem to disagree with each other, they are both true," replied Payton.
"So, by hiding this future from me," said Eric. "You have given yourself the power to decide for both of us. Don't I have a say in this?"
"Without my power, you would not have seen those things," replied Payton. "My power, my rules."
"My, that is very arrogant of you," said Eric.
"Maybe, I'm absorbing some of your previous charm and charisma," replied Payton.
Eric smiled and said, "Well, they had to go somewhere, I guess."
Eric trailed his hand into her soft hair and said, "I don't fear a strong woman. I am in awe of your courageous heart. Those things that make you strong are those things that attract me to you."
"It didn't seem that way before," replied Payton.
"I would say that I always felt this way about you," said Eric. "I just couldn't reveal to you my true admiration because I was not the type of vampire to do that."
Payton took his hand and said, "I don't know why the spell isn't broken. But maybe, it wasn't broken because there were still things for you to learn from this experience. You may have lost your memories, but have you not found something inside yourself that you also thought was lost?"
"You helped me find it," replied Eric.
Payton caressed his hand in hers and said, "Maybe, we have both learned things from each other."
"You will always have my protection," replied Eric. "No matter what happens between us."
Eric started to remove his hand and Payton gripped it. She said, looking down, "Will you stay a while with me tonight? I don't want to be alone."
In the darkness of her room and with Eric lying beside her, Payton felt truly safe after the horrendous experiences of the night. She knew that he would protect her with all of his abilities and she felt herself start to relax enough to fall asleep. Slowly, she sought out his hand in the darkness. His hand took hers without pause and she was aware that in general vampires didn't like to be touched unless it was sexually related. His hand seemed so large and she noticed how light and gentle his touch was.
"I felt fear today," he said.
"Makes two of us," replied Payton.
"I was afraid that I had lost you," said Eric.
She felt him change his position and he moved up and Payton cautiously laid her head on his chest. She felt his fingers trail through her hair as he petted her.
"I'm still here," replied Payton. "Because you saved me."
"I wasn't going to let you be taken from me," said Eric.
"I am grateful," said Payton. "I just had a problem saying the words."
"I know that you are," replied Eric. "I don't need to hear them."
"I was afraid of what your blood would do to me," said Payton.
"I'm afraid that I don't have any control over that," replied Eric. "If I could have just imparted the healing benefits alone, then I would have done that for you."
Payton lifted her head and gazed at Eric in the dim light. "Why would you want to do that?"
"Because I would like to know that your feelings for me are real," replied Eric.
She moved and touched a strand of his hair. "My feelings for you are real," she said. "Don't you know that? I've been so concerned for myself, tonight, that I haven't thought about you. You must be weakened with giving me your blood. You….you can feed on me again, if you want to."
"You mean, take the risk of having another blood induced trip?" asked Eric with a grin.
Payton smiled and said, "I still think that you are the cause of that experience. But, there's always Tru Blood if you would rather have that."
"I think you can predict my choice," replied Eric.
He dropped his fangs and Payton said, "Don't get any other ideas. I'm merely concerned for your well-being."
"Of course," replied Eric. "Whatever you say."
"Don't be so smug, either," said Payton. "Remember, this is still invitation only."
"I'll be a good boy," replied Eric with one of his old smirks.
Payton realized that those looks did things to her. Damn him, she thought. Why does he have to be so tempting? She shouldn't let him bite her, either. But, hadn't he earned this privilege by saving her life? Oh, stop, she told herself. Yes, you are doing it was repayment, but stop lying and admit that you want him to touch you again. It had been one of the most sensual acts that she had ever experienced. Would it feel the same again?
He leaned in and gently lowered her into the pillows. He moved and kissed her along her neck. With the gentlest of touches, his lips trailed over her skin. He stopped and kissed her again and she could feel the indentions of his fangs as they pressed into her flesh. With a slight guidance, he elongated her neck and then she felt the brief flash of pain as his fangs pierced her flesh. But, when he began to suck out her blood, the only thing she felt was pleasure. Her hands pulled him closer to her. She could hear the soft noises in her ear that he made as he was drinking her blood. They sounded like little growls and they should have scared her, but they didn't. She only arched her body against his and forgot her misgivings.
Blood Memories
Her blood felt hot and tasted spicy. Once again, it warmed his flesh as it flowed into his body. That feeling of heat only increased his pleasure. Above his own noises, he could hear Payton's response. She found this sexually arousing which was the response he was trying to elicit. He had glamoured her to a degree, only to make the bite not so painful. She wasn't aware of it, but she was a willing participant in the process. He closed his eyes as he felt her conflicting emotions. Equal parts sexual desire and fear were coursing though her. He still enjoyed the knowledge that she did, in fact, want him, even if she wasn't ready to act on it. He would be lying if he said that he didn't want her blood, her body and those elusive contents of her heart. It's just that he wanted them to be freely given and not taken from her. Although, the feel of her body pressing against his was weakening his resolve.
Her blood restored him and then it once again began to work it's magic. His body felt warm again as it had in life. Flashes of memory began to appear. He saw more images from his human life. He was a young boy who followed his father around in admiration and then he was a young adult who rebuffed his father's advice and passed his time with the servant girls. He saw his beautiful mother with long blonde hair holding his baby sister and smiling. In the flash of seconds, he saw his parents murdered and his life up until he met a dark haired teen-age boy. As the boy bared his fangs and lunged at him, Eric stopped drinking Payton's blood. Still, with his lips on her throat, the visions kept coming.
But, then, the memories turned different. He saw a woman with long dark hair standing in a circle of lighted candles. The night was dark and there was a full moon in the sky. The woman was casting a spell. Inside the circle of candles was a fire. She sprinkled some sort of dust onto it and the flames rose higher and turned colors. The wind began to blow and, in the stillness of the night, he could hear the approach of something that caused his marrow to freeze. Yet, the woman showed only a little fear and a smile formed on her face. Alighting just outside the circle was a creature of impossibility. It's sinuous body seemed to catch the flames and sparkle. But, beneath that beauty and grace, Eric felt the deadly menace that it was capable of. It glared at the woman and it flicked it's coiled tail dangerous close to the her. It's eyes blazed like the fire itself and it held the barb of its tail before her heart.
"Speak, Sorceress, of why you have summoned me," the creature said. "And if your answer pleases me, I might decide to let you live."
"I humbly beseech your gifts and patronage," she said with a bow.
"Hmm, is that it?" asked the creature. "That's the best you can do?"
"Whatever you ask of me, I will do in order to show you my worthiness," she replied.
The creature flicked his tail and made a small cut on her throat. The woman gasped as it pulled its tail back and licked the blood off the tip with a forked tongue.
"Your blood is strong and, while you are foolish, you are still brave to call me here," he said. "I've always admired ambition. Pass me a cup."
The woman handed a cup to the creature and it wrapped its serpentine tail around it. Using a claw, it made a cut on its shoulder and used the cup to collect the blood that flowed. It passed the cup back to the woman.
"Drink it, if you dare," the creature said.
The woman hesitated at that and stared into the creature's eyes. Then, she upended the cup and drank the contents down. Eric watched as the creature's mouth twisted into a semblance of a smile.
"What is it that you ask of me?" she asked when she finished drinking the blood.
"My time is passing from this world," the creature said. "Your time is only beginning. Soon, your kind will rule over this earth and I will only be a forgotten memory. I want to leave something of myself in this world. You will be my chosen vessel."
"I'm not sure that I understand," said the woman.
"You will mate with me and through our union, my blood will not die," the creature said. "The blood of the dragon will reside in your family, down through the ages."
The woman's eyes widened and she took a step back. "How is this possible?"
"Why magic, of course," replied the dragon with a chuckle. "Leave all the details to me."
With a start, Eric pulled away from Payton's neck. She turned her eyes to his and he stared at her in disbelief. He realized then that Payton didn't just practice magic. She was magic itself.
A/N: I have been playing with the dragon lore in this story and we see the reason why Payton is different. I think Payton's ancestor got a little more than she bargained for, lol.