Thanks for all the reviews, favorites and follows again. Here are some quick answers to some reviews, that I feel won't be answered directly through the story.
suzyq59: In chapter three Eric explained why he did recognize the ring and it's quite an old one actually. He will tell her one day, what this ring exactly is, so I don't spoil that, but she has such a strong connection to it, because it was connected to Eric and his love for Sookie that's why destiny let her stumble across it.
KYsun: Nope, none at all. Like Eric said in the last chapter, he sent some money to Sookies remaining relatives and also vampires to protect them, but Anna is not related to this family.
Patito: Because she never really was interested in guys. She had a few crushes in school, like she said herself, but looking back she laughs about the thought, that she believed back then, that this was real love. So she is simply not really able to fall for anybody, because she wants something more, that didn't cross her path yet.
Shyann2: Thank you. I actually thought that she maybe acts a little more immature, than Sookie, but she is younger, than Sookie in the first book, so I was okay with that, but I'm also glad to hear, that she does not, but maybe you will think differently about it in a few chapters. ;)
Here is the next chapter, I actually had planned her first day at Fangtasia to be also in this one, but it got quite long, so next time.
PS: Because we're already on chapter 4 I suppose, that this story will have at least 20 chapters before something happens and we see Sookie again…the real Sookie. However this is gonna work…I don't wanna spoil you.
ANNAS POV
After my evening at Fangtasia I went straight home and was actually glad, that none of my family members were still awake, so I fell tired into my bed and slept through the whole night.
Today was my second day at school of this semester and the annoying sound of my alarm didn't seem so crucial, like it did yesterday and all the mornings before. With a small smile on my face I set up in my bed and relived yesterday through my thoughts, whilst I kept staring out of the window.
It was a beautiful morning, wasn't it? Considering it for a moment, I ended up turning my music player on and had to laugh at myself quite a bit. I never would've thought, that getting a job would change my whole life, but well, I was well aware of the fact, that in this case I was lying to myself.
It wasn't that I didn't wanted a job, I mean I was really looking forward to find something to do besides law school, but the reason for my good mood was blonde, tall and pretty much undead and I knew it. Why I didn't care? I had no fucking idea, but it was just like that and I was not even thinking about changing the smallest thing about it.
Some of my favorite songs were blasting my ears, before I left my room and made my way over to the bathroom, cause even though I was in a good mood, being late wasn't an option.
After half an hour, like almost always, I was ready and clothed, so that I was able to walk downstairs for breakfast.
Still in a good mood and well-rested I was entering the kitchen and greeting my grandma with a "Good morning, Gran" before I set down and decided to go with some cereal.
I felt her observant look on me and after I had put a bowl with some milk and cereal in front of me and finally had sat down, I looked up and asked a little bit annoyed "What?" waiting for a response, because I never liked it, when someone started at me for too long, well…until yesterday.
"You just seem different. Did you sleep well, my dear?" she asked me, now a little bit concerned and I nodded. "Yes! Actually very well." I don't know when I ever slept through the whole night and felt that good not even an hour after getting up. Normally I was pretty moody, especially in the morning, but not today, at least it seemed like it.
My grandma nodded too and now the inevitable question came up. "So how was that job interview of yours and when did you get home anyway?" she asked me and at first I didn't know what to respond…at all.
"Uhm…" was the only thing that came to my mind and I was shoving more cereal into my mouth, so that I would've time to think about something, while I was eating my breakfast.
"Very good, I got the job and yeah it was pretty late" I responded almost five minutes later and was hoping, that would be enough information for her, but I knew my gran, so the investigation had just begun.
"That's wonderful to hear, so tell me something about that vampire bar, your job, your colleagues, whatever comes to your mind."
Damn it! I was thinking, because I actually had planned to keep most of yesterday's events to myself, but I simply had to come up with something to satisfy my grandmother.
I rolled my eyes a bit, like I always did, when someone started to ask my some too private questions but sighed and gave in after all, which wasn't a big surprise for my grandmother, because she became always the answers that she demanded, even though she just seemed much more like a concerned and interested grandmother, than a demanding private investigator.
"Hmm, you know…" I started and was still not sure what exactly I wanted to tell her. "I arrived a bit early, so I had time to discover the place by myself and there are really all kinds of people. I ordered a Cola, so I don't know how the drinks are, but I guess a cola just tastes pretty much the same, no matter where you go, right?"
That was a good start, wasn't it? Damn it, I hated lying, but if I told her, that the barkeeper almost drained me, well, she wouldn't be that fond of Fangtasia and my new job there anymore, at least I guessed so.
"Later that evening I went to one of the staff members and asked where to go if I wanted to apply for a job and she got a woman, that also worked there as a doorman..woman…whatever. She took me to an office and interviewed me, before the boss of the bar was called in and after a few questions I pretty much had the job."
Okay, that went surprisingly well. I actually wanted to skip the question about the colleagues, but hence, my grandma didn't seem to suffer from any sort of Alzheimers, because sometimes she seemed to remember her questions better, than I did.
"With your grades and professionalism, I didn't question, that you would get any job that you wanted, honey…so I'm really not that surprised, that they gave you the job." She smiled and I tried to fake a small grin myself…again I hated lying.
"So, did you meet any of the people you're working with and when do you start?" she asked with that sparkle in her eyes, because my gran could never get enough information, maybe I did get this from her after all. Yeah, I know, as a very private person I shouldn't be that nosy, but I just wanted to know everything and have everything under control…I was a perfectionist and law student, so what did you expect?
Putting another spoon full of cereal into my mouth I again was able to gather some time, before I had to answer the last two of my grandmothers pressing questions.
"Tomorrow evening…" I replied between two spoons of cereal and didn't watch my grandma's expression. "Uhm my colleagues, they are…you know, I didn't have time to really meet them. The woman I talked to was pretty much okay, the man at the door…I have no clue… he was just looking very serious and my boss is also…yeah…he's okay too. Hopefully I meet some other people tomorrow."
I hadn't realized, that I was sweating a bit, while creating a story, that was somehow close to the truth and was really relieved, after this part of our morning conversation was over.
"Oh, well…then you have to tell me everything the day after tomorrow…" she said and I nodded with clenched teeth and just replied"Sure, Gran…"
Actually I was pretty grateful, that my mum wasn't at home, because she wouldn't be delighted about my new job and that was pretty much the understatement of the year. Tracy didn't like vampires; my mum was running the imaginary vampire hunt troupes of Louisiana. Yeah, that would describe it perfectly. But she would find out anyway and well then I'd be hanged, beheaded and burned at the stake for my sins and crimes.
A look at the watch in our kitchen told me, that I was almost late, so I put a last spoon of cereal in my mouth, before I grabbed my bag, gave my grandmother a kiss on the check and was out of the door.
Half an hour later I stood in front the big old building of our university and wasn't sure if I was hoping to run into Tracy, or if I should better try to avoid here for today. I was still in a decent mood and Miss-Judgy would probably screw this up… not that I ever judged her for working as a stripper and taking money for certain uhm services, but working for a vampire had turned my suddenly into public enemy number one.
Sitting down on my usual bench, because I didn't have to attend first period, but rather was waiting for the student office to open, I plugged my earphones in and started listening to some of my favorite songs, like I did this morning.
Completely lost in my thoughts, thinking about a certain vampire, that I would meet again pretty soon and what I would tell the student office, why I wanted to add another law specialty to my list of courses, I almost got a heart attack, when someone pinched me on my shoulder. I turned around with a panic expression on my face and I could swear that my heart almost stopped for a split second.
"Tracy Lauren Bellefleur!" I yelled at her in disbelief and looked at her with a deadly expression.
"Sorry…" she mumbled and sat down beside me. "About what?" I asked with a raised eyebrow and Missy here next to me was pretty well aware what I was talking about.
"Okay…" she sighed and looked at me a bit apologetic. "What?" I asked again and Tracy knew, that her big eyes and long lashed didn't work on me. She sighed again and I still waited, not changing my expression a bit.
"Anna, I'm sorry for how I reacted yesterday. I should've known, that you're way too stubborn and that you probably never run from any danger, so it's your decision as what you wanna work and I shouldn't forbid you anything."
I sighed in relieve and was able to put a small grin on my face. "Exactly and Trace, I do not just not run from danger, I'm seeking it out and then I run towards it, remember." I winked at her, before we hugged each other and I had one problem less on my plate.
"So how was it?" she asked me almost inaudible and I stared at her, disbelief all written over my face. "Are you serious?!" I asked her still completely taken aback by what she had just asked. "Come on, Anna…just tell me anything, no matter what…"
Oh, no matter what? I may have forgiven her, but I was not so fast in forgetting, since I remembered even every silly detail about my life and the life of others. "I ordered a cola…" was my response and now Tracy was the one to stare at me in disbelief.
"Are you serious, Anna?" she asked and I nodded. "That's just not fair, I apologized and am now interested in your new night life, so the least you can do is tell me something important about your new job" she complained and I finally gave in, because I wasn't a person, that held a grudge against anybody, that didn't commit a serious crime, not in opinion of the law, but in my own.
"Okay, I got the job, as you figured; I ordered a cola and before the interview I had some time to take a look around. Later I was interviewed by the doorman, or doorwoman and the owner of the club and after a few questions I had the job…nothing too special."
I hoped that instead of my grandma, Tracy would be fine with what I just told her, she could be happy, that I was even up for a talk and told her anything.
"That was easy, but my job interview wasn't much longer…" she replied and I nodded with a look on the old church clock which was placed over the big entrance door of the university.
"Sorry, I have to go…I'm already running late…" I explained myself, grabbed my bag and was hurrying towards the entrance, while Tracy shouted"For what?"after me and I made a quick turnaround to just shout "Vampire laws" back in her direction and as figured, she didn't understand a thing.
Right after the stroke of the old clock clung in my ears; I entered the student office and greeted the woman behind the desk.
"Hello, what can I do for you?" she asked with a too broad fake smile on her face and I started to explain myself. "I'm in my second semester and want to take on another specialty and since I had to apply for my other two here I figured, that's where I had to go."
"Another specialty?" she asked a little too squeaky and I nodded. "Yes, I'm already registered for finance and crime…"
"And what specialty do you wanna register for now? You know, that only two and in some exceptional cases three, are allowed at this institution."
I nodded again. "Yes, I'm aware of that, but if you look into my records, you'll see, that my undergraduate is quite outstanding and my grades from last semester too…"
Now I was getting a bit nervous, because after yesterday I was surer than ever that I wanted to specialize into vampire laws, but giving up one of my other specialties would hurt me too, but not as much as not attending vampire law classes at all.
"Name?" she asked now pretty emotionless with a bored expression on her face.
"Anastasia Pryce."
She quickly looked up, scanned me and then typed my name in the computer. "I see, I see…I guess this will be possible…"
A smile appeared on my face and now the secretary wasn't able to hold her emotions back any longer.
"But why does an outstanding student as you are with a specialty in finance and crimes even want to do vampire laws? Do you wanna destroy a career, that has not even started yet, or are you another of this pride less fangbangers?"
Now I felt pretty insulted. My tone changed in an instant and I was eying her like I was a vampire and she would become my next dinner.
"And what makes you think that…Gabriella…" I asked with a stone like expression, after a quick look on her name tag, my voice cold as ice and my eyes on her like I wanted to strangle her any second.
She swallowed hard and was just looking at me with wide eyes.
"I…figured…that…" My words were as sharp as knives and after every one of them she sunk even more into her chair.
"You know, Gabriella, not all vampires are like the ones you are referring too…" and with those words I turned on my heels and with a last look over my shoulder I asked "I guess my application is settled?" and watched her nod quite eager. "Well then have a good day, Gabriella" and so I walked out of the office.
Holding my head high and with a satisfied expression on my face, I walked through the halls of my school, thinking about the encounter I just had with Gabriella. I was definitely right, not all vampires were like that…using humans just as fangbangers. I was pretty sure Eric didn't fall in this category.
Would he have liked my performance at the student's office? I thought so, because yesterday it seemed like he was pretty impressed by this side of me.
Almost bumping into another student I was shaking my head and brought myself back to reality. What the hell was I even thinking? I had to hurry up anyway, because now I had to attend a few criminal law classes, before I would meet up for lunch with Tracy and had to endure my birthday in the afternoon.
I wasn't so fond of my birthday and whenever someone wished me Happy Birthday, before I was even born on this day, I got angry anyway, so at least Tracy had remembered what I told her…lucky me.
A few hours later I was standing in front of our house. All classes over for today, lunch with Tracy and a small present over too and now I just had to endure this afternoon, before tomorrow would be almost here.
I tried to enter as quiet as possible and had forgotten about the car parked in front of our house. I had been wondering who it was, but my birthday was always clouding my brain and so I had completely forgotten about it when I was walking through the hallway.
Wait…there were voices…three of them and all of them were somehow familiar. "Oh no" I mumbled and in an instant my heart had almost stopped beating, while I must have looked like If I had seen a ghost. I swallowed hard. Were they out of there minds? It seemed so.
I sighed again and felt pretty enraged, so I didn't think anymore, but instead was walking towards our living area. "Good afternoon" I shouted and was looking at all three of them with a deadly expression.
"Happy Birthday, lucky me, huh? Are you all planning a nice party?" I asked in the sweetest voice I could bring myself to speak and almost crinched while hearing myself speak. They all knew something was up and were very well aware of what it was, but I hadn't even started yet.
I witnessed my grandma swallowing hard, while my mum was kneading her hands and the man sitting on the other chair was just staring at me.
My mom was the first of them who was able to speak. "Happy Birthday" she said and wanted to get up and probably give me a hug.
"Cut the crap!" I almost yelled and looked still at all three of them, if I was about to create a bloody massacre.
"What the fuck is he doing here?!" were my next words and nobody of them was able to give me an answer. "You know what…I don't even care…I don't wanna know…betraying me behind my back…smart move mum…smart move…" I kept on shouting.
"And you?" I was looking into the direction of my father. "Out!" I was dead serious and pointing into the direction of the door. Nobody was moving, or saying anything. "I said get the fuck out of my house, or I swear to god I'm gonna do something, that we're all gonna regret!"
My eyes were directly pointed at him and I didn't even flinch, when he was standing up, looking one last time at my mother and walking into the direction of the door, to probably get his jacket.
Like my mother and my grandma I didn't move a muscle until I heard the front door and walked a few steps towards the both of them. It seemed like my grandmother had found her confidence again and had calmed a bit down, because whilst my mother seemed still speechless, she tried to calm me a bit down.
"Sweetie, just sit down for a moment and we're gonna tell you why he was here…it was actually to help you." I had to laugh for a moment. Help me, really? This man was helping me every single day with staying as far away from me as possible.
"Really? Because last time I checked, my father was helping me best, when he stayed as far away from me as possible!"
Regardless of everything I had made my way over to the sofas and chairs and finally set down. "So why exactly did you need his help, or for the matter of fact…I?" I asked pretty damn interested what lie my mum would pull out of her sleeve this time.
"Anna, it was about your new job" my mum explained and if I'd be a comic character now would've been the perfect time, that a bright yellow bulb would appear over my head, because everything that didn't make sense before had finally fallen into place perfectly. Riddle solved, but hence I wouldn't make it that easy and decided to play a bit dumb.
"So what about my job? Why should I need the help of the man, that out of all men on this planet I despised the most?"
My mother sighed and a look at my grandmother told me that she felt pretty much uncomfortable, probably for telling mum in her lunch break about my new job.
"Grandma told my about your interview and that you got the job" my mother started and I nodded and continued with a side blow. "Exactly, mum…most parents or mothers would be happy, that their kid got a job…"
My mum started to knead her hands again and after almost a minute she said "Yes, normally I would be, but…you know…" and that was just enough.
"Come on, cut the crap, it is at a vampire bar and that simply does collide with your engagement for the fellowship of the sun, right?" I rolled my eyes and was damn sure, that I was right.
Now she stood up and was looking at me with a serious expression. Of course, I was a big bad criminal and state enemy number one for working at Fangtasia. I should probably write it down on a post it and put this one on my forehead, so that I wouldn't forget about that fact.
I stood up as well and even though I was a bit taller than her I was able to look perfectly into her eyes, because now I was dead serious. "And you know that I would love nothing more than to feed your close-minded racist vampire haters to my new customers!" I spit into her direction, not even changing my expression for a second.
I knew very well why my mother had called my father, because even though he never wanted a family, or was agreeing with anything she said, he never let an opportunity slide through his fingers when he was able to kick the damn bloodsuckers in the ass, like he always used to say and in this case my mum and he acted like besties again, so getting me out of the contract at Fangtasia was just the perfect challenge for him.
"Sweetheart, Grace, both of you, sit down again!" my grandmother said now. My grandmother was a pretty patient person, but when she had enough nobody should even try to pick a fight with her.
"Anna, what your mother wanted to say was, that she had looked into the bar you're going to work at a bit and despite some incidents, that have occurred in the past few years, what had stuck out for her was the owner of this business."
My eyebrows rose up in an instant and I was looking at her in disbelief just repeating "Owner?", whilst completely thrown off track. What about Eric? I asked myself and was trying to breathe and not just die here and now.
"His name is Eric Northman…" my mother started and annoyed I just replied "I know" I'm gonna work for this guy, so I had to be interviewed by him and his co-owner. "And you can be glad, that you've come out of this bar alive…" my mother continued and now I just started laughing uncontrollably. I was probably loosing my mind already.
"Oh is that so?" I spit back and shot deadly looks at her. "This vampire, Anna…is over thousand years old…has killed more people, than you can maybe imagine and just came back from being married to the vampire queen of Oklahoma and that for two hundred years. According to my colleagues things happened there, that you do not even wanna picture and we all know that after such a long time of enslavement even a vampire can go crazy and fall into his instinctive behavior. Northman was never the kind of vampire you wanted to meet in a dark alley and after his enslavement he'll just turn out to be even more barbaric and cruel than before."
During my mother's speech a million of thoughts had been running through my mind. Half of the time I just said in my head "I know" to not go crazy or slap her across the face, which would turn out pretty bad for me, since I was still living in the same house as her and all the other thoughts, that my mind has come up with were nothing, that I would even dare to let my mother know, for example, that I rather felt bad for Eric, that he had to be married to such a bitch for two hundred years, or that he was exactly the guy…vampire…that I wanted to meet in a dark alley…
"And which insane delusional dumbass has told you that, mother?" I asked not even bothering for a moment with all the crap that she had just dared to even repeat out loud.
"Revered Pascal Newlin." And don't you dare to question the word of a Newlin, Anna; you know as well, as I do, that his ancestor Steve Newlin has founded this organization just when the vampires had first announced their existence."
Steve Newlin? I would've fallen off my chair out of laughter, if I would've not been that angry with her, the crazy fellowship and the world in general. "Seems like being a delusional nut job runs in the family, huh?" I asked, instead of even to consider talking about any fact, that my mother had just told me, not that I didn't knew about all of this before.
"It doesn't matter what you think of Pascal, his family, or the fellowship in general, Anna. This is a bad man and you should never have to interact with him again. There are vampires out there that act way more mainstream, like this Bill for example. So quit your job and I'm gonna find you something new in the designing department of my office, okay?"
I had not even listened to her words, after she told me, that I should never have to see Eric again. While she was still speaking I had just stood up and waited for her to finish all this bullshit that he fellowship tried to implant in all our heads.
"You know what, what about NO?! I won't quit and I won't stop working for Eric Northman and if you excuse me now, I have business to go to instead of listening to my mother repeating the words of completely delusional and insane people!"
With these words I was out of the door in a few seconds, glad to always have my car keys in the bag I wore for the day and speeding down the main road.
I was a complete and utter mess. Of course, I was never running from a fight, I always faced them head on, but it would be a lie, if I told anybody, that it wouldn't bother me. This was definitely one of the biggest betrayals my mother ever had came up with as well as one of the biggest fights we had in years.
Turning the radio on and blasting my ears with some songs I was driving way too fast. The rain made it hard to see through the windshield and I hadn't even realized, that tears were streaming down my face, but I didn't even consider stopping for a moment.
I had to drive, far away and if it was up to me, I would never come back here. They were all crazy and had no idea, but the scariest part of it all was probably, that I didn't even care that much about my father, or what my mother had done, nor my grandmother being halfway on her side, it was the thought of never going to Fangtasia and never seeing him again that was driving me totally insane.
Good god, he was a stranger, I just had met him yesterday, but it had felt like if we knew each other. Maybe it was because of the fact, that I knew half the story of his life, but still, I couldn't…never…quitting was not an option. I'd rather…I wasn't even sure what I'd rather, but a lot, if not anything and again I didn't know where it was coming from.
Way too soon my head started spinning and I knew that it was better to stop now, before I'd really hurt myself. I looked around and slowed a bit down and what I saw put an even more confused expression on my face. I was pretty sure, that yesterday was the first day that I even had driven in this area, or to Fangtasia, but I found myself on the abandoned highway, not even more, than just a few meters away from the parking lot of the bar.
Not even sure what I was about to do I turned left and pretty quick; because nobody was parked here, I had found a suiting parking lot and stopped my car. In no time I got out of it and my feet felt like pudding. I was still completely shaken by the fallout that had occurred just half an hour ago.
Leaning against the engine I tried to clear my head and maybe the rain would wash all the bad feelings away? Staring at the bright red logo, which was at this time of the day not lighted, I was again lost in my thoughts, before I started to shiver a bit. I must have almost stood here for ten minutes and was soaking wet…great.
I still didn't know if I should go inside, nobody was even here at this time of the day, but somehow my feet were quicker than my head and so I was walking into the direction of the bar and more than just astonished when I walked around the corner, to try the backdoor and I was looking at a lonely red Corvette, that looked almost abandoned in the empty parking lot behind the building.
Red corvette. My brain started to chatter and I was very well aware of the person who this car actually belonged to and doubted, that it wasn't still the case. I glanced a last time at the bright red car and then continued my way to the back door, but of course, it was locked.
What was I even expecting? Not sure where this idea had come from, I stepped back and looked under the doormat, which was colored in the dominant Fangtasia colors aka red and black and had also the logo printed on it and voila there was a key.
A smile crossed my face, before I tried the key and it worked, but I was very sure about that, since normally only keys were hidden under a doormat that fitted the door, that the mat was placed in front of…which actually sounded very logical.
As silent as possible I opened the door, slipped into the bar and closed the door just as silent behind me. You realize you're just breaking into a bar Miss-Lawyer-To-Be? I reminded myself and was pretty annoyed by this constant voice of responsibility in my head.
Slowly and trying to not make any noise I started to walk down the hall, looking at all the signs at the different doors, not sure what I was even doing here or what I was looking for. Liar! The voice shouted in my head and I sighed. Yeah, maybe I was a bit more sure and aware of what I was doing, that I actually wanted to take credit for.
Not a single door did give me the answer I was looking for, but instead I was standing in front the one that I actually knew. A few silent knocks and a try later I had to walk on, because the door of Eric's office was closed.
There were just two more, until I reached the big door, that would lead me into the big bar room and after trying that one I had something to smile about, because this door was not closed. Opening it I stared into an empty room, before I slowly glanced at the big throne on stage, but it was just as empty, as the bar room itself.
I sighed again, because I sure as hell wasn't that dumb and any not suicidal vampire was still asleep during this time of the day. But the corvette… I tried to convince myself of at least something.
I knew that Eric owned a house somewhere here in Shreveport, where he also had a day chamber to sleep in, at least according to the books, but normally he drove there. Eric Northman would never leave his precious car…I at least had to guess that, because more than 200 years of pretty much bad things had happened to him, after the events that I was able to read about in the books.
It was just hopeless…as much as I was considered a hopeless case for today, so I walked back to the office with the tag Eric's office and leaned against it, before I slowly sunk to my knees and tears started to stream down my face for the second time this day.
I was still soaking wet and now freezing, because I hadn't had time to grab my jacket, while I had left my house in a hurry and somehow I guessed I had hoped to stumble across a familiar face here, but I was wrong about that too. I sure as hell didn't wanted to go home and didn't know any other places to drive to, so I was screwed and didn't even care, that I was sitting here, looking like a complete mess.
ERICS POV
Until now I had slept pretty well. I hadn't even remembered that it was able to sleep like that, without being awoken every hour, which was the case since I came back from Oklahoma.
Something was different, than all the times before. I tried to listen closely and there were definitely some knocks, or had I just imagined them? While sleeping we vampires weren't that attentive than normally, so I really wasn't sure and I also couldn't leave the dungeon, because if someone was leaving just one door open, I'd be literally on fire and not that fire, that all the useless whores were talking about.
I groaned annoyed because of the disturbance and slowly started to get up, which also wasn't that easy for vampires during the day.
Who the fuck had a key and even the nerve to come here during bright day time?
Yesterday was still somehow on my mind. Since I was back from Oklahoma nothing had ever been the same. Not that I had expected it after two hundred years , but I hadn't even been in my house, nor driven my car, or taken pleasure in any of the things, that I used to do back in the days at Fangtasia.
Pam was more than just worried about me, but going back to the house where she had lived with me for a time, driving that car with the empty passenger seat where she belonged and even being at the bar, where she not just once had visited me and looking for a certain girl in a white dress, was just something that always came to my mind, even haunted me in my sleep.
I of course would never admit that, to anybody, not even to Pamela, because it had taken quite some time until I had admitted it to myself, but since I was a good actor, I did what I had to do to just please everybody around me and act like the thousand year old vampire, that they all had know forever.
A lot more awake than almost five minutes ago and opened the thick metal door from inside my day chamber that I had built here all those years ago, if I ever wanted to stay and not leave Fangtasia for the day and since I was back it had proven itself quite useful.
Standing in my dungeon I started to listen again and there were footsteps in the hallway, I was so sure of it, as I was sure about myself being a vampire.
ANNAS POV
After quite some time I had finally started to breathe normally and my heart rate also seemed moderate again. I shook my head about myself, what the hell was I even thinking? I was just as insane as my mother and her colleagues at the fellowship of the sun. Coming here during the day, basically breaking in and then sitting here like a complete mess.
Perfect, Anna, just perfect I told myself, while slowly getting up and walking towards the back door again. I was just passing by the staircase that lead down to the dungeon, when I heard something and was turning around in an instant.
Nothing. I was sure that I had heard something, damn sure, until it hit me pretty hard…the dungeon! I sighed and nodded, before I started walking down the stairs. I didn't know why, but I had heard something and as sure as I was that I wanted nothing more than to just leave, my curiosity just had gotten the best of me and going home wasn't an option anymore.
As I was walking down the stairs, the old metal creaked at every step I took and my heart rate increased again, but regardless of everything that I was feeling I continued until I was standing in front of a big metal door and opened this as well, because surprisingly it wasn't locked.
It was dark and this was a complete understatement, because I wasn't even able to see my own hand in front of me. I tried to look harder, but since I was no vampire, it all seemed like a dark blurry and thick mass, where I couldn't identify, not even the masses of clothes, that should still be boxed up in the right corner of the big room.
ERICS POV
Standing in the dark I heard again footsteps in the hallway, until they stopped for a few seconds and then started to continue, but I had still no fucking idea who had such an intense dead wish, that he, or she would even consider coming here during the day.
Right now this certain someone was walking down the metal staircase which creaked during every step this person took and when the eighteenth creak banged in my ears, I hid in the shadows to first see, who the intruder was. Another two creaks and after these the metal door opened with another one…I had to let someone check this stuff out as soon as possible…until the person finally walked into the dungeon.
Whoever it was had definitely a heartbeat so it was a human and not even a challenge at all for me.
Discovering who it actually was I was very glad, that I had chosen to hide in the shadows, because my face must have looked priceless. I didn't even know if I was surprised, in shock or simply delighted by the presence of the so called intruder.
This girl…what was it about her, that just strikes me every time I see her. I wasn't sure at all, but I was much surer about, that I was wide awake now, maybe a bit bleeding, but nothing I wouldn't survive and so I decided to play a little game.
In a matter of seconds I flashed with vampire speed from one corner to the next and clearly heard her gasp, while her heartbeat increased and she was turning around in a circle.
ANNAS POV
Something was down here, or someone…it had just moved and now even I started a bit to panic. My heart was beating as fast as a speeding car…maybe a speeding corvette?, whilst my breath wasn't going regularly and a shiver was running through my whole body.
Great thoughts, Anna…you don't know what is down here with you in that dungeon, but you're thinking about corvettes…my conscience told me in an judging tone and I actually agreed with it, for once. So for what it is worth, if I had to die here and now I at least had agreed with my conscience once in my entire lifetime and that was actually a great accomplishment.
There it was again, another flash and I turned around in a circle, stumbling a bit back against the wall. "Who is there?!" I shouted, but of course, there was no response and now I felt something behind my back.
I gasped and turned around with complete and utter fear written across my face, but it was too dark to see anything, so I stumbled more into the room, until I ran against something.
"Ouch…" I flinched for a second, because this would definitely cause bruise and then turned around trying to see something and shouting again "That is not funny at all" while my heart was almost beating out of my chest.
ERICS POV
I was pretty amused by how she reacted, fearful, her heartbeat told me enough, but still not running, but instead shouting at her enemy. What a brave but stupid girl at the same time she was.
When she yelled that I wasn't funny I was pretty sure, that this was my time to reveal myself, so I speeded behind one of the metal beams that held this place together and started slowly walking towards her, still completely covered by the dark, that only I was able to see through.
"I personally do not consider it funny to break into my bar." I heard her gasp, because she probably had a good idea by now who was messing with her, but I didn't stop walking towards her and knew that my sole presence was intriguing and intimidating enough for quite anybody, Miss Anna obviously included, even though she didn't show it at all.
"Speechless?" I asked with a knowing grin on my face and now I was standing right in front of her, straightened up to my full height and my piercing eyes directly locked with hers.
ANNAS POV
I was just gasping and my heart was beating even faster now that I knew who was actually standing in front of me and almost scaring me to death.
"And almost scaring a lady to death isn't all gentleman like either, Mr. Northman" I replied playing along with his little game.
Now he was raising an eyebrow and coming even closer and suddenly déjà-vu like flashes of our encounter yesterday were clouding my mind.
I swallowed and held eye contact with him, even though his piercing blue eyes were a very well distraction, they were so blue that they even lightened up in the dark and looked more beautiful than ever.
Lost in my thoughts I hadn't paid attention to Eric who was now standing just a few centimeters away and still looking directly at me.
"You're a very foolish girl Miss Pryce. Just intruding my private space and waking me from my sleep" he continued and I hadn't come up with anything else then just "Maybe I truly am Mister Northman, before he was hovering over me and I was taking a few small steps back, until I was bending backwards over some boxes. I could feel his none existing breath on my skin, his eyes still locked with mine as he aspirated "So are we now gonna talk about why you're here?" in my ear and I almost lost my balance while shivers ran down my spine.
Just at the right moment he was straightening up again and catching my arm, before I probably would've hit my head pretty hard on all the boxes.
"Clumsy much?" he asked with a smirk and helped me get to my feet again, whilst I mumbled a "Thanks" and started to straighten my clothes a bit.
ERICS POV
Now that she knew who I was and standing on her two feet again I looked expectant at her, because I just had no fucking idea what she could've done at my bar during the day.
"Shouldn't you be asleep anyway?" she asked me with her bluntness again and I was raising an eyebrow. What the fuck?! That girl had a lot of nerve. Coming to my bar and now asking me if I shouldn't sleep, but somehow she impressed me and intrigued me with her spirit, even though most of her actions were pretty foolish and would've caused her the true death not just once, if she would've encountered any other vampire my age, like for example my still not divorced and unnerving vampire wife.
"I would be, if there wouldn't be a certain someone that decided to break into my bar and awaken me…" I replied dry and before I even got to speak any further, she was shutting me down.
"I didn't break into your bar. I used the key under the doormat" she simply said and I had to shake my head in disbelief. "Pamela…" I said more to myself, because nobody other, than her, could've came up with this stupid idea.
"Well in that case, you're actually very smart, but still breaking into a vampire bar, not smart at all."
Without even further discussing the matter I grabbed her arm and walked over to the staircase. "Is the back door locked?" She nodded. "Yes, I closed it." "Okay, that will do." And in an instant I had speeded upstairs into my office with her.
ANNAS POV
Woah…this was the first time that I ever did that and it felt awesome I thought to myself, while Eric had seated me on the sofa in his office and was standing behind his desk, both arms on it and bending forward, so that he could eye me better.
I actually was glad by now, that I sat for almost an hour in front of his door, because so I was pretty much dry again and not dripping on his sofa.
"So what brings you to my bar at this time of the day?" he asked me again and set down in his leather chair.
Now I was the one kneading my hands instead of my mother and simply staring at him, scanning every little detail and not speaking a single word.
"Anna?" he asked me again and I startled a bit.
"I actually don't know…" was my reply, even though I was still trying to convince myself that this was the one and only truth. As a thousand year old vampire Eric on the other hand had studied human kind pretty much down to every last bit and so he knew right away, that this wasn't the truth at all.
"Really? You don't know?" he asked me with a raised eyebrow and staring at me with his intense gaze. I sighed, it wasn't even a battle I could win, so what did I have to lose?
"I just had a bad day, was driving around and ended up here…" Now this was the truth and while speaking I had broken our eye contact and was now eyeing the wooden and somehow worn floorboards of Eric's office.
"A bad day. You humans seem to have those quite often." I nodded and hadn't even the slightest idea that every one of his days was just bad, or meaningless, at least in his opinion, but when I looked up he seemed lost in thoughts and I started to wonder what exactly he was thinking about.
"Maybe I should go now…" I suggested and didn't know myself where this had come from, but seeing him so in thoughts, so different, somehow private, made me feel uncomfortable.
"No" was his simple reply and I looked at him a bit confused, before he was standing up and walking towards me. "I wanna hear more" he said and in an instant he was looking again right through me with his piercing blue eyes and had now placed his leather chair not even a meter across the sofa that I was sitting on.
I shrugged. "Oh, it's just, that it is my birthday and my mother had actually the nerve to invite my father, or ask him for help as she would place it and was judging my decisions again…" I was rambling on and he was surprisingly calm, just watching me and listening to what I had to say and in my opinion it was nothing different, than he had probably heard from a million of people, women…whoever by now.
ERICS POV
Somehow her voice captured me. She was just an ordinary human, but still…I wanted to know why she had come here and even more why I had dreamt about her. I hadn't had a positive dream since I had to leave Shreveport over two hundred years ago, not even in the month I was back here and then this human walks into my bar, applies for a job and suddenly I dream about her? Something was up here, that had told me my thousand years of life experience, but I couldn't quite get to the bottom of it just yet.
"You're birthday?" I asked quite surprised and she nodded. Young girls like her were celebrating with their friends, getting drunk, probably making out with some dumb boys their age and having fun, but not she…that was another interesting thing about her, because in my time owning Fangtasia I had quite hired and fired hundreds of waitresses and all of them had almost acted the same way and again she was different than all of them.
Another thing that had caught my attention was her talking about some decisions. "Could these decisions have anything to do with your work here?" I asked her, not looking away for a second.
ANNAS POV
Was I really such an open book? How could he have known that? I nodded. "Yeah, my mother is like president of the anti vampire campaign." I looked down and tried to not have a break down again, but not for long, because a long finger was tilting my head up and I was again captured by Eris blue eyes.
"What exactly did she have to say?" he asked me and I wasn't sure if I should tell him.
"Hmm…" I was clearly weighing up if I should tell him the truth, or not, but since he seems to know when I was lying anyway, I could just tell him the truth without to rack my brain whilst coming up with a prober lie, that he'll see right through in an instant.
I put my serious expression on, before I said "But you have to swear not to kill her, alright?"
I heard a small chuckle and couldn't even believe my own eyes…Eric Northman was clearly amused.
"Who made you think, that I would?" he asked interested and I just repeated "Just swear" and he nodded "Well, then I rightfully swear not to harm your mother for whatever she had to say about your work at my bar. "Much better" I replied with a small grin myself.
Now he was staring expectant at me and there was no way around the truth.
"She is a member of this fucked up community called the fellowship of the sun and believes everything this delusional nut job Newlin says."
Eric growled through gritted teeth "Of course, Newlin." I nodded and continued "Yeah, you had quite the encounters with them yourself, so you basically knew the founder of this crazy cult…Steve Newlin."
For a second he looked stunned before he nodded "Yes and I just forgot that you're a walking archive of my life during the 2000s."
Now I was the one to chuckle. "If you wanna call me that, I'll be fine with it."
"And was it just the usual vampires are creatures of hell blabla or anything different than what they are repeating since more than two hundred years…" he continued his questions and I became serious again.
"That too…I have to listen to that shit since I was in kindergarten…" I explained and was still thinking about a way to break to him what my mother had told me.
"But well, she has looked into Fangtasia, since my grandma had told her, that I got a job at the local vampire bar and also in the owner."
Eric was raising an eyebrow again. "That must be me."
I nodded. "Yeah and she basically thinks you're a mass murderer, killing everybody and everything in your sight, eating people on a daily basis and should've been locked away for eternity."
Now I was nervous and he could easily sense that through my increased heartbeat. I wasn't even able to look at him, but when I did he didn't seem even the slightest bit bothered.
I wasn't sure what to say and after almost two minutes of silence and intense staring he asked a pretty easy question.
"And what do you think, Anna?" Now his eyes were on me, watching every move, every flinch and every breath and how he said my name, I wasn't almost able to think straight.
"I?" I asked with a little bit in disbelief. "I think that none of this is even the slightest bit true. Well yeah, you ate people and you killed people….you maybe still do it, but I doubt that you kill someone without a reason or drink from someone without their permission, so no…I don't think you're dangerous."
This was the complete and utter truth and I hadn't had a problem telling him said truth at all.
He knew when I was lying so it surprised me a bit when I witnessed a truly stunned expression on his face, maybe because he actually was aware that I just spoke what I was thinking and nothing more or less.
Now I was the one staring and watching ever change of his expression, every little move and wondering what he was actually thinking.
ERICS POV
That girl was just…I didn't even had a word to describe her and that after more than thousand years and speaking more than two dozen of languages fluently.
"You don't think that I'm dangerous?" I asked and was still completely taken at awe by her words and looking at her astonished.
"No" she replied said with an ease as if I would've asked her what her name is. "I'm even more intimated by Pam, than by you…" she continued and now I had to smirk.
"Pamela can be quite intimidating, yes…but she is also loyal and obedient. She'll come to like you."
I actually thought that these two would make quite the team, if Pam would overcome her disgust about humans, but it would maybe take some time, after the last human she had cared about had betrayed her completely.
"Hopefully…" was all she said a bit lost in thoughts and so I got up and went over to the fridge in my office. "Since it is your birthday after all and you haven't had any proper celebration…" I took out a bottle of champagne, it was quite an old one, a Diamant Bleu from 1909 and a bottle of the Royal Blood (Is it called that?) and walked over to my chair again, grabbing two glasses and sitting down.
I filled both of them, one with the blood and the other with the alcohol, before handing here the glass of champagne.
She had watched me the whole time and was now slowly shaking her head. "I actually don't drink" she explained herself and my eyes widened a bit. "Well I actually am not awake during the day…" and so she took a small sip, while I was watching her, not really getting any signs of her, if she liked it, or not.
ANNAS POV
It wasn't that bad that I had to admit, so I looked at him again and said "Well, it's quite okay" and he was actually pretty amused.
"Not bad?" he asked and I nodded.
"That's a 1909 Diamant Bleu."
I had no idea what that was, just that I was from 1909, so pretty old and expensive.
"Wow, that's old, but other than that I have no clue."
Now he was taking a sip of the blood and I was staring at him. Other than my own blood I had never seen any in real life and seeing Eric drinking blood, even though it was just synthetic just captured me completely.
Now I was the one looking at him, if I wanted to know how the drink tasted. Wasn't blood just blood? But well, what did I know.
He gave me the 'What?' look and I just asked, without even thinking about it "How do you like it? His eyebrows rose, but he didn't comment my question and just answered it instead. "It's good, better than the actual Tru Blood, but I still prefer blood straight from the vein…O positive if you're interested in all the details."
He was winking at me and continued drinking while my brain had again started to chatter. Did he know? No! Why the hell should he? I asked myself and guessed that it was just a coincidence that he preferred my blood type.
Could drinking be sexy? I had no idea, but Eric sipping this Royal Blood stuff was one of the hottest things I had ever witnessed in my life. I was biting my lip and not sure if I should even ask what just had came to my mind, but since my mouth was almost every time faster, than my brain it was out before I was able to take it back.
"Can I have one?" Within a split second his eyes were eyeing me in disbelief.
"What?" he asked in puzzled and I started to sink a bit more into the couch.
"I asked if I can try some of your Royal Blood?" I repeated my question and his eyes widened a bit more.
He again was just staring at me and I wished that I would've known what he was thinking, before he slowly got up and walked towards me.
ERICS POV
This girl never failed to impress me. Every time when I just thought I finally had figured her out, she surprised me again, but that question…never in my entire life had a human asked me something like that…I repeated never and human girls and women had asked me a lot of things throughout the years.
My gaze had never left her ocean blue orbs and she was following every move I made, just like I watched every small change in her posture, or expression.
I took the glass of champagne and swallowed it, before I filled the glass with some of the Royal Blood, watching her intensely.
ANNAS POV
He really did it and now I had to do my part and taste it. I slowly brought the glass to my lips and smelled it at first, but it didn't disgust me at all. Swallowing a last time I simply took a sip and tried to discover the unique taste that blood, no matter if straight from the vein, or synthetic, certainly had and was much more than surprised, when I actually liked it and still didn't feel any disgust.
During this time I had completely forgotten about Eric and just absorbed every little bit of smell and taste of the Royal Blood, before I looked up again and was amazed by his expression.
ERICS POV
I couldn't look away even for a second, while she smelled on the glass, before she sipped on it and it actually seemed like she wasn't disgusted at all and that was the least to say.
Her question had been enough to utterly impress me for the day, or the century?, if not a more than two centuries, but how she looked at me now, I didn't know what to say, nor what to do. I wasn't the kind of guy, that ever reacted speechless, but Anastasia Pryce seemed to have accomplished the unthinkable…at least in a very long time.
Pretty soon I had found my old self again and was smirking at her. "Liked it?" and she nodded, before she swallowed the whole liquid in her glass to emphasize her words.
ANNAS POV
I wasn't sure what the hell I had been exactly thinking when I had asked Eric for a taste, but was even more surprised, that I actually liked it and it seemed the he wasn't feeling any different about it., that I did myself.
"Speechless huh?" I shot back and he smirked even more and replied "Just impressed."
A knock on the door suddenly brought us both back to reality and within a few second Pam was entering the room. Firs eyeing Eric and later me she just rolled her eyes and looked back at Eric.
"What is she doing here?" Pamela asked her maker and in an instant he changed completely.
"Discussing some urgent matters. Next time don't disturb me, or enter without my permission!" His words were harsh and he clearly looked at her with annoyance.
"With champagne…and Royal Blood?" she asked while eying the two bottles.
"Yes, Pamela…" he only said and the other vampire didn't seem delighted at all.
"Let me finish and then we can talk and with those words the woman was out the door again.
"I'm very sorry, Anna, but business is calling…" he apologized for Pams entry and I shook my head.
"It's still your bar, remember? So nothing you have to apologize for." I put a small smile on my face.
"Then I see you tomorrow at work" he asked getting up and reaching for my hand.
I nodded. "Yes, tomorrow at 7:30."
I took his hand and got onto my feet, before he accompanied me to the door of his office.
"Have a successful work night, Mr. Northman" were my last words, before stepping out into the now busy hallway. "Have a good night yourself Miss Pryce and a birthday to remember." He winked at me one last time, before I started walking down the hallway towards the backdoor and he in the other direction towards the entrance into the bar.
Soon I found myself out in the parking lot again, surprised that it was dark now and not even knowing how late it actually was, but since Pam had arrived about ten minutes ago, it was just a logical conclusion that the darkness of the night had taken over our town by now.
Just a few minutes later I sat in my car and was driving home with a way better mood than I had left and another positive fact, it had stopped raining during my time at Fangtasia, so the night sky was clear and it should be an easy ride home.
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Next: Annas first day working at Fangtasia. There will be blood and I'm not talking about the bottled one. ;)