Hey Everyone! Here's a Sunday treat for you! I want to thank everyone who reviewed and to those that clicked favorite or follow. They are like little gifts that I love to receive and the reviews bring a smile to my face.
The events in this chapter is what inspired me to write this story. I will tell you which one at the bottom. :)
Just a head's up, Eric and Pam have a conversation in this chapter in Swedish, and just to avoid any confusion or throwing the story off by having to scroll to the bottom to see what they said, I put the translation at the end of the sentence in parenthesis. Plus, I hope Google didn't fook up the translation. :P
This chapter isn't beta'd.
Should I go to him?
Just the thought of walking over to the alluring Vampire caused me to feel vulnerable and out of control. What would he expect from me if I did go over there? I didn't know what he was used to, but what ever it was, he wouldn't be getting it from me.
Looking away from the hypnotic eyes that held me captive, I shielded my face with my loose hair and closed my eyes, consumed by fear and doubt.
Intimacy scared me; being a twenty-six year old virgin would do that to a person. My window of opportunity had closed years ago when I realized I could never be normal around regular men. How could I be intimate with a man when a simple touch intensified every thought tenfold? It made for slim pickings.
Sure, there was Sam and the attraction between us. But if I was supposed to be with him, wouldn't our relationship have grown into something more by now? I do believe that if you're meant to be with someone, you will end up with them, no matter what. It was inevitable. The man I was destined to be with was out there somewhere. I've waited this long, I just needed to stay positive. The flip side of the coin was just too depressing to think about.
Opening my eyes, my insecurities fled back into the corner of my mind. No, I wouldn't be going anywhere but home tonight. I came here for one purpose, not to get mixed up with Vampires.
Chancing a quick glance, I saw Mr. V.I.P. was still looking at me. I especially didn't need to get mixed up with the likes of him. He was one of the most intimidating Vampires I have seen since the Great Revelation. He scared me to death.
No, I needed to leave. Now.
Moving toward the exit, I kept my head down, hoping to lose myself within the crowd and make a clean getaway. I was a few feet away from the plastic refrigerator flaps when an accented voice sounded from behind me.
"Leaving so soon?"
Shit. There went my escape.
Turning around, I was confronted with a towering wall of muscle and flesh. Tilting my head back, I stoically met the blonde Vampires gaze, my poker face sliding into place.
Up close, he was even more enticing. His broad shoulders blocked out the rest of the bar, and for one cosmic moment, it was just the two of us. His ice blue eyes studied me as intently as I did him, his countenance seemingly pleased that he caught me.
He surprised me when he held his hand out to me. Vampires did not like to be touched.
"Would you care to join me?" he asked. His voice was rich and smooth, like chocolate. It sent tingles down my spine.
Staring at his large hand, it was on the tip of my tongue to politely turn down his invitation. My mind was screaming for me to leave, but it was my heart that spoke louder than my thoughts, urging me to take a chance.
Common sense took a hike as I watched my fingers touch the cool palm of the Vampire's hand, his long fingers gently wrapping around me. Sucking in a quick breath at the contact, I glanced up in time to see a small smile on the Vampire's lips as he turned to guide me through the crowd. That was when I noticed everyone staring at us.
I was on the receiving end of so many dirty looks, one would think that I ran over everyone's dog or something. Gritting my teeth, I endured the scrutiny, unconsciously gripping the strong hand that held my own.
Arriving at a booth that was hidden in the shadows near the bar, the Vampire reluctantly let go of my hand as he waited for me to seat myself. I watched as he slid on to the bunk bench opposite me with ease, the lit candle on the table emphasizing the rugged angles of his face.
I was startled when my waitress from earlier, Ginger, appeared out of nowhere with a bottle of True Blood and a glass of seltzer water with a slice of lemon. Quickly placing the drinks before us, she melted back into the throng of fangbangers before I had a chance to thank her.
My host ignored the warm synthetic blood, his attention wholly focused on me. "What is your name?"
"I would prefer to keep that to myself," I said, meeting his curious stare. I was already in the danger zone. Anonymity made me feel secure in this potentially dangerous situation.
He looked amused. "I see. Well, I'm not opposed to giving you my name. I am Eric Northman."
Eric Northman. So this was the Vampire occupying everyone's thoughts tonight. The mystery of that excitement was becoming clearer with every passing moment I spent in his presence.
"It's nice to meet you." I winced internally at how naïve I sounded. I was in uncharted waters, dealing with an individual who left me feeling awkward and unsure of myself.
"Aren't you sweet," Eric commented, leaning forward with his elbows on the table.
"Not really," I replied, almost laughing. I've been called many things in my life; sweet would be on the bottom of the list.
"Oh, but I think you are," Eric mused, his voice husky. "You just don't like to admit it."
Looking away, I stared at the glass of water in front of me and took a controlled sip, hoping to hide my unease. If he saw me as someone who was sweet, he might take that as a sign of weakness. I was not weak. I would have to disillusion him of that idea.
"This is your first time here." It wasn't a question.
"Yes, it is," I said warily, meeting his eyes once more.
"And what made you come to my bar tonight?" Eric asked, steepling his fingers before him.
His bar? The worries Ginger had made sense now. Eric was her boss. I filed that bit of information away for later.
Without missing a beat, I answered him. "I was curious. I've never been to a Vampire bar before and I wanted to see what it was like."
"Does that mean you're...," he paused, choosing his words carefully, "...unattached?"
Uh oh. He wanted to know if I belonged to another Vampire.
The intricacies of Vampire etiquette were complex and bewildering. I considered telling him the unofficial lie that Rasul and I went with when dealing with other Vampires. I wondered if Eric would respect the claim and back off. Or would he ignore it and pursue me anyway? I wasn't sure how to feel about that. He was someone who most definitely got their way in all matters.
I decided to be honest. He would learn the truth, one way or another. "No, I'm not attached to anyone."
Eric's blue eyes seemed to glow with this discovery. He opened his mouth to speak and I waited with bated breath for his next words. I was thrown off-balance when another voice broke the spell that had fallen over us.
"Ah, I see you found my enigma."
Eric and I glanced up as Mistress Pam sidled up to our table.
"Your enigma?" Eric asked, frowning at the female Vampire. He wasn't pleased about the interruption.
"Yes, my enigma," she answered, looking over at me. "She is unlike any fangbanger I've ever seen before. I believe she is quite the find."
"Hitta någon annan. Hon är min." Eric stated, his voice brooking no argument. (Find someone else. She is mine.)
Mistress Pam looked like she wanted to hit him with her riding crop.
"Men jag såg henne först." Pam retorted, planting her right hand on her hip. (But I saw her first.)
"Du kommer att komma över det." Eric assured her. (You will get over it.)
"Du är så självisk." Pam complained, admitting defeat. (You are so selfish.)
"Med den här? Absolut." Eric said possessively, bringing his gaze back to me. (With this one? Absolutely.)
While I did wonder what the two chatted about and what language they conversed in, I took the opportunity to use my telepathy. I needed to know if what I heard earlier was real or just a figment of my imagination.
Slowly dropping my shields, I tried to probe Eric's thoughts. I sighed in relief when I hit a wall, the black void representing his mind silent and empty. It must have been my mind playing tricks on me or my subconscious telling me what I wanted to hear. I felt foolish that I believed it was true.
...Goddamnit, where the fuck is the SWAT team? They should have been here five minutes ago! I can't wait forever, especially with that Vampire feeding on that poor fuck in the bathroom. We have Northman right where we want him. We have to move, NOW...
It was right at that moment when Eric looked at me, after his short talk with Pam, that the stray thought flooded my mind along with the rest of the bar. Craning my neck, I scanned the crowd, my heart thudding loudly in my chest.
The swaying bodies of fangbangers swelled and parted, revealing a man who I knew from work. His name was Chester Hartman and he was part of the Special Weapons and Tactics team, also known as SWAT. He was dressed to blend in with the crowd and I wondered how long he'd been staking out the bar.
Looking in the direction of the bathrooms, I concentrated on reaching out and finding the one thread I was looking for.
...Please, stop. Too much, you're taking too much. No, please...
The person in the bathroom was dying. There was only one thing I could do.
Grabbing hold of my purse, I returned my attention to Eric and Mistress Pam. Both Vampires were staring at me curiously.
"Mr. Northman, I don't want to alarm you," I began, my voice calm, measured. "But a SWAT team is planning to raid your establishment within the next few minutes. And to make matters worse, a Vampire is not only feeding on someone in the bathroom, but is about to take their life."
Eric's entire demeanor changed within a heartbeat. His eyes narrowed in anger and his fangs descended. If he scared me before, he was absolutely terrifying now. "And how would you know this? Are you a cop?"
Not waiting to give him an answer, I darted out of the booth and quickly made my way for the restrooms. I was surprised at how fast everyone moved out of the way, but with a glance over my shoulder, I understood why; Eric was in hot pursuit.
The confidence with which I did my job wrapped around me like a cloak, pushing aside all the insecurities I had felt for the last half hour. Someone's life was in jeopardy and it was my job to protect them. I would worry about the aftermath when it came.
...Cold, so cold. Please...
Honing in on the fading thoughts, I arrived at the women's bathroom and pushed the door open. Upon entering, I was happy to see that with the exception of one closed stall, the place was empty.
Reaching into my purse, I pulled out the taser gun. Quietly stepping over to the occupied toilet, I focused of the black void within and tried to ignore the slurping noise coming from the other side of the door.
From the corner of my eye, I saw Eric and Pam enter the restroom just as I raised my heeled foot and kicked the stall open, my gun at the ready. I was lucky that the Vampire didn't bother to lock the door or I would have to of given it a few more tries.
As the door flew open, the feeding Vampire spun around faster than my eyes could track. Like something out of a horror movie, the female bared her blood covered fangs at me and hissed, the bottom half of her face covered in gore.
Without hesitation, I pulled the trigger on the taser gun. Two small, dart-like electrodes launched forward and latched on to the Vampires forehead. She screeched in agony and lost control of her body, convulsing on the floor as charges of electric current pulsed through her nerve endings.
Counting to ten, I released my hold on the trigger. The female Vampire sprawled out under the toilet, her arms and legs twitching from the residual effects of being tased. Her eyes were open, but she was unable to move.
Stepping over the incapacitated Vampire, I bent over the man who was slouched over on the toilet.
"Sir, are you okay? Can you hear me?" I asked, relieved to feel a thready pulse under my fingertips as I touched his wrist.
The man was an older gentleman and barely conscious, but at least he was alive. I could hear his thoughts of thanks and relief, but the words never made it to his lips. He was too weak to speak.
"Pamela. Get them out of here."
Turning, I saw Eric and Pam watching the show. Quickly pushing a button on the taser, the electrodes retracted from the downed Vampire's forehead and reeled backwards into the gun. Both Vampires watched me, their expressions calculating.
"Do you mind?" Pam asked me, gesturing for me to get out of the way.
"What will you do with him?" I asked, refusing to budge. I wasn't certain what my next move would be, but I kept my finger on the trigger, just in case.
"I just want to get them out of here before the SWAT raid happens," Pam said, her eyes straying to the taser in my hand.
"I want your word," I demanded, staring at Eric. "I want your word that no harm will come to this man."
Pam was about to answer, but Eric was faster. "I promise you the human will be safe."
Looking up at Eric in shock, Pam was obviously surprised by his acquiescence.
Knowing that time was of the essence, I stepped out of the stall and waited by the sink with Eric. Seconds later, Pam reappeared carrying the man over her shoulder like a sack of potatoes and dragging the still spasming Vampire by the hair.
Eric kindly opened the door for her and as she stepped out into the hallway, all hell broke loose.
"Police! Everyone down on the ground!"
People began screaming, startled by the sudden appearance of automatic weapons and men in masks. The sound of breaking glass and splintering furniture could be heard from where we stood.
"This way," Eric hastened, his large hand settling on my lower back to guide me to the rear exit by the bathrooms.
I briefly noticed Pam disappearing into a side door before the balmy night air filled my lungs. Eric continued to propel me forward, steering us toward a red corvette that sat alone in the dark private parking lot.
"Get in," he ordered, opening the car door for me. He stared at me expectantly and I shortly debated the wisdom in refusing his request.
He hasn't given me a reason not to trust him. The problem here is he doesn't trust me.
Deciding to take another chance and hoping it didn't get me killed, I slid into the Corvette. Closing the door after me, Eric settled into his seat two heartbeats later, the use of his Vampire speed hurrying things along.
With a turn of the key, the Corvette roared to life for its owner. With expert hands, Eric quickly maneuvered us out of the parking lot and avoided the three SWAT vans parked up front. We were on the interstate in no time.
Heading into the night, we drove south, away from Shreveport. I held myself stiffly, finding it hard to relax as the miles passed by. Where was he taking me? I mentally berated myself for being so foolish and trusting. I was always so cautious but here I was, alone with the most frightening Vampire I've seen to date.
Way to go, Sookie. Hopefully I will live to regret this.
Looking at the clock on the dashboard, I saw that it was well past midnight. I counted the minutes and tried to ignore the unnerving silence that stretched between Eric and I. Should I try to explain myself? No, that just might anger him.
Twenty minutes later, Eric pulled off the interstate and onto an access road. He came to a stop and killed the ignition. Gripping the taser gun I still held in my right hand, I watched as he stepped out of the car and walk a few feet in front of the Corvette.
He turned and stared at me, the shining headlights making his eyes bluer than ever. He stood there solemnly, his body language neutral. He was waiting for me to join him.
My hand shook as I opened the car door. It was time to face the music.
As I walked toward Eric, I slipped the taser gun back into my purse. His eyes followed my movements and I hoped he would take it as a sign that I didn't want any trouble.
"Who are you?"
"My name is Sookie Stackhouse. I am a homicide detective with the Shreveport Police Department."
"Sookie Stackhouse." I felt goosebumps break out on my skin from the way he said my name. "And what were you doing in my bar?"
"I was one of the detectives working the case of two murdered women. Both of the victims were involved with Vampires and have been to your bar. I felt it was worth looking into." I explained, crossing my arms against the cool temperature of the night.
"Was working?" he asked, quirking an eyebrow.
Damn. I needed to be careful with my wording. "I am no longer on the case due to the fact that I knew the victims." I did not want to give him too much personal information about me. My name was more than enough.
"And yet you still continue your own investigation by coming to my bar to dig for clues?"
I lifted my chin. "Yes."
He seemed to approve of my answer. "Do you think it was a Vampire responsible for the deaths of these two women?"
"No, not anymore. But he must have been in your bar. That has to be the way he chooses his victims."
Eric continued to observe me. "How did you know the raid was going to happen?"
I'd been waiting for him to ask that question. "I recognized one of my colleagues from work. There would only be one reason for him to be in your bar and that would be to act as a lookout for any wrong doing."
"And the man in the bathroom? How did you know Tarin was draining him?"
Good question. Quelling the urge to clear my throat, I tried to think of a believable lie that the Vampire would accept.
"Where else would a Vampire feed? I don't think you all do that with an audience present, do you?"
Eric took a step forward, startling me to take a step back. His expression intensified and he seemed taller than ever. "I do not believe you. You knew exactly where to go. There was no hesitation in your step. Now, tell me the truth."
With wide eyes, I felt panic take over as my quick wit abandoned me.
Eric took another step forward and as I backed up again, I felt the hood of the Corvette bump into my thighs. Shit.
"Tell me." Eric whispered.
It was then that I felt him trying to glamour me. But instead of the normal tickling sensation I felt with other Vampires, Eric's glamour was like a caress. His influence danced over my consciousness, the touch of his will warm and sweet.
I swayed with the unexpected sensation, but I didn't fall under his spell.
"Mr. Northman," I half moaned, struggling to stay up right. "I don't appreciate it when Vampires try to glamour information from me."
Blinking, Eric released his hold on me. I sagged against the hood of the Corvette and took a deep breath, trying to clear my head. How had he done that? I was more troubled by the experience then I would like to admit.
"What are you?"
"What do you mean?" I asked, deciding it would be best to play ignorant.
Eric gave me a knowing smile. He knew what I was doing.
"Only a supernatural being is impervious to a Vampire's glamour. So, I will ask again, Miss Stackhouse; what are you?"
I was backed up in a corner with no way out.
"I don't think-" but I stopped talking as Eric pulled my body to his.
Gasping, I pushed against his chest as he pulled me closer to him, his superior strength overpowering me. I almost screamed as I felt him bend over me and bury his face in my neck, taking care to avoid the silver lariat. Was he going to bite me? I began to punch him as hard as I could, but my connecting fists felt like they were hitting an iron wall.
Tears stung my eyes as I felt him nuzzle me and I cringed at the sound of his fangs sliding into place. This was it. He was going to kill me and hide my body out here in the middle of nowhere. I should have listened to Rasul. I should have...
I stilled when instead of fangs tearing into my neck, my captor took long, deep breaths, taking my scent deep into his lungs. I felt his nose slide along the shell of my ear and a purr-like sound came from his throat.
Looking up at the night sky, I felt my body begin to react to the Vampire's nearness, the fear I felt seconds before quickly turning into arousal. Warmth pooled in my nether regions as Eric grinded up against me and I contemplated the idea of letting this blonde God ravish me on the hood of his car.
Not like this. Not with some Vampire you just met.
"Mr. Northman," I panted, my shields failing me in light of the strange emotions his touch elicited. "Please stop."
It was the strangest feeling to have a man touch me and be completely unaware of his thoughts. I reveled in it.
Eric lifted his head, his face a mix of lust, confusion and wonder. Still holding me close, he brought his hand up and slowly ran his thumb along my bottom lip.
"What are you?" He sounded awestruck.
I gave him a sad smile. I couldn't tell him what he wanted to hear. "I'm just cop trying to do my job."
Pulling away, Eric took a few steps back and regarded me, his fangs slowly retracting up. I mourned the loss of contact with him.
Picking up my purse which had fallen to the ground during our strange embrace, Eric brushed his fingers over the red leather before handing it to me. Reaching out, I took the proffered handbag and murmured my thanks
"I will respect your secret, Miss Stackhouse. But it will only be a matter of time before I figure it out."
Before I could respond, Eric moved around the Corvette and opened the passenger door for me. Taking the hint, I walked toward him, thoroughly exhausted by the events of the last fourteen hours. I was just too tired to argue with him and my over warped mind couldn't think clearly enough to come up with a way to convince him that excluding my special talent, I was just a normal person.
Once we were on the interstate again and heading north, I felt myself sink into the luxurious leather seat. My eyelids felt heavy, but I fought against the lure of sleep with thoughts of tonight's events.
Why didn't Eric bite me when given such a golden opportunity? Why did his glamour feel so different? Why did I feel so safe with him? That last question had me truly stumped.
As we pulled back into the Fangtasia parking lot, I was surprised by how deserted it was. Besides a few cars, the lot was empty and the bar was closed. It was the complete opposite from the chaos of earlier.
I was curious what happened with the raid. The SWAT team must have gone home with heads hung low. I didn't feel any remorse over taking their bust from them. The man would have been dead by the time they showed up and I felt that a human life was more important than giving the owner grief for a silly misdemeanor.
After pointing out my car to Eric, he pulled up next to the Pontiac Grand Am.
"Well," I said, looking over at the Vampire. "Thank you for a memorable evening, Mr. Northman."
"You are most welcome, Miss Stackhouse," he replied, nodding his head.
We gazed at each other for a moment longer before I got out of the Corvette. As I was opening my car door, Eric called out to me.
"Miss Stackhouse."
Turning, I saw he was leaning over the passenger seat to look at me through the open window.
"We don't all feed in the bathroom. Perhaps I can show you sometime where I do it." he said suggestively, giving me a fangy smile.
I felt my face turn red. I opened my mouth to retort, but he put the Corvette in gear and drove off, the brake lights fading into the darkness.
With a thrill of terror and excitement, I knew that this wasn't the last I'd see of Eric Northman.
Love it? Hate it? I can't tell you how many times I wrote something and then ended up deleting it. I wanted this meeting between them to have a certain mood and I hoped I achieved that. For those of you hoping that Sookie jumps right into the sack with Eric, I'm going to have to disappoint you. While my story is as far off from canon as you can go, I do want shades of the original to color the story to keep it in the SSN universe. It will be awhile before anything sexual happens, but I will keep you guys hot and bothered, don't worry. I always found that was half the fun between Eric and Sookie. Their chemistry is amazing and the teasing and tension between them makes the chase that much more exciting. :)
I don't want you worrying that Sookie will become a telepath that can hear Vampire thoughts; she won't. In canon, Sookie heard Eric's thoughts once or twice. The fact that she hears him in my story is my way of keeping canon involved. :)
I will be making update notices on my profile page about the chapters I'm working on, plus I have added a cast list of actors and actresses that I see playing the roles of our favorite characters. While some of the actors are the same as True Blood, many of the female actresses are of my own choosing and I think they fit better. I hope you think so, as well.
Like my other story, Dead Set, I will be making a side story for Eric that runs parallel to Dig and covers events when Sookie is not around. Due to future events of Dig, it makes more sense to keep it separate. The name of Eric's POV will be called "Closer" and I should have that out within the next few days. While it won't have mega chapters, that doesn't make them any less important.
I have updated my playlist(Link on profile page) with two new songs.
Center of Attention by Jackson Waters-this song really is perfect for Eric and how he views Sookie.
E.T. by Katy Perry-While Eric is no alien, the lyrics of this song is perfect for Sookie's opinion of Eric.
You're so hypnotizing
Could you be the devil?
Could you be an angel?
Take me, ta-ta-take me
Wanna be a victim
and this line in the song made me laugh-Stun me with your lasers. Hmm. Stun me with your taser? LOL. And the event that inspired this story was a cop Sookie kicking in the stall door and tasing Tarin. I think Sookie disillusioned Eric of any weakness on her part, huh?
Once again, thanks for reading. See you in Closer. :=)