Chapter Three

Darcie drove back to Bon Temps in the afternoon of the next day. Her eyes were on the road, but her mind was on her problems, or rather problem, which was a tall, blonde vampire. She had called home and talked with Mr. Turner early in the morning from her hotel. She had inherited Mr. Turner from her grandmother. He now saw it as his duty to take care of her. He was a fussy, difficult man, but he was extremely loyal. He wanted to be on the next plane to Louisiana, but Darcie could not deal with both him and Eric Northman at the same time. She replayed her conversation with him in her head as she drove.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Turner," she had said. It was afternoon at home.

"Miss Stackhouse, please tell me that you are on your way back home," said Mr. Turner.

"I'm afraid not, Mr. Turner. In fact, I will be staying on a little longer than expected in Louisiana," said Darcie.

"How much longer?" said Mr. Turner, suspiciously.

"Um, I really can't say," said Darcie.

There was a very long silence on the line, so long that Darcie wondered if she had lost the connection.

"You're in trouble," said Mr. Turner.

Damn him, thought Darcie, he was impossible to fool. He had a sixth sense about things.

"I assure you that I am in no danger, Mr. Turner," said Darcie.

"Liar," said Mr. Turner.

"Now, that is just rude, Mr. Turner," said Darcie.

"Is that supposed to be an insult?" said Mr. Turner. "Because you will have to do much better than that, Miss Stackhouse, if you want to upset me. That insult is not even worthy of an honorable mention."

"Believe me, Mr. Turner, I can dish it out, you insufferable, prissy little man," Darcie said.

She was greeted by a low chuckle.

"Miss Stackhouse, that was much better," he said. "Now, why don't you just make things easier on both of us and tell me what kind of trouble you are in."

Darcie sighed and said, "I have a vampire problem."

"Vampire? Now, that is a surprise," said Mr. Turner. "Do you have a vampire suitor who is trying to make you his immortal bride?"

"Mr. Turner, I think that you have been reading too many gothic romance novels," said Darcie.

"Guilty, I must confess," said Mr. Turner with another chuckle. "So, what does this vampire want if he doesn't want your delectable body?"

"Why, Mr. Turner, I might have to change my opinion of your sexual orientation after that comment," said Darcie.

"I like to keep everyone guessing," said Mr. Turner.

"He wants me to be his telepath," said Darcie.

"Just a telepath?" asked Mr. Turner.

"He knows that I am like my cousin," said Darcie.

"Yes, of course, your American cousin," said Mr. Turner, as if he was talking about a low form of life.

"You mind your tone, Mr. Turner," said Darcie.

"How is he blackmailing you?" asked Mr. Turner.

"By threatening Sookie and Jason," said Darcie.

"Well, the most sensible solution is to remove his ability to use them against you. I can handle the arrangements and have them eliminated. Problem solved," said Mr. Turner.

"Don't you even dare," said Darcie.

"I'm only trying to get a rise out of you, Miss Stackhouse," said Mr. Turner. "Although, that would

solve your problem. I bet they would throw in the vampire for free."

"Mr. Turner, you frighten me sometimes. My cousins are off-limits, do you understand?" said Darcie.

"So, are you just going to work for him?" asked Mr. Turner. "Do you have a no biting clause?"

"Um, not exactly," said Darcie.

"That wasn't so bright, Miss Stackhouse," he said. "Is there a reason that you didn't consult with me before entering into this arrangement?"

"I really didn't have time, Mr. Turner," said Darcie. "However, I do have the power to change my mind and dissolve the bargain."

"I guess that you're not totally incompetent, after all," said Mr. Turner.

"From you, that is high praise indeed," said Darcie. "I'm not sure what the best way out of this problem is. I don't mind staying on and seeing my cousins. I think that I can handle this vampire."

"Famous last words," said Mr. Turner.
"I'm not some pushover, Mr. Turner," said Darcie.

"I'm well aware of what you are, Miss Stackhouse, having served your family for many years," he said.

He sighed and said, "What do you want me to do, right now?"

"I need you to arrange accounts for me in Shreveport since, at least temporarily, I will be relocating there. I will need to set up a household," said Darcie.

"I will do that today," he said. "Do you want me to come?"

"Eventually, I will need you," said Darcie. "Right now, your presence will only increase the vampire's curiosity."

"What about Simon and Aidan?" said Mr. Turner. "They constantly pester me about you."

"Tell them nothing," said Darcie.

"A little cold, aren't we, Kitten?" said Mr. Turner.

"It's for their own good," said Darcie.

"I will do as you command," said Mr. Turner. "But, I can't go against your grandmother's last wish which was for me to watch over you."

"I'm fine, Mr. Turner," said Darcie. "Don't worry about things."

"It's my job to worry, Darcie," he said. "I will need to speak with you every day from now on until I am once again reunited with you. Is that clear?"

"Yes, of course," said Darcie. And she better not forget or there was no telling what the prissy but very dangerous Mr. Turner might decide to do.

"Goodbye, Kitten," he said.

When Darcie arrived back at Sookie's house, she had been greeted with a welcome that had tugged at her heartstrings. Sookie accepted her so easily and was so willing to let her into her life. At least, the bargain with the vampire meant that she would continue to see her cousins. Sookie helped her carry her bags upstairs.

"I'm so glad that you are back," said Sookie. "I missed you even before you left."

"You don't know how much that means to me," said Darcie.

Sookie had noticed the catch in her voice and turned around to look at her.

"Is everything alright?" she asked.

Darcie carefully hid away those things that Sookie didn't need to find out.

"I'm just being a bit silly," said Darcie. "But, you don't know what finding you and Jason has meant to me."

"We feel the same way about you," said Sookie with a smile.

"Are you sure that you don't mind putting me up?" asked Darcie.

"Don't be silly, family stays with family," said Sookie. "And even though we only met, Darcie, I have this connection with you. Jason feels it too. There are too few Stackhouses in the world for us to ignore each other."

"Well, I don't think you have to worry about that, Sookie," said Darcie. "It seems that I'm not so easy to get rid of."

Sookie smiled and said, "I wouldn't have it any other way, Cousin."

Sookie settled her in and then went off to work with the promise that Darcie would come by later on in the evening. Once she was gone, Darcie went to the store and fully stocked the kitchen as a thank you for putting her up again.

That done, Darcie went upstairs to the guest room. As she changed, she remembered what had happened after she and the vampire had struck their bargain. That vampire had wanted to seal the deal with her blood. After she had stopped him from biting her on the neck, he had surprised her by moving off the sofa and kneeling before her. As she tried to figure out what he was doing, he began to push up the hemline of her dress.

"Stop that, right now," she said in protest.

"If I can't bite you on the neck, then it has to be the thigh, Darcie," he said, oh so smoothly.

"I don't want you to bite me anywhere," she said.

"I let you have your little conditions to the offer when I didn't have to, now you are going to let me bite you in return," said Eric.

She had reluctantly removed her hands from his. He moved her dress up to her mid-thigh and then brought out his fangs. She had thought that he was going to show some sort of triumph about getting his way. But, he only stared deeply into her eyes. He gently caressed her thigh, but not in an overtly sexual manner.

"Relax, it's not what you expect," he said to her.

He bent to her thigh to bite her, but she stopped him and pushed him back.

"Wait a minute," she said. "I know what you're up to, sly devil."

He looked at her with his fangs out and said, "What I am up to is tasting your blood which is my right."

"Perhaps, it is your right," she said. "I don't know enough about striking deals with vampires, but it wouldn't surprise me if you are deceiving me about requiring my blood. However, I know exactly what your intentions are. You plan to bite me now and then again as we pretend to be a couple for Sookie's benefit. Just because I have agreed to this deal, that you have blackmailed me into, doesn't mean that I have to let you bite me whenever you want a snack."

"I have no idea what you are talking about," said Eric.

"Don't even try to play innocent, you're not fooling anyone," she said.

"Are you refusing to let me bite you?" said Eric.

"I will have to let you bite me later on, you know that as well as me," she said. "So, put away those fangs because a course of Darcie is off the menu for tonight."

Eric stared at her and retracted his fangs, saying, "You surprise me, Darcie. That is a rare quality."

"I didn't agree to be your obedient slave, Mr. Northman," she said. "I don't remember anything in those terms that says that I have to grovel at your feet. And because I don't trust you, I made sure that I have the right to dissolve this bargain whenever I choose."

"I am impressed with that," said Eric with a small smile. "Are you sure that you have never had dealings with vampires before?"

"I find your kind a bit too dodgy for me," she said.

"Dodgy?" said Eric.

"Sneaky, untrustworthy, underhanded," she said.

"I see that my work is cut out for me," said Eric. "If I am to gain your trust."

"Good luck with that," she said. "As I was saying about this little arrangement of ours, you had better treat me right or the last thing you will see is my very fine and aristocratic ass walking out your door."

She stood up and looked at the vampire.

"Are we done?" she asked.

"For tonight," said Eric. "I will have Bill bring you and Sookie tomorrow evening."

She went to the door and said before going through it, "Until tomorrow night, lover."

When she saw Eric raise his eyebrows, she smirked and said, "Did you like that, vampire? I'm just practicing for my performance tomorrow."

She gave him a wink and then left.