Chapter 9
I lay on my bed and cried so long and so hard that I fell asleep. When I awoke, I gathered a few things that I really wanted to have with me and packed them into a bag. The temperature was steadily dropping and I decided that I would explain my changed clothes by explaining that I'd been working outside. My left arm was a little stiff after having to fight Quinn off, and I can only imagine that if I hadn't had Eric's blood, and Mahesh-Ra's blood, I wouldn't have been able to get away from him. I shuddered at the thought.
After Bill had raped me, I thought about seeing a rape crisis counselor, but somehow, I'd justified it to myself that Bill didn't know what he was doing. I was sickened by the thought that I'd ever involved myself with either of them, considering that each was capable of rape.
I had the TV on in the background to keep me company. The weather report mentioned that it was going to rain very heavily. The roads would be awful soon, so I had to get moving. I turned the TV up. I needed to keep my mind off what had nearly happened to me. I couldn't believe that Quinn could be so brutal to me because I wouldn't date him. If he was capable of that kind of behavior, I had made the right decision.
I was so conflicted about telling Eric, he had so much on his plate already. He needed to find out who attacked him. Pam was trying to run Fangtasia as best she could, but she was becoming restless and frustrated. Not to mention the other business ventures that Eric was involved in that I didn't even know about. If I told Eric, Quinn was a dead man. If I didn't tell Eric, I would be stuck with the burden of hiding this from him. I couldn't have Quinn's death on my conscience. I decided that this time, I would have to keep something from him. I didn't like the idea of beginning my marriage based on a lie of omission, but I didn't want Eric to murder anyone.
I checked my refrigerator to see if there was anything that would spoil if I didn't get back here for a few days. This was harder than I thought. I would keep my house, but for now, if I was going to be married, I needed to be with him. I grabbed my sad little plant and put it in the pile with the things I wanted to take with me. I loaded the trunk of my car and got ready for the drive back to Shreveport.
I climbed into the car, it smelled like Quinn to my human nose. There was no way I was going to pull this off. I drove with the windows cracked. My phone rang, shaking me from my revelry.
"Little Bit? How ya doin'? Jason only called me Little Bit when he was really worried about me.
"Hey Jason." I felt some of the tension ease from my body. Jason was such a good brother. "I'm so glad to hear from you. I wanted to say thank you for packing up my things for Pam. I really appreciated it."
"Anytime, Sis. Everything okay?" He sounded so happy that I felt myself perk up just a little. "Things are better, they really are. But I wanted to talk to you about something. I'm not going to be in my house for a few days, I'm staying at Eric's." It would be easier to explain all of this after Eric and I actually spent some time being a couple publicly. I would love it if Jason could come stay with me for a few days. "Would you mind keeping an eye on my house? Just grab the mail and turn on a few lights every few days."
"I'll do you one better. I can get you somebody to stay in the house for you for a few days if you'd like. I've got a crew coming down here with Habitat for Humanity and they need a place to crash for the few weeks that they're here. Is that too long?"
"No, that sounds just perfect." At least this way, I could break it to Jason gently that I was moving in with Eric without the benefit of being married. Well, legally married. Gran would already be having a fit that I'd been staying with him. "When can I expect your friends?"
"Not until Sunday night. If you want, I can go to your place and get the house ready. Save you a trip over here."
"Have I told you that I love you very much? You're the greatest big brother in the world." I began to cry and I desperately hoped that Jason was too busy to notice. I listened while he talked about being promoted to the commission for planning and housing development. I added the appropriate responses at the appropriate times and cried the whole time. I would crack if Jason asked me what was wrong. I didn't have the heart to tell him that my own foolishness had nearly gotten me raped. I thought about going to the police, but Eric would find out that I had invited Quinn in. I had to stop thinking about it.
We talked for most of my winding journey to Shreveport. We ended our call and I felt better, but by no means great. I followed the car's directions and pulled in to the drive at Ravenwood. The sun was just about to go down. I looked in the vanity mirror and hoped that I would have a few minutes to touch up my face before Eric noticed that I'd been crying.
I unlatched the trunk and wished that someone had been there to greet me. The house looked very still and seemed so empty. I promised myself that tomorrow I would spend the day exploring. Eric told me the main house had 10 bedrooms and 13 bathrooms. Why a vampire needed such a large house was beyond me, but I didn't ask him about it. I got my things out of the car and carried them inside.
"Hello?" I called out to the seemingly empty house. Eric would be rising soon and I couldn't wait. I ran up to our bathroom and touched up my makeup. I took my things into the dressing room and began putting them away. I heard a tiny thud, then my Vampire had me in his arms.
"Sookie," He kissed me slowly and tenderly. "How was your day?"
I smiled up at him brightly, focusing on my conversation with Jason.
"It was as good as it can be without you." I placed my cheek against his bare chest. He was so beautiful. He held me for a few minutes and kissed the top of my head. I was glad for these few minutes of quiet to just reconnect with him.
"I need to check my messages from Bobby to see if there's anything that I need to know about tonight." He went out into the bedroom and grabbed his cell from the bedside. I heard him making a call to someone. He was whispering so I figured it was business related. I hung the last of my things and joined him in the sitting room.
"Hey lover, Pam is having a party to welcome me back to Fangtasia tonight. You up for a party?
"I could use a party like nobody's business." I sat down and watched as he built a fire. He was so cut that every muscle rippled as he built the base then lit the kindling.
"So you play cello?" He turned around slowly and strode over to it. He took his bow in his large hands and began to play with his eyes closed. He played so softly and sweetly that I began to cry. I had had a terrible day, Sam then Quinn….The music stopped and Eric opened his eyes. He saw me crying and was beside me quickly.
"Lover, why are you crying? Was it something I did? Why are you unhappy?"
"Oh Eric, I'm not unhappy." He pulled me up onto his lap and held me, which made me cry even harder. He made shushing noises and stroked my back slowly until I began to calm down.
"We can stay home tonight if you 'd like but if I have done something to upset you, please tell me so that I can make it right."
"You haven't done a thing wrong, you're the bright spot of my day, of my life really. I was just so moved by how beautifully you play. You're really, really good."
" Oh, I hope so. I've been playing that damned thing for about 200 years." I had to laugh at that. He sat me down on the couch, got a box of tissues and a warm washcloth from the bathroom. I blew my nose, and wiped my face. He waited patiently for me to speak, but I couldn't tell him about Quinn.
"So, I went and got some of my things today. I met Natalia and Oliver and I stopped by Merlotte's to talk to Sam about taking some time off to help you recover."
"I wish you wouldn't work. I wish you would consider doing something else."
"I love my job, baby. I want to work at Merlotte's" I stood up and gathered my tissues. I looked around for the wastepaper basket, and he took them from me.
"I've got this. Let's just sit for a while, let me hold you."
"I will, but I need time to find something to wear to the party. What would you like to see me in dressy? Sexy? Casual?"
"Nothing at all if I could get away with it." He followed me into the dressing room and discarded most of what I chose. "None of this is suitable. We'll find you something else. We have plenty of time, let's go downstairs and you can show me what the kitchen looks like again. You can eat. I'll watch."
"You have to be hungry, do we have any TrueBlood?" He frowned. "Or, you could have me if you wanted."
"Strangely enough, I'm not that hungry. But I would love to taste my beautiful wife." He kissed my neck gently, then took my wrist. I felt myself getting turned on as I watched him sink his fangs into my wrist and suck. He didn't take much, and as soon as he was finished, we went downstairs to the kitchen.
I heated a can of soup while Eric sliced bread and cheese. He opened a bottle of wine and poured a glass for me. I was surprised to find that I was ravenous. Eric watched me eat with the curiosity of a child watching an animal. I felt self-conscious at first because this seemed so foreign to him. When I'd eaten in front of Bill, he made strange faces as if he wanted to be sick, but Eric just watched and occasionally tilted his head as if he was listening for something. When he noticed that I'd stopped chewing he smiled.
"What are you smiling at?" I dabbed at my mouth with a napkin and poured another glass of wine.
"Humans are very noisy creatures. I like that you will sit quietly with me, Sookie."
"I appreciate silence. Sometimes, even the crickets chirping are just too much for me and I try to tune it all out. You let me be me without worrying if you're enjoying my company." He sliced a pear and held up a slice for me to bite.
"When I was human…" he paused as if trying to think of the right words to say. "This was my favorite food. I had a pear tree in my yard and every morning, I would have a fresh pear."
"Eric, am I the only person who knows that the whole tough guy Sheriff thing is an act?" As soon as the words left my mouth, I regretted it. He raised his eyebrow, leaned over the table and kissed me.
"I am whatever I appear to be. Everyone is…. complex. Given enough time you would have moments of ruthlessness. My position requires that I have a certain detachment. Do you prefer me that way?"
"No, no, I love all of you. I love that you take charge and you command respect. I mean, I knew that you were capable of being quite gentle after our time together in Bon Temps, it's just I'm not used to it."
"You're my wife. I'm not going to treat you the way that I treat Pam and the others. Unless you want me to?" He smiled and handed me another bite of pear.
"Maybe in bed…?"
He laughed. I loved his laugh. I heard a beeping sound and turned towards the door.
"It's the alarm. The doors beep when someone comes in." He stood and went out into the main hall. I heard Bobby and a few other voices talking and the rustling of plastic.
"Hey Sookie," Bobby rushed in and I could see raindrops in his hair. It must really be coming down outside. "Eric said that you don't have a suitable dress for the party so I brought you a dress, some heels and a few assistants to help with your hair, makeup and nails."
"Oh Eric, you didn't have to do this. I could have put something together."
"I don't want you to throw something together, this is a very important night. I have a surprise for you. Now my lovely lady, go upstairs, make yourself even more stunning than you are now and I will meet you at Fangtasia at 8."
"Where will you be?"
"You just be there by 8 and don't be late. I mean it. If you're late, I will put you over my knee."
"Just for that, I will be late." I drank the last of my wine and kissed him quickly. He swatted my bottom as I left the room.
I ran upstairs, excited to have my hair, makeup and nails done by professionals. It was going to be such an awesome evening. Eric would take his throne in the center of the room at Fangtasia. I would get to watch him assume his rightful place as Sheriff of Area Five.
I was so proud of him, and so glad that he had survived the attack. I walked into our bedroom and was greeted by three young women who each had a different case filled with colorful odds and ends. I held up the black cocktail gown that Bobby brought me. It was just the right amount of sexy but not tramping. It had a deep vee in the back that showed off my shoulders, but the rest was tasteful and elegant. There was also a pair of strappy black stilettos that were most likely Eric's idea.
After I was dressed, I sat down at the vanity in the bathroom and let the women work their magic on me. When they'd finished, I stared at myself in disbelief. I'd always known that I was an okay looking girl. I hoped that I was even considered very pretty. Tonight, I had to admit, I was impressive. I could not wait for Eric to feast his eyes on me.
I sprayed a cloud of perfume into the air and walked through it. When dating a vampire, you always had to be prepared for him to bite your wrists or neck. I grabbed the small black clutch that was on the bed beside my things. The girls must have transferred my things while I was in the bathroom getting dressed.
I ran down the stairs, got into my car and programmed the GPS for Fangtasia. Eric was gone when I'd gotten downstairs and I couldn't wait to be with him for the evening. This was my second public appearance as Mrs. Eric Northman.