The front door burst open. "Eric, stop!"

Pam threw the bags of food to the floor, pulled the vampire off of Kris aggressively and threw him across the room. He bounced off the wall and quickly crouched in attack mode, giving Pam a death glare that she had never gotten from him. "Stay!" she ordered, not that he had to listen to her. But he remained where he was.

Pam rushed to Kris's side and gasped when she saw her body lying lifeless on the cushions. Blood seeped from the ripped flesh of her neck, pulsing out with the rhythm of her increasingly slow heartbeat. The thick liquid soaked the sweater she wore and the cushions themselves. Grabbing the knife that was still on the table, she quickly sat down by Kris's side, punctured her own neck, cradled her and placed her mouth onto the gouge.

"Drink, KrisLyn. Drink!"

Kris remained limp in her arms. Pam pulled her away and felt for a pulse on the clean side of Kris's neck. There was only a trace of a heartbeat. "Shit."

"Is she—" Eric muttered as he stood behind the couch.

"Fuck off, Eric!" Pam spat, her fangs barred.

Pam tried again, pressing Kris's head harder against her artery but again she didn't take in her aunt's life-giving blood. "No, no, Kris," Pam moaned, rocking her in her arms. Standing, she picked up Kris and carried her to the underground burial chamber, as it was becoming as of late.

"Pam, I—" Eric started.

"Do not talk to me! You and your damned—" Pam shook her head then descended the stairs, slamming the door behind her.

Sheriff Eric Northman had no idea what had just happened. All he knew was that he'd woken up in the earthen hole in a place he had known well for over eight hundred years and was simply doing what came naturally to all vampires. But he didn't know how he had gotten there. All he knew was that he was …

Walking up the slick steps he cautiously opened the door and listened for any sounds or smells he might recognize. But when the overpowering odor of human blood filled his nostrils, it was too irresistible for him. His fangs protruded, and he found himself standing over a sleeping human.

She seemed familiar to him, but he couldn't place her face or smell. It didn't matter. He was famished. He dove onto her neck, tearing at her flesh and taking in her blood. With each drop he became stronger and more savage.

Suddenly he was hurled across the room and was smashed into the wall. That seemed to knock some sense into him and everything came flooding back to him: reading and relaxing on the mountain then his flesh growing hot, red and burning … burning, screaming, the pain.

The human on the couch was struggling for life. "Is she …" he asked as he stood watching.

"Fuck off, Eric!" Pam's words stung Eric.

He was taken aback by her genuine distress for the human. "Pam, I …"

At that moment he was staring at a wooden door. And still nothing made any sense to him.

He then flew from the cabin to Lake Bottenhavet where he washed up and returned within only a few minutes. Throwing on a t-shirt and jeans, he made a phone call.

"What happened?" he asked gruffly when Bill answered.

"Eric? Where are you? Willa and—"

"Have you … the daylight …"

Bill sighed loudly, as he knew exactly what Eric was asking. "No, not anymore."

"All of you?"

"Yes. Warlow is dead."

"What the hell does he have to do with it?" Eric was becoming angry at Bill for not being straight-forward with him.

"Eric, it was not Lillith's blood that gave me–us the power to day walk but Warlow's. Now that he's dead—"

"Ohhh, I see," Eric slurred. "The almighty William Compton is no longer a god. The Phoenix has turned into ashes," Eric said nastily. Bill didn't reply. "Where is Willa?" He was no longer in the mood to mess with Bill.

"She and Tara are here with Jessica until you and Pam get back. Where are you?"

"Let me speak with Willa."

"The girls are out. Where are you?" he repeated.

"Tell her she will call me as soon as she gets in."

"Eric, I am not her personal ans—" Bill Compton was promptly hung up on.

Pam heard Eric on the phone as she lay in the hole with Kris nestled in her arms as if she were holding a baby. Another child. Tara and soon Kris, her niece, were her children. She never wanted a man in her life, or for that matter, children, but she had them. Tara hadn't done too badly for herself since she became vampire. Kris was a good kid, even if she was 24, but nonetheless a kid in Pam's eyes.

Of all the Harmons she had watched over the decades, she had more in common with Kris than any other relative. That's why Pam made the effort to be a part of her life. But look what had happened, the last thing Pam ever wanted for her niece.

Pam's Maker had been fair, loving, patient, sympathetic and encouraging, among others. Yes, Eric released her, but he had his reasons, although those reasons were unclear to her. He deserted her, for all she knew to meet the sun, the true death. But why? He had been cruel to her the past year, but she had done nothing wrong.

So many questions left unanswered. She would find the answers, and she would do what she had to do. Weighing her options, as if there were many, she came to one conclusion.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: I know it's short, but there's no more fill-in for the three days Pam and Kris will be underground. So, next chapter, we will see what happens!

Thanks for the reviews!