Aug. 19th, 7:20 p.m.

Pam stepped out of the underground room with dirt and blood covering every inch of her clothes and body, including her hair. She started a fire, and after watching Kris getting it started, a roaring fire was going in just a few minutes. She grabbed a fresh set of clothes and a small bag and passed Eric sitting on the couch without looking at him or even saying a word then walked out the front door.

Eric knew better than to begin a conversation with her considering how their last conversation ended. He wasn't worried that she wouldn't be back because he knew she would never leave her child. Well, he didn't know, but he hoped she'd never leave her child. He just needed to find something to say that wouldn't cause her to go off on him.

As Pam stepped outside she saw the snowman Kris had made the day before and grinned, though it was a sad grin. It was a symbol of the end of her innocence. She kicked it before she flew off into the sky.

About ten minutes later she returned with a human male, who sat down on the recliner by the fire. Pam stood by the fire and ran a brush through her clean, damp hair.

"How sweet of you," Eric said. "You brought me breakfast."

"No, he's for Kris only," she emphasized. "Go find a bear or something."

"I might just do that. I cleaned the sofa, by the way."

"What do I care? It is your couch and your mess. Has she been up yet?"

"No," Eric answered curtly. "Are you going to talk to me?"

"I just did. Lucas, det finns lite kyckling rätt där. Hjälp dig själv."

"Tack," he replied then pulled out the food Pam had bought for Kris that was no longer needed and began to eat.

"Warlow is dead," Eric stated.

Pam remained silent as he told her what Bill had said. One question was answered, twenty more to go. She was a little disappointed that it was a final confirmation that she'd never be able to enjoy the sun again. Then she wished she had spent more time outdoors.

"The girl, who is she, Pam?"

"Not that it's any of your business, but Kris is my niece."

Eric's eyebrow rose. "She was the one that fed me while I recovered?"

"Yes, she did," Pam replied, her voice still sour. "And how did you repay her?!"

Eric couldn't respond to that. His attention was drawn to the second room door that creaked and slowly slid open. Kris stepped out cautiously and looked around the room. Everything was so new to her, bright, crystal clear, and every detail of every item in the room was so well-defined. She couldn't comprehend what she was looking at.

Then she noticed Pam walking toward her and the boy sitting behind her, who she knew was human from the smell that met her nostrils. Then she noticed the vampire sitting stiffly on the couch. She'd only seen Eric from the chest up, his scorched neck and chest, his swollen, red face and lips - those lips she knew well. But as she checked him out then, he wasn't as hideous. He was incredible, as a matter of fact. His dark blonde hair lay loosely on his forehead, his beautiful blue-green eyes, and those muscles protruding from his shirt brought something in the pit of her stomach that she wasn't expecting. And she sure didn't like it.

"You're … Eric?" Kris asked hesitantly. Eric nodded.

Then the memory of fear and terror came to her as she remembered him attacking her violently. Her eyes flew open, and she hid behind Pam, hanging onto her arm tightly. "I will not allow him to harm you," Pam said, but she was looking at Eric.

Taking Kris by her shoulders, she brought her to stand beside her. "Pam, I feel strange."

"You're vampire now."

Kris already knew she was, but she didn't want to believe it. "Why?" she asked quietly, looking at Eric. He didn't reply. "Why couldn't you have just taken what you needed?"

She stepped closer to him, but Pam kept her hold firmly. "KrisLyn, come eat. You'll feel better," Pam offered.

She jerked her arm from Pam and ignored Lucas, who had stopped eating, feeling the tension in the room from the vampires. "I helped you! I didn't ask for this! You took my life from me!" she yelled, standing at Eric's feet with her hands on her hips.

"Kris, that's enough," Pam warned.

Kris leaned over and slapped Eric's cheek hard, but to him it was nothing. A split second later, Eric had Kris by her neck against the wall by the fireplace, her feet dangling off the floor. "I will advise you never to provoke me again, baby vamp," he growled, his teeth inches from her neck. "I did it once. I can do it again and make sure to finish the job." Her eyes were wide in terror as she clawed at his arms and kicked her feet.

"Eric! Put her down!"

He slowly turned and glared at Pam as he loosened his hold on Kris, who landed on her feet, his hand still on her neck. "You would do well to take control of your child."

Pam defiantly approached them, forced his hand away and put her arm over Kris's shoulders. "And you would do well, Mr. Northman, to stay the hell away from my niece. I should have let you burn on that mountain." She wasn't sure if she meant it, but it felt good to say just the same.

Eric quickly vacated the cabin. He knew he'd gone too far, but there was not a thing he could say to remedy the situation.

"Kris," Pam said as she led her to the couch. "This is Lucas. I will teach you how to feed."

"Wha'? Oh. Um, hi."

"Hello," he replied. "Hon är mycket vacker."

Pam smiled. "Yes, she is beautiful. She gets her look from me."

Kris suddenly grew tense. "Pam, will … Will I have control?"

Pam looked over her face. "You already have quite a bit, although I wouldn't have slapped him if I were you." She grinned. "But if you hadn't I would have. "Lucas, kommer sitta bredvid Kris." He stood and sat beside Kris then took off his jacket and pulled off his t-shirt.

"No, no, I'm not—" Kris started to protest.

"Kris, it's just so his clothes won't get dirty."

She relaxed. "Well, he is gorgeous," she said flirtatiously. Unexpectedly, her upper gums stung sharply as her fangs emerged. She quickly covered her mouth then slowly ran her fingers over her new appendages. "Cool."

Pam grinned. "First lesson is to know the difference between feeding and those urges you are feeling." Kris knew what she was talking about, considering her crotch tingled painfully. She would have blushed if she could have. Pam brought her forefinger to Lucas's neck and traced it over the carotid artery. He closed his eyes and tilted his head back slightly. "Try here."

Kris waited for further instruction but there was none "Pam, what do I do then?"

"Just feel it. Let your new-found instincts lead you."

Kris looked over his face then his neck before she leaned in. "I'm sorry."

Pam snickered. "The second lesson is not to apologize. Some humans enjoy giving us their blood. It's erotic to them. The human experience is more intense and powerful than even sex to them."

Kris never felt that way when she fed Eric. It was a job, a duty, a favor to Pam. Then her anger over Eric attacking her, twice, overcame her, and she latched onto Lucas's neck, sinking her fangs in deep and lapping at the blood that escaped. When she put her hand on the back of his head he moaned softly. She was beginning to understand the truth behind what Pam told her about sexual intensity in humans. She growled in return, her body then on fire as she took more in. Pushing him aggressively against the couch, she wanted more, needed more, craved for more. She was so, so hungry. Her mind went blank as her body took over, craving not just his blood but his body against hers, to feel him inside her.

Pam screamed, "KrisLyn, as your Maker I command you to BACK OFF!"

Kris didn't know what she was taking about, but she did soon enough when Pam took her head roughly and pulled it back hard. Blood dripped from her mouth onto her chin, splashing off of his chest. "Wha'?"

"Go sit in the chair," Pam huffed.

She did and was horrified when she saw Lucas lying helpless, his blood smeared on his neck, a little pooling at his collarbone. Pam bit into her wrist and placed it over Lucas's mouth. Immediately he took in her blood, but that time it wasn't erotic for him based on his reaction. It was giving life back to him.

"Lucas, you're fine." She pulled her arm away. "Thank you. Sleep now."

Lucas closed his eyes and seemed to rest peacefully. As Pam cleaned him, Kris tried to understand what had just happened. It was her first feeding so she didn't know what to expect. Yes, she was full but something changed inside of her. She had come to accept what she was, and she also understood what was going on in Eric's head when he was draining her - nothing. It was such a carnal act, the feeding, but it was also a necessity. But to her it was still no excuse why Eric had to do it to her.

Handing Kris a wet washcloth, she said, grinning amused. "You purred."

Kris looked at her confused. "Purred? I've never purred in my life."

"Yes, it was a purr. You did well. Tara wouldn't feed from a human when she awoke. I had to command her."

"Who's Tara?"

"Your sister, my first child." She knelt in front of her niece. "KrisLyn, I command you not to tell Eric Northman what I am about to say to you now …"