Aug 21st, 7 p.m.

That evening, Kris woke up in her bed under the blanket, silence filling the small cabin except for the crackle of the fire. Rolling over on her back, she stretched her body out and groaned to get the kinks out.

"How are you feeling, Kris?" Eric asked from the couch, his eyes gazing over at her.

"Huh? Oh, okay," she replied as she sat up. "A little stiff, though." She looked around the room for Pam but didn't see her. "Where'd Pam go?"

"To find you a human."

"Oh, okay." She slipped out of bed, relieved to find she was clothed in lounge pants and a light sweater, but she was still cold. She went to the fire and stood in front of it, rubbing her hands together.

"I've called Malte. His grandfather has agreed to speak with us, but tomorrow night."

"Okay."

"We'll get you settled in my manor tonight."

"Okay," she repeated.

"Is that all you're going to say?"

"Pretty much," she replied, keeping her back to him. "Did you change my clothes?"

"No, Pam did before she left." He went to her and put his arm behind her affectionately, keeping his hand between her upper shoulder blades. She tensed for a brief second. "Do you remember what happened earlier?" he asked, his voice low.

"Yes, everything." She was quiet for a moment. "Why did you … You came to me when …"

"I did."

"Why?"

"Because I was … curious."

"I could have killed you, Eric," she said, looking up at him.

"But you didn't. What did you see?"

She looked back at the fire. "I'm still trying to put it all together. I saw my body and … colors and shapes, but they seemed almost three dimensional. When I looked at you and Pam I knew who you were." Suddenly remembering something she glanced at the door. "Sorry about your door."

"No worries, it can be easily fixed." His voice got even softer. "You didn't come to me, after you fell asleep here. Why is that?"

She frowned, a scene coming to her. "I watched you sleep, though, when I was still saber. I was … scared."

"Of what? Me?"

She shook her head. "I don't know. The unknown, I guess. But I don't think I should feed from you again."

He kissed the top of her head and began to gently circle his thumb at the nape of her neck. "Agreed. I can't imagine what you're going through, but you know we're here for you. You can talk to us, me."

She smiled faintly. "I know. I just hate to ramble."

"One thing I've learned about you humans is that you sure can ramble, and as you do you seem to come up with the meaning of life."

"First, I'm no longer human, and second, there is no meaning of life. I guess I have to find my new meaning of life."

"I've been trying for a thousand years. If you find out, let me know."

She chuckled. "You got it." She grew serious as her body tensed. "I have to ask you a favor, though."

"I can't make any promises I'll follow through."

"When you … do what you're doing now, I … It's, umm …"

He leaned down and whispered in her ear, "I'm not doing anything."

She closed her eyes and started to purr. "That."

"You're the one purring," he stated.

"But you're the one making me. Why do you?"

"I don't know. It fascinates me. But what's scaring you?" he asked seriously.

"The way it makes me feel. I don't like what I'm feeling about you."

She was about to explain further when the front door opened and Pam walked in with a boy much closer to Kris's age. "Ha en plats på sängen, Hjalmar," she said, nodding her head to Kris's bed. He walked to the bed, took off his jacket and sat down.

Looking between Eric and Kris, she asked, "Well, it's pretty intense in here." Eric backed away from Kris rigidly, avoiding Pam's eye contact. Standing beside Kris, Pam asked, "How are you feeling?"

"Okay," she replied smiling; Eric chuckled quietly.

"Well, we'll talk after you feed." Pam leaned her close to Kris's ear. "Honey, if you want to, after you feed, Eric and I can step outside."

Not understanding, she looked up at Pam then it dawned on her. "I'm not horny, just hungry." Kris smiled numbly, though she lied about being horny. "Now that's something I never thought I'd say."

"Go on and eat. We'll be right here on the couch."

Kris sat beside Hjalmar but didn't look at him at first. She was debating whether she really did want him. But it wasn't him she wanted. She wanted Eric. But if she had sex with Hjalmar, the urge she felt for Eric would stop. She hoped so, at least.

Without a word, she looked at him and tried to smile, but couldn't. She put her hand on his shoulder and exposed her fangs, leaned in and sank her teeth into his neck. He groaned as she ate, but that only enticed her to drink more, vigorously and hungrily. She felt his body deflate, but she didn't care. She wanted more. Withdrawing her fangs, she threw him on the bed on his back and straddled him, grinding her crotch against the bulge in his jeans. She began to purr, more aware of it than before.

"Kris, we'll be outside," Pam said, though the words barely registered to Kris's ears.

She bent down, closed her eyes and attacked his lips, kissing passionately, grinding against his hips harder and faster. Hjalmar did kiss her back, and when he did she opened her eyes and looked at him. But it wasn't who she thought she was kissing. It wasn't Eric. Her purring stopped.

Outside the cabin, Eric was not a happy vampire. He was tense as he paced back and forth so fast the snow under his feet had turned into wet, muddy dirt. Pam stood amused against the cabin, grinning like a Cheshire cat. She could feel what Kris was feeling, and it was beginning to affect her as well. She was thinking about where she could find a sexy, beautiful woman, but then suddenly there was an immense feeling of disappointment and regret.

The front door opened and Kris walked outside, blood around her mouth and on her shirt. She looked at Pam strangely and caught Eric just as he stopped and stared at her. Pam might have said he was easy to read, but at that moment she couldn't read him at all.

"Did you stop the bleeding?" Pam asked.

Kris nodded. "He's asleep."

"That was quick," Eric snickered.

"Shut up, Eric!" Kris hollered, angrier than she meant it to be. "I have to clean up. Pam, can you take me to the lake?"

"I think that would be a good idea. Eric, can you please take Hjalmar home?" Without waiting for a reply, she approached Kris, wrapped her arms around her and flew into the night.

Eric didn't like the idea of Kris being with Hjalmar, but he had little choice. He wanted to debate the issue with Pam, but again, he had little choice. It killed him to think Kris was with someone else, and it killed him to realize how jealous he had become.

Pam waited patiently as Kris took her time cleaning up in the lake. She let the cold water take away the heat her body had generated from feeding, but she knew better. It wasn't the feeding.

When Kris was done she walked on shore, took the towel from Pam and dried herself off. Putting on a robe, since she would change before they left for Scotland, she noticed the look in Pam's eyes. "What's wrong?"

"Mr. Eric Northman has feelings for you, too," she said quietly.

"What makes you say that?"

"You noticed the path he made when he thought you were with Hjalmar. You couldn't go through with it."

Kris's head jerked back in shock. "How … how did you know?"

"I felt your … reluctance."

"Shit." She collapsed on the gravel, burying her face in her hands. "What am I going to do?"

Pam sat down beside her. "That, my dear niece, is up to you."

"Well, shit."

By the time Pam and Kris returned to the cabin, Eric had packed up the girl's clothes into two suitcases and his own duffle bag. Kris was relieved because she was exhausted from the change, even though she had eaten, and didn't know if she had the energy to pack.

"Thanks, Eric," Kris said as she sat down.

"You're welcome. Feel better?" he asked.

"God! Let it go!" she snapped.

"Kris, he was simply asking about you cleaning up."

"I know. I know. Sorry, Eric." Kris was seriously starting to hate herself.

"Are you ready?" he asked without acknowledging her apology.

"Yeah. How long is the flight?" Kris asked.

"About five minutes," Eric replied.

"How are you going to carry the luggage?" Eric smirked, picked up the duffle bag, put it under his arm and picked up the suitcases with ease. "Oh," she said then couldn't help but laugh. "Are you ever going to teach me how to fly?" she asked Pam.

"Absolutely not. I can't handle you now." Kris was about to fuss until she saw Pam grin. "But I can show you how to levitate."

"Cool!"