I'm doing a little better in the update department. I have a new chapter for this story AND for After the Blood to upload. Anyways, right now I am traveling on a train - the Coast Starlight - from LA to Seattle, and lucky me the sleeper cars have wifi internet access. Maybe I should figure out a way to put vampires on trains. They would most likely prefer them to planes - at least the older ones should. Hmmm, ideas, ideas. Thi chapter contains ... silliness. People you have to let me know if you like it - or at least if you find it funny. This is another "I don't know where it came from" plot twist.

Meet the Ancients: Chapter 19

"I think my telepathy is dependant on proximity. I did not hear a hum after I came back down until you were bringing Pam and Bill down. After you got down here I heard random words interspersed in the hum. As you returned to my side the hum receded and I could everything they were thinking clearly."

"So your new gift requires me to be near you to work? That's interesting. You are going to need to tell Pam, or another vampire, so that both they and I can cover for you in front of others as you learn to use it. I think it ought to be Pam since she is devoted to you and I very much doubt that she would betray you. I'm sure you realize this is going to make us a very powerful couple – none will be able to hide anything from us. Now we just need to be able to communicate silently so that I can cue you as to what humans are thinking and you can cue me as to what vampires are thinking."

That reminded me, "Did you know that she does not like you? I just realized how much."

"Yes I did." She assured me, "I'm not worried about it, and she is just concerned for you and wants to protect you. She'll come around eventually. However I think it would speed up the process if you were to tell her – in front of me – that she is the only one of your vampires exempt from following my commands. That way if I ask her for something she feels that she has a choice. It may cause some problems at first, but in the long run it is for the best."

I thought about what she said, "If that is what you want Lover, I will make it so." I quickly arose from the bed and entered the closet, grabbing the first black leather outfit I could find. As I pulled it on I said, "I need you upstairs with me tonight. Get dressed appropriately."

Her eyes narrowed as she watched me and then asked in a low measured voice, "Are you asking me or telling me?"

Realizing the mistake I had made I started again, "My Lover, center if my universe, would you please deign to accompany my humble self in Fangtasia tonight – though I am not worthy of the honor of basking in the radiance of your attention."

I watched the corners of her mouth twitch upward as I felt her stifle a major case of giggles. "Subservience does not become you my Viking; of course I will allow you to escort me into Fangtasia."

Then she did burst out laughing. "Now go out there and keep Pam company while I get dressed."

I left then and found Pam on her phone texting, a glass of blood sitting on the table in front of her. She raised an eyebrow as she watched me walk in her direction. "Release some tension Master?"

I scowled, "More like I did not know if I ought to kill her or fuck her for a moment there."

"I assume she is still alive then." She drawled, "I do not understand why you are so attached to her. Why did you bond with her?"

I looked at my child. She deserves an explanation, but I do not know how to explain this relationship to her in words she will understand. I know that I have been changing too – it seems my mind set has been shifting to be more like that of Magan's friends.

"I am not sure I can explain it to you Pam. I have felt a connection to her since that night she first walked into Fangtasia, and she has admitted it was the same for her – that was why she stuck around even when she knew what I was planning for her. Neither of us can seem to get enough of the other in bed, or whatever surface we have found to screw each other on. But it is not just that, she is highly intelligent, her time with vampires has taught her to look at the world around her very differently than another human would. She has made me look at the world we exist in through new eyes. She helped me gain a better understanding of what formed Godric into the vampire he was and why he would choose to greet the sun. It seems as if I have known her for years. Her presence feels like the other half of me that I did not know was missing. She can be very annoying and instinctively knows how to manipulate me – but I would not want her to be any different."

"It sounds very confusing to me Master."

"It is, yet I am so drawn to her that I do not mind. I am … happy with her."

Pam had a puzzled expression on her face, "Happy?" She asked me.

"Yes, I believe that is the human term for what I am feeling."

Pam's fangs suddenly ran out. I turned and looked behind me – only to have mine do the same. Magan had managed to look irresistible to the touch in a floor-length silk amethyst gown that was slit to her upper thigh on both sides and plunged to between her breasts in front. The full length sleeves were open to her elbows, yet no vampire dare touch her as she had silver snakes wound around lower arms. Silver earrings hung from her ears, and around her neck lay her silver torque. Circling her waist was a belt composed of silver links set with green stones, the remaining length of which trailed down in front between her legs. She had finished the outfit with a matching pair of amethyst pumps with four inch silver heels.

"How am I supposed to escort you upstairs with you wearing that Lover?" I asked. I think she is still more than a little mad at me.

"Carefully", she purred and raised an eyebrow. "Should we get started?"

Taking a cue from her I began, "Pam, there are two things that I want to cover with you. First, I am changing my command – for you only – about treating Magan's orders as if they are from me. All others must treat her wishes as mine – you are answerable only to me."

She looked pleased with this pronouncement. I could hear that her thoughts she felt it was about time I came to my senses.

"The second item is the most important; it appears that when I am around Magan I can use her gift of telepathy. There is one difference – I hear vampire thoughts instead of human thoughts."

Pam lost her usual bored expression for one of shock. "What! You have to be kidding, are you not? You mean you are hearing my thoughts?"

"Just since Magan came out here."

"Well, well, well", she looked Magan up and down, "That makes things interesting. I take it you do not want this information to get out. How many others know?"

"Just you, me and Magan – and her old friends, they were the one's who suspected it might happen. I do not want anyone else to know. It will be a very powerful ability once I learn to control it. I am not sure what to expect with this new power, however Magan believes that you and her are going to have to work together to keep anyone else from realizing something is different about me."

"Did you discuss all this while you were in the bedroom or were you too busy?" Pam asked with a smirk. I could hear that she was deliberately trying to provoke Magan. I thought about getting involved then realized there was no need since her attempt backfired when Magan simply stated, "No, we were too busy having a good old fashion primal fuck."

That answer shocked her. Humans are generally a bit prudish about sex and she had expected Magan to be no different. It ought to be amusing watching her learn more about my future mate.

"Enough bickering," I told them, "I need to know what to expect when I enter Fangtasia. Magan, you should know the most about what I will have to deal with, tell me."

She paused and thought for a moment. "Expect your mind to be assaulted with words. You won't be able to tell who is thinking what. It will all be a swirl of chaos and confusion. I don't know if vampires can get migraine headaches – but if you do, expect to get one. Expect some people to be broadcasters, meaning some will sound louder than most. Others will naturally shield their thoughts, you won't notice them at first unless you are trying to listen to them – and then you will have to work at it.

It's a good thing the only way Sookie could explain to you how to open up your mind was to first explain how to build a wall, that's what you are going to have to do in order to function. And you are going to have to act as if nothing is different if we are to pull this off. If things get too intense for you let me know and I will leave – that should quiet everything for you. But try to keep me in there as much as you can so you will learn."

All that information surprised me. "Is that what your life is like? How do you handle it?"

"Years of practice, and I don't have a choice but to deal with it. That is the big draw with vampires – I can't hear them. It is really very relaxing for me to be in a room with only vampires." She began taking off the silver snakes on her arms. "I can't wear these tonight – for me it helps to touch a vampire to quiet all the voices, maybe it will help you to touch a human."

Pam asked, "Well then, what am I supposed to do?"

"We need someone who can get Erik out quickly, in a way that doesn't seem unusual to anyone. If he is getting overwhelmed, the pretext of sex with me is not going to work. However, his having to go to his office to deal with something that needs to be handled immediately will work. I can't do that, you can. I need you to help me protect Erik, would you help me Pam?"

Brilliant, Magan had taken advantage of the situation and set it up so that she and Pam need to be allies in order to protect me. She is almost as good at that as I am. I think my child has met her match in the strategy department.

Pam tried to appear that she was considering Magan's request – but I could hear what she was really thinking. There was no way she would allow My Lover to be the only one protecting me.

"Very well then." She agreed in her typical bored voice.

I smiled, even without the telepathy I knew she would have answered that way. Pam glanced over at me, I saw a flash in her eyes and knew she had correctly interpreted why I had smiled. Magan had more to say though.

"Erik, you should at least try to put a wall between your thoughts and Pam's before you have to deal with a whole bar full of vampires. Pam, if you could just think a constant stream of thought, it doesn't matter what about, while Erik tries to block it I think we can figure out how much help he is going to need."

She agreed, and soon my mind was filled with thoughts about what she had done and was planning to do with her current pet. As her preferences ran towards other women, I quite enjoyed the thoughts and images I was receiving from her. Suddenly I was pulled out of my musings …

"Erik … concentrate … start building a wall."

I tried; it was harder than I thought it would be – it was a slow process and all the while I was being battered by Pam's thoughts. Every time I started the procedure I would get distracted and need to start again. After a while I became frustrated, I could feel Magan trying to calm me through the bond – but as my frustration level rose her attempts were less effective.

"It is not working", I told Magan. I need to do this blocking; I do not want to be separated from her when I am around other vampires. What good is this power if I can not use it?

She put her hand in mine, "Does this help?"

When she touched me, the din was muted but still present. I nodded and tried again. This time I succeeded in closing my mind to the din. She must have felt it through the bond because she took her hand away from mine. Instantly I felt pressure, as if the words were trying to break through the wall I had made – but it held and the pressure eased.

"How are you Love?" She asked me. "Is it holding?"

"For now My Lover, I do not know how long I can keep it up. It took entirely too long to put up and stabilize. Is there some other way of doing so?"

Magan bit her lower lip and a pensive look covered her face. "How about a bubble that you create around you? Something like a balloon or bubble gum."

Now I was confused, "A balloon? You mean one of those gas filled contraptions that humans sometimes use to float in the air with for fun? And what is bubble gum?"

"Not that kind of balloon – I mean the kind used as a party decoration." She smiled, "I guess gum came into existence after you became vampire, and you really wouldn't have a use for it. I'm going to assume you don't have any balloons around the club."

Pam rolled her eyes at this, "No." She answered in her bored drawl, "We do not have anything like that around."

"Well then Erik, you get to learn how to blow a bubble with bubblegum." Magan smirked, "It's a good thing that last time I bought gum that's all they had."

Through our bond I could feel that she was completely serious – this whole idea was not a joke to her. Yet to me, the idea seemed ridiculous – so just to make sure I questioned, "Are you serious Lover?"

She retorted, "Does it feel as if I'm not?"

OKAY EVERYONE ... what do you think about Erik and bubblegum? Please Please Please review.

UPDATE 7/8/2010: WOW ... lots of people reading this story, not any new reviews. My muse has kinda left me on this one, having too much fun with the other stories I'm writing - but if she heard how people like this story, she might change her focus. BTW I am working on 2 other stories besides this one - all crosses. One of them I post as I write new chapters; the other one I am just writing and saving in my computer till I finish it. The last one is actually the one I have been writing the most for. I also have a short cross (TB/Dexter) that is begging for me to write it - but I refuse till I have at least two of the stories I am working on finished. I do however keep notes of all my ideas so that when I begin writing it is easier and faster.