A/N: The holidays and work are draining my creative juices, but I managed to get another chapter out. Eric has a little fairy blood induced trip or vision. And being Eric, he decides that he knows what's best for Nikki.

Chapter 8

Meeting with a Fairy

The sound of a chirping bird tickled Eric's ear. As he started to awaken, he realized that there was light shining down upon his closed eyelids. Slowly, he opened his eyes and he saw that he was out in the daytime. A wave of fear passed over him, but it was quickly replaced by wonder. He sat up and held out his hand to the sunlight that made a dappled pattern as it passed through the leaves of a large tree. He wasn't burning and a genuine smile formed on his face. How long had it been since he had enjoyed the warmth of the sun on his face? His cold blood seemed to warm on it's own as it seemed to remember the living warm-blooded creature that he used to be. Eric slowly stood and took in his surroundings. He recognized where he was. But, how did he get here? The last thing that he remembered was being delightfully within the arms of Nikki. If that was her real name, he thought. She was a devious creature just like her relatives. Yet, she wasn't boring.

Eric started walking as he took in the sights of the Bon Temps cemetery. Yet, it didn't look the way that it usually did. It seemed different. It was beautiful. The trees seemed taller and greener. Birds flitted among the branches and sang. There were blooming flowers that he could smell in the breeze that ruffled his hair. That intoxicating aroma had attracted the attentions of bees and hummingbirds. They buzzed among the blossoms and collected sweet nectar. He neared the little pond. The sunlight seemed to sparkle on it's surface and it looked so inviting. He found himself drawn nearer and he gazed into it's depths. Something seemed to whisper to him that below the surface of that water was a great secret that was waiting just for him. As he stepped to the edge, a voice called out to him.

"Stop!"

He turned and saw a woman with dark curly hair. She was wearing a white dress of lace and tulle and she eyed him with large, frightened eyes.

"Stay away from the water," she said.

Eric could smell her. That sweet, undiluted scent of fairy. It made his mouth water and his fangs tingled with the desire to show themselves and sink into her throat. He wanted to suck her sweet blood out until there wasn't any left. He wondered why Nikki didn't provoke the same response since she smelled almost as sweet. He hadn't bitten her last night since he had already fed on the fairy who attacked her. Yet though he had tasted her several times and found her incredibly sweet, he was not tempted to drain her. Maybe, it was because he felt some kind of connection with her. She wasn't just a meal to him.

"How did you get here, vampire?" Claudine asked. She backed up with fright and said, "You have killed her and taken her light."

Eric smiled. "I haven't harmed her. However, I wouldn't say the same for the fairy who made the mistake of trying to attack her."

"But, who would do such a thing?" she asked, as she tried to puzzle that out.

"I don't know, maybe a jealous suitor?" asked Eric.

"Did you kill him?"

"Not yet," said Eric.

"But, I still see something of her light within you," she said.

Eric wondered what she meant. He began to circle her and the fairy turned in order to keep him from getting behind her.

"What do you want?" she asked.

"I have what I want," said Eric. "She's mine, completely."

"Nikoletta is young and foolish," said Claudine. "She is taken in by those looks of yours."

"She's a little enamored of more than just my looks," smirked Eric, keeping his eyes on her.

"Braggart," said Claudine. "Your sexual prowess may not always enthrall her. You are just some forbidden fruit that she can't resist."

"Hmmm, she seems pretty satisfied to me," replied Eric.

"We're her true family," said Claudine. "She'll come home."

"That's not true," said Eric. "She has her human family."

"If they mean so much to her, why isn't she with them and not you?" asked Claudine. "She's too much like us to ever understand her siblings."

"But, you're not really her family, are you?" asked Eric. "She's fairy, alright. But, I suspect her lineage is far different from what you have told her."

"So now, you're an expert on fairies?" taunted Claudine.

"I just might know more than you think," said Eric.

For some reason that comment scared Claudine. He was a totally different creature than the one that was attached to Nikki's sister. This one was far more dangerous. She could understand why Nikki was attracted, though. He was as beautiful as the best fairy glamour. Yet, there was a coldness to that beauty and the eyes that examined her showed little potential for mercy. There was a tangible danger to him that must have lured the girl in. Sex and danger were an irresistible mixture. The girl was out of her league. That was certain. Claudine feared that they would all pay the price for her folly.

"She still answers to her kind," said Claudine.

"Wrong," said Eric. "I will deal harshly to any threat against her."

"We aren't defenseless," replied Claudine.

"You aren't my match, either," said Eric. "Nor the match of any vampire. You know this as well as me."

Eric began to turn away and Claudine asked, "The fairy in your hands?"

"I think I'll keep him for a while," said Eric with a smile. "See you around, fairy."

He cast one more glance to the water and moved away. He heard a little pop and rush of air and knew that the fairy had left in the manner of her kind. Treacherous creatures, he thought. None of them could be trusted. It wasn't safe for his little, personal fairy to be on her own. It was time to put a bit of a leash on her. For her own good, of course, he thought. But, first, he wanted to enjoy the sunshine a bit more and perhaps skinny dip in the lake.

He found his way back to her home and walked down into the basement. The fairy was rudely tied up. But he was awake and he gazed at Eric with sullen and angry eyes. As Eric moved closer to him, that look quickly changed to one of fear. He squatted down beside him and the fairy cringed away from him. Bullying a vampire wasn't as easy as bullying Nikki, he thought. Yet, she had been holding her own before he stepped in. She shouldn't be as strong as a full-blooded fairy, he thought. But, she was. Perhaps, that was why the Fae were so keen to keep her in line.

"I had to listen to you two rut like animals upstairs," he hissed.

"Did that get you all excited?" asked Eric, trailing his finger down the fairy's arm.

"Why am I still alive?"

"I haven't quite finished with you, yet," said Eric. "We are going to be having a more in depth conversation when Nikki isn't around."

Eric noticed with satisfaction that the fairy couldn't suppress a look of fear. He gave the fairy a wink and stood up.

"But, right now, I'm going upstairs to have sex with her again," he said. "You're not really my type or I'd come back down here afterwards and fuck you, too. So, I guess that you should thankful for the little things. Still, sex is awfully thirsty work."

Eric gave him another smile and left the basement. He moved into the bedroom and found Nikki still asleep on the remains of her bed. He examined her and noted how similar in appearance she was to Sookie. But, it was obvious that they were not identical. She was slightly smaller and more delicate. She lay on her side and the curve of her hip seemed to call to him. He wanted to slide his fingers down her soft skin and explore the contours of that hip. He began to take off his clothes as he watched her sleep. Just the sight and scent of her aroused him and he recognized that she had a power over him. It would be in his best interest to not let her gain the upper hand. Fairies were seductive creatures, as much as vampires were. They were an unusual, but very compatible match. From the moment that she had stepped into his bar and pretended to be Sookie, she had captured his attention. It had been such a ballsy thing to do. It was also reckless and foolish and he was totally intrigued by her. The real Sookie would never have done such a thing. The real Sookie was still limited by the conventions of her human upbringing. She thought of herself as a good girl who shouldn't have anything to do with such a bad boy as himself. The fact that she wanted to indulge her fantasies wouldn't sway her. Little Miss Prim and Proper was still probably doing it missionary style with Bill. Eric slipped into bed beside her and gently eased down the sheet to expose her breast. It was absolutely perfect and it's dusky pink nipple was too tempting not to touch. His finger traced the outline of nipple and Nikki parted her lips as she took in a soft breath. He moved and trailed his tongue over her now hardened nipple. Nikki moaned and sleepily moved her hands over him. He snuggled in closer and gently sucked.

"You horny vampire," she murmured. "It's daytime."

"Not even sunlight can keep me from my heart's desire," said Eric.

"Hmmm, I think I like that," she sighed.

"I know something else that you like," replied Eric.

"Do you?" asked Nikki.

Eric slipped a hand between her legs and Nikki gasped. "Aren't you tired?"

"Not when you're around," said Eric.

He knew just where to touch her and his soft, yet insistent fingers made her come alive with the desire to feel him in every way. She wanted all of him. His soft, but firm fingers seemed to know her body better than she did. She adored his soft lips that knew just how to kiss her. As she reached own and took him in her hand, she thought that his tongue was just as talented as this. He made her heart beat faster, along with other telling effects on her body. There was no way that she could hide the things that he did to her and she didn't try. She was flushed with desire. She wrapped her arms around him and inhaled the scent of him. The scent of a naughty, sexy vampire was heady stuff.

"Show me how bad you are," sighed Nikki.

"Is that a request?"

"More like a demand," she replied.

"Ooh, I like it when you take control," said Eric.

II

Nikki stirred at sunset and chastised herself for lazily sleeping the day away. Then, she felt Eric's arms possessively around her and thought that being lazy had it's benefits. Plus, he had tired her out. Like he always did. She languidly stretched and felt Eric tighten his arms around her. He kissed the nape of her neck and just when she was getting used to that sensation, he moved out of bed. She propped herself on her elbow to watch him pad away in all his naked glory. She lay for a moment contemplating the way his butt cheeks had contracted with his motion as he had walked away. In a minute, he returned with a glass of coke over ice for her. As Nikki sat up, he sat beside her and handed the glass to her.

"I thought that you might be thirsty," he said.

Nikki felt extremely parched and, although simple water would have better suited her tastes, she drank deeply. Eric watched her a moment and trailed a hand down her hair. When she had finished, he took back the glass from her and kissed her lips.

"Hmmm, I could get used to you kissing me like that," said Nikki.

"That's a good thing because I'm not going anywhere," replied Eric.

He sat the glass down and got up and began to get dressed. He somehow knew that she was watching him and he took his time. Nikki admitted to herself that it was more fun watching him take off those clothes than put them back on. She also wondered as she watched him get dressed when they were going to have The Talk. As much as she had wanted him to know the truth, she was afraid of what that meant. All the cards, well, most of the cards she amended, were on the table. She watched as he finished putting on his clothes. All dressed, he took the glass away and wandered back to the kitchen. Just as Nikki decided to get up, she heard a car pull into the gravel driveway. She wasn't expecting anyone and she got up and threw a short robe over herself. Standing in the doorway of her room, she saw Eric moving to the front door.

"Are you expecting someone?" she asked.

"Yes, I sent a message to Pam and Chow," he replied. "I asked them to arrive as soon after sunset as possible."

"Why?"

"Does the fairy in the basement ring any bells?" asked Eric.

"But, I'm the one that he tried to hurt. It should be my decision as to what happens to him," said Nikki.

Eric gaze her an intense gaze and said, "The moment that he put his hands on you, he became my problem to deal with."

Eric turned and opened the door and Pam and Chow stood on her threshold. Pam wore a pretty light blue suit with a skirt that hugged her hips. She placed a hand on her hip and gave her an annoyed glance.

"Do you mind?" she said. "I have other more interesting activities that I would like to get to this evening."

"Fine, come in," said Nikki.

The minute that the other two vampires came inside, she couldn't stop the feeling that she was outnumbered. That uneasiness caused her to feel a twinge of light-headedness. That feeling grew more pronounced and Nikki put her hand to her forehead.

"He's dangerous," Nikki said with her eyes closed.

"I'm well aware of what he is," replied Eric. "That's why he needs to be put somewhere more secure."

Nikki struggled to concentrate, but the room had begun to spin in a slow, dizzying track. She looked up to see Eric studying her.

"Just like I intend to do with you," he said.

"What?"

Nikki began to lose her balance and weaved on her feet. She looked at Eric accusingly.

"You drugged me."

"For your own good," he replied. "It's too dangerous for you to remain here, alone and unprotected."

"I'm not some child that you can just order around," said Nikki.

"No, but you are important to me. The Fae are aware of this, now," said Eric. "They will try to use that to their advantage. They can't be trusted."

"Like you can?"

The room was spinning wildly and Nikki finally tottered on her feet. Just as she began to fall, Eric caught her. He lifted her into his arms like a child. She gazed into his intense blue eyes as her eyelids grew too heavy for her to keep open.

"You treacherous vampire," she said as her words began to slur together.

"People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones, Little Miss Date Rapist," replied Eric with a wink.

He smiled as Nikki drifted off and turned to Pam and Chow. He nodded to the doorway and said, "He's in the basement. Do not remove his bindings and bring him upstairs."

Pam gave him and the girl a moment of examination. She could smell the scent of her maker all over the girl, so there was no doubt as to what the two of them had been up to. She looked like Sookie, but she wasn't. This must have been the creature who had tricked her maker in the first place when she had strolled into the bar and pretended to be Sookie. Pam would have thought that her maker would have tracked her down to punish her, but it looks as if he was not bothered by the creature's deception in the least. The smell of sex and the underlying sweet smell of the girl were thick in the confines of the room and Eric must have sensed her interest because he tightened his arms around her.

"She's mine," said Eric.

"Whatever," muttered Pam, trying to hide the disappointment that statement caused.

She turned and went down to the basement with Chow. There at the bottom of the steps, they found a pale looking man. He was unconscious and wrapped in chains and gagged. But, he smelled divine. Pam sniffed the air along with Chow. Just as she was toying with the idea of finding out if he tasted as good as he smelled, Eric's voice rang out.

"Do not bite him."

"Fine," muttered Pam, in a low whisper.

She grabbed his legs and Chow took the upper body and together they carried the man upstairs. Eric, with the girl still in his arms, directed them to place the body in the large trunk of the car. Pam slammed down the lid of the trunk and thought that the car was very handy for transporting bodies in the trunk. Of course, they usually weren't still alive for that last ride. She slid into the backseat with Eric and Chow took the wheel. The girl stayed on Eric's lap and he seemed to entertain himself with trailing his fingers over her body.

"So, who the guy in the trunk?" asked Pam. "And more importantly, why does he smell so good?"

"That is an ex-suitor for her affections," replied Eric, trailing a finger in her blonde tresses.

"So, why isn't he dead?"

"Because, he might prove useful," said Eric.

The smell in the confines of the car was making her crazy. Sex and Sugar. She was aroused and hungry for what lay within Eric's arms. Eric moved a hand and pressed a control on the armrest of his door. Two windows lowered and a gush of fresh air blew through the car. It cleared out most of the scent and Pam was able to concentrate again.

"The smell is so strong because she's not able to mask it," said Eric.

"That's not the only smell on her," said Pam. "You've had her several times."

Eric smirked. "She's quite irresistible."

"Tell me something that I don't know," replied Pam.

"Alright, the man in the trunk of the car is a fairy," said Eric.

"Fairy?" replied Pam and Chow, together with eagerness.

Pam smiled inwardly. That was the scent coming off the girl. It was slightly weaker than the scent of the other one in the trunk. It explained her maker's infatuation with the girl that lay in his arms. Leave it to Eric to find his own personal fairy and charm her into willingly giving him what he wanted.

"He's not the only fairy," said Pam.

"She must be some sort of hybrid," replied Eric, running his hand along the length of her exposed leg.

Which was a lot considering the shortness of her robe, thought Pam. "What is this hybrid's true name or do you even know that?"

"Nikoletta," replied Eric.

"Cute," replied Pam. "And does Sookie know that you have her sister?"

"Sookie isn't even aware of the fact that she has a sister," replied Eric.

"So, what is up with her, deceiving you and Sookie, both?" asked Pam.

"She's a mischievous little liar," replied Eric.

"Great, that's all we need is a meddlesome fairy in our midst," said Pam.

"Ah, come on, Pam," said Eric with a smile. "She cute."

"I suspect that she's dangerous," replied Pam.

"Well, that just makes her more interesting," said Eric.

"So, what are your plans with her and the one in the trunk?" asked Pam.

"The fairy in the trunk is proof that they will come for her. She's somehow important to them," said Eric.

"Important? How?" asked Pam.

"I don't know," replied Eric. "But, I would hazard a guess that she is a true fairy princess."

"That's all I need," muttered Pam.

"Cheer up, Pam," said Eric. "I'll let you bite the other one."

Pam couldn't stop the automatic reaction to that news and her fangs dropped down.

"Pull the car over, right now," she urged.

"Chow, keep driving," said Eric.

Pam frowned and ran her tongue over her fangs. Eric cast a glance towards her and said, "Patience, my child."

"Fuck that," hissed Pam. "I want some of the good stuff."

"You only get a sip because that shit will mess you up," said Eric. "I can vouch for that, myself."

"Is it as good as the legends say?"

"Better," replied Eric. "Take a golden ray of sunshine and mix it with sweet honey and multiple that times a million."

As Pam sat drooling on the backseat, Eric petted Nikki. She was looked like a little doll in his arms. Her full lips were parted and he trailed a finger over them. She moved a little at his touch and sighed prettily. He knew one of the reasons why she was so attracted to him. It was the same reason that Sookie was with Bill. The ability to read minds made it impossible for them to have a relationship with a human or were. And, only a vampire could truly appreciate that tantalizing life force that flowed within her veins. But, it was more than the blood, he thought as he gazed down on her. Much more.

A/N: Ah, did Eric admit that she was his heart's desire in a moment of pillow talk?