Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Eric had been monitoring Sookie's emotions from the moment she got close enough to Fangtasia. He instructed Pam, his vampire child, to collect the girl from his car and to stay close to her. He could feel Sookie's growing discomfort and could only imagine it had something to do with the great number of humans who had gathered outside his club.

Since entering his office Eric tracked every emotional reaction the girl had. His decisions of staying away from her for the past months had paid off. She was a nice surprise. A breath of fresh air. He felt her awe at seeing him for the first time, her small hope and great anxiety, her confusion with the explanations he was giving her, her anger when he suggested a new exchange. His request for blood had been a test of sorts. Her rejection only made him happier with the deal he had made with Fintan. Eric was not interested in a fangbanger or an empty minded pet. To have a telepath at his side was already a good deal. But to have a beautiful, spirited telepath was a better one. He knows of her innocence and fears, the fact that she stood up to him only made him more interested in her.

Eric felt the second Sookie's emotions shifted from slightly aroused, confused and angry, to panicked. He watched the telepath move her head around as if trying to listen to something. Seeing her fear stricken face, he abruptly left his seat and stopped in front of the girl.

"What are you hearing, Sookie?", asked Eric while guiding her face up to meet his. She wrapped her hand around his wrist.

Sookie's eyes were glazed, she had a wild smile on her face, she telepath began to mutter, but stopped herself. Jumping on her feet as a racer ready to run, Sookie left the office pulling Eric along, who conceded to her mute request of protection.

The club was busier then when Sookie first arrived. Eric surveyed the crowd trying to figure out who might have made the telepath act so out of control. He saw nothing out of the ordinary. The same pathetic fangbangers dressed in black miniscule cloths and awed tourists were occupying the packed dance floor.

He positioned himself behind the telepath. He could smell the stench of fear taking the place of her extra-sweet scent.

Sookie was trembling, almost convulsing. She knew it was a man. A terrible, maniac man whose mind had invaded hers. She got pictures, awful pictures of his crimes against woman. All of them had been associated with vampires, just like his sister. His first victim. He was looking for someone new to destroy, to violate, to kill.

He was everywhere in the room. Close and far. His hatred was so deep and degenerate that it was overwhelming Sookie. She had to find him in the crowd. He had a pocket knife, a silver pocket knife. He was going to cut the first woman he saw being close to a vampire. The people from his town were already suspecting of him. He had nothing to lose.

A rush of excitement that did not belong to Sookie ran her body. Her breath was coming in rapid and shallow bursts. Her vision was blurry. Closing her eyes, she saw what he saw: the side of a tower tall vampire steading beside a blond girl looking his way. She was calling to him, daring him. He was almost there, it would end soon. He would find his sister again.

Sookie opened her eyes to see the silver glow of the blade before it reached her arm, and then, darkness.

Chaos erupted and human started to push at each other towards the exit of the club after Eric lifted the man by his neck. He had been instructing his vampires to calmly disperse the crowd when he noticed the man's move on Sookie. He used his vampire speed to block the full blow of the man's attacked, but the girl got hurt anyhow. She was currently slump over his arm, unconscious.

The man was laughing. "Stupid, bitch. Should never had come to a fanger bar."

Growling, Eric squeezed harder and the man blacked out.

"Pam, take him down stairs. Don't kill him." The blond vampire who had seen Sookie out of her car appeared by his side.

"Why spoil the fun, Eric?", she pouted.

Eric turned his cold eyes from the man sprawled on the floor to his progeny for a brief moment. It was all it took for Pam to realize her mistake. Eric wasn't playing tonight.

"It will be done, Master", she said bowing her head.

Picking Sookie up, Eric took a final look at the nearly empty room and ordered it to be cleared. Closing the door of his office, he seat on the chair in front of his desk. Sookie was still out, and would remain so even while he licked the blood that was oozing out of the small wound on her right arm. Piercing his tongue on one of his fangs he covered the cut with a thin layer of blood. She would not scar.

He remained seated with Sookie on his lap for a few minutes. Nosing her neck and savoring her delicious scent, Eric decided to chance his plans for the girl. He knew it would take her a while to get on track of things, but seeing her collapse under the assault of the patrons' minds, he understood she would need to strengthen her ability. Pam entered the office.

"She's still out."

"I'm taking her to the apartment. Have one of the Weres drive her car back to the farm house." Eric had yet to lift his eyes from the telepath, he was scenting her hair.

"The human is a murderer. He's killed several women who had connections to vampires. He hasn't stopped talking since I dropped him in the basement. I glamoured him to shut up. I'm sure you would like to question him."

"Yes, but only after I hear Sookie's version of all this."

Eric exited the room and was already holding Fangtasia's backdoor open when he partially turned around and spoke in a voice which could only be heard by Pam.

"She's more innocent than we thought, Pam."

"And more fragile, as well." Said Pam to the closed door.