The Procurer
Chapter 6
"Hello, Suzie." He hissed at me, while squeezing and twisting my wrist to immobilize me.
"How do you know my name?" I did my exercises I'd practiced for years. Take deep breaths, remain calm, distract your opponent while you plot your plan of action.
"Word gets around when something as sweet as you comes in to our neck of the woods."
Ugh, was he serious? Who the hell talked like that? "Sweet? How would you or anyone else here know how sweet I am? And you can let go of me any time now." He had my right hand, but I wiggled it and tried to free it from his grasp to distract from the fact I was slowly reaching my left hand into my pocket. I called the chain from my right pocket to my left. I didn't want him to see it just appear. I palmed it for the time being, I wasn't going to show my hand, literally and figuratively, unless I had to.
"Oh, I find I can't let go of you. You smell so good. Yet so familiar..." I felt the hairs on my neck and that weird tingle in my brain. Goddammit, Compton, you can't just have a conversation with a girl the normal way? This was my conundrum-do I pull out the silver, showing I'd had a weapon this whole time, or risk anyone knowing I can't be glamoured? I decided, for right now, I was more worried about the latter, so I had to stop him. Pulling the silver out, I slapped it right onto his cheek.
He screamed, let go of me and his skin immediately started to smoke and burn. Then a few things happened all at once. Eric, flung the back door open and I must have not held the silver in place long enough because Compton regained some strength and punched me. I flew backwards and hit the wall, then the ground. I didn't hear or see much except for ringing and stars. Then I got mad.
Despite the pain, I sat upright, got my meager wits about me and stood up, tentatively. "You fucking asshole! How dare you!?" When I focused my eyes, I realized I wasn't looking directly at them, so changed my direction a bit. Eric was holding Compton up by his neck, but they had both paused to stare at me, mouths agape. I stomped closer. "What kind of man sneaks up on a woman, in an alley, having a phone conversation? If you wanted to talk to me, could you not have done so inside and approached me, head on, like a real man?" The silver I had been holding was on the ground, so I picked it back up. "I ought to slap this on your other cheek." He hissed at me and Eric let out a low growl, "Suzie-".
Just then Pam came through the door and took in the scene. Her fangs popped down and she began hissing at me, but looking between the three of us, hands out in claws, unsure of what method of attack to take or who. "Master?"
Eric threw Compton down like a ragdoll. "Pam, take Compton inside to wait for me. We need to have a talk." She smiled, fanged really, an evil look, nodded her head and zipped off, dragging him with her. "Suzie, my office now." He sounded pissed. He grabbed my arm, ow-dammit the same arm douchebag had grabbed and practically dragged me back to his office. Yep, he was pissed. When the door shut, I was immediately pinned up against it by my shoulders.
"Do you mind telling me, Suzie, what in the fuck you were doing carrying silver?! Little Miss I've Never Met a Vampire Before?! Bullshit! " He was scaring me. His fangs we're still down and they looked huge now that they were aimed at me in an angry way. Shit, thinkthinkthink. I hated to, but I pulled out my fail safe Celighn had taught me; I started crying. It was demeaning, I thought, to pull that weak, feminine wiles crap, but it could give me a split second to think. I couldn't pull off the loud, obnoxious sobbing fit I had seen some women do, so I did the only thing I could manage; I stared at him with big eyes and let the drops fall down my cheeks silently. He groaned and closed his eyes for a second, then opened them again, in alarm, as if he had just remembered I still had the silver in my hand, which I did.
But my hands were loose by my sides, and the chain was barely dangling off my thumb. I threw it across the room. My voice thick with my tears"There, better?"
"No" though his eyes said differently. I had hoped he would let me down, my feet weren't touching the floor, but he didn't.
"Eric-Mr. Northman, I never meant any threat to you, or anyone here, honestly. I brought it out of fear of the unknown. You have to understand, in the small town I came from, everyone talked of the evils of vampires and that you would drain and rape us all, if given a chance. I knew that wasn't true. There was no way you all would come out like you had, only to act like monsters, and become persecuted again. That would only drive you back into the shadows. But, on the flip side of that, I did grow up learning to protect myself. I carry pepper spray in my purse, too. That doesn't mean I use it unnecessarily. I knew enough of vampires to know that you have super strength and speed, and you can glamour people. So I couldn't just leave the silver in my purse, I had to have it on me. Once I came in and met you and Pam, I had honestly forgotten it was there. Then, when I went outside just to call my cousin to tell her about the job, your friend, Mr. Compton", I spat his name out "accosted me, like a pervy stalker, I slapped his ass with the silver. I won't apologize for that. He deserved it."
I felt myself slowly sliding down the wall, where my feet thankfully touched the floor. But I was still pinned lightly by my shoulders. He let one side loose to wipe a stray tear from my cheek. He looked at it intently, then sniffed it? I wasn't sure, but he got that faraway look he got whenever we were in close contact and his pupils dilated, but he shook it off and put his hand back on my shoulder.
"He is not my friend." I looked at him quizzically, till I grasped what he was saying. "He is my employee, of sorts. For another business of mine. He should not have done that to you. In fact, we have strict rules in place here to protect against it. For that he will be punished. He will also be punished for striking you." At that he lightly stroked the cheekbone I could feel swelling up. "You should have told me, Suzie, that you were carrying it. For us, it is a concealed weapon and, despite understanding your reasons, I find it hard to trust you now."
Great. Three steps forward, four steps back. Thanks, Compton, you fuckstick. "You're bleeding. Your temple."
"I am?"
"Yes, do you mind if I lick it for you? Our saliva has clotting properties, it will stop the bleeding."
Uhm-eww. "Noo...I guess not. You're not going to bite me are you? Like, once you get a taste of my blood?"
"I'll try to refrain." My thoughts raced, recalling discussion with my family about what my blood may or may not do to them or taste like, but I was stuck. It was too far to turn back. If I had to I would have to pop home and this mission would be done. That made me sad, for more than one reason, but I pushed those thoughts back. I steeled myself for the outcome. He smiled at me gently and for some reason that calmed me.
He leaned forward and for the first time, maybe because I was closer to his neck than I had been all night, I picked up his scent. He smelled like nothing I had ever smelled before. Like wood and earth and the ocean, all in one. It was intoxicating. He must have felt the same, because I heard him take in a deep breath I knew he didn't need and then shudder. His hands that had been holding my shoulders, were now massaging them, and I felt myself lean back against the door, tilting my head up toward him. One hand left my shoulder and slipped behind my neck to lightly hold the back of my head. The second his tongue touched my skin, I felt an electrical jolt all the way down to my hootchie. He lapped gently at the wound, mimicking other acts men did with their tongues on ladies bits that I had only heard about, and I felt my breath quicken and my heart pound. Oh my. This was torture.
It must have been something for him, too because he groaned and he pulled my body in closer. So close, in fact, I could feel something very hard and large against my stomach. I gripped his shoulders in response. I could feel the spot on my temple tightening up though he was still lightly caressing the area with his tongue. He must have eventually gotten all the blood, because he pulled away begrudgingly and looked at me in a heavy-lidded daze, "What are you?"
Oh yeah. I was supposed to be on guard because at any moment, the vampire licking my blood could taste the fairy in me and drain me. I was useless. I barely found my voice, and huskily whispered "What do you mean?" I looked back at him with the same heavy-lidded look.
"You taste...different. Sweet. Heady. Delicious." I was starting to get my traitorous senses back.
"I don't know. Is it going to be a problem?" He started rubbing his cheek against my head and his lips were brushing against the tops of my ears, making me feel warm in my hootch again. Or, still.
"Mmmm...problem? Not at all. It just makes you even more interesting than you already were. And me that much more driven to win you over."
"Mr. Northman!" I tried to put as much authority and conviction into those two words as I could. I grasped at his arms, which also gave me a thrill, since they were like small tree trunks. He slowly let up and took a step back from me.
"I much prefer you call me Eric."
"Well, we'll see." I walked to where I had thrown the silver and picked it up. He eyed me warily.
"You cannot bring that with you, while you work here." He said matter-of-factly.
"I hardly think that's fair!"
"When it comes to my and Pam's safety, I hardly care for what you find fair." Wow, this was a different side of him. I wanted to punch myself. Of course it was a different side-I had only known him all of three or four hours.
"I am going to be encountering a lot of vampires while I work here, any number of who could act like Mr. Compton. I think it's only fair I should have protection." "You will. While you are here, no one will dare touch you, let alone harm you."
"Oh, really? Did that memo already go out? Because it seems Compton wasn't on your mailing list."
He looked extremely pissed, then contrite. His voice became soft, "Suzie I am very sorry for what happened tonight. I assure you, no, I swear to you, this will never happen again, while you are under my protection." He stepped closer and gently touched my swollen cheek. "Compton is a fool, though in his slight defense, he is new to the area and does not realize how little insubordination I will take. Which is none. All others from the area, know my rules and follow them strictly. You will be safe here. Pam and I will make sure of that, as well as the other vampires employed here. Okay?"
I silently nodded. I had to gain the little trust I previously had and lost, back.
"Though I have to say I was beyond impressed at how quickly you recovered from it and how ready you were to silver him some more. Most humans would be cowering in fear, but you were pissed, I could see it in your eyes. You are quite the little warrior. My little spitfire." He looked like a proud peacock, which I thought was odd. He changed expressions suddenly. "I do wonder why he was so taken with you. I understand, physically why, but he seems more so than what would be normal, for having seen you only tonight. Did he say anything to you before he attacked you?"
"Only that he already knew my name and that I was sweet." I shivered in disgust. "Then he just gripped the shit out of my wrist." Eric took the offended limb and examined it. There were bruises forming. Great. If I ever find that prick Compton alone...He looked at the bruises and seemed to ponder something.
Almost absentmindedly he said, "You would heal quickly if you took a little of my blood." What?! Okay, this much, I was warned about, by Kvelin, actually. If they gave you their blood, they could track you. And feel your emotions. No way.
"Uhm, thank you, but I think I'll be okay. I'll probably just take an ibuprofen and be fine." Or a fairy healing potion. Whichever.
"Yes. That is fine." He said tersely and dropped my arm. Wait, had I hurt his feelings? I walked to my purse on the chair closest to us, which had magically appeared there. Did he bring it with him when he dragged me in here? I mentally snickered at the thought of him holding my little red wristlet on one hand, pulling me with the other. I pulled, rather summoned two ibuprofen out of it and he quickly barked out an order for a water to be brought in to someone on the phone.
Two seconds later, Pam threw the door open. Jesus-glad we moved. "Master. All is well? I have Bill...contained until you are ready." He took the water from her, opened it and handed it to me and watched eagerly, waiting for me to take the pills and sip the water. I think he may have massaged my throat to make it go down smoother if I took any longer. The second I took one gulp,
"Better?"
"Yes thank you."
"Suzie. Are you okay? I wasn't sure what all happened and Bill was...unable to tell me." Hmm, that was curious. Eric quickly filled her in on what had happened, paying great detail to my tirade and threat to re-silvering Bill. That must have really floated her boat because she looked at me like she was in love with me.
"I have new found respect for you. I think we will have much fun together. Maybe you should stay for Compton's punishment."
I held up my hands. "No! Thanks. I will pass. In fact, Eric, I'm sorry. I will have to owe you a dance another night. I feel a bit tired and would like to go."
"I don't blame you, Suzie. Yes, rest. Then we can start fresh tomorrow."
Pam piped up. "I will leave an itinerary for you in my office across the hall. You can use that area to work and the computer, until we get you your own workspace."
"Sounds good. Thank you. See you both tomorrow night." I walked toward the door.
"I am walking you to your car." The gallant gentleman. I nodded my approval, or rather my acquiescence.
We made our way out and I saw Amelia chatting with another vampire at the bar. "Hey Amelia, I'm heading out. Are you okay? Are you staying?"
She turned to me and all the blood left her face, "Suzie-what the hell-?" She looked toward Eric.
I held up my hands "I'm fine. It wasn't Eric, in fact, he saved me. But I'm fine, can I fill you in on the details tomorrow? I'm pretty tired."
"Shit, girl. I'm sorry. But, yeah, I'm staying till close with Pam, then we'll go hang out" giant wink "at her place. I'll be fine. You sure you're okay to drive? Want me to call your cousin?"
Eric took my arm again. "Yes, Miss Stackhouse, I would gladly drive you home."
"No, no thanks, guys, really. I'm fine. I'm ten minutes from here, I'll be okay." We exchanged hugs and headed towards the door. "You really don't have to-"
"Shush. Just keep walking or I'll carry you."
"Hmff." He winked at me, knowing he had irritated me. Once we got to my car, he took the keys from my hand and opened the door. If I would have gone any slower, I think he would have placed me on the seat, too. "Well, I had an interesting night." I gave him a lopsided smile. "Thank you for the job, I'll be here bright and early tomorrow."
He squatted down and leaned into the car. I held my breath as he leaned in close enough for his hair to brush my nose. I picked up his scent again and I inhaled. I may have even made a little noise, since he looked at me strangely. He reached over, grabbed the seat belt and latched it for me. Oh.
"I had a very interesting night as well, and look forward to many more in your company, Suzie." He brushed his lips across my forehead and I felt those light sparks. "Goodnight." He shut the door and I started the car, though I'm not sure how since my neurons had stopped firing when I felt his lips on my skin. As I drove off, with Fangtasia in my rear view mirror, I had a feeling of foreboding. How was I going to keep my hormones, hell my emotions, in check, long enough to fulfill my goal? I was in deep shit.