PART TWO

Pam's Report

Moments after leaving Merlotte's, Pam stepped out of the woods near Fangtasia. The night run between Shreveport and Bon Temps did wonders for her spirits. She slowed into a walk as she crossed the parking lot. When she neared the employee entrance, she could still hear the bar buzzing with humans.

"Pam," Eric called out at hearing her steps from down the hall outside his office. A short moment later, she entered.

"Master," said Pam. Her tone was respectful.

"What did you find out?" he asked.

"The witch told me Sookie has a new lover," answered Pam.

"She told you this?" he asked.

"No, she denied everything. I knew she was lying so I glamored her," said Pam matter-of-fact. She had had Amelia's blood. Though the connection was weak, it was just strong enough that she could still read her. Eric smiled and gestured for her to continue. "Apparently his name is Preston, a shifter from Baton Rouge."

"Did you confirm this?" asked Eric.

"No, I couldn't," answered Pam. "I only picked up the scent of the Shifter, two old Were scents, and of course I smelled Bill." Eric kept his eyes on the accounting books in front of him. "I did pick up a faint fairy scent both inside and outside her home." Eric put his pen down and glared up at Pam. "There was also an unfamiliar scent; fairy-like. It was strong and enticing. It took a lot of self control not to make love to the witch."

Eric quickly assumed that the fairy scent was Niall. "You said an unfamiliar scent?" asked Eric.

"Though Sookie seems to want the witch to think he is a shifter," observed Pam. "I do not think he is. He is a supernatural, but unlike any that I recall ever coming across." Eric was unsure what to make of Pam's report. It wasn't fairy, but it was fairy-like in that it was enticing. The fae were so secretive it was hard for Eric to come up with a concrete answer.

"How did Sookie seem?" he asked. Over the last few months, he'd wanted to see her, but his obligations to his Area took precedence. And with Victor Madden breathing down his neck, he wouldn't have been able to relax at Sookie's place.

If he wanted sex and a feeding, he could get that in Shreveport, instead of flying all the way to Bon Temps. Not only that, but if she was stubborn, he would have had to use his connection with Sookie to sway her to sleep with him. It was too much effort under the circumstances. Dealing with Victor had been too draining. It was best, he felt, that he stayed away from Sookie. Regardless, he didn't want to frighten her with his heavy mood.

"She seemed happy," admitted Pam. She saw Eric's face ripple with several different emotions. He didn't want her happy; at least not happy with another. Pam went silent and remained standing, allowing Eric to gain control of himself. "It was the fools own fault," she thought. He should have claimed her. His failure to do so allowed Sookie to take yet another lover. "This is exactly what he gets." Pam only hoped that Eric would learn from this experience.

Since getting the last of his memories back, his feelings in relation to Sookie had become more complicated. He was confused in a way that disturbed him. Before his memory loss, his feelings for Sookie were a causal pleasure. Not only that, but he wanted to have sex with her and he didn't care why she would, as long as she did. But two months ago, he remembered everything. He remembered the fear – a sensation he hadn't felt so acutely since he was first turned.

And then there was Sookie.

She had protected him and cared for him. She gave him the security of a home he had lost so many years ago. He knew he cared for Sookie, perhaps even loved her, he was just not sure. Everything essential that made a person human, were things he'd abandoned a thousand years ago. He was vampire – that was all he knew now. So the feelings that emerged with his gained memories put him off balance. Especially the deep sense of obligation he felt to Sookie; this feeling was the most perplexing. No vampire ever felt an obligation to another. The only obligation was to oneself.

After several moments Pam continued with her report. "Whoever this man is," said Pam, "she has gone to great lengths to conceal his identity."

"Is that it?" asked Eric.

"Yes, Master," answered Pam. "What now?"

"It seems that at the moment," said Eric. "Even if Felipe and Victor suspect, they don't know the identity of her lover."

"This could work toward your advantage," smiled Pam. Her thoughts were on the same wave length as Eric's.

"You did well," said Eric. He was proud of his child.

"What exactly is your plan?" she asked. Plotting and scheming were so much fun.

"I need some time to think," said Eric. "Leave me." Pam nodded her head and left Eric alone in his office.

As he crunched the numbers, his thoughts raced. If it wasn't for Niall, he would have turned Sookie months ago. Still, he had hesitated. He would miss her sweet warm blood. The thought of tasting himself in her if he turned her, didn't hold as much appeal as her human blood. Then the thought of another man bedding her made his dead heart burn.

He felt his anger surging. There was no human that he felt such passion for. No human that he has ever cared for. As far as he was concerned, since he had had her, Sookie belonged to him. She was his human, his lover.

Granted, he could never give her what they had shared during their time together, but he could protect her. He owed her that. She was a good woman, and she deserved his favor. There had to be a way to cement her to him, so that even Niall couldn't take her away from him.

"So close," he thought silently. When he heard that the Nevada vampires had taken Quinn into custody, he saw his opportunity to finally make Sookie his. But then Niall's appearance and his claim as Sookie's kin smashed his plan. Of what little he knew about fairies, he knew that they were a patriarchal society. And he knew the rules of this social structure. Niall was the patriarch, and there was no need for him to explain anything to Eric.

"Damn fairy," grumbled Eric.

He finished tallying up the numbers and opened the safe. Reaching in to place the ledger inside, his eye caught the case that held the ceremonial knife. It was the blade used in marriage ceremonies between vampires. Instantly, Eric's mind plotted and a victorious smile spread across his pale face.

As long as Sookie didn't question him, she would be his. All he needed was for her to present the knife to him in front of Victor, and it would seal his claim over her. Victor and Sookie would be none the wiser.

No other supernatural could take her from him. Not even Niall.

Eric told himself several times that his plan was in Sookie's best interest. He convinced himself that she would be honored that he would make such a connection with her. After all, she has always wanted to be married. Granted, she had never expressed a desire to be married to him, but that was neither here or there.

It would be for her protection. ~

A/N: For the record, just incase I've stepped on some toes with this chapter, it isn't my intention to Eric bash. I've protrayed him as true to the SVM cannon (Bk 1 to 9) as I was able to. Eric can be sneaky, but isn't that one reason everyone loves him so much? He's a repressed soul who is only comfortable defining his emotions by vampire standards. He hasn't been a human in over a thousand years. That's a lot of conditioning to try to undo in such a short time. Also, this chapter I think helps shed some light on to the motivations behind why Eric tricked Sookie into becoming vampire-married to him. In Part Three, this will become more clear. Especially in Part Four when Sookie has to confront all her feelings.