Chapter 23

Disclaimer: Here is Casey. I am sorry ididnt upload as soon as I usually do but I am working on the final chapter so I thought I would get the majority of that done before doing this. I hope you enjoy this chapter. R&R and after that get some R&R so you can get ready for another fun filled chapter of A Normal Life.

When we arrived at the Grand Centime, and boy, let me tell you, it wasn't anything like the Cozy Inn…obviously…I never knew a hotel could make someone feel like a hillbilly but sure enough, I felt as if Sookie and I should be digging lint out of our belly buttons and asking where the "ce-ment fishin' pon' wuz!"

Eric instructed us to wait by the elevators, while he and Bill checked in. I was keeping my head down trying to not draw attention to myself. I put on a pair of sunglasses that Sookie allowed me to borrow so, while I may have looked like a douche bag…or a video extra for a Cory Hart music video, I wasn't being pounced on by every man in the place. I even went as far as to mess up my hair but judging by the way Sookie was staring at me, it was a lost cause.

Suddenly, I stilled. The same familiar feeling I was getting while we were at the boutique started seeping into my body. My head shot up and I began to scan the room.

Keep and eye peeled. I mentally nudged.

Sookies eyes quickly began scanning the lobby with me not exactly sure what it was she should have been looking for.

What is it? Sookie asked mentally.

I got a feeling.

What about? Her face began to show concern.

I don't know. I feel like someone is here someone I know.

Do you think it could be…Sookie didn't finish.

I opened my mind to see if I heard any thoughts around the room.

Nothing. I thought with a relived sigh while keeping my head down.

So what does that mean?

It means…I don't think it is a good idea for Eric and Bill to be leaving so soon though.

What do you suggest?

Fuck if I know…put them in the closet! But if they are here to protect us then until I find out what this feeling is…they shouldn't really be hitting the dirt nap.

And just as quick as it had come, the feeling was gone again. It was starting to get annoying. I racked my brain and thought of what the reasons could be but came up empty.

Eric and Bill were heading our way and we resumed picking up our bags and stepped inside the elevator.

"So…" I immediately sighed. Eric instantly let out an aggravated groan and closed his eye. "What?" I asked defensively. "What did I do? All I said was 'so'."

Bill was smiling lightly at the moment, and Eric, was looking almost as if he were mentally get prepared for what I was going to say. I felt slightly insulted. I wasn't that bothersome….was I?

"When are you two planning on going…back to…wherever hole it is you guys hide, rest, and or sleep?"

"We are going to be leaving at 4:20AM. We want to stay with as late as possible before we go back to our 'hole'." Bill said with a smile.

"Why can't stay here with us?" I asked simply.

Everyone in the elevator fell silent. I assumed it was because no one else had thought of such a simple task. It made so sense when you thought about it, what was the point in coming here….leaving at the last possible minute and driving back, get in their little coffins, holes,…

What the hell do they sleep in?

…just to get up and repeat the process?

Maybe its like Dracula and they have to be in a plot surrounded by soil from where there from…I immediately disregarded that theory because…well…Eric was older than dirt…figuratively speaking that is. He didn't seem like the type of person who would roll around in 'thousand old Viking Dirt.'

I pulled myself out of thought to see that Sookie shifted uncomfortably.

Eric stared at me slightly taken aback by my question. "Why do you ask?" Eric barked in an authoritative tone.

I chose to ignore his attitude and answered him. "It's probably nothing, but ever since we got here I got the strangest feeling that I was being watched…in the boutique and just a few minutes ago."

DING

We got off the elevator and followed a now chuckling Eric. "Maybe the reason why you had the feeling you were being stared at was because you were being gawked at by millions of men."

It wasn't that though. I felt something else. I couldn't sense people….at least I didn't think. Maybe it was one of the newly found powers I had inherited thanks to her Octavia and her dagger happy hands.

When we arrived at the suit, Eric handed Sookie the key and she followed. I looked at my watch. 11:38 PM. If they were leaving at 4:20 and it was a 2 hour drive leaving here, they must have probably given themselves some extra time as to not rise being caught in the sun. So, I was assuming that, that meant that Sookie and I were going to have to survive about two hours without Bill and Eric's protection from any vampire that wanted us dead.

Two hours never seemed so dangerous before.

When I finally got a look at the room I was floored. "Holy shit!" I gasped. The suit was gigantic. The room was decorated in reds, lots of gold and other earthy tones…It looked as if we went back in time to a Greek palace. There was a large fountain in the middle of the living room and the floors were pearl marble.

Although I was excited about the room I couldn't help but think. Is the fountain really that necessary?

I immediately kicked off my flip flops and began exploring. After about 10 minutes of through investigation, I discovered that the suit must have at least had 20" ceilings because even big ass Eric looked liked dwarf like.

The sitting area had a gigantic fireplace that wasn't burning since it was summer. There was a wet bar which didn't really interest me because Even though I worked in a bar I had never touched a drop of alcohol.

I opened two huge double doors and saw that bed and wanted to cry. It was a California king and was up on a raised area. As I went further into the room I saw that it, too, had a fireplace.

I walked to the other end of the room and opened the door. The closet was two times the size of my room at the Cozy Inn.

Is all this room really needed? I mean I could understand if you were traveling and you wanted a place for your pet elephant to sleep but…

I went to another door which, by process of elimination, I am assuming was a bathroom…..and BOY what a bathroom. It was marble from the ceiling to the floor. The sink had a 'his' and 'hers' side…or in my case…. Case and Sook sides. There was a shower that was easily about ten feet in diameter. Directly across from that, was a Jacuzzi style bath tub which could have easily passed for a swimming pool.

I then looked straight ahead to see that there was a pocket door.

OH MY GOD!!!" I hollered.

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Eric and Bill were immediately by my side. "What is it Casey!" Eric growled. As quick as she could, Sookie came following behind.

"THERES ANOTHER BEDROOM IN HERE!" I hollered. I ignored Erics groan of exasperation and ran to the bed and immediately began jumping on it.

"This…is…awesome!" I said after every jump. After seeing that I was…well…still alive Sookie let out a sigh of relief and quickly exited.

"You know…I've never….been in a….hotel room….that had….two bedrooms….Hell…I've never…even….been in a…..hotel…that had rooms."

"Stop doing that." Eric said with an irritated expression on his face. I turned around so my back was facing them and kept jumping. The bed felt amazing even under my feet. Not like the bricks I was accustomed to sleeping on my entire life.

Bill smiled. "Well, I'll let you get….settled in." He said warmly and left.

After about a few more seconds of horse play I fell on my back on the bed exhausted. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I didn't need to see him to know that Eric was still in the room.

I turned my head to the right to see he was leaning against the wall staring at me. It wasn't an annoyed stare which to tell you the truth felt nice. I let out a deep sigh, closed my eyes and smiled. "Do you ever get scared?" I asked him cooly.

I didn't hear anything for a while. I could still sense him put I opened and eye just to make sure he heard me. The look on his face was almost priceless. He looked as if I had asked him and Bill to do a three way with a Mexican midget named Jose.

"What?" He asked. I knew he understood the question.

I shrugged. "Like…since you can't die or since it would be pretty hard to kill you….are you ever afraid?"

"No." he answered simply.

"Are you scared for Sookie?" I asked seriously. The smile was off of my face.

"I am….concerned for her wellbeing, yes." He said after pausing for a long time.

"Then why do you put her in these types of situations?" He didn't answer and something told me that I wasn't going to get an answer.

"Do you love her?" I asked turning to look at him. The very mention of the word made him tense up.

"Why do you ask?" He asked hostility scratching at his tone.

I sat up, hopped off the bed and walked over to the window. Eric followed a few steps behind.

I paused as I came to a 'threshold of revelation' if you will. I didn't know how to deal with it. I should have been scared, angry, shocked, at least some contemptible emotion but instead all I felt was…I don't know…peaceful

"Well…there's a good change that….I'm gonna die tomorrow" I said matter-of-factly. "Maybe even Sookie…but most defiantly me." I said with a chuckle.

Eric's brows furrowed. I could see it in the reflection on the glass window and it confused me. I just saw it as stating the obvious. Besides, he told me himself that my welfare didn't matter to him.

"That's why I ask if you ever get scared. Because I don't think people will ever see things as clear as they do once they get the shit scared out of them." I said while shaking my head.

As I turned to head towards the other door which led back to the living room. Eric suddenly grabbed my arm but not in a forceful manner. It felt controlled and calculated. "No ones ever asked me that." He stated ironically with a perplexed stare.

"Are you scared?" He then asked.

I simply smiled. I felt a tear fall from my face but I didn't bother to hide it.

I saw the muscles in Eric's jaw tighten then immediately I stared out into space in contemplation. I then let out a frayed chuckle as another tear fell down my face.

"I'm terrified." I then managed to get out. "...I'm worried about Sookie, about how many lived will be at risk because of me if I fail. All my life I've only had to worry about myself and now…talk about a case of 'what the fuckery'."

Eric moved closer to me. "I meant are you afraid to die?" He then asked.

I shot him a playful glare. "I'm a fairy, standing in a room…alone….with a thousand year old vampire and you ask me if I'm afraid to die? I think this constituted as me laughing in the face of danger."

Eric didn't smile. He was still waiting for me to answer his question. Only this time, seriously.

"I use to be." I began. Eric released my arm as I walked over to the nearest wall and leaned against it with my arms folded across my chest. "But…I don't know if it was from exhaustion or from just being fed up with running I told myself that if I was going to die…I might as well go out of this world doing something…the way I see it…it takes a lot of courage to die...hell, anyone can live." He added at the last moment. "I don't know how you are going to take this but, I sometimes pitty your kind."

Eric shot me a defensive glare and walked over to the bed and sat down. "Elaborate."

I then smiled. "Glady." I walked over to Eric and stood in front of him. "Sooner or later…everyone dies. Hell, some people actually WANT to." I bit my lip and paused. "Except for you. It's a hell of a lot worse to want to die, and not be able to"

Eric smiled. "I didn't know you can be insightful."

"There's a lot you don't know about me." I smiled while talking over to the dresser mirror and began playing with my hair.

"I think that is the first thing that we can agree on." He chuckled. I had never seen Eric this laid back before. A year ago if you would have told me that I would be in a luxury hotel "Dr. Philling" it up with a 10 century old vampire I would have thought you were insane.

"I mean sure there were a lot of things that I wanted to do that I might not get to do but…I'm not man." I said looking at him in the mirror.

"Like?" He asked.

"Just stupid things." I said looked over my shoulder with a smile, "I always wanted to drive a muscle car with the top down blasting AC/DC on the radio, get a tattoo, go on a date, kiss a boy, have my heart broken, sky diving."

"I kissed you." Eric said smugly with a grin on his face.

My face turned bright red and I immediately turned away. "Yeah…well considering the circumstances I am afraid I had to null and void that one…I hope you're not too crushed." I said with a nervous laugh.

He moved so quickly that I hadn't realized that he was right behind me until I saw him in the mirror.

One minute I was facing one way and the next I was facing the other way sitting on the dresser top. Eric was so close, if he actually breathed, I would be ale to feel it on my forehead.

Danger DANGER WILL ROBINSON!! DO NOT PASS GO DO NOT COLLENT 200!!

Two cool hand came out of nowhere can cupped my face and forced me to look into Erics eyes.

STOP STOP DAMN IT

I opened my mouth in protest but all that did was give Eric an opportunity to have his mouth crash into mine. My body tensed and my eyes widened. Eric eyes were shut tight. All I could think about was the feeling at the moment. I was hit with a sudden flash of energy and my arms went around his neck and I clung for dear life. His arms then went around my back. He was squeezing so hard I could barely breathe but I didn't care.

My mind was spinning. I could feel Eric's body go tense. Thank god I was sitting down because I was sure if I wasn't my legs would have turned to jell-o. I didn't know if I what I was doing was right but I took Eric's persistence as a sign that I wasn't doing such a bad job. I cleared my mind, closed my eyes and just enjoyed the moment.

Don't bite her! Don't bite her! Don't bite her! DON'T BITE HER!

Talk about a mood killer. My eyes shot open in horror. Removed my arms from Erics neck and immediately began pushing against his chest in a panic but his hold on be just tightened,

Casey do something!

I shut my eyes and with all my might I pushed. His arms immediately left me body and I opened my eyes just in time to see Eric go sailing across the room and making contact with the wall. A large bang rang out in the silent room and Eric fell to the floor.

"CASEY!" Bill yelled and stampeded into the room.

Eric immediately sprang to his feet. Sookie followed in suit with Bill.

I jumped off the dresser and managed to remain on my feel. The room was silent All that could be heard was my ragged breathing. Bill and Sookie were staring at me in shock. I saw their eyes dart from me, to Eric then to the newly made dent in the wall.

"Casey?" Sookie almost hollered.

I was shaking and tried to compose myself. "I just….he…you guys are going to laugh when you hea--…" I let out a labored sigh. "Ill pay for that too." I finally said and ran into the bathroom.

What the hell is your problem? Since when did you start making out with vampires you…you…harlot?

I ran to the other side of the bathroom and locked the door. O then went to the sink and splashed my face and neck with cold water.

I looked at my reflection in the mirror and saw a changed person. Not just physically but emotionally. I had gone through so many changes in the past week. I cried now at the drop of a hat and I could feel the tears about to fall.

I had just made out for the first time in my life with a person….vampire that I don't particularly like and thought that he help nothing but contempt for me.

I discovered that there were people out there who genuinely cared about are and to top it all off I was coming face to face with the one think I had been running from my entire life.

Normal people don't kiss vampires Casey!! I slapped my hand on my forehead repeatedly. "Stupid stupid stupid!"

I walked over to the side of the top and sat on the edge with my hands in my head.

He almost bit you! He would have bit you! You put yourself in a REDICULOUS situation all because of a kiss.

After a few deep sighs I sat up stared out into space.

But MAN what a kiss

That was by far the most outrageous thing I had done in my life.

Life…I thought about it for a moment…I wasted all these years considering my day to day hustle and bustle a life. For the first time, I actually felt as though I was living…it's a shame, come tomorrow night, it would all end.

I then thought about the hole I had….or should I say Eric had put in the wall and I chuckled. "Well at least I can mark that off of my list of things to do before I die."

The more I thought about it the more I laughed until I had fallen back in the tub clutching my stomach fighting for air.

**Authots notes** Well there you have it kiddos. Yeah I know. Pretty exciting! Caseys powers seem to be growing stronger wouldn't you say *FORESHADOWING*!! Haha R&R and ill upload another tomorrow alright? NIGHT!!