Eric's Demons
Chapter Four
Only when the ground dropped away from them did Sookie stop struggling. When she had refused to come with Eric he had simply grabbed her and leaped out the window, clutching her around the waist. They were climbing before she realized what he had done.
"Let me go!"
"Up here?"
"Take me down first, then let me go," she demanded.
"I need you, you're coming with me." His voice was flat and cold.
"Where's Bill?" she wanted to know.
"Gone."
"Gone where?" Sookie wasn't going to be put off.
"Gone."
"Mister conversation, what have you done with him?" Sookie was angry.
"Gone. He's just gone," Eric told her.
"You bastard, what have you done to him?"
Eric's strong hands turned her easily to face him. Suddenly she was aware of the nightie and how precious little it was now covering. He seemed not to notice.
"Why do you care? Sookie he betrayed you, sold you to the queen in return for the right to bond with you. They were going to use you, use your gift for their own schemes. Bill set you up from the start."
"I don't believe you Eric, why would they do that? Bill would never do anything like that to me!" Sookie didn't want to believe him, refused to. But hadn't she heard the two of them talking before Eric had abducted her.
"Tonight I'll get you all the proof you need, just trust me until then," his voice was softer, sincere. She was aware of how intensely he was looking at her.
"Where's Bill?" she asked again.
This time Eric ignored her.
Back at Fangtasia Eric marched her in through the back door, straight to his office. When the door was locked he let her go for the first time.
"Eric what's going on?" Sookie had felt the atmosphere as soon as they came in through the door. There was a tension she had never felt before.
"Trouble," he told her. "Shower and change, there should be some of Pam's stuff in that cupboard."
"Eric?" Sookie felt tears well, she was confused, scared. And angry.
When he knelt beside her, hand resting gently on her shoulder, she pulled back.
"Sookie, you're safe here, with me. I won't let anything happen to you. Once you understand what's happening you'll be free to go, or to do as you chose." This time when he reached for her she didn't pull away.
Confusion growing, she nodded, knowing it would be pointless to argue. Strangely she felt safe here with the vampire who had just abducted her. And she still didn't know what he had done with Bill. There was something about the way he touched her, the intensity in his eyes when he spoke to her that reassured her.
Eric moved away from her and for the first time Sookie realized his feet were bare. He dropped the blood spattered jacket on the floor, exposing his powerful chest, muscled arms, tight torso. For a moment Sookie forgot herself, forgot how much she hated this vampire.
He is beautiful though. And that ass. She felt guilty for her voyeurism, but it didn't make her look away. When he turned his back and dropped the jeans she couldn't help but gasp involuntarily. It looked every bit as good as she had dreamed it would.
A key turned in the office door. Pam let herself in. Sookie's face reddened as she saw the look Pam gave her, then the naked Northman.
Eric made no attempt to cover his modesty, it seemed he had none.
"It's done," Pam told him.
He nodded, "Can you look after Sookie?"
Looking again at the frightened girl in her nightie Pam nodded, led her out of the office. Eric locked the door again, went for that shower.
Clean, the gore from the evening's violence scrubbed off his skin if not from his mind, Eric picked his clothes from the wardrobe. Heavy black jeans, tight black shirt, motorcycle boots. Kneeling near the door he opened a large recess in the floor, lifted out the massive two handed sword. The same sword he had used in battle a thousand years before. This was no polished shining ornament, but a heavy dull steel killing tool that was so heavy most men would struggle to lift it.
Eric wielded it like foil, swinging it around, getting used to the weight again. By the time he was done he was sweaty, panting. Every muscle on his arms and neck stood out, his already impressive chest seemed bigger.
He was ready.
Unlocking the door he stepped out into the bar.