An Incomplete List of Marvelous People:

1. Charlaine Harris (she owns the SVM universe)

2. FiniteAnarchy (she is beta'ing this story)

Chapter 11 - Fine Vampired Friend

There was a doctor, a real one, running down the hall towards me now, and other people starting to crowd the end. The demon bolted past them toward the stairs, and I ran after him, struggling to keep a bead on his brain. I heard the door flung open, the metal clanging with force against the concrete wall, and I chased after, losing ground all the while. A door swung out in front of me on the second landing I came to and I shrieked at the sudden appearance of the police as they finally decided to show up. Two of them streaked past me, a third caught me up, held me back. I broke away from him easily, feeling Eric's blood hissing through my veins, but my head was focused two more flights down on the retreating buzz of the demon's mind and the officer got hold of me by the arms and this time he didn't bother to restrain his strength.

I felt the demon vanish out of my range, and I stopped struggling, but the solid grip on my arm remained. I looked up into the face of the police officer who was glaring down at me.

"He did something to Chip," I said helplessly, meeting only a stern and silent face in return.

I was escorted back upstairs, and I understood that I was to do nothing but stand here until someone was able to talk to me. Chip Young was dead. That was the main thought of all the medical staff, who were joined by more police officers, and very shortly after, by Mintah, arriving promptly for visiting hours.

I was led over to a chair and made to sit. At that point I realized that I was still holding copies of Sports Illustrated, Maxim, Men's Health, and Guns & Ammo. I shuffled through the periodicals, chiding myself for the impersonality of my offering. Men's mags, because he's a man, and a gun mag, because he's an armed guard. I stared down at the crossword puzzle book. I'd seen him doing them at lunch breaks a couple of times. I set the small pile aside, where for all I cared it could entertain some other hospital visitor.

Detective Ambroselli arrived on the scene and she spoke with the nurse who'd escorted me and had tried to no avail to save Chip from whatever toxin had been inserted into his inter-venous drip. She spoke with me, adamantly curious to know why I'd chosen to chase what was obviously a dangerous killer, and I just shrugged and answered truthfully that the nurse had screamed to stop him, and that's really all I could think of. I did my best to describe him, height a few inches taller than me, the light green eyes, the mask like a salon nail technician's. Hands that looked large and rough, even gloved. I answered every question knowing there was no way in... hell... that the human detectives would ever track down the demon culprit.

As the afternoon wore on, I became aware that the general but unspoken suspicion among the police was that Chip Young had been involved in the robbery, as the inside man. He had been extensively interviewed earlier in the day and had not been able to recall anything of value to the police. Why then, would he need to be killed? They strongly suspected that he had lied, and whoever he'd been working with wanted to tie up a loose end.

My suspicion, which I was able to voice to Mintah some hours later, was that he'd been done in before someone of a telepathic bent could sort through his muddled memories. Was his head trauma intended to be fatal at the start? It must have been a very small window from the time the police took off to the time I showed up, and the start of visiting hours. It still rankled that they'd left him unattended. It wasn't clear if there'd been some sort of expertly orchestrated distraction, or if they just relaxed when it became clear he didn't have the eye-witness account the police had been hoping for. I sincerely hoped for the former.

Eventually the police said I could go home. I looked to Mintah when they finally dismissed us from the hospital, and he'd ordered me home as well. He had pressing things to attend to, I could see. The nature of the attack had apparently given him some suspicions of his own. That's the sense I got, anyway; he wasn't sharing the details of his plans with me. Perhaps he wouldn't at all. I was his employee, not his confidant. The thought made me anxious; that the pieces were starting to fall into place for him, and soon he would be ready to act. I could hardly deny the relief I felt when I was not asked to play a part.

I was eager to see the end of this; to get everything back on track as it had been prior to a week ago. My life, furtive and tenuous as it may be, was fairly dull in its execution. While sometimes I did wish for a little more excitement, this week was no kind of example whatsoever of what I had meant. A cure to boredom might be some field work. Maybe a date or two. Maybe a few friends I could hang out with and not have to lie to and shield myself against them the whole time. I did not mean that my life could use more severed limbs, angry vampires, and other murderers. I was happy to be out of it, at least for another night.

Chip's boss from the security company had been contacted once it was realized that he had no next of kin. That was awful. Mintah had quickly volunteered to cover all the costs of his final arrangements, but it fell to the security boss to make them. The hospital had people who would help him with that, and Mintah also volunteered Brenda. I knew it wasn't Mintah's good nature that compelled him.

Though it was undoubtedly "the right thing to do," it was simply the most efficient means of quelling a potential problem. The gesture would reassure the security company and the other guards who worked for us. The potential for harm or death was something that every guard signed on for, but it remained highly unlikely and was certainly very unsettling. It was beneficial to show everyone who looked that should the worst ever come to pass, everything would be taken care of. It was small, but important, consolation. Even beyond appearances, it's just the tendency among supernatural beings to handle things "in-house" wherever possible.

There were no visitors waiting for me at home tonight, nor even a guard. I suppose Ghellert was needed more urgently elsewhere. I was on alert, but there was no one save my human neighbors to be felt in any direction. I wasn't hungry, but I forced myself to eat a little something. After cleaning up, I pulled out my own stationery box, pleased at the rare excuse to use it.

Sheriff Northman,

Thank you kindly for the gift set of DVDs. I enjoyed the program I saw on television, and look forward to watching the rest of the series.

Sincerely,

Sookie Stackhouse

I crumpled three sheets of my pretty, hummingbird-patterned paper before getting that short note written out. The first I had to discard for "Dear Eric," which I felt would set the wrong tone. On the second I'd written, "As you are aware, I enjoyed..." but I scrapped that because a thank you note should not sound snotty. On the third I began to expound on my surprise that this was his area of expertise, but threw that one away because I had dozens of questions that would most likely be answered by my watching the videos. I also decided it was best not to invite further correspondence. I was merely paying the appropriate courtesy for having received a gift. I had no doubt Eric would be in touch again at some point.

I addressed it to Eric Northman, c/o Fangtasia, and used the address from the club that I looked up online. I didn't know where else to send it, so that would have to do. It was probably okay, since he conducted all his business there. Hopefully whichever mistress of the dark took in the mail for them wouldn't raise a painted on eyebrow at the sight of the floral paper. I didn't print my return address on the envelope, just in case.

After that I decided to write out my bills, since it had turned into a miserable day anyway. I fixed everything with stamps and went back outside to my mailbox. I reached out to flip the little flag up, alerting the postman he'd have things to take away, and as I did I got a little shock of static electricity. It startled me, and I almost yelped before I realized in seconds that it hadn't come from my finger, it had come from my chest. I looked up and saw a shrouded figure closing in on me from yards away. I didn't take time to assess my surroundings before I tore off in the direction of my front porch, leaving the mailbox hanging open.

A hand scrabbled at my shirt and I whirled and thrust my palm up into the face of my attacker, feeling the crunch of cartilage under the heel of my hand and an immediate menacing hiss. I didn't wait. I used the seconds I'd bought and I ran.

I hit the first step and there was another shock, timed almost instantly with the strange hot feel of the magic barrier as I sunk through and whatever followed me was barred. I slammed the door behind me and only then did I cast out. There were two things out there, and I felt one of them circling the house. I caught my breath and tried to force the panic away.

I hurried to my bedroom and got my dagger. I felt the fuzzy brain outside coming near the window and bolted back to the kitchen where my phone sat on the counter. I picked it up and gaped at it in total loss.

Gran could not help with this, nor Jason. Cataliades, too far away. Niall, the same, and out of touch. Brenda could call someone, her sister or her friends, or...Mintah. I didn't have his direct line. I wasn't even sure if he had one. I dialed Splendide.

There was a third brain now, different from the other two, sharper, and just as malevolent. Two were circling the house now, doubtless looking for a gap in the protective magics. Thank you Niall, for insisting. Thank you for being so overprotective. The phone rang and rang.

There was no answer.

A pang of hysteria caught in my throat but I made myself keep it down. This was the fear, the moment before I was captured and taken by who knows who, and who knows why. The cause of my nightmares was at my door and I had no one. No one to call. No one who could get here fast enough. I scrolled through a list of contacts that seemed incredibly short. Eric. I could call Eric. Sure, I'd told him to get the hell out and go away, not that he had any reason to concern himself in the first place. I pushed the button to dial. It rang thrice before he picked up.

"Miss Stackhouse, what a pleasure to hear from you. I trust you liked my gift?"

"There are three creatures trying to get in my house, I don't know who else to call, no one is close. Please, I need your help," I said hurriedly.

"Creatures?" It registered somewhere in the back of my thoughts that the smiling tone with which he'd answered had vanished instantly.

"Something like demon. Please help me. Please," I panted, begged, making no effort to hide genuine terror. I would have felt shame if it weren't twelfth on my list of more pressing emotions. The pendant I wore was now thrumming steadily, threatening to out-pace my own heartbeat. I heard a loud thud, like something colliding with the side of the house. The line went dead. I prayed that meant he was on his way.

I retreated to the hallway, with my back to the wall. One brain was steady by the porch, the other two kept circling. There was a loud noise from above. One of them had scaled the roof. My head swiveled back and forth down the hall. I was afraid to move. I strained to hold on to whatever semblance of calm I could find, to keep my mind collected. Phone in one hand, knife in the other, I kept calling Splendide and getting nothing.

A wrenching caterwauling pierced the night, followed by a duller snarl and I shivered both in fear and in joy in my reprieve. One buzzing brain had blinked out, replaced by a void. He'd started on the roof. The second scout was silenced just as fast.

I didn't really have to stretch my mind anymore, I could hear the muffled grunts and thuds. There was another wailing sound and a sharp thud right on my porch. I felt the demon mind twist in on itself, and flicker. I ran to the front door and flung it open when Eric's was the last mind in my range.

Two more thuds as he dropped the... I gulped. My attacker lay in pieces at his feet. The fleeting relief I'd felt evaporated as he turned to face me.

Eric's eyes glinted just as demoniacally as anything that had been outside. Rather than wearying him, the short battle seemed to have left him invigorated. I could practically feel the energy coursing from him in waves. His smile was alarming.

"Sookie, invite me in."

I stepped back from the door and he did not take his eyes off me. I held his gaze for a long moment until I watched the shift in him; felt the fuse burn out.

"I mean you no harm," he told me. He sounded calm.

"Please come in," I breathed.

He walked right past me, directly into my clean kitchen and to my refrigerator and fished out one of the last couple of bottles of blood there and put it in the microwave. I followed after him dumbly, handing over a dish towel so he could wipe his hands and face.

"Explain," he prompted, after he'd emptied half the heated bottle down his gullet in only a couple of gulps.

"The human witness to the break-in was killed today in the hospital," I began. "I saw the thing that did it. He was dressed like a doctor, but, he wasn't. I chased him, but then the police got in the way, and he was too fast anyway. I think these are Mintah's enemies."

"And where is Mintah? Pam told me last night there was an eagle guarding you. Where is he?"

"I assume he was needed elsewhere. I only went out to put some letters in the box, and there was no one, and then... the first one came up so fast, I had barely any warning. I hit him and ran... Eric, thank you for coming."

He simply stared at me, and I was grateful he didn't make some quip. I didn't feel up to laughing.

I was still shivering and I rubbed my hands up and down my arms until I realized I was doing it then went to get a heavier sweater. When I returned to the kitchen Eric had done a somewhat better job ridding himself of the blackish-red splatter of the blood.

"I will speak with your demon employer tonight," Eric informed me. "His presence in my area has caused enough trouble that I will merit an audience."

I nodded and called Splendide again. Since there was still no answer, I called Brenda. I woke her up and I could tell she was annoyed, but she gave me the contact information she had. I apologized and said goodnight and dialed the international phone number she had given me. A couple of relays later, I had Mintah.

He was not thrilled to hear from me, that was obvious, but then I wasn't thrilled to be calling him, so we were even. I gave him the short version of what had happened since we'd parted. He told me he'd arrive in a couple of hours, if the vampire wanted to wait. Otherwise, he would simply send someone to "clean up the mess."

When I relayed all this to Eric, who had clearly heard it all anyway, he did his best to clamp down on his irritation, but it still showed.

"Do you know what those things were? The pair? They seemed weaker," I asked finally. I couldn't stand the brooding silence anymore, so I broke it with plodding conversation.

"Imps, fiends, whatever you wish to call them. They are a lesser species to the demon lying in halves on your porch."

It helped a lot to think of them that way; as beasts, monsters.

I nodded dully. "Thank you," I said again, really meaning it.

"Why do you thank me? Is this not why you called for me?"

"I'm sorry I had to. I didn't know what else to do. I did not think I could fight off two, and then the third came. I thank you because I am grateful. You did not have to come."

"Perhaps I should not have."

That hurt, more than a little. I might even have cringed back as he said it. There was no venom in his tone. He had sounded only speculative, but I couldn't muster the will to get defiant and shoot back asking why he had come to my rescue then. The wards might have held until other help arrived, but it was a pretty big "maybe" in that scenario. I stayed silent, resigned to the fact that I owed the Sheriff another debt.

When I grew tired of our staring contest, I went and put my knife away and washed my face with cold water, pressing my fists against my eyes. I wanted to curl up and sleep. Instead I changed my shirt, again. I didn't bother putting on bed clothes since more company would be arriving. I kept my shields full down but nothing was near. I took my shower curtain off its rings. I found my rubber gloves under the sink and pulled them on. I had nothing else to do until Mintah arrived. I trudged toward the door but the moment I pulled it open Eric was behind me, leaning over me to push it closed.

"There are body parts on my porch, Eric." It was pretty high on the list of sentences I never thought I'd say.

"The mess is not your responsibility. Leave it for your employer. It is his fault they are here."

"It's my porch, and he'll be a while yet."

"It is not safe," he said.

"Come outside with me then, if you are worried. I do have early warning, and I'll be alert to anyone coming near, now. Suppose someone were to drive by and see this mess? I'm amazed no one called the police, or the neighborhood watch."

We do have a neighborhood watch group, though it's pretty unofficial. It's mostly dads who take turns driving the circuit on weekend nights, keeping an eye out for their own kids or any unsavory characters. This is a pretty quiet area, and well suited to me. It isn't one of the more upscale neighborhoods like Pam's; it's full of people who work hard for a living and are proud of their homes, and want to keep things "nice."

"I am told most humans sleep at night. I doubt anyone overheard."

At least he listens.

"I'd feel better moving...things...out of sight from the road."

Eric narrowed his eyes at me and pushed me gently back against the wall as he angled past me.

"Stay inside," he warned.

I watched as he went out and gathered the carcass together then zipped out of sight. Moments later I heard him on the roof, and winced as I heard several soft thuds toward the back of the house as pieces fell to the ground. He was out there for all of five minutes before he returned. I shuddered as I took him in. He looked worse after his scant cleanup work than he did after the fight.

"I have left a pile for your demon to dispose of as he sees fit, but it is in the back of your yard. No one should see."

"I guess I'll take the hose to the steps in the morning," I thought aloud.

He glanced down at me with an irritated look and I quickly waved him off. "I wasn't making a suggestion. Thank you. Again."

He nodded and walked back to my kitchen. I heard the faucet turn on and then off a moment later. Then I heard him murmuring into his phone, which he hung up as I entered.

"Pam is coming here now," he informed me.

"Okay," I nodded.

Now that I was mostly calm, there was time for the awkwardness between Eric and I to settle in and take its boots off. I didn't want to apologize to him, and I didn't believe for a second that he's apologize to me; so with the usual first volley of conflict resolution unavailable, I was a little adrift. I got myself a glass of water and drank it. I thought perhaps I'd managed to leave him abashed. That he showed it, instead of getting angry, was probably the most I could hope to get.

"We need rules or something," I said. "Boundaries."

"Boundaries?"

"You can ask for my help, when you really need it, but if I say no, I need to know you will accept that and won't default to making threats or trying to force me. And I hope that you would only ask in a situation where I would say yes."

"This gives me no assurances," he considered.

"No, it doesn't," I agreed. "Just my word."

"The word of a human."

"The word of a vampire," I returned. He grinned.

"You do not wish to be troubled over petty concerns," he surmised.

"If that's how you need to think of it, yes," I shrugged.

"How do you think of it?" he asked.

"Cheating," I answered quickly. "And the worst kind of cheating. I force people to be betrayed by their own thoughts."

"They are betrayed by their own guilt," he countered. "Their own actions."

"Let he who is without sin cast the first stone," I recited. At his blank expression I explained, "Everyone is guilty of something."

He looked ambivalent about that and I felt compelled to keep explaining myself. I wanted him to get it.

"My gift," I began, and the word rankled, but it happened to fit best, "was given to me to protect myself. Even if all it gives me is a split second of foresight and the chance to move out of the way."

"It could be much more than that," he argued.

"It is much more than that," I sighed. "Eric, I hear everything, do you understand this? Every fleeting thought. Every worry. Every private admission. Every awful memory. It's not just some people who have these thoughts, it is everyone. If I look for wrongdoing, I will find it, everywhere."

His speculative gaze was interrupted by a knock at the door.

"Vampire," I said, after checking.

Pam arrived, bringing him a change of clothing. I showed him to the front bathroom. The thought that he was neatening up on Mintah's behalf was amusing, but I figured that either way he wouldn't want to continue sitting around flecked with demon gore. I took the opportunity to tidy up a little in the kitchen after he'd gone away. Pam sat with me for the few minutes and we chatted about nothing in particular.

Once Eric returned, I left them alone in the kitchen, retreating to the living room with a book. I could hear the quiet whisper of their conversation, but not what was being said, and I didn't bother to strain myself. It was either business, which didn't concern me, or he was filling her in on things that I already knew.

I felt Mintah's arrival along with two of his shifter guards well before he came to the door.

"He's here," I announced to my living room, knowing the vampires would hear me. When they appeared, I clarified, "Out back," with a nod in that general direction.

I set my book aside and started to get to my feet. "Should we go and meet him?"

"No," said Eric at once. "He will come inside."

Is he still concerned about my safety or are we putting on appearances now?

I answered the door when Mintah knocked and the kindly old benefactor was back as he embraced me and looked me over carefully, ensuring I was uninjured.

"I am sorry that you had a scare this evening," he told me.

"I am too," I said in response to that gaping understatement. "Thankfully Eric was able to get here quickly."

It was only then that Mintah deigned to glance at the vampires who stood just behind me in the small foyer.

"Mintah, this is the vampire Sheriff of this area, Eric Northman, and his child, Pam Ravenscroft."

"I know your name," Mintah said to Eric, with a very slight inclination of his head.

"And I know yours," Eric returned.

I was watching Pam, who went unacknowledged by the demon. I was almost certain that for a split second there was a glint of amusement in her eyes, but it did not remain.

"Should we all sit down?" I asked.

"Yes," agreed Eric. "There are matters to be addressed."

I looked to Mintah who nodded, and I led the small party back a few paces into the living room where Mintah and Eric took up the two club chairs and Pam and I sat on the couch. I offered refreshment, but Mintah declined. I made a mental note that I needed to buy more blood, if I was going to have regular vampire callers now.

"How do you account for the attack tonight on an asset in my area?" Eric demanded, opening with a display of strength.

"You are referring to Miss Stackhouse, I assume," Mintah replied blandly.

"Yes," Eric answered. "She tells me that a demon also murdered a human guard in the middle of the day in front of human witnesses."

"Are you implying that this was my doing?"

"This is your responsibility. Your failure to control your own sphere of influence has forced my involvement in demon business."

"You have no involvement here," Mintah dismissed.

"You have three corpses yet to dispose of that say differently. These creatures were sent after Sookie because of what she witnessed today. Will their master simply accept that they fail to return?"

"Mere foot soldiers," said my boss.

"Belonging to whom?"

I could only assume that Pam was right beside me in apprehension as well as body as we watched the exchange. Eric was demanding information that Mintah was not inclined to share, and I worried that this conversation could go bad very quickly.

"Are you asking because you're willing to help?" I interjected, addressing Eric.

His eyes shifted from Mintah to me. Surely he could see the opening I'd given him.

"I believe I have adequately displayed my willingness on that score tonight," he answered, before turning back to Mintah. "What was stolen from your business?"

"Everything which had been left to us by our supernatural clientèle," Mintah answered.

"To what end?" Eric asked.

"I have only suspicion."

We all waited for Mintah to elaborate, but when he didn't I got tired of waiting and decided to take a guess.

"Is it to hurt Splendide?" I asked. "In the eyes of the other supes, I mean. I've been thinking about what was taken, and how, and I figure it's not just about the objects. Surely people will be angry that their things were stolen."

"Surely," agreed Mintah.

"And it wasn't... I mean it's not just about the objects, because they're unrelated. The way they were taken, the way it looked like other things were missing. I mean, the whole situation makes it look like we're incompetent."

That one earned me a glare from Mintah, but I held out my hands in a plea for more time to explain, or rather to follow my own train of thought.

"And then, I mean, there's you."

"What do you mean?" Mintah asked.

"Well you're here," I said. "It... I mean you wouldn't still be here, maybe wouldn't have come at all, if it were just a cut and dry robbery, right?"

"I had not intended to be here for more than a cursory appraisal, no," conceded Mintah.

"So could it actually be about you?" I asked him.

"I suppose it is possible."

"My concern is in determining the immediate source of these attacks," Eric interrupted. "I must know what creature will seek retribution for the loss of these soldiers."

"I will know more when I have thoroughly examined the remains you have left. They will be removed tonight."

"Will you be providing a guard here in case another attempt is made?" Eric asked.

"One of my number will remain here, yes. He left his post only because he was needed elsewhere this evening."

"That is convenient," observed Eric.

"The guard was reluctant to leave her. It was my order that brought him away. Do not assume simply because you and yours can be betrayed by your own associates," snapped Mintah, with a pointed look towards Pam, "that this is the case for everyone. I do not surround myself with unknown elements."

Eric was staring daggers at me by the time Mintah had finished, and I felt rightfully abashed. Of course I hadn't just been gossiping when I'd had to explain about what happened to Pam, but that wouldn't stop Eric from resenting me for divulging their private business.

"Very well," said Eric stiffly. "It is in my interest that this matter be resolved as expediently as possible. In the eyes of the human authorities, unusual crimes always hint at vampire involvement, and that is attention which we do not welcome. I offer you my assistance in the resolution of this matter to that end."

"How generous of the vampire to act so selflessly," Mintah hissed sharply, before backing off. "I will accept your offer to help, however. If you will see to the guarding of this home until dawn, that will allow me time to conclude my dealings, which have been delayed by this meeting and will be further delayed by the cleanup outside. I would be willing to contact you when we are able to proceed. Tomorrow night."

"I am curious as to what could possibly detain you when the situation here seems the pressing matter."

Rather than answer him, Mintah stood.

"Miss Stackhouse, we will speak tomorrow. Ghellert will be outside when you wake."

I nodded, standing up as well, and found myself following my boss to the door to show him out. When I returned to Eric and Pam, they were staring at each other in unspoken conversation. Finally Pam stood.

"Goodnight, Sookie. I wish you a more pleasant evening."

"Thanks Pam," I said wryly. "You take care."

As she left, I followed her mind to the back of my property where it remained for a short time, joining those of the shifters who had been left by Mintah for cleanup detail. Soon enough she faded away, and my attention was left to Eric, who was staring at me.

"You follow their movements with unfocused eyes as though you're seeing through the walls," he commented.

"I didn't realize," I said, and had that same feeling that I'd had with Jason the other day. That was probably a habit I should be aware of, and try to break. I felt myself flush slightly with the realization that the people around me do watch and try to "read" me, just as I read them. Quickly, to escape my embarrassment I asked, "Will Tray Dawson be coming here again?"

"Perhaps tomorrow."

"Ah."

"We were not done with our earlier discussion," he said.

"I think we covered the important part," I hedged. Originally I had more to say to him, but at this point I just felt tired. I wanted to object to his obvious intention to stay here while I slept again, but I didn't think I could really make much of an argument tonight as far as his interest in my security went. He'd come up big, and it would just seem ungrateful to question his motivations.

"Did you have any further boundaries you wished to establish?"

"I think I've spoken my peace on all accounts. Did you have anything to add?"

"I would prefer if you did not rescind my invitation to your home again. Pam tells me that you did not rescind hers, but this is not enough. This is a practical measure, in the event that I need to enter this building should you be unable to speak an invitation, or Pam be unable to come here."

I knew that he could enter any dwelling occupied by his child. The same magic that protected humans from vampires would not protect a vampire from his maker, but once the child had vacated a premises, the maker could not reenter at will.

"Then don't give me a reason to rescind it," I told him.

"You have made yourself clear."

"Alright then," I said, unfolding the arms I'd unconsciously wrapped around myself again.

"You're staying here?" I verified.

"Until dawn. Go to rest. I will wake you before I leave so you can secure the doors."

I did as he suggested, pulling on a long sleeved t-shirt and some light cotton pants and washing up. I didn't barricade the door this time, and I didn't bother setting an alarm. Dawn wasn't all that far off at this point. I'd get in a cat nap before being woken again. I did not have much time to think before I was fast asleep.

It seems like moments later that a cool wind was tickling my ear, whispering my name.

"Sookie."

I reached up to brush the disturbance away and my fingertips fell upon a soft cheek. I turned my head slightly, pressing my face into the chilly surface, like the cold side of the pillow. I breathed in a stale, sweet smell, mixed with something else and let out a contented sigh. His grip tightened around my arm and he gently jostled me again.

"Sookie, wake."

"Mm."

I flattened my palm against the smooth plane, holding it to me as I nuzzled against it.

"Sookie, you must rise. Dawn is coming."

"Eric?" I murmured drowsily.

"Yes."

I pressed my face against his, making soft noises of protest as I caressed the line of his jaw, across his ear, his hair. It was all of five seconds before I stiffened as recognition set in, and another heartbeat before I let my hand drop abruptly to the bed. He leaned away.

He was looking down from where he stood over me as I blinked my eyes open. There was a strange expression on his face as he read what must have been alarm in mine.

"Come," he said after a moment. "Get up. I must go."

He was already across the room as I stumbled muzzily from my bed, taking a second to stretch my limbs before attempting to make them walk. I followed him down the hall to my front door.

"Your shifter guard has returned," he told me.

"Okay," I nodded.

"Sookie," he said, and I looked up at him in response. "Be safe today."

I nodded again, but he caught my chin between his thumb and forefinger stilling the movement. He leaned down and pressed his lips to my forehead and then he was gone. I locked the door behind him and trailed back to bed, eager to be asleep again and not to lose the dreamlike quality of the last few minutes. I flipped my pillow over and snuggled against the cool side.

After I woke for the second time, I spent a busy morning on the phone with Brenda, my grandmother, and Mr. Cataliades. I'd peeked through the windows and verified that there was no trace of the fighting from last night. There were a few smudges of ichor that Eric had tracked into the house. My stomach churned as I cleaned them up, but it was worse when I got to the bathroom. He'd left his bloodied clothes behind in a heap.

I took them out to the laundry closet along with the towels he'd used, intending to set them to soak with cold water and detergent before running them through a proper wash. As I spread the t-shirt out, I realized that there were many tiny holes where the corrosive blood had eaten away at the cotton. His jeans were in the same state, and with regret I realized that so were my towels. I sighed, knowing I'd have to replace them, but feeling grateful that the varnish and ceramic of my floors and sink had prevented any real damage there. I bundled everything into a bag to be disposed of later.

Something about it bothered me, and the parcel kept drawing my eye throughout the morning. I didn't have anything else to store it in, and I hoped the bag would hold. Between that, and thoughts of Eric, I couldn't get my mind to settle down at all.

I thought we'd come to a civil understanding, and that had been reassuring. The way he'd been before he left this morning had been almost gentle. I'd been half asleep and wasn't sure if I was remembering it correctly. It was so much at odds with the rest of him; the sheriff who had no bones about forcing my compliance, the righteous torturer who punished mercilessly. I had seen his lust, which was dark and dangerous, and his cold calculation. But then I'd also seen his almost childlike enjoyment in our tracking game, and been amused by his more old-fangled ways. He wasn't a dichotomy; it was more like multiple-personality disorder.

What frustrated me most was that I couldn't decide if these were all just different sides of him. I mean surely, yes, a thousand years adds some complexity to one's character, but maybe he was just manipulating me. I was caught up short when it occurred to me how distasteful I found that idea, because it shouldn't surprise me. I should expect it. He would try on all these different hats to see which one would appeal, to make me like him. To make me want to help him.

Should I like him? I mean, he'd pretty much been the acme of female fantasy last night; having literally flown to my aid and rent my enemies in twain. That's supposed to be a major turn on, right? Except it wasn't. My blood-soaked savior had been only slightly less terrifying than the creatures who had tried to kill me. Just less-scary enough that I invited him in and fed him on synthetic blood until he finished calming down.

I'd been standing still in my living room lost in my reverie when I finally shook myself free of thoughts of Eric Northman. There were more serious things to think about today. I shivered and my stomach churned again and I sat down abruptly, feeling overcome with the weight of the current situation. Yes, there was someone watching over me, but at any moment more attackers could return. I thought of the nurse at the hospital and wondered if she too, was in need of some kind of protection. I wondered if Mintah had thought of it, and I was disappointed in myself for not thinking of it sooner.

It was well into the afternoon by the time that Mintah called me and asked me to come to Splendide. Having abandoned the illusion that I wasn't under surveillance, Ghellert came to my door and rode with me over to the building, but he stayed outside as I went in. It was all business as I took a seat in the conference room. We hadn't had a chance to go over everything that had occurred at the hospital and Mintah led me through that, going over and over what details I could remember. The retelling took far longer than the actual incident, but his line of questioning seemed purposeful and deliberate. I could see that he found reason in it, even if it wasn't clear to me.

After the hospital incident, we went over the attack at home, where I had even less to tell, but he probed all the same. He had me show him the pendant that Diantha had brought.

"It has been some time since I have seen one of these," he mused. "An interesting application," he said, returning it to me.

"What is it?"

"It is for children, for their play."

"What kind of play?" I asked as I fastened the pendant back around my neck.

"You are aware that we have a range of gifts," he said, and I nodded, understanding that the "we" he referred to was demons in general. "Our children are born with them, and begin to hone their powers at a young age. It is not like shape shifters, for example, where they change only in adolescence, or vampires, which are made mostly as adults. The children at play freely use their powers on one another. The charm alerts the child if their playmates cease to consider their sparring to be a game."

For some reason I smiled at that; not necessarily at the idea of demon children playing violent games, but just to learn something new, on a subject I'd never really given much thought.

"Do you have any children?" I asked suddenly. I knew it was a really inappropriate time for irrelevant personal questions, but I didn't really stop to think about that before it just popped out. Well, he could just give me a stern look and ignore me if I'd overstepped my bounds.

"I have no progeny, no," he answered. "I did not take a wife before departing from my home world, and mating with humans is too... unreliable."

I frowned. I knew the meaning of that. He meant the woman is likely to die, which of course is why demons and part demons are so few. Because their blood is corrosive, and presumably their other...

"Do human males ever mate with demon women?" I asked. "The only part demons I know were all born to humans."

"I do not think this would be wise for the human male," he said.

"Kenneth Glassport said that he knew Gladiola. That's Mr. Cataliades' niece," I said.

"I know this," Mintah replied.

"No, I mean, he hinted a romantic interest in her. But he... I mean from what you say, he can't really have that."

"Yes?" He was impatient, and the aside conversation had gone on too long.

"Well, I think he lied to me," I said.

He gave me a look that indicated he had no idea why this was relevant.

"What I mean is, he could lie. I was listening to him. He lied with his thoughts, not just his words. That's... not impossible, and I had no reason to look further, but... if he can do that, if he knew to do that..."

"We can trust nothing he has said or done," Mintah surmised.

"Is he still... do you still have him somewhere?"

"He is still under guard."

"I'm thinking we should talk to him more, and more thoroughly," I said.

"Yes," Mintah agreed. "That would be a very good idea. And I believe we will call upon your vampire to assist with this. After all, he was so eager."

"Yes," I said vaguely, unwilling to let too many thoughts of Eric creep back in.