A/N: The SVM universe is owned by Charlaine Harris. This story is being beta'd by FiniteAnarchy. Big thank-you's to both!

Voting for the I Write The Songs contest ends tomorrow. There are many good stories in that collection, please have a look!

Chapter 21 - Vampire Merchant

Randall Shurtliff and his wife came and went leaving me with the mixed news that while the house could be fully restored, it wouldn't be for about six weeks. They simply didn't have the time to get it done before then. I thought that was odd considering the time of year, but I could see in both of their minds that it had been a busy season. I guess there were a lot of home repair projects that people needed doing before winter really settled in during January and February. I had to grudgingly admit that this was one good thing about having telepathy; I could tell that the Shurtliffs were being honest with me. Randall did what he could today, which amounted to fixing some insulation and plastic sheeting over the broken glass. It wasn't pretty, but at least it would keep out the weather.

While Randall worked on the windows I talked money with Delia, his wife and business partner. She knew the bulk of their payment would be coming from what Gran got through the fire and home insurance. I warned her that I didn't want them skimping on materials to try to come in at the right cost. I wanted the job done right, and we would also want new windows throughout in addition to the repairs. If Jason wanted to chip in, he could, but I was prepared to use some of my savings to foot the bill. When Gran was finally able to return to her home, she'd find it in better condition than she left it. No more drafty single-panes for Adele Stackhouse.

Delia was pleasant to talk to. She appreciated that I could ask for what I wanted, and was happy to give me plain answers. I wasn't sure if there was some kinship between us, as two professional women, but I knew I liked her. She had an open and no-nonsense way about her, and it was very clear that her relationship with Randall was an equal partnership in every sense. I felt very positive about having them do the work.

I was grateful to be in a position where I could afford to have a little extra done to Gran's house. Even without the Herbahz sale to boost our sales figures, the end of year bonuses at work had been generous. I'm sure it had to do with all the upset the last few weeks. Mintah had lived among humans long enough to know that a little extra money in someone's hands forgives a lot of inconvenience. Though I'd already received my more personal token of thanks from him, it was nice to be included with everyone else when Brenda had brought out the narrow envelopes towards the end of our Christmas lunch.

Having been raised with very little, once I started working at Splendide, I found I had more money than I knew what to do with. I squirreled everything I could away and allowed myself the comfort of knowing that if things ever got really dire, for any reason, I could take care of myself.

Tray took it upon himself to walk around the perimeter of the property. I stood outside in the cold, unsure of what to do with myself while Dennis Pettibone did whatever he was doing for his arson investigation. I'd filled Tray in on the way over as much as I could about what I knew and what I suspected. He was tactful enough not to ask questions about the finer points; like how I knew there had been someone lurking in the woods for a couple of days, and how I'd managed to attract the negative attention of fairies. He knew what kind of work we did at Splendide, and knew I had some association with the vampire Sheriff of the area. He knew I knew about the supes, quite a lot about them, but he didn't know why.

After making his first circuit, Tray caught my eye and gestured into the trees, and I knew he meant to shift and have a look around. In response, I pointed to the general area where I had felt the encroaching mind. After he'd disappeared I went inside. Mr. Pettibone wasn't exactly comfortable being the center of my undivided attention, much as he was trying to ignore my presence to do his work.

Gran and Hadley had spent the days leading up to Christmas scouring the house from top to bottom so there wasn't really anything that needed doing. I packed the leftovers for lunch and set them aside. It didn't feel right just unceremoniously packing up all the holiday decorations either, even though Gran wouldn't be staying here to enjoy them for a few more days after she left the hospital. I could always come over and do that next weekend. Though we'd give her the choice of course, I was fairly confident that she would stay with Jason. I built a fire to try to warm the chilly front room and then called my brother at work to let him know what the contractor had said. After I'd done so he asked me what I'd done to Hadley.

"What do you mean 'What'd I do to Hadley'? I didn't do a thing to her."

"Then why's she so pissed with you? I mentioned to her last night about going over to stay with you a night or two and she acted like you were her worst enemy."

"I guess it got a little tense here yesterday. I'm sure she'll get over it." I could only hope that was true. I supposed I had become the focus of all her angst about yesterday, once she'd come out of her own shock a little. Maybe it was just what she was telling Jason, or maybe it was true. Either way, I had to be grateful that she'd not blabbed.

"Uh-huh."

"So Jason, you're prepared to have Gran and Hadley stay with you while she's recovering and her house is being worked on, right?"

"Can't she stay with you?"

"She certainly can, but I'm assuming you're willing to do whatever it takes to keep your only Grandmother comfortable in her convalescence, which is likely to include staying in her own town, closer to her own doctors."

"How long'd he say it's gonna be before she can move back in?"

"Six weeks."

I heard Jason's lungs deflate in acceptance and nodded to myself. It's not that he's unwilling to do the right thing, but sometimes you have to lead him to it.

"I'll get Hadley to help me get ready for her tonight then."

"Thanks Jason."

I dug out Gran's old suitcases so they'd be out when she was ready to pack after coming home from the hospital, and took the time to pack her up a bag full of her toiletries and a couple of nightgowns in case she was getting tired of the hospital ones, and some clean clothes for her to wear on her way home, which would hopefully only be in another day or two. I found a couple of novels by her bedside table and tucked them in too, chiding myself for not taking care of this yesterday. I only hoped that she'd spent her time resting as much as possible in between all the fussing from the doctors and nurses, and then I remembered that she'd had Hadley there to keep her company, as she did today.

It was probably going to be a while before I really got used to the idea of Hadley being around again.

Dennis Pettibone knocked on the door to let me know that he was leaving the property to go and meet some of the local police officers for lunch at the nearby bar. Bon Temps doesn't offer much variety as far as places that serve food go. Jason eats at Merlotte's regularly too, I knew. Maybe he'd be there today as well. Though I would have sensed the investigator's departure regardless, I appreciated the consideration he showed in keeping me informed about his coming and going from the house. He'd return later in the afternoon to finish up his work. He was eager to get over to the bar and hoped he'd be waited on by the same pretty redhead who had served him last night, so I didn't bother holding him up with questions. I let him know that I'd probably be gone to the hospital by the time he returned, and would speak to him soon.

It was a while before Tray turned up again, and I was chomping at the bit to get over to see Gran. When I saw him come striding out of the woods, he looked a little tired, though no more disheveled than if he really had been out there for a simple stroll. I carried the things I would be taking to Gran out to the car, meeting Tray in the driveway.

"If you don't need anything from inside, I'd like to get over to the hospital. I've packed you up a couple of sandwiches and a coke for lunch."

"I'm fine, thanks."

I nodded at that, and he came around to the passenger side and got in. As we drove toward Granger, Tray told me that he hadn't found any trace of Weres in the woods. He had discerned evidence of a couple of different shifters, though not particularly near the house, and nothing in the yard.

"I can't rule out that the fire didn't do some to obscure the smell, but I don't think anyone's been close. I got fairies, the same ones as in your driveway, and human all around. It's a bit faint. You, I think. You go out there much?"

"Sometimes, when I'm over here on the weekends," I said. "It's been a couple of weeks."

He nodded. Evidently this agreed with whatever he'd picked up. "Closer to the house there's too many. More than a dozen different humans. Between so many different tracks and the fire smell, it's too hard to tell specifics close up."

"The fairies are the main concern," I said firmly.

We rode in silence as he debated several possibilities as to why that might be, and I pretended with great determination that I had no idea what he was thinking. I didn't struggle to block him out then, I waited until I parked the car in the big hospital lot and the anguish of the woman three cars over hit me before I focused every bit of energy I didn't need to walk and talk on keeping her mental voice, and the many others that would be waiting inside, out.

"Give me a moment," Tray Dawson said, as we entered. I watched confusedly as he paced forward to the main desk. The woman sitting there peered up at him with a nervous expression, but then seemed to relax, nodding and smiling agreeably as he did the same. He rejoined me and we walked to the elevators.

"What was that about?" I asked, as we waited for the car to arrive and the doors to open.

"I'm carrying my service weapon," he informed me. "I had to make sure that was allowed in your grandmother's ward, and it's a courtesy to inform the staff when you enter a public building," Tray continued matter-of-factly.

I nodded. I guess I'd quickly gotten used to Tray as a friendly face. Being informed that he had a concealed gun on his person reminded me like no amount of his general looming had done, that he was a guard - my guard. The idea that he was carrying didn't make me uncomfortable in itself. Gran always kept an old shotgun in the closet. Jason still had my dad's old gun, and newer ones of his own, used for hunting. The guards at Splendide all wore handguns on their hips, well, except the new vampires. It was just more than a little disconcerting to realize that I was walking around with my own armed guard. It seemed to fly in the face of staying inconspicuous.

He didn't necessarily look like my guard, but what else would he be? My boyfriend? He was a little old for me. As opposed to the thousand year old vampire you are lusting after. Eric was different regardless, since he didn't look any older than me, but I figured it was like my brother said when he was watching sports: go big, or go home. If you're going to date an older man, date one so old he remembers the dark ages.

"I've never fired it outside of the shooting range, if that's your concern," Tray said. I mentally scolded myself for letting my face show my emotions again.

"No, it's not that," I assured him. It truly wasn't, but Tray was still bent on the assumption that I worried about the presence of his gun.

"I've done this sort of thing before a few times. Normally it's watching over some guy's girlfriend or wife when he thinks she might be stepping out on him, or she's spooked by something or another. Your vampire made it clear we're looking at a real threat here, and as we don't know exactly what we're dealing with, I figured it best to play it safe."

He leaned up again as the elevators doors opened on to Gran's floor. Though we'd ridden alone, he had bent his head nearer to my ear and spoke of the unknown threat in a hushed voice.

I smiled over at the nurses' station as we exited before turning back to Tray.

"Are you coming in?" I asked him.

"I'll just wait out here," he said, looking around. "Maybe take a walk around the floor."

We walked over to the small waiting area and I set the lunch bag down on one of the chairs and fished out Tray's sandwiches and drinks before going in to see Gran. She and Hadley were playing Gin Rummy and they finished the game as I set out our own lunch things. Gran's tray of hospital food was sitting there untouched. It was nice that they'd waited so we could all eat together. I let Gran know I'd brought her things along and placed her bag to the side and out of the way. There were more flowers and plants around, sent by her well-wishers. We would have quite a lot to carry out of here when Gran was ready to leave.

Hadley took a little while to ease into conversation with me, but by the end of our meal the three of us were chatting amiably. I filled them in on the goings on at the house, and I asked Gran whether she'd prefer to stay with me and Jason.

"I think Jason has more room for the two of us," Gran said diplomatically. "Not that I don't wish to stay with you, Sookie, but Jason's place is just closer to town, and having the two of them around will be good for me."

I nodded, and let her know that I'd be seeing about her car tomorrow. The house had taken priority. Though we hadn't exactly spoken about it, the three of us grandchildren had worked out a good arrangement. Hadley was on hand to tend to Gran's person, I would take care getting her home back in order, and Jason would provide her temporary abode and transportation in the meanwhile. I thought back to when Aunt Linda had been sick, and caring for her had been almost exclusively Gran's responsibility. I started to think I wasn't doing enough.

We hadn't arrived there naturally, so I finally had to jump in and ask about the sensitive subject of Wallace.

"Oh, that nice young man from the church? He said he'd visit again today. He was hoping to meet you, Sookie."

"He was?" I bet he would wish he hadn't met me now. "How long has he been coming to church?"

"You know, I don't think I'd ever seen him there before. But you know how it is these days," Gran said, letting umbrage color her tone. "Some people only remember to come to church on Easter and Christmas."

I nodded, but I couldn't help being frustrated with the apparent dead end. It really had been a perfectly convenient time to scout us unawares. There were enough familiar people that everyone felt safe, and just enough unfamiliar ones that no one particularly stood out as an outsider. I'd only noticed him at all because he was handsome.

Hadley may have warmed to me in Gran's presence, but wasn't interested in any one on one time. She announced that she'd be staying with Gran until Jason came by after work then going home with him before I could even ask if she wanted a ride anywhere. With that, I more or less assumed it was time for me to leave. I tried not to take it as a dismissal, but once again I must have let my face show what I was thinking. It really was difficult to focus on that in addition to the strong shields.

Gran reached over and gave my hand a little squeeze. "We know it's hard for you to visit in a place like this honey. I do appreciate your coming by."

Tray was standing sentry just outside the door of Gran's room as I left, and the sudden appearance of him actually startled me. He chuckled when I jumped.

"Most people see me a mile away," he grinned.

Most people rely on their eyes alone to know someone is there.

Having no more business in Bon Temps, we returned to Shreveport. He insisted on checking the yard before joining me inside. I already had my laptop open on the kitchen table when he walked in and folded his arms, leaning against the door frame.

"So your grandmother's house is where you kill the fairies, and your house is where you kill the demons. Where do you kill the vamps and the shifters, your brother's place?"

"Excuse me?"

"Your yard is foul with the smell of demon blood."

"That wasn't my doing," I said quickly.

"No, I don't reckon it would be, little thing like you."

I scowled. I wasn't a little thing except in comparison to a hulk like Tray, first of all. Secondly, I found myself indignant about the accusation that I couldn't kill a demon while being simultaneously completely aware and fearful of the truth of that fact.

"Well I guess that's why you're here," I muttered.

"Sookie, I like to mind my own business as a general rule, but if I'm going to be watching out for you for a few days, I think I need to know a little bit more about you."

"The demons who attacked here did so because I saw one of them break into Splendide, and saw another one of them killing the guard who also saw them breaking in. I didn't kill them, Eric did, and he also killed their master, and they won't be back."

"And the fairy?"

"I killed the fairy." I saw his eyes widen. "Yes, little old me. Yes it was a fluke. I got lucky," I said, breathing out. "Really lucky. But he's dead, just the same."

"And why are they after you?"

"I honestly don't know."

"And you are...?" I knew what he was asking. So much for all my damned secrecy.

"My grandfather was a half-fairy. So me, my brother, my cousin, we're an eighth. They don't even know about that, or at least, my brother doesn't. My cousin didn't until yesterday."

"Ah," Tray said. "I suppose that explains the vamp's interest then."

He'd been wondering why Eric gave enough of a damn to stick a guard on me. I closed my eyes. That was insensitive, but not mean-spirited. He had not been trying to insult me, even though he had. He didn't even know about my other attributes. Maybe he was correct, at that.

"Yes," I answered dully. "I suppose it might."

I didn't want him to see how much his offhand comment had hurt me. I folded my computer and stood up with it tucked under my arm.

"Please help yourself to anything in the kitchen. I'm just going to get some work done, excuse me," I said quickly, and then edged past him before practically fleeing down the hall to my bedroom.

I pressed the door closed behind me and then sat on my bed and went back to reviewing my emails. I found it difficult to concentrate on replies. I belong to a few professional mailing lists, so I always have queries and pictures of finds. It wasn't long before dark and I ended up spending most of the time reading articles about an ongoing dig in South America. A site they'd initially thought to be a small village was turning out to be much larger and the researchers there were finding more artifacts on a daily basis. Nothing was standout as particularly unique, yet, but the sheer volume had the entire team very excited. I found their research log on the Web and spent the rest of the afternoon reading through it, looking at photos of the things they'd found, snapshots of the dig team and the local area.

I envied them such an experience.

One of the posts showed an object they were trying to identify which looked an awful lot like a whistle that I'd once come across from roughly the same geographical region. I sent an email response describing the dimensions and characteristics of the piece I'd seen along with a few lines saying how much I'd enjoyed reading about their experiences on the dig, and wished them luck.

I'd just clicked send when I heard Tray's phone ringing somewhere in the front of the house and realized it had gone full dark. A couple of minutes later there was a knock on my door and my bodyguard stuck his head in to let me know that the vamps were up and he was leaving for the night. I followed him out front and he told me that he'd be back in the morning. I said goodnight to him and locked the door behind him.

I settled in to a quiet evening. Sick of leftovers, I cooked myself dinner and sat down to watch some television. I hadn't really expected Eric to call me after whatever he was doing with the witches. I expected another note to be hand-delivered by Bobby Burnham some time tomorrow with a brief, "We are well," inscribed. I was surprised, therefore, when my phone rang right before midnight, just as I was going to get ready for bed, and his name came up on the caller ID.

"Hello?" I answered.

"Sookie? This is Pam." Uh-oh.

"Hey Pam. Everything alright?"

"No it isn't. Is your guard still there?"

"Uh, no, he left after sundown. I thought he'd talked to Eric."

"Shit!"

"Pam what's going on?"

"I have a problem. We have a problem. We need your help. I need you to meet me."

"Excuse me? What happened to staying in my house unless accompanied by my guard?"

"I promise you if any fairies follow you I will eat them when you get here. I need your help. Eric needs your help."

"Is he okay?"

"Yes. He will be, for now, he is damaged."

"What happened?"

"I will explain when you meet me. We have to move again. They are tracking me."

She asked me to meet her at a rest stop on the highway east of Shreveport, and hung up the phone. I stared at it for a few moments, wondering if I was about to make an incredibly stupid mistake. Then, I grabbed my keys and for good measure, my knife, and got in the car.

It took me almost forty minutes to reach the location Pam had specified. When I did, I spotted her and Eric standing in the far corner of the parking lot. There were a few brains around, all humans going about their normal business. A sleeping trucker, a couple trying to make their navigation device function, a mother changing a diaper in the back seat of her car. Why wouldn't she go inside the restroom? Surely there was a changing table in there? Apart from that, there was nothing out of the ordinary. I let the car roll close to Pam and Eric and Pam seemed to be guiding Eric forward. By the time I stopped, putting the car in park but leaving it to idle, she was opening my passenger door for him.

"Pam? What's going on?"

Eric was patting the seat as though trying to get its dimensions. His hand came in brief contact with the silver knife blade and he bucked upwards, banging his head against the roof of my car, shaking the entire thing. He grabbed at the knife again and threw it furiously behind him. I heard it clatter across the concrete.

"Eric, what the heck?" I said, unbuckling my seatbelt and getting out so I could collect my weapon. It was valuable, in addition to being useful. Also, I really liked it. He knew that. He didn't say a word, just hurled himself into the car and slammed the door. He should be grateful the seat was already pushed so far back from Tray riding in it earlier. He was definitely in a temper.

"He is blind," Pam said. She'd come up behind me and clutched my arm once I stood up from retrieving the knife.

"What do you mean 'he is blind?'" I was certainly Miss Disbelieving lately.

"He cannot see. The witches used a spell. Gerald was affected too. He is finally dead, now."

She sounded almost blasé.

"Wasn't he your nestmate?"

"Yes."

"Are you alright?"

I'd meant about Gerald dying when I asked, but her concerns were obviously more focused on her immediate safety.

"They have my hair. One of them pulled out a portion of my scalp," she said. It was only then that I really took in her appearance. Her light tan pants had many smudges of dirt and the smeared splatter of blood. One of the back pockets had been ripped off. She had scrapes across her skin that were yet to heal, which meant they had to be quite bad. Her hair was pulled back with an elastic, but I thought I could make out a patch of pink; a divot where hair should have been. The wound was still raw. I didn't examine it any closer.

"They can use their magics to track me too easily. Eric in this state slows me down. We have to separate or we are both in peril."

"What do I do with him?"

"Take him to your house. It is warded against harm and they won't be able to find him anyway. He will be safe there."

"What about you?"

"I'm going to steal one of these cars and drive to Red Chute."

"Red Chute? That's where..."

"That's where I was held when I was taken. Eric could not detect me in that place. It is the best hope I have to rest for the day without being found."

I looked at her in alarm. A shed in the backyard of her enemy? A shed where she was held captive for days was her best hope?

"Come with us," I told her. "We can fight them."

"We can't," she paused, considering. "At least not like this. I've told the others to scatter. Tomorrow night we will...regroup."

I didn't understand what she was saying. I know witches can be powerful in numbers, but surely they are no match for vampires determined to take them out? Vampires, with their strength and great speed, can easily overpower any human.

"Pam, how did this happen?"

She let out an irritated sigh which I ignored. I think I was owed an explanation, even an abbreviated one. I'd practically got out of bed for this.

"We discovered the building where the witches were holed up after our meeting yesterday. Tonight, we closed Fangtasia and Eric summoned several of those loyal to him to assist in the attack. When we entered, they were ready for us. They silenced Eric with magic so he could not give commands and then cast a spell that made everyone sick. Some of our party were distracted by that. Then, some of the witches began to shift."

"Shift?"

"They are Weres. Some of them, anyway."

"You didn't know that before?"

"The stink of magic about them obscured everything else. Even Eric could not detect it," Pam said defensively.

I put my hand to my head as if I could somehow will away what she was telling me.

"Eric killed their leader, a woman named Hallow," Pam told me. "But rather than send them into a panic, it only seemed to condense their group. We killed some, but the fight was not going in our favor. I called the retreat, and fled with Eric. We realized very quickly they could follow us. I've talked to the others. They are safe."

"Jesus, Pam."

"You must take Eric now and go, do you understand?"

"I understand."

"Thank you. We will speak soon."

She finally released my arm and I rubbed at it. I turned back towards my car and realized there were three people approaching our vacant portion of the parking lot. I didn't hesitate in reaching out for their minds.

"Shit." I heard Pam say. She'd seen them too.

"Two human, the one on the left is a Were. Trying their blinding again."

"Sookie, leave. Take him and go! Now!"

Pam crouched, obviously ready to fight. I ran for it.

Eric was getting out of the car, having heard something or maybe felt my panic and Pam's determination. Even without his sight he had to know there was something. I pushed back against the door he was trying to open as I ran past.

"No, no, no!" I said. I didn't want to shout, and call any more attention to myself. The witches and the Were were still focused on Pam.

I threw myself into the car and shifted into drive, pressing down on the gas before I even heard his door close again.

In my rearview mirror I saw Pam bolt forward and seize one of the witches, continuing to run with him, separating him from the others. I had to swerve suddenly to avoid hitting the curb and when I glanced back again I couldn't see Pam or anyone else. I floored it.

I didn't even know what to say to the huge vampire sitting next to me.

"Are you alright?" I asked. He didn't answer.

Of course he didn't answer, the witches had silenced him.

"Shoot, sorry," I muttered. "Pam will be okay, won't she?" I risked a glance over at him. He was staring sightlessly forward, a scowl on his face.

"I guess you're concentrating on your bond with her?"

Nothing.

"Nod for yes and shake for no, Eric," I told him, not bothering to hide my frustration.

He nodded.

"Is she fighting?"

A nod.

"Is she winning?"

He hesitated, and then, a slower nod.

"Good," I breathed. I drove for a little while and took the next exit to turn around on the highway. I told him what I was doing so he wouldn't wonder why we were heading back in the direction of Pam.

"I'll get you some paper and a pen when we get home."

It was nearly two by the time we got back to my house. I pulled up the driveway as close as I could get and cast out with my mind making certain we were alone. He opened the door, stepped out with one foot, and was leaning his body outward with his head cocked, clearly listening to make sure of that fact for himself.

"Come on," I told him, leading him by the hand. "It's safe."

He was full of tension as he shuffled along behind me while I led us up to the house. It was only when we were inside that he seemed to relax. He leaned back against the wall and let his hands fall to his sides. Now in the light, unbent, I could see that Eric showed some wear and tear from his battle this evening too.

"Let's get you some blood, and something to write on," I told him.

I took his hand again but he pulled away from me and gestured me to walk ahead. I figured this was something like male pride, so I went in the kitchen and put a bottle of blood in the microwave for him, then put my phone pad and a pen down for him to write with.

He moved along the wall and into the kitchen. He had his hands at his sides but his fingers spread slightly in front of him, and he walked slowly. He'd been here enough times now to be familiar with how things were situated in my house, but I guess not enough that like me, he could walk from one end to the other in the pitch black and pour himself a glass of water. If he drank water.

He probably must. I mean, blood is what, 80% water? Maybe not for preference, but he must be able to.

"Can you drink water?" I asked him.

He turned to face me as I spoke, and raised his eyebrows. Even with unfocused eyes, his expression was practically the same. It made me smile.

The timer beeped for his blood and I took it out, recapped it, and gave the bottle a little shake, setting it down for him. He was taking his time surreptitiously locating the nearest chair, but it was clear he didn't want my help, so I let him be. I made myself a cup of hot chocolate and by the time it was ready, he was finally sitting down. I shifted his blood closer to him, and moved his hand over to the pen and pad, giving it a little squeeze. I wasn't babying him. I wanted some darned answers.

He drank the blood down quickly and then nudged the bottle away from him with his fingertips. I got up to heat him another and he took up the pen.

Yes. We can drink water in small amounts. This has sometimes been necessary to affect the appearance of being human.

Pam is well. I feel that she is well. Pleased with herself. Hopefully she will call soon.

I will need somewhere light-tight to spend the day. A closet will do if you can seal over the cracks around the door and beneath the floor. You will need to check it for light.

I read the pad as he took his second bottle of blood, sipping it more slowly.

"I guess we can put you in the closet in the front bedroom. I'll draw the curtains and the blinds, and you can lock the door from the inside. We can put a blanket over the closet door so it keeps light out of the cracks, and I guess I can give you some tape, to tape up around the frame from the inside too. It won't be comfortable, but it should keep you safe."

Thank you.

"You probably want to clean up, too. I don't have anything for you to wear, but I'm sure we can wrap you in a towel or a blanket or something while your clothes are in the laundry. You came out better than Pam did."

Pam can see and speak

He slammed the pen down to punctuate the written sentence.

"Sorry," I said, as soon as I had read it. "I only meant clothes-wise. She's all ripped and stained. Your things look like they'd wash up fine."

After we finished our respective drinks, I brooked no argument and helped Eric to the shower. He stripped in front of me, and I tried not to be embarrassed about that. I'd seen him naked before, and he obviously wasn't ashamed of his body, with good reason. I couldn't help it when I went pink though; a combination of my own bashfulness, and if I'm being honest, my own lust at the sight of him.

"I think I'm glad you can't see me right now," I grinned, knowing he'd be aware of how I was feeling. He could probably feel the heat coming off my cheeks. "I'm redder than a tomato."

He paused stepping in to the shower, one hand steady on the opposite wall, and ran his other hand across and down his own chest and torso. I let him go for a while. Though he couldn't see me doing it, I could just tell he was enjoying being admired. He had clearly had a lousy evening and it was no skin off my nose if he had a moment or two of good feeling. Before he could get too far down the trail of coarse blonde hair, I snatched up his jeans, shirt, and briefs, and scurried out of the room. I'd already put a towel out for him.

After getting the wash started I found the thickest and heaviest of blankets, which happened to be the one on my bed. I pulled it off and carried it in to the other bedroom. I had some clothes hanging in there. They were off-season things, summer sundresses, light coats and blouses. I pulled them out on their hangers and laid them across the bed. There was a shelf in there. He would be forced to kind of slouch or crouch to fit. Yeah, my home is definitely not cozy where visiting vampires are concerned. Not that it should have been.

If he had to stay another night, maybe we could see about getting a travel coffin delivered for him to sleep in or something. There are places you can rent them. I've seen the commercials on television. It's amazing how many new types of businesses have come about in the wake of the vampires' great coming out event. Rent-a-coffin, mail order blood, the Virtual Sunlight videos, the Natur-Skin home tanning program, specifically designed to normalize the ghostly pallor of undeath. Of course it goes the other way too, with bars like Eric's and his vampire security company. There were vampire performers and entertainers. It's really no wonder that the Great Revelation had gone over so well in the United States. The vampires were an economy unto themselves.

I dug out a flashlight and gave it to Eric to hold and point at the door when he appeared in the front bedroom wearing naught but a towel wrapped around his hips. I ducked into the closet and it seemed to me like the tape wouldn't even be necessary. I explained this, and apologized about the dimensions, and told him my plan if he were forced to stay again. He balled up his fists. I could tell he was frustrated.

His pad and pen were still on the table. Maybe I should get him a little chalkboard to wear around his neck. He wouldn't thank me for that, I bet.

My phone started ringing then. I rushed past Eric to answer it in the kitchen, fully expecting it to be Pam. It wasn't.

I glanced at the clock on the microwave. Three-thirty. "Jason? What's wrong?"

"Sook, is Hadley with you?" This night just gets better and better.

"How long has she been gone?"

"I dropped her off at Merlotte's around eight, she said she'd call me if she couldn't get a ride home. Bar's been closed for a couple of hours now. I called Sam Merlotte up and woke him to ask if he'd seen her. He said she'd come in for dinner, but hadn't stayed much longer than that."

"You let her go alone?"

"I was meeting a friend. She didn't want to be the third wheel. It was her idea!"

"Damn it!"

I was about to tell Jason to call the police, when I realized that there was nothing they could do. Technically, Hadley was already a missing person. As far as I knew, they hadn't paid a visit to the local station to get the status she'd had for the last few years lifted. Apart from that, it seemed incredibly unlikely that Hadley would have been taken by anyone the Bon Temps police department would be able to apprehend.

I found myself wishing, very hard, that she'd simply run away again.

Jason wanted to know what he should do, and I didn't have a single idea. I said I'd call him back. I left a message for Niall. I sure felt like a damned nuisance to him lately.

Eric had come up behind me, but when I didn't acknowledge him he sat back down at the table. His towel had come unwrapped as he hunched in the chair, and I took it as a measure of my own worry that I couldn't dwell on what he was displaying. He held up his pad again.

Do the fairies have your cousin?

"I don't know," I answered honestly. "I have to hope that Niall will find her if they do. This is going to kill Gran."

I slumped down into a chair beside him, and he leaned over and rubbed by leg awkwardly. I suppose it was meant to be comforting. I tried to let it be.

Pam called in the few minutes that we continued to sit in the kitchen to inform us that she was about to enter the shed. We didn't expect her to have cellphone reception therein. I reminded her to shut the phone off so she wouldn't drain its battery and we agreed to speak an hour after first dark tomorrow, or later today, anyway. That would give her enough time to get somewhere safe. We wouldn't hear from her again tonight unless the witches breached her hiding place.

I knew as soon as she entered because Eric went rigid. Without his sight, he seemed to be focusing very hard on his other senses, which would include his bond to Pam. He would have felt it dim as she moved through the veil of the protective magic. It was too bad that Jack Mason had rescinded Eric's invitation to enter his property. That probably would have been a better hiding place for both of them.

I was too tense to go to sleep, and so Eric and I sat up with the television on low volume until nearly dawn. It was some program about this Visigoths that I probably would have found interesting if I'd been able to focus on it. Close to dawn I realized I was being carried down the hall toward my bedroom. I must have dozed off in spite of myself. I started to squirm and protest but it only made Eric stop walking and clutch me tighter. I guess he had the need to feel useful, even to a small extent. I could understand that, so I let him. After he'd successfully put me down on the bed, I caught his hand and gave it a squeeze.

"Can I tuck you in as well?" I asked. He scowled, but nodded.

I ended up putting a chair from the kitchen into the closet so he could sit. His knees were still bent right up against the wall, but it was probably more comfortable than anything else. I shut him in and made sure the door was covered, and the window. I folded a towel up lengthwise and laid it down below the bedroom's outer door in the hallway. I felt Tray arrive outside just as the sun came up and a moment later, the void of Eric's mind blinked out of existence.

I'd never been around a sleeping vampire before. For an instant I panicked, worrying that somehow I'd missed some sliver of light and he had already burned up to his final death. I couldn't go in to check of course. I'm sure I would have heard some thrashing around, if that had happened. I went back to my own bed and felt the space with my mind until I finally found him again. It was different from the void of his wakeful brain; a denser part of the empty space. I would have easily missed it if I weren't looking so hard. I focused on it entirely as I finally drifted off to sleep myself.