PART EIGHT

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Sorry to leave you guys hanging at the end of Chapter 7! I felt it was necessary to separate the car crash in Chapter 7 from what's going to happen in Chapter 8. Here it goes! Oh, by the way, Eric's outfit is meant to be fashioned exactly like the clothes he (the very yummy Alexander Skarsgard) wore in Lady Gaga's video for "Paparazzi". He looked damn fine in that video, and I just wanted to create a small ode to that. Enjoy!!! :D

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I couldn't see. I could feel the downpour of rain against my body, but only from the waist up. Below that, I felt nothing. Everything was hot and sticky, my lungs felt on fire as I tried to inhale. I couldn't even scream for help. I knew it then, lying there in the middle of the flooded road, the only light coming from random bursts of lightning which I could sense from my shut eyes, that death was near. As I gathered every last ounce of the strength I still had left, I attempted to scream, but my failed attempt to shout was interrupted by some sort of cold, wet, boney pressure against my mouth. I was able to smell, recognizing the invitingly warm masculine scent of the shirt sleeve, and I soon recognized that it was Bill Compton's bleeding wrist at my mouth.

"Sookie! Sookie, there is no time! Drink!" Bill shouted.

I didn't waste anytime trying to explain anything to him. I merely pursed my lips and tried my damndest to drink. His blood was a bizarre combination of a metallic tang and a sweet aftertaste, and with each miniscule swallow I felt my wounds slowly close and I regained feeling in my legs. I was taking faster and larger gulps now, the lukewarm blood coating my throat as it went down. Suddenly, I heard several sirens approach. Bill snatched his wrist away from me quickly, and Sheriff Deerborn slammed his squad car door shut with a loud thud as he and the EMTs approached me.

That's the last thing I remember. The rest of the night's events were a blur. I remember riding to the hospital on the hard stretcher in the ambulence, my frail hand sandwiched between Bill's large ones. The sudden jerk of the needle from the IV into my arm, the subtle beeping of the heart monitor in the flourescent hospital room. The sweet, small kisses Bill planted on my forehead. Then sleep, deep, dark, thoughtless sleep.

"Sookie," Bill said, waking me.

My eyelids slowly parted and I saw him peering over me, his face looking sunk-in from sleep deprivation, but still handsome as ever.

"Bill. Oh my God-"

"You're fine now," he said, his fingers caresssing my hair. "Sookie, what happened?"

I couldn't help myself. The night had been so hectic, with Eric and his other women, with the car accident, how strangely comfortable it still felt to be in Bill's arms. I told Bill the whole story then and there. Everything about Eric and I, and what he had done, how I ran off, then the accident happened.

Bill began shaking with fury as I told him what Eric had done to me.

"I see. I'm going to go have a chat with Eric Northman," Bill said. "Though I sincerely doubt he'll get much talking in when I drive a stake through his heart."

"NO!" I shouted, grabbing his wrist. "Just...just don't make the situation worse," I blinked through my tears. "I....I just can't believe I ever trusted him. I'm so sorry, Bill. I'm so sorr-"

I could say no more, because at that moment Bill's lips met mine in a kiss sweeter and richer than honey. Our lips and tongues moved together as if they'd never been apart. I had missed him, truly, and it showed as I began to unbutton his shirt, my fingers reminiscing over his body. When his shirt was off, revealing his pale muscles, he lied on top of me, his hard erection applying pressure to my stomach.

"Sookie, I love you," he whispered, just before his fangs presented themselves. It was as if it were my first time seeing them. His beautiful, pointed fangs framed by his perfectly curved lips, skimmed the skin on my neck delicately, just before they dove in...

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The next evening, I decided to spend the night alone. No word from Eric, though I assumed he (as well as Bill) had been getting their vampire day sleep, though now the sun had just set. Sam was absolutely horrified about the accident, and gave me a week's paid vacation. Though it seemed like I saw just as much of him today as I did every other day. He came to make sure I was "all right" about seven times. Lafayette and Tara had brought all sorts of food, including a scrumptious apple pie I was eating along with a hot cup of tea. I maneuvered off the couch and paused the old Bette Davis movie I was watching, wrapped my pink robe around myself. I had no aches at all, thanks to the miracles of vampire blood. Though my body was in no pain, my mind was still wandering. I felt so safe with Bill, so happy that he was there to rescue me once more. I knew for a fact that I still loved him. But something deep within me still yearned uncontrollably for my Viking.

I attempted to put those thoughts aside as I strolled into the kitchen and poured myself another cup of tea. As I watched the clover honey fall into the hot liquid like ribbons, I heard a rustle in the living room. I turned my head, flipping my blonde hair to one side. The word "Bill" almost came out of my mouth, but I stopped myself when I saw I was incorrect. Standing there was a vampire indeed, but it was definitely not Bill Compton. The familiar slow, predatory footsteps approached me. Black as coal shoes adorned the large feet, connected to long legs dressed in immaculately tailored dress pants. One hand on a long, pale muscular arm was in his pocket, the other, clutching his black suspenders, which peeked through his tailored jacket as he moved toward me. Then that voice, so smooth, slightly accented, poured through those perfect lips of his.

"Let me speak," Eric said.

But no matter how handsome he looked, how much my heart fluttered, or how quickly I felt the area in between my legs twitch in delight at the mere sight of him, I refused to let that bastard speak. I grabbed the hot tea kettle and chucked it at him as hard as I could. The near boiling water singed the flesh of his arm a little, but it healed in seconds as I noticed when he grabbed me and pinned my wrists to the edge of the counter.

"Stop," he said sternly.

I wanted to say something witty, something so smart that would prove I was better than him, that I didn't need him. But all I could do was start sobbing like an unfed baby, barely able to catch my breath through the wails.

"Darling," he brushed my tears away with his thumbs. "Do not cry."

My sobs were violent now, I couldn't even stand up. I wanted to badly to reach out to him, to kiss him, to make love to him, but the image of him with the other women plagued my mind as I sank to the floor. Eric bent down on his knee, and through my blurred vision, I saw two red pearls adorning the corners of his eyes. He was crying too.

"I hate you!" I shrieked so loud it hurt my own hears, a ringing sound following my scream. I formed my hands into fists and began thumping them as hard as I could against his muscular chest. .

"I beg you to just listen," he began.

What else could I do?

"What you witnessed was in all honesty, a business meeting."

I blinked.

"Queen Sophie-Ann offered a promotion to me, as Sheriff of a larger area. She has asked me several times, and I had yet to give her an answer. The area is larger, very prestigious, and well-deserved on my part. But I did not immediately say yes because I knew it meant I would be away from you. And with as much danger as you get into, I simply cannot have that," he paused to hold my hand in his, his long fingers laced between my trembling ones.

"The queen demanded I give myself to her. She insisted that I participate in the...the act you saw. You must understand, she is my employer of sorts. Sexual acts such as those are not considered special among vampires. Sookie, please. I cannot forgive myself for what happened to you. I don't even expect you to understand, it's just too far from your good nature to understand," he mumbled as tears began to fall down his perfectly chisled face. "I just hope that you will try."

I couldn't help but still be upset, even though my heart was breaking for him.

"Bill would never, never do that to me!" I exclaimed.

His face stiffened, almost sickened as he slid my robe off my shoulder, lighting my skin afire with anticipation. His eyes glared at the fang marks on my neck.

"But apparently, Bill Compton has done something to you," he whispered.

Before I knew it, Eric had stood up in a quick burst, and struck my stove with a massive force, leaving an indentation that split it nearly to the linoleum. He paced toward me, and I became paralyzed with fear. Eric's hands cupped the back of my head and his enbowed lips subtly grazed mine as he spoke, almost inaudibly.

"Sookie. Please understand, vampires and humans have immeseley different customs. Please understand, I love you. And only you. Not much stays permanent in the long life of a vampire. But you, Sookie Stackhouse, are certain to inhabit my heart for eternity."

Through my big, tear-swollen eyes, I examined his face, the blood pouring down from his eyes in streams which I traced delicately with my index finger.

He looked at me, more full of fear than I'd ever seen him before. Those baby blue eyes begged my forgiveness.

"I....I" I stammered.

"Say it Sookie. I'm dying to hear the words come from your mouth," he burned those oceanic eyes into mine, before closing them and applying his velvety lips to mine. "I'll say it a thousand times," he said in between luscious kisses. "I love you," he bit my lip lightly. "I love you," he mouthed as his arms wrapped around my body, encompassing me like a shivering child.

"I love you, too," I sobbed.

Eric lifted me in his arms, both our faces dampened my salty tears, mine mere saline, his thousand year old blood, and cradled me in his strong arms up to my bedroom, all the while our lips locked together passionately. He laid me down daintily on my plush bed, kicked his shoes off, and pulled me to his chest, delicately stroking my hair, his arms locked around me as if I were going to blow away.

"Even if you live to be as old as me, you'll never understand how sorry I am," he said.

"I'll try, darling. I'll try."

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DUN DUN DUNNNN!!!! Whose arms will Sookie be in in Chapter 9? Even I don't know! :) Please review, I LOVE you guys and appreciate it SO much!!! :D :D