A/N: Yes, it is real. Another update. What can I say? I've been feeling rather prolific these last few days. Plus, Meads needs a reward for finishing her paper. I could really kick myself for forgetting to thank everyone for their reviews in my last A/N. You don't know how much I appreciate them. The response to the last couple of chapters has been amazing and I am truly humbled that so many of you are enjoying this story. This chapter was exceptionally hard for me to write and I hope I did the subject justice. Once again I need to thank Kristin for beta-ing and constantly stroking my ego. Now, if we could only get her to finish her story! I'd also like to thank everyone over at the TB Wiki and the Eric thread here at the Sookieverse. You guys inspire me and I can't believe how lucky I am to be surrounded by so many great writers. Okay, I'll shut up now.
Oh yeah, just a little reminder that CH owns SVM. I just like to play in her sandbox sometimes.
Chapter 14
When Craig finally [...] EDITED SEE CHAPTER ONE NOTE the sun was beginning it's descent in the western sky. There was, perhaps, another hour and a half of sunlight left. For the briefest of moments hope flared in me that he wouldn't drag me off again. That Eric might have the opportunity to find me. Then my shame came crashing through and I was not sure I wanted him to. I didn't want him to find me, to see me, like this.
"He won't see you until I'm ready for him to see you Sookie." He said as [...]EDITED SEE CHAPTER 1 NOTE
I flinched.
Craig chuckled.
"For now, I just have to let him think he's getting close to you. I can't have him giving up the chase now can I?"
I didn't say a word. What was there to say that he couldn't tear from my head? I tried to push away any thoughts about Eric. Craig wouldn't have it.
You can't run from me Sookie. His voice slithered through my mind as he got up from the mattress on the floor. He walked over to where the bathtub was, wet a washcloth and began to wipe himself down.
But I had run from him. There was one little gem I had managed to keep to myself, and that was my brick wall.
I didn't understand everything that was happening to me. I didn't understand who was calling the shots and, I didn't understand what it was about me that abusive men like Uncle Bartlett and Craig found so appealing, but I did understand that this was about hurting Eric.
And that was something I was not going to let happen. I was not going to let him feel the things Craig was doing to me. I would protect him for as long as I could because that is what I do for my friends, for my family, for the people . . . I love.
The realization crashed over me with such intensity that I began sobbing. Blessedly, Craig was too wrapped up in his preparations to bother probing my mind. He assumed my cries were, once again, a result of his attentions.
I heard Craig sigh, and stifled my sobs. I learned quickly, and harshly, earlier that Craig did not "appreciate" my tears, when he was "seeing to my needs," as he put it. I tried sitting up, pulling the single sheet on the mattress up to me, and whimpered in pain.
I was in a lot of pain. Even after Bill's attack in the trunk of the car, I had not been in so much pain. I pressed a corner of the sheet [...]EDITED SEE CHAPTER 1 NOTE Craig tossed another washcloth to me.
"Clean yourself."
Honestly, I preferred this cold attitude from him.
...[EDITED] SEE CHAPTER 1 NOTE