A/N: This is a short chapter, but I intend to have 9 up tonight as well, and possibly 10 and 11 up by the end of the weekend! Stay tuned!


It's About Power

Chapter 8

I wiped my face with a tissue and curled up against him. His arm slithered around me, and he threw his leg over mine. They were signs of his possession of me, and I loved that. Bill's hands drifted lightly through my hair, brushing my tresses. I shut my eyes, and instantly fell back into my childhood. Have things happened to you when you were a little kid? You don't expect to remember them but you always do? I pulled Bill's hand into mine and I kissed each one of his fingertips. It had been a good night for us, and even though I'd cried after, I still felt okay. I opened my mouth and shut it again. Bill's lips touched my earlobe.

"When my parents died, I came to live with my Gran," I said quietly. Bill nodded behind me. He knew that. He knew about the flood, about Jason and me coming to live in the farmhouse.

"Well, we had an uncle, Uncle Barlett. I guess he was technically my great uncle, because he was Gran's brother. Anyway, he would sometimes watch me when Gran was out buying groceries or taking Jason to practice."

"Mmhmm," Bill hummed, an indication that he was listening.

"I could hear his thoughts, but I was only little. I didn't really know what I was hearing. I didn't really understand what he was thinking. He…" I paused. I tried to sort out my own thought-chaos. I remembered what my Uncle Barlett had done to me. I never used to think I could end up here, doing stuff like this…not after that.

"You can tell me, Sookie," Bill said softly.

"He used to touch me is all. It's not nearly so bad as what happens to some girls." I took a deep breath.

"Do you think you're so scared of it because some part of you liked it?" Bill asked me.

"Do…what?" I asked. I sat up. I kicked Bill away and I crawled out of the bed. I stared at him, my eyes as big as saucers.

"Come on, Sookie," Bill frowned. "If it had bothered you that much, you wouldn't be here right now. Maybe you liked the attention."

"I…I…" I couldn't think of a good retort. Was he crazy? To think that I could…that I would want… I couldn't even finish my thoughts, they were so awful. "I have to go."

"Sookie," Bill grunted. He was up now. I didn't stop to look at him. I pulled on my clothes and grabbed my overnight bag off the chair by the bedroom door.

"Don't…I just have to… I have church in the morning." I lied through my teeth.

"Sookie," he grabbed my arm. I froze. For the first time, I noticed that my eyes were blurry with tears. "Eric is sending me on a business trip tomorrow night. He is coming down here to keep an eye on you while I'm gone. He insisted, in fact. Did you say something else to him while I was out talking to Susan?"

"No," I snorted. A part of me filled up with relief to know he'd be gone until I could cool off, regain my composure. A part of me didn't even care that he was leaving.

"Think about what I said, Sookie." He touched my back as if he meant to soothe me. I remained rigid, like a statue. "Goodnight."

"Yeah," I muttered. I threw my things into their bag and stormed out.

The next night, I watched Bill's car roll out of his gravel driveway and down the road. At the same moment, a black muscle car drove down that same driveway. The two cars didn't stop when they passed one another. Neither driver seemed to acknowledge the other. I saw all this from the living room window. Eric Northman got out of his car and surveyed the big old Compton house. He turned on his heel and looked across the lawn and up at me. Could he see me looking out the window from here? I didn't doubt it. I shut the curtains just as I heard a knock on the door.

"Miss Stackhouse," Eric nodded when I opened the door. I stepped out of the house and onto the porch. Eric nodded to me, an almost imperceptible movement of his head. A few strands of hair fell out of the intricate braid tied behind him and danced down along his cheek. He didn't move to push them away. I wanted to, if only I could touch his face the way he had touched mine. I couldn't explain the way I felt when I was near him. He was handsome, and obviously capable of kindness. I knew him about as well as I knew the man I was seeing. That was worrisome and also intriguing.

"Please call me Sookie," I said.

"And you may call me Eric," he smiled thoughtfully. He moved to sit down on the porch swing, and I followed him, hovering near the arm of the chair.

"Can I get you something? I have some O negative in the fridge."

"Thank you, I'm fine. I'd much prefer your company." Eric moved over on the swing, inviting me to sit down. I looked out across the yard to Bill's house with its dark windows.

"You're not doing anything wrong, Sookie. He knows I'm here."

"Okay," I agreed nervously. I sat down on the swing and crossed my ankles. I looked out at the darkness and watched fireflies dance above the damp grass.

"Tell me more about yourself, Sookie," Eric said. "Tell me how you met Bill."

I only told him bits and pieces: my parents dying, my Gran, a little about Jason. I told him I worked at Merlotte's and that that was where I met Bill. I told him that Bill was the first man I'd ever been in love with.

"Bill tells me you're telepathic, that you can read the thoughts of other humans." Eric mused. He turned to face me. He seemed to be scanning me, the way a computer scans a photograph on one of those science fiction programs.

"He told you that? Why would he tell you that?" I squeaked.

"I am his…employer, Sookie. He owes me his fealty."

"Well, there's not much to tell. I can read thoughts. Sometimes I can see images, like pictures? It's not always so clear, like you might think." I paused and looked at him. "I can't read vampire thoughts."

"Interesting. I may have to use your gift to my advantage, Sookie."

"What do you mean?" I blinked.

"Well, Bill owns you, does he not?" Eric asked. He almost sneered when he said it. I watched his eyes narrow. "And I, in essence, own Bill. Thus, when Bill owes me a favor, as he does now, it may be in my best interest to collect on that debt by using your gift. Do you understand?"

"I guess," I frowned. Apparently I'd become some sort of bargaining chip.

"Are you against helping Bill to pay his debts, Sookie?" I couldn't discern the look on his face. Was he happy? Was he confused? His eyes were focused right on me, and his arms leaned heavily on his thighs. He almost looked…hopeful.

"No," I shook my head. "I belong to Bill. I'd do anything to please him."

"Never say 'anything', Sookie, unless you really mean it." Eric frowned. He moved closer to me, so that our legs were touching. His jeans were remarkably soft against my bare leg. He seemed overwhelmingly large beside me. I'm not a tiny person, believe me, but Eric was gigantic and imposing. If he hadn't already showed his kindness, I'd be afraid of him. With one great swoop of his arm, he pulled me close. His free hand cupped my face and brought it close to him. His mouth was inches from mine. My heart started beating faster. I was worried and yet, aroused. I found myself reminded of the first time I'd met Bill, the first time he'd kissed me.

"If Bill ordered you to submit to sex with me, would you do it?" Eric growled. He was wearing some kind of musky cologne. I inhaled it, and it made my heart quicken. I listened to the words, and I rolled them over in my head. Had I ever said no to Bill and really made it stick? Would I say no if he wanted to loan me out to his friends? Would that please him, to see me with Eric?

"Yes," I said quietly, almost ashamed of myself. There was a part of me that was turned on by that, by being given away, especially to a man like Eric. But it was only a small part. Most of me was just revolted that Bill would ever consider such a thing.

"I see," Eric frowned. He seemed to grow even paler. He got up so suddenly off the swing that it smacked violently against the clapboard siding. He clenched his fists for a second, and I wondered where he intended to throw them. Was this reaction of anger for me, or was there something else bothering him?

"Go back inside the house, Sookie. Bill will be home tomorrow night. I will see you again."