I have known Eric for a long time, a really long time. Usually, in the Vampire world how old you are means a lot. Unlike in the mortal world, the older you are, the more respect and power you have. Since I am significantly older then Eric, one might expect him to treat me with a certain amount of value, but l'm not like most vampires and Eric knows this all too well.
"Ok" he says annoyed "Danny" I wanted to say something that might defuse his intensity but I can only sigh, "I have asked you here to request a favor" the way he said the word "request" made it sound more like "demand", I roll my eye's making sure he notices, he bites "What's is it? What's wrong?"
"It's just, you know I came out all this way to this weird place, I haven't seen you in a while" I trail off knowing I sound way too human for Eric to process, but he gets the gist.
"I am pressed for time" he explains and I nod letting him off the hook, I mean he's never been one for small talk, but he usually will make an attempt, for my benefit. He continues "I need something delivered very early tomorrow morning; it is very urgent and must be handled with speed and maximum concealment" he pauses a moment
"If all you need is a hush-hush delivery couldn't you just ask one of your… day walkers?" I hate to say those words even when I'm not referring to myself.
"You're the only one I can trust with this, I wouldn't have asked you otherwise" by trust Eric means trust to not get killed. It's not just that I can be out in the sunlight to actually do this delivery, but also Eric knows that I cannot be killed, by human or vampire, it's just not possible. So I know there's more to this then he is telling me right now.
Before he could continue Sookie came over with my food. Sookie looked at Eric and as she placed the food on the table said "Hello Mr. Northman", "Hello Miss Stackhouse" Eric's responded with a coy smile. Then there it was a flash of images. At first I wasn't sure what I was seeing, but then I realized I was in Sookie's mind. I'm guessing it lasted only a few seconds but in that brief moment I saw Eric and Sookie were very romantically involved, very. " Oh Hell no!" I said out loud unable to control my astonishment. Sookie look aghast, aware of what I had picked up on, Eric just looked at me as he often did, confused "That was interesting" he said sarcastically "Every time I see we meet you become more human". I was too taken aback to think of a good come back for Eric so I just spoke to Sookie, privately "Oh Miss Stackhouse, I thought you had better taste then that, I was just starting to like you". Sookie smiled at me "enjoy your meal" she said out loud at started to walk away "Talk later? "she asked privately "Oh yes, lets" I answered her back, I really wanted to hear more about her relationship with Eric, especially since from what I picked out of her head, it was pretty hot and it's not like Eric would sit down with me a talk about it. I looked up to find Eric looking at me loathingly, as long as I've known him; he's never been very good at hiding his feelings.
"What?" I asked him but I already knew what he was going to say.
"Do you have to eat that vial here in front of me" this he actually said to me in his native tongue, Swedish. Occasionally he does this, it's one of those little quirky things I like about him, usually it's because someone is nearby and he doesn't want them to hear what were saying, but like this time it's just because he forgot. I nod. "It's disgusting" he said back to English.
"Eric about this favor" I try and sound aloof and annoyed but I'm totally not, the truth is I'm down for whatever Eric throws my way. When you've been on this planet as long as I have, life become's incredibly boring. It's true, I eat so I have that, but I don't sleep, I'm up, always. "Why do you need me, more specifically?"
"You will be given something to bring back to me, this must get back to me, I need it urgently" I can tell by the look on his face that he's withholding information from me, but Eric is extremely stubborn, he's only going to tell me what he wants me to know. "A book".
"A book? An urgent book?" I ask
"Yes, and this is all I wish to tell you ." his eyes catch mine; I guess I can see what Sookie might find attractive about him. If I had feelings like that, I might desire him too, but as it is as long as I've been this way, a vampire, I desire no one, vampire, human, male, female, I only desire food.
"I'll do this for you Viking, but I will want something in return" I make sure to continue to look him in the eye, it's a vampire thing.
"You're not joking?" Eric's looks more confused than annoyed, I've never ask for anything in return for "favors" I've done for him in the past and I've done lots.
"No, I'm not" I try to sound serious like he always does, but coming out of me it sounds more like I'm whining.
"What is it you want?" his eye narrow as he questions me, I can tell he's more concerned about why I am asking for a favor rather then what I am asking for.
"When I need this favor, I will ask you for it, that's all I wish to tell you" I love to use his words against him.
He hesitates before he answers "Fair enough" he looks down at my half eaten diner "disgusting" he doesn't understand my enjoyment of a simple human ritual, eating. Eric's actually improved his demeanor enormously, when I first met him so many years ago he was absolutely barbaric, I never met a vampire that abandoned their mortal existence so eagerly. It was no wonder, his maker Appius Livius Ocella was a complete psycho. Appius had recently died, Eric told me this himself, he also told me that Appius progeny Alexei Romanov was killed at Eric's own hand but he didn't offer any details about it and I knew better then to ask.
"You are thinking about Appius?" he asks already knowing the answer, what can everyone read my mind?
"I am" I answer back, I want to say more, something profound, but nothing comes to mind. Eric hands me a bulky white envelope. "7:30 tomorrow morning, here is the address I need it delivered to" I glance at the address.
"You're sending me to Texas?" I blurt out after reading the address
"Dallas." He continues
"This is a hotel." I blurt out again
"Yes, the Silent Shores." He tried to persist through my interruptions
"A Vampire hotel?" I have to ask, it just seems so peculiar, even for Eric.
"Let me continue" he's getting frustrated with me "Batanya will be waiting for you in the lobby.."
"You hired a Britlingan? Ok Eric, what is going on here?" certainly he must realize how odd this all sounds.
"You will give her this envelope " he continues like I never said anything "and in return she will give you the book."
"The urgent book?" I smirk
"Yes, the urgent book" he indulges me even though he does not find me funny at all "I ask that you Keep this book safe as its value to me is considerable, please bring it to me at earliest sunset tomorrow at Fangtasia" He's done, that's all he's going to give me. "Yes?" he asks
"Britlingan?" I try, maybe he's feeling talkative
"Yes?" he asks again
"Yeah, yes, you know I'll do this, it's just..." I try one more time to flush out a little more information from him.
He cuts me off with "Very good" and that's that, I have my instructions. Of course I have a ton of questions for him, questions he won't answer.
"How's my friend Pam?" I change the subject "why isn't she here with you?"
He finally smiles and gets up to leave "because as she put it she can't stand the sight of you and she thinks all your natural gifts are wasted on you, oh and she said you might as well be human"
"Oh great, she's warming up to me" it makes me happy that I annoy her
He learns over the table very close to me, "I expect to see you first thing tomorrow night, you understand me right?"
"I do, I'll be there"
"I'd wish you good luck, but you don't need that, goodbye" and with that he walks away and heads over to Sookie.
"Ok, bye Eric" I say sarcastically, even though he is across the room I know he hears me. I entertain the idea of listening to Sookie and Eric's conversation but I decide not to, I don't like to do vampy things if I can help it, I watch them a little but it seems like ordinarily banter to me. I go back to eating my food which taste's amazing, when I look back up Eric is gone and Sookie is walking over to my table.
"Well, well Miss Stackhouse" I say in my best Eric the Vampire impression "You certainly have some explaining to do"
"I get off at 11" she offers
"I can't wait" I say back and I can't.