It took a good twenty minutes for me to calm down enough before I could shift back into my human form. Eric stayed with me while Pam tended to their human pet, ripping her away from Eric and I by the elbow, cursing under her breath. He cleaned up the rest of the salt, tossing the container, along with what had spilled, into the trash can. I sat on the floor, breathing heavily.

"I'm surprised you hadn't killed her," Eric said, wiping the salt off his hands. "What stopped you?"

"The damned salt," I grumbled. "I can't move past it. I'd have crossed through the wall if I could…but I don't know what it is about that stuff. Makes you freeze up, forces a shift…invokes rage."

"And you didn't mention this to me because…?"

"I couldn't have you know," I rest my elbows on my bare thighs. "I've known you less than a day. I can't go telling you all my weaknesses, it would be like you telling a complete stranger yours. I can't trust you. Yet."

He seemed amused. "You can't trust me, and yet you've already killed to protect me."

"Trust has nothing to do with that. You are my Keeper, Eric," I looked him in the eyes. "Whether I trust you or not, I have to protect you."

"Why? You could have killed me and the others and run free," Eric turned his head to the side. "Why did you stay, and save me?"

I drummed my fingers on the tile. "Once the invocation is performed…the conjured spirit is instilled with a…diehard loyalty and a need to protect their Keeper. You are always aware, on alert. More so than usual. So when I noticed the change in energy, heard their thoughts…I needed to…protect you. They were going to kill you…so I killed them."

I felt like an idiot. Never in my life have I pledged allegiance to human or demon, vampire, anything. But now, all I feel is the need to protect, to help, to please my Keeper. It's ridiculous. I myself don't fully understand how the bond between Hound and Keeper works… it's formed instantly. And maybe he doesn't feel the connectedness yet, but I felt it the second I stood before him.

He stayed quiet, nodding to himself, his blue eyes growing distant. Eric faced me. I studied his face for any sort of emotion. There was none. The old creature seemed lost in thought. It was interesting watching him completely withdraw from reality, lost in his own little world. Eric's jaw muscles twitched. I could hear his teeth grinding together.

"Eric?"

Still nothing. I sighed heavily. Finally, he blinked, and responded.

"It's a good thing you did," Eric stood, and offered his hand to me. "Besides, I think I can get used to this whole.. shifting thing."

I grabbed his hand and pulled myself up. "Why's that?"

His eyes flickered down. "I have my reasons."

"You're a pervert, Eric," I chuckled.

"You don't seem all that offended by that fact," He smirked.

I grinned. "Why would I be?"

. . .

The bar had finally opened, and people, human and vampire, crowded in. The floors filled quickly with dancing individuals. The humans were easy to pick out. Most of them didn't dress the part, their gaping mouths and doe eyed expressions serving as a giveaway as to what they are. Music pumped through the speakers, loud heavy and fast, just like lat night. The dancers took their place on the poles and moved along to the music.

Eric kept me seated next to him. The vampires kept their distance, the humans as well, for they could sense the negative energy I cast out, making Eric look entirely unappealing. They stuck to mingling, every so often glancing up at the king on his throne.

I turned toward Eric. "So this is what you do every night? Sit here and watch everyone."

"Mostly, yes."

"Don't you ever get bored sitting there?"

"Sometimes. But I like watching them," He wriggled around in the chair. "Are you getting bored sitting here?"

I shook my head. "Not at all. I feel strangely complacent. I like this atmosphere…all the energy. I feed off of it."

Literally. And my god, do I feel fucking alive right now.

"Good, because this is how every night is going to be from now on," He said, his voice low, husky. "At least until I give you a bigger job to do instead of sit here."

"Which is?" I asked curiously.

"We can discuss that at a different time, Adrian. For now, keep me company." He smiled at me.

I rolled my eyes at him jokingly. "I have no choice but to do that."

"Oh, right."

I shook my head and returned my attention to the crowd, scooting back in my seat and leaning forward to rest my arms on my knees. I let out a low whine. I hate having to sit still, but I must admit, the people watching is entertaining.

And so are the thoughts that are running through my head as I'm staring at him, I laughed quietly, and rest my chin in my hand.

"Shh," He sounded, touching a finger to his pursed lips.

"You shush," I muttered.

"Make me."

"Is that an order, Keeper?" I smiled to myself. "Cause I can think of one way to keep you quiet."

Half way through the sentence, I realized what was spewing from my lips, and suddenly felt embarrassed at the flirtation.

"Is that so?" Eric leaned forward, hunched over the edge of his seat, shadows no longer enveloping him.

"Ah, Eric. So nice to see you out of the cover of the dark." I said quietly, and sat up.

I shot a glance at the floor area. The bar had finally cleared out, no one remaining besides Eric, Pam, me, and that stupid blood bag . "Yes, well, it's time for bed."

Eric walked past me and I followed behind him down the hall leading to his room. The floor felt cold beneath my feet, as I had chosen not to wear shoes. I hate them. He locked the door behind us, and as I turned around to look at him, Eric stood not an inch away from me, our noses just barely grazing each other.

"You said something about keeping me quiet?" He placed his arms on either side of my head, pinning me to the wall behind the door.

My eyes widened at the sudden proximity. "Did I? I don't remember that."

"Sure you don't," He breathed. "You don't remember anything about you saying you'd make me shut up."

My skin flushed. It's been…centuries since anyone that I haven't tried to kill was this close to me. Eric stepped closer, closing the distance, pressing his hips against mine. I gasped. "I think I remember.."

"And what is it that you remember, Adrian?" His voice low, breath cool on my face despite how close we are.

I shifted my weight onto my left leg. "How I was going to make you stay quiet."

"How'd you plan on doing that?"

"Take a guess," I smirked.

"Is this how?" Eric leaned in, his lips parted.

I felt like the wind had been knocked out of me. This is wrong. It is not allowed. No relations of any kind between Hound and Keeper are to be made. I could get in serious shit for that.. I frowned and pushed him away. Eric flew across the room.

Shit.

I caught him before he slammed into the wall.

Eric looked at me, a confused look plastered onto his face. "Why'd you do that?"

"I can't do anything with you, Eric…it's against the rules," I frowned even deeper. "If we do anything like that, anything aside from the tasks given, we could be banished from the human world. The demons don't take kindly to their grunt workers abusing their time on earth."

"Well, as your Keeper, consider this a task I'm giving you."

The vampire grabbed my face and pulled me in, his lips crashing down hard on mine. I froze before giving in to the kiss. I felt guilty, uncertain, happy, turned on, all at once. Turmoil. My heart raced, my insides churned, and I let go, grabbing the front of his wife beater and pulled him even closer to me. His hands left my face and snaked their way down my sides, his fingernails grazing the skin lightly, the very touch making my hair stand on end, goose bumps covering every inch of me.

I slid my hands up the back of his shirt, and raked my nails down his back. My claws extended and dug into his lower back. Eric sucked in a breath of air. But I froze.

My mind flashed on images, ones that were foreign and familiar to me all at the same time. I tried to fight them off, but seeing how futile the attempts were, I allowed myself to concentrate fully on the memories…were they memories?

They looked exactly like the flashes I had seen the other night.

They indeed were memories. All I could think about was taking the man's soul. I had waited until the others gave up their watch on the young man, and were about to settle down beside the fire they had built. The one I was supposed to kill laid atop a bed of sticks and mud, the set up looking very much like a makeshift altar. And there lay the sacrifice.

I sniffed the air. Another presence was near, and it was not human. I peered around through the cover of the bushes. Nothing. A strong gust of air blew past. The two soldiers dropped, their throats slit. Blood sprayed and gushed from the wound. I looked at my bounty. He lay there, staring up at a young looking boy, his chest and arms adorned with tribal markings. The two spoke, and soon, the boy had bared his fangs and sunk them deep into the Viking's throat.

Vampire. I thought, suppressing a growl. There was no use in taking him now. His life has been extinguished, his soul stolen by the infernal creature. But he wasn't feeding on the man…he was turning him. I had never witnessed this before. I circled the camp, watching the vampire drain him, then give him his blood in return. I narrowed my eyes. The blonde was unconscious, nearly dead.

But…I recognize him. I crept forward silently, trying not to disturb the vampire. I cocked my head to the side, confused. Eric…?

It can't be.

No, no. I shook my head. It looks exactly like him….it is him. Everything around me began to shake, and violently. I sucked in a deep breath as I felt a sharp, stinging pain above my collar bone. Suddenly, I was back in Eric's room sitting on the floor in front of him, his hands gripping my arms, his mouth dripping blood. My blood. I withdrew my claws from his back, and slid backward.

"Adrian, what happened?" His face wore a grim expression. "I've been trying to snap you out of it for ten goddamn minutes."

I pulled away from him. "Eric…I was supposed to be the one to kill you before you were turned. Your soul is supposed to be mine," I looked him in the eye.