Thank you so much all of you for the feedback! I wanted to mention that I try to stick as much to the TB events as I can, but I do have to create sometimes, hence the tiny differences. I hope this doesn't bother you awesome readers! I love all your reviews and I love ending the chapters with a cliffhanger. I will try and update as soon as I'm done writing chapter 8. I won't make you guys wait if I don't have too, but I do love the reviews :)
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Eric immediately jumped in front of me and I ran behind the bar for cover, Pam by my side. The guards let go of Bill to fight off the Weres who were, just like Vampires, rather allergic to silver. Nan and the Magister were in fighting mode and they kicked a few asses before the calm came back. The attack had been sudden and I peeked over the bar to see why everyone had stopped. What I saw froze me in horror. At the door of the bar stood Russell, in all his glory, his face contorted in anger.
'Hush, my darlings.' He muttered to the weres which retreated towards him, some of them injured by Eric's wrath. The Viking was a good fighter and did not like his things being endangered, I thought. Russell looked at him with a puzzling look.
'Why did you murder him?' He asked Eric, out of the blue, sadness in his eyes along with hatred and disgust.
'A long time ago' Eric started 'You and your dogs murdered a human family. Mine.' Eric snarled, anger seeping through his every pore. 'I was the only survivor, left to mourn my family. Felt only right to take yours away from you. Hence Talbot being a pile of scum on your office's carpet.' Eric growled, provoking Russell. Somehow, I felt that was the worst thing he could have said to a crazy man, but Russell didn't jump at his throat. He just glared at him with fury.
'I see you have company.' He simply said, looking at my curious face over the bar. His eyes froze me in place and I shuddered in horror.
'I was going to share, if you would. She's part fairy.' Eric said tentatively. Eric looked over at Nan and the Magister with a meaningful gaze. They got the point and retreated to his office with their minions, leaving Bill, Eric, Pam and I alone with the werewolves and Russell, whom, surprised by Eric's words, ordered his werewolves outside. They snarled at us as they exited the place. I looked over at the clock on the wall and noticed it was quite late at night. Time had passed by really quickly with all the events of the night. The sun would be up in another hour or two.
Bill stepped closer to me, still protective of my person and glared at Eric. He had no idea what Eric intended to do with me but the idea of my being shared between Russell and him did not please him one bit. I can't say it pleased me either, but I knew by now that Eric never did anything without cause and I let myself trust him.
'Part fairy or not, I do not wish to feed on her.' Russell barked, his eyes red from tears he had wept for his Talbot. However touching I had once found Bill or Eric's tears, Russell's only made me want to retch. The man disgusted me so much. He had held and tortured Bill through Lorena for days and hadn't even minded it. And he had murdered in cold blood Eric's entire family.
'I would think any vampire would like to walk freely in the sun. How long has it been since you've last seen it?' Eric said, his voice seductive and warm. He took a step towards Russell and actually bowed to him. Russell was surprised both by the turn of events and the submission of the grand Viking he seemed to find quite attractive. Who wouldn't, I pondered, eyeing his strong muscular frame. My survival instinct had seemingly pushed very far from my mind the pain cause by Bill's treason for the moment being, but I had a numb feeling in my gut that I was sure as hell was going to break loose the moment my life wouldn't be at stake anymore.
'Please explain.' Russell hissed at Eric. 'And be convincing, otherwise I'll snack on your fairy once I'm done tearing you all limb from limb.' I believed him. He was crazy enough for that.
'Mr Compton here drank from her. Not much, just a bit. And he was able to walk in the sun. It's her fairy blood. The effects last a few minutes or so. Would you accept me as your companion in place of Talbot if we went to meet the sun together? I sure have missed it myself over the last ten centuries. I will swear allegiance to you and you shall get part of my Area's wealth. Afterall, you are Sophie-Anne's husband.' Eric quickly said.
He was lying. Bill had almost drained me and he had been able to remain in the sun only a few instants. I immediately understood Eric's plan and couldn't help but feel pride towards him. He must have sensed it because he turned to wink at me, in such a swift move that I might have imagined it. I was quite afraid at the prospect of letting Russell drink from me, but at the same time, I knew that it was the only way to weaken him enough for Eric to take him down.
I suddenly decided to open my mind and listen for any human or were thoughts in the area, to ensure that Russell's wolves were at bay. They were planted in the nearby forest, waiting for their time. I suddenly sensed another presence, not downstairs, where Debbie was currently swearing in her mind at the fact I was still alive and she was restrained, but a mind I knew. A few minds I knew, actually. Alcide. He was close by and accompanied by a few of his fellow werewolves. I didn't understand why but I felt like his presence would be welcomed. I was also glad that he was here. I had grown fond of the virile yet tender man.
'Is that true, Mr Compton?' Russell drawled, amazed at the prospect of walking in the sun. I could understand his joy, for I, myself, loved the feeling of the sun on my skin and could hardly picture a world of darkness that stretched on centuries and centuries.
Bill did not hesitate a moment, which I was thankful for. He understood Eric's plan now and was complying with it, however angered he was by the prospect of Russell drinking from me.
'It is.' He simply said. 'I drank a few gulps of her blood and was thrown out of a truck in broad daylight after I... left your manor. I was able to walk freely for a few minutes before I had to dig myself up for the day. I am quite young, in comparison to you, my lord.' Bill reminded him, implying that surely, Russell wouldn't need as much blood as Bill had had.
Russell smirked evilly. He was easily tricked by flattery I noticed, which could only be good for Eric who was master in the art of seduction.
'Master' Eric said, his gaze adoringly (ha!) staring at Russell's face. 'Will you forgive my killing of Talbot if I walk with you in the sun?' he asked. 'I would belong to you for as long as you wish me to.' Eric added.
Russell seemed to ponder the thought a few instants before he accepted. I had no idea if he intended to murder Eric the moment he'd own him, but at the moment, I couldn't let ifs get in the way.
'If you go out first. I can't seem to bring myself to trust you, Mr. Northman.' Russell growled.
'But of course, your Majesty. It was always my intention to show you the wonders of that human's blood first so you'd get to enjoy it too.' Eric said, his voice velvety. I couldn't guess what Nan and her minions were doing in Eric's office and didn't give a damn. They were there to help us if something didn't go as smoothly as things had been so far.
'But what of the human? Will I get to keep her?' Russell asked, eyeing Bill with suspicion. 'Is she not yours?' He teased Bill, his voice icy. Russell actually giggled at that as if it was very funny to imagine me and Bill as a couple.
'She'll be yours all you want.' Eric whispered, a smile on his face. 'But might I suggest you don't drain her just yet. The girl is a telepath, as you know. And her blood is simply delicious. I tasted her myself to ensure Mister Compton was not trying to trick us. I also gave her my blood to ensure her obedience' Eric completed.
Okay, so we were covered on every possible ground. Except I couldn't look willing. Otherwise, Russell would be suspicious. Since I wasn't actually willing to donate him a single drop of my blood, my look of horror and disgust was genuine, but the fear I had to fake. Sure, I was afraid of the man, but I trusted Bill and Eric to keep harm away from me.
'Interesting. Does she really taste that good?' Russell wondered out loud, inhaling my smell from across the room. His nostrils twitched in a pleased manner.
'She's the best blood I've ever had' Eric whispered seductively, glancing over his shoulder to look at me, the compliment obviously intended for me just as much as it was for Russell's purpose.
'How do I know I can trust you?' Russell muttered, his eyes cold and calculating.
'Because I desire her and am willing to give her up to you. To make amends. I took Talbot, you get Sookie and me.' Eric said. I suddenly shuddered all over and walked out of my hidey-hole. Pam hadn't move since the beginning of the conversation and seemed ready to pounce at any moment to defend her Master if Russell turned on us. Eric stood to wrap his arms around my waist and he carried me to a couch. He intently stared at my eyes and I understood he was pretending to glamour me for the benefit of Russell, whom, luckily for us, had no idea I wasn't glamourable (if such a word existed in the vampire's vocabulary).
'You will allow us to drink from you because you really wish to please us.' He whispered to me. For once I wished I could be glamoured because I knew it wouldn't be fun to have two vampires sipping at me as if I was some gourmet wine. I could sense Eric's arousal at the prospect of drinking from me again. I found it rather dishevelling right now since we were walking a very thin line. His eyes were glazed with lust and I swallowed hard, playing my part. I lay back on the cushions, turning my head away from him, offering my throat. I could hear Bill growling and wished he was restrained at the moment.
'Please be gentle' I whispered to him as Russell approached us.
'Always' He replied, grinning.
'Where do you wish to drink, My Liege?' Eric asked Russell, as if he was offering a seat at a dinner table.
'I don't like women much. I'll have her wrist.' Russell said, sitting near me, roughly taking my limp arm to his mouth.
'I'll have her neck, then' Eric whispered, slipping his hand up my throat to cup my chin, his touch tender and yet lustful. Had I not been that afraid, I might have actually enjoyed his caress, but at the moment, it left me gasping for air, but not for the right reasons. When they bit down, both at the same time, I thought I was going to hurl from the pain. Whilst Eric was quite gentle with me, licking my skin in an almost erotic way to make this as pleasant as he could for me, Russell was just having yet another snack and he was quite enjoying it. Having blood drawn from me from two different places at the same time was leaving me quite helpless. I felt weak and could almost hear my heartbeat slowing down, life receding from me. Luckily, the blood Eric had given me earlier kept me conscious long enough to feel Russell remove my torn wrist from his mouth, licking his lips with a groan whilst Eric planted a wet kiss on my bloodied throat before licking my wounds to close them. I could feel his arousal through the muted groans he made whilst kissing my throat.
'She tastes delicious, Mr Compton. I admire your taste.' Russell growled, enjoying the fact he could tease Bill. Bill was holding on to a chair, his joints pale from the restraint he was having over himself to not lunge at Russell to kill him. I closed my eyes then, needing the rest. The sun would rise very soon, I could have sworn. I could still feel Alcide and his friends' presence but Russell's weres seemed to have retreated, for what and why, I couldn't tell. I could still hear Bill's growls of anger. Once Russell moved away from me, Nan and the Magister entered the room, their respective footfalls quite different, Whilst Nan's heels made a slight ticking sound when they hit the ground, the Magister's was a heavy, tired slump. I peaked at them through my heavy lids. I was feeling quite mushy and tired at the moment but I needed to know what was happening.
'Magister, Nanny' Russell whispered, grinning. 'We can discuss the politics later. Right now I wish for my companion and I to go walk in the sun. If you both behave, I might let you have a sip of my new toy' He said, his voice full of contempt. The man obviously was out of his mind if he believed there wasn't going to be any retribution for his acts.
'We don't care for your toy' Nan said, her voice icy as ever. 'We must conduct some business with Mr Compton at the moment. Silver him.' She ordered her minions who strolled out of the office. They circled Bill and sat him on a chair forcefully.
'Let me feed her or she'll die!' Bill growled at Nan and the Magister, trying to make a move towards me.
'You are under arrest Mister Compton and in no position at the moment to make demands.' The Magister snarled. McAlister was definitely a bizarre vampire.
'I'll feed her. As soon as I'm back.' Eric promised Bill, a proposition that made Bill's temper flare.
'Don't you dare! She's still mine!' Bill growled.
'Oh I do believe she now is mine, Mister Compton.' Russell said with disdain. 'And as I hate sharing my blood, I'll let my companion do it for me after our stroll in the sun.'
I suddenly caught a thought from Alcide's mind. Silver. Lots of it. And gloves on his hands. These thoughts were a bunch of nonsense to me right now. I drifted into unconsciousness as I heard Bill, Nan, Pam and the Magister, as well as Nan's minions retreat away from the door whilst Eric stepped towards it.
He was going to meet the rising sun.