Just some numbers: 30 chapters, almost 100.000 words, over 45.000 hits, 75 favs, 162 story alerts and 672 reviews so far. Wow! Thank you so much for that. This is my first time writing fan fiction and I never thought I'd get that much attention! Again: thank you. And for those who are just reading, don't be shy and pleeease review as well. I love feedback and I really feel that I'm improving both the story and my writing skills because of it. Furthermore, I must also thank Charhamblin, who keeps making me write and write and write! She's great! :)

And now, a new Pam's POV. I hope it's character-like and that you'll enjoy it. Take care, but still have fun! Cheers from Portugal, Célia

Pam "Damned"

When I walked into Bloodbath that night, it was still way before we opened our doors. And as soon as I came in, I noticed her standing there looking confused, and seemingly unsure about what to do next. I came up behind her, intending on simply clearing my throat to get her to look at me, when she spun around and slammed into my chest. Virginia Bradshaw, the IRS person that had been checking our books.

My hand instinctively shot out to steady her, and I found myself gazing down into a pair of the most beautiful brown eyes I had seen in a long time. "I'm sorry," she stammered. I pulled my hand away, noticing that a few other employees were watching the exchange. I asked her to follow me and left to my office.

Virginia had worked for a couple days at Fangtasia and then at Deadliest. She was confirming our books, verifying our stocks and talking with our employees and suppliers as well as checking their papers too. And now she was there, at Bloodbath, about to do the same. And I was glad for it. And now you're thinking: "glad?" Yes, I was. Okay, it's true: having the IRS checking your balance sheets, financial records and everything else was a pain the ass, but I knew that everything was alright and that she wouldn't find a single off-the-books revenue. And above everything else, Virginia was really good-looking.

The thing was, even though Vampires' Rights had evolved tremendously during the last 16 years since the Great Revelation, we were still prejudiced against. And my and Eric's recent great success with our 'Fangtasia' and 'Bloodbath' brands (for some reason, 'Deadliest' was still not as famous) was almost a neon sign saying "we're making all this money, but we're vampires, so we must be doing something against the law".

Anyway, Virginia was obviously not used to be around vampires, and she had probably been silently name-calling the boss who gave her that particular assignment. And she was not a lesbian either. But I'd change her mind, on both aspects. And I had enough time for that too, because Virginia would be confirming if everything was okay with Bloodbath for the next couple of days, but then she'd have to check the franchising and the merchandising's accounting books too. And that would take her at least a week because yes, we were now that big an enterprise.

We entered my office and we both sat. After a few pleasantries, I showed and gave Virginia everything she would need for her work and then helped her carry everything with her to the third office room that we had at Bloodbath, where she would be left alone, doing her work. And the way she looked at me when I left told me that she'd soon be mine. Good.

Still smiling inside because of Virginia's smile, I went back to my office and started doing my own work. There were two proposals of new possible beverages' suppliers (our current supplier had increased his transportation fees for the third time that year, and I was done with him) and I had to decide which one we would start buying from.

Almost three hours later, I was pleased to feel that Eric was almost there. And, obviously, less than half an hour later, he did enter my office, and I immediately said: "I'm glad you're here. I think I've decided about our new liquor supplier, but I want your opinion too. And that IRS chick is here at Bloodbath tonight,"

"Okay," he said, and that was when I looked up to him and I realized that something wasn't right. Eric had an almost nervous air… Shit. What could it be? I was about to ask him that when he added, "but we can decide that later. Ocella's about to arrive here."

"Already? But wasn't he suppo…"

And then I was interrupted by Ocella himself opening my office's door. I immediately shut up, rose from my chair and moved slightly to my right, towards the window. Ocella was wearing black jeans and a plain dark grey t-shirt and he was followed by a teenager dressed almost the same way. So this would be Alexei, for sure. Eric had told me about him when he came back from Europe, and how the kid was a troublemaker. And now, they were there, on our turf. And almost a week earlier than we expected them.

I quickly wondered if Eric had had the time to talk to Sookie about them before tonight – he had been planning to do it, but he just didn't know how to. But I saved that for later, for when I'd be alone with Eric.

As soon as the two vampires were inside, and after that Alexei kid closed the door, I bowed my head slightly and, looking at the floor, I said to Ocella the word "master". I hated to call him that, but Appius Livius was intransigent about it and I had to as he pleased. He was my maker's maker.

I had met Ocella almost 20 years after I had been turned. Eric and I were living as husband and wife in Liverpool when Ocella showed up. He stayed with us just for a couple of nights but that was enough for me to be extremely glad that Eric, rather than Ocella, was my maker. For one, he was much better-looking. And secondly, Eric was not a crazy, damned bastard.

"Pamela," Appius Livius said. That was my consent to raise my head towards him.

I was looking him in his eyes and smiling slightly when I said, "Welcome to the United States. And welcome to Bloodbath as well. I hope that you're enjoying this place and that you'll feel at home here."

"Very much so, yes, this is a very adequate bar. And Eric will be showing me the two other bars later tonight," he looked at me from my head to my toes and then he continued talking, "And he was telling me just now about this franchising project and how helpful you've been to him these last few years…"

"It's my pleasure to help my maker,"

"Oh yes, yes… so I see. And I know how you've always been very helpful," Ocella said while he sat on the chair opposite my table, "Eric, Pam, take a seat. I want you to tell me all about your working ventures," he added.

And that was what we did for the next hour and a half. Meanwhile, Ocella's other child just stood there, on his feet, silent and unaccounted for.

And you know what? He gave me the creeps. He actually gave me the creeps. And believe me, that was something really uncommon. But this kid… There was something about him that just didn't feel right. And the worst part was that during the whole time, while we talked about the bars, Eric and Ocella had their backs towards him, but I had sat almost in front of him and so I couldn't help but look at Alexei from time to time. Hell. Spooky guy. He truly had this sinister air about him and I was sure that it would be spine-chilling if I was still alive. Alexei (if that was indeed who he was, because no one had yet introduced us) had these crazy eyes and I was positive that he meant trouble, just like his maker.

"Well, I'm very happy to hear about your success and very curious to see Fangtasia and Deadliest as well. Eric, let's go there right now," Ocella finally said when we ended our conversation.

"Perhaps you should take a drink here for a few minutes before we leave while I work some details I have to with Pam. And after that, we can go," Eric said. Ocella looked at him, without answering for almost 30 seconds. And believe me when I say that a 30 seconds unmoving and in silence gap, when you're among vampires, is huge. And just then, Eric added, "If you don't mind, of course."

"Of course," Ocella said still glaring at Eric. Eric glared him back.

Shit! I could feel Eric's twinge at having to bow towards his maker. He was obviously not used to be told what to do. And if I could feel it, Ocella would be able to sense it as well. I had to do something and so I said: "We have all types of human blood here for special guests like you," Ocella kept looking at Eric while I continued, "it's not allowed to bite humans in public places, but we do have it and we can serve you the human blood in a glass."

"Human blood?" Ocella said finally moving his eyes away from Eric's towards me.

"Yes. We bought it at the blood bank already iced. We have all types. Like I said, we don't serve it regularly, but we do have it for particular visitors,"

"Good, good. I've never tasted blood that had previously been frozen, but you're never too old to try something new. Don't you agree Pam?" he said smiling. And it bothered me. I hated when hateful vampires smiled.

"Of course Master," I answered.

"Good, good," he said again almost to himself, "then I'll want some A positive, if you have it."

"Yes,"

"And so will Alexei," and then, almost as an after-thought, "oh, by the way, Pamela, this is Alexei, my new son," he said slightly pointing at the teenager looking vampire, "Alexei, this is Pam, Eric's child."

We acknowledged each other by saying our names and then I went with Ocella and Alexei to the public area of the bar, while Eric went to his own office. I showed them Eric's booth and immediately told the bartender what to serve them before I went to meet Eric at his office room. As soon as I entered, I asked whispering: "So soon? Why the hell is he here already?"

"They came yesterday. And I spent the day at the Moviflor Inn with them."

My curiosity jumped in and I immediately wanted to ask him if he had had sex with either of them, but I knew that it wasn't my place to do it, so I just asked instead: "And Sookie?"

"She's at our home," he said and then almost sighed before he added: "Shit!"

"What?"

"Ocella wants to taste her, he told me tonight," Shit! Shit, shit, shit, indeed. I was about to ask him what would he do if Ocella kept insisting on drinking from Sookie, but Eric kept talking (or rather whispering because they were so close to us – however, with that tone of voice and the music out there, not even Ocella's ears would be able to hear us), "Luckily, he doesn't know about her telepathy yet, but he knows she's part Fairy and that she's Niall's kin."

"Why would you tell him that?"

"Don't be obtuse Pam. I did not, obviously. He figured it out,"

"Fuck," damn. I wanted to say something more helpful than an obscenity, but I didn't know what. Shit. If Ocella indeed wanted to experience Sookie's blood, then Sookie would have to let him taste her. Or rather: Eric would have to let him taste her. And what if he liked Sookie? What if he wanted her? Fuck, indeed.

"Yeah. Listen Pam, you'll have to keep an eye on everything for me for the time being, okay?"

"Of course Eric."

"And get a couple more guys guarding Liz in Arkansas besides the ones that are already there," he said. Eric always had someone close by Lizzie whenever she visited her father. He then continued his orders, and I felt immediately better because Eric was on top of things and I trusted that he'd make the best decisions concerning that whole Ocella-clusterfuck, "And also find four or five strong weres here and have them checking Sookie. All the time. And especially at night. But they all must be discreet. I don't want Sookie freaking out or thinking that she might be in danger,"

"Alright," I whispered to him. Eric was really into "boss/maker mode" and I was glad for it. I'd trust him my life without a second thought about it because he was always a couple of steps ahead of everybody else.

"They are all to keep them both away from any danger. Especially from vampires – they must have silver and stakes with them at all times. I don't want a single vampire close to either Sookie or Liz. And make sure that they see these photos," he whispered at the same time that my phone beeped twice with two multimedia messages – it was two cellular-photos of both Alexei and Ocella, and it was obvious that neither of them knew that they were being photographed, "and give them my cell phone number. I want the bodyguards to call me immediately if they spot either of them."

"Okay,"

"And you too. You open your eyes, alright? Don't turn your back to anyone,"

I nodded to him and left him there checking and then signing a couple of documents. I walked to the room where Virginia was and asked her if everything was all right. She said that she was almost finished for the night and gave me the same smile from before. I knew that she was hoping that I asked her out for a drink, but I was no longer interested in her. Not now. Not when I had more pertinent issues in my mind, such as the tension I felt between Eric and Ocella, and also Appius' creepy younger son. And so, I just told her goodnight and left her there.

I was entering my own office room when I heard Eric leaving his, towards the public area of the bar. I kept working and when I felt that Eric was physically moving away from Bloodbath, I immediately picked up my phone and arranged for all the guards. In less than ten minutes, I had people moving towards Liz and Sookie, and they all had both mine and Eric's cell numbers and Ocella and Alexei pictures. I underlined how dangerous these people were, and made sure that they were really strong guys (with stakes and silver with them) and then I just left to my house, after I told Indira that I was leaving.

And that was the last time I heard from Eric, Ocella or Alexei for a whole week. Then, all of a sudden, Eric called me one night and asked me to meet them all at our Fangtasia's franchising place in Monroe. I found it odd that they were in Monroe, but I immediately got inside my car and drove there.

When I arrived, I was astonished to see it closed to business for the night. But then again, after a second thought about the bastard that Ocella was and the crazy his younger child looked like, I recognized that I wasn't really all that astonished… Eric had probably sent everyone home so there wouldn't be an audience that night.

As soon as I got in, I saw Alexei in one booth licking a man's neck. The man was in his forties and he was talking in Russian to Alexei even though the boy was only interested on his jugular and not on his words. But the strangest part was that he truly looked like Alexei's father – the guy, like Alexei, had wicked eyes and the same brown hair. It was really strange.

Eric and Ocella were sitting around another table, talking. I walked towards them and I bowed my head, before I mumbled "masters". I could smell that there was no one else there and I was glad that no employee would hear me calling them that. I know, I know… Silly me! But what can I say? I really didn't want any human to hear me bowing that way. It would undermine my authority in the future… and it hurt my pride in the present.

"Pamela, glad you could join us. Have a seat, child," Ocella said.

I thanked him and I sat.

And then, all of a sudden Eric started talking about exportation fees and property rights, and how I shouldn't forget to get my Dead British Citizenship card as soon as I got there.

And… What the fuck was he talking about? I wouldn't contradict him in front of his maker, obviously. But I didn't know what to answer him either, so I just kept nodding while he talked about written contracts, estimated start-up costs both in London and Cambridge and the cash flow we'd need for something that I wasn't sure yet what.

"So when do you have to leave Pam?" Ocella asked me when Eric stopped talking.

"I…" hell, I wasn't sure where I was going to go (I figured England, but I didn't know for sure), let alone what I'd be doing there or when I would be going, "I'm still waiting for the airline company confirmation," I finally said. Okay, that was a good answer. It didn't say absolutely anything but that I'd be flying there.

Eric immediately jumped in the conversation, "You're still waiting for their answer? Don't they know when the next plane to London is? Have you tried through a Paris connection?" Thank you Eric. At least now I knew that I was indeed supposed to go to England and as soon as possible.

"You know Anubis... They are a safe for a vampires' company, but they are a mess with their confirmations…"

"Yes, they always screw with their flight confirmations."

"So Pam, explain to me again who will this English business partner be?" Ocella asked. Huh? Uh-oh! What to say? What to say? But then I was literally saved by the bell, because someone rang the bar's doorbell. "Our dinner's here," Ocella said, immediately forgetting about that so-called English business partner. He then proceeded towards the door to open it. And Alexei left his "friend" and moved to the front of the bar too.

Two blond girls and two dark haired guys, all extremely young looking, entered the bar. They looked excited to be there with some vampires when the bar was closed to everyone else. Hell! What a stupid bunch of humans!

"Pamela, you're welcome to join in. Have you fed tonight?"

"Not yet Master. I will. Thank you."

Ocella chose the youngest male for himself and then Eric selected the tallest woman. Wow… Eric, in Shreveport, drinking from others than Sookie…Had he been drinking frequently from humans during the past week? Or worse: had he been having sex with his donors? Or, now that I was thinking about it, his maker or brother? I was wondering how he would ever tell that to Sookie and how would she react to those news, when I nodded to the other woman, who immediately moved close to me. Alexei got the last man.

"Master?" he young vampire said.

"Yes?"

"Can I still drink from the old one again?" he asked pointing at the man who had been sitting with him when I had arrived there.

"No. You've already had him tonight. Just thank him and send him away."

"Yes, Master," he said and did what he had been told to do (after he glamoured the guy).

Then, we all drank from our donors. As soon as it was done, the youngest-looking boy asked if he could put some music playing with the DJ's mixing table. Ocella agreed to it, and soon the four humans were dancing sensually on the empty dancing floor while the three of us talked about Vampire Rights. Alexei was also there, sitting at our side, but he kept silent the whole time.

Half an hour or so later, Ocella asked the humans to sit by him again and Eric used the opportunity to say: "Ocella, Pam and I still need to talk about a few details concerning her work in England. We'll have to go inside for a little while,"

"Of course. Take the time you need Eric," he said motioning for the two boys to sit at his side. Ocella was way more focused on them than on us. And I was thankful for that.

Eric and I then left and we went to the further room of the bar. Neither Eric nor I had an office room at the Monroe's Fangtasia because it was a franchised one, and so we were able to choose whatever room we wanted without raising any alarm about it.

"What the hell Eric? England?" I immediately whispered as soon as we were alone.

"He wanted you. He wants to leave Alexei with me and he wanted to take you with him instead."

I didn't answer. I couldn't. Going away with Ocella? I would die! I hated his guts and I knew how awful he was. Fuck! Would I really have to go with him? "But…" And then I shut up. Yeah. I really didn't know what to say. Eric's hand then touched my arm, almost giving me assurance that everything would be alright. It was and out of character gesture between us, but I felt grateful for it nonetheless.

"I told him about exporting the Fangtasia concept to Europe," Eric whispered, "through England at first, obviously. You were born there, in a rich family, so there's still a register of your birth in the church where you were baptized. That's enough for you to get the British Citizenship. Ocella knows that, because the legislation that authorized it was extremely discussed throughout all the European Union when I was there with him. We discussed it ourselves. So he doesn't think it's odd for you to go there. There's no record of me because I'm much older than you, so I'm not considered a European citizen. And so, I told him that it would be much easier for us if you were the one managing the whole thing."

"Ohh…" Wow. Eric really did have everything thought about.

"He's excited that we'll be working there too because having bars in Europe means that he'll get to be with me much more frequently as soon as he's back to Lisbon, because I'll have to go there from time to time, and so he's willing to let you go."

I was leaving without Ocella. Oh, thank you God. I had been raised a Catholic, but my vampire-turning (and the… well, bad things I had done after it) had made me forget about my previous faith. But right then and there, I was as devoted as you could be. I would go to the Vatican, in Italy, and to the shrine of Santiago de Compustela, in Spain, and to the Lourdes' sanctuary in France as soon as I could to thank for that blessing: not being with Ocella.

"Thank you," I said to Eric. And I meant it. I realized, again, how lucky I had been that Eric was my maker, and not some motherfucker crazy guy.

"You are my child," he whispered. And I couldn't prevent myself from hugging him. These kind of personal displays of affection were really few and far between us, but, damn, it felt good to hug my maker, who was preventing me from going away with Ocella, "And you might want to leave as soon as possible," he said still hugging me back.

I left his embrace, I nodded to him and then I asked: "And De Castro? Should I tell him what is happening?"

Eric thought for ten seconds and then he answered: "No. Let's try to keep him away from this. Don't call him. And you should also try to refrain from calling me, okay? And you are also supposed to wait for my call before you come back," he added, still whispering.

I nodded again and then I asked: "And Sookie?"

"Ocella still wants to taste her. We've been arguing over it for a week, but so far I have prevented him from actually drinking from her."

"Good," I wondered for how much long Eric would be able to do it.

"Listen, how's Liz? Any news from Tennessee?"

"I've been receiving the reports from the bodyguards. Everything's alright. She slept at her uncle's once because David had a problem with the freezer at the restaurant but other than that, the bear's always with her and she's having fun there."

Eric looked relieved and then he asked, "And Sookie? Her guards?"

"Everything's good with her too, I guess."

"You guess?"

"She's alright physically. Everything's okay with her guards. But she's missing you, obviously."

"You should call her. Tell Sookie you're leaving and say why, but nothing else. Don't tell her about Ocella wanting to taste her. Let her think that the only problem here is concerning you. I don't want her to worry."

"Okay. But Eric," I paused for a second, and then I whispered, "will you be alright?"

"I will. And I don't want you to worry either. Worst case scenario, I'll be stuck with Alexei for a while," he answered. But I knew (I could feel) that Eric feared worse scenarios than that. However, I also knew (I felt it too) that he didn't want to talk about those others most awful possibilities, so I just nodded again and then we left to the front of the bar.

Both Ocella and Alexei were just finishing from getting a blow job from the human girls and I was glad for it because it meant that Ocella hadn't been paying attention to our whispers in the back.

We then noticed that it would be dawn soon and we all left the bar. We said our goodbyes and then I got in my car and the three of them got inside Eric's car. The four humans had driven in two motorcycles, and they too left, after being properly glamoured (Ocella never let a human remember about him).

The drive back to Shreveport took me a while and I got home right before sunrise. I quickly showered and then I booked the first flight to London on-line.

The next night, as soon as I woke up, I called Sookie and told her about my trip to England. I then finished packing and went to Bloodbath. I still had several things to deal with and I would have to die for the day at the Anubis' Terminal because I had a flight for the next day. I left Indira, Dahlia and Clancy in charge of everything, but they were told that they weren't allowed to make any big decisions concerning the bars. They were only to deal with regular day-to-day issues. And I was confident that between the three of them, they would probably manage it. Besides, Maxwell would be arriving from his vacation soon too – and he'd help them.

I also talked to Virginia that night, and I explained that I would be travelling for at least a few days, but that she was welcome to go through all the books and everything else that she needed (Clancy had expressed orders to help her with everything she asked). Anything for the IRS, right? She answered me that she'd finish checking everything in just two days, and that we'd receive a letter from her office with her conclusions, but that so far absolutely everything looked alright. I thanked her, and she thanked me back for the availability of showing her everything and we said our goodbyes. Receive a letter? So I wouldn't be seeing her again. Well, it didn't matter. There was no shortage of beautiful brown eyes.

I then drove to Anubis, I checked in my bags and I went to sleep there.

I woke up again while we were right in the middle of the Atlantic and I spent the rest of the flight thinking about Eric and what the hell he would do if Ocella kept insisting on tasting Sookie. I knew that Eric hated to share. And this was Sookie we were talking about… It was Sookie that Ocella wanted to sample… And she was tasty. I had only drunk from her once and even though her blood had been tainted by the maenad's poison that night, she had indeed been delicious. And there were so few part-fairies… To have one was a truly fabulous thing. And let's not forget her telepathy! But thankfully, Eric had somehow managed to keep it a secret from Ocella.

We landed just an hour before sunrise and I only had the time to take a taxi to the hotel before I fell asleep. And the next night, I started my "nothing to do" time in the UK. I shopped, I met a few old friends, well, acquaintances, and I familiarize myself anew with my own birthplace again. And, just for the fun of it, I did get my Dead British Citizenship Card (last time I had lived in England had been pre-Great Revelation and I evidently used a fake ID then). And I shopped some more.

I was waiting for Eric's phone call to tell me that I could go back to the States. Or, I was waiting for Eric's phone call to tell me that I had to go to Ocella. But either way, I was waiting for Eric's call.

A week later though, I jumped onto a plane, back to Dallas, and then Shreveport without receiving any phone call from him. And why? Because, I had felt his incredible pain, I had felt him losing his strength almost up to the point of final death. I had felt his extreme weakness and frailty. And I had also felt his anger and his anguish. His extreme anger. And his extreme anguish. Because he didn't answer my phone calls, I decided I'd go back. If I had to be with Ocella, then so be it. But I would not, I definitely would not linger and not answer Eric's call. Granted, he hadn't actually called me on the phone; hell, he hadn't even answered my phone call. But he had called me. And, even if it meant that I'd have to stay with Ocella, I would answer Eric's bond calling.

So? Thoughts about Ocella? About Alexei? About Eric's plan to keep Pam free? And what did you think about Pam's voice? Did you like it? And what about the last paragraph? "Extreme weakness and frailty", "extreme anger", "extreme anguish"… And then, I ended the chapter. Yes, I was pulling a "Charlaine Harris" there leaving that loose end. *haha haha - evil laugh* But I'll update again as soon as I can, don't worry!

"Damned" is the sixth song of Bon Jovi's "These Days" album. This song is about a love affair between a married woman and the singer of the song. "I'm lying here beside you in someone else's bed / Knowing what we're doing's wrong / But better left unsaid / Your breathing sounds like screaming / It's all that I can stand / His ring is on your finger / But my heart is in your hands / CHORUS: Damned if you love me / Damned if you don't / It's getting harder holding on, but I can't let you go / Damned if you don't need me / Damned if you do / God, I wish it wasn't me standin' in these shoes / Damned, damned"