CHAPTER TWO
"You gave her your blood." Bill said.
"Would you have me let her die instead?" Eric replied.
"It should have been my blood." Bill retorted.
"My blood is much older and stronger than yours is." Eric drawled lazily. "Not to mention you were halfway to Shreveport chasing down a werebitch. You would not have been back in time to help her. She would have died if we waited for you. She was close to it when I reached her."
I fluttered my eyes open and Bill's face filled my vision. "Sookie." He breathed, taking my hand in his. I looked past Bill to where Eric was sitting on the sill of my bedroom window. I propped myself on one elbow, feeling like a million dollars considering. He regarded me smugly.
"Thankyou." I said and he nodded. "How long was I out?" I asked and Bill shifted his weight.
"Two days." Eric replied.
"Did you go to the Fairy relm?" Bill asked and I shook my head.
"Not that I can recall, no." I heard the door open and I looked over my shoulder as Jason came in, holding a bunch of flowers. He raced over to me and all but shoved Bill out of the way as he bent down at my bedside to hug me.
"I thought you was as good as dead." He said, smoothing my hair out of my face. I managed a smile for him.
"I'm not, thanks to Eric." Jason glanced at Eric.
"Thanks, you know, for savin' my sister and all. She's all I got left now." He said and Eric looked positively uncomfortable.
"I didn't do it for you." He replied, trying to put on his bad boy facade'.
"I don't care why you did it, I'm jus' glad you did." Then Jason hugged me in a bone crushing hug again. He pulled away and said "Tara's gone to get some food. You hungry?" He asked. I nodded, I was starving. I had a more pressing matter at hand so I jumped out of bed and raced to the bathroom.
After I had relieved myself I spied the bathtub and groaned. I still longed for that bubble bath. I didn't care who was in the house. I just wanted to immerse myself in the hot water and allow the worries and horror from the other day to wash away. I ran the bath and squeezed an insanely large amount of pink, strawberry scented bubble bath into the tub.
I undressed and sank into the water. I turned off the faucet and closed my eyes, resting my head against the edge of the tub. This was like heaven. I could feel all my worries start to slip away from me.
"Hmm... that looks so... enjoyable." Eric's voice interrupted my thoughts and I snapped my eyes open. He was reclining against the sink with his arms folded.
"This is a dream." I asserted and Eric grinned impishly.
"Not this time." He said. I closed my eyes and counted to ten. I willed myself awake or into some other dream. Kittens! I thought to myself. I would think about cute little kittens. I opened my eyes and Eric was still there in exactly the same position, smirking at me.
"What the fuck!" I muttered. "Usually that works."
"I told you it wasn't a dream this time." Eric stepped away from the sink and started to unbutton his black shirt. He had it rolled to his elbows, showing off his forearms, I always found that sexy on guys. Then it dawned on me what he was doing.
"Get out of here!" I snapped and tried to cover myself with bubbles. He chuckled and shed his shirt, chucking it on the floor. Then his hands moved to the buckle of his black pants. I narrowed my eyes and threw water at him. "I mean it, get out of here."
"Why?" He asked silkily. I glanced around the room for a towel but it seemed Eric had moved the towel to the very sink he was leaning against which meant I would have to walk naked over to it, so not going to happen. I decided the only thing I could do was try my best to wait it out, though I was certainly not going to let him enjoy himself if I was not able to enjoy myself.
"I wanted a nice relaxing bath." I hissed as Eric slid into the tub. I drew my legs up to my chest and turned side on to Eric, curling up as best as I could, as far away on the other side of the small tub as possible.
"Let me help you make it relaxing." He said gently, reaching his hand for me. I battered it away and hissed at him. Eric raised an eyebrow. "I'm sorry, did you just hiss at me?"
"You vampire's hiss at each other all the time, why can't I do it too?" I snapped. Eric stared at me for a moment and then he threw back his head and roared with laughter.
"You would make a perfect vampire." He chuckled as he once more reached out for me. I went to bat his hand away yet again but he was ready and faster. He grabbed my wrist with his other hand and pulled me to him so my back was to his front. I tried to scramble away but he was ready. Eric put both his hands on my shoulders and squeezed. "Relax, I promise I won't try anything." Then I felt his lips on my ear and he murmured "Unless you ask."
I shuddered and tried to regain the upper hand. "I won't" I spat and he chuckled again. He started to massage my shoulders with his strong hands and I closed my eyes, enjoying it immensly. I couldn't control myself when a moan passed my lips. Eric clicked his tongue.
"So tense Sookie. When was the last time you had a massage?" He asked and I half dazedly thought about. To be honest I don't think I'd ever had one and I told Eric as much. "Didn't Mr. Noble Intentions ever give you one?"
"No."
"Hmm..." Eric said nothing more on the matter but he continued to work on my neck back and shoulders. There were times when he pushed a spot that sent sparks of pain along my spine and I cringed or whimpered but Eric quickly explained that I had what was known as stress knots and he was easing them out. After a time there were no more knots and the massage became infinantly more enjoyable. I found myself reclining back against Eric's chest and eventually I fell asleep.
I awoke with a start and found myself looking at my broken window. It was a warm summer night and a slight breeze ruffled the white, lace curtains. I felt something heavy pinning me to the bed and I glanced down to see an arm across my body. I frowned and slowly rolled over to see Jason asleep beside me, on his back, his arm hanging limply across my body.
I bit my lip as I got out of the bed. What the heck was Jason doing sleeping on the bed with me. I looked down and plucked at the white nightdress I was wearing, and who had dressed me? I wandered downstairs, ravenously hungry. I walked into the kitchen and smelt pizza. I opened the oven door and there were a few pieces on the tray, just waiting for me to eat. I turned on the dial so the pizza could heat up. Then I went to the fridge and poured myself a glass of apple juice.
As I shut the fridge door I jumped as a shadow walked up to me. "Sorry Sook." The voice said as the light came on. "You woke me."
"Tara." I breathed as she embraced me. "You scared the living heck out of me." Tara said nothing, she only held me for a time. Finally she pulled away and held my shoulders.
"Oh God, Sook, we were so scared you'd die. There was so much blood all over the room, the house was in chaos, there were dead bodies all over the place and you... Oh god Sook..." Tara started to cry and I held her close.
"It's ok, I'm alright now. I was close but Eric saved me." I replied and Tara pulled away.
"I kinda like Eric." Tara said and I stared at her in dumb, shocked silence for a moment.
"You say what now?" I asked. Tara shrugged and sat at the kitchen table, lacing her fingers together.
"He saved your life Sook."
"So did Bill, many times in fact when we were together." I responded. Tara looked at me evenly.
"There's something about Eric, you know what I mean?" She asked and I frowned as I extracted the pizza from the oven. I sat across from Tara and bit into the pizza as she continued. "When you were gone, for that whole year, I saw a lot of Eric. He bought this house, your Gran's house, your house. He cleaned it, he spent money... and I mean a shit load Sook... to have people come in and restore it. He had the furniture restored and everything. He never gave up on you. He wanted this place perfect for you when you got back.
"Did you know he requested I go to his bar in Shreveport? What's it called?" She asked and I supplied "Fangtasia." Tara nodded. "That's right, Fangtasia. I got there and he requested I sit next to him on the stage. Everyone was looking at me Sook, everyone seemed to want him. I admit I sat there thinking 'what the fuck was I doing there?' I hated vamps and after everything I had been through when it came to them it wasn't hard to understand why I fucking hated them."
"Why did he want you at Fangtasia." I asked confused. I had no idea why Eric would care in the slightest about Tara. She smiled wistfully.
"He asked questions. Questions about you, about our life, growing up together, your Gran and family, Jason and any and all relationships you ever had. He got this relieved look on his face when he discovered Bill was pretty much the only person you had ever had a relationship with. He asked me whether you had ever mentioned him and whether I knew what kind of feelings you had for him." I frowned at this news. "I swear Sook, I really, truly think the guy loves you."
I sighed and finished off the pizza, putting my head in my hands. Tara touched my shoulder and I raised my gaze to her. "What's wrong Sook?" She asked.
"I swore off vampires." I replied. "I just... can't be with one of them. So much trouble comes from a relationship with one."
"Sook, I know bad stuff happened since meeting Bill but from what Eric told me its not Bill that the trouble followed... it's you. That queen, whatshername...?"
"Spohie-anne."
"...knew about you before you met Bill, I mean wasn't she the one that sent Bill after you? I know maybe you don't trust him but honestly Sook I think Eric can be the one to protect you."
Then I understood what was going on. "Oh my God!" I said. "Eric glamoured you didn't he?"
Tara frowned. "No. Jesus Sook, is that what you really think?"
"I wouldn't put it past him." I said and Tara shook her head.
"He didn't glamour me. He just wanted the best for you. I mean look at Bill now, he's dangerous and he's a dick... not that he wasn't a dick before, but now you know just bad he is. He lied to you, used you and everything else."
"I dunno Tara. I don't want either of them." Tara raised her eyebrow at I sighed. I ran my hands in my long blonde hair and stared at Tara. "I am so confused. I think I love Eric, I feel something strongly for him but I can't do it. I just can't trust him. No matter what he said or did I just can't do it. I have sworn off vampires forever."
"Look, Sook, I'd be the first to tell you to stay the fuck away from vampire's, especially after what happened with..." she gulped and I took her hand, knowing how much it still haunted her. Tara gulped and looked into my eyes before giving my hand a squeeze. "Look, Sook, he's not like the others. He's honest with you, even when you won't like it."
"He bought the house." I told her and Tara looked sheepish.
"I know. He says he did it for you so you had something to come back to."
"He told me he did it so he could own me." I spat. Tara growled.
"Oh, no fucking way!" She stood up so fast that the chair fell back and landed with a crash on the kitchen floor. "He fucking did not!"
"Look, I just can't do this right now." I said. "I can't be with anyone. Hell if I were going to be with someone I would be with a nice guy. Like Sam or Alcide."
"He is kinda cute." Tara mentioned. I chuckled.
"Who are we talkin' bout? Sam? Or Alcide?" I asked and Tara winked.
"Why not have both?" She asked and I blushed.
"TARA!" I gushed and she laughed. At the moment Jason stumbled down the stairs with his gun drawn.
"Don't move!" He roared and Tara and I jumped about a mile out of our skins. It took a moment for Jason to fully wake up and take in his surroundings but eventually he lowered the gun. He scratched his head and frowned. "Thought I heard a crash." He said and I nodded at the overturned chair.
"Tara got a little excited that's all." I said and Jason visibly relaxed.
"Man I swear I'm on edge." He said and I frowned.
"I can see that. Why?" Jason glanced at Tara who raised both her eyebrows in response. I was getting real fed up with it all. "Oh for pete's sake!" I snapped. "I've been back for a couple of days and already you two are keepin' secrets from me? Tell me why you're so nervous. And while we're gettin' things out in the open why were you in bed asleep with me Jason?" Tara glanced at him amused and he shifted his weight unconfortably. "Why are you stayin' over?" I asked Tara. "Not that I don't love you stayin' and all and who dressed me and put me to bed?"
"Promise not to get mad?" Jason asked and I frowned.
"Jason!"
"Eric made us promise we'd stay with you until he got back from whatever vampire business he has. I don' blame him with the whole werewolf thing that happened. As for me I was sittin next to you on the bed and I guess I got tired."
"Ok, who dressed me?" Now both Jason and Tara both looked off at some unkown wonder in the distance. "OH HE DID NOT... HE BETTER NOT HAVE!"