Chapter 3 folks. Enjoy.
Charlaine Harris and Alan Ball take credit.
Sookie awoke to the feeling of satiation and a slight soreness gripped her neck. Rising halfway into bed, moving her neck Sookie assumed she slept wrong. Stretching her muscles her frame felt a mixture of tiredness but yet. . .good. In fact she felt bemused and dazed.
Getting out of bed she was headed to the bathroom when the phone started ringing. With a sigh Sookie went to her nightstand and answered. "Hello."
"Sook? Finally!. I've tried calling four times already." It was Sam. His voice sounded a bit anxious for her liking. "Sorry Sam. Is something wrong?." "No. Just that Holly called in this morning said she couldn't make it in today. Arlene's covering her but won't be able at four thirty-"
"Wait, four thirty?." As Sam went on, Sookie glanced at the clock and widened her eyes. It was three fifty two!.
At hearing Sookie murmur a curse on the other line, Sam asked, "You overslept?." "I'm sorry Sam. I'll try to be there soon as possible." Sam gave a silent sigh of relief. "Alright. See you soon."
Sookie hung up quickly and shredded her gown off to take an immediate shower. Getting out she had no time of applying make up and wrapped her damp hair into a twist. Pulling her usual work attire on, Sookie grabbed her purse and left the house in a hurried state.
It was about four fifteen when Sookie arrived at work. Walking inside Arlene was ready to leave but greeted her blonde friend first. "Sookie thanks so much for covering." Sookie smiled. She was glad to these simple things as she done before things had gotten out of hand. "No problem Arlene. Is. .everything okay?." Arlene's smile faltered a bit when she knew what Sookie was getting at.
"Yeah. Terry and I was gonna take Mickey for an. .appointment." About to say goodbye and head towards Sam's office Sookie couldn't help but notice Arlene's sudden disapproving final look over. Laughing nervously Arlene walked away. 'Oh Sookie. You haven't been back not even a week and already getting mixed with trouble again.'
A frown creased across Sookie's forehead. 'What is she. .' Shaking her head Sookie made her way back to her boss's office. Stepping inside, Sookie seen Sam bent over his desk, going over some paper work. "Hey Sam. Arlene has been acting very strange since I came back to work. Don't ya think?."
Of course it wasn't her business really but she couldn't help but be curious and concerned. Setting her purse inside the drawer, Sookie barely set herself straight when she was harshly whirled around. "Sam! What-" Sookie stopped as she seen the familiar look of disdain cross Sam's features. "Maybe she has the right to be." He said. His tone eerily low. Sookie's eye narrowed and her agitation ticked off. "What is wrong with everyone?."
Sookie hissed. Sam's gaze went from her face down her neck. His clear blue eyes hardened as he pulled back.
"Danmit Sookie. After an entire year. .I thought you would finally be done." Sam's tone was full of resignation.
"What are you talking about?." About two seconds later Sookie knew what the disdainful hype was all about when Sam had pulled out a small mirror out from his drawer.
At first shock registered then as she stared a few seconds more, Sookie's entire frame quivered with anger. "That son a bitch!. How dare he!." Sam seemed a bit taken aback by her outburst. He originally thought Sookie had willingly worn the bite mark. However her reaction was anything but what he expected.
Seeing it ajar, Sam instantly closed his office door.
"Did Bill do this to you?." He asked furiously. Gritting her teeth, Sookie clenched the handheld mirror harshly.
Red rage clouded her vision but also dread. The mark was very appearant. By Eric Northman and his relentless of never letting her go. Tears of frustration pooled at the corners of her eyes. She quickly wiped her hand across them.
"Sookie?." Sam asked more softly but the fierceness still intact upon his face. Setting the mirror on the desk Sookie responded tersely, "What does it matter. I wished I had never laid eyes on him." Was she really saying this?. Was it really directed at the Viking or her ex lover that caused her pain enough to numb?.
Sam gave a curse. Then pulled her to him. "Oh Chere. I'll go confront him if you want me." Sookie sighed and curled her fingers in Sam's flannel shirt. "I really don't think that's gonna do any good. Especially one as Eric." Sam pulled back. "Eric?. Eric Northman as the sheriff vampire that owns fangtasia?." "And my home." She murmured unhappily.
It took a few moments for Sam to reply. "How. .did that manage?." He asked with a blank expression.
"Last year. Jason had thought I was dead and sold the household." A look of pure rage crossed his face then settled into resoluted frustration. Sam turned his head and his mouth parted as if about to say something but didn't. Cause Jason was her brother, a foolish one at that.
"I'm sorry Sook. Jason. . .danmit. Didn't he know who he was selling it to?. Better off with another owning it."
He grumbled. Pure disdain lacing his words. "Not really," She said. Sam shot her a bewildered look. Sookie quickly looked at the floor. The wheels underneath Sam's work chair suddenly becoming fascinating.
"I wouldn't have a home to go to if anyone else had bought my home Sam." She explained instantly.
"What does he expect in return Sookie?." Sam's face was mad and accusatory. Sookie stood silent, suddenly wanting to drop the subject. "Sookie-" "I plan on getting out of this Sam. I will not give up without a fight."
After asking Sam about any helpful suggestions in her dire situation, the discussion came to an end. "You should head to work. I need to head outside and unpack the box of liquor."
Sookie watched as Sam walked out of the office with a solemn expression. That made the two of them.
Though he suppressed himself, Sookie knew Sam wanted to say a few more choice words about Jason.
She really couldn't blame him. That day when confirmed of her property of belonging to another she wanted to hit him upside the head with a frying pan.
When finding out Eric claimed of ownership, Sookie wanted to strangle her brother. After her shift she planned on going over to their parents place and discuss. Running her fingers over the mark, Sookie clenched her teeth in anger. Scanning the room for any piece of cloth to cover her neck with, she found nothing.
Only a box of tissues but how funny would it look to wear kleenex taped to her skin?. Then finally she thought of something. Taking her purse back out of the drawer, she headed out of the office to the women's restroom.. As soon as she went in she was met with Layfayette.
If it was any other male she witnessed, Sookie would have been appalled. But since it was her nail polish loving friend it was in the norm. However Layfayette wasn't applying any blush or eyeshadow as he'd usually done so. Instead he looked a bit tense. "Don't read me Sook."
Sookie blinked in startlement at his direct bluntness. It was as if he read her own mind. Giving a lopsided grin, Layfayette unbraced his arms from the sink and sat on the toilet seat. Sookie bit her bottom lip.
Wondering if she should stay or leave Layfayette to himself. "Well damn Sook's!. I thought you and Bill had split."
Sookie's inner jaw ticked. She would most certainly disguise the fang marks. Sighing softly, she shut the door.
"Me and bill haven't been together for. .quite sometime now." Sookie hesitated for a second. Thinking of the difference of her and Bill's break up. A year for him and fifteen minutes for her. Layfayette just stared till he asked, "Then who's bite is that?. I know ya Sook. You're not some cheap blood donor."
Sookie looked away and positioned herself in front of the bathroom mirror. Her cheeks were a bit flushed.
Either from irritation to Layfayette's nosing or to imagining Eric biting her. "It's complicated." She answered tartly. Layfayette gave a tut tut and rose. "Looks at me. I'm sounding like my cous. Sorry Sook by getting all nosy on ya like that." Sookie stayed silent. Gratefulness shown brightly in her dark eyes.
As if remembering her manners, Sookie gave an exasperated gasp and said she shouldn't have intruded.
"Sooks, it's aight." Layfayette spoke up. Grasping her arm, preventing her leaving. After telling him about to conceal the fanged wound, Layfayette found a better solution. Taking off his infamous dove colored due rag atop his head, he handed it to Sookie.
"What will you wear?. Or do you have a spare?." Layfayette laughed at how she was concerned with his favorable attire. "I gots a fishnet to wear for now. I used to keeps me more inside my car before those crazy hotshot hillbillies tore it up." Wrapping the thin material around her neck, Sookie asked, "Is that how Tara came to have your old one?."
Layfayette nodded. "hookah wouldn't have no set of wheels if Eric hadn't given me that fine lookin one."
Sookie's hands had tightened the cloth a bit to tightly. "E. . Eric?. He gave you a car?." Her voice came out almost in a soft squeek. Layfayette gave his telepathic friend a look as if wondering he'd overshared that one.
"Yeah. For. . Doing work for his ass." Before anything else was said Sam's voice boomed through the hallway.
"Workers needed!." While working Sookie had caught suspicious looks from the usual patrons. There thoughts had threatened to creep in but as she one told Sam of the term she had her mental guard up.
Passing out some ketch up to an older couple, Sookie contemplated about her guy friend. Not that it really bothered her of Layfayette dealing with Eric, but what the arrangement really was about.
It made her uneasy because she seen how her friend was frightened in that basement and afterwards.
But still yet. . .a warmth spread when Eric had bought a brand new vehicle for Layfayette.
Though he appeared to have a hard cold exterior and at most of times acted harshly Sookie knew he had a lovlier side buried within. A shiver ran down when she recalled how his hand had made contact with her face. How soft his knuckles caressed her skin with such gentleness. How his coolness calmed her flushed cheek that was heated from the fear of dying at the time.
Shaken out of her reverie, she could hear Andy Bellfleuar whistling to her. Stomping her way towards his booth, she narrowed her eyes and hissed, "What do you want?." Andy didn't look at her to friendly either.
His eyes raked over the due rag on her neck and his face set in grim lines. "Where is that damn brother of yours?." He demanded. Sookie seemed to be taken aback for a split second. Remebering of trying to to get a hold of Jason yesterday, she felt a slow prick of wariness creep in. "Have you tried his cell phone?." She asked. Her voice quivering slightly. "I wouldn't be asking you if I hadn't already done that now would I?."
He bit out gruffly. Sookie wanted to slap him or pour his diet coke all over his suit but didn't.
Instead she was preoccupied with her missing brother. Glaring at Andy she said, "I'll try to reach him as soon as my shift id done." Taking one last swig of his drink the chuffy cop rose and exhaled harshly. "You certainly are no help. Once I get a hold of him he is going to wish he never became a deputy!."
Before storming out of merlotte's Sookie asked, "What of hotshot Andrew?." Andy halted his footsteps and gave the most bizarre look at Sookie. She just read his mind. He never answered, only clenched his fists and headed out. However Sookie looked fearful. At his ranting she took the short time to listen mentally and found Jason had told Andy he'd been visiting the backroads town frequently.
Not only that but also Andy had went there himself. She'd caught a brief glimpse of image how the place looked like. And to. . .Andy was addicted to V. A cold dark chill ran through her. Was Jason using again?.
A millions of thoughts ran through her mind. Mostly horrid ones.
As her shift continued throughout the evening Sookie had contemplated of the highly addictive but deadly drug of V. Then Layfayette. His words from earlier. . .
"Watch it!."
Sookie blinked and looked down at the spilled beverage that coated the round table she'd dazedly ran into.
"Fudge. I'm so sorry. I'll clean that right up." Thankfully her break had came and Sookie eagerly confronted Layfayette.
"Layfayette. .tell me. I need to know about hotshot." Standing outback, puffing a cigarette Layfayette seemed to shuffle his feet nervously. "Sook you don't need to knows. They're fucked up dirtys creatures. That's all."
Sookie felt her face flame. "Danmmit Layfayette!. I need to know. It's very important." Throwing his but onot the the ground, Layfayette tried to appear agitated and headed inside merlotte's.
"I know the people is dealing V. And I know it's to do with yourself and. .Eric."
That stopped him. Slowly turning around, Layfayette faced his blonde friend skeptically. "Sooks. .you'll need to talks with big vampire about this okay." Sookie's anger fired. "Believe me I intend to." But Sookie already had her most likely answer anyways.
Driving home, Sookie had stewed over worry and frustration Thinking it would hopefully calm her it turned to be the opposite. Turning into her driveway she halted her bug and shut the engine down.
Looking at her house she ignored the newly repairing that displayed and focused on her tumultuous emotions that threatened to battle and roar. Eric was inside no doubt. And fortunately she was glad of the fact.
At hearing a certain vehicle dying, and feeling his bondeds seething arrival, Eric grinned wickedly. Closing his ancient runic book and setting it beside his bed, Eric was out of the cubby in abnormal pace.
He stopped abruptly at the living rooms entrance. At this close stepping range, he could make out her emotions more clearly.
Other than her rage another feeling triggered. Something lay underneath and Eric found it unnerving.
With her face lining at the door, Sookie didn't need to turn and know Eric was behind her. She could feel his icy blue gaze zeroed right on her. Piercing her as he done that night when he confirmed he owned the house.
Even now she felt naked and completely exposed as she was that night.
"What a pretty scarf."
Eric said darkly. Sookie's head bolted up straight. His tone indicated that he was angry. How dare he!.
As she felt him approach more closely, her grip on her purse became more vice like. In a move so swift and quick, the due rag was instantly torn off.
Sookie whirled, seeing Eric holding the flimsy fabric with a stoic expression. Sookie snapped. Dropping her purse she drew her hand back and slapped harshly. "You had no right to touch me as you done so last night." Eric stood there and beared the tiny imprint of her assault. The recall of her hot flesh impacting on his cold one had him stiff with yearning.
Not taking the eye off of the other, Eric drew the due rag to his face and inhaled. His frosty eyes twinkled.
"Mmm. Layfayette. Quite the little girlfriend isn't he." If not to her boiling anger and worry, Sookie would've been a bit disgusted by the Viking's inhalation. Crossing her arms, Sookie replied, "Sure is. Even deserved a brand new vehicle for that matter."
Eric quirked an eyebrow in pleasant interest. "Know about that do you?." "Yep. Such as a few other things also."
"Now what would that be?." He asked.
"Like an arrangement of selling V."
Eric blinked then gave a shrug. "Done and over with now." Sookie glared and planted her hands on her hips.
"Hypocrite!. You punished him for two weeks then force him to do the one thing that was against your laws!." She hissed. Narrowing his eyes, Eric threw the fabric to the side. "The deal was between me and your friend. It did not concern you."
"It does so when my brother is involved." Eric appeared to look astonished with a quirk of an eyebrow.
"How might this concern of your brother?." Growing impatient, Sookie decided to be a bit more frank.
Telling him about hotshot and that she feared of Jason being involved with the wrong crowd, Eric had told her he knew a bit of information.
Involving her brother and his attachment to the filthy dirt road. Sookie stared at Eric with wide brown eyes.
"You've kept watch over my brother?." Eric's eyes flickered. His mouth set in a grim line.
When Sookie had vanished that night, whenever his blood had halted due to her gone, he remembered he'd acted a bit impulsively.
"Only for a mild period of time." He answered distantly. Regarding the Viking for a second, Sookie wondered of why Eric had done such a thing. Was. . . It when she had been gone?. Focusing and feeling her worry overcoming she chose to ignore the matter. "Tell me about the information you know about hotshot."
Seeing her eyes glazing with that familiar look, Eric decided to approach it to her differently.
As he told her he knew her, and at such cases as this one she would go to desperate measures. "Why would I do such a thing?." He said, all the while his footing moving. Inching closer and closer, backing her into the cool panel of her door. His eyes severely intense. Making Sookie unable to look away.
"I know and as do you, that you'll take then run. Running into most likely a death trap." His face moved in.
Invading her personal space. His cool presence securing her. Making her shiver with wariness and excitement.
He was trying to scare her again, and this time just oblige to his advantage.
"Give me one good reason why I should tell you anything." His voice took on a husky tone, making her catch her breath. "I'll make you a deal." She managed to say. Eric leaned back a little. Taking a deep breath, Sookie sealed her fate.
"To be yours."
Sookie didn't have the chance to utter another word. For hard cool Viking lips smashed against hers passionately. Although she tried not to, Sookie let out a moan as Eric's lips seared hers. His tongue sought out feverishly, demanding her to open and taste. She was no longer pinned by the door, but hauled against Eric's massive firm body.
His large hands caressing every inch of her. Clutching her back as if she would escape him. One hand cupped her full bottom. A single finger sliding to the juncture between her legs. A small whimper formed and he was possessing her mouth. A satisfied groan came from Eric as he rediscovered how sweet she was.
He was becoming more demanding. Wanting- no needing more of her. She was his curse and blessing all at once. He couldn't get enough. He was ravenous for her. Feeling his finger probe her, she pulled away. Before he could protest, Sookie said raggedy, "Hold on," As she drew away and regained her breathing, Eric's hands gripped her shoulders. Unwilling of letting go. Though she didn't want to she forced her gaze up to his searing ones. He had the expression of an angry predator that had his prey taken of one to many.
"There will be conditions."
Wondering if this was good, Eric arched a brow. "Such as?." Holding steady of his gaze and her balance, Sookie replied firmly, "That I have your word of helping me find Jason."
"Yes."
"And. . When the search is over that our sudden arrangement will end and you give me the house back."
Eric's features became hard stone. His frosty eyes turning even colder by each syllable. "I cannot agree to those terms." though he appeared to look frightfully intense, Sookie wasn't backing down. He could set conditions and hold something over her head. Now she was willing to give it a try. Crossing her arms over her chest she said, "Then you can forget me of being yours."
Eric's jaw tensed. He wanted to tell the infuriating vixen fae to go on and call the deal off. That he no longer wanted her. That he detested of the foul taste she possessed. That she didn't haunt him like a ghost whenever he closed his eyes to dayrest. He desperately wanted to say she was just as every other human he's already had.
Then. . . He would be lying. Like Bill Compton. Would she want him then?. That thought sickened him. He would never be at such ranks as Compton. Damn her. He would most likely do anything to get her.
As Eric stood there, Sookie dodged him and walked toward the stairs.
"Alright then. I'll just find my way of going to hotshot and getting Jason myself."
Snarling coldly, Eric flashed in Sookie's way. "Silly woman," He hissed, fingers digging into her shoulders.
"You'll be nothing but chewed up bones if you dare to go alone." She looked up at him with a challenge he despised but craved. "Well. . Be mine then."
Eric ached to drain her dry. He despised of her having the upper hand. Narrowing his eyes into icy slits he bent to her face and whispered, "Fine. Fairy Sookie. We have a deal."
Before Sookie could move or say anything Eric roughly kissed her and left. Staring bewildered at her front door Sookie silently cursed. "Fucking vampires."