Chapter Twenty Five:

I stood before my closet the next night, trying to decide what to wear. I hadn't cared about my appearance when Eric had first kidnapped me, but now, as I had two drop dead gorgeous vampires waiting on me, I wanted to look my best. I searched through everything I owned however, and just wasn't satisfied. My things had been shipped from Connecticut finally, but as I gazed over my options, I just wasn't happy with what I saw. I knew I wouldn't the most beautiful girl that would be in Fangtasia tonight, but I still wanted to look beautiful in their eyes, I still wanted to look sexy. But that would be easier if I had a single thing to wear, which I didn't.

"Stupid clothes." I grumbled, planting my hands on my hips as I glared at the mounds of clothes I had tossed onto the floor. "How can I have nothing to wear?"

"Clothes are not necessary."

I let out a yelp of a scream as I jumped and twisted around to find Eric smirking from ear to ear outside my window. I rested a hand over my racing heart as I glared at the vampire. I was starting to kick myself for not closing that window. It would mean less ways for the damn blonde to sneak up on me.

"What the hell, Eric." I hissed. "Can't you call first?"

"But where would the fun in that be?"

"I would have fewer heart attacks." I rolled my eyes and walked over to the window. "You need to leave."

"Now why would I do that when I have such a nice...view." His blue orbs travelled over my barely clothed form. I was only wearing an old school t-shirt and a pair of panties, my legs completely bare to Eric's lustful gaze. "A little less though, and you'd be perfect."

"You're a pig."

Eric just smirked widely down at me. "Are you going to invite me in, lover?"

"I'm not your lover." I made sure to remind him. "And no, my mom's home. Hence why you have to leave."

"You seemed to enjoy last night's escapades." He leaned forward, resting his hands on the window sill.

"Maybe I did, but you still need to go. I'll meet you at Fangtasia." I tried to shoo him away. I could just imagine my mother's reaction if she caught sight of Eric hovering outside my window. It would be a catastrophe of the ages. I already had a disappointing altercation with my best friend because of Eric and Godric; I didn't want a repeat performance with my own mother. "Go."

"I'm driving you." Eric shrugged his large broad shoulders.

"Well then fine, go wait in your car and let me finish getting ready." I was growing impatient. "Seriously, Eric, you need to go."

"And what would happen if mommy dearest found her precious little girl talking to the big bad vampire?" he was enjoying this a little too much.

"I don't exactly want to find out." I stepped forward, our faces barely an inch apart. He tried to move forward, but was stopped by the invisible barrier keeping him out there and me safely tucked in the house. "Please, Eric, just go. Stop being a..."

"Savannah!" a voice called from the hallway. "I'm taking the garbage out back and then heading off to work. I'll see you tomorrow."

Shit.

"Alright mom, have a good night." I called back before I shot Eric a look of desperation. "Eric, go for God's sake!"

"Invite me in and mommy dearest won't see me."

"Eric, please for once just..."

"Invite me in, lover." His voice lowered seductively. "And I'll reward you."

"Eric!" I stomped my foot on the ground like a child. I glanced over my shoulder to my closed bedroom door and tried to listen for my mother. I could faintly hear her downstairs, and I knew we would only have a matter of seconds before my mother stepped out into the backyard and found Eric hovering outside my window. There could be an off chance she might just not notice him, but I couldn't take that risk.

"Better hurry." If at all possible, his smirk widened even more.

I could hear the glass door sliding, footsteps on the porch. I cursed under my breath before doing the one thing I had sworn I wouldn't do.

"Eric get your ass in here." I hissed at the vampire.

Just like that, Eric slipped through the open window in a flash, appearing behind me with his hands resting on my shoulders. I sighed in relief, though my body shuddered at his touch. I had pulled my hair up into a high ponytail during my search for the perfect outfit, and I was now kicking myself for it. Eric took advantage of my bare neck, his lips brushed over the fang marks he had made only last night. I had just been thankful that with my mother's shifts at the hospital, we only saw one another for a handful of minutes and I had easily been able to hide the marks with my hair. I wouldn't be able to keep up the charade forever, but just until I figured out where my relationship was going with Eric and Godric. I couldn't go to my mother and tell her I was seeing two men, and oh yeah, they were vampires, at least not until I knew this was more than just a fling. In my heart I knew it was much more than that, but I had to test the waters on my own first.

"Was that so heard?" his voice vibrated against my neck as his lips trailed up the length of my neck and to my earlobe. He nipped at the lobe before flicking his tongue across my sweet spot. I let out a soft moan and became putty in his hands. Before I could get used to the feel of his lips on my body however, he pulled away. I let out a grunt of sexual frustration before turning to find Eric inspecting my closet with a raised eyebrow. "You need more...appropriate attire."

"There's nothing wrong with my clothes." I defended, though a part of me knew he was right. My wardrobe consisted of only a handful of dresses and outfits to wear out, while the rest were clothes I had just thrown on to go to class. I hadn't really cared too much about how I looked during my four years at Yale. Some days I had tossed on a pair of sweats and that was it. It was the college girl closet, that's for sure. But I wasn't a college girl anymore. I was all grown up now and needed a wardrobe to match where I am now in life. Even if that was a different place than I had initially planned. You can't help who or when you fall in love. Sometimes life just has a way of throwing surprises at you at the most unlikely times.

"I'll have Pam take you shopping."

"No no, that's alright." I quickly shook my head. "I'll go shopping on my own, thank you very much."

Eric flashed me that smug look of his, and I knew he hadn't really planned on letting Pam anywhere near me for too long alone. He knew how uncomfortable I felt around her lesbian remarks that she always made sure to make whenever she was in my presence. She knew how to make me squirm, that was for sure. Just another thing she had learned from her maker.

"Good." Eric turned to face me, his hands slipping into his pockets. "But that doesn't fix the problem for tonight."

"I haven't dressed up since you kidnapped me." I pointed out.

"But tonight is more...special."

"Special how?" I narrowed my eyes suspiciously.

"It just is." Eric vaguely shrugged his shoulders. That didn't ease my suspicions, however, and if nothing else, it only made me more worried about what tonight entailed. I thought we would simply be sitting around Fangtasia, maybe digging deeper to find out what I could possibly be. But apparently that didn't seem to be the case.

"Eric, tell me what's going on tonight." I crossed my arms over my chest. "Or else I won't go at all."

"You're going." the amusement left his face as he glared at me. "If I have to deal with this tonight, so will you."

"Deal with what? What's going on?"

"We have...visitors tonight. Fangtasia is closed to the public." Eric didn't seem happy about this at all. It might have been a Sunday night, and the crowds would be thinner compared to last night, but as the bar had closed already once this weekend, I could see why he wouldn't want to close once again. But who were this visitors Eric was speaking of? And what did they want? It had to be important enough to close the bar.

"What sort of visitors?" I continued to press for details.

Eric sighed, running a hand through his slicked back hair. "Can't you just smile and agree with what I say like a good little human?"

"You knew I wasn't a compliant little human the night you met me, Eric." I raised an eyebrow at the vampire. "And I'm pretty damn stubborn too."

"I could just glamour you to shut up." he was growing frustrated.

"And I could just order you to tell me." I reminded him smugly. "Can't forget that I have that nifty little power that actually might be useful now that I think about it."

"You wouldn't." his eyes had narrowed.

"Just try me, Eric." I challenged. "Tell me what's going on tonight. How can I play the perfect human companion that you seem to want me to be if I don't know what I'm getting myself into?"

Eric gritted his teeth, but he and I both knew I had a point. He couldn't just have me walk in there blind. These visitors, they weren't just here for a friendly visit. Eric wouldn't be so tense if that was all. So whatever the reason for this sudden visit and closing of the bar, I knew I had a reason to be worried. And if something big was going to go down tonight, then I needed to know what in the world was going on. Or else I was going to get us in a hell of a lot of trouble for running my mouth unintentionally.

"Find something to wear and I'll tell you." He sighed in defeat. "Or I'll have Pam find you something appropriate, and you won't be pleased with her choice in outfits."

"I think my mom has something I could wear." I nodded. "You swear you'll tell me what's going on?"

"I don't have much of a choice."

"Give me a few minutes." I began towards the door. Eric caught my arm however, and stopped me before I could go too far. He tugged me to his side and before I could utter a word, his hand cupped my cheek and his lips captured my lips. I gladly returned the kiss, moving onto the tips of my toes as I pressed myself against the vampire. A low growl sounded from the back of his throat as he pulled himself away before the kiss could deepen any further. Though by the look on his face, he would much rather continue this than deal with whatever was to come.

"Hurry up." he tapped me lightly on the ass before nudging me towards the door.

I rolled my eyes at the former Viking before slipping from the room and into my mother's bedroom across the hall. I was just thankful that my mother and I were fairly the same size and could fit into the same size of clothes. I knew my mother had a few fancier pieces in amongst her many pairs of scrubs, and I quickly found an appealing dress that I knew Eric would approve of. It was a dark blue, and as I held it in front of me as I peered into the full length mirror, I knew right away my eyes would look magnificent. I quickly stripped and slipped the dress onto my body, the ruched fabric hugging my curves. As I zipped the side of the dress up, I caught my reflection in the mirror and I couldn't help but smile. There were silver designs littering the satin material, the dress falling just above the knee. It was the back however, that made the dress spectacular. Because there was no back. The two thick straps draped over my thin shoulders and plunged to my tailbone before the skirt of the dress began. Even as an average girl, standing in this dress made me feel beautiful, made me feel worthy enough of my two vampires.

I had been so lost in my own reflection that I hadn't even heard Eric enter the room until I felt his fingertips grazing along my bare back. I trembled at his touch, catching his gaze through the mirror.

"You look good enough to eat." His fangs extended with a click, my heart racing as I watched that look of hunger and lust seep into his orbs. "If only we had the time."

I couldn't utter a word as Eric pressed himself against me from behind, lowering his fangs to glide across my shoulders before resting on my pulsing vein. My blood was pumping quicker than it had all night and I knew that if Eric insinuated it, I wouldn't be able to say no. His hands slid down my side and to my hips, his fingers digging into me as his tongue flicked out to taste me teasingly.

"You taste marvellous." He whispered huskily into my ear. "Are you ready to submit to me yet?"

"D-don't we have somewhere to be?" I was impressed I was even able to manage more than two words as I watched his hands travel lower and lower before reaching the hem of the dress.

Eric sighed, and I knew that whatever this night held, it wasn't going to be good at all. "Unfortunately, yes. But later..."

"No sex, Eric." I was even more impressed that I was able to stick to my guns as I slipped out of his grasps and stood before him. I planted my hands on my hips as I gave him a pointed look, though I knew I was quickly beginning to cave. How could I hold out on sex with this sexy beast? It was only my fears that held me back now.

"Are you certain of that?" he stepped forward, closing the gap between us.

I rested my hands on his chest to stop him. "I'm certain. I'm not a hundred percent certain mind you, but I'm certain enough."

His fangs retracted as he frowned. He took a step back however, respecting my boundaries, something I wasn't sure Eric even understood. Maybe he had changed since yesterday morning; maybe he was being perfectly honest when he promised that he would try. It gave me a little bit of hope anyways.

"You need to finish getting ready before we end up being late." Eric look bored as he said this. "On second thought, take all the time in the world."

"Should I be worried about tonight, Eric?"

"Yes." Eric responded honestly, his blue orbs boring into mine.

"Who's coming, Eric? What's happening tonight?" I questioned curiously.

"A member of the American Vampire League and the Vampire Authority." He gritted his teeth together. "The cold hearted bitch I'm sure you've seen on TV."

"Nan Flanagan?" My eyebrows shot up into my hairline. I had watched the vampire spokeswoman on TV countless of times. It was hard not to become emerged in the vampire rights debates while studying journalism. "Why is she coming here?"

"I don't know, and I couldn't care less." He slipped his hands into his jean pockets. "But unfortunately we have to pretend to care. This isn't the time to be throwing stones, not in today's world. One wrong move and Nan will send the word to the Authority to have my head on a silver platter."

My heart sunk. So much for a nice enjoyable evening. "So this is really big then. Are you sure you want me to go?"

"I insisted that you weren't to be involved, but it seems like Bill has already informed Nan that I had a human companion. She wants to meet you."

"Why do I suddenly feel scared shitless?"

"She won't hurt you. She can't. Its vampire law that no vampire is to kill another's human. You're mine tonight, Savannah, and I need you to act it." he raised a hand to tuck a stray strand of hair behind my ear. "Tonight we have to put everything aside and work as a united front, you, Godric and I."

"Well I guess it's a good thing we're a little ménage a trios then, huh?" I tried to lighten the mood with a failed smile. "I'm still scared."

"Look at it this way, you never would have faced this much excitement in that little internship of yours." He cupped my cheek and brushed his lips against my forehead.

"Yeah, that thought doesn't make me all warm and fuzzy inside."

"What's with the storm troopers?" I whispered to Eric as we stepped into what I thought was going to be an empty bar. It was anything but empty though. There was a TV crew set up with Nan Flanagan herself sitting behind a monitor, watching as Pam answered the reporter's question in such a monotone voice that I had to struggle to keep from laughing.

"Stop, cut." Nan shook her head in annoyance before shooting a glance in our direction. I kept myself hidden behind Eric, feeling intimidated by the woman who I knew would have no problem snapping me in half. "That's the man we want."

"What, Pam's not so good?" Eric raised an eyebrow as he waltzed behind the bar, leaving me standing awkwardly alone near the entrance. I was thankful when Godric left his seat in the back of the room and came to rest beside me, his hand lying on my shoulder.

"She's fine if you happen to be deaf and blind and idiot." Nan pursed her lips together

"What's idiotic is that the AVL thinks the public to be so naive." Pam rolled her eyes.

"I have scientific proof that people are far dumber than they realize. It's a post Russell Edgington world, everyone, and we win back the human public one smile at a time. Now, anyone here play this game?"

I glanced back at Eric as he moved around the bar once again and came to a stop beside Pam. He flipped her hair over her shoulder, stole her microphone and waved her away. Pam just rolled her eyes and gladly slid off the stood and stood off to the side. I shot Godric a look, who only shrugged in response, before we turned to watch Eric.

"Action." Eric called to the camera crew. "Good evening ladies and gentleman. My name is Eric Northman. I'm a tax paying American and small business owner in the great state of Louisiana. I also happen to be a vampire..."

"Well this ought to be good." I muttered to Godric.

Godric didn't look pleased however, and kept shooting dark looks in Nan's direction. From what Eric had told me during our drive over here, Nan Flanagan was nothing like she seemed to be on TV. She may fight for vampire rights, but she was a cold hearted bitch, taking out whoever was in her way to get to the top. Maybe I would have admired her in any other situation. But she wanted to meet me; she wanted to meet the human Eric had chosen as his companion. And that shared the living daylights out of me.

"...we're always more than happy to serve you here at Fangtasia. And I don't mean for dinner." Eric gave the camera that annoying, yet lovable smirking half smile of his before the red lights faded on the cameras and Nan stood.

"Now that's more like it." Nan waved at the camera crew. "You're dismissed."

Godric guided me to the side as the TV crew packed up their things and quickly left the bar. I had a feeling they were more than happy to leave Nan's sparkling personality behind. With the added bodies gone, I noticed the storm trooper wannabes littering the room. I looked at Godric questioningly, but he merely shook his head and I knew there would be times for curiosity after we were out of this mess.

"Is that all for this evening?" Eric was trying anything he could to end this night on a high point.

"We're only just getting down to business Northman." Nan's eyes narrowed before her gaze fell on Godric and I. I felt her cold gaze inspecting me and I couldn't help but fidget under her icy stare. Godric squeezed my shoulder in comfort, and it was the only thing keeping me rooted to the spot. Otherwise I would have been running out of the bar pleading for the TV crew to take me with them. But I was left here, under Nan's scrutinizing gaze, and there was just nothing I can do about it. "Is this your human, Northman? I was surprised when Bill told me the news. I hadn't pegged you as the human loving type."

"I've changed." Eric shot a glance in our direction, and with Nan's attention focused on me, he sent me a small smile. It was that action that caused me to relax, even just a little bit. Eric was trying his best to protect me against Nan, and I appreciated that.

"I see that." her eyes narrowed into slits. "She'll have to do I suppose."

"Excuse me?" Eric frowned, the smile being wiped from his face as he stared down at the shorter blonde.

"I will give you credit when it's due. Taking a human companion will be good for publicity. I didn't think you've used that brain of yours before. I just hope she's not a twit." She eyed me sceptically. "I've seen some of the women you surround yourself with. They barely even remember their own name."

"I went to Yale, thank you very much." I grumbled, unable to stop myself from blurting it out. Eric and Godric both sent me pointed looks, and I knew they would much rather if I kept my mouth closed and just looked pretty. Hell, I had planned to do just that. But the moment that bitch started categorizing me with whatever brainless twats Eric had been with in the past, I got a little defensive.

I had at least stumped Nan, much to everyone's surprise. The blonde raised a plucked eyebrow, as she looked me over for a second time, this time much slower, as if taking in every little thing. "I'm not impressed."

"Careful, Nan." Eric growled.

"Protective, are we?" Nan snickered as she shook her head and turned towards the taller vampire. "With a little help, she'll become America's new little darling."

"We're not dragging her into this." Eric shook his head. "She may be my human, but she is not a puppet."

"Oh but you are, Northman." Nan made sure to remind him. "You're the Authority's bitch, Northman. When we tell you to bark, you'll bark. When we tell you to fetch, you'll damn well fetch and throw on a smile while you do it."

"I'm older than you are." Eric's eyes narrowed as he towered over her.

"And I'm your superior." She sounded smug as she said this, knowing that Eric couldn't do a damn thing but lash out at her verbally. "Your little human toy will do exactly what we say, or else maybe she won't be around for too much longer."

A low growl sounded from beside me and I jumped in surprise. Godric's fangs had retracted, a murderous glare on his face as his hand tightened on my shoulder. His fingers were digging into me painfully, but I didn't dare make a noise. I had never seen Godric this angry before. He looked ready to rip someone's head off, and I was sure that if he could, he would have.

"Stand down, Godric." Nan flashed him a look of warning, the storm troopers stepping forward with their grips tightening on their rather large guns. My heart leapt a few beats as I watched everyone carefully. "This has nothing to do with you."

"This has everything to do with me. You're threatening my child's human." Godric's voice was thick with his accent as his anger grew. "You will respect me and my progeny, are we clear?"

"You have no authority over me, Godric. In fact, the best thing I've ever done was take you out of power." Nan sneered.

Godric stepped forward, and I knew that if he came within reaching distance, he would kill Nan with his bare hands. It was for that reason that I stepped in front of him, resting my hands on his chest to stop him in his place.

"No Godric. Don't. She's not worth it, even if she is a cold hearted bitch." I shot the woman the darkest glare I could muster.

"Thank you." She didn't seem fazed one bit.

"I'm older than the members of the authority combined." Godric snapped in a dark tone. "Your rules don't apply to me, not at my age."

"The rules have always applied to you. The old Council was out for your blood for killing your own maker, weren't they?"

Godric growled for a second time and I was almost afraid he was just going to shove me to the side and leap at the vampire. Eric appeared beside us however, laying a hand on Godric's shoulder to try and calm his maker down.

"Master." Eric's voice was low, so low that I had to strain to hear what he was saying. "This isn't the time."

If looks could kill, Nan Flanagan wouldn't be making another TV appearance for a very long while. Eric's words seemed to have calmed him down however, and bring him back to his senses as after a moment, and a few unneeded intakes of breath, Godric's fangs retracted and his stature relaxed. He was still glaring at the woman, and I didn't blame him one bit.

"I think it's time that you leave."

"I'm keeping an eye on you; all of you." Nan sent us all pointed looks. "One wrong step out of line and I'll have your heads on a silver platter."

With one last glare thrown at us all, Nan waved at the storm troopers before storming from the bar. We watched silently as she and her guards left, leaving the room in complete and utter silence. I let out a heavy sigh as I shook my head and looked between Eric and Godric, who seemed to be having a silent conversation with one another. It was Pam, however, who broke the silence.

"Can we kill that bitch yet?"

I couldn't help but burst out laughing. It was an odd reaction, considering how tense the bar still felt even after Nan's departure. But leave it to Pam to blurt out something so ridiculous, and yet so god damn true. Even Eric managed an eye roll, his lips twitching upwards. Before he could respond to his progeny however, the door to the bar burst open.

"Bill, isn't this a pleasant surprise." Eric frowned at the king's sudden intrusion. "We're closed tonight, why don't you come back another night."

Bill didn't say a word as he stepped further into the bar, his bodyguards trailing closely behind. I eyed them all before taking in Bill's appearance. He wasn't glaring at Eric, readying himself for some sort of comeback. No, he was glaring straight at me as if I was some horrifying monster that needed to be dealt with. My eyes grew wide as I took a step back, only to bump into Eric's chest. His hand came to my shoulder almost protectively, Godric stepping in front of me.

"What's the meaning of this?" Godric demanded.

"Guards." Bill nodded at his guards. "Arrest her."

Godric hissed before the guards could even take a step forward. His fangs extended for a second time that night and he looked ready to fight.

"Think before you do something you might regret, Godric." Bill cautioned. "This has nothing to do with you."

"This has everything to do with me." Godric growled.

"She isn't yours." Bill stepped forward, his gaze falling on each of us before resting on me. "The witch isn't yours."

My heart skipped a beat. I knew we couldn't keep Bill in the dark forever. Eventually he was going to realize I wasn't just Eric's human companion.

"But she is mine." Eric's fangs unsheathed as his hand tightened on my shoulder.

"You should be relived I'm not taking you into custody for hiding a threat to our kind." Bill tilted his chin up before waving at the guards behind him. "Savannah Kingsley, you're under arrest."