A/N: We're moving right along. Chapter seven is below. I'm thinking on a schedule that all you lovely readers can rely on. Maybe one a day, maybe less, maybe more...it depends on the turnabout on the review page ;D

Sookie

Chapter VII

I was beginning to see a trend with the interactions I'd had with Niall to date. Every time he spoke it seemed to spell bad news for me.

"Vampire," I said feeling like I was going to vomit.

This conversation had just gotten started and I was desperate for it to end. I hadn't been able to contemplate what kind of man would marry someone he'd never met. It seemed too far fetched that he, too, was being coerced into this now it kind of made sense. Supernatural creatures had their own rules and mores. A vampire certainly wouldn't give a shit.

"Yes," he said ignoring my mounting hysterics. "This is he."

Niall waved a hand and this month's issue of Time Magazine appeared on the table in front of me. Across the bottom of the page was the headline, 'The Vampire.' I was looking down at a face that was angelic. That description came to mind because the face was framed by a shiny lush river of blonde hair. It was masculine though. I mean the man was the epitome of masculinity. He brimmed with virility, boasted a strong jaw, full lips, aquiline nose, and deep set blue eyes that were fringed with long thick lashes.

"He is alluring to you," Niall said and it wasn't a question. "It is fortuitous. He finds you appealing to his eye above many others. This is a compliment."

I made no response because I couldn't form one at the moment. Even on paper those eyes appeared as though they were beckoning to me and only me. He mesmerized so easily that it left me unable to pry my eyes away because of his sheer magnetism. The rest of him registered. His broad shoulders were clad in a navy pin stripe suit. He was wearing a crisp white shirt and a silky silver tie. I kept staring and all but forgot about Niall until he spoke again.

"He has requested your presence," he continued. "He will see you in two days' time."

And that was the bucket of ice water I needed. I whipped my head up and shot him a baleful expression. There was just so many things wrong with this that I didn't know where to begin. For example it wasn't legal for vampires to marry humans. I also had no experience in dealing with vampires. Also why in the hell would this vampire want to marry me? In the end I just had my mouth hanging open catching flies.

"Claudine, she is your cousin and she is charged as your guardian. Look for her by noon tomorrow. She will help you prepare."

I swallowed to alleviate the dryness of my throat to ask questions but before I could speak Niall disappeared.

I felt compelled to read the article. There were more pictures and an interview. All of it was centered around the business world and this vampire's ability to predict the market. I had no idea why that was impressive. He was a thousand years old. Of course he knew the flow of things, he'd seen it all come and go, seen countless civilizations rise and fall but sure whatever, lets act all impressed.

After staring at the image for a bit I saw things I hadn't at first glance. Eric brimmed with confidence, wealth, and an unremitting coldness. There was danger emanating from him. It was revealed with prolonged staring. It was subtle, like looking at a shark from the safety of your boat. You saw it and it saw you and both of you knew the only that made the difference was that you weren't in his element.

I didn't know anything about vampires and I didn't want to. When they had come out it had been a big exciting thing but I really didn't have an opinion. In his interview he had all the right answers and it felt like being led into a false sense of security. It made me dislike and fear him. I knew I was judging someone I didn't know but I didn't care. Closing the magazine and turning it over on its face I headed for work. On an afterthought I brought it with me. I wanted Sam to see.

Despite my unwanted guest I wasn't late for work. I relieved Dawn, another waitress at the bar, and she all but ran out the door. I hadn't been trying to read her mind but I caught the reason why because she was thinking really loudly. My face flushed and I looked down at my feet. I knew someone I could go to learn about vampires at least. Ms. Dawn was on her way to the vampire bar in Shreveport.

On my lunch break I pulled Sam aside. "Can we talk?" I asked.

He smiled and nodded. "'Kay."

I ignored the looks as we walked into the back office. All the patrons could at least not stare. Their minds were so in sync that I couldn't block out the chorus of the thoughts because it was all along the same line. They thought we were so in love we couldn't wait to get each other naked. Some were even expecting wedding bells. Sheesh!

Compared to what my choices were I'd race down the aisle to Sam. I mean the man was attractive. He was honest, hardworking, loyal, and caring. What was there not to love? That thought brought me up short. Was I developing a crush on him? I shook my head and fortified my shields. I looked at him properly. No I wasn't. It was the companionship I'd found in him and all the thoughts of the town's people making me question what I knew.

"He's a vampire." I said, once were in his office with the door closed. Pulling the magazine out of my purse I pushed it into his chest. As he read the article I told him about my unexpected and unwanted meeting with Niall. "Is there such a thing as fairy repellant?" I asked glumly. Slamming doors in faces got rid unwanted guests. Locking them kept out thieves. Bleach on garbage cans deterred critters. There seemed to be nothing I could do about my fairy problem. "Something that would keep them from popping in and out of my house. Maybe something to keep them from coming anywhere near me entirely?" that would be great.

Sam nodded absently. "Yeah, but you need witches. The ones strong enough to combat fairies are pricy."

I couldn't afford much but my home was starting to feel like a place of ambush. I couldn't put a price on my peace of mind. "Like how much do you think?"

"He invested capital in the first railroads and trains, then cars, then airplanes. He owns a boat building company as a hobby." Sam mused.

"I know that," I snapped. "I read it. Can you answer me about the witches? A ballpark figure?"

Sam's face was so deeply buried in the damn magazine that it would be a miracle if he didn't have an ink stain on his nose after. He should be outraged not impressed by some vampire trying to commandeer my life. He was my friend. He should hate Eric on principal. It was a stupid childish thing that was beneath him but I didn't care.

"Four figures at the very least," he said still not looking up from the article. "For a Prince of the Fae, it might run you five."

I stopped my pacing and shot him a baleful look that went unnoticed. "That crazy!" I gasped. Seriously I was in the wrong profession.

Talking to Dawn seemed like a reasonable thing to do now. The magazine told me nothing. Not for one second did I believe what I saw. He was showing only what he wanted people to see, nothing more. I was going to live behind the curtain or in the water with the shark. I needed some idea what I would be seeing. It wouldn't change anything but preparation was half the fight.

"Why the hell would he want me?" I mused out loud.

I'd been turning that thought over in my mind and came up with nothing. All this Adonis billionaire vampire was getting was an unwilling wife. I couldn't even guess what Niall's angle was in this. It made no sense to me. That was no surprise because these days all I had were questions and no answers.

Sam finally set the paper down. "If your great grandfather is giving you up he's getting something…" An expression fell over his face that was akin to dread and horror.

"You know something," I said facing him. "Tell me." I tried dipping into his mind but got a jumbled mess for my troubles. It was late and I was too tired to pry any deeper.

"You ever seen a cat with catnip?" he began.

If my confused expression was anything to go by he knew I hadn't. We were taking vampires and fairies. What did catnip have to do with anything, anyway?

"It's like that for vamps and fairies. They ain't addicted or nothin'; it's more like the scent and flavor of fairies is downright irresistible. Any time a vampire is even near a fairy they lose all focus on everything else," he folded his hands across his chest and it was a gesture that marked some emotion I just didn't know what. "When a vampire catches a fairy it always ends badly for the fairy. Course, fairies avoid them for this reason but I think you're enough…"

"To not have the catnip effect or be drained by accident but taste good," I gasped. "He can keep me as a source of fairy blood."

"It could be something else," Sam added hastily. "We don't know much."

It was too late for him to lie to either of us. He didn't want to frighten me but it didn't change the truth. I should be scared. I knew that being human and being humane weren't necessarily the same thing. There were human monsters that did a hell of a more than drank blood. Being different meant I didn't hate what I didn't understand. But this was straight out of a horror movie. Fortunately for me I was now beyond shock, I was well into anger and disgust. I mean who wanted to marry their food?

There was no sane world where our paths should ever have crossed and I didn't want them to. There had to be something I could do to prevent this fate and save Jason. This was my body. I didn't want to be food or a warm body. This was my life and I didn't want to hitch it to Forbes' most loved vampire.

Supernatural creatures might not care about feeble humans but they had to respect each other. Two natured didn't live forever but they had a voice where I would not. "What if you said I was yours," I said thinking out loud. "That would make Jason yours by blood, right?" He had explained all of this to me.

"No," Sam replied raking a hand over his tired face. "I mean, it would, but I'm a shifter not a were. Remember I don't have a pack behind me. I could shout 'mine' all I wanted but if push came to shove I wouldn't be able to back it up."

"What about the local pack you told me about," I said. "The Long Tooth pack."

Sam looked at me with a serious expression. "Jumping into bed with people you don't know will do nothing but pull your wiener out the frying pan and throw it into fire," he said firmly. "You need to take the time to think."

"About what?" I fired back. "What else is there? I have to marry someone who wants to insert straws into my veins. If I don't, my brother dies." I drew a few breaths to calm myself. Raising my voice at him wasn't right. He'd done nothing but help me and be there when I didn't think anyone else would understand. "Any route that stops both of those things is worth trying, isn't it?"