Sookie

Chapter IX

Later that day I went home and dressed for my shift with a new kind of appreciation for my life. I stood in front of the mirror in my unremarkable work uniform. It wasn't something I'd ever really thought of but I liked what I did. I got to interact with a town full of people that I knew. Was it sad that that was my only social interaction, probably, but was it familiar? Absolutely. It was familiar and safe and fangless.

I would be leaving it behind soon. The same was true for my car, my house, my friends, and everything I'd ever known. That evening at work Sam didn't say anything to me because he knew I was this close to breaking. He let me be and the chaos at the bar while I worked made it better before my shift was over.

As promised Claudine showed up the next evening to help me prepare. She primped and polished me after which I looked so unbelievable that I didn't recognize who was in the mirror. The woman was a head turner, but I felt like a show dog.

"I know you feel…bad," Claudine began. "I know you hate Ada for it and even me a little. I understand."

We were in Claudine's car and headed to meet Eric. On one hand I was glad he wasn't coming to my house. On the other hand I had no idea where I was going. What I had in my stomach couldn't be described as butterflies. When you had butterflies there was a kind of excitement mixed with fear. I was ashamed to admit it, even to myself, that fear was all there was. I wanted to be brave for my brother but I was going to pieces.

"Would you do this?" I asked her. Talking to her might make me angry and that might be better than anything else. "Marry a stranger, leave everything you know and love behind?"

"Yes," she said. It was the direct answer that got me to look her way; I'd been expecting her usual evasive maneuvering. She shrugged, "I was raised differently. To me this is as normal a notion as romantic love is to you."

When I tried on that perspective it explained a lot. It was why she was treating this like it was good thing when it wasn't. The problem was I wasn't brought up the way she was. I didn't know this world two months ago. But they expected me to comply and conform to customs that weren't my own.

In my head the ideal that love and marriage went hand in hand was still there. It warred with the deeply rooted compulsion I had to save Jason no matter the cost. In this instance I felt more fiercely protective because this wasn't his fault. Yes, I was willing to pay the price to keep my brother safe but I would never accept any of what they had turned my life into. It would never be real to me.

"If I could take your place I would," she said.

Those words were so softly spoken that I wouldn't have believed she said them if I didn't see her lips move. She nodded to reaffirm that I had indeed heard correctly though her eyes were fixed on the road.

"May the strength of my forebears carry me always, if ever that should fail, then I will endure for the sake of my house," she let out a very human sigh and her brows furrowed. "I learned that creed at the breast."

That was it for conversation. She hadn't distracted me, she had confused me. I guess that was something. I looked at the signs and saw that were headed into Bossier City. The remainder of the long drive symbolized what my life was turning into. I was in the car but I wasn't driving nor did I know where it was headed. I sat and simply occupied space. I was wondering about Sam and the deliveries to the bar this morning. I was thinking of Jason, Tina, and Tara, everything else that was familiar of my life as I'd once known it.

Physically I was in the passenger seat of her Mercedes, but my mind was miles away, far away. I found that I welcomed it because the detachment helped me cope. As long as I didn't let any of it register the urge to scream and run remained suppressed. I wouldn't lose sight of why I was doing this and it also wouldn't seem real.

"Horseshoe Casino," My fairy godmother announced.

I looked out then up at the towering sixty story casino and luxury hotel. It was at the heart of Bossier City, standing brightly against the night sky like a beacon welcoming any and every one that saw its light. And so begins my slippery descent into hell, I thought snidely. Claudine drove around back and stopped at a service entrance. For a few seconds we sat there in the silent car. She faced me and her expression was somber and her eyes grave.

"Allow me to say this much," she said.

I nodded and she took my hand in hers. "You are a child of the Sky Fae. We endure the trials we cannot escape. You will endure, if not because you can then because you must."

The hold she had on my hand grew tighter with every word and I couldn't pull away. The haunted, ghostly look in her eyes had taken over fully. I felt like she was trying to really help but I just didn't know what she was trying to say. To begin with I wasn't a sky anything. I was confused and a little freaked out not to mention my hand ached. Claudine blinked and then that charming smile fell over her face.

"It's alright," she said rubbing my hand "I know you don't understand."

You got that right. I knew asking wouldn't get her to clarify. It didn't matter because sadly, none of what she had said had succeeded in making me feel better about what I was about to do. It only confused me and left me with a dark sense of foreboding as we walked towards an unmarked metal door. Beyond it I heard two human minds and two not at all human. Perfect, more supernatural creatures.

"You cannot mention Jason," she said. She didn't have to tell me what the penalty would be. "No one will harm you. I will be here waiting when your meeting is done."

I looked down at my immaculately manicured nails and lavender sheath dress. It was all so foreign. I had no idea how I was ever supposed to ever make a good show of this. I couldn't. I looked at Claudine and because I had nothing else to go off of I pulled in a deep breath and told myself I could endure.

I nodded and with a reassuring smile she disappeared. The door opened and I was looking at two middle aged men wearing the hotel logo on their black uniforms. They were obviously security guards. While they unlocked the door, it was clear the massive wall of muscle behind them was in charge. Both were built like muscle builders; their muscles had muscles. Their minds were churning pools of static. If that wasn't scary enough they were wearing my weight in weapons. Sam had told me about many creatures from other dimensions. The only problem was I couldn't classify them having never crossed path with them before. I made a mental note to ask him later.

"Miss Stackhouse," The dark haired muscle man called stepping forward. "I am Hellion and this is Damascus." I got a curt nod from the redheaded muscle head at his side. "We are members of Mr. Northman's security detail. Please, right this way."

I entered through the service entrance. It wasn't until the second floor—when we traded the service elevator for regular ones—did I see the glamour of the hotel. The glass and gold embossed elevator doors were just the beginning. The express ride to the penthouse was another. I was still staring as I was led to the room.

Panic flared again but I suppressed it. Claudine had said no one was going to hurt me. While I might not trust her, I knew she couldn't lie. Looking around the sitting area of the room helped me distract myself. The suite was complete with an immaculately decorated interior, a baby grand piano, and roof top access to a pool.

"Hello," a deep baritone called.

I made an 'eep' like a mouse and almost jumped out of my skin. I spun around and there he was. I knew what he looked like. I was one of many people who did but to look at him in such a small space ripped away the barrier of supposition and artistry. Looking at a face on paper or on the television was not the same as real life.

Those lightening blue eyes that I had once thought captivating on paper were a hundred times more so as he looked at me. My upbringing once again despaired and once again I was forced to instill some manner of control. It wasn't easy. I was scared and my eyes still wanted to steal glances at him.

"I am Eric," he said as if there was a chance I might have wandered onto the wrong penthouse.

"Sookie," I said holding my hand out.

Remembering too late what Sam told me about shaking hands, I yanked my hand back as if he'd shocked me. All the while he did nothing but watch and that just made it worse. When I was done acting like a cat on a hot tin roof he moved back a few paces. I had to say no longer having his shadow towering over me made it easier to breathe.

"It is understandable to be uneasy around a man you do not know," he said in tone that was supposed to be placating. "Considering I am a vampire it might be irresponsible not to be wary." He pulled a chair out for me and sat down across from it. "Please."

On cue the door opened and a waiter came and offered me everything in the menu but I refused anything but water. Anything I ingested was liable to come right back just watched and sipped his blood. If he thought I was being rude he didn't show it.

"I'm not hungry," I concluded firmly but politely. "Thank you." I even added a brittle smile that made my face feel like it would crack.

Relieved I took a sip of my water to further calm my nerves. I sat and tried to let the numbness wash over me. It didn't come because my instincts refused to let me, not with a vampire in the room. I tried to steal furtive glances at him as he looked at his phone. It might have been presumptuous that he would leer or sniff me. The dress I wore was conservative but I don't think he even glanced past my face. He didn't look like he wanted to take a bite out me. Minus the utter lack of conversation it would appear that we had dinner like this routinely.

"Tell me about yourself," he asked, finally setting his phone down.

"What don't you already know?" I asked because my brains had been temporarily scrambled. The effect of his eyes were the same, compelling and chilling. I lost the lines that were supposed to go with the role I was playing.

"I do not know what you like or dislike in terms of food, entertainment, hobbies, or intimacy," he shrugged and the action did nothing to make him appear less alien. For a few seconds he eyed me and I fought the urge to squirm. He made no apologies though I was sure he knew. He just waited politely for an answer to such a loaded question. "Enlighten me," he prompted.

By the tone of his voice and the perfectly timed tap of his crossed leg I knew he wasn't asking. He was impatient. There was something about his movements that was too precise. He was trying to act human but it was off somehow. Don't get me wrong. It wasn't like a robot simulating human mannerisms. He had it all too down pat, too smooth for that to be the case. He wasn't even missing that essential thing that came from living a life as a human being. It was unsettling because I knew just how otherworldly he was. These perfectly tuned behaviors were for my benefit. It was to put me at ease. Like hell.

"I played softball when I was in school. I read a lot. I work as barmaid and I don't like anything that involves touch." That should answer the intimacy question without actually addressing it but I wasn't that lucky.

"Why the aversion to touch?" he asked.

"It makes peoples' thoughts louder," I replied. Looking at him I realized his mind was still a swirling vortex of nothingness and no amount of focus changed that.

"You are a mind reader," he said conversationally. "Interesting. Can you read my mind?"

"No," I said. "You're like a space in the room where a mind should be, a black hole. It sounds different from the two guards that escorted me here but I know they're not human either. What are they?"

"Britlingens," he answered. "A species of daemon from another dimension. You never want to be on the wrong side of them."

I wasn't sure if he knew it but that sounded like a threat. I was inclined to believe he did know because when I looked at Eric those perfect brows of his furrowed as if in question. Then it dawned on me.

I'd been so sure Niall knew I was a telepath, and that he must have told Eric. Why else would he choose a barmaid from the asshole of nowhere who had never been anywhere? That and the allure of my blood had been why he chose me. It had to be. I was so sure that he knew that it never occurred to me for one second that he didn't. Silence persisted and I wouldn't break it even if my life depended on it.

"You are different than you seem on paper," he finally said. It might have been meant as an insult. Or a complement. I didn't know. It left me at a loss so the truth came tumbling from my lips.

"You shouldn't have met me on paper," I said trying to get him to understand.

I was learning a few things from Claudine's evasiveness. Niall said I couldn't mention Jason and I technically hadn't. I would drop enough hints that he would get it in the event he didn't know. Eric was finally looking at me and not through me.

"I think I understand," he said with a nod of his head. "The Sky Prince has found a way to force your cooperation."

I nodded, feeling elated that he was quick on the uptake. "I literally wouldn't be here if someone's life didn't depend on it."

Eric reclined further back into his seat, portraying the picture of ease. There was no outrage or anything close to sympathy. That was alright I assured myself. He didn't have to care he just had to know that I didn't want him. It would surely be enough.

"Then this will serve us both well. It will be a marriage of convenience at the end of which you will walk away a wealthy woman."

So much for that idea, I thought bleakly. Frankly I was insulted by his presumption that money was what I was after. I swallowed the insult by trying to reason through it. As much as he was worth, women were probably nothing more than toys. I had no doubt that he'd had some that were for sale. But I wasn't one of them.

I tried to make myself sound reasonable and respectful instead of aggrieved and offended. "You're more than wealthy and twice as good looking," I admitted. "You can have any woman you want, someone up to these standards." I waved my hand around the room.

His head tilted to the side and I felt I'd been thrown under a microscope. I ran a hand over my dress but repressed much of my outward signs of unease. When he kept staring I pretended to be engrossed in the empty seat to his side.

"As evidenced by your refusal," he said. "That statement is not so." He waved an errant hand that displayed dismissal and indifference. "In any case it matters very little. We both have our reasons. They are not relevant and need not be disclosed. All that matters is that the terms of our union are upheld. Make no mistake that once we marry, I will hold you to them."

Claudine was back as she had said she would be. It didn't escape my notice that she watched Eric closely. He escorted me to her and parted with a simple,

"I will be in touch," like I'd applied for a damn job. I was so angry and frustrated I could scream.

***Talk about Mr. Unromantic***