Chapter 4

She didn't move as he stared down at her, his ice blue eyes callously inspecting her sharp features and slender frame. She cleared her throat nervously.

'I'm guessing you're the house guest then?' She asked carefully. He said nothing, only continued to stare at her. Her gaze dipped briefly to the glass in his hand. 'I'll take that back if you don't mind?' She brought her hand carefully between them millimetres from where he held the glass in front of her. He placed it in her open palm. 'Thank you'. She said carefully. Neither of them moved.

'And you would be?' He asked, the dulcet tone of his voice belying the forbidding look in his blue eyes. She swallowed hard.

'Mo. Mo Johnston, I'm a friend of Sookie's'.

'Is that so'. It wasn't a question. He stepped back and began circling her like an animal spying its prey. She stood there silently weighing her options. He wouldn't attack her in Sookie's home, she knew that but she wasn't comfortable with the way he was ogling her. Her temper flared at his actions.

'Can I help you with something?' She spat scornfully. He met her eyes in surprise. 'I'm not a piece of meat thank you very much so unless there is something very wrong with me or my appearance you will back off sunshine'. She twisted away from him slamming the glass down on the kitchen counter.

'Do you know who I am?' He demanded haughtily.

'Frankly sunshine I couldn't give a rat's hairy behind'. It was at that moment that Sookie walked through the door.

'Ah, I see you two have met'. They continued to glare at each other. 'Eric, I brought you some True Blood, unless you've fed already?' She asked flippantly. He didn't as much as look at her. Moirin couldn't help but smirk as a faint tapping registered with her. She had been standing with her back to Sookie but she could almost be certain that her fiery little friend was standing there arms folded, small trainer clad foot tapping impatiently on the linoleum floor. 'Eric?' It was a warning. He exhaled slowly.

'I have fed, thank you'. And with that he was gone, out of the kitchen and out of the house if the front door slamming was anything to go by. Moirin let go of the breath she had been holding. That had been far, far too close.

****S****

'Are you ok?' Sookie asked as she plonked herself down on the couch beside her. She jumped slightly as she was pulled from her thoughts. Now, how to deal with this situation?

'Yeah, I'm fine. I suppose after the way Jessica reacted when you said I could stay I should've figured something was up' she replied thoughtfully. 'He just startled me, that's all'. Sookie's eyebrow quirked.

'Uh-huh, so him eyeing you like you were his lunch ticket had nothing to do with it, right?' Sookie snorted.

'Would you have preferred that I fell into his arms and said 'oh please you mysterious creature of the night, we've only just met but please take my blood its yours!' Firstly I'm not that easy, secondly what do you take me for?' She shoved Sookie jokingly. Sookie, took to laughing hysterically as she considered her friend as a damsel in distress, yeah right. 'Why is he here though?' Moirin asked seriously.

'Well, the short version is that when I disappeared he bought the house and did it up. When I got back he gave it back to me, but has a cubby so that he has another safe house to go to'.

'And the long version?' Moirin asked probingly.

'Is a really long story'. Moirin sat silently for a moment considering this.

'Is there anything going on between you two?' Sookie looked scandalised.

'No'. She said shortly. It was Moirin's turn to look sceptical. Sookie sighed 'I thought there might've been something but he and I are just, well…' She scratched her head considering it for a moment 'friends, I suppose'. She couldn't help but snort at the mildly flabbergasted look that graced Moirin's face. 'Oh don't give me that look Mo. With all that's going on at present, I just couldn't deal with anything else'. She glanced up at the clock that sat on the wooden mantel piece. Its face shone slightly in the low lamp light. 'We should probably hit the hay. Will you be ok down here?'

'Pfft, please it's not the first time I've slept on your sofa'. Moirin laughed. Sookie only smiled. When Sookie had departed she made herself comfy, fluffing pillows, adjusting blankets and only when the house was utterly still did she fall asleep; the last thing to cross her mind being a stare of infinite blue.

****S****

It was close to dawn when he returned to Sookie's home. It was infuriating how casually that woman had brushed him aside. Spoken down to him like a child; the only other woman to ever have done so was well, Sookie. He stood watching in through the living room window, observing her as she slept. He had to admit that she was beautiful, her ivory skin contrasting sharply with the dark red of her hair. He wondered on the intense green stare that he had been privy to earlier; even angry there had been mirth there, a teasing hint of the person she was. There was something more to that gaze as well, he thought on something Sookie had said to him once about old souls and young bodies. It was her scent though that had astounded him, undeniably human and yet there was something, almost magical in it, something hidden there; it was exasperating. There was something very strange about this girl he decided as he walked up the porch steps and entered the house silently. He studied her as he stood in the living room deciding that he would concern himself with this again once he had had some sleep. He couldn't quite help himself though as he passed her unconscious form. He considered his actions for only a moment and bending slowly took a lock of her hair between his thumb and forefinger and bringing it to his face, he inhaled deeply. It only served to infuriate him further. It was there, he knew it! Just behind the surface something he was certain he should know; something he should recognise. He released her hair, watching it as it floated across her forehead and eyes. He growled softly and turned on his heels opening the doors to his cubby and descended into the dark pulling the doors behind him. Moirin for her part slept on soundly, a small smile on her rosy lips.