Eric walked into the ladies' room, completely unconcerned with whether someone found it inappropriate or not, he locked the door as well, no one needed to see her upset. He saw Thorn standing in front of the mirror, holding her head in her hands over the sink. She was shaking. "Thorn…" He stood near the door, leaning against the wall. "Look at me." She didn't. She didn't even move, didn't even acknowledge that he spoke. She was taking deep breaths, trying to calm herself. "Thorn," Eric said firmly. "Look. At. Me." She hesitated but looked over at him. She was almost in tears. "What is going on? What happened?"

"I… How did he find me?" Her voice trembled.

Eric's eyes widened in realization. Arthur was the vampire who had attacked Thorn.

"He used to tell me that I had the voice of an angel…" Thorn had said when she had told Eric about the attack. And tonight, Arthur had called her an 'Angel of Music'.

Eric came over to her to and pulled her into his arms," I'll kill him." He stroked her hair," I will rip his fangs out and tear his body to pieces," He growled. "I'll bury him in a silver lined coffin and let him starve to the point of madness."

"We both know you can't do that without permission. And we also both know you can't get permission for it when we can't prove that it was him," She sniffled. Eric had explained some of the vampiric laws and customs to Thorn. And she knew that while he was Sheriff and had the authority to kill in self defense, to execute someone, he needed the permission of the Magister. And he couldn't punish Arthur for attacking an unattached human, five years ago, with no proof, in a private setting where he hadn't been caught. It may be frowned upon but it wasn't technically illegal for him to do it. And human authorities wouldn't do anything because Thorn would be persecuted herself for being a fang banger. She knew how the defense would go. If Thorn was so scared of vampires, why was she with Eric? Why wasn't she running and hiding? Why not report the crime when it happened?

She had valid reasons for all of these things but closed-minded people would just see a vampire's lover who was probably lying. Not that the media needed much of a reason to crucify a vampire but the American Vampire League would bring up all of these things to prevent outrage at more of their kind. "The AVL would never allow- "

"Fuck the AVL," Eric forced her to look at him. "Fuck them. I don't give a shit what they say. If he comes near you, I will end him. Slowly and painfully and dip his remains in liquid silver. Understand?"

Thorn stared into his eyes and nodded," Yes, Eric." He stroked her hair slowly and kissed her. She kissed him back. It was chaste enough at first, a comforting kiss between a couple. But then something sparked between them. Heat started to build and Thorn pulled Eric against her, deepening their kiss. Eric brought one of his hands up to clutch her string of pearls, he tore it off her neck and they sprayed all over the floor. She gasped again and he kissed her neck. She shivered under his kiss.

"Be mine," He rasped into her ear," No one can touch you if you're mine."

"I can't… Biting… I can't…"

"Don't you trust me?" He kissed her lips again.

"Yes, Eric. But it's not about you. It's about me."

Eric nodded and kissed her again," Then no biting. I still want you to be mine." He kissed her throat slowly," Say yes."

She moaned," Yes, Eric."

He picked her up quickly and set her on the sink behind her, kissing her again and biting at her lip gently. His hands moved over her back and hips and sides and he moaned when she bit him back for once. She reached between them and undid his pants again, pushing them down his hips once they were open. Eric pushed her skirt up and spread her legs. He bit her lip again," Tell me you want this."

"I want this, Eric," She breathed," I want you."

Eric slid inside her and moved deeply. He hitched her legs over his arms and held them apart. She gasped and moved her hips with him, or rather, tried, but the angle made it difficult. Her back arched and she grabbed him by his neck and held him against her, kissing him. Eric moaned her name softly and he wrapped her legs around his waist.

Being inside Thorn was like being wrapped in fire. He wanted to feel every part of her, he wanted her to feel him in every part of her. He never got tired of how hot her skin felt against him, especially now, while she was riled with pleasure and lust. She made him feel less cold, less dead. He needed her. He hated it but he did. She made him feel again and while that would normally infuriate him, when it came to Thorn, it didn't. He liked feeling things again.

The way her body fit around him was perfect, more perfect than any other woman he had ever been with. He groaned when she dragged her nails down his arms. His grip tightened on her hips when he started to move harder. He kissed her neck again, one hand moving to her lower back to press her against him with every thrust and the other resting on the mirror behind her head. "Gods above…!" He said breathlessly.

"Oh Eric!" She moaned louder.

Eric growled as he listened to the blood rush in her veins, the way her heart pounded in her chest. He felt his fangs come out and he had to move his lips away from her neck and to her ear in order to contain himself and not bite her. He retracted them quickly and nibbled her ear. He started to whisper to her in his language.

Her body tightened up around him and she moved her hips in rhythm with his. Her hands ran down his back and she kissed his neck and shoulder. Eric moaned louder and moved harder into her. She bit at his skin and he hissed in pleasure. She moaned against his skin. Eric kissed her again, continuing to speak to her in his native tongue. The whispered words made her tremble inside even if she didn't understand him. His hand on her back moved to enclose around her throat, gently, not too much. He felt her tighten further and he moved deeper, moaning," Come apart for me." She seemed to need no other words because her body clamped down on him and Thorn screamed his name as her orgasm exploded around her. Eric tossed his head back and his hand on the mirror pressed hard and shattered the glass. "Fuck!" He shouted and emptied inside her.

Thorn panted wildly and held onto Eric until she could breathe again. He kissed her softly," Did I hurt you?"

"No," She breathed and looked back at the broken mirror," You okay?"

"Yes." He picked her up and moved her away from the glass, setting her near the door. He used his speed to not only pick up and dispose of all of the glass but to pick up and pocket all of the pearls from her ruined necklace. "I'll have them restrung for you."

She giggled," You also owe me new panties."

"Oh no. I will not buy you things that I intend to rip apart," He grinned. Thorn blushed. "Now, why don't I take you home?" He walked over and pressed her against the door.

She touched his shirt," I don't want to go home tonight."

"Then my home," He breathed.

"I would like that," She touched his cheek gently. She'd never seen his house. She had wondered if he even had one or if he just lived at Fangtasia.

He kissed her again," Clean yourself up before I ravage you again."

Thorn had to laugh and let him leave the room before she fixed herself up. She came out and when she saw Arthur wasn't there any longer, she relaxed. She went to Eric's side and he stopped her from sitting down. "Something wrong?" She looked up at him.

"Not a bit," He smiled," We're just leaving now." She smiled and followed him outside. Eric picked her up and ran. She held onto him tightly. She'd never moved so fast before.

Eric's home was large, as to be expected from someone as wealthy as he was. It was like a rustic mansion, hard wood flooring, dark wood furniture, two floors plus a basement, and decorated with large paintings of mythological creatures and hints of Norse memorabilia, no doubt to remind him of home. But Thorn only gawked in awe for a moment before Eric swooped her into his arms and made love to her again, right in his entryway. Then on the stairs. Then again once they reached his bedroom upstairs.

Thorn and Eric laid in his large, luxurious bed. He ran his fingers over her arm lightly," Where did you learn to sing like that?"

She looked over at him," Nowhere. Kind of. I took lessons as a kid but I was singing almost as soon as I could talk. And my whole family is musical."

"Are they?" He smirked," You never mention them. Tell me about them." His fingers ghosted up her thigh.

She shivered. "Well… I have a mom and Dad and a sister."

He kissed her shoulder," You're dodging. You don't speak about your past. Why is that?"

"Neither do you. Why is that?"

Eric wrapped some of her fiery, ruined curls around his fingers," Because I am 1207 years old and it would take many nights to tell you my past."

"Oh no, what horror," She chuckled, "Spending alllll night with me."

He ran his fingers down to her chest," It's not like that. I've done terrible things, Thorn. Things I'd rather you not know. And telling you only the pleasant things would be lying to you. 1200 years is very long time to accumulate sins."

"Sin is only a Christian thing and on top of that," She kissed his chest," You're clearly a God. So, who gives a fuck?"

"Nothing Godly about me, Älskling."

"I beg to differ," She kissed his stomach.

Eric watched her," Have I not proven to you tonight that I am the Devil?"

She kissed up his body to his lips," You don't believe in the Devil. And no. You haven't. All you've convinced me of tonight is that you're the best fuck I've ever had. And that I can trust you." He kissed her back. "Besides, even if you were the Devil, Lucifer was God's favorite, his most beautiful angel." Her fingers ran through his hair.

"Until he fell."

"And when did you fall, Eric?" She breathed against his lips.

"Many centuries ago," He replied and kissed her again. "It's nearly sunrise." She kissed his neck again," Thorn, tell me about your life before we met. Tell me about yourself."

"Why do you care? From what Sookie said about you before we met, you could care less if a woman was a wife or a widow or a whore. As long as you could feed off and fuck her."

Eric sat up," Is that what you think? Have I not shown you that you're not like other women to me?"

"Eric…" She caught his hand gently," I didn't mean it like that… I just meant that I figured none of my past mattered to you, is all." She smiled," My past is hard for me sometimes. Like most people on the planet, life wasn't perfect."

"Tell me."

She sighed," … I was born in Southern Michigan. A small town called Monroe. I lived right off Lake Erie and when you went out my back door, you saw a glittering lake for miles and miles. We went to farmer markets for fresh food and produce and milk… Life was really simple but it was amazing. My sister and I swam in the lake at every chance we got, we spent a lot of time singing with our parents. My father played violin and my mother sang. When I was about twelve, my parents just… changed. They became so different. My father developed a drug habit and started drinking to excess, my mother became very unstable and almost cruel, and my sister just adopted the mind set that I didn't even exist." She shrugged," A year later, we moved away and I didn't have the lake to escape to anymore. It was my sanctuary… And we had to stop going to my vocal lessons because we'd fallen on hard times and being only fourteen, I couldn't afford them myself. Then my parents split and my entire family just became these cruel people who said and did things to hurt each other. I had three options: Become like them, Leave, or Die." She looked down," options one and three terrified me more than leaving. So, at fifteen, I ran away from home and bummed around the country until I got to Texas where I ended up staying with a friend until I graduated high school."

"Your family never filed a missing persons report?"

"Nope."

"Good lord," He frowned," What changed them?"

"I dunno. No one ever told me anything as to why. I just figured we always had problems but being the child of fantasy novels and whimsy that I was, I never saw them until I was older and it was hitting me smack in the face. And I haven't spoken to them since I left. I don't even know if they know I'm alive. When I got older, I wanted to go back but I was afraid of Art following me to them and hurting them. So, I stayed away from them after I was attacked, too." She sighed," See? It's not a big mystery. I just had a fucked up high school life."

Eric nodded. "I'm sorry you endured that." He kissed her," I have to go to ground. Get some rest. I'll be up just after sun down." She kissed him back and nodded. "Dream of me," He grinned.

"I'll think about it," She teased.

"You little witch," He laughed and got dressed, walking down to the basement door. He slept down there. His bedroom was for company. As Eric closed his eyes, he grinned a little. Maybe he couldn't feed on Thorn… But she now trusted him. And he was mesmerized by her. Such an odd woman, she was.

The next evening, when Eric woke up, Thorn was still asleep in his bed, which pleased him because he could go feed and be back, hopefully before she woke.

When Eric came home, he was surprised to see none other than Godric on his doorstep, waiting. The youthful, beautiful vampire who had given Eric eternity. His father, his brother, his friend. "Godric. This is unexpected. Why not wait inside? You don't need an invitation," He smirked. He knelt in front of the young man, who looked much younger than Eric himself. "It is an honor to have you in my home."

"I was told you wished to speak with me," He touched Eric's hair. "Rise, my son."

Eric stood," Yes, I do. But a call would have sufficed. You didn't need to trouble yourself coming to Louisiana."

"I was due for a visit. It's been about sixty years since we saw each other last." He smiled. Godric had a kind smile. A child's smile. Innocence and wisdom at the same time. "I'm also here for another reason. But what was it that you needed to speak with me about, my son?"

Eric led him inside," A vampire named Arthur Hect. He attacked a young woman in your area and I was curious as to why he wasn't staked. You're lenient but not that lenient."

Godric raised a brow," Arthur Hect? I don't recall the name. But my memory is not what it once was, of course. Whom did he assault and when? I would think I would have heard about anything recent. And how did you come by this knowledge?"

"Well…" He smiled," Believe it or not, I have a new lover."

"Eric, you've always been fond of bed sport. Why would I find it hard to believe that you have one lover or ten lovers?"

Eric nodded," You have a point. But this one is the only I'm seeing right now. I don't require anyone else when I'm with her."

Godric raised both his brows in surprise," My son? Monogamous? That has not been in many years."

"Not since I was human," Eric admitted. "And even then, it wasn't often." They sat in the living room, both taking their respective places in the large, leather armchairs.

"How long have you been seeing this miracle woman?"

"About four months now."

"That's GOT to be a record."

"It is," Eric laughed.

"And what has this new woman to do with the information about the vampire? She told you?"

"Yes. She was the one assaulted," He said, becoming much more serious. Clearly, the idea had Eric completely on edge and Godric noticed instantly.

"When did this happen, Eric?"

"Well- "Eric was cut off by the sound of footsteps. Both Eric and Godric looked over to see Thorn standing in the entryway in her red dress. "Ah. Speaking of. Älskling, this is- "

"Godric?" Thorn stepped closer.

Godric stood," Acantha?"

Eric blinked, standing," What? You know each other?"

Thorn ran over and hugged Godric around his neck. "It's been so long! Are you all right?" She touched his cheeks. They were about the same height. Godric had been a tall boy for his age when he'd been human. "What're you doing here?"

"I sensed your terror," He took her hands into his," I felt it. More than once. And then last night, it was so overwhelming I couldn't even eat. I thought you needed me."

"I'm fine. I just… He's back," She breathed.

Godric looked at Eric, "This is what you meant?" He touched Thorn's neck softly. Eric nodded, very confused. "I see. Acantha, how did you find yourself here?"

"I moved to Louisiana about- "

"I meant here. In this home."

"Oh… Eric and I are kind of dating."

Godric smiled, "That's wonderful."

"You two know each other?" Eric asked, again.

"Godric is the one who found me after I was attacked and took me to the hospital," She hugged him again," If he hadn't been walking by, I would have died."

Eric frowned. That was either very lucky or Godric had been hunting for someone or something. "And you said you felt her terror? You fed her?"

"Yes," Godric nodded. "Acantha would have died."

"Acantha?"

Thorn looked at him," Yeah, uh… that's my real name. I changed it when I moved because I didn't want Art to find me." She looked at Godric again," It's so good to see you, Godric."

"Indeed, it is," He kissed her hands tenderly, gazing at her affectionately. "And your true name is stunning, if you ask me."

Eric frowned. They couldn't have been lovers… could they? He felt jealousy swirl in him. He didn't like this. He had never had negative emotions towards Godric. He was loyal to Godric and always had been. Nothing got in the way of that. Ever. Nothing and no one. But if Godric touched Thorn… Godric looked at Eric. "Godric, thank you for coming but I would like to speak to Thorn alone."

"Eric," Godric said something in another language that made Eric pause. Then he took Thorn's hand and led her upstairs to his bedroom.

"What's wrong? So, we know the same vampire. Who cares?" Thorn looked up at him. "And what'd he says to you just now?"

"How do you know Godric?"

"I told you. He saved me."

"How else?"

She sighed," We lived together for a little while after I was attacked. I was too afraid to live in my apartment and Godric offered me protection."

"Did you ever go to bed with him?"

"What?" She gawked at him," Why does it matter? You knew I wasn't a Virgin."

"Did you fuck him!" Eric snapped.

"Once!" She snapped back at him," Godric was never interested in that. But once… We did. Yeah. Then we decided that we were better off not being intimate. Neither of us felt that way about the other."

Eric hissed.

"What's the big fucking deal? I know you and Sookie fucked! I'm not flipping out on you about it! Not to mention Pam and every dancer at Fangtasia. We both have a past, Eric."

He looked at her. She was right. Why did this make him so angry? It was Godric. He didn't take permanent lovers for fear of harming them, he would never take Thorn from Eric, not after seeing how happy Eric was, how much he cared for her. Godric loved Eric as his son. He would never do that, regardless of anything in the past. And it's not like Godric was the only man that Thorn had ever been with. Plus, Eric, himself, was no saint. How could he be angry about this when he'd had more lovers and Thorn and Godric combined? "And your name? Were you ever going to tell me about that?"

"No. I didn't feel it necessary."

"Why not?"

"Because I've been called Thorn most of my life. For my prickly disposition and because you try getting five-year olds to say the name Acantha. Thorn was always my nickname. Plus, Acantha literally means Thorn. So, I didn't see the point in bringing it up. Eric, why're you acting like this?"

He sighed. Why was he acting like this? "Apologies. I'm being irrational. I don't mean to be."

She touched his arms," Hey. Godric is my friend. That's all. And I'm with you now." She leaned up on her top toes and kissed him. He kissed her back softly. "So, stop being a douche."

He chuckled," I will make an effort to not be." And damn it, he would.