AN: Thank you for wonderful reviews! Big thanks to my beta, keiman and kei, for fixing my mistakes.

Enjoy!

Chapter 6

Wicked Girl

Marnie's POV

"Hello, my lovely witch."

I gasped and turned quickly but when I noticed who had sneaked up on me, I laughed.

"Well, hello my dear vampire," I purred walking over to him. He smiled at me, giving me a genuine smile rather than a polite smirk, and my heart fluttered. I smoothed my tight dress and added some extra sway to my hips.

Fifteen years ago, I would have probably balled in the corner wearing one of those horrid flowery dresses and stuttering nervously, but not in this lifetime. My life has changed ever since this remarkable creature decided that I am worthy of his attention. Fifteen years ago I had been at the edge of losing my mind, but Macklyn Warlow had saved me. He had found me and instantly seen it in me – a power worth exploring. He gave me his blood and created shields in my head to guard me from voices from beyond the world. I lost my ability to speak with ghosts but I gained something better – I gained magic.

"I think that I've missed you a bit." Warlow said, tracing a finger over my collarbone and I smiled at him broadly. My skin was smooth and young, my breasts still perky, even though I had just had my forty-third birthday. The magic of his blood was powerful and it has been making me look like a twenty-eight year old girl. Not even mentioning the feeling of self respect which it has awakened in me.

"Do you need me? Are my shields around your house stable?" I felt fear at the thought that something else moved through his words and had caused trouble for him or Sookie.

"No, my sweet; your magic still holds. I have a favor to ask though." Warlow brushed my cheek and I immediately nodded. Anything- I will do anything for him.

"Of course."

He smiled again and nodded shortly. "Thank you, Marnie. There is a vampire that I want to teach a lesson..."

"Why not get rid of him permanently?" I interrupted and instantly regretted it when his eyes shone dangerously.

"It's a her and killing this insolent child would attract too much attention. Her maker would do anything to avenge her and I happen to like this little corner of the world…"

The mere thought that he would have to leave Louisiana –and me- by extinction- made my heart throb. "What do you wish me to do?"

"I had hoped for some ideas from you… She is spoiled, vain and unbelievably lazy- Not to mention her lack of manners and her despicable vocabulary..." He paused, thinking of what to add. "I believe that her looks are something very important to her. And those stupid high heels."

This time I snorted and pointed at my Jimmy Choo's. "Shoes are important to us," I said defensively. I got a good picture of this vampire though. Clearly we should strike at her beauty and her material goods. I had a curse in mind.

"Is she rude to you?"

"Extremely." Warlow reached inside his pocket and pulled out a handful of hair. I cringed at the sight of it – losing that much hair had been, no doubt, painful for the said vampire.

"Well, she's gonna choke on it…" I mumbled and moved to the center of my room where a pentagram was painted on the floor. "By the way, how's Sookie?" I asked lightly, sitting down.

"You know her - work is her priority, as always. I thought to send her and Adele away for some vacation time, but they declined. Stackhouse women are too stubborn for their own good..."the ancient vampire sighed. I knew this little speech only too well.

Sookie was too hard on herself, she worked too much and didn't get enough rest. She should enjoy her life rather than spend her days with fairies at work.

If only she was given enough space to enjoy her youth... I know that Warlow means well, having the girl's wellbeing on his mind, but I swear that Sookie Stackhouse was wrapped up in cotton wool so tightly that there was no chance for her to escape. The peculiar relationship that she and Warlow have been sharing was equally beautiful and toxic. Sometimes I envied the girl and sometimes I pitied her.

"This spell will hold no longer than a week, but it should be enough to send a clear message," I explained, handing him a wooden stick with the blonde hair firmly wrapped around it. "Snap it at the first day of the next full moon at midnight and it will start working."

"I have to wait almost two weeks?" The vampire raised his eyebrows but I only nodded. Magic has its own rules – no one can bypass them. "Thank you, dear..." he said eventually and, while I handed him a doll, he handed me a check. I checked the number on it – ten thousand! Damn, he really hates this vamp! The last time that I was asked to prepare a similar spell for him, I had been paid only half as much.

That time Warlow had asked me to curse someone to make him cough out fur balls. When I had asked him why, he had simply answered that 'it's what cats do'. I hadn't questioned him, I have never dared.

"Do you have something else for me maybe?" I asked hopefully and swallowed. Money was good, but I craved something else far more than dollar bills. Warlow smirked, almost cruelly and reached into his pocket. When he presented me with a tiny vial of blood, I almost jumped him.

"Remember the rules?"

"No more than a drop a week, I know." I shivered, remembering the time when I had tried to fuel my magical abilities by using his blood. I had drunk a whole vial in one go, almost dying in the process. The things that his blood did to me that night was haunting my dreams even now. I knew that Warlow was no ordinary vampire; I knew that there was something different in him and whatever it was it made his blood… toxic.

I was disappointed when we had finally struck a deal and the vampire had excused himself by saying that he had important business to attend to - Sookie related business, no doubt.

Later, I sat heavily in front of ny mirror inspecting my face carefully – I looked young but there was no lieing - I certainly wasn't extraordinarily beautiful. Deciding to check some beauty remedies in my books of shadow which Warlow had delivered to me (I never asked him what had happened to the witches that the books had once belonged to) before I got ready for bed. I was already in my nightgown when there was a soft knock at my door. My heart swelled with happiness and I was at my front door in record time and taking a deep breath, expecting Warlow to be standing there. My face fell when I saw who was on my doorstep.

"Hello Marnie, sorry for the late hour. Would you mind if I come in?"

I shook my head, trying to hide my disappointment. "Come on in, Sookie. Is everything all right?"

"Well…" The girl stopped in the hall and shuffled her feet. She was clearly nervous. I measured her carefully, taking in her sharp suit and perfect hair, fixed into a tight up-do. She was trying to appear older than she really was- a woman my age… Truly, it was a little insulting. "I wanted to ask you for a favor but… I would appreciate it if you would not tell Ben… It's private and you know how he is sometimes."

That perked my interest. "What are you up to, Sookie?"

"I…" The girl took a deep breath and blurted it out. "I met a man and I want to hang on to him but I'm worried that he's going to use me to get to Ben!"

"Okay…" I escorted Sookie into the living room and sat down on the couch next to her. "Tell me everything, Sookie."

And she did. It left me a bit angry that she's willing to go behind Warlow's back for some sleazy vamp, but on the other hand… I knew and she knew that Warlow will never approve of any man in Sookie's life – no matter if he's a vampire, the inventor of a cure for cancer or even fucking Prince Charming. It was either sneak around with a boy (or vampire in this case) and risk her guardian's anger or be alone forever.

"And you think that this vamp is worth it?" I asked her.

"I am not going to marry him, Marnie…" Sookie rolled her eyes. "I just want to have some fun with him and take the necessary measures to keep it from Ben. In all honesty, we both know that even if something comes up, Eric Northman's gonna end up in deep shit, not me."

I tutted her. "Be careful… You may think that it's easy to separate lust from more… profound emotions, but it's a bit harder for women. Bear in mind that you can be hurt not by Warlow, but rather by Northman."

"Than it's good that I'm not exactly a human woman, right?" Sookie smiled and reached for my hands. "Please? Make this a little secret of ours?"

I quickly scanned all the pros and cons of this situation. If Warlow were to find out about my help, I'm sure that he's gonna make me regret it. On the other hand… Sookie's loverboy can put some distance between her and my vampire. I knew that some free time is all that's needed to make Warlow turn to me.

"I'll do it, but there are rules you have to follow!"

"Oh, goody. I'm good at following rules."

Fuck, little girl! You are going to get me into all kinds of trouble!

EPOV

"Nice place," I said, looking around a small private room in the upscale restaurant. A restaurant, and now I know, Sookie Stackhouse owns it.

"Thank you, it's so nice of you to mention it." The girl wriggled a little in her chair, but quickly recovered herself, trying to pose as a more confident person. She was really amusing. "We should get down to business; I don't have much time." I nodded, encouraging her to continue. "I prepared this… confidentiality agreement," she told me, putting a sheet of paper on the table, "And I want you to sign it."

"I beg your pardon?" I leaned closer to her, frowning.

"Yes," she said with power. "I want to… make use of this strange attraction between us. Before I agree to… you know." Sookie waved her hand, pinking a bit and I smirked, reveling in her discomfort.

"Well, I don't know what you want to happen between us, but all I have in mind is a simple fucking." She blushed even deeper. "And drinking…" I added a moment later, licking my lips. Drinking was definitely on the table.

"I agree with the first part, but as for taking my blood… I find that to be too hazardous."

"Fine." I shrugged. "Let's just agree that I won't bite you until you ask me to do so. Do you agree with this?"

There was some suspicion in her eyes while she was watching me carefully. After few minutes, she nodded her head.

"I have to ask…" I pointed at the agreement. "What do you need it for?"

"Because Mr. Northman, if you are willing to start a relationship with me – no matter what type – I have to be sure that you won't tell Ben about it."

I raised an eyebrow, challenging her. "Oh, because your Daddy's gonna get mad?" I mocked.

Sookie Stackhouse moved almost as fast as a vampire when she leaned across the table and pinned me with a glare. "Don't joke about it… You have no idea what he's capable of." Her simple warning was more ominous than anything that I have ever heard. "Getting between my legs could be the last thing that you'll ever do in your long immortal lifespan, so I advise you to consider if I'm worth it." I opened my mouth to put this uppity girl in her place, but she only shook her head. "I should turn and just walk away but it's just that… I am lonely. Honestly, I don't care about you and I want it to remain that way."

"I don't get attached to humans," I told her coldly.

"Good." She sat back down and took a deep breath.

It was ridiculous. I should, just like she suggested, stand up and walk the Hell out of here, but I knew that was not possible. Ever since that meeting in Sookie's office, I couldn't put my mind to anything really. Pam was bitchy while I sat at my desk deep in thought and ignored her. She had tried to encourage me to feed on fangbangers, but since that damned meeting… I haven't been feeding on humans for the last six days. I fucked a few of them, but the second that my fangs pierced their skin… They were really revolting.

I started to suspect that Sookie Stackhouse is some kind of witch who has bewitched me, but there was no proof to back up this suspicion. Truth be told, I was a little scared. I had heard about behavior like that and the mere thought of what it could mean to me… No, it was almost petrifying. I had tried to contact my Maker to discuss these issues with him, but Godric was away on a trip to Peru and climbing mountains – he really had shitty timing.

I swallowed, looking at the girl in front of me. My body was craving her and there was nothing that I could do about it. Was a threat from her guardian really that big? Was I actually ready to risk it- for her?

"Even if I sign it, there are other issues. You live in the same household and the scent…"

"I'll take care of that."

"Fine- but if there is someone who's watching you…"

"My panthers - but they are loyal to me, not to Ben."

I was really considering it. "Can't you fuck someone else? Why do you want me?" I asked the burning question and I instantly saw the answer in her eyes. She was into it as bad as me. Well, welcome to a new kind of Hell, princess.

"Because!" she spat at me, folding her arms. "Are you in or out?"

"I'm in." I reached for the paper and quickly signed my name. The second that the ink had soaked into the document - I felt it. Something like an electrical buzz running all through my body. Magic. "Fuck!" I growled at her. "What have you done?"

Sookie Stackhouse was smiling at me gently and putting her signature right next to mine. Her body shuddered a little and I was a bit relieved the the magic had taken hold of her as well.

"Precautions. This confidentiality agreement will now bind better." Sookie handed me a second file and I signed it as well. After this she stood up and I followed her lead. "Then, we have a deal." She smiled at me, this time genuinely and somehow it made me feel something warm inside of myself. "We have to discuss details, but at some other time. Ben's gonna be home soon - I have to go."

"What? Wait…" I reached over the table and took hold of her elbow. She swallowed, looking down at my hand. I made sure to keep my grip light and gentle. "I thought that we just struck a deal."

The girl raised her gaze and I saw the twinkling in her eyes that made my fangs snap down. "We did but I am a lady. I'm not going to just jump into bed with you!"

"Ladies don't bargain their virginity away as a salesman would sell away a used car."

Her eyes shone dangerously and for a moment I thought- she's going to slap me. She took hold of her emotions and yanked her arm from my grip. "This is how it has to be." Sookie raised her head proudly and turned to walk away.

"Sookie," I called after her and she paused without turning around. "I apologize. That was rude of me. Maybe you'll find some time for us next week? I believe it's customary to take a lady out on a date before… have with her some carnal pleasures." She still stood there not acknowledging me. "Obviously I can go to your house to court you and pay the proper respect to your guardian." With this she turned a little and I noticed the shadow of a smirk on the corner of her lips.

"You're a jerk," she summed up and walked outside.

I was left alone in the empty room grinning like a fool. That was how a waiter found me when he handed me the bill. I raised my eyebrows at him.

"We didn't order anything…"

"Miss Stackhouse did while she was awaiting you. She informed me that you were going to take care of the check, sir."

I rolled my eyes and they almost fell out of their sockets. She had ordered champagne - not just any champagne, but Krug Clos d'Ambonnay, year 1995, unfortunately.

"Did she drink all of it?"

"No, just a glass, but Miss Stackhouse said to charge her for a full bottle, sir," the waiter answered and I swear that the fucker had fun on my account.

I was still grinning while I was writing out a check for almost four thousand bucks and taking a bottle of ridiculously expensive alcohol home with me. Clearly Sookie Stackhouse will be keeping me on my toes all of the time - but I was going to tame this little vixen.

AN: Thanks for reading! Please, leave a review :)