A/N: Eric has returned in this chapter! I'm sure you all will be pleased! and I just wanted to address something really quick; this is still an Eric/OC series. They may have their ups and downs and periods of separation, but just remember that Eric owns Chases heart no matter how much she tries to escape him.
The 3rd Degree
Russell Edgington's mansion was elegant, lavish, and everything that the home of the vampire King of Mississippi's home should be. Russell kept a tight grip on my arm as he dragged me towards his front door, my heart pounding, my stomach churning, and the very real thought that I was going to die tonight prominent in my brain. I had realized while in route to the Russell's home, while I sat beside him in his fancy limo, that I hadn't read Russell's mind and still hadn't, even though he had made contact with my bare skin multiple times. Despite the fact that it puzzled me I didn't dare try to invade his thoughts for fear that he would feel my presence in his mind. While he did know that Dominic was trying to create a half witch, half fae child, he really did not know whether or not Dominic had really achieved his goal. He could only go on the assumption he had. Just because I had sweet smelling blood it did not mean that I was that child. If I didn't display my power unnecessarily then I still held my secret, I could possibly convince him he was wrong.
We had left Alcide unconscious on the floor of his apartment. Coot had delivered a few more cheap shots to his limp body on his way out and I hoped that his cheap blows weren't enough to hurt Alcide too much. I hadn't fought with Russell's hold on me even though both Sookie and Bill had made more attempts to fight only to be thwarted by Russell, who seemed amused by their attempts. I knew that Russell was powerful and there really was no point. We all were stuck and there was no getting out of it, at least not without an organized plan or sheer dumb luck.
The doors to Russell's mansion as Russell and I approached them. I began to panic a little more as Russell pulled me into the house, making me look back at Sookie and Bill, who were being shoved into the house by Russell's vampire guards. I felt my eyes go wide as the first sight that I was greeted with was Lorena descending the stair case. Our eyes met and I saw her face set into a scowl as she looked from me to Sookie and then Bill. My eyes shifted and fell on another vampire who was exiting a dining room that I had never seen before. He looked young, but being a vampire he could have been hundreds of years old. His suit was dark and his hair was jet black and slicked back from his face young face. I couldn't help, but think that he used way too much gel.
Russell swung me forward by the arm before releasing me, propelling me towards the young looking vampire. He caught me with a surprised frown, steadying me on my feet before looking me up and down. I brought my hands down to cover my lower half's private area. I was still wearing nothing but a tank top and boy shorts. I cursed Russell inwardly for not even giving me an opportunity to put on pants.
I caught movement out of the corner of my eye and guessed it was another one Russell's 'guests' or employees coming to see what all the commotion was about. I felt my face fall in surprise when I saw that it was Eric. He looked stunning in a light v neck sweater that was robin egg blue and a pair of dark slacks. His eyes met mine and I saw them widen in surprise. A frown touched his mouth as he looked from me to Russell and back and I stared back at him in confusion. What the hell was he doing here? I couldn't stop myself as I started to step toward him, knowing that he would protect me, but halted when he raised his hand and gave a single shake of his head. My frown deepened.
"Guess who turned out to be completely unworthy of our trust," Russell said calling my attention. I noticed that the large vampire who had brought Bill in had tossed to the floor.
The vampire beside me mocked surprise, placing his hands behind his back. "No…." he replied.
Lorena had finally reached the main floor and looked at Russell in confusion. "Why? What's happened?"
"He's been hiding something very…interesting…from us all," Russell answered looking at Sookie.
A loud snarl made me jump as Bill jumped to his feet at vampire speed, ripping a post from the beautiful spiral stair case before launching himself at the vampire who had subdued him. The makeshift stake broke through the vampire's sternum with a sickening crunch and blood spurted from the wound before the vampire dissolved into goo. The vampire that stood beside me screeched loudly making me jump again as he stared at the scene with wide eyes and an open jaw. Bill didn't waste any time making his second moved and jumped at Russell, straddling his shoulders and raising the stake to aim it at Russell's chest. I felt a brief sense of hope that Bill was going to get us out of this mess, only to have it shattered as Russell tossed Bill off a little too easily. Russell laughed loudly as Bill hit the ceiling, denting it before he fell face down into the staircase amidst the debris from the ceiling.
"Bill!" Sookie screamed as Russell continued to laugh.
"Are you serious?" Russell taunted. "I am almost three thousand years old!"
Sookie moved to run to Bill, stopping when Eric appeared in front of her, blocking her path to Bill. I frowned as I watched Sookie stare up at Eric in confusion. "Eric!" she screeched in frustration trying to move past him.
Two vampire guards appeared behind Bill, lifting him off his feet. "Eric, get her out of here, please!" Bill pleaded.
I found myself stepping forward as Eric grabbed Sookie by the arm, pulling her off the stairs and back to Russell. Sookie struggled against him, but he kept a firm hold on her. I could only watch, knowing that if I said anything I could only be putting myself in more danger. I wondered what Eric had planned to get us out.
"Eric what the hell are you doing?" Sookie growled looking up at the Viking with a deep frown.
Eric came to a stop in front of Russell, releasing Sookie. "I wouldn't let go of this if I were you," he said to Russell before looking back down at Sookie with a smirk. "I don't know what it is, but I do know that it's quite valuable."
My frown deepened and Sookie turned panicked eyes on me. I didn't like how Eric was acting, even if he was doing it all to keep up whatever pretenses he had made with Russell, it was still a dangerous game he was playing.
"Eric, what the fuck?" Sookie questioned.
Eric ignored her, his eyes still on Russell. "I haven't had the pleasure of tasting it, but my instincts say it would be quite….extraordinary," he said, his smile widening.
I felt my stomach drop as he uttered those words, the green eyed monster rearing its ugly head inside of me. The energy welled up even stronger as my emotions amplified and I clenched my fists. It didn't matter if Eric was putting up a front anymore, he had struck a nerve. I knew that drinking blood was an intimate action for vampires, and him mentioning tasting Sookie was enough to piss me off.
Russell circled Sookie slowly, eyeing her from head to toe, pausing briefly behind her to lean forward and sniff her hair. Sookie looked up at Russell in disgust before turning her angered and confused face back on Eric. Russell finished his inspection of Sookie seeming interested, but not fully satisfied with his findings. Sookie stepped toward Eric glaring at him.
"I will never ever forgive you for this," she threatened.
Eric huffed, continuing to smile down at Sookie. "Aw…it thinks we're equals," he commented with a smirk as he looked at Russell.
"Oh, but its wrong isn't it?" Russell replied looking up at Eric.
"Indeed," Eric replied.
I felt my face turn in disgust as he and Russell shared a hearty laugh. Meanwhile the vampire beside me, whose name I still hadn't learned, had clearly reached his breaking point. He pushed past me, sending me stumbling a few steps backward, as he glared at Russell. He was fuming and I could practically see the anger rolling off of him in waves. He placed his hands on his hips.
"Do you care nothing about our home?" he asked in a calm yet firm tone.
Russell paused in his laughter, rolling his eyes irritably. "Talbot, not now!"
"When?!" Talbot screeched loudly, his fangs extending and his eyes going wide. He didn't give Russell the chance to answer before he stormed past him, straight for the staircase, mumbling to himself in some foreign language. He disappeared up the stairs, leaving an irritated Russell behind.
Lorena cleared her throat loudly. "And what are you going to do with our Mr. Compton, if I may ask?" she asked Russell.
Russell turned his eyes on Bill, a frown returning to his face. "Marco, Klaus, take Mr. Compton to the slave quarters. There my dear," he made his way to the stairs then paused and looked at Lorena. "You will kill him."
My heart skipped a beat as Russell uttered the words and Lorena's face fell. Sookie turned to me looking panicked and afraid before she screamed out in protest as Marco and Klaus forced Bill down the stairs towards the front door. "No! Please, don't!"
Lorena shook her head, looking to Russell desperately. "But-."
Russell turned to her as he shook with rage. "Do not defy me! I am your king!" he shouted.
Lorena looked on the verge of tears as she bowed her head respectfully. "Your majesty," she said with a shaky voice.
Russell turned back for the stairs. "Take Ms. Stackhouse into the library, Eric. I have a few questions to ask her after I repair the state of affairs of my marriage," he grumbled as he took the stairs two at a time.
"Excuse me your majesty," Eric called making Russell pause. "What are we to do with the other girl?" he asked motioning to me.
Russell turned his eyes on me, blinking as if he had forgotten I was even there. "Oh Ms. Morgan!" he exclaimed smiling at me. "I had almost forgotten about my little treat amongst all this chaos. Please escort her to one of the guest rooms when you are done escorting Ms. Stackhouse to the library. And do treat her gently. She is a guest, not a prisoner."
I frowned at Russell watching him go up the stairs. If he considered me a guest and not a prisoner then perhaps that meant he didn't want to kill me. At least not immediately. But then it also meant that he probably wanted to use me for the same thing that Dominic did, to be his personal little snack or power source whenever he wanted. The idea hadn't sounded very appealing when Dominic had offered it and it wasn't going to sound any more appealing from Russell.
"Bill, I will get you out of here!" Sookie promised as Marco and Klaus continued leading Bill to the front door.
"Eric, please! Save her!" Bill pleaded just before being forced outside.
The door shut on Bill's desperate face and I could see that Sookie and Lorena faces were both filled with despair. Sookie took steps toward Lorena, her face setting into a scowl. "If you do kill him," she said through clenched teeth as she regarded the vampire before her. "I will kill you."
I had never heard Sookie sound so sure of anything during the whole time that I knew her and if I were in Lorena's shoes I might actually believe her. But Lorena looked completely unphased, her face a mask of anger as she stalked towards Sookie. I immediately was on the move, coming to Sookie's side in case Lorena tried to do anything, my body making the decision to help Sookie before my mind could. The energy within me swelled as Lorena's fangs unsheathed.
"Oh please, please try," Lorena replied. "Without that sanctimonious little prick Godric here to save you I would love to just rip you open and wear your rib cage as a hat." I felt my teeth clench at the mention of Eric's maker in a negative manner and heard Eric's low growl as he glared daggers at Lorena. I tensed as she turned her dark eyes on me. "And you. I don't know what you are or why Russell wants you, but you can't be that valuable. Give me one reason and I will slaughter you like the worthless blood bag you-."
I jumped as the wind shifted and Eric appeared in front of me, his own fangs unsheathed, blocking Lorena from me. Lorena startled slightly, but held her ground as he cut her off. "You will not touch her," he said quietly. Even though his voice was calm and he had only made a statement, it sounded like a threat.
"Bill isn't the only one here who is hiding something, Eric," Lorena spat. "I wonder what Russell will think when he finds out that the blood bag-," she passed me a glance as she nodded towards me. "Is your human."
Eric snarled and stepped closer to Lorena, startling her again as he grabbed her by the throat. "You will say nothing," he commanded as he looked down at Lorena with disgust. "Because I would give you the true death before you were even able to utter a syllable and I get the distinct feeling that Russell would not give a damn about me putting you out of your misery. Do not test me, Lorena. I am older, faster, and stronger than you and you will not like the results."
He shoved her away from him hard, sending her to the floor, where she slid across the marble floor and hit the double doors to the entrance. I could not stop the triumphant smile that slid across my face as I watched her recover and leave the room quickly glancing back at Eric with a scowl. The moment was short lived; the minute the double doors closed behind Lorena, Eric was on me, taking me and Sookie by the arm and yanking us toward the study. Sookie and I shared worried glances, but remained silent until we reached the study where Eric finally released us. He shut the doors behind us before he turned and grabbed me by the arm again, yanking me against his body.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Eric asked through clenched teeth as he glared down at me.
"I could ask you the same thing!" I shot back with a frown.
"Now is not the time for games, Chase. I told you to leave Jackson and never return!" he snapped.
"Yes, tomorrow morning after I did not hear from you! What the hell is going on Eric? You couldn't tell me that the Vampire King of Mississippi was after me?"
Eric sighed and finally released me, beginning to pace. "I didn't know."
"Then what the hell are you doing here? Why did you tell me to leave Jackson if you didn't know?" I asked grabbing his arm to stop his pacing.
"Because if my plan did not work and I met the true death then I would be unable to protect you from whomever it was that was after you!" he growled angrily beginning to pace again. "And now you are right in the clutches of a three thousand year old vampire king and I have no idea how I am going to get you out of here alive!"
"Okay excuse me for a frickin second, but why the hell are you acting like you know me, but not Chase?" Sookie snapped angrily coming to stand beside us.
Eric frowned at her. "Chase is in far more danger than you are. Your blood cannot do the things that hers can do."
"So that means you can just throw me under the bus?! Not to mention Bill! And what about the stuff that you said to me that night the wolves came after me? All that stuff about caring about me? That was just crap?" she retorted.
I felt my face fall and the green eyed monster reared its ugly head again. "You told her you cared about her?" I said incredulously. Anger rushed through me like a tidal wave.
Eric huffed. "I never said I cared about her. She must have dreamt it."
"I didn't dream anything. You said my life was too valuable to throw away."
With each word she spoke I grew angrier. Eric continued to frown. "You are valuable. I'm just not sure why. Now will you shut up? I'm trying to think."
Sookie wasn't having it and I felt my fist clench as she continued her rant, her eyes glaring at Eric. "Sookie, I'm risking everything to tell you this because you mean so much to me. You make me feel almost human-," she said in a deep voice mocking Eric.
Sookie stopped suddenly, turning her big brown eyes on me as if she had admitted something that I shouldn't have heard. And she had. My face fell as my eyes watered, betraying me and revealing the hurt that I felt. The look on Eric's face as he looked from Sookie to me was enough for me to know that what Sookie was saying was true. He had said those things to her during some period of time when I was not around. What made it worse was that she hadn't bothered to tell me.
Eric swooped down on Sookie in vampire speed, making her jump, his fangs unsheathing. "You mean nothing to me!" he snapped angrily. "Nothing! I am very close to getting something that I have wanted since I was still human. Do not get in my way."
Eric stalked towards me as he retracted his fangs and grabbed my arm hauling me from the room.
"I hate your fucking guts Eric Northman! I promise I will pay you back for this." Sookie shouted as we exited the room.
Eric ignored her, pulling me through the foyer and to the staircase. I remained silent and seething as I followed him up the stairs and down a long elegant hallway. Eric paused at the first door possible where two vampire guards sat outside diligently. He ignored them and opened the door pulling me through, kicking the door shut behind him. The room wasn't very large, but it was filled with furniture which included a large bed. I noticed that the inside of the door was lined with silver and had no doorknob meaning there was no getting out.
Eric released my arm finally and I stormed towards the bed sitting down on it as Eric began his pacing again. I remained quiet, trying to calm myself, and get a hold on the emotions raging through me. I didn't know why I felt so surprised. I already knew how he felt about Sookie. But knowing and hearing that he had actually told her how he felt were two very different things. I felt betrayed, hurt, angry and most of all jealous. He had never admitted how he felt to me.
Eric came to a stop in front of me, making me look up at him. "Russell will be in to question you," he said. "He must know about Dominic-."
"Did you say those things to Sookie?" I questioned cutting him off. I knew the answer already, but I wanted to hear him admit it. I deserved to hear him admit it.
He ignored my question. "He will question you about Dominic and ask you what you are if he does not know already."
"Did you say those things to Sookie, Eric?" I repeated.
"I am trying to save your life."
I frowned. He was avoiding the question and it was only irritating me further. "Answer my question," I demanded.
"Sookie Stackhouse means nothing to me," Eric replied with a blank face.
I huffed. "Eric, for once, stop lying to me and just tell me the truth." It almost sounded like a plea.
"Chase there are more important matters at hand-."
"No! Me being in dangerous situations is nothing new. There is always someone trying to kill me, drink my blood, or use me for their own purposes. So no, the fact that Russell Edgington has me isn't that important to me right now. What is important to me right now is you finally telling me the truth," I retorted rising to my feet.
Eric frowned down at me. "Chase-."
"Did you say those things to Sookie, yes or no?"
"Chase-." He repeated.
"YES OR NO?" I shouted angrily. My skin crackled with energy as it amplified with my outburst.
Eric sighed. He said nothing for a long moment, only stared at me. I waited, anxiously, panting and trying to stop the tears that threatened to roll down my face. I wanted the truth. I deserved it.
"Yes," he admitted finally, his face stoic.
I tore my eyes away from his face; feeling like someone had just stabbed me in the heart with a knife and twisted it for good measure. A tear finally escaped my watering eyes and rolled down my cheek. I wiped it away and swallowed back the sobs welling in my throat, refusing to let him see me cry, even though I know he could feel it through the bond. I had hoped that if he admitted it to me, it would somehow make me feel better; that it would make me stop loving him as simply as turning off a light switch. But it hadn't. It had only awoken a new pain within me that hurt far worse than I anticipated.
"Do you love her?" I asked my eyes still on the floor.
"Chase," he repeated my name again as if that was the answer to my question.
"Eric, I love you," I admitted finally. The words felt strange in my mouth. This wasn't how I envisioned it would be when I finally confessed my feelings to him, but I was done hiding it. "Even though you have lied to me and hurt me more times than I can count during our whole relationship, I still love you. Even after you stand here and tell me you willingly admitted that you cared about Sookie, I still love you…. But I can't anymore. I have to stop. I don't deserve this. I can't trust you and it is very clear that what we have-had- means nothing and was going nowhere. So please just get out," I finished pointing at the door. "I don't need your protection anymore. I can take care of myself. Just leave."
Eric opened his mouth ready to respond when the door to the room swung open and Russell stepped through in the midst of buttoning his pants. I wiped at my eyes quickly and tried to wipe the look of pain and anger from my face as Russell looked from Eric to me and then back again. He seemed surprised and a little irritated to see Eric in the room as well, but a smile spread across his face as he fixed his belt buckle and adjusted his coat.
"I am sorry to keep you waiting," he apologized. "A husband's work is never done. Is there a particular reason you are still in the room, Eric?"
Eric visibly recovered and smiled at Russell, bowing his head respectfully. "No, your majesty. I will take my leave," he replied heading for the door.
A lump formed in my throat as I watched him pause behind the open door where he could only be seen by me. He looked at me with his deep blue eyes and I got a sickening feeling in my gut that this could be the last time that I ever saw him. An unreadable emotion came across his face, his eyes dropped, and breaking contact with mine as his jaw set and he shut the door. I bit my lip as my body threatened to sob and squared my shoulders. I turned to Russell who was eyeing me suspiciously.
"Do you know Mr. Northman, Ms. Morgan?" he asked slowly.
"No," I lied without missing a beat. It was beginning to be too easy these days.
Russell looked as if he didn't believe me. "Are you sure?"
I frowned at him. "What reason do I have to lie?"
Russell smirked and leaned against the wall of the bedroom. "Good point. How do you know Ms. Stackhouse?"
"We work together."
"And what do you do?"
"I am a waitress."
"Hmm. Where is Dominic?"
The subject had changed very quickly and I hesitated which made Russell's eyebrow arch in curiosity. I hadn't gotten the chance to come up with a plan yet. I didn't know what I was supposed to say. I didn't know how I was supposed to lie my way out of this one.
"I don't know." It was the only response I could think of.
Russell frowned. "Do not think me a fool, Ms. Morgan. I know very well what you are and the reason that you were born. Dominic was a dear friend of mine, almost like a brother, and I know exactly what he planned to do with you. I spoke with him the night that your mother brought you to him. So I will ask only once more before my patience runs out and I will resort to extreme measures to get it out of you. Measures that will be quite painful for you."
Shit, I thought bitterly. Russell had not been lying when he had said that Dominic was a dear friend and if I admitted to helping in his murder, I didn't think Russell would be pleased. I didn't think he would hesitate at all to torture me to get the information or kill me if I didn't tell him what happened. But I couldn't tell him the truth without putting Eric in danger. But if I lied I would be in danger. I was in between a rock and a hard place. I couldn't betray Eric, even when he had hurt me. I could never want him dead. I may have hated him, but I loved him more than I hated him. God I am so screwed up.
"I escaped Dominic's mansion," I blurted. "Charlotte brought me there after she found me in Dallas. Dominic told me what he wanted to do with me and I refused him. He attacked me and I fought back and escaped."
Russell frowned. "You mean to tell me that you escaped from a vampire that is over 3,000 years old and his wolves and vampire guards."
I swallowed. "I used my powers." There goes the denial option.
Russell seemed intrigued. He created a steeple with his fingers in front of his mouth. "You must be quite powerful indeed. And you are claiming to not know what happened to Dominic after your escape?"
I nodded.
"What is it that you can do exactly, Ms. Morgan?" he asked.
"I can read minds and move things…."
"What else?" he probed further.
"Nothing…as far as I know."
"Where is your mother? Charlotte?"
I hesitated again. "When I escaped she was with Dominic."
"And where is Annabelle?"
I hesitated again. I wasn't anticipating him asking me about Annabelle. "She attacked me at my house and I used my powers to fend her off. She ran off after that. I haven't seen her since."
Russell paused after my words, gazing off in thought for five long moments before looking back at me. I waited quietly, trying to keep my breathing and heart steady, even though I was feeling panicky as I waited to see if Russell believed me or not. He removed himself from the wall and placed his hands behind his back.
"I will be investigating this matter further Ms. Morgan and I do hope that you are not lying," he said in a serious tone, a grave look upon his face. "In the meantime you will stay in this room."
My stomach dropped. "And what do you plan to do with me?"
"I'm not sure," Russell admitted.
"But you said to Eric that I wasn't a prisoner. That I was a guest," I blurted stepping forward.
"And you are. A very special guest. One that I find quite interesting and valuable, which is rare because I happen to despise humans," Russell said as he moved to the door and used his covered elbow to knock on it. The door swung open within seconds. "But then again you aren't quite human are you Ms. Morgan?" he added as a smirk slid across his lips.
I watched him step out of the room without another word, feeling like I was never going to see the light of day again. I sat down on the bed and stared up at the ceiling as my stomach twisted in knots.
"I am so screwed."