Heat

I was glad that Eric tactfully waited outside my room, and didn't come in to comfort me – not that I thought he was really the comforting kind of person, though he did seem the protective sort. I didn't feel quite so freaked out as I might otherwise have done, knowing that no human was likely to get past the guard of an ancient Viking who was intent on making sure his newly acquired Human Liaison Assistant (I gave a sad, hiccupping snigger at my new job title) came to no harm.

Finally drying my eyes, I changed into an old nightgown, and brushed out my hair. I went to the bathroom and cleaned my teeth – I could hear Eric's voice floating along the hall from the kitchen, presumably talking on his phone, though I couldn't hear what he was saying. I stuck my head round the door on my way back to my room. "I'm done," I said quietly.

He nodded, still on the phone, and a few minutes later he followed me into my room, by which time I was curled up in bed. He cast himself down into the chair in the corner. "There will be twenty-four hour surveillance on your house," he informed me. "At night, one of the vampires of the area will patrol, and during the day, other associates of mine. They will remain hidden so as to disturb you as little as possible. But you will be safe. I will take the first shift tonight, and will stay with you until I must leave to return to Shreveport."

"You're taking this very seriously," I said.

"Someone is making an attempt on your life," he frowned. "First they kill your grandmother, then your pet. Of course this threat must be taken seriously."

I guessed that was a fair point, and kept quiet.

I dozed restlessly for a while, and must have fallen into a deeper sleep, because the next thing I remembered was waking from a nightmare, gasping and clammy. Without a word, Eric toed off his boots and lay beside me on the bed, pulling my head onto his chest as he wrapped his arms around me. "You are safe," he said quietly.

There was silence for a long time. "Your children were very lucky, to have a father like you," I murmured sleepily, snuggling a little closer.

He gave a soft sound of amusement. "Go to sleep, Sookie."

Surprisingly, cuddled up in the arms of a vampire I barely knew, I did just that.

He was gone when I woke up, and sunlight was streaming through the window. I called and reported Tina's demise from Sam's office, after Arlene and Charlsie and Sam talked me into it, and I tried not to think how tiny she'd looked in Eric's big hands as he'd picked her corpse up, as gently as if she'd been a newborn. I couldn't help but wonder at the gesture; as a vampire that old, he must be inured to death, surely? Was it for my sake he'd treated her with such respect – understanding that this was an act designed to hurt me, perhaps warn me, and trying to soften the blow? I didn't see Eric as the type to be fond of animals – but then, I barely knew him. How was I to know whether or not vampires ever kept dogs or cats? For all I knew, he might breed Maine Coon or Ragdoll cats as a sideline.

I cut off that particular line of thought as being totally irrelevant. The point was, even if my grandmother had been an accidental victim, with me being the intended target of the attack, Tina's murder was deliberate, and a message to me: this is what will happen to you for consorting with vampires. I'd received it loud and clear. But I couldn't make it not have happened – and if I were given the choice, would I?

I thought about that. On the one hand, I'd been a virgin until I'd met Bill, and had barely even dated, let alone had a relationship. Being with Bill had made me feel loved and cherished. On the other hand, there was that suspicion of an ulterior motive that I couldn't quite shake, that it was all down to him using his blood to influence me – that even my feelings for him were down to him using his blood, and weren't even 'real'. Again, being with Bill had meant I'd got myself embroiled in a scary-as-hell murder scene over in Shreveport, but that in itself had led to the offer of a second job, security for my house (and therefore my person while I was in it), finding out some real interesting information about vampires, and, of course, the – friendship? – I was beginning to develop with the charming, flirtatious, and charismatic Eric.

I couldn't quite come down on one side or the other, and gave up my inner debate as futile. How could I judge that until I'd found out the truth about Bill, and until I'd worked for Eric for a while? Until the murderer was caught and put behind bars? How could I weigh up the loss Gran and Tina, in all of that?

In the middle of all these ruminations, Arlene surprised me by asking me if I'd look after her two children, Lisa and Coby, for the evening, while she went out with Rene. I remembered the last time we'd discussed it, how hurt and upset I'd been about her asking if Bill would be there. Eric's words rang uneasily in my mind – that I would take offence if anyone slighted him, or whatever the words were he'd actually used. I had been hurt and angry, but if they'd been my kids, wouldn't I have wanted to know they'd be safe? Wasn't she just being a good mother? I felt a little abashed at my behaviour to her then, just as she seemed a little embarrassed, too; I guessed this was her way of apologising.

"I guess I over-reacted, when you asked about Bill last time," I said hesitantly. "You were just looking out for your kids, which is the smart thing to do. You couldn't have known Bill wouldn't have hurt them." At least, I didn't think he would. How could I even be sure of that, now?

She relaxed a little. "It's okay, Sookie, I know how it is, when you've met That Guy, and you can't bear it when not everyone sees him the same way you do. Been there, done that." She pulled a rueful face. "Every single damned time."

I laughed a little with her. "That's love, huh?"

"Sure is," she replied. "I haven't seen him around the last couple of days," she added curiously.

I shook my head. "Out of town, on business. He's had to go to New Orleans."

"Bet you're missing him," she said with a wink.

I just smiled.

Was I missing him? I considered that. Yes, and then again, no. I missed… well, okay, I missed the sex. That was undeniable. But did I miss him, as such? Honestly, not as much as I thought I would, given that I'd got my suspicions about why he was with me in the first place, and until they were resolved, one way or the other, I was pretty much in limbo on that score. Added to which, a lot of the time I might have spent with Bill I'd been spending with Eric, and his company had been surprisingly pleasant – not just because of the silence of his mind, but because of his sense of humour and fun, his intelligence, and, yes, even his flirting.

By the time Rene dropped the kids off at about six thirty, I'd been home an hour and a half, and had got to be pretty twitchy, sitting on my own in that big, empty house. My mind went back to Eric asking if I lived here all alone (which at the time I'd misconstrued horribly). He had a point. It was real lonely out here, with Bill my nearest neighbour across the cemetery, and even he was away at the moment (and maybe a danger to me, too; I liked to dwell on that even less than the loneliness of my house). Sure, I knew there was someone out in the woods checking up on what was going on, but it wasn't the same as having proper company. Then again, having neighbours hadn't stopped Dawn and Maudette from being murdered. Having my own vampire surveillance system might turn out to be more effective.

As I looked after Lisa and Coby, I wondered idly who was out in the woods watching. The only vampires from Fangtasia I'd met, other than Eric and the now finally-deceased Long Shadow, were Pam and the bouncer who'd carded me, the time I went there with Bill. There'd been other vampires there, of course, but none that I'd spoken to. I wondered how they felt about guarding me, a lowly human – assuming I was human, given what Eric had said.

I pushed that thought away, trying to concentrate on looking after the children, but by nine I was flagging. I wasn't sure if I was more disconcerted or relieved when there was a knock on the door, and went to open it.

"Eric, hi," I said, surprised when I saw who my visitor was, but pleased. "Come on in. I've got a couple of young friends keeping company with me this evening, as you can see." They were peeping around the kitchen door at him.

"So I see," he said, straight-faced. "That's very thoughtful of them. Would you mind if I join you for a while, as you look after Miss Stackhouse?" he asked them. They shook their heads dumbly, wide-eyed, and he smiled genially at them. "Thank you; you are most accommodating."

I hid a smile; it might have been over a thousand years since he'd had children of his own to talk to or play with, but he hadn't lost his touch. He had them pretty much eating out of his hand (figuratively speaking) within minutes, and they were as good as gold for him. I did wonder briefly if he'd glamoured them, but dismissed the thought almost immediately; they weren't being quite good enough for that, and I got the feeling that he was actually rather enjoying it. I was relieved to sit back and let him play some childhood game with them that they'd taught him the rules of (far too complicated for me to understand, but he seemed to pick it up right away), putting my feet up and relaxing after a trying day.

It was soothing to listen into his mind and get nothing. Nada, zero, zilch. If I concentrated on his mind, I could even block out – for the most part – the idle chatter from Lisa and Coby's brains about how cool Uncle Eric was, not stuffy like lots of grownups, and how they hoped they'd be able to play some more with him some time, if they came to visit again. I smiled; children could be so uncomplicated.

Finally, around eleven, Rene and Arlene swung by to pick them up, and Eric simply lifted the two kids up, one on each arm, and carried them out to Rene's truck. They were half asleep; he'd played with them without flagging for two hours solidly, but it was they who were worn out. Arlene gave a broad grin as Lisa snuggled up under her mother's coat and promptly fell asleep. Coby was yawning and rubbing his eyes, trying to stay awake just that little bit longer, listening in to Eric's conversation with Rene.

"New man?" Arlene whispered to me.

I shook my head. "Eric's a friend – of mine, and of Bill's." I wasn't entirely sure either Eric or Bill would completely agree with the latter part of that statement. "He runs a bar in Shreveport, but came over this evening to see how I was doing, what with all the things that have been going on around here."

She looked a little surprised. "That seems pretty nice of him. Sure he doesn't fancy you?"

I laughed, and didn't answer. "He seemed to enjoy playing with the kids. He's tired them out nicely for you."

She nodded. "They'll be asleep in no time. Lisa already is," she said. "Hopefully we can get her into bed without waking her up."

Eric shook hands cordially with Rene, and sent a dazzling smile Arlene's way, complimenting her on having two delightful children, and how proud she must be of them. Eric knew exactly how to get a woman on side, that was for sure, I thought with some amusement as I watched the interactions.

Eventually they drove off, and Eric followed me back into the house. "Aren't you even a little bit tired?" I asked him enviously. I was exhausted.

He shook his head. "One of the perks of being a vampire. I will not tire until near dawn. Besides, I enjoyed their company. Children have intriguing minds; they see the world in a different way to adults, and I find it refreshing."

"I find it exhausting," I said. "TrueBlood?"

"Thank you. There have been no further misadventures?" he asked as I heated up a bottle of blood for him.

I shook my head. "The police might have to dig Tina up to check the – ah, the strangulation marks," I said, feeling slightly queasy. "Though they said that, without the ligature, there probably wasn't much they could do."

"Frustrating, but true," he commented.

I set the bottle and a glass in front of him. "So, did you just happen by, or are you on guard duty this evening?" I asked curiously.

He laughed. "Neither, exactly." He took a thick envelope from the inner pocket of his jacket, which he'd hung over the back of one of the kitchen chairs while he played with Lisa and Coby. "I came to bring this round – the contract for you to sign."

"Oh, sure," I said, reaching for a pen. "Mind if I read it through first?"

"Of course not; it is a wise move, always to read through anything you sign," he said, taking a mouthful of the synthetic blood. "Take your time; I am in no hurry."

"You don't have to be at Fangtasia tonight, then?"

He shook his head. "Pam is covering, as she did last night. Though she'll probably have my ass if I take another night off," he said, amused. "I'll have to go in tomorrow night, whether I like it or not."

"The way you speak of her, you seem… close," I said carefully, not wanting to tread on any toes.

His lips quirked into a smile. "Jealous?" he teased. I rolled my eyes, and pursed my lips severely. He relented. "I am her maker."

"Her what?" I asked blankly.

"Her maker; one who made her a vampire," he explained. "Over the last couple of centuries, though, we've been together more than we've been apart, and though she is free to leave, she chooses to stay at my side." He sounded proud of it; I guessed he must be pretty fond of her.

"So she's sort of like a daughter?" I asked. "That's why you helped her buy her first house?"

"Something like that," he agreed. "She is my second-in-command, my right hand." He grinned. "Robin to my Batman, Watson to my Holmes."

I grinned at the description, liking how Eric was very much up with the popular culture of the day.

"I was wondering if you would like to come to Fangtasia tomorrow night," he said unexpectedly. "We are having a live band, a vampire band, performing; I have heard them once or twice before and they are very good. There will probably be plenty of dancing, a lot of fun… I thought you might like an evening out, after all that has happened, the last few weeks. It might help you take your mind off all these events."

I finished reading through the contract (nothing untoward), and signed it. "Well, I…"

"Of course, as a member of my retinue…" I glared at him, and his eyes twinkled, "my team," he stressed, and I nodded my approval, "you will not pay the cover charge when you come, even on nights when you are not working. I will make sure they know that, on the door, and let you in."

"Sure, okay then," I said. I'd heard that some vampire bands were very good, and was curious to see what the fuss was about; and, of course, I love to dance, so it would be nice to get out there and dance a bit. It's pretty much impossible to dance and stay miserable, so maybe this was just what I needed. "What time are they starting?"

"They're starting their set at nine, and will play for a couple of hours; even if you leave straight after their set finishes, you can be home by midnight."

I laughed, despite myself. "I don't turn into a pumpkin at midnight if I'm not home, you know."

He grinned easily. "Oh, I know. It must have been nearer half past three when I dropped you home the other night." He pocketed the contract. "I'll make a copy for you," he promised. "Your blouse should be ready to be collected tomorrow, too."

"Oh, your t-shirt is dry!" I exclaimed, suddenly remembering it.

He shrugged. "Bring it tomorrow. I have no urgent need of it."

I settled back into my chair, and we talked for a little while until my yawns grew so big they threatened to split my face in two. "Sorry," I apologised.

"Not at all, I'm keeping you up, when you should be asleep in bed," he said, getting up. "But I have enjoyed my evening immensely, and selfishly did not want it to end. I must go and copy the contract for you, though, and file the original."

I got up, too, and went to the front door with him to see him out. I surprised both of us by hugging him. "Thank you for coming by, and playing with the children," I said. "It's been nice to have the company."

He smiled, hugging me back carefully – perhaps so as not to hurt me inadvertently by squeezing too hard. I guessed vampires weren't big on hugs. "It was a pleasure. Good night, and I will see you tomorrow."

He raised a hand in farewell as he drove off, and I shut the door. Somehow, the house felt warm again, loved and lived-in, and I knew that somewhere out there would be a pale figure, guarding me. I went to bed in a much calmer state of mind, and slept soundly.

I felt more cheerful the next day, having something to look forward to. It had been a while since I'd been out solely for fun; my first visit to Fangtasia had been a fact-finding mission, after all, rather than a social occasion. Going to hear Bill speak at Gran's club hadn't been a whole lot of fun, exactly, either, though it had been interesting. When was the last time this Cinderella had gone to the ball, either with or without a Prince Charming? I honestly couldn't remember.

I spent a fair while going through my wardrobe looking for something suitable to wear – most people dressed in black to go to Fangtasia, but that wasn't really my style. At the same time, though, I didn't want to stand out too much, either, and it had to be something I could dance in comfortably. I scratched my head, flicking through the available choices, until I came across a silver dress I'd really thought of as being more for a wedding, or something like that. Dressed up with a colourful wrap, a nice pair of high heels and a clutch, it would look classy and understated, and hopefully wouldn't draw too much attention to me. The wrong kind of attention, anyway – I didn't want anyone assuming I was some fang-banger just waiting for some vampire, any vampire, to suck on her neck.

There was a shortlist of precisely two vampires I'd let anywhere near my neck. I was startled to realise that, far from being terrified by the idea of Eric biting me, I wasn't wholly averse to the idea. I flushed, remembering the times Bill had bitten me, and in my mind, switched him for Eric.

Okay, imagining that was a bad idea, I realised as I had to sit down quickly on the bed, owing to the sudden heat in the room. I fanned myself with my book, trying to cool down the hectic flush on my face. Would I… want that kind of relationship with Eric? The kind of relationship I had with Bill? More to the point, would he? Oh, sure, he'd flirted with me, and I had no doubt he'd be only too happy to have sex with me (if Jason's antics were anything to go by, at least – he'd go after anything in a skirt), but that wasn't the same as wanting anything longer-lasting. I barely knew him – though I hadn't exactly known Bill all that long, either. And Eric was – or seemed to be – more my 'type', if a girl who nobody had wanted to date previously could be said to have a type. Fun-loving, out-going, and somehow more alive than some of the living people I knew.

So, where did that leave me? I was still officially with Bill, and I couldn't very well do much about that, whatever my decision, with him being away. I wasn't the type to dump him by message left at the hotel reception (how cold and unforgivable a 'Dear John' that would be – 'Bill, sweetheart, leaving you for Eric. Bye, now. Sookie.' I shuddered at the thought; Gran would have had a fit). And I couldn't get through to him personally when I'd tried, so that was out of the question, even if I could bring myself to tell him over the phone. No; everything was in limbo – my whole life was in limbo – until the bastard got back from New Orleans.

Boy, did I curse, and loudly.

Still, there was nothing I could do about it, and it wasn't as though going to Fangtasia tonight was a date – I was going on my own, to hear the vampire band (Dead Beat – undead rockers with a sense of humour), to dance some, and to indulge in a little escapism after a bad week. Bill might not see it that way, given that there would be other vampires there, and in particular Eric, who'd made no secret of his interest in me, but the point was that my life was my own. I was not Bill's personal property, and if I felt like going to the club that happened to belong to my… well, part-time boss, I guess you could call him, that was up to me, not him.

Having given myself that firm little pep-talk, I felt a lot better, and started to get myself ready, showering and shaving my legs, washing my hair and curling it into soft waves, and finally dressing in the silver dress I'd decided on. It swirled nicely as I moved – enough room to dance in, which was what I wanted, and it flattered me pretty well, too. I looked myself over in the mirror, and was pleased with what I saw. Was I a terrible person for hoping that Eric liked what he saw, too? I hoped not, because otherwise, I was a very, very bad person.

I arrived at Fangtasia a little before nine, and true to his word, Eric had notified the bouncer that I was not to pay the cover charge, and I was waved on through. "VIP area, Miss Stackhouse," I was directed. "The Master's orders."

I raised my eyebrows in surprise, but followed her directions to the roped-off area near the front of the club, where the band would be playing; it incorporated part of the dance floor, also roped off. I was surprised even further when Pam, who I'd met only twice, kissed me lightly on the cheek. "Eric will be pleased to see you," she smiled, waving over one of the waitresses. "Drinks are free to VIPs, of course. What will you have?"

"Just a soda, please, I'm driving. Ice and lemon."

"And I will have an O negative." The waitress scurried off. She motioned me to the booth Eric and I had sat in before, when the club had been empty; I guessed it was 'his' booth, the one that he used when he wasn't sitting enthroned in splendour.

Which reminded me, "Why does everyone here call Eric 'Master'?" I asked.

"Oh, that was my idea," she said. "The vermin lap it up, that kind of thing. He detests it, of course, as much as he hates sitting on that throne looking moody and unapproachable. But it brings in the punters, and therefore the cash, and this is, after all, a business." I could tell by her tone that she was pretty hard-headed when it came to business.

"So, it's not like a proper title, then?"

"Oh, heavens, no," she said, looking vaguely appalled. "How trashy that would be! No, his title within the supernatural community is 'Sheriff'. A few of the vampires beneath him might also call him 'My Lord', if they are very old-fashioned." She wrinkled her nose daintily as if to say she thought it was a particularly quaint thing to call him.

"What do you call him?" I asked curiously.

She looked baffled. "Eric, of course. What else would I call him?"

Our conversation was interrupted by the arrival both of our drinks, and the subject of our conversation. "Apologies, ladies, I had to sort out some technical glitches with the band," he said smoothly, sliding into the booth beside me. "I'm glad to see you both have drinks. O positive, Lettie," he said to the waitress.

She gave a kind of bow. "Yes, Master."

He glared at Pam. "Do we have to keep up with that idiocy?" he complained once the waitress was out of earshot. "It's so… so… Bela Lugosi."

I stifled a giggle at the Dracula reference as Pam glared right back. "It's what they pay for. They pay to come and be scared, not for family-friendly fun."

"See what I must put up with?" he said to me, with a hurt, wounded look. I couldn't help but laugh.

"You do very well out of it," said Pam crisply; I could tell this was an argument they'd had any number of times before. I rather thought their relationship was almost more like an older brother and younger sister than anything else, with Eric allowing Pam to boss him around when it suited him (though I was pretty sure that, if he really put his foot down about anything, she'd do whatever he said).

"The indignities I suffer," he said with a mock-sigh.

Unsurprisingly, Pam ignored that comment.

The band got started, warming up with a few old favourites, covers of songs I already knew. They were good, I have to say, and it wasn't long before my toes were tapping surreptitiously under the table. Eric noticed, and grinned, finishing off his TrueBlood. "Come, dance," he said, sliding out of the booth, and holding out his hand to me.

I felt a little self-conscious to begin with, as nobody else was dancing, but others soon joined us on the dance floor, and I began to get into the swing of it. Despite the difference in our heights, Eric and I danced well together – he was a good leader, very easy to follow, even through moves I wasn't familiar with, and he danced with flair and grace. I couldn't remember a time I'd enjoyed dancing with a guy more – mostly their dancing had been a not-too-veiled attempt to feel a girl up, but Eric could really, seriously dance. We danced song after song, some fast rock 'n' roll mixed in with a few slower numbers, until I just had to stop to get my breath back, and sat drinking another soda, fanning myself with my hand. The band took a mid-session break, and Eric took the opportunity to go and speak with them for a few moments, leaving me sitting with Pam.

"It's so unfair that you don't feel the heat," I grumbled to her.

She gave a laugh. "We feel differences in temperature, in that we are aware they're there, but they don't bother us."

"The heat in here sure bothers me," I said regretfully.

"Sure that's not just your dance partner?" she asked archly. My eyes widened. "Oh, don't be so coy; I've seen the way you two look at each other. Added to which, I've barely seen Eric the last few nights. He's clearly besotted."

That was news to me. "You think so?" I said doubtfully, my heart fluttering a little at the idea.

"I have never known him be so… hmm… attentive, previously, to any woman," she answered with cool amusement. "Nor so protective. It is most unusual, and unlike him, I assure you."

I flushed a little, thinking. Was this just a clever ploy on Eric's part, to get Pam to tell me what I wanted to hear (did I want to hear it? Judging by the fluttering inside me, I certainly did), or was this a genuine observation based on having known him for so long? "He's not asked you to say that, has he?" I asked dubiously.

She gave a snort of laughter. "No. Nor would he welcome my having discussed this with you, so I would be obliged if you do not mention this conversation to him."

I wasn't stupid; I wasn't going to risk Pam's wrath by blabbing to Eric. I valued my life – never more so than now, when someone seemed hell-bent on taking it from me. I made the mistake of looking over to where Eric was chatting to the band members, his back to me. Oh, my, that butt! I thought, as he bent to pick something up. "It really is very warm in here," I gasped, turning my eyes back to Pam's face.

She smirked. "If you say so." Eric sauntered back over as the band drank their TrueBloods. "Sookie is a little warm," commented Pam serenely to him. "I was about to suggest she take a breath of fresh air outside."

I wondered what she was up to, until Eric held his hand out to me. "Of course; I will go with you, to make sure nobody bothers you."

I gave Pam a death glare, which just made her smile even wider, the tips of her fangs more prominent. I followed Eric out through the employees' entrance round the back, and gulped in some of the cooler evening air.

"Better?" he asked softly, and I was suddenly aware of just how close he was. "You should have said, if you were feeling unwell."

"It's… just hot in there," I stuttered, reacting to his proximity. It seemed pretty warm outside all of a sudden, too. Maybe Pam had a point. He slid his arms around my waist, and I tried to resist the urge to lean against him. I wasn't wholly successful. Then he bent his head, and kissed me.

I'd like to be able to say I pulled away immediately, thinking of Bill, but I doubt anything would have given me the strength of will to pull away from Eric right then. My whole body seemed to go into meltdown, and all I could do was to kiss him back, until I had to pull back for air.

I swallowed. "Eric, I…"

"You can't say you don't want this, surely?" he asked, lips fluttering over my ear. I discovered I really liked that.

"It's not that I don't want it," I said carefully, trying not to give in to temptation and kiss him again, "but I'm with Bill. I… should talk to him first, tell him…"

"Tell him…?"

"That it's over."

He pulled back a little way. "This is a human thing?" he asked uncertainly. "As a vampire, he must accept it if you come to me of your own free will."

"Sure, but I should still tell him," I said stubbornly. "That's only fair."

He nodded. "If this is what you wish, I will abide by it."

We headed back into the club, and though I found my hand enfolded in his as I was drawn onto the dance floor again, he was true to his word, and just danced. It was something of a trial to my willpower not to throw myself at him, and I found myself wishing that Bill would come back just so I could resolve this thing with Eric.

I should have heeded Gran's warnings about being careful what I wished for; when I got back home, near midnight, there was a vampire sitting on my porch, and he did not look happy. I put on a cheery smile, and greeted him. "Bill."