PROPERTY

She decided that Fangtasia was the very last place she wanted to go right now, so she looked around desperately for an alternative but saw nothing, her mind still racing. She had already been gone for one minute and had still not found an escape.

Then she saw a man getting into a car across the road. She watched him for a moment, a wave of relief washing over her as she saw his awkward movements. He wasn't graceful like a vampire, and he was far too tanned to be one.

She walked over to him, hoping she didn't look as bad as she thought she did. She touched her neck, pleased to find that the bite was mostly healed. She stopped beside his car, tapping on his window. Her mother had always told her not to trust strange men, but with the abilities she had, she had nothing to fear.

His window rolled down and he gave her a slow smile. 'Well hey there you pretty little thing.'

'Hi. Can you take me to Bon Temps?' she asked, flashing what she hoped was a dazzling smile.

'Well sure thing. I was on my way there myself,' he said. 'Hop in.'

She yanked open the door, almost slamming it behind her before she hastily buckled her seatbelt. 'Thanks. Uh, do you think you could drive fast?'

'Sure thing,' he said, his shoulders lifting in a little shrug before he pulled away from the curb. 'Why the rush?'

'I have an early start tomorrow and I'd like to get home. I would have gotten a lift from my friend, but she's not feeling too well so I told her that I'd find another way.'

She looked out the window, resisting the urge to chew on her fingernails as she watched the trees turn to a blur. It was strange to think that just a few hours ago she'd been watching the trees in the same way, just before she had crashed.

What was it that had run in front of her? Maybe a bear?

She shook her head, forcing herself to concentrate on getting to Sookie and Bill, to somewhere she could feel safe.

'Do you know the Compton residence?' she asked quickly.

'Yes, I do. I've done a little work over the last couple of years for the Comptons.'

'Good. Take me there please.'

She fell quiet for the remainder of the drive. As soon as she was in range of Sookie, she closed her eyes, focusing on her thoughts as she called out to her friend. 'Sookie, I'm so sorry to interrupt your night, but I need your help. Please, please come out to your front porch right now with Bill,' she called. 'I'm so scared.'

She opened her eyes, locking onto the front porch as the man drove down the drive, sighing with relief as Sookie threw herself through the door, a blur of white and gold, Bill just behind her.

'Thank you,' she said as he pulled up beside the house. She stepped out of the car, slamming the door behind her before rushing up the steps and into her best friend's arms, giving her only just enough time to tie the white robe.

'Oh my gosh,' Sookie gasped, clutching Sarah to her chest for a moment before she placed a hand on her cheek, stepping back to look at her friend. 'What happened to you?'

'I'm so sorry, it's your anniversary and–'

'Shh, just tell me what happened,' Sookie urged, taking her friend's arm to lead her into the house but Bill stopped them, stepping forward to take the sleeve of the t-shirt in his hand.

He leant closer, taking a breath, his lips curling in a snarl. 'This is Eric's.'

'Yes it is,' Sarah said, watching as Sookie's eyes widened. 'Please, I'll explain everything, but please,' she glanced over her shoulder for a moment, 'can we go inside?'

Sookie led her inside, sitting her on the couch before she seated herself beside Sarah, taking her hand. Bill sat across from them, though his attention was focused outside, listening for anything that could be considered a threat.

He'd already changed his pants for a clean pair. Not because he was ashamed of being naked. He wasn't in the least bit ashamed of his…endowments. He just wanted to feel her fingers brushing his skin as she stripped him of the fabric, watch her expression as her eyes came upon him.

But Eric was getting twitchy, his hands desperate for her flesh, though she'd only been gone four minutes and forty-nine seconds. He closed his eyes, waiting for her to knock on the door to his room.

Fifty-seven, fifty-eight, fifty-nine…

He waited, completely still as he listened. He stood up, pressing his ear against the door to his room, though he shouldn't have needed to. When he heard no sound he pulled to door open, but she was no where to be seen.

His lips curled. A chase…

He picked up his shirt before running through the house, stopping just outside his gate. He took a deep breath and followed her delicious scent to road beside Fangtasia, stilling on the other side of the road where her scent…disappeared.

He took another breath, trying to catch wind of her, a growl rumbling in his chest as he realised that she had gotten in a car, running from him.

But why?

He knew of course. She had been so scared of him, and he'd only encouraged that fear, had scared her into letting him drink, had driven her to the edge so he could touch her, all just after she'd had an accident.

After the blood had – no doubt – started to mess with her head.

He had to get her back, explain what the blood was doing to her before she could reach Sookie and Bill, before they could take her away from him.

Never, he thought, She's mine.

He pulled his shirt on, buttoning it in an instant before he flew into the night.

'Tell us what happened,' Sookie said, running her hand over Sarah's hair, the dark strands still a little damp.

'Start from the beginning,' Bill added.

Sarah took a breath, keeping her composure. 'Well, I went to my car and Eric came and talked to me.'

'Why?' Bill growled, stiffening. 'What–'

Sookie glanced at him, giving him a warning look before she turned her attention back to Sarah. 'And then what?'

'Well, he was just asking me why I interrupted an argument with two vampires. I think he knew that I was hiding my abilities, so he kept pressing and he got really scary. He wouldn't let me get into my car and he tried to glamour me. When that didn't work, he grabbed me, so I took his wrist to try and get him to let go and ended up burning him because I was scared.'

'He saw your powers?'

She nodded. 'I startled him, so I got away, but I didn't get far,' she said. 'Something ran in front of me and I crashed my car.'

'You what?' Sookie exclaimed.

'I'm fine,' Sarah reassured her. 'Please, just listen for a little while, okay? I need to get this out.' She gripped her friend's hand a little tighter and Sookie nodded. 'The next thing I remember is waking up on a strange bed covered in blood, but there were no wounds. Eric was there. He told me that he had pulled me from the car and carried me to his home and that he had used his blood to heal me.'

'Shit.'

Sarah looked to Bill. 'What is it?'

'Vampire blood doesn't just heal,' he said, the southern drawl a little thicker in his anger.

'What else does it do?'

'Have you noticed that your senses are a little keener? That your sight, smell, touch, taste and hearing is better?'

'Yes,' she said. 'I was wondering about that.'

He nodded, fists clenched on his lap. 'Well, there are other side effects.'

'Tell me what they are, Bill.'

He looked up to her, blue eyes furious. 'There are some other minor ones, but one thing vampire blood can do is increase your libido.'

She snapped her jaw closed to keep it from dropping, her eyes wide. 'Well yeah, I was horny, but that doesn't explain–' She snapped her jaw shut again, glancing down, cheeks flushing red as she realised what it was she was about to disclose.

'Doesn't explain what, Sarah?' Sookie asked.

She shook her head, that wave of shame crashing down on her again.

'We're not going to judge you. You should know that,' Sookie said, tipping Sarah's chin up. 'Tell us and we can help.'

She sat for another moment before dropping her head to her hands. 'When I was having a shower to wash the blood off, he told me that he would let me leave, but only after he had drunk from me. He told me he could just take my blood, so I let him drink from me because he promised it wouldn't hurt. I just thought it would be a quick bite and then that was that, but when I felt his fangs it was like someone had turned the desperate switch on in my head and I…' she shook herself, remember his towering body of hers, the way he'd been so commanding and powerful. 'I let him grind me into the best orgasm I've ever experienced.'

Sookie scowled and Sarah shrunk back into the couch. 'I know, I should know better–'

She smiled at her, tightening her grip on Sarah's hand. 'No, hun, I'm angry with Eric, not you. He took advantage of you and he knows it.' She scowled a little again before she looked to Bill. 'I'm going to kick his ass this time, Bill.'

'Allow me to assist, I'll find much enjoyment out of tha–'

He stilled, turning his head to the front door before he cursed, darting up just as Eric stepped inside. His fangs flicked out as he growled, his eyes locked on Sarah as she jumped up from the couch. Sookie stood, taking her friend's hand to pull her close.

'Get out,' Bill said, his own fangs flicking into view.

Eric ignored him. 'And I thought we were going to have such fun.'

'You used me,' Sarah said, stepping forward a little to glower at him.

'You seemed to enjoy it.'

She fought a blush, because she had really enjoyed it, far more than she was willing to admit. 'I was already scared and confused. You knew what the blood would do and you didn't even warn me.'

'I saved your life.'

'You should have brought her straight here, Eric,' Sookie said. 'Bill would have healed her.'

'No,' he growled, baring his teeth at her. 'Sarah is mine.'

Oh, that was the last straw that Eric Northman would be pulling. She stepped in front of Sookie and Bill, a spark of anger turning to a full-blown blaze deep inside her. 'I don't care about the whole vampire property thing,' she exclaimed. 'I am not yours!' Her hand shot up, a ball of flame slamming into his chest.

Eric cursed, ripping the shirt from his body before the flame could spread. He stomped on it, smothering the flickering red, yellow and orange before he looked up, eyes locked on Sarah. 'This is not finished,' he said, sweeping low to pick the shirt up before he stepped forward.

Sookie stood in front of her, blocking his progress off. 'I believe you will find that it is,' she said before raising her hand to Eric's chest, a burst of light knocking him backwards.

He hit the ground, skidding to the door before he could right himself. He concealed his fangs, his gaze locking with Sarah's, and she realised that no, it really wasn't.