TEASE

Her heart thumped hard against her ribs as he placed a kiss on her forehead, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts. There was no way he'd come back now, not when he wasn't due in for another month…

'I know it's late, but it's so good to see you!' he said, hugging her tighter before he finally released her from his crushing grip, matching eyes staring down at her.

She pulled a smile over her lips. 'You too,' she said, though she didn't quite feel the same enthusiasm as he did, a lump of guilt settling in her stomach. 'I thought you were starting your run.'

'We've taken a break. One of the leads broke his arm, so the production has been put on hold while they pick someone to step in,' he said, draping an arm over her shoulder before he led her inside. 'I mean, can you believe they didn't have understudy the beginning? It's looking to be one of the most popular shows of the season and they didn't think that something could go wrong?'

'How silly of them,' she said as she tugged her robe tighter around herself, hoping – no, praying – that he couldn't see what she wore beneath the silk.

He stopped in the foyer, pulling away, though his hand stayed on her shoulder. 'Enough about me though. How are you? I was so worried about leaving you on your own here, but then the other night Jason said you'd moved in with your boyfriend.'

'Well yeah, I've been meaning to tell you that, but–'

'I was a little surprised. I didn't think you'd been together that long, but I guess if you're happy.' He shrugged, grinning. 'I'll have to meet him of course. He has to get the brother's stamp of approval.'

She felt a chill run down her spine at his words, her throat constricting a little. Yes, Jake knew about Eric, but he didn't know about Eric. For all he knew, Eric was just some rich club owner. He had no idea that her boyfriend was a vampire.

'There's something I need to tell you,' she said, deciding there was no other way around the subject. She took his hand, leading him into the lounge room to one of the plush couches.

'You've become very serious all of a sudden,' he said, quirking an eyebrow at her. 'I'm not sure I like it.'

She pursed her lips. Now or never.

'Eric is a vampire.'

Jason's words ran through his head as he sped along the roads, his car handling every corner with ease before he pulled up in front of his next destination.

She is ahead on this quest,

you must travel further still.

But at the precinct you won't rest,

another clue waits that will,

take you to further places she has been,

to lead you to the gift you seek.

He slammed on the breaks, sprinting into the sheriff's office in a blur, nearly laughing as Andy's hand shot to his chest. 'Geez Northman. Don't give me a heart attack. I got enough problems to deal with without you makin' me dead.'

'My apologies,' he said, bowing his head as he settled further into his chair, an elbow resting on the arm of it as he folded his hands. 'I believe you know why I'm here.'

Andy rubbed his tired eyes, ignoring him for a moment to reach for his coffee mug. 'If I give you the clue, you'll go away?'

'I have far better places to be,' he said, adding, 'no offence intended' when Andy arched an angry brow at him.

Andy released a tired breath.

'This is your final human clue,

the next in hand of a fellow with fangs.

He waits at home just for you,

with a hint and an item to sate your hunger pangs.'

Eric grinned. 'Thank you, Sheriff Bellefleur.' He sprinted out, leaving nothing but a gust of wind, ignoring the papers that flew from desks at his disappearance. He threw his car into gear, knowing exactly where the trail was leading him to.

The Compton residence.

A part of him wished he was just flying to the various destinations, but there was no way he was simply going to leave his car by the road somewhere. He wouldn't even leave it with Bill, no matter how much he trusted the man now. But he had to admit, driving it did have its advantages, he figured as he put it through its paces on the winding roads. It handled beautifully, his lightening reflexes allowing him to change gears at all the right moments as he drifted around corners.

Another part of him really did want to fly through her clues though, reach the prize that she offered, but he knew that this was meant to be a chase and he revelled in it, in her ingenuity and cunning to even consider taunting a vampire as she was.

God he loved that woman, more than anyone he'd loved in his thousand years, even more than Godric who he'd been willing to die with. Though he still felt the ache of loss, he was glad that his maker had commanded him to live on, if only because he had met Sarah. For that, he was grateful.

For that, he owed his maker everything.

He pulled up in a cloud of dust and gravel and threw himself out of the car, not bothering to knock as he entered the house.

'Eric,' Bill said as he stood up from the couch, walking over with a smirk on his lips. 'Fancy seeing you here.'

'I know you have the next clue,' he nearly growled, standing so close that he towered over his friend.

'Among other things,' he said in that southern drawl. He purposely slowed his words, making it thicker as his smirk turned to a devious grin.

'Now, now, Bill. Don't make me torture it out of you,' he said, smiling despite the threat as he moved a little closer.

Bill smiled back, turning away from him before he gestured toward the table. There was a small black box on it, tied with a blood red ribbon. He moved for it, but Bill made a tutting sound that elicited a growl from his throat.

'You have to have your clue first,' Bill said as he went into the kitchen, taking out two TruBloods. He opened the tops, placing one in Eric's hand, though it was ignored. He was not going to spoil his palette, not tonight.

He waited – impatiently – as Bill took a seat on the couch. The younger vampire crossed his legs loosely at the ankle, his hand directing Eric to sit, his lips sealed until Eric finally settled his towering frame on the edge of the cushion.

'She waits for you,

how quick have you been?

Can you solve this riddle

before the sun streams?

Will it soon rise to shine in the sky,

above a club only open in the dead of night?'

Obvious, but he certainly liked it. He placed the untouched TruBlood on the table, leaning forward to pick up the little black box. He looked at Bill, their blue gazes locking for a moment before he pulled at the blood red ribbon, letting it fall to the floor. He felt a thrill of anticipation rush through his veins as he reached for the lid, the action seeming to take forever.

He was hit by her honey scent, left from her skin when she used her body lotion. He licked his lips, dropping the lid before he pushed the black paper aside to reveal a blood red piece of silk and lace, his eyes locking onto the garter belt as he pulled it from its resting place inside the box.

Oh shit…

Bill smirked, noticing the fangs that peeked from between Eric's lips. 'Seems you're in for an…interesting night, my friend.

Jake stared at her for a moment, his eyes wide as he processed what she'd just said. She couldn't breathe as he watched her, her mind crumbling into oblivion, any semblance of courage following.

'Say something,' she finally whispered, unable to stand the silence.

He stared for another moment before he closed his eyes, running his hand through his hair. 'You're kidding, aren't you?' he said, not meeting her gaze as he ran a hand over his jaw. 'You said that he was a club owner.'

'He is,' she said. 'He owns Fangtasia.'

Jake stood up, walking away from her, his back to her as he fixed his jacket. 'Of all the men you could have in America, you pick a vampire.'

'Why does it matter if he's a vampire?' she asked, her courage perking up as a flash of anger filled her. 'He's a guy like you or Jason, he just happens to have fangs.'

He turned on her. 'And has he been using them lately?'

'What is that supposed to mean?' She stood up, stepping a little closer. She had to look up to see his eyes but there was no way he was going to intimidate her, not when he refused to hold her gaze, his lips pursed. 'Oh, I get it. Come on Jake, cat got your tongue? Why don't you just go right out and say the words that are burning on your lips right now?' She said, pushing him back a little before she tapped his chin, forcing his matching gaze to hers. 'Come on, call me a fang banger.'

'I never–'

'You we're thinking it,' she snapped, feeling tears burning her eyes, though she refused to let them fall. They stung when he didn't deny it, his head down as she said, 'I finally find a man. I finally fall in love with someone who actually loves me back, and all you can do judge me.'

'Sarah, I–'

She walked to the front door and he followed, though he stopped a few feet short. She motioned out into the night, the moon lighting the path to his car and the iron gate. 'Come back when you're ready to pull your head out of your ass. I am not letting you ruin my anniversary.'

When he stayed in place she narrowed her gaze, ignoring his cry of surprise as she picked him up with current of air, forcing him through the door. He turned back. 'When did you learn to–?'

She sneered at him. 'Come back when you can say you love your little sister without cringing.'

She slammed the door, ignoring the shake of the frame as he beat his fist against the door. She went to the bedroom, sitting on the edge of the bed. She couldn't hear his knocking but she knew he was still there. Despite that, despite the desire she had to go let him in again, he was going to have to face the music and cool down. When he wasn't being so pig-headed, she'd talk to him.

Maybe.

She rubbed a hand over her heart, knowing that it was an imagined pain. She'd been called a fang banger before. Hell, Eric had suggested she might be one on their first date, but only to register his interest in her. Aside from him, it had only been her and friends having a laugh, never as an insult.

Never to make her feel dirty.

She took a few deep breaths, refusing to let the anger take hold of her. This was her and Eric's six month anniversary, and she doubted that he would take much longer, not when she'd kept the clues so simple, not when she'd left such a teasing gift at Bill's.

The thought of him tearing through down roads in his Challenger toward her ignited a fire in her blood. He would be beyond riled by the time he reached their home, knowing that she had sent him on a wild goose chase.

She glanced to the item she'd had temporarily installed at the end of their bed, could still feel the softness of silk on her skin as she held her robe a little tighter around herself. She smiled.

Somehow, she thought he'd find it all worth while.

Next update: Friday the 10th of September.