Originally, this was going to be posted as two separate chapters, but I decided to throw it all in as one.

As a result, it's a fair bit longer than the normal chapter, but I hope you all enjoy it.

~ Ryuk In Person ~

BITE – PART ONE

Eric slept through the day a sated and happy man, a smile never leaving his lips. He stretched languidly, his body still warm from her blood, no hunger in his body.

Well, not really.

He reached for her, dragging an eye open when he did not feel her body beside his. He sat up, looking around the room for a moment before he noticed a note on her pillow, written in her neat hand. He frowned as he read it, a little disappointed that Sam had called her. Still, he couldn't help but smile at the knowledge that she'd wanted to stay home, but when she'd found out that Arlene was at home caring for sick kids with only Sookie to take the night shift, that damn good heart of hers – though he adored how sweet she was, making up for some of the callousness in him – had compelled her to Bon Temps. He'd hoped to wake up with her in his arms, to glory in the feel of her skin and the strong sound of her heart and then to coax her into another lengthy round of lovemaking, to pleasure her until she forgot about work and the world.

He would pick her up from work, he decided, but first he would go check on Fangtasia, knowing that it would open in a few hours. With no reason to stay in bed other than roll in the sheets, devouring her honey scent, he rose, stretching.

Couldn't have Pam walking in on that…

He showered quickly, dressed in his favourite jeans, a black t-shirt and his leather jacket, deciding that he wanted to appear more casual, approachable, though he doubted it would make a difference to Jake. He would still be received as the bastard who was stealing his sister and her innocence, who was going to dump her at the faintest sign of aging or turn her against her will.

He would stay with her throughout her life, and although he had contemplated turning her, he would not force it upon her, no matter how painful the thought of losing her was, though he'd come up with a solution if that were to happen.

He'd lived a thousand years. Without her, he couldn't face another thousand.

There was also another question; what would happen to her abilities? Would they disappear or increase? If her powers became stronger, she might attract attention from the vampire community and curiosity could mean 'simple tests' to find the extent of her ability, if it could be used to an advantage or prove too dangerous.

Not good.

He combed his hair, scrubbing a hand over his lightly stubbled jaw before deciding that he could shave later before he set out. He smiled when he found his car keys on the table inside the door, his Challenger in the driveway beside an empty space where Sarah's car would usually sit. He passed his car though, wanting to be fast tonight, to deal with business at Fangtasia and then go talk to Jake.

He would get her brother's blessing.

Sarah stopped to take a breath, glancing to the door as it opened. She pulled a smile over her lips before she bounced over, her ponytail swinging.

'Hey Andy,' she said, taking a menu before she led him to a table, seeing the weary expression on his face. He hadn't even corrected her when she'd called him Andy, rather than Sheriff Bellefleur. She placed the menu in front of him, still smiling as she asked, 'can I get you something to drink?'

'Whatever's cold,' he said, rubbing a hand over his brow before he picked up the cardboard in front of him, scanning the items.

'I'll be back to take your order in a sec,' she said, walking to the bar. She talked to Tara, but her mind was focused toward Sookie. I think Andy had a pretty hard day. Can you see what's got him so down?

She went back to his table, taking a mumbled order before she went to the counter. She pinned it up, leaning on her elbows for a moment, watching as Lafayette worked, stirring a pot of soup. 'How are the orders coming along?' she asked, glancing to Terry as he flipped and shifted the meat on the cooker.

'Don't twist your thong in a knot, they're comin',' he said, waving a manicured hand at her.

'And what makes you assume I'm wearing a thong?' she asked, resting her head on the palm of her hand, her eyes narrowed playfully.

'Honey, with an ass that pert you'd be crazy to restrict it with sensible cotton,' he said, pointing a ladle at her before he scooped a portion from the pot. 'I bet your vampire appreciates that fact.' He smirked, leaning on the countertop while she loaded the bowl and a plate of chips onto a tray. 'I bet he really appreciated it last night.'

She flashed a devilish grin. 'That wasn't the only thing he appreciated,' she said before she spun on her heels, only just seeing the stunned expression that flashed across his glossed lips.

'Oh hooka, you better bring yo'self back her and spill when you're done with that.'

'And why's that, hooka?'

'Oh, you gettin' naughtier every second you're here,' he muttered as she went to table four before heading back to greet more customers. She stopped by Tara, ready to take out another tray of drinks when Sookie stopped beside her, moving half of the glasses onto her tray.

'He's thinking about a case. There were animal attacks on the edge of town.'

'Werewolves?'

'Looks like. Some of the people attacked were vampires.'

Sarah bit back a curse. 'They're hyped on blood then. This is bad.'

'Should we tell our boys?'

'I think so. Break?'

Sookie froze halfway through a nod, becoming still. Sarah knew that she was listening, could see the emotions play in her eyes.

'What do you hear?'

'I can't really hear anything, but I feel excitement and anger,' she whispered, lowering her voice so that no one else would hear.

Sarah left her tray, taking Sookie's hand to rush to Sam's office. He needed to know what was about to happen. They crashed through his door, not bothering to knock, and Sam turned from his desk. Sarah heard the spike in his heartbeat, her senses still heightened from Eric's blood.

'Geez girls, what the hell are you doing?'

'Werewolves are coming Sam,' Sookie said.

'We have to stop them before they reach the bar.'

'How far?' he asked, shooting from his chair. He threw off his shirt and kicked off his shoes, going for the door. 'Can we head them off?'

Sarah and Sookie followed him, throwing their aprons back through the door as they headed out the back way, not wanting anyone to see their exit. Jessica would have to handle the customers on her own for a little while.

The humid air hit them, instantly warming their skin as they moved away from the bar. Sam stood behind his car, his belt clinking before he ducked down, emerging from behind the heavy four wheel drive as a huge bear with thick, dark fur. He shook his head before coming to their side, looking up at Sookie.

'Ready?' she asked, waiting until he nodded his massive head. 'Good, because they're getting close. Can you draw them?' Another pause. 'Right, of course. Let's go a little further into the trees, maybe find a bit of a clearing. We don't want anyone to see.'

'Are they drawn to Sam?' Sarah asked as they trekked into the forest, the moon only providing a little light as it broke through the trees.

'Usually. They'll sense him and come to investigate.'

They dodged a fallen branch. 'Sure?'

'If not, then I'll try and call them to us,' she said, stopping to face the bar as they broke into a clearer space. They put their backs together, watching the different directions as they heard leaves stirring.

'Sam says they're coming,' Sookie said, reaching out to take her hand and also brush her fingers through Sam's thick fur. Sarah did the same, all of them taking a moment to gather their strength as rustling surrounded them in the bushes. A low growl rumbled near by, Sarah releasing her grasp on Sookie's hand, ready. It was likely that they knew what she could do now, so she had to be ready.

The first werewolf broke through, fur so dark it was black, possibly the same wolf that had confronted them two nights before. His lips pulled back in a snarl, baring sharp teeth as it paced to the side, working around them as if to decided who was the weakest, the most vulnerable to attack. He passed Sam, passed Sarah as she glared at him with eyes she thought may be burning with the flames she planned to release.

When she prepared to use her powers with just her focused gaze, they glowed with a hint of flame or ice, sometimes green or the palest blue, something that Eric had noticed when she'd started to master her abilities. What had he called it?

A warning.

The dark werewolf continued on, still circling as more of the beasts emerged from the cover of trees and bushes, their footsteps barely making a sound on the leaf-littered ground. There were six of them at the very least, the bushes still rustling around them, more likely waiting for a command to reveal their presence.

For now, it was two on one.

He stopped before Sookie, staring up at her with gold swirling in his gaze. He growled, another wolf coming to his side as two faced Sam and Sarah, more emerging from the trees to back them.

'Think I'm the weakest then?' Sookie asked, narrowing her gaze, the usually kind brown seeming to go black as she looked through the lashes. 'Then come and get me.'

There was a tense pause as they stood locked in position, a standoff of telepath, shifter, elemental and werewolf.

The dark furred werewolf was the first to attack, leaping toward Sookie only to be stopped as her hand collided with his chest. He snapped his jaws but a burst of light sent him tumbling into the bushes with a growl. The other werewolves would not be stopped though, all moving forward with predatory gazes, their eyes glowing brighter in the darkness. Beside her Sam reared up, massive paws swiping at a grey and a russet wolf, sending them darting back to avoid another swipe when he returned to all fours. He growled at them, pushing them further back.

Sarah was still in a standoff with her werewolves, both of them snapping and growling, but neither approached further than an inch. She took a step forward, testing them, challenging them to keep their ground. 'What are you afraid of?' she asked, taking another step, her hands at her sides. 'Come on, I'm just a girl aren't I? A harmless, little English girl. What's so scary about me?'

The werewolves glanced to each other, the brown giving a low growl, the dirty white an answering one before they both settled their golden gazes on her, approaching. She let them come near, held their gazes as they snarled and bared sharp, white teeth.

When they were mere feet away, she let them see her power, a burst of flame covering her hands. It blazed bright, the mix of red and orange lighting the space before it turned to a startling blue, the heat searing, though it could not harm her. They stopped in their tracks, watching the flame. One actually dipped its head, reaching up with a paw to rub its eyes before it looked to the flame again, stance tense.

She smiled, the flames twisting and rising to arch toward them in a menacing display. 'Who's afraid of the big bad English girl?'

BITE – PART TWO

Eric didn't knock. Yes, he raised his fist to the door, but stopped just short of the heavy wood, wishing that having air in his lungs could actually accomplish something like calm.

Oh yes, Eric Northman was nervous.

He hardened himself, tugging on his jacket before he finally rapped sharply on the door, closing his eyes for a moment to steel himself, knowing that he'd never forgive himself if he couldn't hold his shit together.

When the door swung open, he had a smile over his lips, though he knew there was a serious aura radiating from him. He stared down at Jason, seeing the confusion in the mortal's face.

'What are you doing here?' he asked before his skin paled. 'Something's happened to Sookie?'

'You're sister is fine, I assure you. I'm actually here to talk to Jake–'

'Is Sarah–'

'Stackhouse, do you really think I'd be here talking to you if something had happened to Sarah.'

He stared for a moment before that goofy grin stretched his lips. 'Oh yeah,' he said, leaning on the door frame. 'I didn't think about that.'

'May I come in?'

He looked up, seemingly startled for a moment before he pushed the door wider. 'Yeah, come in.'

Eric stepped over the threshold, feeling no resistance as he made his way into the warmly lit lounge. He stood for a moment, glancing around before he turned to Jason. 'Where is Jake?'

'Oh, he's probably out back getting dressed. He was gonna go to Merlotte's.'

'Really now?' Eric didn't think that Sarah would be too pleased. He'd felt a flash of anger the night before, though he had not initially noticed it, not when he'd been chasing down clues with a fang-boner. He realised now that he had felt it a little while before he'd returned home, finding Jake perched on the hood on his car.

Obviously they'd fought.

He felt his lips curl back a little, unable to hide his irritation as he imagined various scenarios that could have ended in an argument between the close siblings, the only explanations he could come up with suggesting that it had been about Jake's habit.

Or him.

Jason nodded, drawing him from his musings as he walked to the couch. He sat on the plush cushions, kicking booted feet up on the table. 'Haven't got any TruBloods, but help yourself to a beer.'

'I'll pass,' he said, sitting on the couch beside Jason. He wrung his hands, forcing himself to get out the last of his nervousness, not wanting to face Jake with even an ounce of the emotion. Somehow though, knowing that Jake had pissed off Sarah made him feel less inclined to worry about how the mortal would react, his anger fuelling him.

He stood when he heard Jake's footsteps, turning to face him as he walked into the room. He pulled his shoulders back, crossing his arms as he levelled a calm, I'm-not-trying-to-intimidate-you-but-you-better-listen stare at him.

'What are you doing here Northman?'

Eric stepped forward, unfolding his arms to offer his hand. 'I have come to talk to you, man to man, brother to committed partner of your sister. May I have a…' He glanced to Jason. 'Conversation in private with you?'

'So you can glamour me into saying yes? I think not.' He raised his head, chin jutting defiantly as he held Eric's gaze, daring him to attempt it.

Patience, Eric.

'If I wanted to glamour you into giving me an answer I would rather respectfully ask for, don't you think that I might have done that last night?'

'I don't know. Maybe you're desperate.'

'Indeed I am, but I am not going to even try to glamour you. I love Sarah, and I know I may not be the best man for her by a long shot, but I'm going to do everything in my power to show you that I care about her, that I can be better even when it does not come easily to me. All I know is that I didn't think I would ever find a woman who would captivate me as your sister has. I have lived for a thousand years and was beginning to wonder what my purpose was, why I could be on this earth for so long, but now I know.' He tried to be calm, but he could feel the spark of anger in his gaze, sadness even, as he stared at Jake. He knew just how true his words were; he did not deserve Sarah, not really, but he would be damned if he was about to give up. 'I was meant to find her Jake, meant to have her touch my heart and bring it back to life. I am nothing without her and every moment when I hold her in my arms I begin to feel a little more human again.'

'You can't seriously expect me to believe she feels the same. I'm not going to let her marry a man who could up and leave whenever he feels like it, who will make her feel weak as she ages while he continues to be strong and healthy.'

Eric pursed his lips. Yes, he'd considered that, but there was no way he would ever allow her to feel weak, not when she made his so strong.

'If you really loved my sister, you would leave her.'

Oh the simplicity of his words. He really didn't know how impossible that would be, but the sentence told him one thing; he only had one more chance.

'I offer my word to you that she will be happy, safe. I will protect her with every ounce of my strength. I will keep her safe in a world that is turning to hell.' He reached for a chair, breaking the leg off, ignoring Jason's protests. He saw Jake flinch before he turned the wood in his hands. 'If you don't for even one second believe that I can, you better stake me now, because without her I have no reason to live.'

He stepped forward, taking Jake's hands to wrap them around the stake, the point pressed firmly against his ribs. He held his hands there, let him feel the grain of the wood and the pressure of the point against his chest.

Let him feel the weight of a thousand years of life.

The wood clattered to the ground, leaving only air between them as their stare continued. Finally Jake cleared his throat, stepping back to put some distance between them. 'There's no way I could kill you,' he said, glancing to his feet, eyes avoiding the stake. 'Not when you make her so happy.'

'Then please.' Eric offered his hand again, knowing that if he'd still needed air, his lungs would be straining from a held breath. 'Give me your blessing.'

Jake looked at his offered hand before his eyes lifted. He pursed his lips and then Eric felt a firm grip taking his. 'You have my blessing,' he said, pulling away after a moment, seeming uncomfortable.

Eric didn't care. He couldn't stop the smile that broke across his lips, his whole body singing with relief. He already had the ring, tucked right back in the bottom draw of his bedside table. He couldn't wait to pick Sarah up, take her home and then…

His smile faltered. He looked to Jake. 'I'm sorry, I have to go.'

'Why? Is something–'

'Sarah.'

'Take me with you.'

'I can't.'

'The hell you can't,' he snapped. 'Take me with you.'

Eric glanced to the door, itching to just slip through it and into the night in the blink of an eye, but he felt another flash of fear and anger, knew that the werewolves had come again.

Don't have time for this.

'She's going to have my balls for this,' he muttered, grabbing Jake around the waist, ignoring the mortal's feeble attempts at fighting. 'Matter of fact, so are you.'

He darted through the door and shot into the sky.

There were so many of them. No matter how many they fought, more emerged from the trees, snapping and snarling. Even the injured limped and staggered to their feet, seeming to earn a new lease of life as they leapt forward.

They were blood crazed and angry, all wanting vengeance for the deaths in their clan as well as the powers that Sarah and Sookie possessed.

Sarah ducked, feeling claws graze her shirt as a werewolf sailed over her. She threw her hands out, knocking a few back with bursts of air, one colliding with a tree to send bark raining over them. She'd lost sight of Sam but could still hear him, knew that if he was hurt that Sookie would have said something to her, especially when they came together.

'There are too many of them,' she said, whipping up a group in a miniature tornado, throwing them to the ground.

'I know,' Sookie said and Sarah saw the familiar flash of light, blinding as a yelp sounded.

Another gust of air, a ball of fire following to scorch a russet tail. 'They keep getting up.'

'What the heck are we going to do?'

'Here's one idea.' Sarah sent flames to the ground, the fire blazing in a circle around them, the wall growing until it was almost six feet tall. They took a few deep breaths, using the precious time that it had given them to catch their breath, knowing that it would not be long before the werewolves tried to breach the flames. 'I don't know what to do about Sam.'

'There's nothing we can do, not for now,' Sookie said. 'He's fine on his own though. I can hear him, and he's safe.'

'Giving you a blow by blow of the fight?'

'Something like that.'

Sarah watched as the dark furred werewolf paced at the edge of the flames, watching her with those eerie eyes as it looked for a way through. Its fur glistened in patches, stained with blood, but it had not lost any of the determination that rested in its gaze. She knew that it was no where near ready to give up.

It feinted, testing the heat of the flames. Sarah grasped Sookie's hand. 'It's getting ballsy.'

'Castrate it.'

Sarah relinquished her grip, raising her hands as the werewolf stepped a little closer, daring to slash a paw through the flames. She felt her powers coiling down her arm, saw the air shifting with the first signs of earth as the dirt rose from the ground. She saw the wary gaze of the wolf as it tested again, more determined despite the hint of caution.

When it broke through, she would be ready. It would be more difficult to extend vines from the trees, but if she could take out the leader, then maybe the rest would fall.

Jake was fighting of course, the occasional cry of fright falling from his lips as he looked to the ground that blurred far beneath them. Still, no matter how many times he asked, Eric was not putting him down, not when Sarah could be in danger.

'Shit, shit, shit, shit.' Another cry as Eric adjusted his grip, wrapping his arms around the flailing mortal so that he would not fall. 'You bastard, put me down.'

With a subtle growl, he loosened his grip, smiling when Jake clutched at his arms. 'Are you done complaining?' he asked, bringing the still flailing man back into his arms.

'Yes, but fuck man, why didn't you warn me?'

'You would have insisted we take a car,' he said through clenched teeth, blood heating when he felt fear. His fangs flicked out, aching to be buried in the flesh of whoever dared to even attempt to hurt her.

He spotted Merlotte's, following her scent, a growl rumbling in his chest as he caught the scent of werewolves. He heard their snarls and the occasional howl of pain that satisfied a bloodthirsty part of him that would do anything to protect her.

If there is even one mark on her creamy skin…

He growled, flying just above the trees. He saw a flash of flame and felt Jake tense in recognition, distracted from his struggles for a moment. 'Sarah.'

'She's okay, just pissed.'

'How do you–'

'Later. Stay here.' He paused, sitting Jake on a sturdy branch of a tree, above the reach of the werewolves before he swooped. He slammed into a group of five, sending them flying into the trees with howls and the sickeningly beautiful crack of bones. When his feet touched the earth he met a charging werewolf head on, ribs snapping beneath his knuckles as the russet furred beast collided with his fist.

He turned, grabbing another by the scruff of its neck to hurl it high into the sky, watching as it disappeared into the dark before he clashed with another. He snapped its wrist, satisfied with the yelp of agony that sounded when he threw it at a tree, no doubt breaking its spine.

He saw a spear of ice fly past, watching as it skewered two werewolves before it imbedded in a tree, trapping both while she turned on another. God, watching her was amazing, her eyes burning with fire as she turned in something like a dance, flashes of red, blue, green and white surrounding her. Above her, a dark furred werewolf was strung up like a puppet, still struggling against the vines that would not loosen or break. He growled, likely commanding his comrades to keep fighting even when he had been taken from the fray.

His death would be slow.

He darted to her side, ducking to avoid a ball of flame. He heard a howl behind him, the pungent smell of burnt fur filling his nose. He shot past her, feeling her surprise as he slammed his fist into a werewolf's throat when it tried to pounce on her from behind.

She gasped when he appeared in front of her, grabbing two werewolves by the scruff of their necks to slam their heads together.

'Seems they're not ready to give up yet,' he said, glancing over his shoulder before he spun on his toes, placing a quick kiss on her lips before he sprinted to a group of werewolves, stopping them before they could charge Sarah and Sookie. She couldn't help but watch for a moment, throwing fireballs at the ones she could see out of the corners of her eyes, Sookie at her back.

He was all sensual, powerful man, his broad shoulders pulling the leather of his jacket tight over his body as he turned, slamming a fist into a werewolf's snout. His fangs were out, body rippling with anger and strength. There was blood on his hand and around his mouth to make that macabre grin, a look in his pale eyes that should have scared her, but she found that she liked it, liked his strength and protectiveness.

He let out a feral sound, arms wide as he stared down at werewolves, few of the original thirty that had attacked standing to fight. Most had skulked away to lick their wounds.

Well, the ones that were still alive.

Eric bared his fangs, letting them see the blood that fell from his lips. 'One chance,' he growled. 'Leave now and you leave with your throats intact.'

Instantly some turned, sprinting into the trees. They'd been hyped up on blood, but all were injured; some were burnt, some had broken bones, some were even suffering from frostbite as they scurried away.

Five remained, likely the elders in the group, the ones that would have taken more of the blood when they'd attacked the vampires.

Foolish werewolves.

Eric shot forward, snapping their necks in quick succession. Two darted away but were cut off by a wall of fire as it circled them, the flames roaring high, cutting them off completely.

Above, the dark furred leader howled as best as he could with a vine around his neck, leashing him, but this was the end for them.

With a sickening crunch they fell, reverting to their human form as the fires blew out in a cloud of smoke, leaving only Eric standing within the ring of cinders, staring down at the bodies to make sure there were no signs of life before his head shot up, eyes trained on the trees.

He went to move forward, to chase the remaining creatures, but a vine wrapped around his wrist. He glanced to it, then to Sarah, blue burning with fury.

She went to him, placing a hand on his cheek before she reached into her pocket, pulling out a handkerchief to wipe at the blood that stained his chin and mouth, revealing those wicked lips. 'Thank you for coming so fast,' she said, hand trailing down his chest, the anger in his gaze flickering, weakening. She wrapped her arms around his neck, seeing a flare of pure heat.

He wrapped his arms around her, drawing her tight against his body. 'Do not kiss me now or I will take you right here,' he whispered, his voice a delicious rumble against her ear, shivers moving down her spine.

'That doesn't sound like such a bad idea.'

He growled. 'Don't tempt me.'

'Sarah, we should go back to the diner,' Sookie said, Sam trotting up beside her. He looked up at Sookie, probably telling her to say, 'Someone might get curious. We don't want them coming out to investigate when there are still werewolves hanging around.'

'You mean the ones I just bumped into on the way here?'

They all turned at the southern drawl, knowing by the blood that stained his chin, lips and shirt that he'd done more than bump into them.

Sookie ran to him, his arm instantly going around her waist before he placed a kiss on her temple.

'Sorry I took so long. There were a couple roaming in the cemetery as well,' he said, glancing to Eric, more in the gaze than most would see.

This was getting serious.

'What should we do about him?'

Eric looked up, the wolf throwing a golden glare at him. 'He's not going anywhere. I'll pick him up later and take him to Fangtasia for…questioning.'

The werewolf's eyes widened.

'Well, we need to go back to the diner,' Sarah said, placing a kiss on Eric's cheek. 'Do you want to come in for a little while? I'll be knocking off soon.' She ignored Sam's rumble of a protest, taking Eric's hand.

'I think someone's in need of a drink.'

'I thought you didn't like Tru–'

He put a finger to her lips, looking to the tree, away from the captured werewolf, a flash of amusement – and the barest amount of guilt – moving through the pale blue.

She followed his line of sight, jaw nearly dropping as she met her brother's gaze.

He wasn't pleased.

Next update: Wednesday the 15th of September.