It had been dark for about half an hour now and Bill would arrive at any minute to escort them to Merlottes. 'So ridiculous, why do we even need an escort? He acts more overprotective than Charlie for Christ-sake!' Bella thought angrily. She had no idea but Bill seemed to treat her like a china doll and it annoyed the hell out of her. She had enough of that with Edward. He had already phoned Sookie and 'inquired into her health' before stopping by. Who does that? He is going to be here in about a minute!
Bella was interrupted from her musings by the doorbell. 'Think of the devil...' Sookie rushed over to swing the door open and greeted her 'southern-gentleman'. They exchanged kisses and pleasantries. Bella walked over to the door.
"Hello Bella, how are you this evening?" Bill asked politely. He looked Bella up and down taking in her appearance and smiled. Weird.
"Alright Bill, now let's get this over with" Bella walked out of the house and walked over to Sookie's car before placing herself firmly in the back seat. Bella sat for five minutes wondering wondered what was keeping them.
Sookie watched her cousin stomp off until Bill got her attention again.
"Sookie, I am afraid we have been summoned to Fangtasia" Bill said cautiously. He didn't want to be on the end of her temper.
"Well, you can tell that high-handed jerk Eric that I am too busy tonight and I will just have to go tomorrow" Sookie stated firmly. She could not just ditch her sweet cousin for the arrogant SOB.
"I'm afraid I can't do this Sookie. I am his underling and while in his area I must do as he commands" Bill tried to explain to a now fuming Sookie.
"Well, gimme your phone and ill call him" Sookie demanded.
Bill sighed, knowing there was nothing he could do. Bill took out his phone and dialed Eric's personal number before handing it to Sookie. She pressed it up to her ear as it started ringing.
"This is Eric" The Vikings voice came through phone.
"Eric, this is Sookie. I can't make it to Fangtasia tonight, Ahm busy" Sookie explained curtly.
"Ah, Miss Stackhouse it is a pleasure to hear from you again. What exactly has you so busy that you are unable to grace us with your presence?" Eric asked condescendingly.
Sookie scowled, "It's none of your god-dammed business that's what. I'm busy tonight but ill come tomorrow, alright?"
"No. I require your presence tonight. You can re-arrange whatever is so important to you for another night. This cannot wait" Eric voice was firm.
"Eric, look, I have my cousin with me and I need to spend time with her tonight. I can't just ditch her!" Sookie exclaimed hoping that for once Eric would be somewhat reasonable.
"Then bring her. I expect you both here shortly" The line went dead.
Sookie was furious.
Bella sat calmly and watched as Sookie marched over to the car. 'Uh-oh I've seen that look before. Sookie has gone off the deep end' A rampaging Sookie was a dangerous Sookie.
Bella sat quietly in the back, ignoring her cousin when she angrily entered the car. Bill entered the car silently and they began driving down hummingbird lane.
"Change of plans. We need to go to Fangtasia tonight. His majesty has summoned us" Sookie huffed out angrily.
Bella already knew about Sookie's arrangement with this so called Eric. She was worried. Considering everything Sookie has said about him, he seems like a freaking psycho.
"Uh, is it safe? Like, um, for me?" Bella asked hesitantly. Her night just got worse, instead of being subjected to a unwanted social situation now she had to meet the dangerous Eric that her usually kind cousin disliked so fiercely. I mean Sookie put up daily with a town full of small minded bigots and racists, how bad must this Eric be that she can't even tolerate him?
"Don't worry Bella. I promise I will allow no harm to come to you tonight" Bill swore to Bella.
The drive took a little over an hour in Sookie's crappy car, the time spent trying to re-assure Bella about her safety.
As they pulled into the parking lot at Fangtasia Bella got a good look at all the people lining up. 'The only thing that could make this night worse was if Edward were to show up' Bella thought despairingly, silently praying that that would indeed not happen.
As they walked towards the front of the line Bella tried to calm her nerves. They approached a beautiful blond women carding the patrons dressed in very little black leather.
"Who's this? A treat for me?" The woman purred staring directly into Bella's eyes.
"Oh, I'm Bella, Sookie's cousin. You must be Pam right?" Bella said nervously.
"Yes, that's me sugar. Your cousin said only good things about me, I hope?" The blond looked at Bella in amusement, smirking a little and eyes lingering up and down her form.
"Oh uh yeah of course. You're not really what I expected" Bella explained.
The beautiful blonde arched one eyebrow.
"OH, that's not what I mean. Your a lot more beautiful and different from what I expected. Not that I didn't think you would be but I expected someone a little more creepy and scary looking. Not that I don't think your scary, is it an insult to vampires-" Bless her, Pam cut her off smiling.
"Oh dear, you are entertaining. I think you and I will get along just fine" Pam looked at the brunette and felt a strange urge. She looked so nervous and unsure of herself, Pam wanted to re-assure her oddly. She never felt anything for breathers expect contempt, lust or occasionally amusement but not this. The brunette, this Bella was just too sweet, she felt like she wanted to help her in some way. Pam admitted entrance to the trio while pondering these thoughts.
Bella looked in awe at the inside of the club. It screamed vampires. It was not what she was used to when it came to vampires, the usual white open spaces instead were filled with black, red and scantily clad humans trying to impress the vampires.
Bella felt extremely uncomfortable here. Everyone here wore black leather if they were wearing anything at all and Bella stuck out in such bright clothing. At least she wasn't blonde in a yellow dress like Sookie.
Sookie grabbed Bella's hand and lead her down a darkened hallway. They reached a door and Sookie stormed through the door without thinking.
What Bella saw scarred her for life.
There was a brunette laying sideways across a desk on her back, completely nude making high pitched keening noises. In between her legs there was a huge naked blond slamming into her roughly at inhuman speeds. He thrust so forcefully that the whole desk moved and a large slapping noise filled the air.
Bella took one look at felt horrified. She made a squeaky noise and threw her hands over her eyes completely mortified at what she just saw. She was so embarrassed. Her face was burning.
The thrusting noise stopped but Bella couldn't move. She felt frozen, how could she look anyone in the eye after what she had just seen them doing!
Sookie watched Bella and saw how she threw her hands in front of her eyes. She looked towards Eric scowling at him, 'How dare he! He knew we were coming, he has just traumatized my baby cousin! That sicko!'
She saw that Eric was not looking at her but Bella curiously. He tiled his head to the side and removed himself from the sweaty human lying across his desk, observing the strange brunette. The women on his desk tried to get his attention again.
"C'mon, ignore her, that mousy little thing can't give you what you want. She wouldn't know what to do with a man like you. Forget her" Yvette muttered out while gently caressing the Vikings arm trying to seduce him again.
Eric barely heard what the whore on his desk said but he did note an insult and for some reason was annoyed. He addressed to the blood bag on his desk with a hard voice.
"Get out. We are done here" He said firmly, still not even looking in her direction. His eyes still fixed on the frozen form of a girl in his office, he didn't even notice Miss Stackhouse enter behind her.
Yvette stormed out of his office grabbing her clothes, completely furious. That little bitch ruined everything she fumed while storming past the little whore.
"Look what you've done to my cousin you big A-hole! You've traumatized her!" Sookie screeched loudly, pointing an accusing finger in his direction.
Eric reluctantly moved his eyes away from the brunette to the delicious Miss Stackhouse and then laughed as her words registered.
"So dramatic as always. She is merely be shocked by what she saw. I could always enlighten her" Eric purred to Sookie, trying to get a rise out of her.
"Don't you go anywhere near my baby cousin!" She exclaimed loudly and grabbed Bella and gently led her to the black leather couch.
"Shh, it's okay Bella. Calm down, its alright. Your safe" She muttered into Bella's ear trying to coax her out of her panicked state. Bella could not even look up. Now Sookie was babying her! Dear lord, why is everyone drawing attention to her? Can she not just melt into the woodwork, please?
Eric continued to watch the small human curiously, she seemed to be in shock.
Bella was hyper-aware of what was going on around her but the more fuss people were making the more embarrassed she was, she should have just acted like she seen things like this every day. Sookie then began gently stroking her back. Bella slowly began lifting her head only to look straight into two piecing blue orbs fixed on her face.
She stared into his eyes not sure what else to do.
"Bella, is it? I am Eric. How are you feeling?" He asked hesitantly, he was strangely getting worried about her, he didn't want to break the tiny human.
"Uh I uh oh, um" Bella tried, still staring into this strange man eyes.
Eric chuckled and then stood up. Only then did Bella notice his nude state. They were a lovely deep ocean blue.
"your naked" Bella cried out in shock, eyes flickering down. Bella closed her eyes again in total mortification. She did not just look at him!
"Put some dam clothes on Eric and stop scaring her!" Sookie demanded, furious that Eric was doing this.
Pam blurred in the room taking in the scene. She smiled sardonically, "Well, isn't this cosy" She drawled. Observing the embarrassed Bella, she seemed too adorable. Pam imagined this is what humans felt when they saw little kittens. Hm, Pam might just have to keep this little kitten. She could use a new pet.
"Pam, I need some clothing. Sookie's cousin here feels uncomfortable with nudity, I gather" He smirked, looking at embarrassed human. Bella kept her eyes firmly closed until she was certain that blondie was clothed.
"I am dressed now. Come out, come out to play, tiny human" Eric coaxed Bella.
Bella peered hesitantly upwards and saw that he was indeed dressed. She then saw Sookie on her left on Bill on Sookie's other side supporting her. She looked and saw that Pam was also in the room, when she saw Bella looking she winked.
"my, my aren't you adorable. One would think you had never seen a naked man before, Bella" Eric teased the little girl, feeling amused.
"Wha- Of course I haven't!" Bella spluttered. Eric took a deep inhalation then.
"Hm. Yes, another innocent. Bill where do you find these delicious smelling virgins?" Eric smirked at the confederate vampire. Bill puffed up quite angry,
"Bella is off limits Eric" Bill said firmly. He looked positively murderous. Eric waltzed over to his desk and sat down kicking his feet up on the desk. He was about to open his mouth with a scathing remark when Bella suddenly jumped up.
"Can we all stop talking about this? The status of my virginity is none of your business, you... Sasquach!" Bella stated staring at Eric with a stern expression. She was trying her best to emulate Sookie and be more confident. They were making a big deal out of her embarrassment, she needed to act more assertive.
Sookie smiled at her brave cousin standing up that a-hole and sat back ready to help if she needed it. 'You go, girl, show him what your made of!'
Eric sat looking at Bella was a shocked expression, while Pam was smirking in the corner very much amused.
"Sasquach?" Eric asked, tilting his head to the side curiously. Bella attempting to hold on to her indignation said, "Yes, your freakishly tall you know. How you manage to find clothes that fit you ill never know" Bella muttered.
Eric looked at her blankly then chuckled.
"It is not my fault you are so tiny, little girl. I do in fact find clothes to fit me. I can take them off again to show you, if you'd like, bitesize." Eric asked wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.
Bella tried not to show the amusement on her face, "Bitesize? I prefer to think of myself funsize thank you very much. Your too tall to have any fun" Bella stated crossing her arms and smiling at Eric.
"I don't believe I am. You saw earlier how much fun someone my size can have" Eric smirked. He really liked this breather. He needed to keep her around. She smelled phenomenal. Just as good as her cousin but not as inciting and alluring the way Sookie was; Sookies blood begged to be drank. It practically called to Eric's fangs. Bella was different but smelled fresher and sweeter. She smelled so amazing, Eric was considering offering her a job at Fangtasia just so he could have his own personal air freshener to counteract the stench of the vermin.
Bella scoffed, "ppft, you call that fun? You looked like you were hurting that poor girl. How anyone can call that making love is crazy. That was not at all sweet or romantic. In fact, it looked pretty painful and uncomfortable" She exclaimed with a shake of her head.
Eric snorted and shook his head at her ignorance. Pam chuckled amused by the girls innocence. While Bill and Sookie were unhappy about the subject. Eric was thinking that educating the little girl on the matters of sex would be very very entertaining. Bill shot Sookie a pointed, displeased look.
Sookie decided to interject before her cousins innocence could be spoiled. She cleared her throat, "Eric, why are we here? What do you want?"
Eric's expression suddenly turned very serious, "The sheriff of Area 9 in Dallas is missing. I require you to go to Dallas and read the humans at his nest and find the missing sheriff" Eric stated, looking very solemn.
Sookie looked at Eric with her mouth agape. Is he serious?
"What? No way I'm just up and leaving to go to Dallas for you. I have a life you know!" Sookie exclaimed.
Bella looked hesitantly between Sookie and Eric and considered the stony look on Erics face. They both seemed far too stubborn for their own good. Bella figured that since Sookie agreed to work for Eric the request wasn't so unreasonable and she just made a habit of being difficult. 'Why does she seem to dislike Eric so much. He's not that bad. She usually doesn't just hate people' Eric seemed like a reasonable enough person until he got angry, then she thought he would be pretty scary. He was funny, almost brotherly in a way Bella pondered. He reminded her of Emmett and Jasper, he was almost both of them rolled into one. Bella had a strange feeling almost a pull or a yearning to go to Dallas also. Curious. Looking between the two blonds she knew she had to do something before all hell broke lose.
"Dallas? Wow, Sook I've always wanted to go there! Can I come? After you've done your work we can have a mini holiday?"
Bill answered Bella immediately, "No Bella, you cannot. It is far to dangerous for someone such as yourself. I forbid it" He finished firmly. Everyone ignored his statement.
Sookie looked hesitantly at Bella, she didn't want to deny her cousin anything but she was reluctant to let her get involved with vampires.
"C'mon Sook! It will be so much fun, we can go shopping, go to the zoo, see the big city. I have been stuck in small towns too long I need to go to a real city, its been driving me mad" Bella looked pleadingly at Sookie, hoping she will reconsider. Bella desperately wanted to go to Dallas, she wasn't sure why but she yearned for it and had a odd feeling it was where she was meant to be.
"Bella, even if I was going to go, I don't want you there with me. This world isn't for you. I won't let you get any more involved with vampires! I don't want to have to spend my time babysitting you and worrying about your safety" Sookie attempted to explain to her cousin, turning to face her on the couch.
"Oh, ok. I'm sorry" Bella bowed her head defeated. 'Stop being stupid, who would want to spend time with you. Just because she's family doesn't mean she will want to spend time with me. Who would want to anyways... i'm nothing...'
Everyone looked at the haunted look cross Bella's face.
"Bells, I didn't mean-" Sookie began only to be cut off by Eric.
"Of course you can come, tiny. I will pay for your flight and accommodation and personally show you around Dallas if you wish" Eric added graciously. Bill growled. When Eric saw her face and felt a strange protectiveness come over him. He liked the breather and didn't want to see her in any pain. If this small thing he can do to make her happy, he would gladly do it. Which was extremely curious. He wondered what it was about Sookie and this Bella that made him act so... human. He frowned displeased by this thought.
Sookie was fuming, Eric was using her cousin to get to her. That was too far!
"How dare you! You stay away from my cousin you creep!" Sookie screaming at the Viking then twirled round to Bella. "Bella you stay away from him. Your too young and too innocent. What is with you Bella? Do you want to become some worthless fangbanger? Is that it? Your not allowed to be around vampires, except from Bill. That's final." Sookie commanded Bella, standing and waving a finger in her face.
Bill looked on with an approving look on his face.
Pam growled lowly, glaring at Sookie. 'How dare she be so cruel to our kitten?' Her level of anger at the telepath was surprising. Pam was irritated on kittens behalf. Bella could fuck every vampire in here and still be better than the vermin who graced this establishment. Even then, if anyone dared call her a 'fangbanger' Pam would gladly break their jaw for such blatant disrespect.
Eric merely frowned.
The worst reaction in the room was Bella however, she was appalled and her patience snapped. She jumped up, "No! Your such a hypocrite! You can't just tell me what to do, I'm not a child. If I want to go to Dallas with Eric then I will go to Dallas with Eric. If I wanted to become a fangbanger then I will! Its none of you god dammed business!" Sookie was in shock, she had never seen the meek and quiet Bella like this before.
"Just because you don't want to go to Dallas and spend time with me, doesn't mean you can forbid me to do so with with someone else! I'm done being controlled. Its not fair. Its my life. I need to stop letting other people dictate it and just live it myself" Bella added, suddenly exhausted.
Sookie was horrified Bella reached this conclusion.
"Bella, c'mon you know I didn't mean it like that" Sookie added, trying to back track. Sookie held out her arms to embrace her but Bella stepped back and shook her head.
"Just leave me alone Sookie, I have arrangements to make with Eric since your too immature to go on a business trip with him without throwing a tantrum like a child. You agreed to work for him Sookie, stop acting like your a slave. I'll try help find the missing sheriff because you obviously are too busy, you have a life but I obviously don't" Bella stated with her eyes planted firmly on the ground.
Eric was surprised. This little girl was going to help him? Why could she possibly want to help him, she just met him. She must see some obligation because her cousin is refusing. He didn't really want her to be involved with finding Godric but he could still pay for her to go to Dallas and spend some time sight seeing with her after Godric was found, it was the least he could do.
Sookie was upset, she didn't mean to upset her cousin like this. What could she do?
Bill could see the situation getting out of hand and realized he had to step in. He needed to keep Bella away from Eric at all costs. It was troublesome enough that he was involved with Sookie. He stood and gently went to grab Bella's arm when Eric flashed up. He gripped Compton's arm before he could touch Bella. The thought of someone touching her made him furious for some reason. He felt no jealously but only protectiveness for her, he could not understand why.
"That's quite enough. If Sookie is unwilling to go I will take Bella in her stead. I think you have both done enough here, your dismissed Compton, take Sookie home. I will see to it Bella arrives home safely" Eric commanded his underling. He wanted to get them both away from Bella, they were clearly upsetting her.
Sookie clearly wasn't happy with this arrangement and sucked in a deep breath to tell off Eric and demand Bella come home with her and Bill until she saw Bella. When she looked at Bella she saw fear and worry, Bella angled her body slightly as if trying to hide behind Eric and almost cringed as if she was getting ready to be attacked. Sookie heart broke. I made Bella feel like that? What happened to me? Sookie thought, devastated that her cousin could ever fear her. They were sisters. Why had Sookie been acting so ridiculous and unreasonable lately. She didn't know but her temper wasn't usually this bad. Sookie needed time to reflect and think of a way to make it up to Bella.
Eric braced for Sookie's reaction, he knew she was a hell cat when pissed. He only hoped that she would take it out on him and not Bella; she didn't deserve it.
"Okay, Ill see you at home okay Bells? Just be safe, I love you" Sookie said gently to Bella, hoping to start helping. Unfortunately Bill was furious at this.
"What! Sookie you cannot be serious in leaving Bella here! She will not be safe. No, she must come home with us. Come Bella, we are leaving" Bill stated firmly, frustrated with the way things have gone. This was becoming very dangerous and he would not tolerate it. Just as he stepped forward to retrieve Bella, Eric stepped in front of her and raised his eyebrows in challenge. Bill released his fangs with a snick and snarled loudly at Eric, crouching as he did so. Eric only smirked in amusement not the least bit threatened by his little display.
"Pam, please show Compton and Miss Stackhouse out. If you feel the need to teach him a little manners in the process, feel free" Eric grinned at the younger vampire. Pam vamped over and dragged a snarling Bill out of the office with a nervous looking Sookie trailing behind them. She paused at the exit,
"I'll see you at home later, yeah?" Sookie asked Bella, praying she would be safe.
"Yeah Sooks, I'll see you later" Bella nodded. Sookie behavior tonight worried Bella. She acted so strangely and irrationally, she was worried about her cousin and felt a little afraid. Sookie did not act like that normally. 'Whats happened to her? Why does she act like this, is it because of Bill?' Bella wondered.
As the door closed behind them Eric straightened his slicked his hair back before waltzing over to his desk and sat looking at Bella.
Bella realized that she was alone with Eric and felt slightly nervous. As much as she was starting to like him she had just met him earlier tonight.