Bella looked warily at the Viking waiting for something to happen, then he spoke,
"Well, your cousin certainly has a temper. You seemed to have inherited her feistiness also" Eric smirked. He thought it would be interesting to have them both around and even better when he makes Sookie his.
Bella sighed, "She doesn't usually act like that. Sooks always had a temper but she's never acted so irrationally or just plain mean like that. I don't know what's wrong" Bella bit her lip worried for her cousin she considered a sister.
Eric leant back in his chair and watched the worried expression come across the beautiful girls face. She was rather stunning, in her innocent little dress, tight curves and perky breasts. Her hair was long and sat in soft waves framing her rosy heart shaped face. She looked so fragile and sweet. Not the obvious beauty with large assets he preferred but he could still admire her allure.
After observing the girl, he sat pondering Sookie's behavioural change.
"In what way has she seemed different to you?" Eric asked, forming an idea in his mind.
Bella was confused but decided to confide in her new friend, "Well, she seemed to get really angry there for no reason. She was acting completely unreasonable and then said some hurtful things. As I said she's had a temper but when it comes to you she seems to act out of character" Bella thought curiously, "I hope it's not to do with Bill, I have a strange feeling about him. I don't like their relationship something about it seems... off" Bella added.
Eric was intrigued, anything that was going wrong in Bill and Sookie's relationship was an advantage to him.
"What do you mean by off? Doesn't Sookie seem happy with Compton?" Eric thought he could get information on Sookie from her cousin, it would help him get her away from Compton's arms and into his.
"Well, yeah, I guess. Except it's like unusually happy. Deliriously happy and then sometimes she's really tense, or really unhappy or snapping and tonight, well, you saw how she was, when it came to you she went crazy. Her emotions are too erratic. Honestly, I had expected you to be some crazy sicko psycho by the way she describes you; she really hates you" Bella admitted. She saw Eric's eyes show disappointment and a little pain but he hid it extremely well. His face didn't change expressions but seemed a little too stiff to be natural. He seemed far too interested in Sookie's and Bills relationship for it not to be personal.
"Well, you would think that with her being pleasured so often she wouldn't be in such a disagreeable mood" Eric smirked trying to get his mind off unpleasant thoughts but failed when he pictured Sookie being pleasured by Compton. She shouldn't be touched by anybody but him.
Bella sat with her mouth agape, "Well, uh, that's none of your business Eric. I'm sure it's nothing to do with that..." she drifted off, feeling uncomfortable thinking about Sookie's sex life and even more uncomfortable imagining Bill having sex; she shuddered.
Eric saw her shudder and smiled, "Oh, but it could be my business, tiny human. If it were me pleasuring your delectable cousin we wouldn't be in this situation" Eric's mood improved phenomenally imagining just that.
Bella was confused, 'Eric liked Sookie? Why was she so harsh on him then. That's pretty mean'
"Please sasquatch. I don't care about Sookie's sex life. What I care about is her happiness. Bill doesn't make her happy. Your supposed to be with someone who brings out the best in you, not making you act like your constantly PMSing" Bella said, she looked at the Viking and he seemed to be considering something pretty hard.
"You like Sookie, don't you?" Bella blurted out, deciding to be upfront with him.
Eric raised an eyebrow, shocked that Bella would be so bold.
"I would very much like to bed your cousin, tiny. Her telepathy is useful to me. I would like to be her lover and I find her amusing, I do not like her" Eric replied, being honest and hoping that he could still get Bella on his side to help get Sookie in his bed.
Bella smiled. Eric was such man, he couldn't admit even to himself he liked Sookie. Bella liked him, Eric just needed a little push and help expressing emotions.
"Well, I want Sookie to he happy. I'll help you woo her if you promise me that you will do everything can to make her happy" Bella told Eric, intently watching his face to make sure he is being truthful.
"I swear I will do everything in my power to ensure your cousins happiness" Eric solemnly but inside he was ecstatic, he had gained a very powerful ally in helping him seduce Sookie. 'It won't be long now' he thought.
"Aren't you concerned it will cause Sookie pain to end her her relationship with Bill?" Eric asked, tilting his head to the side.
Bella shook her head sadly, "Sookie might not like it at first but in the long run she'll be much happier. I've seen truly happy couples in love and its not like them. It's like complete contentment, respect and care. Like your with your other half, your elated, light and free. Whereas Sookie's and Bill relationship seemed based on too many unstable emotions. Bill pretends to be human, its annoying. I hate it when vampires pretend to be human. They're not and they need to accept that." Bella thought back to the Cullens and how hurt she had been because Edward wanted to play 'human' with her. They acted human but they weren't, they didn't care and it ripped her apart.
Eric was becoming more and more intrigued by her. Not accepting ones loss of humanity is indeed a problem for some vampires; one that leads to a true death. She seemed a lot wiser than her years.
"You know other vampires who act human?" He asked. Eric could sit watching her all night. Her face was so expressive and he wanted to know everything about this little human. She seemed so strange, so fragile yet strong, so wise but naive, so independent but needed caring for. It was an unusual but fascinating combination. It was odd being so expressive in her facial expressions, she seemed too genuine.
"Unfortunately, yes. I used to date one. He was a cold one but eventually got fed up pretending to be human with me and left me after claiming I was his mate" She said glumly. She hated thinking about her past but somehow trusted the vampire in front of her.
She peeked up at Eric but couldn't decipher the expression on his face. It was completely blank and that scared Bella, 'maybe he doesn't like me trashing other vampires?' she thought nervously.
Eric needed to calm down. He hated cold ones and hated that this girl had been hurt in such a cruel way. She was too good. He may be a monster and broke women's hearts daily but he was always upfront and honest when it came to his intentions. Although he could be as manipulative as the next vampire he didn't mess around with matters of the heart. That was too personal. As Eric was thinking of this suddenly something occurred to him.
"Wait, you 'dated' this Vampire? What does that mean exactly and for how long?" Eric asked with a head tilt.
Bella looked and couldn't understand this question but answered it anyway.
"Uh, about a year. Dated means that we were together as in a couple. Like Bill and Sookie" Bella explained. 'What does that have to do with anything?'
"You were with a vampire for a year and you never once had sex?" Eric continued disbelievingly.
Bella bristled, "Well, it wasn't like that. He was a virgin..." Bella tried to explain, hoping to placate Eric. Suddenly, Eric roared out laughter. He hunched over and gripped his sides in an exaggerated gesture.
"A virgin Vampire?" Eric continued his full bodied laughing.
Bella felt embarrassed, "Well, he uh wanted to wait till marriage so-"
"MARRIAGE" Eric shouted laughing even harder. Bloody tears dripped down from his eyes.
Bella sat in a huff, armed crossed scowling at Eric who looked like he had never found something so hilarious before.
After, ten long minutes Eric's laughs began to subside. It took another five to cool down completely with him letting out the occasional chuckle and mutter whilst shaking his head.
"Thank you, tiny. I have not laughed like that in many decades" Eric told Bella. Bella was less than pleased. She looked at him skeptically thinking he was perhaps a little unhinged and maybe Sookie was a bit right in her estimation of Eric.
Bella sat silent watching Eric warily. He caught her look and smiled charmingly at her while wiping up the blood trails from his face.
"I will make arrangements for our trip to Dallas, tiny. Go out to the bar and Pam will keep you company. I have a little mindless work to do also but I shouldn't be long. Then I will take you home"
"Okay dokey" Bella got up and promptly left his office but not without giving him a big smile. She remembered her trip to Dallas and was grateful to Eric, even if he was a bit strange. She began walking into the bar area of Fangtasia.