Chapter Sixteen

Pam looked at Eric as she continued to cut his hair. "I don't know what has gotten into you but first Long Shadow and now you suddenly hate your long hair?"

"I just wanted a change."

"You can change by wearing a different outfit not firing your best friend and changing your appearance." Pam was filled with confusion.

"Do you remember when we first met?" He ignored her statement as she looked at him. Her eyes softened.

"Of course."

"I miss those days." He wasn't lying either. Those times were so much easier and carefree. Now he literally had the weight of the world on his shoulders.

"What's going on with you, Eric?" She spoke softly and with concern. She stepped back and sighed. "Well, no more long hair."

He picked up the small mirror from his desk and looked at himself. A knock on the door alerted them both as Pam walked over to it. The new bartender, a young girl by the name of Tamara stood there nervously.

"I am so sorry to interrupt but there is a girl here asking for you." She looked between them.

"And I already told you that Eric doesn't do interviews." Pam huffed with annoyance as she walked to the door.

"Wait." Eric surprised them both as he stood up. "Who is it?"

Tamara visibly swallowed hard. "Some blonde. She said her name is…"

He finished her sentence before she could. He couldn't help the excitement coursing through him. "Sookie." He walked to the door as Pam looked at him with confusion.

"Sookie? Who is Sookie?"

He ignored her as he stepped out of his office. Eric stood on the raised platform, scanning the crowd of humans and vampires milling about in his club, Fangtasia. His eyes were sharp and calculating as he took in each face, searching for her.

Sookie Stackhouse was standing near the bar with a group of humans as she passed a picture around. Eric felt his breath catch in his throat as he took in her beauty. Her blonde hair was pulled back in a loose ponytail, and she wore a simple blue dress that hugged her curves in all the right places. That was his favorite dress of hers.

Eric's gaze lingered on her for a moment too long, and he felt a pang of familiarity in his chest. He remembered how their original meeting had gone and it seemed so long ago now. He walked over to her and she looked up, her eyes locking with his.

The moment Sookie saw him, it felt like an instant pull, unlike anything she could explain. She swallowed nervously at the power he exhumed when he walked.

"Mr. Northman, I am sorry to impose but I didn't have anyone else to go to."

"It's just Eric." He had to stop himself from taking her in his arms and kissing her senselessly.

"You cut your hair." The words came out before she could stop herself and she flushed deeply. He was even sexier with his hair short and styled back. She hated that she even thought this way. She had just begun a relationship with Bill. She was happy with him.

Now it was Eric's turn to feel nervous as he ran his hand through his freshly cut hair.

Pam joined them as she looked at him and then at Sookie. "I'm sorry but if you need to speak to Mr. Northman then you will have to go through me first." She spoke protectively as Eric looked at her.

"Don't mind her. How can I help you, Sookie."

"Eric?" Pam's eyes got wide.

"Pam, don't you have a bar to tend?" He kept his eyes on Sookie as Pam huffed. She stormed off as she cursed under her breath.

Sookie watched Pam walk off and she swallowed hard again as she looked up at him. She had a picture in her hand. He took it from her as his fingers grazed hers softly and she sucked in a deep breath. He looked at the two women in the picture. They were standing next to Sookie at Merlotte's.

"Let's take this somewhere a bit more private." He wanted to get her alone and away from prying eyes.

"Oh um." She began to mumble nervously. Everything inside of her told her to stay away from this powerful vampire and surely don't go anywhere alone with him but she couldn't help herself as she followed him.

He led her to his office as Pam watched suspiciously from the bar.

"I really appreciate you taking the time to talk to me." Sookie looked around the small office. He closed the door, and she felt a twinge of nervousness rush through her as she fidgeted with her hands. "The women in that picture were recently murdered."

"I remember." He spoke as he glanced at the picture, and she looked at him perplexed.

"You remember?"

"I saw it on the news." He corrected himself. "This wasn't a vampire that did it. A human, I presume." He already knew who it was, and his next step would be to take care of the arrogant little prick responsible.

"A human?" She looked at him with wide eyes. He seemed so matter-of-fact. "They both frequented your club."

"They did but you don't need to worry about that anymore, Sookie. Please sit." He gestured at a chair as he leaned against the desk.

"Listen my brother is being wrongfully accused." She added as she took a seat.

"Jason." The words left his mouth before he could stop them, and her eyes got wide.

"You know my brother?"

He knew he had to come up with something quick. "I saw a news article that mentioned him." He lied.

"You did?" She felt confused. She hadn't seen anything on the news that was pointing the finger at Jason. This was becoming more complex by the second.

"Your brother is reckless, but he isn't a killer." He added confidentially. He could see the look of confusion on her face. "I'm good at reading people." He added as an explanation.

"People you don't know?"

"When you are around as long as I am, it comes with the territory."

"How old are you?" She couldn't help but ask.

"A thousand years give or take." He smiled and her eyes got wide. "I would like to take you to dinner, Sookie."

"Um, what?" She looked at him with confusion. Was he asking her out? "I um. I…"

"It's not every day that one of my own kind takes on a girlfriend like Bill has."

"Oh." She swallowed hard. "Bill isn't around though. He had something to take care of out of town." She began to ramble nervously.

"Even better." He smiled. "I will take care of your little problem here." He handed her back the photo and she blinked in shock.

"You will? How? Do you know who is responsible?"

"I don't want you to worry about that, Sookie. I have it under control." He neared her. "Shall I pick you up tomorrow?"

"I uh. I have to work." She stood up and met his gaze. What was it about this vampire that made her want to throw all caution to the wind and follow him anywhere? Her heart raced dangerously fast.

"After work then. What time do you get off?" He smiled softly. "Merlotte's right?"

She swallowed hard. Apparently, he had researched her. She nodded slowly.

"Tomorrow then, after work." He held back from kissing her as he opened the door. He had other pressing matters at hand, one was the murdering human and then Jessica. He was going to right some wrongs while he had time.

"Ok." She swallowed hard. She walked to the door and then stopped. "You seem so familiar like I have seen you before." She couldn't help but say.

"Maybe in another life." His eyes softened. He had a chance to make things even better than they were before. "Good night, Sookie."

"Goodnight Mr. err, Eric." She left as he watched her. Pam came walking over quickly.

"What the hell is going on Eric?"

He looked at her and couldn't help but smile. She looked taken aback by it. "Today is a good day." He kissed her forehead. "Don't wait up for me." He left quickly.

Jessica Hamby was the youngest of three children born to her parents, who were strict, overbearing, and deeply religious. Growing up, she felt trapped and suffocated by their rules and expectations. Her parents never allowed her to attend social events or spend time with friends outside of church-related activities.

One evening, Jessica heard about a party that her classmates were planning to attend. She knew that her parents would never let her go, but she couldn't resist the temptation to experience a taste of the outside world. So, she made a bold decision to sneak out and attend the party without their knowledge.

As she was getting ready, she felt a mix of excitement and fear, knowing that if she was caught, the consequences would be severe. She put on her best dress and slipped out of her window, hoping to go unnoticed.

She hadn't thought any of this through as she made her way down the dark street. She had a mix of excitement and fear as she walked. She just knew that today would change everything for her.

A cold breeze brushed her skin and when she turned a gasp left her mouth. A tall blonde-haired man stood before her. He looked like a damn Viking. Before she could react, he touched her shoulder and spoke smoothly.

"You were a hard person to find, Jessica." He stared at her as her eyes got wide.

"What are you?" Her voice trembled.

"That doesn't matter, what does is this. You are going to head home and listen to your parents. These streets are not safe for you." His fangs descended and she gasped loudly. "Do you understand?"

"You're a vampire?" Her eyes got wide. She had only seen vampires in the news, never in person.

"And what is it that we eat?" He closed in the distance, and she sucked in a deep breath. "Go home Jessica and don't look back."

She was frozen with fear as she looked at him but then he felt something familiar and when he turned, he saw Godric standing there. Jessica took the opportunity to run away.

"You came." Eric felt overwhelmed with emotion as he looked at his maker. Images of his death raced through his mind.

Godric looked at him perplexed. "There is something different about you."

Eric wiped a lone red tear from his cheek quickly. "I need your help."

"You've done something." Godric cocked his head and then his eyes got wide as he watched images pass through Eric's mind. "You shouldn't have called me." He had a look of fear in his eyes. He could see images of death and destruction. Ones he didn't understand but he had been around long enough to know that Eric had meddled in something that was much larger than them. He backed up. "What have you done my son?"

"I can explain. I just…I needed to see you again." Eric couldn't hold back his emotion any longer as he fell to his knees and began to sob uncontrollably.

"No. I don't know what this is, but it isn't right. I can't be here." He began to back up more as Eric's mind filled his with more vivid images of a future of destruction. "STOP! No more!" He yelled as Eric looked up at him. Blood-red tears streaked down his face.

Eric stood quickly and neared Godric.

"Just stay back." Godric tried to shake the images out of his head, but their connection was so strong that it was nearly impossible.

"I need your help." Eric pleaded.

"No, whatever you are involved with. I will have no part of it." Godric had such a look of disappointment in his eyes that it weighed heavy on Eric.

"It's not what you think." Eric tried to state his case.

"There is dark magic all around you." Godric shook his head. "You are interfering with things that you have no right to mess with."

"The world is going to end." Eric blurted out.

"I don't want to hear anymore. You shouldn't have called me." He continued to back up.

"Please Godric. You are all I have. I trust no one else with this."

"No. I can't. I won't. Say no more."

"I can't lose you again!" Eric yelled as he grabbed Godric's arm and images raced past once more.

"I can't accept this. It's insanity." Eric pleaded with tears running down his face as they stood on the rooftop.

"Our mere existence is insanity. We don't belong here."

"But we are here!" Eric yelled.

"It's not right. We're not right."

"You taught me there is no right or wrong. Only survival or death." Eric stepped closer to him.

"I told a lie as it turns out," Godric spoke softly.

"I will keep you alive by force," Eric warned.

"Even if you could, why would you be so cruel."

They began to speak in another language as Eric became overwhelmed with emotion and fell to his knees.

"STOP!" Godric pulled his arm back and gasped in shock.

"You threw your life away once. I won't allow it to happen again." Eric yelled.

"You have shown me things that no one should ever see." Godric shook his head as realization began to fill his mind.

"The world as we know it is about to be no more. I am trying to fix things."

"Don't you get it, Eric! Just by you bringing me here and showing me…" His voice trailed as fear crossed his features. "No. This is wrong."

"You once told me we had to fight for our survival. This is it. The clock is ticking away."

"I was a fool." Godric began to pace. "Just you being here changes everything." He looked back over at Eric. "You have no idea what you have done." Moments later he was gone.

"No! Godric! Come back! I need you!" Eric yelled furiously at the night sky! He would find a way to make Godric understand. He had to. He quickly took off to deal with his next issue, a man by the name of Rene Lenier.

Drew Marshall was a troubled man with a dark past. He grew up in Virginia with his mother and sister. His father died when he was young, leaving them in a tough financial situation. He always felt like he had to be the man of the house and take care of his family.

When he was a teenager, his sister Cindy became involved with a vampire. He didn't approve of the relationship and was convinced that his sister had been compelled by the fanger. During an argument gone awry, he killed her by accident but it sparked something sinister inside him.

From that moment on, he developed a deep hatred for vampires and became determined to protect his family and town from them. He believed that vampires were dangerous and couldn't be trusted. After his mother's tragic passing of a heart attack, he was convinced that the fangers had something to do with it. He moved to BonTemps and changed his name to Rene. There he met Arlene and began a life with her.

Unbeknownst to her, Rene had become involved with the Fellowship of the Sun, a radical anti-vampire group. He saw them as a way to finally get revenge on the vampires that had destroyed his family. Rene became one of their most dedicated members, willing to do whatever it takes to eradicate the vampire threat and those that were fond of the disgusting creatures of the night. Maudette and Dawn were the beginning of his descent into darkness but there was more work to be done.

Rumors had been circulating that Sookie herself was becoming involved with vampire Bill. She reminded him so much of his sister. He wanted to save her from herself. He wanted to make a difference. This time he wouldn't let it get out of hand.

Filled with delusions and horrifying images of his dead sister he went to make things right once and for all. He had convinced himself that it was a vampire that killed Cindy and not his own bare hands. He lurked outside Sookie's home in the darkness. His mind playing tricks on him as he tried to think of a way to keep her safe. The sight of car lights coming down the driveway made him crouch down in some nearby bushes. He watched as Sookie got out of her car.

Meanwhile, Eric moved around the small home owned by Arlene. He was waiting for the perfect opportunity to grab Rene and end his worthless life. His mind was still overwhelmed with Godric and how he just took off. He would make him understand and perhaps save him in the process. He watched as Arlene put her small kids to bed.

He hated to admit it but he was jealous of the humans. They seemed to have it all. They carried on with their short lives without a care in the world. He wanted that kind of freedom, and he wanted it with Sookie. He imagined what that life could look like. If he could walk in the sun with her and maybe even have a family of their own. He had come a long way from the selfish vampire he used to be.

As he waited for Rene to get home something changed in the air. He inhaled deeply, smelling something overwhelming. Blood. A lot of blood. His instincts took over as he followed the scent and his eyes got wide when he saw where it led him. Sookie's place. He could hear a struggle happening out back and he got there as fast as he could. For a moment he couldn't move as he watched Rene stab her once more on her small frame. Blood soaked the ground as she cried and tried to fight back. Seconds later he was snapping Rene's neck as he fell lifelessly on the ground. The outside light came on as he hovered over Sookie's bleeding body.

"Sookie!" Her grandmother cried out and then her eyes got wide with fear as she saw Eric covered in blood next to her. She ran back inside as Eric cradled Sookie in his arms. Her breathing was erratic as she stared up at him with scared and confused eyes. He fed her his blood without thinking of the consequences. Moments later the door opened, and a shot rang out in the night. It hit him in the shoulder and he fell backward. Sookie gasped loudly as she began to come around and then the sound of sirens was heard. By the time she sat up, all she saw was Rene's lifeless body on the ground and her grandmother holding a shotgun with shaky hands. "Sookie!" She cried out as she ran to her.

Eric watched from the shadows and then took off before the cops arrived.

Sookie hated being the center of attention as the police officers questioned her.

"I saw that vampire. He was attacking her, right here. In our own yard." Her Gran spoke with a shaky voice.

"He didn't attack me. It was Rene. He was acting crazy." Sookie spoke up as they all looked at her.

"Now why would Rene attack you." Andy shook his head in disbelief. "It's these goddamn vampires!"

"Will you listen to me; he didn't do anything wrong. He…He saved me." The words even surprised her. Eric had saved and she didn't quite understand why or how. They all looked at her with wide eyes. "Rene was delusional. I think he killed Maudette and Dawn. He kept on going on about them."

"A vampire saving a human?" Andy scoffed.

"Honey is that what happened?" Her Gran looked at her with wide eyes and Sookie nodded. "If Sookie here says that a vampire helped her then I believe her."

"You said yourself that you saw him covered in her blood." Andy rolled his eyes.

"Because Rene was stabbing me. I was dying." Sookie looked down at her blue dress which now had blood all over it as well as holes. This had been her favorite dress.

She could hear all their thoughts filling her head.

"A vampire saving a human?"

"Sookie Stackhouse is officially Sookie Crazyhouse."

"Can you all just stop for a minute!" Sookie yelled out as they all looked at her. She hated the looks she got. They thought she had lost her mind. She stood up and wiped the blood from her hands onto her dress. "This is the man you want. This is the monster." She pointed at Rene's lifeless body and then she kicked the knife. "I am sure if you test the DNA on the knife, you will find his handprints."

"But if he stabbed you?" Andy blinked in shock.

"I'm fine and if you don't mind I would very much like to go inside and take a shower."

"You heard Sookie. You do what you need to out here. Come on honey." Her Gran took her by the arm, and they walked inside.

For the first time in less than a month, she had been saved by two vampires. First Bill and now Eric. She honestly didn't know what to think at this point. All she did know was that there was more to Eric than meets the eye.