Chapter Seventeen

Sookie watched as the blood rinsed off her body and down the drain. The realization of what happened had her shaking as tears pierced her eyes.

She could have died, and she was sure that maybe she did for a moment but then Eric was there. He had saved her.

"I would do it all again too." His voice came up from behind her and she turned slowly to face him. He stood naked before her. His body was that of a god. She felt at ease with him. She felt safe.

"Is this real?" She reached out and touched his cool muscular skin.

"As real as you want it to be." He closed in the distance and wrapped his hand around her back, drawing her close. She sucked in a shaky breath as the peaks of her nipples crushed into his broad chest. "All you have to do is say the words. Say you'll be mine." His mouth moved close to her and before she could say anything her bathroom door burst open as Jason came in.

"Sook!" He was frantic as she peeked her head out from behind the shower curtain. She had been daydreaming about Eric and her heart raced heavily.

"Jason, what the hell!"

"Gran called me. Is it true? Rene tried to kill you?" He walked closer to the curtain, and she rolled her eyes.

"Can I finish my shower?"

"Oh. Yeah." He turned quickly. "Hurry though. I will be downstairs." He left and she sighed heavily. She looked back at her empty shower. Part of her felt sad that Eric wasn't there and then she thought about Bill. She shook the thoughts from her head.

Within hours all of BonTemp was absolutely buzzing with the news of Sookie and Rene. Reporters lined up outside her home and she couldn't even leave to go to work.

"This is bullshit. Look at them out there acting like a bunch of vultures!" Jason opened the door and cursed at them.

"Jason!" Gran gasped. "There is no need for that kind of language in this house."

"But look at them. It's like they can't get enough." He slammed the door. "The cops can't do anything to stop this?"

"It's fine. They will eventually find something else to obsess over." Sookie added.

"You shouldn't be going to work today anyways with everything that you have been through." Her Gran spoke with concern. "Are you sure you don't want to get checked out at the hospital?"

"I am with Gran on this one. I mean he tried to kill you. You said he stabbed you and yet you don't have a mark on you." Jason walked over to her.

"I can't explain it. It's the vampire blood."

"I hate that the fanger got his paws on you." Jason huffed with annoyance.

"He saved me, Jason." She sighed.

"Yeah, well I still don't like it." He began to pace. "I mean how did he even know that Rene was planning something? It ain't right."

Sookie had questions too. Ones that she didn't have any answers for. She wasn't about to go into detail with them now about the healing properties of blood. She barely understood it herself. The sound of a commotion outside had them all look as Tara could be heard yelling.

"Get out of here! All of you!" She yelled as she ran up to the door and quickly got inside. "Sook! I came as soon as I heard." She rushed over to her, and they hugged. "Are you ok?" She pulled back and looked her over.

"I'm fine. I swear." Sookie forced a smile.

"We might as well eat." Gran began to put pancakes on the table.

As the hours went on, the reporters began to leave.

Sookie and Tara took the time to reminisce with stories of their childhood.

"Do you remember when we were younger, and we used to make mud pies?" Tara grinned.

"We used to pretend that we had our very own bakery." Sookie smiled softly.

"I hate to break it to you ladies, but those pies were disgusting and tasted like shit." Jason came into the room with a beer in his hand.

"They were mud pies." Tara rolled her eyes.

"Yeah well, I don't know why anyone would want to make a bakery full of them." He sat on the couch between them and put his booted feet up on the table. Both girls began to laugh.

"I wish we could be little like that again. Everything was so much easier." Sookie sighed.

"Not me. My mama made my childhood awful." Tara added.

"You do have a bad mom." Jason agreed.

"Hey!" Sookie looked at him.

"What? It's true." Jason shrugged.

"He's right Sook. My mama is nothing but a drunk. Always have been, always will be." Tara shook her head and then took the beer bottle from Jason. She took a big swig out of it. "And now we have to deal with these fucking fangers out there. I still can't believe they found that bloodsucker trying to finish you off."

"He wasn't trying to finish me off." Sookie stood up now.

"I still don't trust em. Hell, they ain't even alive." Jason shivered at the thought.

"Amen to that," Tara smirked.

"Listen I think I am just going to lie down and forget about this day." Sookie faked a yawn. She wanted to go see Eric. She needed to get answers, but she knew they wouldn't understand why. "Do you think you can stop by Merlotte's and see if Sam needs help? He is short a few waitresses now."

"If you think I am going to wait on some tables then you have another thing coming, Sook." Tara rolled her eyes.

"I am not asking you to cover my shift. I'm just saying he could probably use some nice thoughts." Sookie forced a smile.

"Sook is right. We should stop by plus if the reporters went there then it will be a madhouse." Jason stood and now Tara did. "I'll drive." He grabbed the beer from her and downed it.

"Actually, I'll drive." Tara rolled her eyes and then she walked over to Sookie. "You sure you are going to be ok?"

"Yeah. I'm just tired."

"Well, I am only a call away, ok." Tara hugged her.

She watched as they left and then she was getting in her car. It would be nightfall soon and she had questions that needed to be answered.

She sat in the parking lot of Fangtasia. Her mind was racing with images and thoughts of him. She remembered this very thing happening when she had fed off Bill nearly a month ago, but this felt even more intense. Was it because of his age? She didn't know. She couldn't get the image of him leaning over her bleeding body. The way he looked at her wasn't just one of concern. It was love or at least what she assumed to be love.

Sookie had never been in love in her twenty-four years on this earth. She had never even gotten close. If anything she avoided men like the plague. Being able to read minds was a curse as much as a blessing. Guys always had one thing on their minds. She had just about written off men altogether when she had met Bill. Not being able to hear a vampire's mind was evening the playing field. It was addicting to be around.

As it began to get dark, she felt her anxiety get the best of her. Maybe showing up there was a bad idea and potentially a dangerous one.

"Just go inside. I won't bite. Much." Eric sat next to her in the passenger seat, and she swallowed hard.

"I'm hallucinating again, aren't I?"

"You need to just go inside and tell me what you're feeling. I know you feel it." He smirked.

"I don't even know you like that." She sighed.

"And yet here you are?" He leaned over to her. "You know you want me, Sookie. My hand touching you. The way my tongue would feel against your skin. My cock inside you."

"You don't have to talk nasty."

"Hey, this is your hallucination." He smirked. "When was the last time you let yourself just feel?"

"I'm with Bill. I care about Bill. I shouldn't be here. This is stupid."

"You know Bill doesn't excite you, not anymore."

"Bill is a great man."

"But…" He raised an eyebrow. "You got all dressed up for me."

"I just threw something on." She looked down at her red checkered sun dress.

"You want me to see you, really see you and I do." He licked his lips and ran his hand up her bare thigh. She sucked in a shuddering breath as she looked over at him. He was so close now. She closed her eyes as her mouth moved towards his but then a car horn honked loudly, and it snapped her out of her thoughts. Her heart raced as she looked at the empty passenger seat.

"Get a grip, Sookie." She whispered to herself.

Sookie was never one to make reckless choices, but this was crazy. She watched as vampires and humans alike walked into the club. The parking lot was soon filled with patrons. She sucked in a deep breath and made her way inside. She had already been to Fangtasia, but it was still a jarring experience. Half-naked people dancing around poles and others damn near having sex in the booths.

"Well, well. Look who it is, again…" Pam looked her up and down as she rolled her eyes.

Sookie looked around. "I need to see Mr. Northman, again."

"ID." Pam put her hand out.

"I'm sorry, what?" Sookie brought her attention back to the tall blonde.

"I need to see your ID. I can no longer decipher humans' ages."

Sookie sighed and pulled out her license. "I'm twenty-four by the way."

"A baby by vampire standards." She looked over the ID and then handed it back. "What is your business with Mr. Northman?"

Sookie stood there in shock. She didn't know what to say but then he walked over. He was wearing a grey suit with a black button-down shirt. He looked ridiculously handsome, and she flushed as Pam rolled her eyes. She looked over at him.

"Sookie, I wasn't expecting to see you this early." His gaze moved slowly up her body. He had slept like shit during the day. His mind was on her. He was worried about her. Pam continued to look between them suspiciously. "Let's go to my office." He led the way as she followed. She was even more nervous now seeing him. "Are you ok?" He asked as he closed the door behind them.

"Yeah. Um. Good as new." She swallowed hard.

"When I saw you there on the ground and what he did to you." A mix of anger and concern passed through his eyes, and he reached out to touch her face.

Her phone began to ring, and she quickly looked down as she rummaged through her purse. He backed up and ran his hand through his hair. She missed the call and saw it was Bill. She swallowed the lump in her throat. She would call him back. She put the phone back in her bag.

"Actually, that is why I came by. I wanted to say…Thank you."

"You don't ever need to thank me, Sookie." He turned from her and walked over to his desk. He suddenly felt nervous being around her. It was an odd feeling.

"You saved me. How did you know?"

He looked over at her now. "I was um, in town and I smelled blood."

"Oh." Her mouth got dry as she looked at him.

"I followed it and saw you."

"Rene was the one who murdered those women. Did you know?" She had so many questions.

"No. Coincidence." He lied.

There was something behind his words that Sookie didn't believe but she didn't push it either. "Well if it wasn't for you, I would be dead."

Eric went to reply back but a commotion was heard in the club. He quickly got over to the door as yelling continued.

Bill stormed over. "What the fuck did you do!"

"Bill, what a pleasant surprise." Eric rolled his eyes.

"There are rumors swirling around about you and Sookie."

"There are? I didn't hear anything." Eric smirked.

"If you did something to her!" Bill got in front of him.

"I'm fine." Sookie stepped out of the office and Eric moved aside. He had a shit-eating grin on his face.

"Are you ok? I heard what happened. I wanted to come sooner but the sun." Bill looked her over and she swallowed hard.

"Eric um, saved me." She looked between the two of them.

"Can you excuse us for a moment?" Bill was furious as he tried to keep it under wraps.

"Have a drink at the bar. I hear we make great margaritas." Eric smiled at her as Bill walked into his office and the door closed.

"You are with Bill Compton, aren't you?" Pam walked over to her, and Sookie smiled nervously. "Interesting."

"What the hell are you playing at here? First, you send me on a wild goose chase to the queen, and now this?" Bill was seething.

"Whatever do you mean, Bill? Drink?" Eric walked across his office, but Bill got in front of him.

"I want you to stay the hell away from Sookie." He warned.

Eric looked him up and down. "Should I remind you who you are talking to?" His voice was icy.

"Sookie is mine." Bill barred his fangs.

"You keep telling yourself that," Eric smirked.

A knock on the door alerted them both and then Pam was walking in. She had a grin on her face. "You're popular tonight." She looked at Eric and then his eyes got wide as Jessica came into view.

"I need to talk to you." Jessica walked into his office and then looked at Bill.

"Just stay away from her." Bill snapped as he walked out of the office.

"What are you doing here?" He was shocked to see Jessica. He had compelled her. Why the hell was she there?

Bill made his way up to the bar as Sookie swirled her drink.

"Are you sure you're, ok?" He smiled softly.

"Yeah, I um. I only came by to thank him." She suddenly felt guilty for being there.

"I tried calling." Bill looked conflicted and she swallowed hard. "You know what, it's fine. Let's get out of here."

"Sure." She placed her drink down and then glanced at Eric's office. His door was closed now. She quickly left with Bill.

Pam looked between Eric and Jessica.

"Give us a moment." Eric looked at Pam.

She rolled her eyes and walked back to the door. "You're no fun."

As soon as she left, Eric got right in front of Jessica. She gasped as she looked up at him. "You shouldn't have come here."

"I know I just. I couldn't stop thinking about you." She swallowed hard.

"You need to leave and never come back." He locked eyes with her, but she just stared at him. "You do understand. You need to leave now." He couldn't comprehend why his compulsion wasn't working.

"I know I should, but I want you to change me. I want to be a vampire." Her eyes pleaded with him.

"What? No. That's not how this works. You need to leave, right now." He raised his voice.

"I hate my life ok. I hate it so much. Please you have to help me." Jessica begged.

"What the fuck?" He stepped back from her and ran his hand through his hair.

"I ain't never met a vampire before."

"I'm not turning you into a vampire and if you know what is good for you, then you will leave and never look back." She began to cry as he turned. "What are you doing? Why are you crying?" He began to get freaked out.

"It's just I hate everything and I really think I could be good at being a vampire." She cried.

He began to laugh sarcastically.

"Why are you laughing?" She sniffed as she wiped her eyes.

"It's just ironic, that's all." He couldn't believe this was happening. "But still, I can't help you."

"Fine. I am sure I can find someone in there that will turn me." She stood up defiantly.

"I can't fucking believe this right now." He walked past her. "Just get out."

"You're really going to turn me away?" She asked in shock.

"I don't have time for this. If you want to be a vampire, then so be it. Have at it." He opened his office door and looked towards the bar. "Fuck." He huffed angrily. Sookie had already left.

"I'm not going to stop asking you. I will come back every day if I have to. I will show you that I want this!" Jessica began to storm away but then he got an idea.

"Wait. There might be something you can do to get into my good graces."

She quickly walked back over to him. "Anything."

Meanwhile, the car ride with Bill and Sookie was growing uncomfortable by the second.

"I'm very glad you are ok." Bill finally spoke as he smiled softly at her. "Would you like to talk about it?"

"Not really. I would rather pretend it never happened." It wasn't just that she didn't want to relive being stabbed repeatedly, it was more than she didn't want to think about Eric again.

"How much of his blood did you have?"

She looked at him now as she drove. "I'm not quite sure. I was out of it with the stabbings and all."

"I hate that this happened to you. I wish I was there." Grief filled his voice.

"But I am fine now. Good as new." She smiled nervously.

"I should have warned you about him."

"Warn me about who? Rene?" She looked at him with confusion.

"Eric. He's um, one of the oldest vampires in the world but he is also the most dangerous." He looked out the window with a pained look. "He doesn't do anything by accident." She turned toward him. "I think he may have planned the attack."

"What? Why?" She would not allow herself to believe that. It made no sense.

"Isn't it obvious?" He couldn't hide the anger on his face. "He has set his eyes on you and now that you have his blood in your system." He quickly looked away as his fangs threatened to descend.

"He barely knows me. That's crazy to think…"

"He will be able to sense your emotions." He looked at her again. "His blood will affect you. You will start dreaming of him if you haven't already started."

She swallowed hard now. Guilt filled her.

"He is used to getting what he wants."

She laughed nervously. "Well, I'm with you, so…"

"I should have been there." He sighed heavily.

Sookie pulled up to his place and put the car in park. The air around them got awkward.

"I care about you, Sookie. More than anyone."

"I care about you too." She reached out and touched his arm. He took her hand into his and kissed the top of it.

"This is adorable." She glanced at the backseat as Eric sat there.

"I would do anything to keep you safe, Sookie." Bill looked at her lovingly.

"God he is really a pussy." Eric laughed and she tried to ignore her backseat hallucination. "Are you really just going to drag him along? It's kind of cruel."

"And I am going to be just fine. Just because I had a little of his blood doesn't change anything." She forced a smile at Bill.

"Liar, liar pants on fire," Eric smirked as he leaned in closer.

"I just hate that he is trying to use you as a pawn in his little game." Bill turned more and stared at her. "I would invite you in but it's probably best to leave things be for tonight." She nodded her head in agreement. "I will call you tomorrow?"

"I would like that."

He kissed her hand once more and then he got out of the car. She walked him walk inside and sighed heavily.

"He is so noble and such a fool." Eric shook his head.

"I know you're not real." She began to drive back to her place.

"I would have never just let you leave. Bill has no backbone. Not one dominant bone in his weak little body."

"You're not helping the situation, Eric." She turned up the radio and began to blast it.

"I'm only here because deep down you want me here." Eric was in the passenger seat now, but she refused to look at him as she drove.

"It's just your blood talking. In a few days, it will die down."

"You've never had blood like mine before." He licked his lips, and she ignored him.

She pulled into the driveway and quickly got out. She was going to lose her mind if she was going to be thinking about him twenty-four-seven.

"Sookie." His voice called out from behind her.

She turned quickly and huffed. "Listen, you can hound me all you want it won't change anything! So just take your ridiculously sexy ass out of my head!"

"My sexy ass?" He smirked as he stepped closer to her. She could feel the change in the air.

Her eyes got wide as she watched him. "You're really here right now, aren't you?"