A while later, you wake up. When your eyes adjust to the horrible fluorescent lighting, you notice you're in Eric's room, in the basement. You're in his large coffin, and he's nowhere in sight. You reach up and touch your neck, where the vampire bit you. It's completely healed, as expected. You passed out after Eric let you drink his blood. You seem to be doing that a lot. You should carry a stake with you now, just in case. Or maybe having Eric's blood in your system will be enough. He'll know if you're ever in danger again. You sigh to yourself and start to climb out of the coffin, almost falling when you do. But you manage not to hurt yourself, mostly because of your fast reflexes.

There must be a reason why you were attacked. It didn't seem very random. It happened out of nowhere, it was like he was waiting for you. You wish Eric didn't kill him so you knew why he did that. But you're sort of glad he did, payback.

As you stand and adjust to your surroundings, you take a second to gather your thoughts. You're glad he was there to save you yesterday, and you're glad he gave you his blood too. Who knows what would've happened if he hadn't been there. You could've died. You glance around the room for a moment, taking note of all the new furniture and decorations. There's a new couch, black leather. It's nice, and you stroll over to it so you can test it. Next to the couch is a small table with an old-looking lamp on top. His bedroom feels gothic all of a sudden, if there was any pink you'd think this was Pam's room. You wonder why he changed it so much since you were in here last, maybe he's staying with someone? But you don't see anything that would indicate that. You stop in your tracks just a few feet away from the couch. There's no reason to sit down, you have to get home or Sarah will worry. At least you stopped to appreciate the decor first.

You turn around and make your way out of Eric's bedroom and through the basement, toward the stairs. As you climb the stairs, you feel your heart start to beat faster, and you don't know why. Maybe it's from the thought of possibly seeing Eric on your way out, maybe your body's trying to tell you something. Your keys are behind the bar, where Margot usually stands, so that's where you'll go first.

When you open the basement door, it's completely silent inside the bar. And when you step through the doorway and look around, you only see one person. What is Bill doing here? He's standing near the stage, staring at Eric's throne. You know he felt you look at him, but you ignore him for a moment. Instead, you head over to the bar and go behind it to get your car keys. Once you have them, you shove them into your pocket and turn around. Bill is sitting at the bar now, he must've used his vampire speed to get here. You don't understand why they do that, especially inside. And then they drive cars when they want to go far. It doesn't make any sense to you. But that doesn't matter now, the man in front of you does. What could he possibly be doing here alone?

With a deep breath, you take a few steps over to Bill, leaning against the bar and staring down at him. You don't know what to expect, it could be good news or it could be bad. You hope it's the former. Or he could be here for an entirely different reason. There's no telling. His face gives nothing away, he seems impassive.

"What are you doing here Bill?" You ask, looking at him with suspicion clear in your eyes. There can't be any good reason for him to be here.

"I heard about what happened," He says, pointing at you. You know what he means, you're still wearing the same clothes from earlier. You're glad nobody changed you or anything, that'd be weird and embarrassing. A general invasion of privacy, you're glad Eric didn't cross that line. You like him but you'd never be okay with that. The collar of your shirt is caked in dry blood, it flakes off and lands on the floor. Your hair also has dry blood in it, and you don't want to run your fingers through it because you know it'll hurt. You suppose he'll want a blood bag.

You just hum and turn around, walking over to the fridge a few feet away. That's where they keep blood, and they have extra downstairs in the basement in a deep freezer. As you grab a blood bag from the fridge, you feel his eyes on you, "What do you prefer?" You ask without looking at him, hand hovering over one of the bags. They have every type of blood, A, O, B, regular, positive, and negative. Every vampire has a type they prefer, Bill included.

"I'm not hungry." He brushes you off. You ignore him and grab a bag at random, closing the fridge and turning around. He's looking down at his hands that are resting on the table.

"Liar," You comment, grabbing a glass from under the bar and setting it down. Bill doesn't respond, and you let out a sigh and start pouring the blood into the glass. The glass is just large enough to contain the blood, you're glad. Of course, he's hungry, why wouldn't he be? And seeing you covered in your blood probably didn't help. It being dry doesn't matter, he can still smell it.

You turn around again to put the glass in the microwave for 15 seconds. You don't turn again until the glass is warm and out of the microwave. When you do, you slide it across the bar and over to him. You won't tell him to drink it, he'll do it. And he does. It feels creepy to watch him do this, but you do it anyway. You want to know why he's here, he already told you but he hasn't left or said anything else. So there's another reason for him being here. You just wonder why he's here and Eric isn't. Pam isn't even here, you haven't seen her tonight at all.

After he finishes his glass, he lets out a satisfied sigh and glances up at you, "I have something to offer you," He says, putting the glass down closer to you. He sets his arms on the bar casually, a determined look on his face. You raise an eyebrow, surprised by this. What could he have that you would want? His words linger in the air for a few moments, and you can't help feeling cautious. Bill and Eric have both warned you about each other.

"What is it?" You ask, leaning closer to him. You can't help being curious. But still, you're expecting the worst. He probably wants to turn you into a vampire or something so you don't almost die again. That's what you thought would happen earlier when you almost died. That's the only thing you think it could be.

"Drink my blood," He starts, adjusting his position on the stool, "You'll never be attacked again if I know where you are." He says with a shrug. You listen to him, taking a few minutes to answer. When you process what he said in your brain, you don't think it's a good idea. You already have Eric's blood in your system, that would only complicate things. You don't need him to know where you are at all times. And you certainly don't want any sex dreams featuring him. And Eric could reach you faster than Bill, he lives closer to you. Unless he suddenly moved to Shreveport.

You lean away from him and furrow your brows. What would he gain from this? There's no reason for him to be offering this, it doesn't benefit him. You're already connected to Eric, you don't need a bond with another vampire.

"No, but thanks for offering." That is all you say, crossing your arms and looking down at the southern vampire. You genuinely don't want his blood, you doubt it tastes as good as Eric's, and you just don't want him to know where you're at. It's strange and even the thought of it sends a shiver down your spine. You really are grateful that he offered, but you'll pass. If you didn't have Eric's blood in your system, you might've said yes.

Bill looks disappointed, but he doesn't seem like he'd force you into it, "Well if you change my mind, I'll be around." He says with a shrug, resting his chin on his palm. You nod at him, appreciating his concern. You suppose you'd call him a friend at this point, you hope he would return that sentiment, but you won't be asking.

"I'll keep that in mind," You say, grabbing his empty glass and turning away from him to walk over to the sink. Because Margot is gone, for whatever reason, you have to wash the glass and wipe the bar down with a rag or something. You don't mind, it's just like being at LeBlanc's, you miss that place. There aren't any vampires lurking in the parking lot to attack you, it's peaceful. It was until Bill made his presence known. You're surprised he didn't tell you about himself sooner, he waited an entire month. And he hasn't impacted your life very much since, "Do you mind leaving? I gotta close this place." You say, turning the hot water on. You don't hear him reply, but you hear a door close so you know he's gone.

After finishing the dishes and wiping the bar down, you take a glance at a clock on the wall. It's 3 am. Why isn't Eric here? Why was Bill the only one here? The bar closes at 2, so they should all still be here. Did something happen to them? You're relieved that you have the place to yourself, it's nice when it's quiet. But you're concerned still. You duck down and grab your car keys off of a shelf under the bar, twirling them around your fingers and shoving them into your pocket.

When you round the bar and head over to the front door, you curse to yourself. You forgot to turn the lights off in Eric's room. You'll have to go back down to the basement. You let out a frustrated sigh and turn around to stroll over to the basement door. It's a minor inconvenience, but you want to go home immediately. This is just the second obstacle, Bill was the first. That's why your conversation was so short, it was just tiring. Despite being unconscious for hours, you're ready to sleep all day.

As you descend the stairs and walk through the basement, you rub your arms. It's a little cold down here, but that's just what happens when you're underground. It's a little creepy with the lights off too, the only source of light is in Eric's room and near the stairs. But the dark doesn't scare you, not anymore. Not after all the times you've been attacked by vampires. More than once is too many times.

When you reach Eric's bedroom you push the door open and glance around the room. You have to appreciate the decor, he did a good job. Or maybe Pam did it for him. You're not sure, but either way, you like it a lot. You turn the light off and close the door, taking a breath before you turn around.

As you turn, you freeze in your tracks, your heart beating faster. Standing in front of you is Eric, looking down at you with an unreadable expression. He looks good, as usual. Your heart doesn't slow, to your disappointment, it honestly seems to beat faster. You're glad to see him but his presence raised a few questions. Why he wasn't here earlier, why Bill was the only one here, etc.

"Where were you? Why'd you leave me here with Bill?" You ask, a little annoyed. Being here alone with Bill was awkward, and even worse when he offered his blood. That was just strange, but you sort of understand why he did it. You just don't know why he asked knowing you drank Eric's blood earlier. He should've known you would say no.

"Bill was here? What did he want?" He asks, taking a step closer to you. His eyes narrow and he purses his lips. He seems angry, and you know why. Just the implication of Bill being in here alone with you is enough to enrage him. Your eyes widen and you back away from him, shocked at his behavior. You expected a reaction but not this. And it will get worse once he hears what Bill did. You could try lying, but your heartbeat would probably give you away. Telling the truth is the best option.

"He offered his blood, for protection y'know." You say, trying to soften the blow a little bit. It doesn't seem to help, his eyes seem to narrow even more and his nostrils flare. He takes a few more steps forward and grabs you by the shoulders, analyzing you. His grip is firm but not painful, you sort of enjoy it. And you don't know why. You can feel the anger radiating off of him, making you a little nervous.

"And what did you say?" He asks in a low growl, staring down at you. You take a deep breath, your heart beating faster because of the proximity. His being angry doesn't help. It just makes you more nervous. You'll be honest with him because there's no reason to lie. If you had drank Bill's blood, you would've lied to Eric. Or you wouldn't have brought his appearance up in the first place. You don't know why he's asking, the answer should be clear to him at this point.

You take another breath before speaking, "I told him no, of course," You say calmly, trying to keep your tone even. He knows you're nervous, but you say it with confidence so you seem calm, "I already drank your blood, I don't want any more." You try to reassure him. He loosens his grip on you but keeps his hands where they are.

"And I don't want him knowing where I'm at." You add with a weak chuckle. Eric tightens his grip on you and his eyes darken. After a moment, he lets go of you, taking a step back as he seems to regain his senses.

"I'm sorry I wasn't here, Pam and I had to take care of something." He says cryptically, crossing his arms and staring down at you with an unreadable expression. You tilt your head at him, wondering if this has anything to do with the vampire that attacked you. You stare up at him, analyzing his face to see if you can find out what he's alluding to. Obviously, you can't.

He sighs, seeming to notice your curiosity, "The vampire that attacked you was sent by somebody, and we're trying to find out who. And we don't know if it will happen again." He informs you, managing to regain the same angry expression. Your eyes widen and you feel your heart drop when he tells you this. You're relieved that he's going out of his way to protect you, with the help of Pam. But you're still afraid of what could happen if you're not careful.

You look down at your feet and then back up at him, "Can you take me home?" You ask, pulling your car keys out of your pocket. It'd be easier than him using his vampire speed to carry you home. You would have a way to get to work tomorrow if he just drove you. Eric looks down at you for a moment, considering your request. After a few seconds, he takes the keys from your outstretched hand. You feel his fingers ghost across your palm and you shiver, hoping he didn't notice. But you're sure he did, why wouldn't he?

"Sure," He answers, turning and heading toward the basement stairs. You follow him, climbing the stairs and staring at his butt through his jeans. He can probably feel it but you don't care, you just want to go home. Eric driving you home gives you a sense of security and makes you feel more comfortable. You've been in the car with him before, for a very long time. And you were able to endure that, so you don't mind this. You asked in the first place. You don't want to be attacked again, that would be disappointing. But if it did happen again, Eric would be there to save you. You know that.

Once you get in the passenger seat and Eric starts the car, there's quite a bit of tension in the air. He pulls out of the parking lot and drives down the road, looking over at you. You pretend not to notice, but you can see him in your peripheral vision. His hands tighten on the steering wheel and he pulls over to the side of the road. You glance at him, brows furrowed in confusion. He turns the car off and sits for a moment.

Suddenly he surges toward you, capturing your lips with his own in a moment of desperation. It doesn't take you long to respond, you grab his shoulders and try to pull him closer to you. His lips are warm against yours, and you feel heat spread through your stomach. That was quick. After what felt like years, you were finally kissing him. It's not like fireworks are going off or anything, but the way his hands roam your body makes you feel amazing.

You sigh against his lips, breaking the kiss for a moment so you can get closer to him. You sit on the console, leaning down to kiss him again. He pulls you off the console and into his lap, reconnecting your lips. His tongue brushes against your lips, seeking entrance. You part your lips, allowing his tongue to explore your mouth. You feel a jolt of electricity run through your body when he rubs his tongue against yours, deepening the kiss. You wrap your arms around his neck, pulling him impossibly close to you. Closer than he already was. He tastes intoxicating, and you can't get enough of him.

His hands rest on your waist and he pulls you closer, grinding the hard lump in his jeans against you. You moan against him, trembling at the thought of what's underneath his pants. Your hands move down his back, feeling the muscles underneath his shirt. He pulls away from you and his fangs drop. You know he's horny because of that and the situation in his pants. You resist the urge to grind against him once more. Instead, you tilt your head and pull your hair over your shoulder, offering your neck to him. Without exchanging any words, he leans toward you and his fangs graze your neck. You feel your heart beat faster than it was before, from excitement and anxiety.

"Relax," He says before he pierces you with his fangs, groaning as he drinks your blood. You feel his cock underneath you harden even further, and he tightens his grip on you. Surprisingly, it doesn't hurt at all. You're so shocked you almost stop feeling aroused for a moment. While you're distracted by this thought, Eric grinds up into you and you let out a whimper. He does it again and you moan this time, unabashedly.

Suddenly, Eric pulls away from you, "Someone's coming," He says, using his strength to lift you and set you down in the passenger seat. In a daze, you stare at him, lips slightly parted and red. Suddenly, you hear a knock on Eric's window. It's a police officer, he must be here to see what's happening. You hope he doesn't notice the blood on your neck. You know he will, he has a flashlight in his hand. Eric might have to glamour himself out of this situation.

Eric frowns and rolls the window down, pretending to squint at the bright light emitting from the officer's flashlight. The man flashes the light at you and you lift your hand to cover your eyes, to shield yourself from his assault on your eyes. You hear the officer gasp and he cocks the gun you didn't know he was holding.

"Sir, I need you to step out of the vehicle." He says gruffly, pointing his gun straight at Eric. You aren't afraid, you know a regular bullet can't do anything to him. What you're afraid of is the sun coming up. The last time you checked, it was about 3. And you're not sure what time it is now.

Eric stares at the man, "Put the gun down," He commands, staring into his eyes. The man does as he's told, with a blank look on his face, "Go pull someone else over you stupid fucking redneck." He spits, rolling his window up and starting the car. And without another word, he drives you back to Sarah's house.