Sookie's POV:
"Everything you need is in here, wardrobe, hair, and makeup. You can find a dress and heels that will fit you for the party in the closet. The hairstylists and makeup team are also available to help you get ready," Alexander's assistant says as he opens the door.
In the room were dozens of young women scattered doing various things to get ready for the king's party. They seemed to be on edge.
I want to wear that one! This dress makes me look so fat! I hope one of them will like me! Their various thoughts about trying to please the vampires downstairs assaulted my brain.
"Team! Listen up! We have another girl to get ready! She is new and just arrived a few minutes ago. I know that it is late but just please try your best to get her ready. Thank you!" Before I could reply, the assistant closes the door behind me.
Right away most the other girls stared at me with distain. Who is this bitch? That has to be fake hair! Noone's hair is that naturally blonde! Look at her boobs! She must've paid a fortune for that rack! I bet she puts out easily, none of them downstairs will want her…
I plastered on a smile as I gave everyone a little wave. I wasn't sure where to go first but a stylist approaches me before I could decide. She leads me to a seat in front of the row of mirrors.
"How do you want your hair?" one of them asks as a makeup artist starts applying foundation to my face.
"Curly?" I answer still unsure.
Right away, two of them started curling my hair. The wardrobe lady brings me a couple dress options. Both options showed a lot of skin. Normally I would not be caught dead wearing either. I didn't want to make a fuss, so I choose what I think was the less revealing option, a multi-coloured sequined striped dress that went to my knees. I didn't want to wear a miniskirt. I also choose black pantyhose.
"You're new here," the girl with a French accent in the seat next to me says. She was beautiful with dark brown hair and brown eyes.
I probe her mind. She is a pet of one of the sheriffs' downstairs. She knows that he's a vampire and she is wildly in love with him. I guess that was what we had in common.
"Yes, I just arrived from States. My name is Anna. Pleased to meet you," I say as I try to reach out my hand to shake hers. She just looks at my hand with a raised eyebrow. I guess she spends a lot of time with vampires. I take my hand back right away.
"My name is Dominique," she says.
"Be careful of some of these girls," she says in a low tone. "They are not to be trusted. And try and not displease the men. They can be pretty ruthless."
"Oh, I'll keep that in mind," I reply in a low tone as well.
In less than a half-hour, I was ready, thanks to the hair and make-up team.
We get called and right away all the women start hustling towards the door. I get caught up in the middle of the crowd as we line up to leave the room. We make our way down the stairs and through the corridor. The doors open for us and we are blinded by bright lights shining on us as we walk toward the center of the room. I try and look around for Eric but all I see are pale vampire males in black or brown suits. My anxiety is at an all time high as we stop and form a line in front of the vampires in the room. I could hear the sounds of hisses and murmurs as they stare at us.
Suddenly I can hear the women near me gasping as Eric starts walking towards me. Right away I feel at ease as he approaches.
He pulls me close to him as the other women and vampires watch our exchange.
"You look beautiful," Eric says gently.
"Thanks," I reply still feeling nervous.
He leads me away from the other ladies and towards a group of other vampires. As we get closer I start to recognize one of them.
Oh my god, it can't be…. I start to panic. I try to backtrack away from Marten's directions. I take a quick glance around him to see if Marius was with him.
Is he here too?! I ponder as I try harder to stop and see if my undead husband was nearby.
I could also sense that Eric was starting to feel agitated in my change of emotion.
Before I could say or do anything, Marten approaches us.
"Eric, are you going to introduce me?" Marten asks Eric. He smirked at me with the same charm and manner he had when I first met him. He was dressed in the 70s fashion. His blonde hair was styled to suit this generation. Marten had always reminded me of a California surfer with his blue eyes and boyish looks. He didn't seem to show any inclination that he knew me before now.
Eric gives me a hard look before giving him one as well. "This is Anna Kingsbury. She is mine." He grips my waist even firmer.
"Anna, this is Marten Meijer. He is from Denmark and is currently living in New York City," Eric says coldly, not taking his eyes away from Marten. It was like he was assessing his reaction to me.
"It's nice to meet you," I say loudly as I plaster on my fake, nervous smile.
"Where in the US are you from?" he asks.
"I'm from Atlanta," I respond.
"Are there anymore like her where she comes from?" he asks Eric, still smiling.
"No, she is the only one," Eric says firmly.
It was almost like deja vu.
The DJ starts playing KC and the Sunshine Band.
"Let's get this party started!" Marten says jovially. He starts dancing and looks at Eric. "Come on Eric, let's tear up this floor!"
He starts dancing his way to the centre floor as others join him.
I clap my hands. "Yes, let's dance!"
I started doing the same thing and dance toward the crowd. Eric still had a bit of a stern look on his face. I knew that he had questions as to why I had a strong reaction to Marten. I didn't feel like trying to explain my other current situation. I wasn't ready to tell him about my other life. I had no idea how I was going to tell him about my dead or rather undead husband. Though my Eric would understand, I didn't think this Eric wouldn't be so understanding.
As I continued to dance, I could tell that Eric was not in the mood. He barely swayed his body as he stared at me irritably, waiting for the song to finish. He grabbed my hands and pulled me closer to him.
"We need to talk," he says into my ear.
Before I could respond, he leads me off the floor.
"Which way is our room?" he asks one of the staff outside the hall. The staff member gives us directions to the guest room. Eric closes the door behind him. I look around the room and see our luggage on the bed, along with my satchel bag.
"How do you know Meijer?!" Eric says as he stares down at me closely.
I take a huge nervous gulp.
"I knew him from my time period. I only knew him briefly and met him a few times. That is all," I stammer.
"What do you mean you knew him?"
I sigh. "Like I said, I only met him a few times, before he…. Before he was killed."
Eric takes a step back from me. He stares at me for what seemed like forever. "He was killed? How?"
"An old, ancient, vampire witch cursed him," I respond gently. "You introduced us first though. I could tell that you two were close friends, if vampires had close friends, that is."
He ponders what I say briefly before asking harshly, "But why were you so hesitant to meet him? Did you fuck him?!"
"What?! No! No!," I exclaim. "It's nothing like that!"
"Then why?!"
I take a few deep breaths as I closed my eyes. Shit, I had to tell him. I knew that Eric was not going to stop until he knew the truth and that he wasn't going to take it well.
"I knew his maker," I say as calm as possible.
"His maker? Marius?" Eric responds.
"Yes." I start to fidget my fingers. "Marius was my husband."
Eric stares at me, shocked. He starts looking around the room as though he expected Marius to pop out of somewhere.
"I guess I panicked a little because I thought that he would be here with Marten," I tell Eric.
Eric still doesn't respond.
"I don't think he's here though, if that's what you were wondering," I say, trying to improve Eric's mood.
"How do you know what I'm wondering," he sneers. "Is that why you're here? You said that vampires are in danger in your future. Are you here to save him?"
"No! I did tell you the truth, I am here for you. Yes, Marius died from the virus three years ago, but my first and only thought was to save you!" I don't think he believed me. I could tell from the look on his face that he was close to snapping.
"Eric, you have to understand that our relationship has always been complicated. We have had so many ups and downs. We were bonded for a time but then something happened that made us go in separate directions. I met Marius and we fell in love and got married. You became King of Louisiana and you even married twice to two vampire queens!"
I didn't know how me telling him key moments from the future was going to affect the timeline, but I didn't care at the moment. I just wanted to calm Eric down.
"I married vampire queens? I would never lower myself to marry anyone much less a Fae human and two queens!" he says rather coarsely.
Ouch! I guess I deserved that, but it still cut me like a knife.
"I'm sorry Eric. I know it sounds like an awful situation. I mean there have been many times where I have felt like nothing but a burden to you. I got us into trouble so many times. Maybe it's best that you know now so that you don't have to go through this and can just steer clear of me when you meet me in the future," I say to him sadly.
I felt like crying. I wanted to go home. I wanted my Eric to reassure me that he loved me and cared for me. But then I thought I might have altered the future just now and maybe Eric wouldn't even be there to greet me when I went back. I suddenly felt lonely as I held back my tears.
I needed to sit down so I sit on the bed. I didn't know what Eric was going say and do right now.
Just then, someone knocks on the door.
Eric goes to the door and opens it.
"What!" he somewhat yells at the startled assistant who helped us when we first arrived.
"Pardon my interruption, but Mister Karlsson requests your presence downstairs for tonight's entertainment which is about to begin shortly."
He scurries away quickly.
"We will go downstairs for this 'entertainment'. Then afterwards, I will let you know what I intend to do next," Eric says in a not-so positive tone.
He's going to leave me! I think sadly to myself. I try harder to fight back the tears. I grab my bag and get my purse that contained the king's letter. I get up from the bed and walk towards him. This wasn't the time to fall apart. I still had a mission. I still needed to give the king of Sweden his letter.
We walk silently back downstairs and to the hall. There are round tables and chairs facing the stage. On the stage were a band that consisted of guitarists, a keyboard and a drummer.
"Northman! I saved you two a seat!" Marten yells from one of the tables near the front.
Eric leads me to the table and pulls out the chair for me to sit down.
At the table, we were joined by Alexander and his companion. Marten now had a companion sitting beside him who almost resembled me. I give her a small smile as she gives me a little wave.
I probe her mind. She was thinking in a Dutch dialect.
"Are we going to listen to a live band?" I ask Alexander.
"Sort of, Miss Kingsbury," Alexander smiles. "My friends and associates and I enjoy another form of entertainment, karaoke. The band can play many different songs. I hope you can sing as well as you can dance."
"Oh!," I exclaim.
"I am definitely not a good singer at all," I laugh. "You would not find my singing enjoyable."
"That's too bad Miss Kingsbury," Marten responds heartily. "I guess I will be the first one up tonight Alex."
Marten gets up from his seat and saunters up to the stage. He briefly talks to the band about his song choice before grabbing a guitar and going up to the mic.
"I would like to dedicate this song to a new acquaintance, the lovely Miss Anna Kingsbury."
I feel my cheeks flush as the other people in the room stare at me.
The band starts playing an Eagles song. Marten starts playing the guitar and sings. I had never heard him sing before. His vocals were amazing. His voice was so smooth and so in tune with the music. Despite the fact that I was feeling glum with what was going on between me and Eric, I enjoyed Marten's performance.
The audience claps heartily after his performance. Everyone but Eric, that is.
"Thank you!" Marten says to the audience as he gets off the stage.
Soon another vampire takes the stage and prepares a new song. Marten comes back and takes his seat.
"Did you like my song choice Miss?" he asks me.
"You are a very good singer," I smile.
"What are your plans after this Meijer?" Eric asks him hastily.
Marten looks at Eric. "Probably just going to relax in my room after this with my date." He pats her on the thigh. "In a few days I will heading to Monaco for Pamela's gala. She invited me. She mentioned that you were going to be there too."
We all look at Eric.
"Yes, she is expecting me to be there," he replies flatly.
Marten looks at me and Eric. He probably sensed the tension between us. You couldn't cut it with a knife.
"Well I think it's time for me to take my leave," he says to us as he nods his head to Alexander. "I will see all of you tomorrow night."
We sit there a little while longer listening to more performances. I wasn't really listening. My mind was all over the place.
"We will take our leave as well Karlsson," Eric says abruptly to the king.
"Yes, I think I will retire shortly too, Goodnight Northman and Miss Kingsbury," Alexander says.
"Goodnight," I respond. Now was not the time to give the letter to him. Eric was already too much in a bad mood.
We head back up to our room. I slipped off my heels and sit on the bed. I was dead tired but I knew that Eric and I needed to hash everything out first.
"Come here," Eric says to me.
I look up at him as he stands near the window. I didn't want to get up but I oblige him.
He puts his hand underneath my chin as we in each others' eyes.
"I have lived for over a thousand years. Right now, every fibre of my being is telling me that you are trouble, that you are a threat to me. The more time that I spend with you, the more risk I put myself in. The logical thing for me to do is to leave right now and to never see you again."
Yep, he's leaving me. A single tear slides down my cheek. He catches it with his finger and pops it into his mouth.
"I do not like making you feel this way," Eric says carefully.
More tears fall from my cheeks. "I'm so sorry Eric. I….. I love you so much," I cry softly as I hold onto his upper arms.
Suddenly, I start glowing blue. The glow spreads to him as well, which surprises him. His look softens as the glow diminishes.
"Your fae heritage?" he asks.
I sniffle as I nod.
He goes to the nightstand and grabs the box of Kleenex. He takes a few and gently pats underneath my eyes and cheeks.
"I must look like a mess," I whisper. I was pretty sure mascara was running down my cheeks.
"You look beautiful. You will always be beautiful to me," Eric says gently. "You must be tired. I will lay down with you if you do not mind."
"I would like that," I smile though my tears. I go into the bathroom and take care of my needs. I wash off the makeup and take off my dress and undergarments. I leave my panty on. There was a white robe hanging, so I put it on.
When I come out, Eric is laying on the bed, nude of course, underneath the blanket.
"Tell me about us in your future," he says as I lay down beside him, facing him.
"Like I said, we have our ups and downs. But the one thing that we are certain about is our love. The past three years were terrible for me and you. I mean we are together again, but I don't think we have ever stopped loving each other despite how many times we have hurt each other."
He contemplates what I just said for a moment. "We have hurt each other? I laid my hands on you?"
I laugh softly, "No, not like that. I mean we have hurt each others' feelings. That's why we broke up. At the time, it was the most devastating thing to ever happen to us. But now that I think back to it, I regret my actions. I should've listened to you more."
He continues to think. "It does sound complicated. This whole idea of love."
"Yeah it is," I respond.
"I am still uncertain about whether or not I want to put myself through that."
"I understand," I say unhappily.
Eric is silent for a few minutes. "I have only known you for a short amount of time. You stir something within me. Something I thought I would not feel ever during my time as a vampire. The feelings I sense from you are strong. I can feel your love for me."
He puts his hand on my cheek. He leans in to kiss me. Soon his hand is in my robe probing me. He gently rubs my clit as I enjoy the sensation. It's now long before my robe and panty are gone and he is inside me. We make love slowly and gently as though this is our first time. We don't take our eyes away from each other until he bites me and cums inside me.
As we come down from our orgasm he says, "You are unique and you are worth it. I want you to be mine, only mine."
"I will always be yours," I softly say. "I will never leave you again."
We make love a few more times before he holds me as I fall asleep in his arms.
I wake up at 10am with the alarm blaring. I move to turn it off. Of course, Eric is gone, probably resting for the day with the other vampires somewhere. I look behind the alarm clock and find a note.
This time he left me a note.
I smile as I open it and read: Lover, I hope that you will enjoy your day. The daytime guests enjoy skiing up the mountain. Everything you will need is downstairs. I will see you tonight, Eric.
I shower and get ready for the day. I head downstairs and run into Dominique, who is getting ready to go skiing. She asks me to join her and I accept. I spend a few hours skiing down some of the runs.
Afterwards, we head back to the chalet and enjoy a warm beverage and hot lunch.
"What are tonight's activities?" I ask Dominique as we sip on our hot cocoa.
It was getting late and the vampires would be rising in a few hours.
"I think it's just a casual get together tonight. You know, some hottub action and more music and dancing. It's too bad the men are at work off the mountain right now," she says. I knew that she knew that they were in their daytime rest, but I didn't want cause trouble for me and Eric by letting her know that I knew what they were.
"Yes it is," I say.
"You were pretty popular last night," Dominique says. "I saw that you caught the eye of a few of the men."
I blush. "I only have eyes for one though. I'm with Eric Northman."
"He's had quite the reputation," Dominque says. "I've always seen him with a different girl at these sorts of functions. I don't want to see you get your heart broken."
"Don't worry about me," I respond. "I know how to handle him."
Later on, I go back up to the room and put on some casual clothes, denim jeans and a warm sweater.
Eric opens the door and comes in.
"Eric!" I call out to him happily as I run into his arms.
He returns my embrace as we begin kissing deeply.
"Lover, I am glad that you had a good day," he says to me.
"I'm even more ready to have a better night," I smile gleamingly.
We start making out again before Eric breaks away from me. "Lover as much as I want to continue, we are expected for a casual dinner in the dining room as well as board games and cards in the billiards room. There are jacuzzis out on the balcony if you want to relax."
"Oh, but I didn't bring a bathing suit," I pout mockingly.
"Bathing attire is naturally optional," he quips. "But I do not think I would want any other man to look at your naked body so I believe there are swim suits available if we ask for them."
I laugh. "As much as I want to get into a jacuzzi with you, I don't think I would be able to unwind in one with a bunch of other strangers in there as well. So I'm going to take a raincheck on that activity."
"We can arrange private time in one later," Eric says huskily as he caresses my butt.
"Oh, I think I can be open to that," I reply as I kiss him softly on the lips.
After a few more minutes of making out, we head downstairs to dinner. Everyone is served a plate, even the vampires, though they just nitpick at their food. It seems the humans don't even notice this, but I do. I do try and act like I don't notice their actions as well so not to put me and Eric in jeopardy.
After dinner, we head to the billiards room.
"Hey Northman, care to join us in the jacuzzi?" Marten says as he wags his eyebrows at him and then at me. He had just changed into a robe and I doubt he had anything underneath it.
"Not right now, Meijer," Eric responds.
"I think I might join your little party in the jacuzzi," Alexander responds.
"Go for it, Alex!" Marten calls out.
I smile at their exchange when suddenly I sense danger. I focus on the minds that I hear coming up towards the room.
"We have to get out of here!" I yell. All the vampires and women stare at me right away.
"Why what's going on!" someone yells.
A few seconds later, the doors burst open and all I hear are the sounds of air swooshing and gun fire. In that moment, Eric grabs me and in his vampire speed he moves us somewhere safe.
SHIT! What the hell is going on?!