Eric's POV (starting from 1978):

I watched as Sookie starting to place her hands on various parts of the black monoliths. I could also hear a screeching, sharp noise as though they were cracking from within. A few seconds later there was a loud sound of air blowing around us and a dark whirlwind around Sookie and the black stones. In an instant, she was gone. I stepped back as the black structures started to crumble until there was nothing left but a few ashes. It was strange, even the ashes were beginning to disappear. I suspected that the structure was not from this world.

I probed my blood bond with Sookie and found that there was nothing there. It was gone, like her and the bond never even existed. I took in the scent around me and on my clothing. I could still smell her, but the scent was rapidly fading away as well.

I left the cave and flew home. I walked around my bedroom and the lounge room trying to find her scent, but it was now gone. Even the bloody clothes that she wore during last nights' battle were gone.

At this moment, I was not sure how I was feeling. I had never had the feeling of 'missing' an individual. I had felt loneliness during periods throughout my life, but I never felt lonely for any individual person till now. I then realized I was missing her. I had tried to tell myself over and over that what I felt for Sookie wasn't love. But it wasn't until the previous night when she lay dying, that I knew for sure that I loved her deeply.

Now she was gone.

I sat on my chair for some time trying to come to terms with what had just occurred when the phone rang.

I answered it. "Northman."

"Master? Why am I feeling melancholy?" Pam asked.

"Because that is my current mood," I responded.

There was a long pause.

"Did you need me to come to you?"

I thought about it briefly. "No, I will meet you in Monaco."

I hung up the phone.

The next night I met with both the kings of Sweden and New York. I let them know the current situation with Sookie and that she was now gone. I was not sure if they believed me, I would not believe myself if I was in their position. But even if they searched my home and other secret lairs, they would find no trace of her.

The kings updated me on the situation regarding Octavius James. They had found out that he had invested in different stocks and was slowly building up an alliance within the vampire world. The vampire council destroyed this immediately and took control of the stocks he had acquired. As a reward, they were going to give the vampires, who were part of last nights battle, stock options. I reviewed my stock portfolio and had never heard of some of these companies. But if James' plan was to become wealthy using financial knowledge from the future, then perhaps I was going to find myself even wealthier in the future.

"So Sookie is gone, you say?" Marten asked me as few days later as we boarded his plane to take us to Monaco.

"Yes, it appears so," I responded trying to sound like Sookie's absence had no effect on me. I did not want him to know the despair and loneliness I was feeling at the loss of her.

"Cheer up Eric," Marten replied.

"You will love again," he said amusingly.

Years went by quickly. For a few years after Sookie's departure, I was not myself. I only used women and men for blood, but did not use them for sex. But soon my vampire needs hungered for it. I was still a man after all, who needed that intimate connection. I was not as insatiable as before I had met Sookie, I only took what I needed to quench my lust.

Sookie would be born soon. I had taken a trip a few years earlier to Louisiana to view the place where she was going to be raised and where I would start a vampire bar. It seemed like a backwater type of place. I know knew why I was going to reside here. It was quiet and away from the cities that I loathed. I had spent many years roaming around Europe and grown tired of it.

I had thought about moving here and watching over her while she grew up, but I dismissed that notion immediately. If I interfered in her upbringing, then she may not become the same woman she was when I knew her. It was how we were raised from childhood after all, that molded our lives and personalities. I did, however, begin buying properties where I would build my bar and homes.

I had learned that there was an old man near Sookie's grandmother's home who owned a plot of land and home. He did not have any blood relations living, so I made plans to buy his land and house as soon as he died.

More time went by and I found myself in the New World. Sookie would be about 12 years old by now. Pam had just moved here on her own accord and was living in New Orleans. She had said that she wanted to open a bar somewhere in that state and wanted me to co-own and run it with her.

The stock options that I had been gifted with years earlier proved to be valuable. I had made millions of dollars when I cashed them out. I had kept investing in more stocks and was now one of the wealthiest vampires in the world, but I did not make this known to anyone, not even Pam. I did not need this bar to add to my wealth, however I did need it to get closer to Sookie when the time was right.

I told her that I had bought property in a town called Shreveport and she was taken aback. I think she wanted to remain in New Orleans. I however told her that my decision was firm. I contacted the queen of Louisiana and asked her for permission to reside in her state. She happily accepted and asked me if I wanted to become Sheriff of Area 5, the largest area in her kingdom. The current one was a failure. He was running Area 5 into the ground and had no real authority over the few vamps and other supes who resided there. I accepted her offer.

I spent the next few years building my business with Pam, as well as doing my duties as Sheriff. There were loud grumblings within the vampire world that we were going to go public soon. Human and vampire scientists in Japan were close to creating synthetic blood.

I had built a couple of safehouses as well as another home. I thought about Sookie as I designed the space that I wanted. Pam thought I was crazy when I added a full kitchen in the day resting chamber of my new home. I had already made plans to renovate the house that the old man named Jesse Compton currently owned.

A few years later, I decided to look for that nights' meal outside Shreveport. I took flight and noticed a loud party in a home that was somewhat isolated from the main highway. I hovered momentarily and watched the young humans drink alcohol and socialize amongst themselves. Everyone was wearing costumes which caused some confusion for me. Of course….., I thought to myself. It was Halloween night. I had almost forgotten about the yearly occasion as I had been very occupied with my duties and business.

I watched a couple of party goers wearing black capes and showing fake vampire fangs. They were pretending to be vampires and were trying to pretend to drink from a couple of young females who squealed in delight. If only they knew that we were real. I was just about to leave when something caught my attention.

It was a faint whiff of the scent of someone familiar, a scent that I had not smelled in decades. I looked around the house and watched some people walking from the road that were making their way to the party. It was then that I finally saw her, Sookie.

She was stunning. I gazed at her with the same deep desire and longing that I felt when I met her back in the 70s. Sookie had been very beautiful and youthful looking before, but now she looked even younger and more vibrant. She looked like she was not weighed down by the difficult hardships that she would endure in her older adult life. She also looked innocent, like she was not the ruthless killer that she would be later on. But I also smelled the other innocence that she possessed, her virginity.

I watched her dance at the party and saw the other males trying to gain her attention, but she batted them away like the vermin that they were. I kept a distance because I knew that she could perhaps sense me at some point. As the night wore on, I could tell that she was becoming agitated and tired. She did not care to be a part of this crowd.

Soon there were fireworks. She seemed to be preoccupied with the lights so I went up a little bit closer to get a better smell of her delicious scent. She then started to look around and looked towards the trees where I was currently hiding in. She sensed me, I had gotten too close.

Sookie then started to make her way outside the fenced yard and into the bushes. There was a dark trail there but she could still see her way from the lights that illuminated the party.

I watched as she looked around for me. I knew that I should've just flown away, but her intoxicating scent and familiar body was drawing me in. I needed to touch her.

We exchanged pleasantries and before we both knew it, I had her wrapped up in my arms. I kissed and tasted her skin and lips. It took all my willpower to stop me from taking more. I wanted to bite her and fuck her into oblivion.

I told her that we would meet again soon, but that was an error in judgement. I had planned on meeting Sookie after we vampires had gone public, but I could not help myself. I had no idea how she would react to me being a vampire, especially since she was so young and inexperienced in life. Now that she knew I existed, it would be difficult to not become more acquainted.

I spent the next few years running my bar and Area 5, but my mind was always on Sookie. I looked in on her a few times and saw that she started working for a shifter's bar. He had an attraction for her but I saw that she did not feel the same way about him. Once in a while, I would watch her from afar through the window at her grandmother's home. She seemed sad and lonely. I suspected I was the cause of it. I yearned to let her know that I felt the same way as well and that we would soon be together.

I had heard from the queen that we would be going public in the next year or so. I decided that I had stayed away from Sookie long enough and now was the time to get to know this version of her. The one who was innocent and had yet to experience the supernatural world. I was not sure how she would respond when she found out that there were vampires and other supernaturals, including me. One thing I knew for certain is that Sookie would be receptive. She did not have a hateful attitude toward anyone. She may be shocked and surprised at first.

Sookie had been out celebrating her 21st birthday. It was then that I decided that it would be the night that I began my relationship with her. Though I was eager to get to know her again, I was more excited about thoroughly enjoying her body once more. It had been more than 30 years since I last enjoyed the pleasures of her voluptuous body and blood. I had been with other women since the 1970s Sookie, but none of them compared to her physically and sexually. Sookie had been one of the best I had. Since she was still a virgin, I was keen on teaching her and being the first to taste her.

I watched from afar as she spent time with her friends in Monroe, but I could tell that she was not happy. I knew that she would retire early, so I waited for her outside the nightclub. I sensed a range of emotions from her as we conversed outside the club and the restaurant.

I had always tried to be honest with Sookie during my brief time with her in the 70s and from the images she showed me from the future. I was not going to change that aspect of our relationship.

I asked her if she would be willing to let me court her and she accepted. I could not hide my elation and saw the same in her eyes as well.

We said our last goodnights and I drove back to Shreveport.

The bar was just closing down for the night and Pam was counting the money from the tills.

Pam raised a curious eyebrow as I walked in and sat at my desk in a very agreeable mood. I started scrolling though my desktop trying to decide what we could do for our first outing, our first date. It had to be something that Sookie would be comfortable doing. I had not yet asked her what day she was going to be available, but I was ready to clear my schedule for the day that worked for her.

"What's got you feeling like rainbows and sunshine? Did you finally find a hot piece of ass?" Pam asked me.

I did not answer her as I continued to look for possible date ideas.

"Master?" she asked again.

"I may not be around some nights," I told her.

She gave me another curious look. I had told her about Sookie back in the 70s, but I did not tell her that Sookie was from the future.

"So, you're going to be busy?" she asked. I could feel her annoyance with my flippant attitude.

"Yes," I responded. I had hired a day man called Declan Rice to run errands for me during the day. He was hired from a supernatural work agency who specialized in doing daytime work for vampires. It was a company owned by demons. Though he was competent, I never trusted demons. Maybe after we went public, I could hire a human day manager. I sent him a text and told him to deliver a bouquet of flowers to Sookie and to her grandmother. I wrote a personalized note for Sookie that would be attached to her bouquet. I left it on my desk for Declan to collect later in the day.

And with that, I left the bar and went home.

The next night, I rose and got ready to start my day. I answered various emails and messages as I waited for the sun to set.

My private cell phone started to ring. It was Sookie.

"Northman," I answered trying to sound nonchalant.

"Uhhhh Eric?" she said sounding hesitant.

"Yes," I answered.

"Oh hi! How are you doing?"

"I am fine. How was your drive home?" I asked.

"It was good, but I had to wait till the afternoon to leave. The girls wanted to sleep in. They didn't get back to the room until 5 am this morning. They were all hungover so I drove us back home. When I got home, I found your special delivery on the table. Thank you so much! The flowers are beautiful. My gran was happy and surprised with hers as well. She also wanted me to thank you for her."

"I am glad that it pleased you," I said.

"I also read your note," she said. I could almost see her smiling on the other side. "I'm working tonight and tomorrow night. I work the day shift the following day, so I'm available that night? I mean if you're not then that's okay. We can make plans some other night or day, if you prefer."

"Two nights from now sounds perfect," I answered.

"Alright then, I will see you soon," she said.

"I will be at your home at 8pm to pick you up. Have a good evening Sookie," I said.

"Okay, you have a nice night too Eric," she responded.

The days went by and it was first night of our first date. I had skimmed through a few books about 'dating' the past week. Though I tried to hide the books from Pam, she found them in my desk drawer the previous night. I told her that I was merely curious, but she did not believe me. She was not sure if she should make witty jokes or if she should be worried about me.

I drove up to Sookie's home. The road to her house was horrendous. When Sookie and I were more attached, I planned to get it fixed ASAP.

I knocked on her door and she greeted me with a big smile five seconds later.

"Hi Eric," she said.

She looked beautiful. She was wearing a blue dress with white dots all over it. It came up to her knees. Her wavy blonde hair was down and she wore just a little bit of makeup. Sookie had never really needed makeup when I first met her and she certainly didn't need it now.

I smiled, "You look beautiful." I handed her a single red rose.

"Thanks," she said as she blushed. "You look great as well. Did you want to meet my gran? She's in the kitchen. She's curious about you."

I nodded and met the woman who raised Sookie. Adele Stackhouse had gray hair and blue eyes, but I could tell that she would have been very attractive in her youth. I could see why Sookie's paternal grandfather seduced this woman. She looked at me as if she knew there was something different about me, but did not indicate anything to Sookie. I suspected she probably did know I was a supe, since she knew about faeries, but did not want to alarm her granddaughter.

I took Sookie to dinner at a one of the most expensive restaurants in Shreveport. She told me some details about her life and her work, but she never mentioned her telepathy. I hoped that she would start to trust me soon to tell me about it. I did not plan to tell her that I was a vampire until she asked me or if it was necessary. She did, however ask me why I didn't eat my dinner. I told her that I could not eat right now because my stomach would not tolerate it, which was technically true.

I took her to the park next where there was a late-night classical music concert happening that evening. We listened for a short time and went for a walk.

"Eric," Sookie said as we strolled. "I think I should warn you now."

She paused and turned sideways. I turned to my side as well to look at her.

"There's something different about me. How can I explain it…" she said as she chewed on her lower lip. "I guess I should tell you now before we go any further with this dating thing."

"I've always been different. I mean it started when I was little. People used to think I was crazy. They never wanted to be near me and most people still don't want to. My circle of friends is small and I am very close with the few remaining family that I've got. Well, except for one, my cousin Hadley disappeared a few years ago around the same time my aunt Linda died. God, now I'm just rambling."

She ran her hands through her hair and took a deep breath. "I'm not sure how I ended up this way, maybe through my bloodline I guess."

"Sookie, it is alright," I said gently. "Whatever it is, will not change the way I feel about you."

She laughed lightly. "I dunno about that…"

She placed her hand on her mouth. "I can hear the thoughts of others. Well most people I can hear."

I looked at her for a moment. "You are telepathic."

"Yes," she said. "You know what that is?"

"Yes I do," I responded in a calm tone. "I knew one many years ago."

"Wow," she said in a surprised tone. "I haven't met anyone else like me. I was starting to think I was the only one. Mind you, I've not been anywhere else except New Orleans a few times."

"You want to know something else?" she asked.

I nodded.

"I can't hear you. You are the only person I have met that I can't hear. Not that it's a bad thing, it's actually quite refreshing," she added, sounding relieved that she told me about her burden.

"There are reasons for that, I imagine," I said to her. "I am different as well."

She stopped smiling and had a curious look on her face. "Oh?"

"Soon you will know about us," I said.

Sookie's expression got serious. "What are you talking about? Are you part of some kind of cult? Cause if you are, I'm not interested. I was raised Christian and I'm not going to change my beliefs for anyone, even you."

I smiled at her. "No I am not a member of a cult."

"What are you referring to then?" she asked, still serious and somewhat uncomfortable.

A couple with a dog walked by us.

"Perhaps this is not the place to talk about this," I said to her. "Would you like to come to my home?"

Sookie stared at me. "You're inviting me over?"

"Yes," I replied. "I promise that I mean no harm if that is what you are worried about."

"Oh," she said as she stared off towards a few more people walking up behind me. "Ummm, that's the other thing about me. I'm not promiscuous. I haven't spent time with any other men or boys in their homes or bedrooms or anything like that. I'm single. Well I've been single my entire life. I've never had a boyfriend. It's hard to get close to someone that way when you can hear everything that they're thinking. A few times, I heard very dark thoughts coming from other guys."

I took her hands in mine, "I promise that nothing will happen unless you agree. My main goal to invite you to my home is to explain more about myself. I'm sure you are still wondering why I sought you out and why I approached you after all these years."

She nodded.

"Do you trust me?" I asked Sookie.

She thought for a moment. "Yeah I do. That's strange even for me. But I trust you and I am not afraid of you. I felt that way towards you from the first time we met. Normally I am very wary of strangers, but you, I feel like I can trust you with my life. Is that crazy?"

I smiled at her, "No."

We left the park and drove to my newly built home. It looked modest from the outside, but it was equipped with the latest gadgets and furnishings. My lair was built to withstand attacks and warded by witches from New York. I had chosen neutral colours. I showed Sookie the main floor.

"Wow, your place is so clean and everything looks new. How long have you been in Shreveport again?" Sookie asked as I finished the tour.

"About four years," I said. "This house was just completed a few months ago."

"Your kitchen doesn't look like its been used yet," she said.

"Oh I'm sorry, that sounded rude. I didn't mean anything by it," she said apologetically.

"It is okay," I reassured her. "But you are correct, the kitchen has not been used yet."

"May I ask why? Is it because you are a terrible cook and you eat out a lot?"

I chuckled a bit. She sounded so innocent; it was a side I never had seen from Sookie before.

"No Sookie, it's because I don't need food. I require another form of nourishment," I said, trying to keep a neutral tone.

She gave me a puzzling look right away.

"Have you noticed that when you are in a crowd that you sometimes find….how should I phrase it… void minds?"

Sookie gave me a hard look.

"Now that you mention it, I've come across it a few times in New Orleans and Monroe, especially at night," she said sounding unsure.

"Have you also had a difficult time reading the minds of some people, like as though they were able to hide their thoughts?"

She started breathing faster and I could hear her heart beating quicker. I was hoping that she was not going to start hyperventilating.

"What are you getting at? Are you trying to say the minds that I can't read aren't human?" she asked cautiously.

I stared into her eyes for a moment. "Yes."

Her eyes widened. She looked shocked, but surprisingly showed no fear.

"If you're not human then what are you?" she asked quietly.

We were standing in my living room. She held onto the sofa behind her to keep herself steady.

"I am vampire," I told her.

She stared at me for what seemed like an eternity. She scoffed. "What? Like an actual vampire or like one of those people who say they're vampire cause they watch too many movies?"

"Those are just movies, fictionalized versions of us," I replied. "I am a vampire. I have lived on this earth for over a thousand years. I am from Sweden, although it was not referred to this when I was a human. I speak dozens of languages and have lived all over the world."

Sookie continued to look shocked for over three minutes. She looked frozen and I was beginning to think that the shock overloaded her brain.

"Sookie?" I said.

Still no reply.

I did not want to approach her any closer, so in vampire speed I went to the fridge to get her a bottle of water. I had bought several essential food and drink items a few nights ago, knowing that she would be in my home.

Her mouth stared was open as she stared at me. I held out the bottle of water.

"You're really a vampire," she said breathlessly. "I knew there was something different about you."

She took the bottle from me and took a large gulp of it.

She continued to try and slow down her breathing. I knew she was on the verge of hyperventilating. I led her to the couch to sit and rest. The news had been quite a shock to her system.

"Okay, so you are a vampire…," she said as she closed her eyes. "Are there lots of you? Do you drink blood? You said you weren't available during the day, is it because the sun can kill you?"

I sat down across from her and began to explain our kind to her. I also briefly mentioned other supernaturals like weres, shifters, and faeries. She listened attentively and started to relax.

"We vampires are going public within the next year or so. Scientists are close to formulating synthetic blood. We will no longer require human blood, technically."

"Oh," she said. "So you are planning on not giving up human blood to live on."

She started chewing on her bottom lip. "Are you going to drink from me?"

"No, not unless you want me to," I said huskily.

I could smell her arousal as my own started to grow intensly.

"Ummm, I guess some humans must enjoy it," she said, sounding curious and shy.

"And you can fly?"

I nodded. "Some of us have that skill but most do not."

"That must be amazing," Sookie said. Her eyes started to twinkle.

I also told her about Pam and my other child Karin. Sookie started to become more comfortable with our discussion. She was becoming more fascinated. I did not plan to introduce her to Pam until later when everything was settled. I still had to talk to Pam about Sookie and to let her know Sookie's importance in my life now.

As we continued to talk, I could tell that she was beginning to get tired. It was after 1 a.m.

She started yawning, "Excuse me. I woke up early to help Gran with some baking for her meeting and it was a pretty busy afternoon at work."

I drove her home and we both remained silent during the drive. I walked her to the front door.

"I had a great time with you Eric," Sookie said.

I held her hands in mine. "I know that what I have told you tonight was a lot to take in and that you are still processing it. If it is too much for you, then I will understand if you wish to no longer see me. I want you to feel comfortable with me, Sookie. If my nature is not what you wish to become familiar with, then I understand."

She took a deep breath. "Eric, I'm glad that you told me. It was and is quite a shock! But I don't feel scared or hesitant. I dunno, I feel very comfortable with you. It's like you are familiar to me, your presence is familiar."

I did not respond. I started to wonder if her memories from her future life were starting to merge with her younger self. I did not know how this time travel worked. I knew that the Sookie that I met would have returned to her own time period more than a decade from now. Were there going to be two versions of her or somehow, she would merge with this current form of her? I had many questions but no answers, nor did I know who to ask.

As I pondered my own thoughts, Sookie leaned up to kiss me on the lips. I bent down to reciprocate. We kissed deeply as my hands roamed over her body before settling on her firm ass. After several minutes, she broke away from our kiss.

"Eric, we should stop," she whispered. "Like I said before, I'm not that type of woman. I don't fool around."

I removed my hands from her ass and eased my way up to her back. I began rubbing it soothingly.

"I understand," I said. "Like I said, I will not force you to do anything that you are not comfortable with."

She smiled at me and wrapped her hand behind my neck. "Eric?"

"Yes?" I responded.

"Will you go on another date with me?"

I smiled down at her. "I would enjoy that."

I gave her one last kiss before she went quietly into the house.

I started up my car and saw several messages from Pam and the queen. Vampires were going public with the news of our kind next week. If I remember the information from my conversations with Sookie in the 1970s, it was too soon.

I pondered this briefly before driving back to the bar to help close up for the night.