13

I'm Trying to Save You

I apologize for the delay in posting this chapter. I've been having a hectic time at work and it's interfering with imagination. I'm going to keep writing and posting. Don't get me wrong. I love this. I need this because my RL can be a bit too much sometimes and I need this in order to escape. I just want you all to know that I am not going to abandon the story. I will complete it. I just hope that y'all continue to read it even if I'm a couple of days late in posting the chapters.

Thank y'all so much for reading, reviewing, alerting, and making this story a favorite. And as always, the story idea is mine but the characters belong to Charlaine Harris.

The last remaining vampire didn't move too much after what Eric did to his associate. He obliterated him into nothing. Malcolm, the still technically alive vampire's name, he let Eric tie him to the chair and he was trembling. He didn't have too much of a choice but to let Eric tie him to the chair because he had no legs. That's right. Eric ripped the guy's legs clean off and the he tied the stumps with some old sheets that he'd found so that he wouldn't bleed to death. He said that he didn't want him bleeding to death before he'd gotten all that he needed from him. And they worked perfectly. Anyway, Malcolm, he was absolutely terrified and little bit surprised. He obviously believed that I was making out with a human and not a vampire. I think that the lone vampire expected to see me in the exact same state he was in … trembling and afraid but I wasn't. I wasn't afraid at all. I stood at Eric's side as we both studied the now docile vampire's face.

I took a step closer to him with Eric standing right next to me. "He's not going to tell you." I looked closer into the vampire's eyes as I shook my head. "He rather you kill him than face what's waiting for him in New Orleans if he doesn't do the job that's been given to him."

Eric looked down at me.

Still staring at Malcolm, I answered his unasked question. "No, I can't read his mind. Can't you see it?" I asked him. "His eyes tell me everything."

"I ain't afraid of nothing!" he spat at me.

"But you are," I refuted. "Who sent you?"

He laughed at me instead of answering my question.

"Sookie," Eric said.

I looked up at him and he looked amazing. I know that he'd just ripped a vampire to shreds but it didn't matter to me. He'd killed the vampire so that he could save his child from whatever fate that would have awaited her. I didn't see a killer standing next to me. I saw a protector. I saw the reason why my grandpa wants me to bond with him. I knew right then that I'd do whatever he'd ask of me. "Yes," I answered.

"I need to check the rest of the house," he said. He moved me a few steps away from the vampire and said, "Stay right here. I won't be long."

"Okay," I promised.

With that said, Eric was blurring through the house and checking out our surroundings. I glanced to my right and the almost dead girl on the couch was barely moving. Her breaths were coming in minimal gasps. Her mind was moving in slow motion. Her memories were only sad ones and it broke my heart. She was going to die and there was nothing that I could do about it. I knew that Eric wouldn't save her. There was no way that he was going to give her his blood. He likes me and he's making me wait so I know that she doesn't stand a chance. She is nothing to him. She meant even less than that to Malcolm. She was about to be a distant memory to everyone that has entered this house. Sadly, she didn't have too much longer before she faded into nothing.

As I looked at her, I asked the vampire, "Why did you do that to her? Look at her. She's dying here and she's alone. She'll never see her family again and it's because of you." I finally looked at him and asked, "Why does she deserve to die like this?"

"She's fucking cattle," he said. "She's nothing more than food to me."

A tear slid over my cheek. "She's somebody's daughter."

"Not mine," he laughed. "Do you cry for that heifer while you're eating your rancid steaks ... your disgusting hamburgers?"

I didn't have anything to say because he was right. Humans are no more than food to vampires just as cattle is no more than food to me. It doesn't mean that I agree with what he's done to her. It just means that I understand what he meant ... what he is.

"I didn't think so," he said as he continued to laugh.

I smiled at him as I cocked my head to the side. I began to laugh with him.

That caused him to look at me funny. It made him a bit uneasy. His laugh ended just as quickly as it began. "Why do you laugh?"

I took a few steps back and grabbed the chair that was just behind me. I slid it to where I was standing and sat down. "Because you're right and you're funny."

His nostrils flared and fangs dropped.

I crossed my legs as I leaned back in the chair. "Weaklings always amuse me and you, sir, are a weakling. So you amuse me."

"I'm a fucking vampire, you fang banging bitch!" He obviously doesn't like being called a weakling.

I sighed as I shook my head at him. "A spineless vampire and for your information, I am not a fangbanger. I am a lady. I am always a lady." I pointed at the girl and said, "I understand that vampires have to eat but you kill humans because you're too afraid to kill the vampire that's got your panties all in a bunch. You didn't even have the decency to take this girl out of her misery but I'm not too surprised. You don't even have the guts to stand up for yourself." I looked at his stumps and laughed at my own joke.

I could tell that he wanted to get at me but Eric had him tied so tightly to the chair, there was no way that he could move. He would have tipped over. "As soon as I'm free, I'm going to kill you."

I leaned forward and rested my elbows on my knees. And I believed him when he said that he would kill me. He would have. If he'd been given the chance, he would've done worse things to me than what he'd done to that poor girl. I wasn't upset about it at all. He'd seen his friend murdered. He was under the heel of a more powerful vampire and he was embarrassed. He hated that I could see that he was weak. I didn't want him to feel that way. I wanted to make him feel safe with me. Comfortable with me. I soon let the vampire see that I had pity for him. And I did. "I hate that you have to do something that's going to cause you to die. Your life matters too."

He frowned at me but said nothing.

I knew before I began speaking that what I was about to say to him wasn't going to make a difference. I just wanted to let him know that he wasn't alone in how he feels about his life and the choices that he's had to make. "All of my life, I've had to do and say things so that certain people would accept me for me," I shared. "I hated living like that but over time, I decided that it was okay to be me."

I chuckled as I shook my head no. "Don't get me wrong. It took me a while to get there but I did it. Some people accept me. Others … not so much. My grandparents have always been my greatest advocates. My dad used to tell me that I needed to hide what I can do but he didn't want me to hide it when I was helping him. My mother and brother, they've cut me off completely because I won't hide who I am anymore. Until I answered the master's ad, I never thought that I'd ever be given a chance to be the real me … openly. Hmmm," I said suddenly. "I guess I lived like a vampire for a long time. Hiding who I am. What I can do. Don't you hate that, Malcolm? Not being able to be free? Always hiding in the shadows?"

Eric stood in the doorway and looked at me.

I continued talking to Malcolm. "Couldn't you run away so that you can live?" I wasn't trying to be funny that time and I wanted him to know that. "I know that you can't run away right now but was that ever an option for you?"

"Pfft," Malcolm answered. "We don't run. If we run and get caught, it's only going to be worse for us. So, no. That was never an option for me."

"I get it," I validated. "Maybe the master can help you. Maybe he can hide you from the vampire that sent you here."

Eric continued to stare at me.

Malcolm eyed me suspiciously.

I shrugged my shoulders. "I mean you could ask him. All he can say is no."

Malcolm laughed hysterically. "Fuck you," he said. "And you're a joke anyway, lady. You say that you're not a fangbanger but you call him Master? Who do you think you're fooling in here?" He continued to laugh as he looked at me. "You're probably fucking him every chance that you get. I've heard about the Northman's sexual escapades. I've heard all about him. I'll bet that big cock of his has you wrapped around him every single night."

I jumped up from my seat and slapped him across the face. It hurt like heck but I didn't let him know that. I went back to my seat and sat down. "I am a lady, Malcolm, and you will not use such language when speaking to me."

He was a smidge closer to where Malcolm and I was but he was smiling. I guess he found it amusing that I'd slapped a crippled vampire across the face.

Once I was able to compose myself, I replied to Malcolm's previous comments. "I'm not trying to fool anyone," I assured him. "I call him Master because it's a sign of respect in your world." I glanced up at Eric briefly and said, "I respect him."

Malcolm sucked his teeth as he glared at me. "Was kissing him a part of your respect for him? Is fucking him a part of showing him respect?" I guess the slap meant nothing. He began to make vulgar moves with his body as he talked to me. "Do to me what you were doing to him in his car and I might fall for that bullshit story that you were just trying feed to me."

I wasn't even going to dignify his comment with a response. We had business to discuss and no more. "Have you ever thought of asking him to help you out of this?" I asked him once more.

Malcolm looked at me and shook his head no. "I have never thought of that. It would do me no good. And why do you fucking care? Do think that because you told me some fucking sob story that I am going to automatically tell you what's going on? Is that it? Are we supposed to be best friends now? Well, as I said earlier. Fuck you." He leaned forward in his seat and said, "I'm not telling you shit." He then did the unthinkable. He spat in my face.

That's when Eric came from behind him and punched him so hard that Malcolm and his chair was lodged into the wall. I reached up to wipe the spit from my face but he stopped me. He came to me and wiped the spit from my face and onto his shirt. And all while he was cleaning my face, he was glaring at Malcolm. I knew right then that no matter what Malcolm said to him, Eric was not going to let him live.

Eric studied my face for a few more seconds before removing Malcolm from the wall by his throat. "Where's the envelope?"

Malcolm looked at Eric and smiled. He patted his stomach and made a belching sound.

It doesn't matter.

I looked over to the girl. Her eyes were still closed but she'd spoken to me in my mind. I instantly went to where she was and kneeled down beside her. I wrapped my hand around hers. "What do you know?"

With Malcolm's throat still in his hand, Eric came to stand by me. "What do you hear?"

I shook my head. "Not much," I answered. "She said that it doesn't matter. What doesn't matter?"

They're going to take her.

"What's your name?" I asked her.

Pauline.

A tear rolled down her cheek.

I'm dying.

"Yes."

She inhaled deeply.

"Pauline," I said. "Do you mean Pam?"

Eric stood over my shoulder.

Nothing.

My hand tightened on hers. I could see Malcolm, the now dead vampire, and the lady from earlier and they were talking.

He wants her and he wants her soon, the woman said as she shoved the envelope in his hand.

Malcolm guffawed. Well, what the fuck does he want us to do? He never should've sent a human to do what a vampire could have done. Why didn't he get Long Shadow to take her? He had easier access to her than a human … than we do. He should've known that they were going to kill that guy. He looked like a drainer for pity's sake. What the fuck does he expect us to do? Has anyone heard from Long Shadow?

A blank look came over the woman's face. She didn't know what to say. She looked as if she had no idea who Long Shadow was. I don't know and I don't care. I was told to tell you that he wants her and he wants her soon. That's all I know. Now do it before he kills you both.

The now dead vampire laughed. He's not going to do shit. He's too afraid to take what he wants. That's why we're here. If he wasn't such a coward, he could take her. He's the one with all the power. He can just take her and be done with it.

None of that matters, the woman said. Just do as you're told.

Malcolm began to rub himself against the woman. Let's have a little fun before you go.

The woman looked at the girl on the couch and pointed. So that I can end up looking like her? No thanks. You know that you're not supposed to be killing people. If he finds out about this …

He won't, Malcolm promised. He continued to rub himself against her.

She pushed him away. You know that I belong to him. Get the fuck away from me and do your job. She then stormed out of the house.

Everything that I'd seen, I repeated to Eric. "That's all that I can see. Her mind is fading. She's dying," I whispered. I leaned down as to hear if any breaths were coming from Maudette. I swiped a tear from my cheek. "She's barely breathing."

Eric placed Malcolm and his chair back onto the floor. He whipped out his cell and began to dial. He was speaking in a hushed voice as he stood over me … watching over me … keeping me safe. I continued to watch over Pauline.

"I'm sorry," I whispered to her.

Her eyes opened just a bit as she rested her free hand on her chest. She said one more thing to me before she took one last breath. Her hand fell from her chest and she died. I reached out and took Eric's hand into mine and held onto it for dear life. I've seen four people die and I've only been doing this job for two nights.

"How did you do that?" Malcolm asked.

When I looked at him, he was wide eyed and surprised by me. "I'm a telepath."

He looked at Eric and asked, "You have a telepath?"

Eric punched him in the mouth as he continued talking on the phone.

I got up from the couch and stood by Eric. I waited for him to get off of the phone.

"How long have you been with him?"

I glared at the vampire instead of answering him.

Malcolm leaned forward in his seat and said, "He's supposed to turn you over. You are an asset."

"No," I said. "I'm his."

Malcolm closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. He opened them and began to shake his head no. "You don't smell of him. You've never had his blood and you're a virgin. You've never been known to man or vampire. You're not his. You're fair game. If any other vampire smells you, they are going to know that you don't belong to him. They are going to take you can claim you as theirs." He licked his lips as he looked me up and down. "I wish that I had found you first. I would train you but good."

"I'm his," I repeated.

"She is mine," Eric declared as he put his phone into his pocket and wrapped his arm around my waist.

"Master," I said. "Can we take her somewhere so that she won't have to be left in here ... never to be found? She didn't want to be left here. She wanted to go home."

He kissed the top of my head. "We can."

I looked up at him and I could see that he has so much love and understanding in him. I don't know if everyone can see it but it's there. I can see it. "Thank you," I said.

He nodded slightly and just like that, the tenderness was gone. "My child," he growled as he looked at the vampire. "Why do you want her?"

Malcolm said, "You ain't getting nothing out of me."

I squeezed Eric's hand as a way to get him to look at me.

He looked down at me.

I asked, "May I, Master?"

"You may," he said as his fangs made an appearance.

"Thank you." I stared into Malcolm's eyes for a few minutes and waited. I had to make this believable. "He's lying to you, Master," I finally said. "I can see it. It is Pam that they're after and it's because of you. You scare him … whoever 'him' is." I frowned as I leaned just a bit closer and squinted. "Whomever he works for is afraid of you. He's … he believes that you have too much power because of your age. He believes that if he takes Pam, he can keep you in line. He can hold her captivity over you."

Malcolm's eyes were the size of plates. I guess I'd hit the nail on the head. "You can read the minds of vampires? What the fuck are you?"

I ignored him as I continued to pretend that I'm a vampire mind reader. I shook my head and said, "I can't see his face, Master. He is a vampire with a lot of power but he's not nearly as old as you are. He's not strong as you are either. He wishes that he was though. I can't tell who it is." I stood tall and said, "Maybe you can get him to tell you."

The vampire began to snarl and was doing his darnedest to get out of that chair but he couldn't do it. He'd tipped himself over. "You fucking bitch! You are going to die! I'm going to kill you! I swear that I'm going to kill you! My master is going to come for you! Nothing's going to save you … not even the Northman!"

With my hand still in his, Eric went over to Malcolm and placed his booted foot to the side of the vampire's head. "Who is your master?"

Even though his face was underneath Eric's boot, he tried his best to look at him. "Fuck you, you fucking traitor! She can read our minds and you are with her?! She is an enemy to our kind … our fucking privacy … our very lives are at stake here! And you claim this bitch as your own!?" He spat on Eric's boot … well as much as he could spit on Eric's boot with the boot standing on the side of his face.

Why did he do that, you ask?

Stupidity is my only guess.

Eric looked down at Malcolm. "She hasn't the capabilities to read the mind of the vampire. She provided you the information that we'd obtained from the human that we killed last night and the human from this evening. She also used the deductions that we'd come up with on our own earlier tonight. You, Malcolm, confirmed the truth to their thoughts and our deductions." He pressed his boot harder to the vampire's face.

I could hear the bones cracking. I squeezed my eyes closed as the sound got louder and louder.

"Who is your master?" he asked him once again.

"Fuck you," he said.

I opened my eyes at the wrong time. Malcolm's head was crushed to nothing and pretty soon, the rest of him looked like his head. A bloody mess.

Looking down at what used to be Malcolm, I asked, "So, do we look for the envelope?"

Eric shook his head no. "We leave," he said. "During my search, I couldn't find the envelope. I can only guess that it's been destroyed. There's smoldering paper burning in the kitchen sink. I did find a recording system and dismantled it. I've destroyed whatever recordings they have us but I've taken the few recordings that they had previously. We need to leave before they come. They should be here by the dawn but they won't have time to go through the house. I've called in a clean-up crew to clear the house of our scents."

"What about that?" I said as I pointed at what used to Malcolm.

"He'll be properly disposed of," he promised.

"And Pauline?" I asked.

He looked into my eyes and said, "She will come with us."

"Thank you, Eric," I said.

He nodded at me before scooping Pauline up into his arms and leading me out of the house. He placed her in the back seat of the car before we got in. After cranking the car, he asked, "Are you hungry?"

I realized that I was. I haven't eaten since this morning. I didn't get to eat at Crawdad's and I didn't get to eat at Merlotte's either. Daddy had to get to work and I didn't feel like eating alone. "Sure," I asked. "Can we go to Dairy Queen? I could sure use a Blizzard right about now."

We sped off into the night with a dead girl in the backseat of the car.