My Sweet, Sweet Girl

36

Hello! I hope that y'all have had a great New Year and that it only gets better. Here is the next chapter and it's in Pam's POV. As always, I want to thank each of you for reading, reviewing, alerting, and making this story a favorite. The characters belong to Charlaine Harris but the story idea is mine.

Oh, please enjoy!

"Good evening, Pam," Maxwell said to me as he descended the stairs. He had the gall to smile at me. "I hope that your meal was to your liking. She is a virgin and her blood had been sweetened just for you. She was given the freshest fruit and the sweetest honey. Nothing but the best for you. And if you're a good girl, a really good girl, you'll be able taste other parts of her." With a gloved hand, he opened the door to guide the girl from my prison cell. He stroked her cheek before watching her leave the room.

Since he's kidnapped me, Maxwell comes down here to visit with me every night. He doesn't have to but he sits with me until dawn. He talks to me about everything but why he's taken me from my home, my life, from my maker. Our conversations usually go the same every night. We talk about my meal and my behavior. And then he sits and waits. I wait for him to leave but that's just not my luck. He stays. He always stays.

I folded my hands and placed them on my lap. "She was quite delicious, Maxwell. A lot more delicious that I'd expected. It makes me wonder why you've been giving me five-star treatment when you plan on killing me." Shrugging my shoulders, I added, "Since I'm your prisoner, I'd assumed that you'd feed me drug riddled corpses or humans suffering from illnesses. Your treatment of me is quite surprising. And to taste other parts her would not be something that I'm interested in. I don't trust you."

As usual, he sat on the chair that sits in front of my cell. He glanced over his shoulder before answering me. "As I've told you, Pamela, for now, I want nothing to happen to you. If something happens to you before it's time, everything will be for naught. I've always held you in high regard. Even at this very moment, I still hold you in high regard. You are very valuable to me. Nothing can happen you. I told you that you would be safe and you will be safe." He shook his head as he crossed his legs. "That has not changed. You have my word."

I didn't believe him for a second but I said nothing. His word is a worthless as he is. I know why Maxwell visits me each night. I know why he sits in front of my cell and waits. He wants me to question him about what he's done and who's working with him to betray me and my maker. He's been itching to tell me why he's taken me but for some reason, he won't do it. He's in for a surprise because I won't give him the satisfaction of asking him why he's done what he's done. Instead of doing what he expected, I removed the remote from the nightstand and turned on the TV … or at least I tried to turn it on. It did not come on. I got up from the bed and slapped the flat screen of the TV. I looked at the wall outside of my cell and noticed that the TV was unplugged but I didn't react to it. "Hmm," I said. I shrugged my shoulders and said, "No Gordon Ramsey tonight." I put the remote back on the nightstand before getting back in bed. I looked at Maxwell and said, "I really like Gordon Ramsey. He's fucking hilarious. His attitude is quite exquisite and his tongue is quite sharp ... for a human."

Maxwell didn't reply. I could tell that he was frustrated with me for not questioning him but I didn't give a shit. I want to know why he's done what he's done but I like making him squirm and wonder why I don't want to know. I enjoy being petty. I'm really good at it and it makes me smile. "You irritate me, Pamela."

I smiled. "Whatever have I done?" I looked offended and appalled by his statement. "I have been a model prisoner. I've not argued with you. I've not ridiculed you in any way. I would think that you'd be proud considering I've never behaved so well. I would think that you would have a good report to send to your superior." I sighed in disappointment as I lay on my pillow. "I guess the old saying is true. You can't please assholes no matter how you try." I winked at him as I pulled the covers up over me and snuggled deep into my pillow. I'd tucked the stack that I'd made from the right side of my bed; which was now propped up on a stack of books, under my gown. "I don't know what you want from me. I have been a very good girl. I've stayed in my cell; not that I've had much of a choice, like I'm supposed to. I haven't maimed or killed any of my meals. I'm at a loss when it comes to you." I shook my head in displeasure. "You confuse me, Maxwell."

He cocked his head to the side as he looked at me. "What you said bothers me."

My eyes widened. "What did I say that bothers the all-powerful Maxwell Lee?"

He closed his eyes and sighed. I guess I was beginning to get to him … it's about that time. He's been down here a little too long for my liking. "Why do you believe that I have a superior? Why couldn't this plan have been my idea?"

I laughed at him. I didn't have to laugh as long and as loud as I did but I did. As I said, I'm petty and it makes me happy. Once my loud and obnoxious laughter had subsided, I said, "Because I'm here, Maxwell. I know for a fact that you don't have the brain power or the nerve to betray Eric as you have. Someone else is in charge. You are the lackey. I can damn well guarantee it."

He shifted in his seat. "And you say this because …"

I pointed at him and said, "Because it's you, Maxwell. You are weak. And I don't mean your age. Your age gives you much strength but as far as brain power goes, this isn't you. You were used because of the relationship that you had with me and Eric. You were on the inside. That's the only reason you're a part of this fiasco. You didn't plan this but that's okay. We'll find out soon enough who's truly behind this." I removed my emery board from the nightstand and began to shape my fingernails. I glanced at him through hooded eyes. "We know that it's not you."

Though he was infuriated by my words, he chuckled. "You are a true woman, Pamela. You must be in control of all situations. Your words are nothing more than a way to upset me. It did not work."

I blew the fingernail dust from my fingertips as I looked at him and smiled. "Liar." I placed the emery board back on the side table before running my hands over the silkiness of the comforter. I looked at Maxwell as I spoke. "And you are wrong once again, Maxwell. I'm not in control. If I were, I wouldn't be here. I'm in a silver cage. Though it's filled with everything that I could possibly need, I'm still in a silver cage. Because I've been kidnapped by a vampire that I'd once considered a friend and because I trusted you, I allowed you to take what bit of control that I had away. I haven't been in control for quite some time." And it will never happen again.

He full on laughed this time. "I like you better when you're your true self. Welcome back, Pamela."

"Maxwell, I never left."

"Ask me, Pamela."

"No." Again, I smiled.

"Why?" he asked as he cocked his head to the side. "Why don't you want to know?"

This time I laughed. I sat up in bed and stared in his eyes. "Because it doesn't matter. Nothing that you've done since kidnapping me matters. You this as well as I do. You won't live through this. You may not even make it to the end of this awful plan. He's going to kill you. He's going to kill each of you. Anyone that had anything to do with this plan is going to die. So, whatever your reasons are, they don't matter, Maxwell. In other words, I don't give a fuck."

Maxwell leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. "Your maker is an amazing vampire. He's loyal, intelligent, fair, and very powerful. He's always been those things. Those traits are what makes him an amazing adversary." He glanced up at me before looking down at the floor. "I have always admired him. I used to consider him my friend many years ago." He began to smile. "Eric and I have had many adventures. We have traveled all over the world, the three of us. We had great times. During those years, I got to know your maker. Yeah," he whispered. "He was one of the great ones."

I glared him. "That's exactly what he considered you to be ... a friend. Though you have never had the same qualities as my maker, he considered you to be someone that he could trust but you fooled us. You fooled us all, didn't you?"

He looked up at me and nodded. "You're right. I did but that doesn't mean that I don't admire and respect him."

Now, that really made me laugh. "Respect? You respect him? Do you even know what that fucking means? You've killed our most trusted and loyal vampires and Weres. You killed humans that had worked for me for many years. Vampires, Weres, and humans that trusted you and looked up to you. I am locked in a fucking cage and you say that you respect him? Fuck you, you fucking coward."

He leaned back and crossed his legs once more. "There she is. That's my girl. That's the Pamela that I've been waiting to see." He began to clap his hands and laugh. "There's the defiant bitch that I've grown to love."

His laughter and malcontent angered me beyond reason. My hatred for him filled me to epic proportions but I remained calm. Giving him an icy glare, I smiled. "You're so weak, Maxwell. Instead of having the balls to tell my why you've done what you've done, you believe that your words will break me. You believe that forcing your company on me is going to make me ask you." I chuckled. "That is why I say that you did not come up with this plan. You may leave. You don't have to stay until dawn. Go but before you do, fix my fucking TV. I want to watch Gordon Ramsey."

Maxwell eyed me angrily. "He destroyed me," he whispered.

I broke him. Just as I said, weak.

Smiling, I asked, "Who?"

His fangs snapped into place.

I continued to smile as I waited for him to explain how my maker, the vampire that Maxwell claims to admire and respect, destroyed him.

"Everything that I've ever loved, he took from me." Maxwell's eyes were filled with hate and pain. "You maker isn't the vampire that you believe him to be. He's destroyed many lives, taken many lives and he holds no responsibility for what he's done but he will. He's going to pay for his misdeeds." He glanced over his shoulder once more and whispered, "He owes me a life for the one that he'd taken from me … for the one that he destroyed."

I stood from the bed and quickly made my way to stand before the silver bars. "My maker has always been a vampire of great honor. He's never betrayed anyone in his life, human or vampire. You'd do well to know this, Maxwell. Acknowledge that he's been more than a friend to you. He saved your worthless fucking life. He lost a fucking limb for you, you piece of shit. If not for him, your useless life would have ended centuries ago." I stood closer to bars. I could feel the heat radiating from them but I didn't budge. "You're the betrayer … the destroyer. You're a vampire of very weak character to have done what you've done to Eric after all that he's done for you but know this, Maxwell. You will pay for your sins with your fucking life."

Maxwell stood from his chair and glared at me. I could say that he wanted to pull me close to the bars and burn my gorgeous face but he didn't do it. He was afraid and that made me wonder. Instead of reaching out to hurt me, he tugged at the sleeves of his leather jacket. Whispering once again, he said, "I'm going to kill you when the time is right. And when I do, I want your brother to see."

Shit.

The wind was knocked out of me; though there was no wind in me. I sat on the bed and let his revelation roll through me. How did he find out? Eric and I have always been careful when it comes to our family secret. No one is supposed to know what we are to each other. I looked at Maxwell and said, "I don't know what you mean."

He laughed as he returned to his seat. "Don't try and play me for a fool. I'm very observant, Pamela. I've been with you and Eric for centuries. You, you two shared a room and yes you two would hold hands. I've even seen Eric kiss you on the lips but very lightly and always on the corner of your mouth. He's never kissed you as he's kissed the many women that have been in and out of his life. The way that he's always been protective of you." He waved his hand back and forth. "I know that all makers are protective of their children but Eric has always gone above and beyond for you. It never made sense to me. I'd often wondered why he never released you as most makers do with their children."

I frowned at Maxwell's pathetic reasons. "Your reasons are utter nonsense. They prove nothing."

"I have proof … two forms of proof as a matter of fact." He reached into his pocket and removed a recorder. When he pressed play, the voices on the recorder belonged to me and Eric. He was fussing at me for the attitude I'd given him about the bodyguards. I didn't want them living in my house. This was the night the vampires and Weres were supposed to patrolling the grounds. No one was supposed to be in the house but me and Eric. We checked before we started speaking.

"You will do as you've been told, Pam. Your safety is at stake and I will not put you in danger. I promised Mother that I'd find you and once I did, I'd keep you safe. You will not let me break a promise to her."

"You've taught me well. I am more than capable when it comes to taking care of myself. You've made sure, in more ways than one, that you won't break the promise to Mother. I can take care of myself, Eric. I will be fine if you'd just let me. You don't have to continue to coddle me. Let me live my life just as you need to live yours." I remember placing my hand on his cheek. "I'm going to be fine, Brother. You can't keep putting your life on hold for me. I've seen how you look at her. You should be happy, Eric. You can have a life without me in it."

"I will not have a life without you in it. You are my sister. You are my family. She is no more than an employee. She is with me because I'm obligated to keep her safe. There's nothing more to our relationship. Women come and go. You are of my blood."

I smiled at him when he told that lie and I called him on it. "You are such a liar, Eric, but I understand your reasons for the lie." I sighed. "Though I don't agree with it, I will do as you have asked of me."

I closed my eyes and smiled as I remembered my brother wrapping me in his arms. My heart sank as Maxwell relished in the knowledge that he knows our secret but I remained calm. I didn't let him know that he'd shaken me to my core. I wouldn't give that asshole the satisfaction. Still smiling when I opened my eyes, I said, "I guess the secret's out. I'm not surprised that you spied on us considering what you've done. Eric and I were supposed to be alone when we had that conversation. We checked the house to be sure that we were alone. I can only assume that you had my home bugged."

He nodded as he said, "You have assumed correctly but it's okay." He waved the recorder back and forth. "It's always nice when a brother and sister have such a loving relationship. Plus, I got some really good information on here." He patted his pocket as he put the recorder back in his pocket.

Cocking my head to the side, I repeated, "You bugged my home."

"You're stuck on semantics when they don't matter." He stood up from his chair and stretched. He sighed as he tugged at his jacket. "I must be going. I have things to do and people to see. A vampire's work is never done. I can assume that you'll be staying in this evening?"

"Fuck you, Maxwell."

He laughed as he began to walk away.

"Maxwell?" I called out to him.

"Yes, Pamela?" he replied as he glanced at me over his shoulder.

"Why would my death make you even with Eric? What do you believe he's done to you?"

His eyes were deadly and empty as he turned to face me. "Your maker took something that belonged to me. As I said, he owes me a life for the one that he destroyed. And I promise, Pamela, I will get what's owed to me."

I returned his stare. I let him see the fury and hate in my eyes. He heard the anger and wrath in my voice. "Do you think that you're going to beat him? Break him? You know nothing of what my brother has been through in his life. He has endured beatings. He's been starved. He's been through things worse than anything you'll ever imagine. What he's suffered through, would've kill the likes of you. You taking me? That's nothing to us. This isn't the first time that Eric has had to search for me. It took him years to find me but he did. He saved me. He found me then and he will find me now. I promise that when he does, your wretched life will be his. You will die by his hand and when you do, you will realize that whatever he took from you, you didn't deserve to have. You will see that whatever you lost, you lost because of your cowardice. You lost it because you weren't brave enough to claim what was yours."

He stormed towards my cell and bellowed, "I am no coward!"

"Own what you are," I calmly replied. "You didn't confront Eric about your hurt feelings. He's not in this cage. I am. So, yes, you are a coward. You've lived as one and you will die as one."

He'd reached for his key. Hell, he'd gone so far as to put it in the lock. I heard the door to the cellar open and hoped that Maxwell would get the door open before whomever it was came downstairs. I was going to kill him and make my way home before the dawn but sadly, that didn't happen.

"Can't you see what she's doing? She's playing you for the fool that you are." He was standing in the shadows as he spoke. "I forgave you for the busted lip and black eye that she had you brought her to me but you touch her again, I will chop off your fucking arms. No harm will come to her. Not in this life."

Maxwell quickly moved away from the door and fell to his knees out of fear. I almost didn't notice it.

I dropped to my knees when I heard that voice. My heart sank to my feet. My body shook from fear. My blood ran cold. I hadn't heard that voice since I was thirteen years old. Eric has always told me that Mother had him killed. The townspeople of a village that he was trying to pillage and plunder killed him. He's supposed to be long dead. He's not supposed to be here. And then it dawned on me. Maxwell's second piece of proof.

"Hej, Pamela." (Hello, Pamela.)

I looked down at the ground as terror filled me. "Hej, Far." (Hello, Father.)

He stood in front my cage and said, "Min söta, söta tjej." (My sweet, sweet, girl.)