Melanie:

“That’s the man after you?” I pointed at the screen as the madman finished his rant.

Eric and Pam shared a look before he nodded his head. It was clear he was concerned over this. I could see the fear behind his eyes as he tried to come up with any plan to take him down but so far he’d come up empty. That man was a lunatic who just took everything the vampires had been working for and shit on it. Maybe the Authority would have a say now instead of just backing out and pretending none of this happened.

“The Authority’s going to acknowledge this now.” Pam said, clicking the TV off.

“That still doesn’t help us. Melanie – “ He turned to me as I took another sip of my drink. “I want you and Pam to go to your house – I’m asking that you both stay there until I can get this figured out. I refuse to take you two down for something I’ve done.”

“Eric – no.” Pam argued.

“She’s right.” I nodded, coming around the bar to stand before him. “I’m not leaving your side. You can’t do this alone.”

“Melanie!” He yelled, causing me to jump slightly. “For once just fucking listen!”

I shook my head, placing my hands on his hips as I looked up at him. “You stay, I stay. You can yell, kick, and scream, all you want but my mind is made up.”

Pam smirked, crossing her arms as she walked up to us. “Looks like you’ve met your match.”

Eric looked down at me, his arms wrapping around my neck in defeat as he rested his chin on my head and took a deep breath. “I’ll figure something out. I gotta make a phone call.”

He kissed my forehead and let go, walking into his office.

“I’ve never seen him so worried.” Pam broke our silence as she took a seat and filed her nails.

I shrugged, grabbing the entire bottle before taking a seat across from her. Taking a sip, I sighed. “Are you scared?”

“How can I not be? If a thousand year old vampire is scared, we don’t stand a fucking chance.”

“Hi, I’m looking for Eric Northman.” An older man walked through the front door in a well tailored suit and a briefcase.

“I’m here.” Eric came from his office door. “Please, have a seat.”

Without saying anything to either of us, Eric sat down across from the man, explaining to him that they needed to set up a will immediately. We watched as he pulled out a stack of papers from his briefcase before they started.

“I give all my residences, subject to any mortgages or encumbrances there on to -?” He asked.

“My progeny, Pamela Swynford De Beaufort.” Eric answered.

“Why are you doing this?” Pam stood up, walking beside him.

“Because Pam, Russell Edgington was maybe the oldest and strongest vampire on the planet before he eviscerated a newsman on live TV. Now he is also the craziest and his rage is directed at me. Do the math.”

“So what?” I interjected. “You’re not even going to put up a fight?”

“Of course I am.” He answered, not turning to face us. “But until I come up with a brilliant plan to beat him, I’m covering my bases.”

“Eric – “

Pam tried once more before he turned around angrily.

“Unless you have a plan to defeat Russell Edgington – do not distract me.”

“Article four: I hereby give my residuary estate to – ?” The lawyer continued.

“Divided evenly between my progeny, Pamela Swynford De Beaufort and Melanie Elizabeth Stackhouse.”

My eyes widened at the sound of my name. He would leave me half of his money but only in his death? What kind of deal was that?

“I don’t want your money Eric.” I protested, stepping forward but he ignored me.

“Your signature requires two witnesses, but the witness cannot be a beneficiary to your estate.”

“Yvetta!” Eric called out an an unfamiliar woman came from the back room to him. “Are you mentally competent and under no duress at this time.”

“Yes.” She responded in confusion.

“Good, watch this.”

Eric signed his name then took her hand to sign her name under the witness line before turning the papers back to the man.

The lawyer stood, shaking his hand before putting the papers back into his briefcase. “Well, congratulations ladies. According to the state of Louisiana, should Mr. Northman meet the true death, you will become extremely wealth.”

 

---

 

Eric:
My thoughts were racing a million miles per minute. There was still so much that had to be done but at least Pam and Melanie would be okay. I knew Melanie would try to argue with me but she’d have to accept it. There was no way I was going to leave this earth without making sure she was taken care of.

“You’re giving everything to her and this random bitch!?” Yvetta shrieked, pointing towards Pam and Melanie. “You promised you’d take care of me!”

“I promised you a job and good sex. That is all!” I said trying to hold my cool.

“So these last few months meant nothing to you? I meant nothing to you?” Her eyes filled with tears.

“Less than nothing you gold-digging whore!” I snapped.

She stomped away crying. I turned only to be met by Melanie looking up at me angry and confused. I had forgotten how much commitment meant to humans. She was a smart girl, it was clear she had figured out I’d been fucking Yvetta but it meant nothing to me. I’m was just a way to keep my mind from thinking about her but to see her try to hold herself from falling apart was pulling at me dead heart strings.

“Melanie -” I stepped closer but her hand made contact with my cheek before she stormed out the front door.

The slap itself didn’t hurt, the pain I sensed from her did.

“You can be such a cold hearted bastard.” Pam shook her head before walking to the back.

Great. Just what I fucking needed.

OOO

“How did you finds us?” Bill Compton sighed as he opened the door to Jason’s house.

“Oh, it was really not that hard.” I smirked. My eyes wandered over his shoulder to see Sookie resting peacefully on the couch. “I know what they are.”

His face expressed surprise before motioning for us to walk outside. Complying, I rested my hands into my pockets as the two of us walked down the darkened path. “So is it true Sookie’s blood let you walk in the sunlight?” Again his reaction told me everything I needed to know. “Oh? Sophie-Anne never even told you why she sent you for Sookie.”

“I returned to Bon Temps because it is my ancestral home.” He defended as we came to a stop.

“Oh, spare me your lies. I’ll just find out on my own.”

A growl came from his throat. “Sookie is mine.”

“She won’t be if you’re dead.” I warned him. “Is it true?”

The younger vampire thought over his options before speaking again. “No. The blood works for a few minutes, if that. And you burn a bit slower than you would do without it. But you still burn.”

My thoughts raced once more. This information could easily give me an advantage over Edginton, even if it meant risking Sookie for Melanie’s safety. Either way, Bill Compton didn’t need to know.

“Well, that’s gonna disappoint Sophie-Anne.” I lied.

“Well, I will die the true death before I let her get her hands on Sookie.Or anyone else, for that matter.”

“Russell will come for her.”

“Well, you should know, since you’re now his butt boy.” he scoffed.

“No longer. I killed Talbot.”

“So that’s why he went all medieval on TV. Well thanks Eric. You just put our cause back a thousand years.” He paused noticing my lack of reaction. “He must be after you for that. Why are you even here?”

“I’m trying to save Sookie.” I lied again.

“Oh give me a break.” He seethed. “You don’t care about Sookie. You left us in Russell’s house to die! What is the fucking truth for once?!”

“The truth!” I leaned down to get in his face. “Why don’t you tell Sookie the fucking truth, if you really love her?”

“What truth?” We heard Sookie’s voice approaching us before we took a step back from each other.

“The truth about what you are. Which I’ve already told you.” He lied as she came around to stand by his side.

“Why are you here?” She looked about at me. “To pretend like you care about my safety so you can sell me out to Russell again, or is it to the Queen this time? “

I smirked at her stupidity as guilt riddled Bill’s face. “You really believe he’s trustworthy?”

“All I know is that I sure as hell can’t trust you. And now that I know what I am and what you want from me and Melanie – “ She paused, looking around us for a moment before turning back towards me. “Melanie – where is she? Has anyone told her what we are? Why isn’t she with you?”

“She’s fine. I can feel it. But no. She has no idea.”

“What did you do to her? Where is she?”

I rolled my eyes at her faux concern before taking off on them. Fact of the matter was, Melanie was safer anywhere else but near Bill Compton and even I. Russell had no idea who Melanie Stackhouse was or even what she looked like. All he knew was that Sookie had a sister. The longer she could stay hidden and far away from the situation, the safer she would be.

---

 

Melanie:

“Hey, Sam.” I stood on the front porch of his house, smiling as best I could at him as he opened the door.

“Mel?” He rubbed the sleep from his eyes. “You okay?”

“Is it – would it be okay if I crashed on your couch? Just for tonight.”

“Yeah!” He nodded, stepping out the way so I could walk inside. “Yeah. What’s going on?”

I took a deep breath as I took a seat on his couch. I rested my arms on my elbows before leaning my head into my palms. It was taking everything in me not to break down all over again but I had to be stronger than that. I needed to pull my shit together. Eric Northman did not deserve these tears. Not after finding out he’d been fucking one of his employees. I mean, sure, we were never officially an item. I didn’t think it would hurt so bad knowing he’d been doing his own thing – but to see the other woman in person was something else. She looked just as hurt as I did. He’d made her promises too – what the fuck was all this?

“Mel? Hey hey hey!” I felt Sam’s hand on my chin as he lifted my head to look at him. “It’s alright, darlin’ no need to cry. What happened?”

I rested my head on his shoulder as he wiped a tear from my eye. “I don’t feel like talking about it Sam. I just don’t want to be around none of them right now.”

He nodded in understand. “Okay. It’s alright. I won’t push. Does Sook know you’re here?”

“No.” I shook my head.

“Alright, I’ll grab you a blanket and some hard liquor. You look like you need it.”