Eric:
The room fell silent as we all stopped to stare at her. Whatever the fuck she did hurt like hell. Like electricity had just run right through me. If I wasn’t already dead she would’ve killed me.
Pam ran over to me, checking for any visible injuries. “What did you do to him, you bitch?”
“What in God’s name was that, Mel?!” Sookie broke the silence but Melanie hadn’t moved. She just stood there, staring in shock at her own hands.
What was she?
I knew she was more than human, this just proved the theory. I brushed myself off and stood up. As angry as I should’ve been with her, I wasn’t. She just further peaked my interest.
I started to approach her slowly and Bill stood in my way. He was really becoming a pain in my side when it came to getting to the bottom of her and her sister. I respected the fact that Sookie was his, but Melanie – she was nobody’s. An untamed spirit. One that I wanted to spend my time trying to tame.
“Step aside, Bill.” I warned him slowly.
“She didn’t mean it, Eric. Please.”
“Move.” I demanded, my tone louder.
Reluctantly, he moved aside and behind him stood Melanie. Her vibrant blue eyes were wide, almost childlike. There was a hint of fear in them but mostly confusion and curiosity. She had no idea what she had done. What she was capable of.
“I’m sorry.” She whispered, lowering her head again to look at her hands. “I – I don’t know what happened.”
I took her hands in mine, the tan of her skin contrasting against my own. Her skin, soft and delicate. Her palms were warm. Her fingertips a little red but there was nothing. No hint of a light coming from them.
She cleared her throat and took a deep breath for courage before looking at me again. “I’m taking Lafayette with me.”
“On one condition.” I countered.
“You’re just going to let her get away with whatever the hell that was?!” Pam yelled.
“Eric.” Bill interrupted. “Don’t.”
“What is it?” She asked, ignoring everyone else but me.
“I need you to come to Dallas with me to help find the missing sheriff of that area.”
She crossed her arms, her eyes finally leaving mine to look at Lafayette and her sister before looking at me again. “So if I agree to go to Dallas to look for some missing vampire, you’ll let him go?”
“No.” Sookie protested. “No way. I’ll go. Leave her out of this.”
Bill grabbed her arm. “No! You nearly died last night, you are not going to Dallas.”
“Bill, I can make up my own mind.” She whispered harshly through clenched teeth.
“None of you are going.” Melanie stepped forward. “You stay out of this Sookie. You get into enough shit as it is.”
“I’ll pay for your expenses of course.” I offered, leaning back against the table.
“If she goes, I go.” Sookie contended. “And we’ll take $5000.”
“Sookie!” The younger sister argued.
“We’ve missed a lot of work, Mel. We got bills.”
“You’re human’s getting cocky.” I cautioned Bill.
“$10,000 and I will escort them.”
“I don’t think so. No.”
“$10,000 and Bill comes with us or it’s a deal breaker.” The older Stackhouse concluded.
I looked at Melanie as she rolled her eyes at their dramatics. I too was quickly loosing my patience and growing quite annoyed by the mouthy one. I don’t know what Bill saw in her. They didn’t comprehend the gravity of this trip.
“Enough!” I hissed. “You will need to leave immediately. Take your friend home and pack what you need.”
“I’ll make the travel arrangements.” Bill stepped out.
“Melanie.” I grabbed her hand as she started to walk away towards her friend. “Do not let me down.”
She paused for a moment, gaging the seriousness of my tone before slowly nodding her head.
Melanie:
I’d never been out of Louisiana, much less flown on a plane. Neither had Sookie but she was enjoying it much more than I was. With the turbulence at landing, my stomach was in knots as I ran to the restroom throwing up what little I’d had to eat for the day.
“You okay in there?” Sookie knocked on the door.
“I’ll be fine!” I yelled out mid-dry heave.
“Well alright, I’ll head out and make sure Bill and Jessica are okay.”
They had decided to bring Jessica, the baby Vamp with absolutely no training whatsoever so Bill could use this as bonding time. Sookie was taking it in stride, saying how they could use it as a mini vacation and what not. Under any other circumstances, I’d be enjoying my time as well but something behind Eric’s steel grey eyes told me this was more than just his civil duty to help find another sheriff. No. Whoever this man was, he was important to him.
I brushed my teeth and rinsed my face with cold water. I couldn’t say I was a fan of flying but at least I got to experience it. As I patted my face dry with a towel, I heard Sookie scream outside.
“Get your hands off me!” She yelled as I ran down the stairs. Bill was out of his coffin already, holding a bald guy by his throat.
“What the hell happened?” I asked looking between the three of them.
“He tried to throw me in the Limo.” Sookie answered not taking her eyes from him.
“Someone must’ve sent him.” Bill added.
We heard banging from behind us and turned to see Jessica’s coffin moving around.
“Hey!” She screamed banging on the lid. “Someone get me out of here! How the hell do you open this thing?!”
I looked at Bill and Sookie with a sigh. Goddamn baby Vamps. Now we had to babysit with everything else going on. Sookie walked over to let her out while Bill shoved the guy into the limo.
“Let’s go.” He said, stepping in behind the man.
Once we all got in, Bill took a seat in front of the man. Leaning forward so that he was looking directly into his eyes. We could see the beads of nervous sweat running down his bald head as he stared back at Bill.
“Tell me.” Bill glamoured. “What is your name?”
“Leon.” The guy answered numbly.
“Alright then, Leon. No one is going to hurt you.” Turning his head to Jessica, he smiled. “Would you like to try?”
Sookie and I sat back, watching him walk her through how to do it. It was cute to see them interact. Almost like a real father and daughter – except not related and dead? Whatever, it was adorable to see her learn how to function.
Bill let her take over after a few minutes and came to sit near us. “He was sent to abduct you. Which means somebody knew you were coming.”
“Who do you think’s behind it? Vampires?” Sookie asked, sitting closer against him.
“To sloppy.” He shook his head. “Maybe that church.”
“Bill, they may be crazy but they’re still a church. They’re not going to kidnap anybody.”
I leaned forward and shook my head. “Cause people ain’t done erratic shit in the name of religion?.”
“She’s right.” Bill added. “Churches have done much much worse throughout history.”
“They’re not a church. They’re a hate group and I don’t doubt that this was them. Let’s just get to the hotel.””
OOO
Bill and Sookie checked in with one employee while I checked in with another. Handing her my license she entered my name in the system before looking at me with a pleasant smile.
“Great! You’re in suite 10A, it’s on the top floor. Courtesy of Mr. Northman. Any room service is also covered as well as a continental breakfast every morning from 6am to 9am. Feel free to call the desk if you need anything.”
Top floor suite? Sounded way to nice for someone who had just tried to kill him. I returned the smile, taking my brochure and room key before rejoining the group.
“I’m on the 10th floor. Where are you guys?”
Sookie looked at her key. “Well we were on the second, but we decided to upgrade to the suite so it say’s we’re 10c.”
“Oh good, I’m 10a.” I looked over at Jessica still playing with Leon. “What’re we going to do with him?”
“We’ll question him upstairs.” Bill nodded, looking around suspiciously.
The suite was huge. It had a king sized bed, draped in gray and white sheets. A black glass minibar filling one of the corners with a small sitting area and a fireplace. A flat screen tv hung on the wall across from the bed and blackout blinds covered the windows for vampire guests. The room was adjoined by an enormous white bathroom with large jacuzzi tub and glass paneled shower. I’d never been in a hotel before, much less a suite like this. Eric really didn’t spare any expenses when it came to this trip – or you for that matter.
As much as I wanted to enjoy this, there were more pressing matters at hand. I walked across the hall to Sookie’s room where Bill was already questioning Leon and took a seat across from them next to Sook.
“Who sent you?”
“Fellowship of the sun.” He stammered.
Bill shot a look between us before Sookie asked next. “Are you a member?”
“No, they hired me?”
“Who specifically?” I leaned closer.
“Not sure, it was over the phone. Money was put in a locker for me at a Greyhound station.”
“And they hired you to do what exactly?” Bill asked him.
“Abduct a human with the Compton party and bring them to the church.”
“Do you know our names?” Sookie interrogated further.
“No’mam. I didn’t even know you were a woman or that there were two of you. All I know is that a vampire is using a woman to find a vampire, Godric.”
My head shot up as I heard the name. “Do you know where he is?”
“No’mam. I do not.”
Bill wrapped up glamouring him before calling Eric. Sookie poured us some wine while I sat by the fire. I had known this wasn’t going to be easy but it hadn’t been real until we landed and were immediately hit with something. Yeah the place was nice, but we were in danger. Real danger. AGAIN.
“Yeah, she’s fine. It was Sookie they almost abducted.” I heard Bill over the phone.
Eric:
“I admire you, Bill.” I sat back in the large leather sofa, watching everyone around mingle. “It takes a real vampire to admit he cannot protect his human.”
Bill scoffed, joining his hands together in front of him. “And it takes a real monster not to care about anyone or anything other than himself.”
“I care about others.”
“You care about Godric. You have no obligations to Dallas or Texas. This is personal for you. Why?”
A waitress came by and placed a bottle of true blood on the table in front of us. I rolled my eyes at his preference of that disgusting tar they called a replacement for blood.
“I hope you’ll enjoy your blood substitute, which is costing me $45.”
“Oh I have no intention of drinking it. I just want you to pay for it.” He quipped.
“How mature of you.”
He leaned forward over the armrest his inquisitive gaze weighing heavy on me. “Answer the question. Why this allegiance to Godric?”
I could’ve told him the truth but I couldn’t trust Bill Compton as far as I could throw him. It wasn’t a secret that he was my maker, but with everything going on, it wasn’t something to be said freely. You never know what someone could do with that information.
“He’s much beloved by his subjects.” I answered vaguely.
Bill chuckled, “Only Kings and Queens have subjects, Eric. Not sheriffs.”
“Godric could have been King of Texas had he wanted. He could’ve been King of any vampire territory anywhere. He is twice as old as I am and very powerful. There are none above him in the new world.”
“We’ll if he’s so powerful, how could they abduct him?”
“Now that’s what worries me.” I leaned forward, closing some distance between us. “If one such as he can be taken by humans, then none of us are safe.”
He leaned back in his seat again letting out a sigh. “What can I give you to release Sookie from this?”
“I don’t care what you do with Sookie. It is her sister I made the agreement with. She included herself voluntarily.”
“Then release Melanie.” He argued. “We haven’t been here for more than a few hours and already Sookie has been attacked.”
“ Your accident prone human isn’t of my concern. We’ll meet again tomorrow.” I stood, pushing his bottle of true blood closer to him. “Drink up.”
I left Bill at the bar, brooding at the misery of his own existence as he’s done for over a century. I never understood how someone could spend so much of their time moping as much as he did but he wasn’t my problem.
The elevator doors opened to the tenth floor. I stepped out only to be pushed aside by Sookie chasing after some hotel employee. Now that was another person I would never understand. Shaking my head I walked down the hallway to 10A. Sliding my key card in, I entered slowly as to not frighten her but the room was empty, only lit dimly from the bathroom light, the sound of her voice singing off key to an old country song coming from the other side. It brought a smile to my lips. If it was one thing I missed about my humanity was my ability to put all troubles aside for a few moments of ignorant bliss.
I popped open the bathroom door and was met by the sight of her laying peacefully in the bathtub, eyes closed as she relaxed in the sauna she had created. Though bubbles surrounded her skin, the transparency of the water gave me full view of her perfect body. It stirred up something inside of me that I hadn’t felt in quite some time.
“Mmm.” I groaned. “Such a strange sensation when the reality matches what you’ve pictured in your mind so precisely.”
Her eyes shot open and she jumped for a moment, a scream escaping her lips before catching her breath.
“Jesus christ! What are you doing here!” She yelled, crossing her arms and legs to protect her modesty.
“I came to check in with you.” I shoved my hands into the pockets of my suit pants, leaning against the bathroom counter top.
Biting her bottom lip, she looked around for her towel before giving in. “I’ll be out in a minute.” She motioned for the neatly folded pile of towels next to me.
Handing one over, I waited for her to stand but she just looked at me expectantly. It took me a moment to realize she wanted privacy.
“Fine. Hurry.” I said, closing the door behind me.
I was glad to see she was enjoying the room. This might have seemed like she was doing this for her friend, but she was actually doing me a great favor. I would’ve given her anything she had asked for. Except – she hadn’t asked for anything. All she wanted was her friend home and safe. I’d even paid him a visit to heal him. It was her two companions who wouldn’t shut up about their demands.
She stepped out a few minutes later wrapped in a white towel. Her golden hair in damp waves down her back and her skin glowing. It took a minute for me to stop staring and catch my breath.
“Everything okay with the room?” I asked.
She brushed her hair behind her ear, making her way to sit on the couch crossing one of her legs over the other. “Yeah, it’s a beautiful hotel.”
“And the flight?” I came to sit across from her.
“I’d never flown before. I ended up being sick to my stomach for most of it.” She shrugged her shoulders.
“Glad to see you’re feeling better.”
“Thanks.” She nodded, nervously picking at the chipped nail polish on her nails. “How are you feeling?”
Scrunching my eyebrows in confusion, I tilted my head. “Fine. Why?”
“Last night.” She lifted her head to look at me. “Did I hurt you?”
“It hurt like hell.” You admitted more honestly than you cared for.
“I’m sorry.” Melanie looked at her palms. “I had no idea I could do that.”
I studied her for a minute as she stared at her hands. The same confusion and interest written across her face as the previous nights. She wasn’t human. I knew that much but I had no idea what she could be.
“I shouldn’t have put my hands on you anyway.” I sighed. “Are you ready for tomorrow?”
She nodded her head. “Are we meeting with the Dallas vampires?”
“Yes. Listen – these vampires aren’t like us. Without Godric – I don’t know what they’re capable of. Tomorrow. I want you to stick by my side.”
She narrowed her eyes at me. “I know how to take care of myself.”
“None the less Melanie. You stick by me. Do as I say. Not because I’m telling you to, but for your own safety. And whatever that light thing was, don’t do it around any of them. I don’t want them getting any sort of interest in you.”
She stood, sighing heavily as she took a few steps away from me. “Why, Eric? Why should I trust you? I know what you did – turning in Bill to the Magister when he was protecting Sookie. I saw what you did to Lafayette. He told me what you did to the other men down there. Last night you almost ripped my head off. Why should I take your word for anything?”
“Because I’m all you got out here.” I stood in front of her, my figure towering over her 5’4 frame. “You might have your sister, but she’s useless out here and if you think you can trust Bill Compton, you’re severely mistaken. I brought you here for a reason and I won’t let anything happen to you in the meantime.”
“Why can’t I trust Bill?” She asked but I remained silent. There was another time for that discussion.
“Just be ready for whatever happens tomorrow. It’s imperative that we find Godric.”
“Because he’s your maker?” She asked quietly, catching me off guard.
I contemplated keeping this from her too but I had a gut feeling I didn’t have to. Not from her. “Yes.” I replied shortly.
“We’ll find him, Eric.” She said, her tone softer.
I believed her. It was difficult for me to take anyone’s word but Pam’s yet she was always truthful. Everything from her actions to the words she spoke were done from pure passion. No formalities or fear of consequences. She was strong enough to say what was on her mind and that’s the kind of person I could trust.
I looked at the clock by her nightstand. “It’s almost dawn. You should get some sleep too. It’ll be a long day.”