Waiting in the Dark

[Eric Northman]

Sookie had been all over the place. Since she had drank his blood, he could feel all of her emotions and it was delicious. It had been a turning point in his undead existance when the telepath from Bon Temps had entered his bar. He couldn't control her, she resisted him at every advance, she wanted Bill...he shuddered at the thought.

By every right all he really had to do was find a reason to kill Bill and then Sookie could be his. Unfortunately, she seemed to have this nagging sense of right and wrong and if he killed Bill she would only hate him and it would take that much longer to claim her for his own. Some how he would have to trick his way into her bed. Eric just wasn't sure how to go about doing it. Sookie had the first blood exchange, thanks to his quick wit...he smiled into the dark.

The girl was a moving target. Bad luck followed her everywhere. Now all he needed to do was wait around for her to be hurt. With Bill missing, he could use judgement as the acting sheriff to save her life...that would be the second exchange. Eric was pleased. Tonight, he would pay Sookie a social call. Maybe she would fall down her stairs...that would definitely require a lot of blood.

[Sookie Stackhouse]

The trash seemed to just pile and pile up or maybe it was because she had forgotten to take it out. In Bon Temps the trash truck came once a week and their tax dollars sure paid for it. Sookie had missed last week on occasion of a little bit of an ordeal at Merlottes causing her to be completely tired when she came home which in turn meant bed time. So, given the fact she was all bouncy and rested tonight she was going to take it out so they would pick it up in the morning.

Lately, Sookie had been a bit sad and kinda mad on account of Bill's absence. He was off doing stuff that he would not tell her about and really just acted as if it was not that bad. Was he cheating on her? Did he not care about her anymore? Whatever it was, she sure was pissed off. It was not like she could just rebound and get with some man in Bon Temps because she could hear every single thought in their head, making a relationship near impossible. This was a key factor in her love for Bill. So it seemed only a vampire or supe could call her attention. She did not really like any other vampires, save for one. And this she hated to think. She hated Eric, he was so pompus and cocky and thinks he rules the world not just Area Five. But ever since she took in his blood to save him, yeah right, she had been having these feelings that would not let up. Then the fact Bill was MIA, her hormones were running wild. But, no. "No, Sookie. No!" She said aloud and quickly reverted her mind back to the trash.

It was a bit chilly tonight so she pulled on her robe, grabbed the trash and headed outside. Ever since Bill entered her life she was always a tiny bit afraid to leave the house at night considering something evil might be lurking. So, she headed out that door with a bit of a quickness to get it done as fast as she could.

[Eric Northman]

Eric heard her coming out of the house and descend the stairs quickly. Either her trash was quite pugnant or she was nervous. Sookie could sense he was close by, just as he could feel her every movement of the night.

He tended to scare many people because of his silent approach. Eric thought about announcing himself but then he did need to get that second blood exchange. He was in range of her neck and if he could breathe he would have blown on it just for fun. "Aren't we the busy little beaver tonight? I hope you are able to make some time for me."

[Sookie Stackhouse]

Sookie was in rush mode. She rather liked not having been in the hospital recently, it was kindly nice. But she felt something, something familiar. A presence. Holy Crap she thought to herself. Trash in hand, almost there, she was suddenly faced with a voice, one she loathed and longed for at the same time. But that feeling did not register first, only fear. She threw the trash as far from her as she could, seeing the bags rip open and screamed loudly. If Bill were at home, he would have a come runnin. "Holy stars in heaven, oh my word, lord have mercy!" They all came out as once sentence. It was Eric and he had scared the pure crap out of her.

She turned to see him just come out of a tree and her inside self was telling her to pounce on him instantly and learn the topography of his body but her mind wanted to punch him and that she did. She threw her arm out in a fist towards his chest. "Eric Northman. You scared the bejesus out of me. What in the world are you doing here? Why in the heck'd you have to scare the crap out of me and make me throw the trash everywhere? Ain't you got enough courtesy to at least let me finish with the trash or help me?" She was heated up, in more ways than one.

[Eric Northman]

He let her hit him. It was therapeutic for her to release her aggression he had learned. She was a sight when terrified. The trash had flown up and sprinkled across the lawn in a debris filled shower. He chuckled and rubbed the spot where she hit to mock her lack of strength.

"I can not help the fact that you are not aware of your surroundings little telepath. However, if it will please you." Eric quickly raced around and gathered all the trash and stuffed in the garbage can. He smiled at her as if he done some incredible thing. His fangs were partially extended. "I must say, all this heavy lifting has me parched. Would you by chance happen to have any True Blood? That is unless you have something more tempting to offer?"

[Sookie Stackhouse]

Sookie was still seething with anger at being scared. In that one instant she had figured up that she would be in the hospital in no time and the medical bills would be outrageous. It was amazing how fast a mind worked sometimes. After hitting Eric though, she felt just a tad bit better. It was a nice release and hitting his tight cold body, it made her feel a bit weak in a good and bad way.

He made a quick mocking comment, as per usual then did the vampire thing and rushed around to pick up all the trash. She stood there with her mouth wide open feeling a bit happy that he cleaned up the trash, then she remembered it was Eric and Eric did not good did out of the kindness of his heart (if he even had one). So, he would want something. And of course, she was correct in her assumptions. "Well, thank ya for that Eric, but I could have cleaned it up ya know!" She said as she turned to walk into her house. "Heavy lifting. Yeah. Right." She let out a chuckle. "And of course you would need something in return for that even though you were the cause!" She continued to walk, knowing he would for sure follow because it was Eric. "If you were meaning something more tempting as in what I think, you can just bet your bottom dollar I aint caving in! But, fine, I have a bottle of True Blood you can have. But that is all!" She said, as she walked up the stairs. She hated him but at the same time wanted him badly. This feeling was making her a bit sick inside, but she could not help it. His little trick of dying and her taking his blood had already created the monster. She wanted him to go but wanted him to stay. This thought made her sigh outloud.

[Eric Northman]

He bowed dramatically. "One step at a time. I know you long for me." Eric noticed her scowl and fierce protests against him having anything other than True Blood. He smiled and a faint light caught his eyes making them twinkle. "Doesn't she ever learn?"

"Don't you realize my Sookie that the longer you fight me off, the more it pulls me to your center. You resist and I chase, you resist and I chase, the chase is always the best part. Won't you ever learn? Give in and this game will be over. You will get what you want, I will get what I want and then we will never have to feel this way about each other again."

As he thought about the statement he made, Eric wasn't entirely sure that was true. "I am worried about the current situation you have put me in Sookie, however, I am willing to overlook the discomfort in order for us to spend some time together. Now if you please kind lady, after you. The True Blood is calling my name."

[Sookie Stackhouse]

Sookie came in the house and knew Eric would follow because he had an open invitation currently. She did not resend his invite, though she thought about it. Sookie was being pulled back and fourth with her feelings for him. And from what Eric was saying, he was too. This connection they had was different, nothing like she had had with Bill. It was because of the shared blood, unlike the way Sookie and Bill did. It was different and in a way that made her just crazy. Eric was beautiful, he defined what a man should be. Well, in his case, a dead man.

And there Eric went, with one of his games. "If I give in Eric, the chase is over and it ain't gonna be no fun!" Sookie replied before she threw her hand over her mouth, a bit ashamed of what she said aloud to him. He would have a field day with that. She avoided what she just said and hid herself in the fridge so he would not see her face as she got out his True Blood and took it over to the microwave to nuke it to body temperature. "I don't really know what you are talking about Eric. You have always wanted me and you repulse me. You know this!" She replied, not sounding as sincere as she should have. He wanted to spend some time with her and that just sounded flat out weird from his mouth. Sookie wanted him, but wanted to ignore him at the same time. It was a double edged sword. Sookie would not want Eric until something in him changed or their blood bond got stronger.

[Eric Northman]

He stood still for a moment taking what she said in. "The only reason I repulse you is because you only think in a certain way. Right and wrong, black and white, when in reality there are shades of grey, fine lines to be tread, nothing is as clear as it may seem."

He leaned silently on the counter as he watched her get his True Blood. "You think you love Bill because of the way he treats you, I find it disgusting. Bill is ruthless, just like the rest of us. He see's only what he hungers for, what he can't have and tries to take it at any cost." Eric wasn't trying to get in any type of philosophical discussion with Sookie. He was trying to get her to need his blood by 'accident'. So far there wasn't anything in this kitchen that could cause a great accident. Maybe he would have better luck in the some of the other rooms.

Even though that was he true purpose, it didn't stop him from speaking his mind. "Bill handles you with kid gloves. There is a passion in you that yearns to be stoked by a greater fire than his." Eric crossed his arms. "Bill deep down doesn't care for you, not like you care for him any way. He cares for what you give him. His humanity was robbed of him just as he was coming home from war. You are one of the most 'humane' people I have ever met. You are too generous with your feelings and Bill uses you for that. It also doesn't hurt that you give your body and blood to him every night."

He winked at her, his fangs partially extended. "However, that is not the main issue. Bill can not ever truly love you, just like you can never truly give him back his humanity. Both of you are foolish to chase this fantasy. The things I say to you may not be what you want to hear or you may find my way of thinking as cruel but every thing I say to you is true." Eric pushed off the counter and closed the space between them. "I don't treat you like you are stupid or naive. Anything you ever need to hear the truth about I will always tell you." He smiled wickedly at Sookie. "I may not tell you the entire truth right away but what I tell you at the time is always true."

Eric wanted to reach out and run his fingers through her hair. "What is it about you that draws me near? Many women throw themselves daily at me, I have been with more woman than I can count, can it only be the thrill of the hunt?" He looked into her eyes and felt like he was trying to find her soul. Something that could lead the way to her inner thoughts. "There has to be something more about you that I can understand. Your gift, your reluctance, your beauty, these things shouldn't be enough to hold my attention and yet here I am in your kitchen, waiting for a synthetic blood, hoping to get a morsel of information that helps me solve the puzzle of Sookie Stackhouse."

He laughed. "Did that sound as pathetic to you as it did to me?" Eric waggled his eyebrows. "Maybe you liked it though. Sappy, pathetic, sensitive types turn you on dear one? Shall I cry tears of blood while we watch a 'chick' flick together?" The microwave ended its run with a ding. He pulled it out and drank deeply from it. "Just like the real thing...except not as fun or naked."

Eric began to leave the kitchen to fully inspect the rest of her house. "You are right about one thing, if the chase were to end now, it would definitely not be nearly as fun. The explosion that will happen when we do meet flesh on flesh will be so great, the impatience I feel now will have been very much worth it."