| TWELVE |
LIPS POISON THE WELL

      Apparently, Bill was, in fact, in trouble for killing Longshadow. His punishment would be decided by the Magister at a tribunal. Eric, as Sheriff, had to take him there the following night. He was going to be gone for two days.

        Eric kissed her deeply before he left and he muttered against her lips like he was trying to convince her along with himself, "It won't be that long."

        "I know," she said breathlessly as she stood in his grasp. He had his hands on the side of her face and his thumbs caressed her cheeks. Her eyes gazed into his sky blue ones as worry started to creep into hers. "And you're sure this Magister won't find blame in you?"

She knew that Bill would be punished for killing Longshadow. But considering Eric had been present when it happened and could have stopped it, she wasn't sure if he would be punished as well. It made her scared and she had asked this question already multiple times.

            "Yes," his lips quirked in amusement. "You're so worrisome over me."

"Of course I am," she said cutely as she moved forward, hugging him as she snuggled her head against his chest. "It's you."

She said it like he was special. Like he was ever so important and he should know why. He hummed with a small, knowing smile before he kissed the top of her head.

Then he sighed before he stepped away from her hold, "I'll be back."

She watched him leave and utter to his progeny as he did so, "Watch over her, Pam."

"Yes, Eric."

Pam smirked once they were alone, "So what will us girls be doing?"

            ______

          Eira actually ended up having fun. She danced in the middle of the crowd, twirling herself around while Pam sat on the throne in the absence of Eric. Once she took a break, she went to the bar to get a drink of water. Pam appeared.

         "If you keep that up, every vampire is going to have you as a meal before Eric even returns," Pam said with her hands on her hips.

           "I thought you were supposed to watch over me?"

        "There's only so much I can do, sweetheart," Pam stated. "Some of these vampires are older than me."

         "Okay, I'll stop," Eira agreed before she smiled widely. "But that was so fun."

          "Clearly," Pam shook her head but held a small smile. "Now be a good girl and stay at the bar."

         Eira gave her a thumbs up.

        _____

         While at the bar, she actually started to drink. She found that she liked mixed drinks and she was tipsy by the time Fangtasia closed. Pam joined her at the bar again.

          "Look at you," Pam smirked at the drinks. "You're just a little rebel when Eric is gone."

          Eira smiled shyly before she spoke slowly, "I'm not a rebel. I'm just...sad."

           "Sad?"

           Eira started to frown as she thought about Eric and all of her doubts, "If I ask you a question, will you answer honestly?"

            Pam sighed, "Spit it out."

            "Do you know if Eric cares about me?" Eira asked hesitantly.

          "Eric has never cared for a human before but he's never claimed one before either. You're a first," Pam said as she thought. "But then again he's also never had to wait as long to fuck a human as long as he's had to wait for you. My guess is once he does you'll be used goods to him and he'll want something new."

           Tears pricked her eyes at her words. Each word that came from her lips made her heart ache. Her lips poisoned the well of faith and hope she had for Eric.

          "But he wants to turn me. Why would he want to turn me if he didn't really want me?" Eira asked.

           Pam blinked in shock, "He said that?"

             "Yes," Eira answered honestly and Pam felt spite grow in her cold heart. "Wouldn't he want to turn someone he cares about?"

           "Or someone valuable he can use. Because at the end of the day he's a vampire and you're a human, sweetheart," Pam said coldly. "What do you think?"

            Eira nodded as she understood what Pam was trying to say. He did not care. She was a prize to keep.

           "Thank you," Eira smiled slightly before hugging the blonde vampire. "For being honest."

             Pam blinked in surprise before Eira pulled away. Eira gave her another smile before walking away and Pam couldn't help but feel guilt lodge itself in her throat.

_____

The next night, despite Pam protesting, she went out. She went to the engagement party that Arlene was having at Merlotte's. As soon as she arrived there, Arlene pulled her into a hug.

"Oh, sweetheart, how are you?" Arlene said worriedly. "No one's heard from you in nearly two weeks."

"I'm okay," Eira smiled reassuringly. "It's just probably safer if I stay out of town."

"You're probably right," Arlene said absentmindedly. "God forbid what happened to your mother happen to you."

Eira swallowed as tears pricked her eyes and Arlene realized what she said, "Oh, sweetie, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring that up."

"It's alright," Eira said sadly before smiling a bit as her eyes lit up. "I'm just glad something happy can occur in the chaos. You're engaged. That's happy."

"I've been married four times and yet I couldn't be more excited," Arlene smiled.

"And you deserve to be," Eira gave her another hug. "Congratulations."

"Oh, Eira, you're so sweet," Arlene stated. "I'm sure that vampire is just crazy over you."

Eira gave a fake smile, "Maybe."

"Hey, you mind if I steal this one for a dance?" Rene interrupted.

"Not at all," Eira smiled as Rene took Arlene to the dance floor. Her smile stayed as she watched Arlene practically glow with happiness. She had always loved love and seeing it made her happy if not a bit sad as she thought of Eric.

"Hey, Eira," Sam said softly as he stepped beside her. "How are you doing?"

"I'm getting tired of answering that question but I'm okay for now," Eira replied. "I'm sorry I kind of bailed on work."

"No," Sam waved off. "Don't you worry about that."

Eira smiled slightly before Jason interrupted, scratching the back of his head nervously, "Hey, Eira, do you think I could talk with you for a minute?"

Eira gave him a hard stare before she sighed, "Fine."

She followed him to the outskirts of the party. He still looked incredibly nervous as he spoke, "Look, first, I'm sorry. I was high on V but that's over now."

"Also," he stepped forward a bit to utter quietly. "I had no right to call you what I did. I'm sorry. If you wanted to hit me, I wouldn't blame you. But I just...I'm sorry."

She stared at him before her resolve softened, "I forgive you."

"Really?" he looked relieved. "Well, okay then."

Jason then stared at her longingly, "I hope that vampire makes you happy."

She smiled sadly, "He does."

And that was the problem. He made her so incredibly happy and none of it was even real.

"Good. That's good because if he didn't I would..." Jason paused as he thought of what he would do to a vampire. "Well I would do something."

Eira giggled a bit before she hugged him, "Thank you."

Jason froze in her grasp before he muttered dreamily, "Always."

_____

When she arrived back at Fangtasia after the party, it was almost dawn. The bar was cleared out as it was now closed and she was surprised to see Eric talking with Pam.

She couldn't help but smile. She couldn't help the butterflies that erupted just by seeing him. She couldn't help the way her heart skipped a beat. She couldn't help the way she wanted to see him every second of every day. She couldn't help that she was madly in love with him. It's why it didn't matter if it wasn't real to him (at least not yet) because it was real to her.

"Eric," she called as she ran to him.

There was a split second as he turned where he saw her smile that caused him to start to form one as well. Then she jumped into his arms before kissing him.

Pam shook her head and simply walked away.

Eira had kissed him deeply before she pulled away with a pout, "Two days is too long."

"Very," he agreed slowly. She had kissed him so passionately he was a bit thrown. But then he brought his hand up where he traced the smile she still wore with his fingers before he admitted. "I dreamed of this."

Eira smiled wider as her heart raced. She could almost believe that he did truly care about her when he spoke like this. She let herself believe.

"Now you don't have to dream," she uttered before she pressed her lips to his in a short, sweet kiss.

_____

It was the next night. She had kissed Eric for most of the day. He was now in his office with Bill and the girl he had to turn into a vampire, Jessica. She wasn't with them as she was dancing in the crowd of the bar.

Eric watched her from where he leaned against his desk. She didn't dance erotically like the others but she simply twirled around like some fairy. She had a bright smile on her face as she did so. She looked like an angel. His beautiful angel.

Bill studied Eric curiously as he talked. The older vampire had a serene look in his eyes as he watched her. Then Bill realized what it was. Devotion.

"Are you even listening?" Bill asked.

"Yes, you want me to take responsibility for your progeny," Eric didn't remove his eyes from Eira. "Your rather annoying progeny."

"Hey!" Jessica crossed her arms.

"I would be in your debt," Bill offered. "I would owe you a favor."

"But you have nothing I want," Eric stated as he continued to stare at Eira. "No."

            Bill sighed before Jessica sniffed the air, "What is that smell? It's so sweet."

             Eric tensed as his eyes went to the redhead. Jessica turned and her eyes landed on Eira, the sweet smell and her fangs dropped, "It's her. Can I eat her?"

         Eric moved in an instant. One moment he was leaning against the desk and the next he had his hand around her throat against the wall with his fangs bared, "She is mine."

         "So?" Jessica pouted. "We can share."

          His hand tightened around her throat as Bill lectured, "Jessica, you cannot touch a human that belongs to another vampire."

          "Okay, okay. I get it," Jessica pleaded and Eric released her. She swallowed in fear as she looked at him.

           "Get her out of here, Bill," Eric demanded.

           "Jessica!" Bill commanded and she sulked after him as they left.

           Eric went back to leaning against his desk to watch Eira but she came in soon after they left. He stood straight as she did so. She was wearing a white dress and she looked absolutely stunning; he couldn't help but give her the most absolute attention but she ruined it with her words as she asked, "Is Bill alright?"

          He leaned back with a frown, "Don't worry over Bill. You are mine. Not his."

         Eira frowned over his cold tone. She stared at him with furrowed eyebrows before it clicked for her. He was jealous.

           "I will worry because Sookie is my friend and she cares for him," she said as she stepped next to Eric before she reached up and tilted his head towards her as she started to smile. "But I worry over you more."

            Fuck, she was smiling. He didn't know what it did to him. He was still so perplexed by it but all his frustrations melted away with one single little smile from her. And he couldn't help but kiss her to see if he could taste the joy she felt. But he felt joy just by kissing her.

         And Eira let herself get lost in kissing him. It was easy to let her thoughts be carried away because if she let them stay, she would think he was kissing her not because he thought of her as a lover but because she was his toy he enjoyed playing with. And thinking that was too much for her to handle. Thinking that would break her heart so she chose not to break it.

           Not yet.