CHAPTER THIRTY TWO

✧✧✧✧✧

          EVEN AFTER ALL THE CLEANING DAKOTA HAD DONE, NOT MUCH HAD CHANGED ABOUT THE STATE OF HER HOME. It seemed as if the grime and blood were a never ending nightmare and after a week of scrubbing the floors and scratching off dirt from the walls she had had enough. the ruined furniture had been taken out, the dead animals buried and she had washed everything that could be washed.

It still smelled strongly of dirt and she didn't know how much bleach she'd need to fully get rid of the stench. Dakota was glad she could salvage some of her grandmothers belongings together before she had to clean out everything that had been destroyed. It was going to cost her and Sookie a fortune to repair everything that had been broken.

That was a problem for tomorrow, because Dakota was now on her way to Fangtasia by Eric's request. The blonde hadn't seen the vampire since the maenad had died, she had been too busy with the aftermath of that night to think about anything else.

The red neon sign of the bar came into view and a soft smile appeared onto her face as she put her car into reverse and parked it close beside the entrance. There were only two other cars parked there, one of them being Eric's red corvette. The viking had the bar closed for the night and Dakota strolled toward the door.

"Koko," greeted Pam with a sly grin on her face when the blond entered. Pamela sat on top of the bar, wine glass in hand with undoubtedly blood. The woman was wearing a soft pink track suit aligned with small diamond stars.

"Hi, Pam." she smiled, putting her jacket onto the bar top beside the vampire. "You look good."

"Now, I don't remember telling you violet was my favourite colour."

"Oh?" Dakota mused, glancing down at her dress. "I was hoping you'd like it. Picked it out specifically for you."

Pam's grin intensified as she took a sip from her drink before sliding off the bar and taking in her appearance again. Pamela was the biggest flirt she had ever met, beside her maker. Pam knew how gorgeous she was and she took advantage of that.

"I am wounded." Eric waltzed in not a minute later, smiling at the two woman. "And here I thought we had a connection."

Dakota rolled her eyes and shook her head in amusement until her gaze fell onto Godric, who had entered the room after his progeny. He looked good, much better than last time she saw him while in Dallas. He stepped around Eric and smiled at her.

"Godric," she uttered, taking a step forward and wrapping her arms around him. The older vampire didn't hesitate and rubbed the back of her head, squeezing her tightly. "I am so happy you're here."

"As am I." he released her. "It is good to see you, Dakota."

"Ugh," said Pam as she strolled toward the office with her drink. "I don't do emotions."

Eric watched the blonde disappear with a sly grin on his face before turning back to face Dakota and his maker. Dakota was relieved to see the latter, having been worried about his well-being after she had left Dallas. The question if he had actually gone through with his word about trying another time often ran through her mind.

"I haven't been here before." confessed Godric, motioning toward the bar. "It is exactly as I had imagined it. Typical Eric."

"Dark like his soul." Dakota agreed, slight smirk playing at her lips.

"Miss. Elkins," began Eric, eyes narrowed but no malice behind them. "I invited you here tonight, and you have managed to insult me twice in the span of five minutes. I am rethinking this entirely."

Godric let out an airy laugh, sending the woman a small grin in amusement.

An hour had passed and Dakota and Godric were sitting at a booth. Godric had decided to stay with Eric for the time being at his home in Shreveport and he seemed to be content as far as she could tell. Eric was on the phone beside the bar. Pam was behind the bar, doing some paperwork lazily, often rolling her eyes.

The fact his duties as Sheriff in Dallas were no longer his, managed to give him some much needed rest.

Dakota hoped he would be able to experience the beauty of life again sooner rather than later.

"He has changed." said the vampire, eyeing his progeny.

Dakota glanced up at him and furrowed her brows. Godric had known the viking for over a thousand years and from the look on his face she guessed he really had. Eric and his maker hadn't seen each other in a long time before Dallas.

"What do you mean?"

He tried to suppress a smile and his blue eyes met hers. Even though she had whispered her question, she knew that everyone in the room was able to hear their conversation but none even glanced into their direction.

"I have never -"

Godric wasn't able to finish what he was about to say as the door of the bar burst open and in barged Sookie, anger evident on her face as she spotted the tall blonde vampire. Her hair was done neatly and she was wearing one of her favourite dresses.

"Where is Bill?" she demanded, staring up at Eric with narrowed eyes.

Eric lowered his phone after a moment, raising a brow at the girl before him. His eyes met Dakota's briefly and she shrugged her shoulders, clueless as to what her cousin was talking about.

"Great, daft Stackhouse in the building." muttered Pam, no one disagreeing with her.

"What brings you to Fangtasia on this balmy summer night?" asked Eric, grinning down at her.

Sookie then noticed Dakota sitting with Godric from the corner of her eyes and she hated the fact that she had no idea who the boy beside her was. The younger woman looked disappointed to see that her cousin was still associating herself with the viking.

"Bill's been kidnapped and I think you did it." stated Sookie, shooting him a glare.

"I didn't." denied Eric, amused. "Any other theories?"

"I'm still on this one, thank you very much. Where were you tonight around eleven o'clock?"

Eric had no reason to come up with a lie, but still did as he said. "Here, with Dakota. Did you know that your cousin is very flex-"

"Eric!" Dakota spat, standing up from her seat and narrowing her eyes at him before she turned to Sookie. "When was the last time you saw Bill?"

"Tonight." she said, brows creasing as she explained. "We were having dinner and then he asked me to marry him but I got scared and left to go to the bathroom. When I got back he was no longer there, the place was wrecked."

"Oh, Sook." Dakota sighed, feeling sorry for her. "I'm so sorry."

"Kind of sounds like lover boy wanted to get rid of you." Pam raised a perfectly manicured brow. "I wouldn't blame him, you've embarrassed him."

"Shut your mouth!" Sookie glared, to which the blonde vampire chuckled. "Tell me where I can find Lorena. If you don't have him, she does."

"Who's Lorena?" asked Dakota, turning to Eric.

"His maker." he peered down at her. "Solid theory, but given the tenor of your last run in with Miss. Krasiki, I think it is better if I dealt with her instead."

"How do I know you will?" demanded Sookie.

"Because if Bill was, in fact, kidnapped, by human or vampire, I am duty bound as sheriff of the area in which he resides to find him."

"Then do it." she said, storming out of the bar and slamming the door shut behind her.

Dakota felt a presence behind her and Godric laid a hand on her shoulder. "Family of yours?"