Sam Merlotte had sacked me. I couldn't believe it. I had to repeat it over and over in my head before it really sank in. I'd come full circle. I'd got involved with the vamps to try to save my home, and now, as a result, I was threatened with losing it all over again.

He'd said he hadn't wanted to and I knew that was true. He'd been thinking how he wished things had turned out differently, and how he hated that I was mixed up with 'that bloodsucker'. I wondered if that might have influenced his decision.

The reason he gave was that I just wasn't reliable enough. He didn't blame me for going to help Hadley – she was family after all – but hightailing it down to New Orleans and coming back two days later than I'd said I would was the final straw. He clearly thought that was just some kind of vacation for me.

It was true that I hadn't gone back to work immediately but I thought I had a good reason for that. It's not every day you find out that the people you thought were your family were nothing of the sort, or at least not all of them. Sam should have understood that, being not entirely human himself. Maybe he would have done, if I'd been willing to share my new knowledge with him, but I wasn't. The truth was I hadn't come to terms with it myself yet.

That wasn't the only thing it was a challenge to come to terms with. My relationship with Eric was less of a circle and more a tortuous winding path. There were times when I thought I'd found the perfect boyfriend, and not just because of the great sex. He hated the term 'boyfriend' of course, pointing out that it was quite inappropriate for someone with over a thousand years' experience. That only showed if you looked deep into his eyes. On the surface he could pass for twenty-eight, maybe thirty-five tops. Maybe it was on account of his experience but he had endless patience and seemed quite fascinated by the ordinary details of my life. I had to remind myself often that this was Eric Northman, vampire politician, arch-manipulator and stone-cold killer I was talking about.

The fact was that when we got back from New Orleans he was the only one I could really open up to. We'd spent two full nights just talking. We sat on the old couch in my living room, me wrapped in an old afghan against the chill of the hours before dawn.

"You seem distracted," Eric commented, proving that he could be observant when he wanted to be. That was another point in the 'good boyfriend' column.

"I just can't believe my Grandmother would cheat, it's just…" I trailed off, not quite sure what to say.

We'd both agreed that all the evidence - the gold bracelet and Auguste's files – pointed to my Grandmother being the human link to my Fae heritage. I just couldn't imagine what had possessed her to do such a thing.

"You've led a sheltered life Sookie, if you don't realize these things happen all the time." He sounded very matter of fact about that, which I marked down as a point in the 'bad boyfriend' column.

"You didn't know her. She and Grandpa were about the happiest couple you could ever hope to meet. She told me once that she loved him as much on the day he died as when she had first met him."

That had brought a tear to my eye at the time, and a little one threatened to fall again. Eric reached to wipe it away then ruined the effect by licking his finger. He had a bad habit of doing that.

"There's another thing…"

I hesitated, but Eric gestured to indicate that I should continue.

"It's about that old woman."

"The Ancient Pythoness?" he supplied her full title.

"She said I would have powers, but what do you think she means?"

"If she believes it, I expect it to be true. She is reputed to be the oldest vampire still living – she was an Oracle in ancient Greece and it is her powers of prophecy that make her so revered among the vampires today. Perhaps you should attempt to discover what these powers are, I will test you if you wish."

However hard I tried though I couldn't levitate, or move things across the room, or transform even the most basic object into something else.

The conversation was making my head hurt. I'd always thought I was so normal; or at least normal for Bon Temps, despite my 'disability'. Now I didn't know where to start. I decided it would be best to focus on the practical.

"I need to get a job, otherwise I'm right back where I started."

"Perhaps if I might suggest…" Eric said, sounding far too hopeful.

I cut him off. "I'm not working for you in Fangtasia." I was quite determined on that point.

"There are other job opportunities in Shreveport. I have many contacts in the vampire and the human communities, people who owe me favors. If you tell me what you would like to do, I will seek out an opportunity for you. What about interior design, I seem to remember you have a talent for that?"

I took a pointless swat at his arm as a punishment for being sarcastic, but he carried on talking for long enough to convince me that he meant it.

Using Eric's influence to get a job made me feel real uncomfortable, especially as I didn't want to be surrounded all the time by people's nasty thoughts about how I'd got where I was. "I don't want you pulling strings for me," I told him, ignoring the look of disbelief and the shake of his head, "if there's a vacancy, I'll be interviewed like anyone else."

If all else failed, I could always find work as a cleaner. I was a good cleaner, Gran's standards were very high after all, and I'd done a lot of cleaning after she had died. It helped me deal with the bad things in my life, as if washing away the dirt would wash them all out of my mind.

Eric found an opportunity for me with suspicious ease. Pumphrey Inc was one of Shreveport's premier Real Estate firms. They specialized in upscale properties, gated communities around the lakeside and old plantation houses in the small towns that surrounded the city. The houses needed to be 'dressed' to look their best for sale or rental and that was where I would come in.

I went along for the interview – what the heck. Pam helped me choose a suitable outfit, a smart black skirt suit with a white blouse, and black patent pumps. I was going to have to get used to a lifetime of uncomfortable clothes if this was to be my new career.

"Thank you for coming in," the woman behind the desk said as I took in the fancy office on the corner of the fifteenth floor with views on both sides out over the city as far as Cross Lake. She had dark hair twisted up in a neat French pleat and was perfectly groomed. The look on her face didn't match her words though so I listened in. I know it's rude, but she'd been rude to me.

I wasn't totally surprised to find out that I was the only candidate, and that they were strangely willing to overlook my complete lack of experience. She quickly revealed that her firm was keen to expand into the vampire market, on account of the older vamps usually being seriously rich. They hoped that my connection to Eric would be useful to them. For herself, she was hoping for a more personal connection.

I was sure that it would be useful to Eric too; color me suspicious, but it occurred to me that he wouldn't be at all unhappy to have me help him keep track of who was buying property in the area. I know I should have been angry about that, but I'd realized by now just how complex and dangerous vampire politics could be. He would need all the information available to him just to stay safe. Since my safety, and Pam's, and a whole bunch of other people depended on that I figured it would have been small-minded to complain.

The new job started pretty much immediately. I had my own office, and a secretary. That was very strange, having someone to run errands for me, pick up my lunch and sort my dry cleaning. I made a point of being real nice to all the secretaries and receptionists. For once my disability was an advantage. They thought I was sweet and sympathetic, not like that hard-faced bitch Selah Pumphrey who thought she was something special just because Daddy owned the firm.

It took a while to adjust and settle in, but gradually I found that I enjoyed it. I was good too. Being able to listen into the clients helped, and for once I didn't feel guilty. They might say they wanted the minimal look because they'd seen it in a magazine and it was all the rage, but if they really wanted cushions and chintz that's what I would give them. The lovely Selah didn't take to my success at all well – I seriously considered whether finding her a vampire lover would improve her mood but right now there just wasn't a suitable candidate for her tastes, which ran to tall and dark.

A big positive for my new job was that it allowed Eric and me to spend more time together. I'd been determined that he should come visit with me in my old farmhouse, but now I was working in Shreveport it was a lot easier to go back to his place. It was hard to complain about that. Even by the standards of the houses I was helping to sell, his home was exceptional. From the front it didn't look much, a plain frontage hidden behind a high wall and electric gates. The rear view was something else entirely. Huge picture windows opened up onto a lakeside view. We only got to see it at night of course; during the day huge light tight shutters kept the house safe for him.

If you asked a hundred people what they expected Eric's place to be like I'm sure ninety-nine would predict something cool and minimal; Scandinavian and masculine like him; all wood, leather and chrome. He'd chosen the complete opposite: jewel bright, vibrant shades and sumptuous fabrics. Maybe Pam had a hand in it, or maybe Eric just liked to confound expectations. The effect was quite stunning. Unlike Auguste, he didn't conduct any business there, preferring to keep it solely for pleasure.

When there was business to be done, it took place in Fangtasia. He'd kept the cellar furnished as it had been for the summit, although it was a constant battle to hold back the damp. That was where we had our first meeting with Russell Edgington.

The King of Mississippi was a small man; I had several inches on him in my new heels. I didn't let that fool me though; it was clear from Eric's body language that he was a vampire who commanded respect. He arrived with a small entourage and his own security – I think they came from the same firm that supplied Auguste as they all had the same heavy build, cropped hair, dark suit and dark glasses. Perhaps there was a factory somewhere turning them out.

I don't think the King was too happy to have me sit in on their meeting, but Eric said he could bring his human companion as well if he wished. I could have laughed out loud, I knew exactly why he'd set things up like that: Mr. Manipulation.

Talbot was taller than his vampire lover and exceptionally handsome. He was also a very strong broadcaster, which was how I knew that his first thought was whether Eric might, uh, 'swing both ways' as he so tastefully put it. He wasn't too impressed with me; I was too fat and too unsophisticated in his opinion. I'd plead guilty on both counts, but you know what, I didn't care.

The talk quickly moved to the new arrangements for governing vampire affairs in Louisiana. Russell seemed dismissive of his co-ruler Peter Threadgill, and Talbot's thoughts confirmed that. Just like Felipe de Castro, he thought the King of Arkansas a weakling, and was furious that he'd been given New Orleans. Talbot was, if anything, more furious. He'd been looking forward to lording it over the royal compound, and now they had to make do with a town house in Baton Rouge.

They had no immediate plans for a challenge though. Russell just wanted to be assured of Eric's loyalty. I wished I had some way of communicating with Eric that there was no immediate threat but the best I could do was to smile and look reassuring. That seemed to work, as there was a subtle change in Eric's attitude and I could sense him relax.

"You set me up for that," I said, after our guests had left. I hadn't meant to sound quite so accusatory but I did.

Eric shrugged. "You have a talent, Sookie, does it hurt you to use it?"

He had a point, I guess.

"You need to trust me with this," he continued, "if something is in my interests, it will most likely be in your interests as well, that is if we are a couple."

Trust Eric to hit the nail right on the head. I wanted a relationship based on trust after all, and that had to work both ways. "Fine, but next time, just warn me in advance. I won't give anything away, not unless you want me to."

He flashed me that brilliant smile, the one I really should learn to be wary of. Trouble was it just made me go weak at the knees.

There was no sign of any of our other potential enemies. Eric seemed to have contacts everywhere and received regular reports. Felipe was preoccupied with his business interests in Las Vegas. Vampires aren't officially allowed to own casinos, and the regulatory authorities were doing a lot of digging into the front companies he'd set up to disguise his business interests.

Alfredo was apparently very happy consolidating his power in New York. It seemed he was showing the same lack of judgment that he'd demonstrated during his brief stint in charge in New Orleans. His administration of justice was arbitrary and he demanded too much in 'taxation'. I hadn't entirely wasted my weeks in Auguste's apartment, I'd done a lot of reading and I was confident I knew more about how the world worked, but even without my new-found knowledge I could tell that Alfredo's approach would win him no friends.

That train of thought brought me onto the subject of Auguste. I couldn't help feeling just a little bit guilty about having him wind up in prison. I know he deserved it, and I know if I hadn't done it I would have wound up some kind of sex slave, but still it didn't sit right with me. He wasn't really bad, at least not for a vampire. His obsession with me was kind of scary though and I did wonder how safe that vampire jail was.

Every day it felt as if my old life was slipping away. I made a few last ditch attempts to maintain my links to the human world. We tried a double date with Tara and her new beau. She'd finally ditched 'Eggs' Benedict, after one swingers' party too far, when he'd tried to persuade her into a threesome with Jan Fowler, Bon Temps own gay divorcee. The thought disgusted me and I could tell how badly it had affected her. Now she had taken up with JB du Rone, who was probably the handsomest guy in Bon Temps – I'd say it was a close contest between him and my brother Jason – but it was almost as close a contest for who had the fewer brain cells. To be fair JB would win that race by a few yards.

The night wasn't exactly a success. JB was too dumb to realize that Eric was a vampire and gave us the benefit of his distinctly old-fashioned views on the subject of the un-dead. Tara was mortified by his ignorance, but was too scared to intervene.

"You've changed so much, Sookie," she whispered as we hugged goodbye, "I feel like I don't really know you any more."

After that experience, we didn't go out so often. Our working hours didn't always overlap and I much preferred to use the time we did have together sitting and talking – well maybe not always talking. My favorite spot was the hot tub, in the summer room down by the lake.

There was so much to talk about. I could listen to Eric forever; he was like a living history lesson. It was easy to feel intimidated, hearing about all the people he'd known in his long existence. How on earth could I compete with Queen Elizabeth the First, or Lucretia Borgia, or even Marilyn Monroe?

Sometimes I just couldn't resist getting my own back by teasing him.

"Eric, there's something I've been wondering."

"Really, dear one, do tell," he didn't sound that interested, preferring instead to lavish attention on my breasts.

"There are so many ways a vampire can spend their existence, how come you spend yours in a run-down bar in Shreveport."

He sat up so abruptly I knew I'd offended him. "Fangtasia is not run-down. Besides, it is only one of my business interests," he almost snorted with disgust.

"Okay, I'm sorry I insulted the club but even so, Shreveport is hardly the most happening city you could choose.

"If you must know, Auguste Cesario was not the only vampire who I …upset…over the centuries."

"So you need to lie low?"

He nodded. "Besides," he added, "you must have noticed that the attrition rate for vampire rulers is really unacceptably high."

I'd never had that word on my calendar so I just looked puzzled, and he had to explain it to me. When he had I could see his point. He could have put himself forward as a candidate for King of Louisiana at the summit, but there was a lot of sense in not drawing too much attention to himself.

Then something else clicked into place for me. "So Eric, these other business interests, they wouldn't include real estate would they?"

He had the grace to look just a little shamefaced. That didn't last though, as he turned the tables on me with a question I'd never expected.

"Sookie, I think you should marry me." He made it sound so matter of fact, like some regular every day event, not the most important question a girl expected in her life.

I was speechless for several minutes, before I pointed out that we hardly knew each other. I mean I liked him, and I certainly had big lust for him but I'd always thought that if I ever did meet a guy I liked we'd date for a year or two, then maybe get engaged, then married a while after that, once we were sure.

That didn't seem to concern Eric; he evidently wasn't the romantic type.

"You must be realistic, Sookie. You know that you will never really escape the vampire world. You need someone who can protect you. I am strong enough to do that, and besides, I care for you."

It may be unfair, but 'care' didn't sound to me like the kind of emotion to build a long-term relationship on. I'd hoped for 'adore' or 'idolize', or at the very least 'love'. He was coming from another place entirely and I told him so, sounding rather sulky.

"This idea is so modern and so dangerous. Look where it got Pam."

That sounded mysterious and I wanted to know more, but it would have to wait for another day as Eric was still expounding on his theme – I didn't need my 'Word a Day' any more as the books in his house were full of long and complicated words for me to learn.

"In my day…"

I'm sorry to say that I sighed at that point. Eric could be really quite tedious when he started on about his human life. It always seemed so cold and grey, his undead existence was so much more exciting. Luckily he didn't seem to notice, and continued talking.

"….marriages weren't for love, they were to maintain the community, to forge alliances with neighboring tribes, to ensure an heir…" he looked at little wistful at that point and I felt a pang of sympathy for him.

I guess it was sympathy for myself too. I'd always known I would never have children. It just wouldn't be fair, being able to know everything they were thinking – everyone needs a secret place for their own private thoughts. Besides, what if they inherited my 'disability' and they could hear my thoughts. I guess the only advantage would be that we could have those inevitable teenage tantrums in silence. Whatever, it didn't matter now, as Eric and I could never have children together.

"Sookie are you listening to me?" Eric's voice snapped me back into the present. I gave him an apologetic smile and he nipped my neck in a playful kind of punishment.

It was the kind of punishment I could take a lot more of, and I arched my neck to give him better access. He didn't need any further invitation. His fangs ran down and he bit into my artery. Unless you've ever been bitten, it's hard to explain just how erotic it can be, especially when the one doing the biting has also slipped a finger between your legs, and is stroking you with a persistent and familiar rhythm. I was so accustomed to his touch he could bring me to orgasm in only a few seconds.

After that there was no more talking. I turned in his arms and lowered myself down onto him. It was the position I liked the best, as it gave me some control. I could tease him by slowing the pace right down then, in the next moment, have him deep inside me. Eric liked it too. It gave him access to my breasts and he would use his mouth and his hands to tease me till my whole body was trembled with desire. Then, when neither of us could stand it any longer, he would take control and move my body to the powerful tempo he favored, and I would scream in ecstasy. Eric said I howled like a wolf, which didn't matter, as there were wolves out in the forest on the other side of the lake so the neighbors wouldn't realize. He was wrong about that though. A few days later a letter of complaint arrived from the Homeowners' Association, and after that we took our passion indoors.

I put off answering his marriage proposal and he didn't raise it again. Sitting safely in the arms of my vampire honey, behind the high walls of his property, it was easy to convince myself that we could have a chance of finding happiness. All we really needed was to be left alone. For now things seemed pretty quiet in our little corner of Louisiana; maybe we'd be just fine and dandy. I had to hope that I wouldn't find out I was wrong the hard way.

END OF PART ONE

Well it's the end of part one – there may be a continuation or a sequel – in time, who knows. I've really enjoyed writing this story, and I'm very grateful to teewhy1977 for giving me the idea, and of course to Charlaine Harris for creating the characters. I hope you've enjoyed reading it.

If you've made it through to the end, please take a minute to let me know what you think - what you liked, what you didn't like, should there be more? Feedback is our only reward in the humble world of fan fiction, and its never too late - even for an older story.