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Fallen Twilight Chapter 8: Striking a Deal

(Sorry for the LONG delay wait for this update everyone, school was brutal the last couple months, but with my break I finished this chapter and am writing the next one, so please enjoy )

Not long after deciding what to do for the day, Axel and Sookie got themselves ready for a day of shopping and hanging out at the mall in Shreveport with Tara, whom was off for the day.

Having both decided it best, Sookie and Axel decided to keep their plan of going to Fangtasia to talk to Eric from Tara. Her standpoint on the relations Sookie has with Vampires, and the one Axel wishes to have with Eric, has been made clear.

Axel enjoyed just hanging out with the two girls. Tara is a pretty laid back woman...she just tends to get offended easily. Axel and her were finding it easy to get along, much to the joy of Sookie. On top of window shopping, the three were looking for presents for Christmas which was a few weeks away. Axel was excited about the fact of Christmas with people again...and in a house no less. He missed having a Christmas dinner and the likes on that day, so this year would spell a new beginning for him.

Eventually, the day turned to night, and Tara had to go home to get some sleep before she worked the next day, which worked for Sookie and Axel. They dropped her off at her house and set off towards Fangtasia, where hopefully Eric would be.

As Sookie pulls into the parking-lot, she looks at Axel with a slightly worried expression.

"Are you sure you want to do this Axel? I could talk to Jason and Alcide." She says, referring to here Were-Panther brother and Werewolf Ex-boyfriend from when she went looking for the once missing Bill Compton.

"I'm fine Sookie. I can't risk people that you really care for getting hurt, and with Eric I have no doubt he will be able to protect us." Axel replies as he turns to her and gives a soft smile in reply.

"You place too much trust in him Axel. I'm as close as it comes to Vampire acceptance and logistical thinking...but he's not to be trusted...most of them aren't."

Axel lost the smile and nodded in acknowledgement, feeling silly for falling so head over heels for a man he doesn't know, and preaching how good he is when Sookie has a history with him.

"I'm sorry Sookie. I guess I just let my heart get ahead of my mind. If it will make you feel a little better...I promise to be careful around him and all vamps from here on out." Axel says, his honesty very apparent, since Sookie has cut now been keeping herself from reading Axel's thoughts.

She nods in response and hugs him.

"Thank You sweetie...that's all I ask." She says as she gives Axel a quick pat on the hand, then turns off the key with a loud sound coming from the engine to signal it has turned off.

"Darn thing...I need to get that engine checked." She says as she opens her door and gets out with Axel following wordlessly behind her.

As they approach the bar's entrance, a tall woman with long golden blonde hair and penetrating blue eyes comes into view.

"Sookie...who's that?" Axel asks as they get behind a person who appears to be in line to get in.

"That's Pam, she's Eric's...child as it would be in vampire terms."

Axel looks at the woman again and when they finally approach her, he can't help but feel slightly small in comparison to her authoritative stature that almost seems to pulse with a power that is barely disguised by her elegant face. Her face is just the tip of the iceberg as Axel looks her over even more, noticing the ample bosom that is barely hidden by her leather attire, no doubt trying to keep up with the stereotypical "vampiric" appearance.

"Hello Sookie, what brings you here tonight?" Pam asks, her voice only adding to her beautiful appearance.

"We need to see Eric, Pam...he IS here right?" Sookie asks, Pam nodding in response.

"Indeed he is, he needed to be to keep up our little...facade we have going. It helps business greatly when he is on display for the humans. However, I can already smell that your friend here is not of age...his blood smell much too sweet." Pam smiles at the last comment, her gleaming white teeth showing just barely through the parting of her lips and giving a preview to the fangs she has hidden behind them.

"He and I have no desire to drink anyway Pam...we are here to talk to Eric about something important." Sookie says, giving Axel a worried look from Pam's comment, however, Axel is too enamored with seeing another vampire, and one so up close.

"Our policy prohibits us from allowing minors inside the bar...under any circumstance." Pam says as Sookie sighs in annoyance.

"Then could you see if His Majesty can take a few minutes away from his adoring subjects to talk to these lowly people?" Sarcasm practically rains from the request, making Pam raise an eyebrow in amusement.

"Shall I say that to him then?"

Axel, finally back to the present, laughs lightly.

"You would probably get him out here quicker." He says, Sookie nodding in response.

"Very well...one moment" Pam replies, disappearing so fast it seems like she was never standing at the entrance. A few surprised shouts can be heard fro inside the bar at the sudden burst of air generated from Pam, however, almost as fast as she left, Eric replaces her.

"Hello lover...to what do I, His Highness, owe the pleasure of you presence?" He asks, a slight smirk on his face, obviously liking the title greatly.

"First off, I'm not your lover Eric, second, Axel and I are here for a reason and it is not to appease your enormous ego." Sookie replies in annoyance.

Eric releases a huff of air that seems suspiciously like an amused chuckle.

"Very well...perhaps we could go somewhere more...private?"

"If you think for one minute that I am going to go near that basement of yours, you thought wrong." Sookie snaps, making Axel raise an eyebrow in questioning.

"Oh Sookie...what makes you even think you could stop me from taking the two of you there if I wanted to?" Eric asks, a playful smirk on his face.

Sookie's face doesn't change in it's defiant appearance. Before they can continue, Axel decides to jump in.

"Eric...I don't know if you remember me but we met a few night's back...at Merlotte's?" He says, now drawing the piercing gaze towards him, along with the smirk that makes his knees weak.

"I couldn't forget someone like you Mr. Twilight. What can I do for you this evening?"

Axel didn't think his cheeks could feel so warm, but he was quickly proven wrong as blood rushed into them.

"I have something important to ask of you pertaining to the recent deaths...I think this vampire is after me."

Eric raises an eyebrow.

"And what has drawn you to this conclusion if you don't mind my asking."

"A few years back...a vampire broke into my home and murdered my parents when I wasn't there...but it hasn't stopped trying to kill me. The only reason I have survived this long is because she likes to toy with me and if I hadn't found Sookie's home when I did...I would probably be dead now."

Eric doesn't do anything...he only continues to look at Axel, now with an indecipherable look.

"What I want to ask is...would you be able to have some of your more trusted vampires look after us...kind of guard us? Sookie has mentioned you owe her." Axel explains, finishing with a slight sigh and hoping Eric agrees.

"I would...but what will you do for me in return?" Eric asks, crossing his arms as Sookie's expression changes to anger.

"Eric! You owe me!" She yells, no longer caring they still hadn't moved to a private area yet.

"And I will uphold my debt to you Sookie...however, assigning protection for you both requires two vampires, and thus two debts."

"What exactly would I have to do to acquire your...debt?" Axel asks, shifting from one foot to the next in a nervous gesture.

"That would depend on what you feel would match the debt I would be repaying...perhaps something relating to my bar would be enough." Eric suggests, a slight twitch of his mouth signaling the smallest smile.

(Shit! Sookie, you don't think he means my telepathy do you?) Axel thinks, sounding nearly in a panic, but still looking the same on the outside.

(No sweetie, I don't think so, but it's hard to tell with him. Just tread carefully with him...for now at least.) Sookie replies, sending the recognition that Axel would be getting closer to Eric one way or another.

"Well,...I can sing." Axel says, Eric raising an eyebrow in curiosity.

"Really...that would certainly bring more business to the bar...we could even begin charging admission if you are good enough." He says, giving Axel an appraising look.

Sookie gives Axel a look that is one of slight concern, though she doesn't say nor think anything in response.

"I don't know how well it would help your business but I CAN sing and I would feel much safer knowing you are the one protecting me."

Eric remains still for a moment as he seemingly contemplates the offer, then turns and motions for them to follow.

Sookie and Axel follow behind him, eventually walking past Pam and into the still "dead" bar. Once inside, they go behind the bar and to a room that can likely be confirmed as Eric's office since he turns and closes the door, walking to his large wooden desk and sitting down. Looking around, Axel is surprised by the...normality that the room has. Filing cabinets were pressed close together against the wall with shelves holding various items on them.

"This...is certainly more ordinary than I was expecting." Axel says as Eric walks to his desk and sits on the edge of it, his one leg crossed overtop of the other.

"I assume this is a surprise to you?" Eric asks as Axel and Sookie stand near the door with Axel closing it behind him.

"Well,...I just always assumed Vampires lived in dark gloomy rooms and had a coffin in it." Axel replies, earning a shake of the head from Eric.

"Not all Vampires are like that. Mostly, that stigma is reserved for the more animalistic and less civilized ones that never accepted or agreed with the Great Revelation."

"Who's to say you aren't the same as those other vampires?" Sookie asks, a slightly suspicious look on his face the whole time.

"As I have before, Sookie, I would not be speaking with you two. In fact, I would drain one of you for fun, and keep the other for my use before her...talents." Eric replies, his face a more exasperated look that said they had been through this conversation before.

"Well, I don't want to take anymore of your time...I can come in and sing in this bar for you, in exchange for protection from the Vampire hunting me."

Axel doesn't want to be here for much longer. Even with the attraction to Eric, he still felt uneasy around him, and the bar was not helping his nervousness in the least.

"Well,...from what I recall, you work at the same bar as Sookie...I will need to know the nights you don't work to schedule you...and I will also need to do something else if I plan to protect you myself."

Axel's heart leaps at the thought of Eric being his personal bodyguard...though the last bit of him needing to do "something" makes him a little more cautious of the man.

"And what exactly would that be?" He asks, Eric shrugging his shoulders.

"Nothing too extreme...I will need to you drink some of my blood."

Axel and Sookie's mouths dropped slightly in shock.

:D (Big Grin) — Description
Fallen Twilight Chapter 8: Striking a Deal

(Sorry for the LONG delay wait for this update everyone, school was brutal the last couple months, but with my break I finished this chapter and am writing the next one, so please enjoy )

Not long after deciding what to do for the day, Axel and Sookie got themselves ready for a day of shopping and hanging out at the mall in Shreveport with Tara, whom was off for the day.

Having both decided it best, Sookie and Axel decided to keep their plan of going to Fangtasia to talk to Eric from Tara. Her standpoint on the relations Sookie has with Vampires, and the one Axel wishes to have with Eric, has been made clear.

Axel enjoyed just hanging out with the two girls. Tara is a pretty laid back woman...she just tends to get offended easily. Axel and her were finding it easy to get along, much to the joy of Sookie. On top of window shopping, the three were looking for presents for Christmas which was a few weeks away. Axel was excited about the fact of Christmas with people again...and in a house no less. He missed having a Christmas dinner and the likes on that day, so this year would spell a new beginning for him.

Eventually, the day turned to night, and Tara had to go home to get some sleep before she worked the next day, which worked for Sookie and Axel. They dropped her off at her house and set off towards Fangtasia, where hopefully Eric would be.

As Sookie pulls into the parking-lot, she looks at Axel with a slightly worried expression.

"Are you sure you want to do this Axel? I could talk to Jason and Alcide." She says, referring to here Were-Panther brother and Werewolf Ex-boyfriend from when she went looking for the once missing Bill Compton.

"I'm fine Sookie. I can't risk people that you really care for getting hurt, and with Eric I have no doubt he will be able to protect us." Axel replies as he turns to her and gives a soft smile in reply.

"You place too much trust in him Axel. I'm as close as it comes to Vampire acceptance and logistical thinking...but he's not to be trusted...most of them aren't."

Axel lost the smile and nodded in acknowledgement, feeling silly for falling so head over heels for a man he doesn't know, and preaching how good he is when Sookie has a history with him.

"I'm sorry Sookie. I guess I just let my heart get ahead of my mind. If it will make you feel a little better...I promise to be careful around him and all vamps from here on out." Axel says, his honesty very apparent, since Sookie has cut now been keeping herself from reading Axel's thoughts.

She nods in response and hugs him.

"Thank You sweetie...that's all I ask." She says as she gives Axel a quick pat on the hand, then turns off the key with a loud sound coming from the engine to signal it has turned off.

"Darn thing...I need to get that engine checked." She says as she opens her door and gets out with Axel following wordlessly behind her.

As they approach the bar's entrance, a tall woman with long golden blonde hair and penetrating blue eyes comes into view.

"Sookie...who's that?" Axel asks as they get behind a person who appears to be in line to get in.

"That's Pam, she's Eric's...child as it would be in vampire terms."

Axel looks at the woman again and when they finally approach her, he can't help but feel slightly small in comparison to her authoritative stature that almost seems to pulse with a power that is barely disguised by her elegant face. Her face is just the tip of the iceberg as Axel looks her over even more, noticing the ample bosom that is barely hidden by her leather attire, no doubt trying to keep up with the stereotypical "vampiric" appearance.

"Hello Sookie, what brings you here tonight?" Pam asks, her voice only adding to her beautiful appearance.

"We need to see Eric, Pam...he IS here right?" Sookie asks, Pam nodding in response.

"Indeed he is, he needed to be to keep up our little...facade we have going. It helps business greatly when he is on display for the humans. However, I can already smell that your friend here is not of age...his blood smell much too sweet." Pam smiles at the last comment, her gleaming white teeth showing just barely through the parting of her lips and giving a preview to the fangs she has hidden behind them.

"He and I have no desire to drink anyway Pam...we are here to talk to Eric about something important." Sookie says, giving Axel a worried look from Pam's comment, however, Axel is too enamored with seeing another vampire, and one so up close.

"Our policy prohibits us from allowing minors inside the bar...under any circumstance." Pam says as Sookie sighs in annoyance.

"Then could you see if His Majesty can take a few minutes away from his adoring subjects to talk to these lowly people?" Sarcasm practically rains from the request, making Pam raise an eyebrow in amusement.

"Shall I say that to him then?"

Axel, finally back to the present, laughs lightly.

"You would probably get him out here quicker." He says, Sookie nodding in response.

"Very well...one moment" Pam replies, disappearing so fast it seems like she was never standing at the entrance. A few surprised shouts can be heard fro inside the bar at the sudden burst of air generated from Pam, however, almost as fast as she left, Eric replaces her.

"Hello lover...to what do I, His Highness, owe the pleasure of you presence?" He asks, a slight smirk on his face, obviously liking the title greatly.

"First off, I'm not your lover Eric, second, Axel and I are here for a reason and it is not to appease your enormous ego." Sookie replies in annoyance.

Eric releases a huff of air that seems suspiciously like an amused chuckle.

"Very well...perhaps we could go somewhere more...private?"

"If you think for one minute that I am going to go near that basement of yours, you thought wrong." Sookie snaps, making Axel raise an eyebrow in questioning.

"Oh Sookie...what makes you even think you could stop me from taking the two of you there if I wanted to?" Eric asks, a playful smirk on his face.

Sookie's face doesn't change in it's defiant appearance. Before they can continue, Axel decides to jump in.

"Eric...I don't know if you remember me but we met a few night's back...at Merlotte's?" He says, now drawing the piercing gaze towards him, along with the smirk that makes his knees weak.

"I couldn't forget someone like you Mr. Twilight. What can I do for you this evening?"

Axel didn't think his cheeks could feel so warm, but he was quickly proven wrong as blood rushed into them.

"I have something important to ask of you pertaining to the recent deaths...I think this vampire is after me."

Eric raises an eyebrow.

"And what has drawn you to this conclusion if you don't mind my asking."

"A few years back...a vampire broke into my home and murdered my parents when I wasn't there...but it hasn't stopped trying to kill me. The only reason I have survived this long is because she likes to toy with me and if I hadn't found Sookie's home when I did...I would probably be dead now."

Eric doesn't do anything...he only continues to look at Axel, now with an indecipherable look.

"What I want to ask is...would you be able to have some of your more trusted vampires look after us...kind of guard us? Sookie has mentioned you owe her." Axel explains, finishing with a slight sigh and hoping Eric agrees.

"I would...but what will you do for me in return?" Eric asks, crossing his arms as Sookie's expression changes to anger.

"Eric! You owe me!" She yells, no longer caring they still hadn't moved to a private area yet.

"And I will uphold my debt to you Sookie...however, assigning protection for you both requires two vampires, and thus two debts."

"What exactly would I have to do to acquire your...debt?" Axel asks, shifting from one foot to the next in a nervous gesture.

"That would depend on what you feel would match the debt I would be repaying...perhaps something relating to my bar would be enough." Eric suggests, a slight twitch of his mouth signaling the smallest smile.

(Shit! Sookie, you don't think he means my telepathy do you?) Axel thinks, sounding nearly in a panic, but still looking the same on the outside.

(No sweetie, I don't think so, but it's hard to tell with him. Just tread carefully with him...for now at least.) Sookie replies, sending the recognition that Axel would be getting closer to Eric one way or another.

"Well,...I can sing." Axel says, Eric raising an eyebrow in curiosity.

"Really...that would certainly bring more business to the bar...we could even begin charging admission if you are good enough." He says, giving Axel an appraising look.

Sookie gives Axel a look that is one of slight concern, though she doesn't say nor think anything in response.

"I don't know how well it would help your business but I CAN sing and I would feel much safer knowing you are the one protecting me."

Eric remains still for a moment as he seemingly contemplates the offer, then turns and motions for them to follow.

Sookie and Axel follow behind him, eventually walking past Pam and into the still "dead" bar. Once inside, they go behind the bar and to a room that can likely be confirmed as Eric's office since he turns and closes the door, walking to his large wooden desk and sitting down. Looking around, Axel is surprised by the...normality that the room has. Filing cabinets were pressed close together against the wall with shelves holding various items on them.

"This...is certainly more ordinary than I was expecting." Axel says as Eric walks to his desk and sits on the edge of it, his one leg crossed overtop of the other.

"I assume this is a surprise to you?" Eric asks as Axel and Sookie stand near the door with Axel closing it behind him.

"Well,...I just always assumed Vampires lived in dark gloomy rooms and had a coffin in it." Axel replies, earning a shake of the head from Eric.

"Not all Vampires are like that. Mostly, that stigma is reserved for the more animalistic and less civilized ones that never accepted or agreed with the Great Revelation."

"Who's to say you aren't the same as those other vampires?" Sookie asks, a slightly suspicious look on his face the whole time.

"As I have before, Sookie, I would not be speaking with you two. In fact, I would drain one of you for fun, and keep the other for my use before her...talents." Eric replies, his face a more exasperated look that said they had been through this conversation before.

"Well, I don't want to take anymore of your time...I can come in and sing in this bar for you, in exchange for protection from the Vampire hunting me."

Axel doesn't want to be here for much longer. Even with the attraction to Eric, he still felt uneasy around him, and the bar was not helping his nervousness in the least.

"Well,...from what I recall, you work at the same bar as Sookie...I will need to know the nights you don't work to schedule you...and I will also need to do something else if I plan to protect you myself."

Axel's heart leaps at the thought of Eric being his personal bodyguard...though the last bit of him needing to do "something" makes him a little more cautious of the man.

"And what exactly would that be?" He asks, Eric shrugging his shoulders.

"Nothing too extreme...I will need to you drink some of my blood."

Axel and Sookie's mouths dropped slightly in shock.