AN ACTUAL CHAPTER! ONLY HOURS AFTER I PROMISED ONE!

YAY!

I hope it's good lol, I am SO tired right now!

*** Really Chapter 11 ***

As quickly as Eric had tackled me, he was just as fast to release my throat to assess the new comer in the room. My vision was hazy, at best, and the air trying to reach my lungs burned my bruised throat. Still laying on the ground, Eric and the other man seemed to be arguing, but I had to wait for the ringing in my ears to subside before I understood anything they were saying. It took a minute for my body to return to normal working order and I decided my best option would be to remain on the floor to avoid any attention being drawn to me whilst their heated discussion continued. The main thing I heard was Eric's growling. He was not a happy vampire.

Should've just slept with him…

I could be having sex with Eric Northman right now…

I am the biggest idiot, ever.

Suddenly, they both turned and stared down at me. They both seemed like giants from were I was positioned. The man was almost as tall as Eric, slim, with long pale gold hair. He stretched his arm down, offering me his hand. I took it after hesitating for a moment.

"Thanks" I said looking up to the man.

"It is a pleasure to meet you." he said in a kind, soothing voice "I am Niall Brigant"

"O, duh! I should've known!" I shook his hand that was still in mine. I smiled until I remembered he was responsible for me being here "Your why I'm here" I said with a grimace.

"Yes, we should talk." an apologetic look in his eye.

He kindly grabbed the chair I had been sitting in earlier, turned it upright and motioned for me to take a seat. Eric and Niall chose to stand, making me have to look up at the mountain sized men.

Eric was first to speak, with a strict tone "Now, tell me why you have graced me with your presence."

"As you know, there is a war in Faery. My son, Fintan, was killed by one of my enemies." Niall's face was all business, but his voice gave away a deeper hurt "His death brought about new information. Information I wished to keep concealed, but it seems that now it can not be so."

I felt as though that was strike towards me, that I had failed some test. I refused to take the blame though. Sure, I should've been a little more smooth with my proposition with Eric, but honestly, I knew I was in way over my head from the get go. HE made the mistake in choosing me.

"I have a great granddaughter living in your domain. I fear that she is in danger, both with my kind and yours."

"And you wish for my protection" Eric said passively, "What do I get in return?"

"Information, as the girl said."

Again, they both turned to me. I shifted uncomfortably with the sudden acknowledgment. They had completely forgotten I was there, now all attention was on me.

"Um, yeah, information…" I agreed, not knowing what they wanted me to say.

"She knows a great deal about the future, which she will tell you when the time is right, so long as you protect my great granddaughter."

Eric leaned back against his desk, seemingly thinking over the situation.

I broke the silence "If I can make a quick addition to this deal, I would like a bit of protection too." I stated, suddenly remembering all the shit that is going to go down in the future.

"Well, of course. You are Eric's payment, you have all of the knowledge." Niall said as if I should have known.

Yeah, how stupid of me. *insert sarcasm*

I'm Eric's payment. Disliking this more and more…

"No." Eric interjected. "I don't know how reliable this girl's information is, and if I am protecting 2 people against fae and vampires… It's not enough." he said finally.

Niall glared at Eric. Minutes passed as Niall's anger seemed to only spike with every passing moment, and Eric played out his indifference well.

"If I may make another quick suggestion…" I piped up as they continued their stare down "Niall, Sookie could be of some use…"

Niall's head snapped towards me, drilling holes in my head with his eyes.

"I mean, it's a reasonable offer, not to mention, he's going to find out sooner or later. She's already on the vamp-radar." I said rationally, "Plus, I know he's trustworthy… eventually."

He was visibly tense but he must of seen some sense in my idea. He nodded.

"Mr. Northman, how would you like to have your own personal fortune teller and a bonefide telepath, in exchange for your protection? And a promise that you'll try not to kill us both for being insufferable sometimes?" I smiled hopefully.

"A telepath" Eric whispered to himself, sounding intrigued. A few minutes later he came to a decision, "I will agree after a test of both claims." nodding, with a small smirk playing at his lips.

Niall was pacified and agreed that that would be well enough. He told me to make the arrangements for a meeting with Sookie. "And Linsey, I do apologize for abruptly putting you in this situation. We will speak more at a later time" glancing towards Eric. "I will take my leave now." And with a *pop*, he was gone.

Eric and I were alone. He was still leaning against his desk, I only then noticed his crotch was a foot away from my face.

This isn't awkward at all.

My eyes traveled up to see him looking expectantly at me.

Confused, I asked "What?"

"Time to prove your worth."

"Do you always attack people that say they are trying to help you? Remember that whole 'Tell me now!' hands at my throat moment?" I questioned indignantly, ignoring what he said.

It had been annoying me for quite some time. I clearly said our deal was for his benefit, yet he threw me to the ground and made me seem incompetent to Niall.

"And now, you will tell me. Plus, I have gained a fairy telepath as well. It all worked out in the end" He said smugly, taking a seat behind his desk.

Damn his stupid face! If he wasn't so damn pretty, I'd be really mad…

"Fine," I huffed. "Just don't start choking me, this isn't news you're going to like."

His face turned serious and he nodded for me to continue.

Taking a deep breath I started "Someone has been embezzling money from the bar. About $60,000, if I remember right."

Eric's angry growling stopped me "Who?" he asked, trying to remain in control.

"Longshadow." I said with no hesitation and keeping eye contact.

In a second, Pam had joined us in the office. Eric looked like he was seething.

"Why does it not smell of sex in here? If you weren't going to take advantage of this pretty young thing, you should have passed her along to me" She leered at me, completely ignoring Eric's foul mood.

"Pam, close the door!" She did as told "I have been informed that a significant amount of money has been stolen. Keep an eye on Longshadow. Make sure he does not leave." He demanded. Pam growled as well then quickly left, following her maker's orders.

Eric grabbed his phone "Bruce. Do you have something to tell me?" he angrily questioned.

More growling.

Even his angry killer face is sexy, and the growling. Unff!

Not the time…

"And you failed to mention this, why?"

"Stop sniveling! I need to gain access to Longshadow's account. Get me proof that he is responsible! And maybe then I won't tear out your heart!" He yelled, ending the call.

I sat there silently, letting him take some time to regain his composure. All the while I studied his face. With his eyes closed, it was the perfect opportunity to do so. He really was handsome, even when practically foaming at the month from anger. The sculpt of his face to the way his hair was slicked back; a perfect manly specimen. And his clothes! Even his clothes were hot!

This world is not fair…

His eyes met mine, he was back in business mode, "You were correct about the missing money. However, without proof of who's responsible, I cannot trust your claim."

"It's him." I said steadfastly, "Talk to Belinda and Ginger, but she's been glamoured so many times, I'm surprised she can think at all."

"I will question them myself… perhaps, this could be a test for the telepath" he said thoughtfully

"Sookie, Sookie Stackhouse is her name" I thought I should inform him. "And if you do that, make sure Longshadow isn't around because he'll try to kill her, and with Bill not being there. Actually! That's another thing!"

He stared at me oddly, waiting for me to continue.

"Bill Compton is in your area, he hasn't checked in with you, right?" Eric shook his head no, looking very displeased. "Yeah, well, here's another ball of worms for you. He was sent here by Queen Sophie Anne to 'procure' Sookie. She knows she's a telepath. Not about the fairy thing, though. Only you and I know about that… well, besides Niall and her gran, and now Sookie too, I suppose." I continued to ramble "She went under your nose, which pisses you off, but there's nothing you can really do about unless you stick a vampire flagpole in her declaring her as yours. But even then, she's going to be able to use Sookie whenever she wants, ya know?… I may have surpassed all that, though" I added thoughtfully "Bill should be reporting back to the queen that Sookie isn't a telepath, but is just all 'round coocoo…So, I guess just ignore most of what I just said…"

I realized I had pretty much summarized a good part of the first book plot to Eric Northman and almost laughed at the thought.

He nodded, and sat there silently for a moment. I assumed he was thinking everything over, coming up with every scenario and survival plans for all of them.

"You are rather strange." Surprisingly, was his only response to all that I just said.

To which I could just smile and shrug my shoulders. He wasn't wrong.

He seemed to almost smile for a brief moment before he was Sheriff Eric again "I will take care of Bill since has been residing here without seeing me. I expect for you and Sookie to be here tomorrow night, then I will determine if our arrangements are agreeable."

It was pretty obvious that I was being dismissed.

"We'll be here. Have a goodnight, Eric. It was really nice to meet you!" I smiled and started to inwardly fan girl once again. "except for the part where you almost killed me."

He laughed a little, even though I didn't intend for it to be a joke, and smirked "Actually, you could stay for a little while longer. I am in the mood for a fortune cookie. You smell quite sweet…" He inhaled, raising in eyebrow "Strange, even."

"Well, as much as I like to be called strange more than once in a matter of minutes, I think I'll be declining your offer." I cut in abruptly. "Bye, Eric" I nodded and left him snickering to himself.

You just turned down Eric Fuckin' Northman, twice in one night.

"I'm an idiot" I mumbled as I walked out of the back exit of Fangtasia.

quite a few of you guessed it was Niall lol. Not that much of a surprise, and no cliffy's this time.

Hope the chapter was ok. I am seriously fighting to keep my eyes open right now. The sun is coming up too lol.

If any of it was incoherent please let me know haha my brain function is depleting at the moment. R&R please.

(I need to figure out where this story is going so feel free to make suggestions)