Disclaimer: I do not own True Blood.

IN THE BLOOD

CURIOUSITY

Merlotte's bar and grill was very different to Isabelle's café, Sarah decided for the hundredth time as she collected plate after plate. Instead of the rich smell of coffee, there was alcohol and chips, the potent aroma still making her stomach churn – even after a year and a half of waitressing there – when one of the more frequent patrons took the liberty of breathing on her.

She supposed that maybe it was just one of her "English girl weaknesses", as the Bon Temps locals liked to call it, but even Sookie and Arlene turned green in the face sometimes.

As soon as the clock hit eleven, she untied her apron, ducking into Sam's office to grab her handbag. She paused at the bar, surprising Sookie, her best friend since her arrival in Bon Temps. Sookie was the only person other than her brother that knew about her…abilities.

She leant on the bar. 'I best be off. I promised my brother that I'd see him off tomorrow.'

'Of course,' Sookie said, tucking the tray she held at her side as she flashed a smile, an expression that always came so easily to her, despite the things that had happened over the years. 'What time is he leaving?'

'Around lunch,' she answered, quickly tucking a strand of dark hair behind her ear. 'Anyway, you have a good night with Bill. Happy anniversary. How many years have you been married now?'

She fiddled with the ring on her finger, the diamond glinting for a moment as she smiled. 'Three. I just can't believe how fast it's gone.'

Sarah embraced her for a moment. 'Well, I'm happy for you,' she said, giving her hand a quick squeeze. 'I'll see you night after tomorrow, okay?'

'Okay, drive safe.'

Sarah waved over her shoulder as she headed for the exit, swinging her handbag over her shoulder. She dug inside, her head down as she looked for her keys, only glancing up as she heard low words being exchanged ahead of her.

Bill had always been kind to her. He'd been one of the people to help her move into her home, after the sun had set, of course. He was such a sweet man, his southern drawl never ceasing to lull her into a wonderful sense of security. He wasn't acting with his usual disposition, though. His hands were clenched at his sides, his brows drawn as he looked up to the blonde man beside him.

In the year and a half that she'd lived in Bon Temps, she had only caught glimpses of his towering frame. All she knew about him was that his name was Eric, he was a vampire, and he was absolutely gorgeous. He was "totally bang-able" according to Arlene, though the red head barely glanced his way when he made the infrequent visit to Merlotte's, her whole being focused on Terry. Now that Sarah had finally gotten a decent look of him, his grey suit tailored perfectly over his rather fine rump, she could completely understand her friend's observation.

She walked a little faster when Bill's hand rose, pulling him into a quick hug to diffuse the situation as she said, 'happy anniversary, Bill!' She held tight, feeling his stiff shoulders unclench as he returned the embrace. She pulled back, keeping between the two as she continued, pulling a smile over her lips. 'Sookie's waiting inside for you. She hasn't been able to talk about anything else all night.'

His expression softened at the mention of his wife, his blue eyes suddenly brighter. 'Why thank you, Sarah. That is very kind of you,' he said, that southern drawl flowing over her like honey. 'I should go get her. I promised her dinner.'

'Well have fun,' she said, stepping from between them. She glanced up at Eric, watching as a strange expression came over his face, though she didn't stick around to find out what it was. She offered a quick smile and a hasty good night before turning on her heel to walk to her car, continuing to go through her bag in search of her car keys.

Bill squared his shoulders, looking up at the Sheriff of Area Five, his gaze more than a little displeased. He kept his eyebrows drawn, though one arched in challenge. 'Are we done?' he asked, his voice lowered.

'Yes,' Eric replied, his tone slightly absent. He glanced over his shoulder after Sarah, his lips quirking just a little as he watched those hips sway. He wanted to keep arguing, but his curiosity got the best of him – or maybe it was his testosterone – and he turned, following her, barely sparing Bill a wave as he walked away, feeling the far younger vampire stare after him for a moment before his steps moved towards Merlotte's.

He walked quietly, his footsteps almost non-existent as he came into step a few metres behind her, his head tilted. There was something strange about her. He'd only known one other human to try and stop a confrontation between two vampires, and that was Sookie. She could defend herself if she had to though, so what gave this Sarah, this tiny little English girl the courage to even try to diffuse an argument.

He paused just a few feet away as she stopped beside her car – a small, dusty, silver Honda – making a little sound of relief when she located the keys. She unlocked her car and turned suddenly, a cry of surprise leaving her lips that almost made him laugh. Instead, his curiosity grew. Just a moment ago, she had interrupted a heated confrontation, now she was jumping at what had probably been his reflection in the window.

She clutched at her chest with delicate fingers, her heart beat fast and erratic, the strong sound music to the hunger that growled inside him. She closed her eyes for a moment, taking a breath. 'Geez,' she whispered. 'You scared me.'

'I can see that,' he said, a smirk coming over his lips.

She had to crane her neck to look up at him, feeling so small as he stepped closer. 'Ah, is there something I can do for you?' she asked, her voice no where near as strong as she'd hoped it would be.

'Yes,' he said, his head tilting to the side a little. 'You see, I'm curious.'

Her eyebrows rose a little. What could a man like him – a dazzling, hunk of a vampire – have to be curious about when it came to her? She knew to him that she must seem like a meek little English girl, one barely worth even a glance, but he seemed to be looking for a conversation. 'About what?'

'About what possessed you to step between two vampires while they were having an argument.'

'An argument?' she repeated, hoping that she sounded innocent, though she had never really been a good liar. 'I just wanted to congratulate Bill on his anniversary. After all, he and Sookie have been married for three years now.'

'Of course,' he said, his smirk turning to a wicked grin that had some stupid part of her wishing he'd stop using them to smile and start using them to kiss her.

Where the hell did that come from? She asked herself, surprised by the sudden thought. But she couldn't deny it; Eric had the sexiest mouth she'd ever seen.

'Yeah. Simple as that,' she said, her hand slowly travelling to grasp the handle of her car. She pulled, opening the door only to have it slam closed as Eric's hand darted out. He leant close, a hand on either side of her, using his arms to trap her. She pushed back against her car, feeling even smaller, his towering height and broad chest boxing her in.

'No, I don't think it is,' he said, his breath rushing over her skin. 'I can understand why you're not afraid of Bill.' He leant close, almost brushing his lips over her neck, breathing in her curious yet delicious scent, sending a little shiver down her spine. 'But you seem very scared of me.'

'I don't really like it when people invade my personal space without permission,' she said, her voice a little stronger than before as she stared up at him. He was still right though. She was scared of him, yet that stupid irrational part of her that thought he was sexy was wishing that he'd press those lips against her neck. 'Now, I would like to go home.'

'I'm sure you would, but I'm not done.'

'Really?'

He stared into her eyes, his gaze intent. 'Sweep your hair aside.'

She almost shivered, his voice flowing over her like velvet, so rich and deep. She just held her composure, gulping before she asked, 'why?'

His smile dropped, his blue eyes becoming dull. 'Why aren't you glamoured?'

She felt a flash of anger spark inside her. 'You tried to glamour me?' she exclaimed.

'And it should have worked,' he said, grasping her chin between his thumb and forefinger, holding her gaze as he tried again, her eyes staying so clear. 'What are you?'

'Let go of me!' She grasped his wrist and he cried out, pulling his arm away as he stumbled back. He looked down, eyes wide as he stared at the handprint that was burnt into his skin, watching as it blistered, already beginning to heal. He stared at her, hearing her heartbeat ramp up as she pressed further back against her car.

'I'm…Oh God…Sorry.' She scrambled to open her car door, dragging her seatbelt on as she turned the ignition, stomping it into gear. She drove off, not daring to look behind her as she sped into the night, desperately hoping that he wouldn't follow.

Sarah cursed her emotions, slamming the heel of her palm against the steering wheel. She had always hidden her abilities, knowing that she would be condemned if someone were to ever find out, but sometimes she couldn't control them. Her brother and Sookie were the only people who knew.

Her brother Jake was three years older than her and the only relative she had. She told him when she was fifteen, when her abilities had first started to show, and he had accepted her. Sookie only knew because she was a mind reader and had picked it straight from Sarah's thoughts on her first day of work at Merlotte's. That's why they were best friends, because they could both do things that others couldn't understand.

She forced herself to take a breath, trying to calm down. She concentrated on the road, slowing down a little, the trees becoming less of a blur as she glanced back in her rear view mirror, feeling a little better to find that she hadn't been followed. If he'd wanted to stop her, he probably would have just put a hand on her bonnet and laughed.

She took another calming breath, more of the stress rolling off of her shoulders.

She screamed as a massive shaped darted out in front of her. She slammed on the brakes, her car swerving off the road. She jerked forward as she hit a tree, her airbag bursting forth as the roar metal on metal filled her ears, glass raining down as her front window shattered.

She sat back, feeling heavy as she tried to shake off the darkness creeping into her vision. Her head lolled forward and she jerked it back up, fighting for consciousness, knowing that she should stay awake. But her eyes were so heavy, sliding closed even as she fought the darkness.

Eric gripped his wrist, a hiss of pain escaping his lips as the last of the burn healed. He had watched her headlights until they had disappeared, too surprised to react. He had thought that there was something different about her, but had assumed that it was just her blood, her scent so tantalizing, urging him to have a taste. Now he knew that there was something else, something big.

Obviously, he thought angrily, glancing at his wrist again. He straightened his sleeve, glancing back to Merlotte's. He could hear Bill and Sookie inside, hear her swooning as he said compliment after compliment.

When he listened hard enough, he could even hear the things he whispered. Hell, he could hear Sarah's car as she sped off. He turned his head, facing his ear towards the car, some part of him urging him to follow her, to learn the secrets she was hiding.

Among other things.

He felt his eyes widen at the thought, but he knew he shouldn't have been so surprised. Even when she'd first stepped in between him and Bill, he'd felt a strong spark of interest. Not because of the courage it would have taken, but because of those little shorts, cut high to show off her gorgeous, pale thighs. He'd barely been able to stop himself from licking his lips, especially when she'd walked away, her hips swaying, her firm, rounded ass like sin on legs.

And then there were her lips. He groaned at the thought of kissing her, of claiming her plump, red lips with his own.

He stopped his musings, his head turning, ear pointed towards the sound of her car, the buzz of the engine as it ran along the Bon Temps roads.

Then he heard a scream and screeching tires.