CHAPTER SIXTEEN

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     THE SURFACE BENEATH HER WAS COMFORTABLE AND WARM. Dakota opened her eyes, blinking away the sleep as she lazily glanced around Fangtasia. The woman pushed herself up from the leather sofa with one arm, expecting to feel stinging in her back, but there was none. The blonde noticed the small specs of dust on the arm rest, senses on high alert. It was almost as if she could hear her own blood pumping through her veins.

Then again, it wasn't just her blood that pumped through her body.

The bar was empty and she wondered what time it was, she had no idea how long she had slept. Glancing down, she noticed the red Fangtasia shirt she was wearing and touched the soft material, feeling bare wearing just her underwear underneath. Her cheeks heated at the thought of Eric having changed her.

Dakota got up from the sofa, the shirt reached her thighs. The green blanket that had been covering her body fell beside her. There was a small mirror beside the bathrooms and she pulled her shirt up to get a glimpse of her back. It was all smooth skin, no claw marks or scars to be seen.

"You're awake."

The blonde jumped and pulled her shirt back down, facing Ginger. The woman smiled brightly at her, wearing a short black skirt and a dark purple top. Ginger held out a plate and said, "I made you a two-top sandwich. Peanut butter and chocolate syrup."

"That's very thoughtful, Ginger." Dakota tried to smile, glancing down at what was supposed to be a sandwich. She was grateful, though, that she had even thought to make anything for her.

"Oh, that's the thing about being with vamps, ain't it?" she grinned. "You always forget to eat. I've lost thirty-seven pounds since I got this job. Way better than fat farm."

Ginger began to clean, grabbing some empty Tru blood bottles. "What time is it?"

"Around nine p.m." she replied. "You slept the whole day. They should wake soon."

"Oh," Dakota placed the plate on the bar top and turned to face her. "Do they make you stay here every day?"

"Well sometimes I just come in for deliveries." Ginger shrugged, throwing the bottles in the trash. "I had a whole load of bottles of Tru blood today, so I started my shift a little early."

"Do you like working here?" she wondered.

"Oh, yes." Ginger smiled brightly. "They're really very nice."

Dakota felt somewhat bad for the woman, she had been glamoured so many times she barely seemed to have much going on in her head. Ginger was kind, though. Dakota couldn't be glamoured just like Sookie. Bill had tried once when Sookie revealed she couldn't.

"That's good." Dakota nodded.

Behind them, a door opened and she turned her head to see Eric emerge from one of the back rooms. He looked clean, wearing a dark green v neck and dark denim jeans. Dakota hadn't paid attention to his looks the previous night, but his long hair had been cut short and she quite liked the way it looked.

"Glad to see you're feeling better."  His eyes roamed down her body, taking in her bare legs with a grin. Heat rose to her cheeks again, and she crossed her arms over her chest. "And may I add, that color suits you very well."

Dakota raised an eyebrow at him and shook her head. "Did you change me into this?"

"Did you want me to?" he quipped to which she narrowed her eyes and Eric chuckled. "Don't worry, I didn't touch you. Pam did."

Dakota felt relieved at the revelation that he had in fact not seen her naked chest. "Thank you," she confessed. "for saving my life."

Eric took her in for a moment before giving her one nod. "My pleasure, Dakota."

Ginger dropped a Tru Blood bottle and glass shattered all over the dark cement floor. The woman looked up sheepishly and disappeared from behind the bar in search of a broom. Eric sat down at the bar, grabbing a clean glass and pouring Dakota a soda, sliding it over as she sat on the stool beside him.

"Thanks," she said, taking a sip. He kept his gaze on her, intrigued to know if she had any interesting dreams. If she had, she was very good at keeping it a secret. "Do you live here?"

"God, no." he chuckled. "I don't normally go to ground here, but today was a special occasion."

"Scared I was going to rob you while you were dead?" 

Eric raised a brow in amusement, grin tugging at his lips. "I wouldn't know, i'd be dead."

Dakota shook her head with a smile, and took another sip of her soda. It was nice, her throat had been so dry from the screaming, she hadn't even noticed how thirsty she had been. Last night was somewhat of a blur and she was glad of it, the memory she did have wasn't pleasant.

"Have you ever been to Dallas?" he questioned suddenly.

Dakota had taken the last sip from her drink and glanced up at him, tugging at the shirt to cover more of her legs. The blonde shook her head 'no'.  Dakota had been to New Orleans, but that was it. She liked the comforts of Bon Temps and had never really had to time to travel out of Louisiana. 

"A friend of mine has gone missing." Eric explained, resting his head in the palm of his hand. "He's the sheriff of the Dallas area. No one has heard from him in a few days. I need your help to find him."

Dakota furrowed her brows, "How could I help?"

"You're very gifted." Eric implied, smile tugging at his lips. 

Despite his smile, Dakota could see the seriousness behind his icy blue eyes. This vampire must mean a lot to him if he asked a human for help, again. Dakota was going to say yes, he had saved her life and she felt like she owed him.

"You just need to say yes," he said before she could answer him. "I will pay all of your expenses."

"For how long?" she wondered. "I've got a job. I can't just get up and leave."

"I could glamour you." he said, leaning toward her.

"Good luck," she shrugged, challenging him. "it won't work."

Eric hummed, sliding off the stool and leaning against the bar beside her. He was incredibly close and she could feel the coldness of his skin even though they weren't touching. He had never heard about a human not being able to be glamoured and she could be bluffing, but he doubted it. Then again, he wasn't sure she was entirely human.

"I'll give you ten-thousand dollars."

Dakota raised her brows, leaning back slightly so her back was resting against the bar top. She knew Eric was rich, but to just offer her that amount of money like it was nothing was something she hadn't expected.

"I don't need your money, Eric." she shook her head. "I'll come with you to Dallas."

"Thank god." Pam drawled as she stepped inside the bar, wearing a bright pink velvet lounge set. The vampire looked incredible, then again, she always did. "He's been bothering me about taking you for the last twenty-four hours."

"Now, now, Pamela." Eric tutted. "Don't be jealous."

"Oh, please." she shook her head. "I still can't believe you're leaving me here."

"Someone has to run Fangtasia while I am gone."

"Whatever."

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ERIC HAD TAKEN HER HOME THAT NIGHT AND TOLD HER HE'D BE THERE TO PICK HER UP THE NEXT EVENING SO THAT THEY COULD FLY TO DALLAS. Dakota had plenty of days off since she had worked so much the last few months and she hoped Sam wouldn't mind her absence. 

He probably wouldn't. Lafayette had said he had hired another waitress.

Dakota hadn't had her phone while she was at Fangtasia, so when she entered her home, Sookie had flown into her arms, hugging her tightly. Dakota had to take a step back to brace herself, otherwise she'd have fallen to the floor.

"Oh my stars!" Sookie cried, pulling back to see if she was still hurt. "I was so worried about you. I called Fangtasia but no one answered and Bill said Eric send him away so I didn't know how you were doing. And I was just so worried."

"I'm fine, Sook." Dakota reassured her. "All healed."

Sookie smiled gleefully before her eyes fell onto her attire. Dakota was still wearing just the maroon Fangtasia shirt, though it covered more than enough Sookie frowned, face turning sour. "What? Eric didn't offer you any normal clothes?"

"Come on, Sookie." she sighed. "He saved my life and my dress was completely ripped and it's actually quite comfortable."

"Well," she shrugged, letting the subject drop. "i'm just glad you're home and well. Did ya'll ever find out what that thing was?"

Dakota shook her head and her cousin pursed her lips, disappointed. "Whatever it was, I hope it never comes back."

The blonde agreed, ambling into the kitchen as she searched for some decent food. It had been a while since she'd eaten, having slept most of the day and evening. There was still left over lasagna and she placed it into the microwave. 

"Tara's birthday is tomorrow." Sookie announced. "I'm going to help her move in and then we'll have a girls night. Are you in?"

"Actually," Dakota began, sitting down at the table. "I won't be home. I am going to Dallas tomorrow."

Sookie raised a brow, crossing her arms over her chest. "Dallas? What the hell are you going to do in Dallas?"

"I'm going on a trip," she shrugged. "with Eric."

"You're going on a trip with Eric?" Sookie echoed, not believing what she was hearing. 

It was no secret Sookie hated the tall vampire, everyone knew it. Sookie didn't trust him, mostly because Bill didn't and whatever Bill felt, Sookie felt. Sookie had changed since she had met Bill, and not always in a good way. Though, Dakota quite liked Bill.

"Are you sleeping with him?" she asked bluntly.

"Sookie!" Dakota narrowed her eyes. "I am not. And even if I was, would it matter?"

"Of course it does!" she said, resting her arms on her hips. "It is Eric Northman, a thousand year old vampire who can't be trusted. He's dangerous, Kota. You shouldn't go to Dallas. What even are you going to do there?"

Dakota rolled her eyes and the microwave went off, she got up and pulled the plate out before sighing. "He needs a favour, and I owe him my life. And honestly, I don't want to talk about this with you anymore. I am going and that's final."

"Then Bill and I are coming with you." she argued.

"No, you are not." she said. "Just drop it, Sookie. I am going upstairs."