CHAPTER FOURTY SIX

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          ERIC NORTHMAN WAS NOT A MAN WHO WAS EASILY FRIGHTENED, TRUTH WAS, THE VIKING HADN'T EVEN REMEMBERED WHAT FEAR FELT LIKE. That changed when he held an unconscious woman in his arms as he desperately tried to force his blood down her throat.

There had been no time to acknowledge the death of his maker. Eric had seen it happen, and hadn't even had time to reach them in time as Russell stabbed the wood through Godric and Dakota. It felt as if his non beating heart had been ripped from his chest and he didn't even notice when blood spilled from his eyes, all he could focus on right now was Dakota as her heart almost gave out.

"Come on, you have to drink." he urged, prying her lips open as he attached his bleeding wrist to her mouth. 

Fangtasia looked like a bloodbath but neither he nor Pam seemed to care. Russell was laughing behind them, as if this was the funniest day of his life and Eric would have killed him right then and there if he hadn't been so preoccupied.

"Eric," muttered Pam, frown on her face as Dakota's heart began to fade. The woman had grown sickly pale, all colour draining from her face. "it's not working."

"Bullshit." he denied, pressing his wrist to her lips more forcefully.

Pamela only cared about three things, herself, the viking beside her and her large collection of Versace heels at home. But in this moment she cared about the fairy's life, and if she had a heart at all, it would have sunk at the thought of her not surviving.

"There isn't much time, Eric." she said solemnly. "You have a decision to make, and you have to do it fast."

"I cannot!" he spat, pupils blown. "I won't do that to her."

"She is dying, Eric." Pam tried, as if this was the only option and even if he didn't want to admit it, his progeny was right. It was death or death. "Her heart is fading, she's lost too much blood and she's rejecting yours because of it."

"Just let me think!" he snarled, as he felt the life drain from her body. There were no thoughts, no pain and no more fear soaring through her veins. His connection with her was almost gone and it frightened him even more. He couldn't feel her anymore. "There has to be another way."

"There isn't." Pam breathed. "i'll do it."

Eric let out another snarl, shooting her a glare before focusing on the woman in his arms. Dakota would hate him, he was sure of it. Only, Eric couldn't find it in himself to care about her feelings anymore when he studied her bloodied face. He was selfish and he always found it his best trait, especially right now.

The viking nodded his head slowly, brushing a strand of hair from her face. Pam let out a small sigh of relief and sped off toward the basement to find them a spot to go to ground as Eric sunk his fangs into her throat, taking the last of her blood before forcing more of his own into her mouth.

Dakota's heart had stopped beating only moments after and he just prayed to whichever god there might be, that it would work.

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THE SUN FELT NICE ON HER SKIN, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS ALREADY NEAR THE END OF OCTOBER. Dakota wiggled her bare toes on the grass as she sat on the front porch of her home, overlooking her garden. The white flowers reminded her of her grandmother and she smiled softly, fond of the memories.

The house behind her was quiet and the strong smell of bleach reached her nostrils. The woman had scrubbed her kitchen clean the night before. Courtesy of a certain blonde haired vampire, whom she thoroughly despised.

"Get your hands off of me!" she screeched, struggling as his arms wrapped themselves around her torso to hold her arms to her side.

The smile was swept off of her face and she heaved a sigh, peering at the isopod crawling on the wood beside her. It has been a constant struggle for the last year and she didn't understand why he couldn't just let it go.

Dakota could still feel herself drenched in blood from head to toe often, and the sense of serenity she had felt moments ago disappeared.

"You good, Koko?" 

The blonde woman glanced up from the insect and shot Lafayette a bright smile as he and Jesus walked up toward her, holding two grocery bags each. Getting up to stand to her full height, she took a bag from him and nodded her head.

"Yes," she confessed. "i'm glad you're here."

"Thank you for inviting me, Dakota." said Jesus as they entered the newly renovated home and ambled into the kitchen. "It is always a pleasure to see you."

Dakota shot him a grin as she put the bag down on the counter and embraced him. The woman was happy for her best friend, he had found himself someone incredibly kind and caring and it was all Lafayette deserved after all he had been through.

"How many times did you clean this place?" Lafayette pulled a face at the smell.

"I couldn't sleep last night," she shrugged. "It had been awhile. I guess I got carried away."

Eric grunted, a pained expression on his face when Dakota managed to bring her elbow up into his ribs. "You have to drink. Come on, it's been weeks. Pam help me with this."

"I guess." he shot her a look as he began to unpack the bags. "You up for cookin', or do you want to order in?"

"Hey," protested Jesus. "I thought we were making spaghetti?"

"Spaghetti is fine." Dakota chuckled, watching them in amusement. "The real question is, what movie are we watching?"

"Casablanca." Lafayette said without missing a beat. "No arguing."

Dakota and Jesus shared a glance before turning back to Lafayette. It was no secret that the man was obsessed with old Hollywood films. He had probably seen all of them a million times, as did the two of them but neither seemed to mind.

"Don't you dare." glared Dakota, as Eric grabbed her cheeks between his fingers and squeezed her skin so her mouth opened involuntary and he hated himself for it. "Let go off me."

"Don't fight it." he tried, as Pam held a bottle of Tru Blood to her lips. "I could always command you, you know this."

Dakota struggled with all her might, but the liquid still entered her mouth and the taste was absolutely foul. It made her gag and she managed to spit most of it out, spraying it in Pam's face. The vampire glared at her as Eric let go off his hold on her and Dakota smacked the bottle away from her, splattering the entire kitchen with drops of blood.

This had been an ongoing struggle for months and months now.

"Are you sure you're okay, Koko?"

"I hate you." she spat. "Get the fuck out of my house."

But that didn't work. No, her house wasn't her house anymore and there was nothing she could do about it. After having been declared dead, he had purchased it for her with no intention of giving it back anytime soon.

"Why can't you understand the importance of this?" shouted Eric, towering over her with his height. "This is to keep you alive. We've already changed from real blood to this shit and it still isn't good enough! You have to drink or the vampire part in you is going to starve, and we have no idea what will happen if it does."

"I don't care!" she argued. "You should have just let me die!"

Dakota didn't want to die, she had done that the year before and she had no intention of doing it again. Though, she wasn't really dead as her heart was still beating. The blonde could still go out into the sun, eat whatever she pleased and do all humane things she did before. But that other part of her, the vampire part, it craved blood and she did everything she could do suppress it.

The woman was just so angry. Not even at Eric, she was angry at everything and she seemed to have difficulty controlling that anger whenever he was around. As if he was a constant reminder of the night her entire life changed. 

The ache of losing her cousin, whom had disappeared the same night she turned and the loss of Godric still weighed heavily on her chest. Eric wasn't doing any better, having no choice but to turn her and the loss of his maker were the only two things on his mind for the past year.

"Yeah," she muttered, blinking up at Lafayette. "sorry. I barely slept last night. I'm just tired."

"We don't have to do this tonight." smiled Jesus kindly. "Why don't you go on up and get some sleep. Lafayette and I can still make dinner for you and you can eat it later."

"No," she shook her head as she headed for one of the cabinets. "I was really looking forward to tonight. Please, i'll start with the sauce you make the pasta."

Eric fell silent after that, staring at her with an expression she couldn't quite place. Pamela looked at either of them as they stared at each other with narrowed eyes. The moment the words had left her mouth she had regretted them. 

"Is that really what you want?" he wondered, face void of emotion as he looked at his progeny.

"No," she shook her head, defeated as she let herself lean against the table.

"We'll try again in a few days." he muttered, and sped from her home.

"What the fuck?"

Dakota blinked and followed Lafayette's line of sight. The cutting board she was holding fell to the ground with a thud and her eyes widened as the sight of her cousin standing in the door opening, unharmed.

"Sookie?"

hello everyone, just a quick introduction to the new season chapter which i hope you like. I am so thankful for all the votes, reads and comments, it means the world to me <3

I can't wait for amnesia sweet eric!!!!