A winter of discontent

Winter, 1905.

Eric turned over in bed. It had been a little over 3 weeks since he had turned Pamela into a vampire. She had forced his hand; having slit her wrists all the way to her elbows. He had resented her, almost hated her for taking away his choice. She was a strong human, doing what she had to survive but being a maker had not been in his plans.

Now however, after having witnessed her first hand experience in being a vampire; from the blood lust, the cravings, the urges and seeing her exert control that even some adult vampires didn’t have his mind had been changed. He was starting to enjoy his impromptu progeny. She still had some trouble staying awake during the day, but since all the prostitutes also rested during the day, no one had noticed the change.

They were enjoying having a handsome man living with them. He was sort of a bouncer now. Pamela still ran the show, but he seemed to be imposing enough of a presence that the more rowdy men that came seemed to behave.

He turned over, watching the large grandfather clock tick away. It signaled half pass 8 in the evening. As he came out of slumber he could hear the humans in the downstairs levels. Pamela must be there also since she was not in the bedroom with him. He had to admit it was a pretty good arrangement. The working girls provided the blood he and Pamela required, Pamela continued her business, being well acquainted with the girls and he was there to help Pamela with her transition.

He arose from bed, stark naked as he fetched his clothes. Being on the 3rd floor was usually dangerous, but after turning Pamela they had quickly redone a room, covering all the windows almost to a paranoid extent but it was as light tight as the time period allowed

She was standing at the bar as Pierre poured her another glass of wine. She smiled at him and took the glass, sashaying to and fro so that her dress twirled. Enjoying her new life? That was a stupid question. She had new eyes, a new world around her. Once out of sight of anyone she poured some of the liquid into another glass that sit untouched on the end table. Her new ears picked up the sound of Eric's feet hitting the floor, not a loud sound...something only she would hear with vampire hearing. Her movements more elegant and flowed with ease. Tonight was a wonderful night, as was every night for the last month. Feeding and fucking, fucking and feeding...sometimes at the same time. She didn't realize how much fun this would be. And Eric...oh Eric Northman. He was everything a man should and could be. He was her maker and she could never regret slitting her wrists. She took his free will away that night, out of desperation but it was all she had left. She needed something worth living for and a life worth living. He had given her that gift, that marvelous gift of bringing her over into this world of darkness. She was able to conceal her new found life from her employees, some more suspicious than others. Learning to glamour had proved a great asset to have as a vampire. A smiled crossed her lips as she turned to see some old friends walk through the front door. She turned slowly, with the glass of wine in her hand and arched a brow. "Well, well, well, look at what the cat drug in." She said as she tilted her head to the side.

Bill and Lorena had awoken from their slumber than evening. The light of the candles that burned in every corner of the bedroom were dimming as the candles wax trickled down to the floor and pooled in a wax puddle.

Lorena had gone to the mirror to fix her already perfect hair, all tied up in a tight bun with long loose brown curls that dropped to the sides of her eyes.

They had both gone to their slumber in anger as they had continued to argue over the payment of the dead whores that they had drained.

"We shall pay tonight" Lorena spoke frustratingly.

Bill had picked up a vase which contained dead roses, and the edges curled and crisped into each other as dead petals gathered around the red mahogany cabinet.

"WHY? WHY SHOULD WE PAY?....THAT NORTHMAN IS PROBABLY ALREADY GONE....WHY SHOULD WE CARE?" he shouted, his voice echoing around the empty room.

Why? Why?.....Eric Northman is the most powerful vampire in existence. We do not anger him William!" Lorena had repeated this several times of the last few weeks.

The bedroom had seen much damage from their violent outburst of anger and fights that had occurred.

"I can take him in a fight, i am strong Lorena" Bill sneered at her.

Lorena sped over to stand in front of William, despair now in her eyes.

"You will not my dear William....He will destroy you" she said quietly.

Bill sneered once again as she spoke of how Eric Northman was stronger, faster, older. He could feel his anger bubbling slowly beneath the surface.

He picked up his dress coat from an old broken chair that had fallen to pieces from their fight the previous night.

"Let's go"

He had walked out of the room as the door his the wall with a thud. Lorena stood there as she contemplated, William would get them into trouble with Northman, and that would mean the True Death for both of them. She followed after him.

The streets were dark, as a light mist of fog hovered in the air. Bill and Lorena had walked the dark streets as the sound of the cobbles echoed in the streets.

Not a light to be seen, or a sound too be heard as they neared their destination. Bright lights shone brightly through the musty windows. Cracked windows covered by what looked too be thick drapes could be seen.

They climbed the steps to the old wooden front door. Lorena knocked on the hard door and waited.

"Let me handle this William"

He sneered once again at the thought. The door slowly opened as a woman stepped into appearance.

""Well, well, well, look at what the cat drug in."

Lorena put on her fake smiles, a smile that hid many secrets...to which anyone would not yet discover.

"I hear you have been expecting us" she said sarcastically.

Eric took his time getting dressed. He took a nice long soak in the tub, actually suppressing a chuckle at all the feminine things Pamela kept in here. He wondered how much more excited she’d get if she knew just how wealthy Eric was. As he leaned back he paused. He should find Godric and introduce Pamela to him. As her grandsire he had a right to know who was under his line.

He got up, toweling himself off as he began to slip on his clothes. A nice clean button shirt, a pair of dress pants with patching coat, a powder blue pocket square in his pocket, his gold and diamond antique watch draping from his other chest pocket down to his pants pocket. His shoes, cleaned and polished completed the ensemble. He took a moment to comb his hair, noticing it was starting to lengthen again. He debated letting it grow but it was not proper of gentlemen in this time to have long hair.

he blinked an eye at the woman, her fake smile so see through it was pathetic. And her little hound puppy that stood in a stance so protective, so...pathetic in a way. She wondered why he was so devoted to her. Well, there was devotion and there was obsession. He was borderline annoying. His name...Bill she believed. She motioned her hand sarcastically to the table in the corner where she conducted her business transactions. "This way, after you." She was always a confident woman, remembering back when she demanded she be paid $500 per girl drained. They were putting a serious damper on her business and she could not allow that. It was the night Eric Northman took her to bed and showed her what a real man was. The same night she forced him to turn her. She wondered if the two vampires knew she was no longer human. Eric had taught her many things in the last few weeks, but there was still (she assumed) more to learn. She was constantly surprising Eric with her abilities and control. Taking a seat across from them she smirked in her sadistic way. "$500 a girl like we agreed upon? I hope they were tasty, being you're paying for it. I am after all, running a business here." She said with a small smile toying with them.

Lorena smirked as she and William passed around her, Bill still sneering at the thought of having to obey the wishes of another vampire that had demanded them pay this whore $500 per girl that they had drained over their stay. He thought back to all those girls that he had the pleasure of draining dry of each and every last drop of their blood.

Savoring the moment as though he could feel their warm blood slide down his throat quenching a thirst that had now made itself known. He instincts called out too him as he could feels the whores heart beats and warm blood course its way through their bodies.

As Bill and Lorena slowly walked towards the table that, as the name slid into her mind, was something along the lines of Pam...... Lorena sneered as she passed into another room where a table and several chairs were in the corner.

The decor was not to her taste at all, she preferred something fancy, and also the blood of the rich, it always tasted more exquisite than most.

Both Bill and Lorena took a seat as the whore, Lorena would know her as took a seat opposite them, with a smile on her face, that had seen many men, and known many men.

Bill placed his hand over Lorena's, as he remained quiet as he was told too do so. But the blood in his body continued to boil as they discussed payment over the girls.

Lorena smiled sarcastically as she pulled out $2000 from under the corset under her dark ruby dress. She held it between her finger and smiled again.

Eric was just about to leave the room when he paused. He could smell them, two vampires. He grinned, even better it just so happened to be Lorena and her current boy toy… William. He chose to remain the room, this being a test to see how Pam handled herself with troublesome vampires.

He knew Lorena would assume he was gone. He wasn’t known for lingering anywhere for too long, and even if they picked up on Pam being a vampire they would assume, just like everyone else, that Eric did not make her since his views on being a maker were very well known.

He leaned against the wall, arms crossed. Even being on the 3rd floor he could be beside Pam in seconds if needed. He could feel her, her emotions, or lack there off beside him, caressing him like a lover. He didn’t doubt she would handle herself quite well.

She arched a brow a smirk still on her face as she looked from Lorena's face to the money on the table that was thrown. "How very lady like of you, but I guess its all I can expect from a gypsy bitch like you." She sighed and slowly reached for the money and felt a firm grip tighten around her wrists. "Where's Eric to protect you now?" Lorena muttered as she held tight to her wrists, her fangs out brazen to fight. Pam smiled and gave a hmph sound. "Well, wouldn't you like to know. I don't need Eric to fight my battles for me. By the way sweetheart, you need a serious manicure. Those nails are awful." All her girls were busy in their rooms with clients and the room was empty for the time being. In a flash she freed her wrist and stood. Her sidekick standing fast as she rose slowly. She tilted her head at Pam and looked her up and down. "Bring it bitch." Pam said.

Before Lorena could move Bill jumped the table and grabbed Pam by the throat his fangs out as well. Pam dropped her fangs and hissed with a small smile on her face, she did not fear him. She grabbed his shoulders and kneed him in the most sensitive spot for a man. Vampire or not, it got his attention for the brief second she needed for him to release her throat and her to move with vampire speed knocking him down and placing her long sharp heel of her shoe on his chest above his heart, while grabbing Lorena by the throat and digging her sharp well trimmed nails into her neck. She may not be an old ancient vampire, but she knew how to handle her own. "Couldn't just pay and leave could you?" She said proud of herself. She let her guard down for a second as she turned her head to see one of her girls enter. That was the worst move possible as she found her back against the wall with two angry vampires on each a side of her neck.

The whore spoke again, and the inner battle that Lorena had with herself to not reach over and grab her throat. Images passed through mind quickly as she pictured it vividly in her perfect mind.

But before she could act, William had jumped across the small wooden table that was the only obstacle between them. He bared his fangs as her as Pam did hers.

This had caught Lorena of guard as it crossed her mind that a vampire had made this whore a vampire. She would have just drained her dry, too feel her life slowly slip away as she drained her dead.

"William!" Lorena spoke harshly, although enjoying that William had jumped too her defense, despite that she did not need it. She felt a pride in her, knowing that she chose wisely when she chose William to be her eternal companion.

As Pamela had used her new found speed to stun William, only for a moment, while he regained his composure. The fight seemed to be happening so fast, although with her perfect eyesight she could see very clearly.

Lorena saw as William was forced to the floor, and the long heel of her shoe hovered above his heart, she felt a surge of instinct to help William.

"Couldn't just pay and leave could you?" she said smugly.

Then we all could feel and hear it. A human heart beat was drawing closer to them all. This was the moment that she needed to turn the situation to her advantage.

Lorena had sped behind Pam and threw her against the wall, glass ornaments crashed to the floor as William regained himself and joined Lorena with gaining the upper-hand. They both drew closer to Pamela as she had now been back into the wall, back against the wall.

They both drew closer, fangs bared as they closed into her neck.

Eric growled. He had sensed Pamela had been winning the spat. He rushed downstairs, quickly telling the humans to go to the parlor area before he closed the door. He then went up to where Pamela, Lorena and William were.

He quickly grabbed William first, tossing him clear across the room towards the wall. He then grabbed Lorena by her throat, his fangs full out, his eyes blazing in fury and his voice low and very threatening.

“You will remove your filthy hands off my progeny Lorena before I personally hand you the true death” he hissed, putting himself between Lorena and Pamela.

It was here that his sort of fatherly protectiveness showed. He may still somewhat recent Pamela for forcing his hand, but he would sooner stake himself than let someone as low cut as Lorena lay a hand on his child.

Her eyes widened as they both drew near her neck their grip on her body made it impossible to move. She was inches from the ground and couldn't touch the floor. She wouldn't show fear...never. Pam's fangs were out and she held tight to each of their hands that gripped her. She could feel him near her, smell his scent. Eric was coming, and she was embarrassed to be in this position. She was about to fight free when Bill's grip released and he went flying across the room. Seconds later Lorena turned her head to see why Bill went flying and turned to face an angry maker. He grabbed her by the throat as she released Pam, making her fall to the ground. She held her throat as her body healed itself from bruises she would have if she were human. She watched in admiration as Eric spat those words to Lorena, and the fear in her eyes...was all the more better. "They were JUST leaving in fact." Pam said as she rested a hand on Eric's shoulders. "Bottom feeders is all they are." She smirked at Lorena as she stood behind Eric, keeping Bill in her peripheral vision should he go to attack again she'd be ready. She may have not completely won by herself, but then again it was unfairly matched with two against one. She only hoped she made Eric proud.

As both Lorena and Bill drew closer to Pam's neck, both with fangs bearing, ready to tear into her neck. William could feel her try to fight against their grip.

He grinned as by vampire age, he was a lot older than she. He turned to wink and Lorena and she responded with a sly grin across her face, with her ruby lips spread into a smile which lit up her face.

"After you William my dear" she smirked at him.

William chuckled again and leaned in closer to her neck, fangs still baring. Then William felt himself being lifted of the ground and as such force being thrown across the small room and straight in to the wall.

As with such force he hit the wall with such an impact then there was now an indent of his form against the wall.

The lights flickered from the impact as he fell to the floor in a crouch. Lorena turned too see who had the nerve to harm her William.

Then he caught her eye...Eric Eric Northman. He had grabbed her by the throat as she had released the whore from her grip.

William could feel Lorena's fear as Northman had her gripped between his hand, held in the air. He stood from the floor, fangs baring still, growling as he held Lorena.

He continued to stare between all of them, unsure what too do, he now came to understand that Lorena was right. He was strong.

All he could do was take his stand, ready to defend Lorena, as she had taught him too.

Eric looked about two seconds away from snapping Lorena’s neck when Pamela placed her hand on his shoulder. At once his tone softened and he turned his head to look at her while still maintaining an iron grip on Lorena’s neck.

“Are you alright Pamela?” he asked, his voice holding a touch of concern for her well being, but also a hint of pride as she didn’t falter and still kept that tough as nails façade. He nodded when Pamela said she was alright.

He turned his attention back to Lorena, giving one spare glance at William who was on the floor. “You’re a disgrace to vampire kind Lorena. You use your progeny like a pet, feeding it spoils and wasting away such talent. Don’t you know the role of maker carries a huge responsibility?” he then sneered, shoving her away, letting her fall quite ungracefully on her rear.

“You’re nothing but blood and orgies, leaving a trail of mess and disappointment in your wake. No wonder your maker released you Lorena… he couldn’t stand to see such disappointment in his bloodline”

He brought one arm around Pamela’s waist, cradling her to his side like a tender lover. “Look at my child. Barely a month old and already much more efficient than your progeny. She makes me proud to be a maker” his gaze even softened when he looked and spoke of Pam before his eyes returned to their ice cold murderous demeanor.

“You dare to ever touch my child or even step foot in this establishment again Lorena and so help me Cain I will rip you to shreds and feel your pathetic boy toy to the wolves” he said, his voice ice cold and heartless.

Pam smiled at him with admiration, love, respect and lust. She nodded once and listened as he ripped Lorena a new one and told her exactly how a true maker should be. She, for a small second of time, felt sorry for William. He didn't really seem happy with her and was more like her guard dog/toy than a companion or child. She never thought it possible to love and respect someone so much. Eric never made her feel beneath him, or belittle her. She was his equal. His child, his lover, his friend. Bill was only a ploy in getting Lorena what she pleased, her bloodlust exceeding limits many vampires found disturbing. She was the reason they were called and referred to as monsters. As he put an arm around her waist she felt a flutter in her stomach. Something about it always gave her butterflies. She loved him, and never knew that kind of love before. He was the first, the only man she respected with his authority. She'd follow him to the ends of the earth, or die for him....all in thanks for the gift he'd given her....Life. A life worth living. She looked at Lorena and wanted to laugh at her expression on her face of horror, fear, embarrassment and defeat. It suited her well. The look on Bill's face was that of contemplation, regret, emotions humans showed. Like he snapped out of some sort of glamour. Pam stood next to Eric, her back straight as he spoke with an icy voice that turned her on so badly.

William stood and watched as Eric had Lorena in his grasp, listening to how he thought she disgraced all vampires. He listened to Northman as he told her about how Maker's are a huge responsibility.

He stood, still in his attack stance as Northman weaved his long arm around Pamela's waist and pulled her closer to his body.

He could feel a pang in his chest, something that he had not felt in along time. This Northman had taken this women as his child, his prodigy.

Not as a pet that Lorena claimed him too be, it seemed all that she used him to be was for sex and so that she was no longer lonely.

That simple gesture of affection spread across his face, memories re-surfaced of how his arm used to weave into the curves of Caroline's waist.

Caroline's face stuck sharply in his mind, as though he was staring into her eyes and she back at him. She would so disappointed in what he had become.

He watched as Pamela stared at Northman, he didn't need to feel what she was feeling. It was written all over her face as though she was an open book.

For a child to look at her Maker like that, there must have been a deep connection, trust and possibly a love that they shared. Something that both he and Lorena had never shared.

Although he had tried to find a love for her, but it did not exist, you can't create something out of nothing as human phrase it.

Eric dropped Lorena to her rear as she landed on the floor with a slight thud, he rushed too her side to help her stand. Although he did not love her, out of some respect he had too.

He took her face into his hand and caressed her cheek slightly.

"Are you alright Lorena?"

Eric kept glaring at the both. “I’ll give you one last mercy Lorena. Leave. Never visit this place, or this area again” he said calmly, still holding Pamela close to him.

“Pamela.. whats the cost for all the damages these two have done to your establishment?” he asked calmly, now finally taking a moment to see the broken tables, upturned objects, shattered glass and clearly the lack of customers and noise since everyone was shut in the parlor for now. Business was business after all and even though Pamela didn’t know that with him she would never want for money, right now she had working girls to pay and a brothel to run.

Pam arched a brow and took in the scene around her. She could easily fix the damages with the $2000 plus the money in her savings box she kept hidden, but she wanted her to pay...and pay big. She smiled at Lorena and said "I believe....a sum of....$5,000 should cover it. After all, there is many things to fix after your visit." She looked at Lorena dead in her eyes, feeling Eric's arm still around her gave her more confidence then she normally had. She waited for a brief second and added. "Oh, and it's to be paid...tonight...in cash. Can't have you running off without paying your debt." She smiled again just to tease her.

Lorena leaned into William touch, determined to prove Eric Northman wrong. She took her responsibilities as a Maker very strongly, especially concerning William's life.

She sneered as the new prodigy of the infamous Northman wanted $5000 for all damages that had occurred this night.

A part of her wanted to refuse, but she knew that Northman had meant when he said he would give her and William the True Death. She reached into corset and there was a bundle of cash that she had acquired from her meals from the previous nights

All rolled up into a tight bundle she held the money out towards Pam, she continued to sneer as she held the money out.

"This should cover it"

William continued to watch as the money was handed over. Now this only added to his knowledge, that Lorena was a weak Maker. She showed fear to this vampire, and began to wonder why?

"We can't have that now" William added trying to show that he was not weak, that a part of him would stand by Lorena, defend her if need to. He didn't know if this was the curse of being the prodigy to Lorena, or if this was his own feelings.

He would find out.

Eric looked at Lorena and shook his head "such a pity... you were once great Lorena but it seems immortality has not agreed with your mind" he said calmly as Pamela reached for the money.

“Go check on the girls Pamela, I locked them in the parlor before this spat began but I’m sure they could use a familiar face easing their troubles” he said, giving her a meaningful look, basically saying to go glamour the girls who were panicking.

He then turned his attention to William, Lorena’s little pet. Frankly he wasn’t much to look at, a typical soldier from what he’d head, but from what he knew William had been taken away from his human family forcibly by Lorena. No wonder he had a temper. Such bitterness at losing all that one holds dear tended to carry over into the vampire life. Aside from that though he had potential. He was loyal almost to a fault, the maker bond notwithstanding. He was a bit more modern so blending into society was not hard, and rumor had it that despite having an appetite for blood and young girls, he avoiding killing anyone unless ordered to.

As William helped Lorena up and out the door as he had ordered her too he quickly got beside him, having the pretext of closing the door after them. He spoke, low, very quickly so only he could hear him.
“Do not squander away your talents under Lorena. She is your ball and chain in this world” he said calmly before he watched them leave the establishment and he closed and locked the door once they’d left.

She obeyed his request and read between the lines. Knowing her girls they had overheard and saw pretty much everything. She had a job to do and that was to glamour them all to not remembering. She opened the parlor doors and they all rushed back with gasps escaping their mouths. She said in a calm voice so not to scare any of them. "Let's have a discussion shall we?" She pointed to her first girl and brought her to the next room closing the door behind them. She turned and caught her gaze immediately, with a sweet smile on her face. "Dorothy, dear. Tonight you stayed in your room and had a typical night with your john. He tipped you well and you were excited about that. Nothing strange happened here." Dorothy nodded in a hypnotic gaze as Pam broke the glamour. "Glad to hear you were tipped so well, must be you skills." She said with a grin. "Send the next one in will you Dorothy?" Pam did this for the next 7 girls, with variations of stories of coarse. But for now their secret was safe....

The door had closed and swiftly locked behind them both. Lorena had raced on ahead of him, heard Eric on the opposite side of the door.

“Do not squander away your talents under Lorena. She is your ball and chain in this world”

The words had struck a core within him. The words echoing in his ears as he remained on the step.

Did Northman know how he was feeling?

Was it written all over his face?

Could another vampire know that this was not the life he had chosen for himself?

Lorena had played him as a ferocious vampire in his eyes. Drumming into him, how powerful he was.

Had he been in the same situation when he was turned?

William would never know.

He was brought out of his sort of trance by the bellow of Lorena.

"WILLIAM! COME!"

Lorena stood on the corner of the street opposite the brothel, impatient and furious with the events of tonight. Somehow he felt he would now pay the brunt of this the following night.

A sense rose within in, the air grew high with the smell of a fresh morning. Lights were now lit in many homes surrounding him. Children could be heard laughing with their human mothers and fathers.

"AS YOUR MAKER I COMMAND YOU TO COME NOW WILLIAM!"

Lorena had sneered again as she took of our shelter for the day. The Makers call called within me and i had too obey. The sun was not beginning to rise slowly as it now began to light the dark and damp streets.

As i sped up the stairs to our day rest room for the day. Lorena already had climbed into the bed and shielded herself and fell into her day rest.

I slowly climbed into the old creaking bed, the mattress sinking from under our joint weight. Rolling on to my back, Northman's word continued to play back in my mind.

“Do not squander away your talents under Lorena. She is your ball and chain in this world”

And with those last words on my lips, i felt the sun pull me under once again.