Chapter 16: Maneater

*Warning: Contains strong language*

In the basement of Lucian’s mansion, Riley Kelly, Lucian’s offspring, was standing over Eric’s beaten body. Over his right knuckles were pure silver brass knuckles. Eric lay on the cold, cement floor, with silver chains around his wrists that were tied up to some strong pipes behind him. Blood covered his face and his chest was riddled with indents from the knuckles that didn’t heal because of the silver. Riley pulled off the brass knuckles and tossed it to the floor. He walked over to a small table next to the stairs. On the table was a small metal box. He lifted up the lid and inside was a syringe and a vial with a silver substance inside. Riley grabs the syringe and the vial. He inserts the syringe into the vial’s top and pulls the syringe back to suck up some of the silver substance. Slowly he walks back over to a beaten Eric and kneels down in front of him.

Riley: I have to say that I’m really enjoying this. It’s not everyday that you get to torture a fellow Vampire. Especially one as old as you.

Eric was on his side, on the cold cement floor, and gave Riley an evil stare.

Eric: She will find me (barely able to speak)

Riley: I highly doubt that. Newborns are very stupid.

Eric: You underestimate her.

Riley: Lucian is going to take care of her. She’ll never know what hit her. So…ready for round two?

Later that night, at the Northman mansion in Shreveport, Summer strolled out of Eric’s bedroom and down the hallway. Quicker than a blink of an eye, she was down the stairs. Pam was about to head out the door.

Summer: Where are you going?

Pam: To Fangtasia. Somebody has to run the business while Eric is gone.

Summer: Eric is not gone. He’s been kidnapped. There’s a difference.

Pam: I’m sure you will find him. But I made a promise to him that if anything happened to him that I would take care of the bar.

Summer: Fine. Just go.

Summer was disappointed in Pam. She expected so much more from her. You would think she would be right by Summer’s side trying to help find Eric, but she was mistaken. Summer watched as Pam opened the front door and stepped outside. The door slowly closed and Summer rolled her eyes in complete disgust. There was a knock at the door and Summer sensed that it was Lucian. She really didn’t want to see him. There was just something about him that wasn’t quite right. She walked over towards the front door and opened it. Lucian stood in front of her with a big grin on his face.

Summer: What the hell do you want?

Lucian: Somebody woke up on the wrong side of the bed this evening.

Summer: I don’t have time for this. I have better things to do.

She tried closing the door, but Lucian extended his arm out and pushed the door open.

Lucian: I thought we were going to find the Viking…together.

Summer: I would rather find him on my own.

Lucian: Did I do something wrong?

Summer: I’m just not in the mood to be around anybody right now.

Lucian: When was the last time you fed?

Summer: That is none of your damn business.

Lucian kneeled down and picked something up. Summer looked down at his hands and noticed a small red cooler.

Lucian: I figured you would be hungry, so I brought some snacks.

Summer: What exactly is in there?

Lucian: Let me in and I promise I will share.

Summer rolled her eyes and stood off to the side, making way for Lucian to come in. Lucian formed a satisfied smirk on his face and walked passed Summer and over to the living room area, where he sat down on the leather couch, placing the red cooler on the glass table. Summer closed the front door and made her way over to the living room area. She sat down next to Lucian. Lucian slowly lifted up the cooler lid and inside was tons of iced cubes and some blood packets. He pulled out one of the packets which read in big, black, bold letters; “O POSITIVE”. Summer watched intensely as he opened the cap on the bag.

Lucian: Here… take it.

He held it out towards her. She thought about it. He was right, she hasn’t fed in awhile and it smelled intoxicating. She grabbed the bag from him and began drinking from the bag. Lucian watched as she gulped down the whole bag right in front of him. She threw the empty bag onto the table and licked the remaining blood from her lips.

Lucian: Better?

Summer: Sorry I snapped at you earlier. I was taking my anger and frustration out on you.

Lucian: You don’t have to apologize. We should start looking for Eric now.

Summer: The bike shop.

Lucian: What?

Summer: I found this girl at Merlotte’s the other night and she said she knew somebody that was there that night Eric was kidnapped. He might know something.

Lucian: Well then let’s go.

Later at the bike shop, Summer stepped into the garage and noticed a muscular guy wearing tight fitting blue jeans and a tight black, sleeveless shirt. He was kneeling down next to the front tire of the bike, tightening a bolt. The man turned his head and noticed Summer. He formed a big smile on his face and stood up, approaching her.

Man: May I help you?

Summer: I heard from one of your friend’s girlfriend that you were at the Queen’s Halloween party when a Vampire was kidnapped.

Man: I have no idea what you’re talking about.

Summer: I really hate liars.

Man: I don’t care, because I have no clue what you’re talking about.

Summer rushed at him, quicker than he could blink and had him pinned against the work bench, gripping a hold of his neck, tightly.

Man: Listen Lady, I don’t know what you’re talking about! (Trying to fight her off of him)

Summer flashed him her fangs and he stopped trying to fight her. She sensed fear flowing throughout his body. His pulse rate was going up and he began to perspire.

Summer: You are going to tell me everything you know about the kidnapping or I will rip off your appendages one by one. Starting with your arm.

She gripped his arm with her free hand and squeezed it tightly. The biker flinched in pain and began screaming. Lucian stood outside, listening, with a big grin on his face. He knew that the biker wouldn’t indicate him, since he was the one that make sure all of Steven’s men didn’t know anything about him. The biker began to spill everything he knew about that night at the Queen’s mansion. He revealed to Summer that he was recruited by a man named Steve Newlin. They both shared an interest in Vampire hatred, so he agreed to help him. He also told her that he did not know why they kidnapped that Vampire. He just didn’t ask questions. He got paid and got the hell out of there. Summer got as much information from him as she could, so she had no more interest in him. She let go of his neck and arm and retracted her fangs.

Summer: Thanks for your cooperation.

She flashed him a friendly smile and walked out of the garage. The biker began touching his neck and coughing, trying to catch his breath.

Lucian: Did you get what you wanted from him?

Summer: Nothing I didn’t already know.

Lucian: Sorry.

Summer: Let’s just go. Surely somebody has to know Steve Newlin’s whereabouts.

Back at the Northman mansion, Summer said her good-byes to Lucian and headed up the stairs. Lucian stood outside the mansion and walked down the steps, towards his car. As he got into his car and drove off, Summer looked out the window from the bedroom window. She exited the bedroom, down the hall and down the stairs. Quietly she stepped out of the mansion and ran over to Eric’s red Ferrari. She slid into the driver’s seat, closed the door, started the car and sped off the driveway and down the road. As she sped down the dark lit road, she finally came upon some headlights up ahead, which was Lucian’s car. She kept her distance from him, turning off her headlights so he wouldn’t notice her. Hopefully he didn’t realize or expect that she would follow him. She followed him several miles down the straight road until they came upon a large mansion. He pulled up in front of the large, iron, gates in front of the mansion and pressed a button that was on this post. As he pressed the button, the gates slowly opened and Lucian drove through and parked in front of the mansion. Summer stopped off to the side, behind some trees, so that nobody would notice her. She stepped out of the car and ran into the wooded area until she came upon the gate. She watched him enter the mansion. Tightly she closed her eyes, trying to sense if Eric was close by. She opened her eyes and decided to get back into the car. As she sat behind the steering wheel, she wondered if she should sneak into the mansion and demand some answers. But she realized that that was stupid and self-ish, since he was way stronger than her. First she needed to come up with a plan before she decided to storm into the mansion. She turned the car around and headed down the road, back towards Eric’s mansion.

The next night, Summer stepped out of the bedroom and strolled down the stairs. She noticed Sookie sitting on the couch with Pam. Summer felt happy to see her sister, but she just didn’t have time for her. She had to find Eric and help him, if nothing has happened to him already.

Summer: Sookie, I don’t have time for chit-chatting.

Sookie: I know. I just miss you so much.

Summer: I know you do. And I miss you.

Sookie: Bill told me not to come over here, but I had to. You’re my sister.

Summer: Sookie, this conversation needs to take place another night. I need to go find Eric.

Sookie: Do you need Bill’s help?

Summer: No. Thanks for offering though. I think I’m close to finding him by myself.

Sookie: Once you find Eric, will you promise me that we will be sisters again? Jason is dying to see you, as well.

Summer: I will try.

Sookie: Don’t say that. Just promise me.

Summer: Sookie, I’m not the same person you use to know.

Sookie: I don’t care. You are still my sister. So stop acting like you don’t care about me or Jason.

Summer: I promise I will pay you and Jason a visit soon.

Sookie bolted up off the couch and ran over towards Summer. She immediately wrapped her arms around Summer, hugging her tightly. Sookie pulled herself away and flashed her sister a loving smile. She turned around and headed out the front door. Pam was still sitting on the couch. She rolled her eyes in disgust.

Pam: Family. I’ve never understood the reason for it.

Summer: Well aren’t you and Eric like family?

Pam: I guess you can say that, but we aren’t clingy.

Summer: Don’t you have somewhere to be?

Pam: You said you were close to finding Eric. How close?

Summer: Close. Now I should be leaving.

Pam: I thought your boyfriend was coming over.

Summer: Lucian is not my boyfriend. I can’t stand him, really.

Pam: So you’re avoiding him. How nice of you.

Summer: Bye, Pam (opening the front door)

As she stepped out the front door, Lucian appeared in front of her. Once Summer seen him, she realized it was going to be hard to get rid of him.

Lucian: Going somewhere?

Summer: To look for Eric.

Lucian: Without me?

Summer: Listen. I know you’re trying to help me, but I really don’t need your help.

She walked passed him and down the steps. As she reached the bottom step, Lucian slid his hand around her waist, pulled her towards him and planted his cold, dead lips onto hers. Immediately she wanted to kill him, but she knew she had to lead him on in order to find out what he was up to. She tried reading his thoughts before but since he’s much older, he knew how to block his thoughts. It was like there was a brick wall in his mind that she couldn’t climb over or break through. So the only plan she had was to trick him. She knew that he liked her a lot, so she was going to use that to her advantage. Slowly she began kissing him back, instead of pushing him away. He pulled his face away from her and gave her a satisfied grin.

Lucian: I thought you would fight me.

Summer: I thought about it, but you’ll just keep on doing it.

Lucian: You’re right.

Summer: And I kind of like ya.

Lucian: That’s nice to know.

He grabbed her hand and led her to his car. He opened the passenger door and Summer slid into the seat. As she was seated inside the car, Lucian closed the door and walked around the car and over to the driver’s side. He opened the door and lowered himself into the seat. As he closed the door shut, he turned to look at Summer.

Lucian: So where do you want to go?

Summer: How bout’ your place?

Lucian: My place it is.

Later at his mansion, Lucian and Summer walked through the front door and into the main lobby of the mansion. Summer looked around to see if there were any humans around that she could read, but all she seen was the butler, whom was a Vampire. She tried reading his thoughts, but all he was thinking about was getting his job done right and making sure he didn’t piss Lucian off.

Summer: Wow, you have some nice digs.

Lucian: It’s rented. I wanted bigger, but this will have to do.

Lucian grabbed her hand and started leading her towards the staircase. She noticed a door at the end of the hall and something about that door made her feel intense pain, like someone had set her skin on fire. She shook it off and started following Lucian up the stairs. As they reached the top, he led her down the hall and he opened the door to one of the rooms, which was a master bedroom. She stepped inside and noticed a bed, larger than a king size one, at the end of the room, with a canopy. Lucian closed the door and wrapped his arms around Summer, pulling her towards him. He began kissing her and she followed his lead. She wanted to make him think that she was as in to him as he was her. He snaked his hand through her hair, behind her neck, while he kissed her. As they continued kissing, he was leading her over towards the large bed. Once they reached the bed, Lucian lowered her down to the bed. He continued kissing her as he lied on top of her. She grabbed both arms and rolled to where she was now on top of him. Lucian formed a satisfied grin on his face. She grabbed his dress shirt and pulled it open, causing the buttons to fly across the room. He sat up, facing her, and she pulled the shirt down off his arms. He tried to lean in and kiss her, but she placed her index finger against his lips.

Summer: I will be back.

Lucian: You are such a tease.

Summer got off of him and walked towards the master bathroom, which was in his room. As she stepped inside, she immediately closed the door behind her and tried to think of something that would render him weak. She began looking around the room for something she could use, but there was nothing. There was a knock at the door and Lucian was asking her if she was okay. She remembered she had something in the back of her jeans pocket. She reached in and pulled out a capsule, like a pill. It was given to her the other night when she went to Fangtasia. A man there gave her a few capsules that would help her with her old Vampire problem. The man that gave it to her was human. He didn’t particularly like Vampires, but if he could have any chance to hurt one of the older ones, he was in for anything. When Summer told him of her problem with Lucian, he gave her a few blood capsules. They weren’t just any blood capsules. The blood was dead, human blood. Which means it was taken from a corpse before their blood is replaced with embalming fluid. He told her that corpse blood rendered older Vampires very weak. It not only made them weak, but very sick. She stuck the capsule into the back corner of her mouth, and tried not to bite down on it to where it would burst in her own mouth. She walked over to the bathroom door and pulled it open. Lucian stood in front of her and grabbed her by the waist, lifting her up. Her legs wrapped around his waist as he made his way over to the bed with her. He laid her down onto the bed and began kissing her. She tried to make sure he didn’t realize there was a capsule in her mouth, so she flipped him over to where he was on his back. She then pulled him up towards her and that was her moment. As she kissed him, intensely, she bit down onto the capsule and forced all the corpse blood from the capsule into his mouth. He pushed her off of him as he felt blood go into his mouth. Before he could really react, he swallowed the blood thinking nothing of it. He jumped up off the bed and stared at Summer. Summer lay on her stomach, her hands propping up her face as she watched him, closely.

Lucian: What did you do?

Summer: You are extremely gullible for your age.

Lucian fell to his knees and began feeling extremely ill. He clinched his hands into fists. The veins in his arms were tightening and were black. He looked up at Summer and he noticed the evil grin on her face. Summer hopped off the bed and kneeled down in front of him.

Summer: I know you have him, you son-of-a-bitch. Did you think I was dumb?

Lucian: You bitch (in extreme pain).

He then fell forward onto the floor and his eyes rolled in back of his head. Summer stood up and made her way over to the bedroom door. She slowly opened the door and poked her head out into the hallway to see if anyone was around. Nobody was around so she quietly stepped out into the hallway and closed the bedroom door. She walked down the hallway and down the long staircase. As she reached the lobby floor, there was nobody in sight. Faster than a bolt of lightening, she made it to the end of the hallway. She opened the door, slowly and quietly and noticed wooden steps. As she stepped down onto the first step, she pulled the door shut behind her. She didn’t sense anybody down at the bottom, except for a minor thought. As she made her way to the bottom, she noticed Eric lying on the floor, chained up to the pipes behind him. Before Summer could kneel down to check on Eric, she heard a noise from upstairs. She realized that someone was about to come down into the basement. Scanning the room, she noticed an old wooden chair in the corner of the room. She ran over to it, broke a leg off the bottom of the chair and hit under the stairs, in the darkness. The basement door opened and slowly walking down the stairs was Riley Kelly. He walked over towards Eric and suddenly stopped in his tracks. There was a scent in the air that was familiar. He realized somebody else was in the basement besides him and Eric. Before he could react, he looked down at his chest and noticed blood and wood sticking out. Summer was behind him pushing the broken chair leg into Riley’s back. Riley’s skin began to get droopy and wet. His body fell apart into pieces on the floor below. Blood covered the floor. Summer ran over to Eric, kneeled down and grabbed the chain behind him and pulled at it forcefully, causing the chain to break. She grabbed the other chain on his other wrist and pulled that one apart as well. She grabbed his arm and flung it around her shoulders. Slowly she pulled him up onto his feet and helped him up the stairs. As they stepped out of the basement, there was nobody in the lobby, so faster than a blink, she ran out of the mansion, with Eric.

Meanwhile, in Lucian’s master bedroom, he laid on the floor, unconscious. The veins in his arms, and neck were protruding out and were black. Slowly his eyes fluttered open and forced his body to sit up with the strength he had left, which wasn’t very much. He still felt extremely ill and sluggish. As he was standing on his feet, he felt wobbly and hugged the wall to keep from falling to the floor. He scanned the room and didn’t see Summer anywhere. Not only did he feel betrayed but he felt enraged.

Lucian: RILEY!!!!

He yelled for his offspring, but he never responded. Something wasn’t right. Usually Riley would already be in the room helping him. He could usually sense if something was wrong, but since he was rendered weak from the corpse blood, he wasn’t quite himself. He yelled again. Once again, nothing. The Butler then stormed into the room and noticed Lucian leaning up against the wall.

Butler: Master, are you alright?

Lucian: Where is Riley?

Butler: He went down into the basement.

Lucian suddenly came to the realization that Summer had tricked him and discovered that he was behind Eric’s kidnapping. A rush of anger ran through him. He was going to make her pay once he got his strength back.

Later at the Light of Day church, Steve Newlin stepped into his office and closed the door behind him. As he flipped the light switch on, next to the door, he was startled to see Summer standing by his desk. Sitting in one of the chairs, was Eric. He was weak and starving for some human blood.

Summer: Hello, Steve.

Steve: How did you find me?

Summer: I figured you would be back here.

Steve: Did Lucian tell you?

Summer: He didn’t need to.

Steve: What do you want? (Sounding scared)

Summer: I thought we would stop by and say, hi, and to get Eric a little snack.

Steve swallowed hard with fear. Summer suddenly appeared in front of him and wrapped her hand around his throat, tightly. He noticed her fangs as she pulled him towards Eric. Summer pushed down on Steve’s shoulders, forcing him onto his knees in front of Eric. Eric noticed the vein pulsating from the side of Steve’s neck. His fangs popped out and he bent down towards Steve’s neck. Eric quickly sunk his teeth into Steve’s neck. Steve began screaming as Summer stood behind him with her hands pressed down on his shoulders to keep him from moving. After a few minutes, Eric pulled his face away from Steve’s neck. He leaned back into the chair and his wounds began to heal. His skin complexion went from being ghostly white to a hue of pink. Summer pulled Steve back onto his feet, facing her. Steve was shaking in fear as the blood ran down his neck.

Steve: Please, don’t kill me (crying in fear)

Summer: Sorry but I have no compassion.

Violently she sunk her fangs into Steve’s neck and began draining him of the rest of his blood. Eric leaned back in his chair with a satisfied grin on his face, as he watched.

To Be Continued...