Awakening

30

". . When will he come to me?" Eric asked, closing the watercolor book and handing it back to her

"Either he comes to you, or you go to him" Morgan replied, taking the book and putting it back in her bag "but either way, I don't know the exact day. It could be days, weeks, months, even years before you see him. But . . "

"But what?" looking at her

"It feels like I've seen him before" her voice soft "somehow, I've seen him"

Eric didn't know what to say. But how could it be possible that she'd seen the man in the painting before? He didn't know.

"Once I'm finished with the painting, I'll know the general time frame" she added "I don't know how I know, but . ." shrugging slightly ". . . I'll let you know"

He gave her a small nod, reaching up and moving a lock of white hair from her face, his cold finger lightly trailing down her warm cheek. The woman looking up at the vampire, expecting him to be angry for some reason, feeling that the man in the painting was important to him in more ways than one. Hell, she felt that he was important to her as well, but she couldn't figure out why. Morgan's eyes closed when he lightly grasped the back of her neck, not pulling her into a kiss like he had always done, but leaving his hand there. Either way, she found the gesture rather soothing. A small sigh emitted from her nose, leaning forward and resting her forehead on his chest, and he let her. He would let her do anything she wanted to him.

∆

They were still in the office, Morgan continued to organize the filing cabinets, working in silence even as Bill arrived with a young redhead dressed in dark clothing with makeup to match. But she would glance at the girl every now and then, always to find her looking at Morgan hungrily. The white haired woman slowly took in the girl's scent, comparing it to Bill's, her eyebrows rising when she noticed the similarities.

"Ooh, that's why she was butthurt today" Morgan said thoughtfully, gaining the attention of Bill as she closed the filing cabinet "she doesn't know you turned someone"

"And I would appreciate it if you didn't tell her" Bill replied, pleading with her "I would like to tell her when I get the chance to"

"Better be soon" grabbing her drink from the desk "you are not exactly in her good graces right now, buddy" taking a sip of her Old Fashioned

"This is your punishment, not mine" Eric said, getting back on the subject "what am I supposed to do with her?"

"Excuse me . . " the newborn vampire said "I can hear you, Mr. Rude. I wanna go to the bar. I wanna be one of those dancers. Oh, I'm hungry!"

"She won't listen to me" Bill said, looking at Eric "it'll take more time than I have to teach her obedience"

"I don't obey anybody" a smirk forming on the girls lips "those days are over"

"You can't handle one little girl, Bill?" Eric asked, a smirk on his lips "newborns can be like this. Man up, my friend. She's not even one night old"

"That is not the issue" shaking his head slightly

"You want to stay with your maker, don't you?" looking at the redhead

"No, he's a dick" she said, a smile slowly forming on her lips "dick, dick, dick" looking at Eric "you're cute. Can I sit in your lap?"

"No" Eric replied bluntly

"Why?" throwing her arms out slightly, like a child throwing a tantrum

Eric rolled his eyes, leaning back in his chair, holding out a hand. A smile formed on the redhead's lips, taking a step forward, only to stop when a pale hand grasped his, Eric leading Morgan to his lap, like he always did. The white haired woman sat down on his lap, crossing her left leg over her right, his hand being placed on her knee, Bill watching the interaction between the woman and the older vampire.

"Nobody lets me have any fun" the redhead grumbled ". . Fucker"

"Sit down and shut up" Eric ordered

To Morgan's surprise, the young vampire sat down on the couch, her lips sealed, a low hum emitting from the woman on his lap, taking another sip of her drink, lowering the glass slightly,

"Close the door" he ordered

The redhead stood up from the couch, walking over to the door and closing it, making her way back to the couch and sitting back down with her arms crossed over her chest,

"You have to be tough with them or they'll walk all over you" looking at Bill

"I am well aware of that, but you can see how she is" Bill replied "and there are urgent matters to which I must attend"

"Like Sookie?" Morgan asked, an amused smirk forming on her lips, teasing the vampire

"Haven't you done enough for her?" Eric asked

"If any harm were to come to her because of my absence" he said "you would be - "

"What?" He challenged

". . . Without her helpful skills" choosing his words wisely

"I don't need her skills" another smirk forming on his lips "I have Morgan. It seems her skills are more . . advanced. Compared to hers, I mean"

"Let me out" the redhead spoke up "I wanna do something bad" a smile forming on her lips

"I would be in your debt" Bill nearly begged "I would return the favor"

"Oh, yes, you will" his smirk still on his lips "you most definitely will" looking at Jessica "Jessica, how would you like to learn how a real vampire feeds?"

"Oh, yes, sir" her eyes lighting up "please, sir"

"See?" looking at Bill "it's really quite easy"

A gasp emitted from Morgan when she was suddenly pinned to a wall, her glass falling to the floor, shattering, the contents spilling all over. The newborn, Jessica, had been the one to pin her to the wall, fangs extended and close to her skin, but Morgan's hand made contact with her neck, causing the vampire to look at her with wide eyes. Morgan removed Jessica's hands away from her, using her speed and switching their positions, pinning her to the wall by her neck, and no matter how hard she tried, Jessica couldn't get out of her hold, remembering what her Maker once said, the woman with white hair is not to be underestimated, under no circumstances.

"One thing you need to learn. . ." Eric spoke up "feeding on a human that belongs to another vampire is a very big no-no"