Side Effects

Closing my eyes I focus my full attention on trying to listen or smell any type of sign of civilization, I had always been curious about why the characters in the show didn't utilize their enhanced senses because from the short amount of time that I've been a vampire I'm already able to tell how much more useful my hearing and smell are. My enhanced senses are not the only thing that I've noticed are enhanced, my emotions have greatly increased my joy, playfulness, and most importantly, my rage. 

Hearing nothing except animals and other meaningless sounds of nature I open my eyes once more gazing at the beautiful dense forest and the colorful falling leaves with the crisp smell of fall tickling my nose bringing a bright smile upon my face.

"Well what did you find, how much longer must we walk Monster?" Feeling my smile dim I turn and stare at the woman who has been ruining what was supposed to be a wonderful day of celebrating my immortality but has instead been spent listening to this girl complaining about how much longer we must travel. To think that this woman is not only the subject of one of my brothers' love but two! Some have even described her as one of the purest doppelgängers, but I don't see her as a woman at all. Speeding towards Tatia I grab her throat choking her while lifting her light body off the ground staring into her brown eyes. 

"Tatia I don't believe you understand the situation that you're in right now so let me make it clear for you." Leaning closer to her face, grabbing her head with my free hand as she tries to look away silently struggling against my grip. Watching with enjoyment as the fear begins to set in as I make my eyes glow red and make my fangs pop out, showing my vampire side. "You are my prisoner, you only survive because I let you, you only exist because I allow it so get that through your head before I rip out your tongue! You are nothing to me! YOU MIGHT HAVE WON MY BROTHERS AFFECTION BUT THEY ARE NOT HERE TO SAVE YOU NO ONE IS!" Staring into Tatias eyes I initiate a much overdue compulsion watching as her eyes dilate. 

"You will not harm yourself or do anything with the purpose of harming yourself." Pausing in my compulsion I take a moment to think about all the things I can change realizing just how overpowered compulsion really is, with careful wording I can essentially erase someone's mind while rewriting whole memories as if I was painting a beautiful painting. "You will not remember your past. The only thing you will remember is falling madly in love with Eric Mikaelson, serving him loyally doing whatever he asks no matter how dangerous the request, trying to please him to the best of your ability."

Dropping Tatia to the ground further dirtying her now tattered white nightgown I sigh in mild annoyance before slightly smirking. I wasn't planning on using compulsion on Tatia but the risk of me not using it was too great, Tatia is an asset to me until it is proven or disproven that her blood is useful to me she will have to be protected which will be easier if she doesn't hate me, and besides I'll have a good laugh when I see Elijah's and Klause's reaction to seeing Tatia with me and most importantly in love with me. 

"Wha-what has happened Eric where are…GAH" Hearing a scream I look back down at Tatia and watch in confusion as drops back to the ground after a failed attempt at standing back up clutching her head her back arching up as she screams a blood curtailing scream, quickly cutting my wrist I speed to her side bringing my wrist to her face hesitating before I pull my bloody wrist away reluctantly watching as Tatia continues to scream and shake all while clutching her head. 

Slowly walking through the forest careful not to go too fast in fear of dropping my important cargo I carefully listen, making sure I can still hear her blood pumping, Tatia's outburst didn't last long but once she finished screaming she was completely and utterly past out. Looking back on the situation I'll admit that erasing all of her past memories might've been a bit much but there's nothing I can do about it now, I had debated giving her my blood but I don't want to risk my blood tainting her if she were to die so for now she will just rest and hopefully regain her strength because a healthy blood bag is a good blood bag. 

I continued walking through the forest for the rest of the day taking periodic stops to try to hear or smell any signs of people to no luck. Eventually I stumbled upon a dirt path which I began to follow without any hesitation, someone must've made the path so I'm sure It'll lead somewhere. Tatia has shown no signs of life either and if it wasn't for her heartbeat I would've thought she was dead but I've made sure she's hydrated, fed, and cleaned like a good owner should. 

Listening to the sounds of children laughing, wood getting split, the sounds of waves crashing against the shore and other sounds of people brings a smile to my face as I slightly adjust Tatia's position on my shoulder. I've followed the path for two days straight taking periodic breaks to make sure Tatia is cleaned, fed and hydrated since she still hasn't woken up from her coma which is very concerning because the only thing I've been able to feed her without worrying about her choking is mashed up berries and I don't believe berries alone can sustain a grown adult. The village is a small one with native viking settlers which is lucky for me because they also speak old norse so I don't have to worry about any communication issues it was easy enough to ask for the chief's home from a passing villager and with a quick compulsion he was back on his way none the wiser of what's to come for his nice little village. Staring at the sturdy wooden door in front of me I gave two quick knocks waiting for the pair of footsteps to get to the door opening to reveal a young woman no older than 16 with blonde hair tied in a braid giving me a confused look.

"Hello, who are you? I've never seen you around the village." 

"Please it's my wife we-we were attacked by bandits. My wife hit her head. We were told to come here, that someone would help us." Doing my best to mimic a worried husband I hold Tatia bridal style showing her to the young woman. Quickly getting rushed inside I placed Tatia on a bed that I was taken to before the young woman disappeared saying that she was going to get someone who should be able to help us. The girl eventually returns with the her father who's the chief of the village her mother and a healer, allowing the healer to do a full examination I hold no hope that they find anything because I've seen the medical advances of the viking age and unless there's a witch that I haven't seen there is nothing this old woman can do. 

Getting sat down at their dining table I sit on one side of the table while the family sits on the other giving looks of pity towards me. "Tell me lad what is your name we've yet to introduce? 

"My name is Eric and my wife is Tatia. What is yours honorable Chieftain?" I ask in an honorable tone still keeping a solemn face.

"There is no need for pleasantries lad, my name is Ivar and this is my wife Frida and I believe you've already met Astrid. My daughter has told me what happened to you and your wife and I was curious as to what you had planned on doing next you both are more than welcome to stay here until she recovers and if you wish to stay longer I'm sure the town will come together to get you a home built in time for winter." Smiling at the at Frida and Astrid who looks like a much younger version of her mother I direct my attention back to Ivar who is a giant of a man full of muscles standing a full head over me which is saying something because I was one of the tallest Mikaelsons standing around 6'2 or 6'3. 

"Your offer is a kind one Ivar but I will have to decline, my wife and I wish to cross the sea and were hoping to build a langskip." Ivar lets out a deep laugh before focusing back on me.

"That's funny boy but I haven't seen a Langskip in years and haven't the slightest clue how to build one, even if I did, why would I help you?" Returning a glare sent to me by the chieftain I speed around the table grabbing the mother and daughter pinning them against the wall by their throats.  

"I believe there's been a misunderstanding Ivar I was not asking for a boat I was demanding, you need not worry about knowing how to build it just give me a suitable amount of capable men and I will have the boat built." Looking back at Ivar I smirk at the look of complete shock on his face before that look of shock turns into one of determination as Ivar stands from his feet and runs to the other side of the room towards an ax that is mounted on the wall. Dropping the woman I rush towards Ivar stabbing my hunting knife through his hand pinning it to the wall, the blood causing my vampire side to expose itself. 

"That wasn't very smart Ivar now let me tell you how this will work, you will either get my boat made and I will take enough people to man it or I will murder everyone in this little village of yours saving your family for last." The fear is etched on Ivar's face as I stare in his eyes, ripping the knife out of his hand. I give a long lick to the blade cleaning off the blood sending a wave of euphoria rushing through my body and a sudden want no a sudden need for more. Speeding to a recovering Frida I sink my fangs into her jugular taking long gulps of her blood ignoring everything else. Forcing myself to stop and taking in the senses that I blocked out I hear Astrid screaming in a corner Ivar pleading for me to stop and the Healer still examining Tatia completely oblivious to what's happening right now.

Speeding to Ivar I grip his chin staring into his eyes. "I expect you to bring me the men who are capable workers for me to build my boat or I will slaughter this village, IS THAT CLEAR!" 

"Ye-yes." He stutters out weakly. 

Speeding back to the room with Tatia I check back in with the healer reassuring my thoughts that she would be useless in helping her so I just wiped her memory and sent her home. As the days began to pass Ivar got me enough man power to begin building the ship and I healed Frida of the bite but it was clear that both her and her daughter were deathly afraid of me trying to keep as much distance between us as possible. Tatia or how I like to think of her, my Sleeping Beauty, is still asleep! I've done everything from slapping her to kissing her but now I've had to resort to the only thing that I could think of, giving her my blood, it was my only option because if I didn't she would've died from malnutrition so now her diet is mashed berries and blood but even with the added blood she still doesn't wake from her slumber. 

As the months continued to pass my masterpiece is getting closer and closer to being built, Ivar told me that with a skilled team it would normally take around six months and considering the fact that I'm the only one on my team that knows how to build one I like to think we're making great time. Ivar gave me six men that are absolutely giants amongst men that are skilled in woodwork which sped up the process of making the ship but to speed up production even more I killed them starting my sire line. The men are fairly competent Viking warriors, three of the six were able to fight above average while the other three mostly rely on their strength to overpower their opponents.

"No no no, I already told you Harold that plank goes there, not there!" Wacking the doofus upside the head I continue to monitor my workers making sure that they build the boat without any flaws. It won't be long now, I'll admit that at first it was rough but I've managed to whip the lot into a well oiled machine with a fair amount of compulsion and discipline.

"Just do the same thing for the rest of the side, I want it done by sunrise or you can stay out there and burn!" Leaving the construction zone which is a short speed away from the coast I go back to the chief's home which I have made my own sitting next to a still unconscious Tatia sleeping peacefully on the bed. Flaring daggers into the side of her head I position my clenched fist right over her heart. 

"I wasn't expecting this to happen love, I had so much hope and ambition for the greatness we would accomplish together. With your blood and my power we could've conquered the world creating new species and finding wonderful things, yet I had to mess that all up and now I'm paying the price." Moving my hand away from Tatia heart I sigh in frustration. "But I will wake you up and even if you don't I'm sure I'll stumble across another doppelgänger sooner or later and even then you don't need to be awake to take blood."

I stayed in Tatias room watching her sleep listening to the crackle of the fire and the sound of my minions making my ship allowing myself to shut my eyes and get a small amount of rest, even though my body doesn't need any my mind still does. 

Getting startled awake by the sounds of screaming I listen closely noticing that the screaming isn't from the village it's from the shore. Quickly speeding to the shore I notice that the sun isn't up so that means my minions aren't baking so why do they scream? Making it to the shore I feast my eyes on the reason for my minions pain, watching from a distance I watch as my minions slowly get diced to pieces by an ancient Viking warrior. Before he is able to effortlessly decapitate a fourth vampire I rush and intercept his blade with my own staring into the eyes of my dear old dad.