A/N- This story is set right before the end of Season Four, after Sookie has turned away from Eric and Bill but before Nan shows up.
Bill stared at the property. Although the night was bright with the full moon, the scene before him was not static, it seemed to shimmer as if reflecting off of a lake. No warning, no magical feeling or electricity in the air. The view just changed. It was frustrating, like trying to look at the Pleiades star showers. Looking straight on you would never see them, the eyes could only capture the "falling stars" in their periphery.
It was the same story from everyone he had sent to the site. Vampires, humans, Weres. Day or night, everyone described something different. The story might be of a run down post World War II wood frame house, or perhaps the start of a new middle class ranch house, with only foundation and framing in place. Some had seen only woods, others had seen partial clearing as if the property was being readied for construction.
As he stood he caught glimpse of a fine house, modern simplistic design reminiscent of Frank Lloyd Wright, blending into its surroundings, growing organically out of the earth. A one-story affair it seemed to him. It shimmered for nearly ten seconds, the longest image he had observed in the nearly two hours he had been standing there. Then it was gone.
xxxxx
For another hour all he saw was unimproved property, a wilderness of trees, yaupon and kudzu, untamed for decades.
She watched him, hidden, as he had observed the property. She knew he was the puppet vampire king put into place by the bitch Nan. She felt sorry for him after a fashion, he had started out trying to help humanity and ended up in his current circumstance trying to help a fucking faerie.
Faeries. Fucking faeries. Why the hell couldn't they stay where they were told to stay? Mab was insane. She thought she could consolidate and breed an army to come back to this plane. And she thought she could use the house of Brigant to do so? Without consequences?
Mab had been left alone too long without repercussions.
But then, so had the vampires.
She thought the faerie/vampire war had been enough for the supernaturals to learn their lesson. Apparently not.
Now the lesson would be much harder everyone involved. Everyone.
xxxxx
Eric was trying to make a dent in the seemingly endless amount of paperwork on his desk. Orders for Fangtasia, reports to King Bill and other minutia that filled his days. He could hear the protesters out front, they still paced back and forth since the whole Russell debacle. Fortunately they were finally dying down in numbers. Now instead of thirty or more, there were only a handful, a loud handful but a handful nonetheless.
They made it difficult for him to keep waitresses on staff. No vampires wanted to serve humans in the club, which they felt was beneath them. The humans he hired got tired of being heckled daily by the picketers, who would often send sympathizers inside to whisper things to the servers, or leave nasty notes. Or they simply left threatening messages on the car windows of the servers.
The vampires were impotent in the situation. They couldn't harm them, the police got tired of their calls about harassment when no physical harm was done. And if the vampires glamoured anyone and got caught, the high royal bitch Nan might find out and have Eric's fangs for it. So the wait staff was in continual turnover mode for the time being.
"We have a new blood bag willing to give it a try Eric," Pam said as she came in yet again without knocking.
"Does she have experience waitressing in a bar?" he asked, hoping this one did. They had been reduced to barely legal inexperienced staff of late, most just looking to get bit or high on V.
"Yes…"
"But what?"
"Well…her paperwork all checks out and she seems fine. Experienced, nice looking. Just what we need. A bit older than what we usually get, and she seems almost too perfect. It bothers me," Eric's child said, knowing she sounded overly cautious, but then the times were strange for all of them right now.
"Send her in. We need someone who actually knows how to do the job. And if she is willing well that is a plus."
Pam walked out closing the door behind her. Soon there was a light knock on the door and the person on the other side waited. A good sign to Eric.
"Enter," he said, liking that the human actually waited. Not many had the courtesy to do so anymore.
He kept on with his paperwork as he listened to the light footsteps of the women walking into his office and stopping in front of his desk. She smelled of spice and earth, in fact if he were not vampire he might not have smelled it at all. It was a hint of the old world smell, one that was long gone from this earth. When he finally looked up he saw a woman of medium build, maybe 5'6", with deep mahogany hair that just reached her waist. She had supple curves on her, not like the women kept today, not the anorexic look so in fashion. Through her pale skin you could see the blue of her veins. But what stood out the most was the emerald green of her eyes, the pupils ringed in copper and yet they had a fire in them as she stood there studying him, much as he studied her.
When his eyes finally reached hers, she reached out and handed over her resumé. Bridgette Sith. A very unusual name indeed. It was an impressive resumé, she had worked in some of the top Supe clubs in the Western World.
"What brings you to my establishment Miss…?" Eric asked, curious but cautious.
"It is pronounced Shea Mr. Northman," the woman said with a slight accent.
"I came to this part of the world due to my own personal interest in Scottish history. I am sure you are aware of the ties to the New World the Scots have to this part of North America. And frankly your bar in particular is rather famous in certain circles."
Eric's focus sharpened at her last words. She had worked at far fancier vampire bars on the east coast and in Great Britain. He wondered what her game was.
"What circles might that be Miss Sith? Although I happy with my establishment, it is obvious from your work history you have worked in some extremely nice establishments. More elite clubs, if you will. Is your real reason just to "check out" the locals?" Eric said with more than a hint of disbelief in his voice.
She smiled, while dipping her head and looking at him through her lashes.
"Well, there is one other reason that cannot be found anyplace else…"
Eric laughed, loudly. So she came here because of him. So many had done so, but most were already entrenched in the "lifestyle" and had been used many times by other vampires, fangbangers or discarded pets. This girl, correction, this woman seemed to stand apart from the Supe world.
"So, you heard of the handsome Viking and wanted to check me out for yourself? Hoping to gain my favor? "
"No sir. I came because I have heard of the immortal Viking warrior and his reputation for savagery, honor and graciousness. Many of those in the uppermost strata of certain circles think very highly of you. So I decided to combine my own research with a job that would also provide me with a look at the individual who surely must not truly exist, at least as he does in legend," Bridgette said without shame, boldly meeting the vampire's eyes full on.
Eric rounded his desk at vampire speed, stopping mere inches from her face. He studied her closely, realizing she was not afraid of him. She hadn't even blinked.
Backing up slowly, he said "go to the bar now and let's see how well you work. You seem a bit older than most who apply here. Do you think you can keep up and also deal with the vampires?"
"I have no doubt on either part Mr. Northman. You might be surprised at my stamina," she said turning on her heel and walking out to the bar to check in.
Eric stared at her retreating back, his eyebrows raised in surprise.
xxxxx
Pam was showing Bridgette the computerized ordering system for the bar, which she was very familiar with. She could tell Pam wasn't extremely old for a vampire but could also feel she could be very dangerous if she wanted.
"So Pam, how long has it been since you have seen England?"
"Listen breather, it is none of your business and if you start asking vampires questions like that it might not end well," the petite blonde answered with a snarl.
"Rather touchy aren't we? I just left London myself and can hear it in your accent. Just trying for a bit of chitchat, or thought you might want to hear some of the news from the old world. Is there anything else?" Bridgette said to Pam, giving her a rather bored look.
"Yes your dress will not do. We have a certain image here. And I don't think any of the other blood bags have left anything that would fit you, they were all a lot skinnier than you," Pam said sneering down at her.
"I assumed I would need something else. Most vampire establishments require something rather seductive for their employees to wear. I brought an outfit with me, although it looks a bit higher fashion than your requirements," she said as she went out to get changed.
Pam just did not like her. It was just too good to be true. Their lives just did not run this smooth anymore.
xxxxx
Eric had been on his throne for four hours now, playing Angry Birds and sending annoying text messages to Pam. He was bored out of his freaking mind. He was still confused and really extremely angry over Sookie. She had played both him and Bill, like some damned high school drama queen. Fucking Faeries. After all he had gone through to keep her safe. Bill had even killed Sophie Anne to help Sookie. And they both had been turned away in the end. Bill…someone else he had no desire to see and who had demanded he come to the royal mansion after Fangtasia closed this evening.
But then he looked up again.
Bridgette was gliding around the club with a large tray of drinks carrying them like a pro. She had pinned her long hair up in loose curls with ornate Celtic hair combs. Her dress though was magnificent. It had a very tight fitting black Basque top that tightly contained her bosom, and it was highlighted with an intricate blood red embroidered trim. The skirt was mid thigh with layers and layers of sheer silk in the same blood red as the trim. The layering made it modest yet titillating. The outfit was topped off with black seamed stockings and black velvet peep toe ankle strapped heels.
Humans and Vampires alike all clamored for her as a waitress. As they were short staffed to begin with, Bridgette actually managed to pick up most of the overflow.
Each time a new vampire came in, Eric could hear the fangs click down once they caught sight of her. And Eric could tell the vamps were texting their friends. He had not seen so many of his kind here at once in a very long time. And this, in turn, had the humans texting each other about the vampire turn out. They were turning away both vampires and humans.
But this human was smart, almost too smart it seemed. Her outfit also included a Celtic torque around her neck, complete with dragonheads at the end, with emeralds for eyes. To match hers. And it was obviously solid silver. The vampires knew it too. But it was like a kinky game to them, who could talk her out of it? She was too quick and never let them catch her eye, always escaping their attempts at glamouring her. It wasn't allowed but Eric didn't intervene since Bridgette was obviously handling herself well and it added an element of "the chase" for the vamps in the club.
During a lull in service, when the crowd was all caught up in itself, Bridgette approached Eric's throne.
"Do you require anything sir?" she asked in a normal voice, looking him straight in the eyes. He was the only vampire she had locked eyes with all night.
"I am not sure if what I want right now is on the menu," Eric replied with a challenge in his eyes.
"It certainly isn't. Would you like a bottled blood, a bag or donor?"
"You dress as if you are on the menu girl."
"Really Mr. Northman as a businessman you should understand how a costume garners me more tips. There are very few vampires in the new world that I would even consider and frankly, I am not a feed and fuck. It would do you well to keep that in mind," Bridgette replied. "Now, can I get you anything? If not, I have customers waiting."
Eric waved her off without a word. She turned and went back to work without missing a beat. Soon the fangbangers, that had seemed to fade away at her approach, were back at his feet.
xxxxx
Right before closing, a man tried to get in and Pam told him they were closing. Bridgette asked for him to be let in.
"We are not in the habit of letting anyone in after hours just for our employees pleasure Miss Sith," Eric said in a rather low voice.
"Sorry Mr. Northman. Angus here is my ride."
Eric looked over at the man, He was every inch as tall as Eric was, broader in the shoulders and had black hair to his mid-back. And ocean blue eyes. He reminded Eric of the Scottish warriors he fought when he went a-viking as a human.
"Is this a problem with you Viking?" Angus said, crossing his arms with a smile on his face. It was not a friendly smile.
"Not now Angus. I don't need your posturing here, understood" Bridgette said her head whipping around to face him. His attitude immediately changed.
Eric bristled at the challenge. This Angus had the same earthy smell as the woman. Exactly the same smell.
What the hell was going on here?