A/N: This story takes Place directly before and following after the Great Revelation. I have a direction Please bear with me and I promise that It will get better.
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Being introspective what does one say about them self? I am Sookie Stackhouse from Bon Temps Louisiana. I am a 23 year old Barmaid and a telepath. I am unsure of the origins of my unfortunate affliction (thank you word-of-the-day calender). I am positive that no matter where it spawned, although it is more of a hindrance than a help.
November 20, 1999
Sitting on the couch in my rundown living room I was transfixed on the television. Moments ago Gran and I were watching the Normal nightly news at nine (say that three times fast). The news anchor spoke of a breaking story it was the most shocking, unexpected, and WONDERFUL piece of information.
"This special report is just in via satellite I have the honor of interviewing Sophie-Anne LeClerq. She claims to be the "Vampire" Queen of Louisiana." "That is correct Jonathan I am the Vampire Queen of Louisiana and in every living room across the planet vampires are coming out of the coffin. Every King and Queen is on television to reveal that vampires are indeed real beings. We as a whole have decided that with the advances in forensics it is no longer safe for us to remain in the shadows of the moon. Have no fear humans, vampires are NO THREAT with the Japanese invention of synthetic blood. We no longer need human blood as our source of sustenance to exist. Vampires suffer from a disease that makes them mortally allergic to sunlight. We are not a plague intended to cause humans harm we wish to exist peaceably. Thank you for this time to explain what we are and we hope to become part of everyday life mainstreaming into human society."
Standing to turn off the old television I turned to Gran "Can you believe it? I am as excited as a kid in a candy store Gran."
"Sookie are you that surprised with the gift that you possess that there are more than humans on this earth?"
"No, Gran I am excited because now i wont be the only known freak in Bon Temps!"
"Sookie you are not a freak I wish that you wouldn't say such things about yourself."
"Gran I can hardly wait to meet one. I wonder if they are anything like they are in literature and movies."
"That's hard to guess my dear, but I am just as excited think of all the things that they have seen over their long eventful existences."
"I think I should be getting to bed Gran I have the lunch shift tomorrow and it's getting late."
"G'night Sookie dear."
"Night Gran."
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I woke later that usual for a lunch shift. It was already 11 when I woke up to the sun steaming threw the window. Hopping out of bed and into the shower rushing to wash my body in time to get to work before my shift started. I ran headlong to the dresser pulling out undergarments, and flung open my closet door grabbing my work uniform dressing in a frenzy. I grabbed my keys and purse and headed out the door. I paused getting into the driver seat to wave at Gran who was pruning rose bushes under the kitchen windows. I made it to Merlotte's in record time to start my shift with five minutes to spare.
Sam was behind his desk doing the books from the previous night. "Hi Cher."
"Mornin' Sam." Placing my purse in the desk drawer I raced to put on my apron, grabbed my tray, and order-pad. Plastering my "Crazy Sookie" smile in place I marched into the bar and was flooded with the mundane thoughts of the bar patrons. Most of which were un-shockingly centered around the thoughts of last nights news broadcast.
"Vampires are real.."
"I can't believe this we are all going to die.."
"Those nasty fanged dead fucks that isn't right it goes against GOD.."I was almost bowled over by the intensity of the thoughts. I had to stop take a deep breath and reinforce my shields. I noticed the man with the nastier thoughts about vampires was in my section. I mentally groaned at that fact. Re-plastering my nervous smile I made my way to his table. With my pad on my tray and pen poised to take an order, "Welcome to Merlotte's may I take your order?" In a weasel rasp he replied, "I would like a rum and coke and a burger Lafayette." "Commin' right up Mister."
I turned on my heel and headed for the kitchen and caught a stray thought from Mr. Weasel "What a rack nice ass too.." These comments are nothing new to a blonde barmaid in backwoods Louisiana. I am used to the overly crude sexual remarks that one makes in their thoughts. 90% of all thoughts are sexual so I have "heard" anything imaginable in my 23 years on this planet. I placed his ticket on the wheel, and retrieved the basket of fried pickles from table 12 that I had relieved Holly. Making the rounds I noticed that everyone has everything required except for Andy Bellflur wanting a refill on his sweet tea.
"ORDER UP", Lafayette called. I made my way to the window to retrieve the order for Mr. Weasel's burger. As I made my way back to his table i scanned for signs of refills and condiments. Placing the basket on the table Mr. Weasel grazed my fingers with his and I fell to the floor with the images that flooded my brain:.
In the middle of a dank basement there is a mans strapped to a table with a silver chain. Smoke rising from his face, neck, wrists, and ankles where the chain rests against his alabaster skin. There is a painful pleading grimace on his face. Fangs extended muscles in his entire body taunt with agony. Mr. Weasel makes his way out of the shadows circling the table taunting the vampire with an expression of wonder and malice on his face. Extending his arm and razing the stake, and with such force I didn't expect the man to have plunged the stake into the vampire's heart. His eyes open wide with the shock and horror of his death. Then he begins to flake away!
Staggering to my feet he asks, "Are you alright Miss?" Not bothering to reply I hit him over the head with my tray repeatedly until he slumps over into the booth. I only stop my assault on the fucking bastard because my boss grips me from behind and drags me into his office.
Sitting on the couch in near hysterics Sam wait for my sobbing to ebb and my breathing to return to normal before he launches into his questions with a look of concern on his face and asks, "Sook what got into you back there?"
The moments pass and the only sound in the room is our combined breaths and the occasional hiccup escaping my lips. I take a steadying breath and try to explain to my boss what I saw. He never interrupts and as i finish the disturbing scene Sam stands and says something that I would have never imagined come from his lips. "Damn vamps that bloodsucker got what he deserves Sook they are evil and only use humans as food and whores." Staring at Sam with pure shock and horror on my normally stoic face I bristle with anger and rage.
"Sam Merlotte how can you say something like that about another creature? I don't care if they do drink blood you wouldn't say that about an alligator and they eat raw BLOODY meat and kill their pray. Vampires ARE people too!"
"Oh Cher vampires encompass evil and charming of course anyone as naive as you are would think that."
Fueling my anger I stand with my arms at my sides hands clinched into fists so tight my knuckles are white from the force of pressure.
"You take that back first you say something off the wall about creatures you know NOTHING about and then you insult me. Are you asking to get slapped?"
"Sookie that isn't what I meant I have known a few vamps and all of them are the same evil personified."
"Sam you are not helping you are causing me to get more and more furious with you! If you can not apologize to m-" he cut me off and scoffed.
"Apologize to you I see no need to apologize over something that you have no grasp of LITTLE GIRL!"
Little girl! Now he is condescending and insulting me all at the same time before i could stop the words that expelled out of my mouth faster that a speeding train i shrieked, "I QUIT!" with such force Sam shuddered. Ripping off my apron and grabbing my purse I tore out of the office and stomped threw the employee entrance. Once inside my car I jammed the key into the ignition with such force I am sure that I bent it. Peeling out of the parking lot I turned towards my farmhouse willing myself to be calm before I had to explain these events to Gran.
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