Disclaimer: I do not own Sookie Stackhouse's character, or the remainder of the characters listed on this website. I have merely created the plot.
Author's Note: Ever since I first read Dead until Dark, I've been so in love with this series. It's far better than Twilight (no offence Twilight fans) because it is matured, sexy and thrilling. Although True Blood is hands down one of my favourite shows, the books will always remain better. This is my first Southern Vampire Mysteries story, so I'm excited to be writing one finally. Review and give me your opinion. Also, I'm re-reading the series and didn't have much money to get From Dead to Worse and Dead and Gone, so these stories are based on what I've read so far.
Chapter One
Normally when the weather here in Bon Temps is excruciatingly hot and muggy, I would be in a miserable mood and even refuse to come in to work on some occasions. Tonight was different for multiple reasons. Even Andy Bellefleur's drunken antics and criticizing couldn't spoil my mood, or Arlene's consisting glares towards my direction; despite the fact that I have been dating-vampires-free for a while now. I was completely content with my boyfriend, Quinn. The weretiger.
Quinn's well-known in the supernatural world, which I suppose would still be my world since I have been so caught up in it ever since Bill, my ex – who is a vampire, walked into my life. He's a weretiger, which means that he can transform into this 7-foot long beautiful orange tiger at the full moon. I feel like I'm his arm candy some times whenever we go out, but I love the attention we get and the way he treats me. He's a beautiful, kind man.
Again, always been sidetracked by my beautiful, animal boyfriend – and I mean that in the sense that not only is he a tiger physically, but amazing in bed as well. I could feel the eyes of a few patrons staring at me curiously as I stood there in my daydream, smiling to my own thoughts. They wouldn't expect any less of me, though, being a telepath and all. I'm still just crazy Sookie to everyone in the small little town, perhaps with the exception of the few loved ones I have. My grandmother was brutally murdered about a year and a half ago, and my parents died in a flash flood when I was seven. Jason, my older brother, doesn't live in Bon Temps anymore, however. Ever since he was bitten by a werepanther five months ago, he married to his charming girlfriend, and I say charming sarcastically, Crystal. They lived in Hotshot for a while, a small and strange community consisting of only werepanthers… disturbingly close werepanthers. That is, until Crystal decided to have an affair from someone else in Bon Temps. Jason was smart enough to back away from that afterwards.
Again, sidetracked. What I was trying to say before my own freaky mind went into its own world was that tonight was a completely different night. Tonight, I was going to a party. My first human party since high school. My close friend, Tara Thornton, was hosting a little party for no special reason beside the fact she was in desperate need to blow off some steam from work. I happily agreed to go, and even Quinn was invited. I was look especially cheerful that night at Merlotte's, the bar I work at, while I anticipated my shift to be over.
"Sookie, could we have a few more rounds of Bud over here?" Hoyt Fortenberry called from the back. My brother Jason, his date for the night, a twenty-two year old named Lesa Dennis, and Andy Bellefleur were crammed into the far booth, four empty mugs of beer around them.
"You sure can, Hoyt," I said cheerfully, rushing over to pick up the mugs and place them on my tray.
"Lookin' good, sis," Jason said honestly, smiling up at me. Jason was a handsome man, and probably the final good looking bachelor in Bon Temps to be hitched. We both had blonde hair, though mine was fairer than his, and blue eyes. He was well built from working on the road crew.
"You too, Jason. And you too, Lesa," I added, smiling at her. Lesa was small, about five foot two, with sandy blonde hair that was so shiny it looked like a wig that fell to her shoulders. She had cute freckles scattered over her nose and big doe-like grey eyes. She was wearing a simple white T-shirt and jeans, and looked extremely uncomfortable.
"Thanks," she mumbled, crossing her arms and furrowing her brow. I let my mind wander in to hers for just a brief moment, and discovered something interesting; Lesa was a Were, as well. I wasn't sure what type of Were she was though. Were's minds are always tangles of red and snarling images, but I caught the brief feeling of drowsiness and wanting to go home. I sympathized for Lesa, since I knew the feeling of just wanting to go home.
"Maybe this should be your last round tonight," I said as I turned to walk away with the empty glasses, catching Lesa's thankful gaze. I nodded, smiled, and walked back to the bar to fill their glasses.
"Going to Tara's party tonight, cher?" Sam Merlotte, my boss, asked. Sam was a shapeshifter, which are slightly different from Weres in the sense that they can change into any creature while Weres are limited to one specific animal. Some shapeshifters however, I learned, tend to prefer one specific animal. In Sam's case, he was the beautiful collie that I had decided to name Dean.
"Of course I am. Haven't you noticed me staring at the clock since I walked into work today?" I said with a smile, proceeding to pour beer into one of the mugs.
Sam grinned as he continued to wipe down the bar absentmindedly, a habit he picked up. "I suppose Quinn's coming as well," he said.
"Yup." I smiled even bigger as I set down one mug and got out another. "Are you taking any one?"
"Nah, just myself." Sam and I had always had chemistry, but nothing had progressed further from a kiss or two. I didn't think I would be able to date Sam, though. I had too much going on in my life.
"Well, I'll see you there then!" I cheerfully walked off with the fresh beers towards Hoyt and my brother when I caught a gleam off someone's head coming into the bar. My smile broadened so much I thought my face would break.
Hurriedly, I deposited the drinks to the table and turned at a full run to meet Quinn in the doorway. His strong, muscular arms captured me perfectly and swung me around, and his lips met mine at just the right moment as he set me back on my feet, his hands capturing my face.
"Hey, babe," he said after the kiss, smiling with his bright white teeth. He was tall, about six feet, with a gleaming bald head and pansy-coloured purple eyes. He looked absolutely delicious tonight in a bronze silk shirt with very dim grey jeans and casual black sneakers.
"Hey yourself," I said brightly. I glanced back at Sam hopefully, considering the only table left had been Hoyt, Jason, Lesa and Andy, and I was off in five minutes. He nodded once at Quinn, looked at my face, and waved a hand telling me to go.
"Thank you!" I squealed like a teenage girl. I left Quinn to go to Sam's office to collect my purse from the drawer, walking back out to the bar.
"I'm parked around back; do you want to follow me back home so I can change?" I asked Quinn as I untied my apron and hung it on a hook by Sam's office. Showing up at Tara's party dressed in the black shorts, white scoop neck T-shirt and Nike's would feel like work all over again.
"Sure, if I can help you change," he said huskily, grinning down at me.
I shivered and smiled. "We'll see about that." I tiptoed up to kiss his lips once before walking out the back door towards my car. Once inside the car, I buckled up and did a quick glance in my rear view mirror, gasping as I saw a pale face staring back at me from the back seat.
"Going somewhere?" Eric Northman asked, smiling. Eric was a vampire, and owner of the vampire bar out in Shreveport called Fangtasia. He also sheriff of Area Five in Louisiana, a detail I won't get into. His blonde hair, being the exact same shade of blonde as mine, was framing his face in delicate waves, something I had never seen before.
"Yes, actually, to Tara's party," I said, glaring at him for frightening the living day lights out of me. Not that he had any living day lights to worry about.
"Oh, well am I allowed to assist you there?" Eric asked, a smile never leaving his lips.
"Quinn is taking me."
Eric's brow furrowed and his fangs ran out just a little. "The tiger."
"Yes, the tiger. And my boyfriend."
"I believe it would be in your best interest if you allowed me to take you instead."
I snorted. "Eric, you can come along, but Quinn is the one bringing me."
Eric fled from the backseat to the passenger seat in two seconds, his face so close to mine I could see ever pore on his skin. "If only I was in place of that tiger," he growled, his tongue running over his fangs. "Tell me Sookie." His voice lowered to a husky growl and his face came ever closer to mine. "Was I still the best sex you ever had?"
"Now you stop talking like that, you hear me!" I snapped, trying my best to sound angry no matter how much I wanted to jump Eric right there. Eric and I had had a wild fling months back when a witch had cursed him and forced him to lose his memory, and I would never admit that he was still the best I ever had. Quinn was wonderful in bed, but Eric would always be better.
"I think you enjoy it, Sookie," Eric breathed, his cool breath causing me to shiver horribly. His hand shot down between us, and I gasped at where it went. "I think you adore it, actually," he said as his fingers moved a familiar rhythm against me.
I clutched his wrist, half attempting to make him stop and half attempting to push him against me harder. Quinn and I had not had sex in a long time, considering he had a two week long trip to New York City to perform a vampire wedding with Extremely (E)legant Events, and the sexual frustration had been building up. It was coming out in a horrible way right now.
"Eric, is it possible to rescind my invitation when we're in a car?" I breathed, gasping as his fingers never stopped.
"No," he growled as his head dropped to kiss me hungrily on the lips. Unfortunately, my arms wound around his neck and my hips moved into his hand greedily while our lips mashed together. My hands gripped the back of his hair and my breath came out unsteadily as I arched my back against the car seat. It was when I felt one of his hands unbuckling his belt that I regained my sense and pulled away.
"That's enough," I said, crossing my legs so his hand moved back. Eric's fangs were fully extended now and he appeared to almost be out of breath as his eyes scolded down at me.
"One day, Sookie, it will happen. I know how you're feeling, and I know you are very particularly horny," he said hungrily.
"Eric, leave. Quinn is right around the bar and it was wrong of me, let alone you, to do that." I opened my door and with all my might, raised my knees to shove Eric out of the car with my legs. He stumbled a bit and climbed out upright on the cement.
"I'll see you at the party," I mumbled, closing the door and turning the ignition as I pushed the small car towards the exit of Merlotte's and ensuring Quinn was following me, glancing in the rear view mirror to see Eric had vanished from where I left him.
As I drove up the road to my grandmother's house, which I had rightfully claimed as my own, a million feelings rushed through me at once. I knew I had very strong feelings for Eric, sexual emotions aside, but I also knew that I had a whole other set of strong feelings building for Quinn. Eric was very strong, stronger than Quinn, and had protected me many more times than Quinn had. Eric was also about eleven hundred years old, which was something to consider I guess. Quinn left very often for weeks at a time for work, and Eric was relatively local. There would always be something that stopped me from going further with Eric; he was undead, Quinn was a breathing, heart-beating, blood-pumping human.
I gripped the steering wheel tightly and clenched my teeth. I promised myself I was going to have a good time at Tara's party tonight, all feelings for both men aside. I would spend time with Tara and other local friends of ours, and drink, because I wasn't much of a drinker. Maybe even get a room with Quinn – yes, Quinn – and make sure Eric knew it.
What was wrong with me? I shook my head and cleared my mind, sighing deeply as I pulled until the little road that led to my house. I made a promise to myself right then and there that by the end of the month I would know who I would want to be with; Eric the powerful vampire, or Quinn the handsome weretiger.
Once I parked my car and climbed out, locking it behind me, I stood waiting on the porch for Quinn to get out of his truck. He had followed me from the bar, and the truck shone in the moonlight as he pulled in to park beside my car. He climbed out of the cab, shut the door, and beamed as he walked up to follow me.
"What are you wearing tonight?" he asked, sliding his arms around me.
I smiled and turned to unlock the door, pushing it open to lead into the foyer. "You wait down here, I'll be a few minutes," I said, kissing him once again and retreating upstairs to my room.
I opened the closet in my room and scanned my clothes, wondering what would be ideal for a house party. Considering the last one I had been to took place almost ten years ago, I had no idea. Jeans were too casual, and I wanted to make sure I wasn't completely out of place when I got there. I sighed and rubbed my temples, reaching behind to pull my hair out of its ponytail, letting it fall over my shoulders and chest in loose waves. I opted for black leggings, the newest addition to my closet from Amelia Broadway – the roommate I had for a while who had visited from New Orleans after needing a place to stay after Katrina – as a shopping gift, and a partially see-through beige and purple bohemian top that flowed and was very comfortable. The leggings stopped halfway down my calf, and I paired the outfit with black flats. Overall, a comfortable outfit.
I retreated to the bathroom to check my reflection. I touched up my mascara and lipstick, and ran a comb through my hair until it fell in silky tousles down my chest. The shirt was see-through enough to see the lacy purple bra I was wearing, but not see-through enough to make it extremely noticeable. I smiled at my reflection, popped in some pearl studs, and went downstairs to meet my date.
Quinn's reaction was wonderful; he told me to pause on the top of the stairs, spin, and then smiled broadly. "You look beautiful, babe," he said, taking my hand as I came down.
"So do you," I said, wrapping my arms around his neck to kiss him on the lips. Our mouths fit perfectly together, and I got so caught up in the moment that I forgot all about Eric and the incident that happened in the car only fifteen minutes ago.
"Ready?" he asked, leading me to the front door.
"Yes," I said, smiling and locking the door behind me.