Every now and again I get bored with the selection my club has to offer and visit other bars in my Area. Tonight I decided to drive to Bon Temps and see what Merlottes had to offer. It is something of a family establishment, but at 11:00 the families were at home in bed and the good patrons of Merlottes were well into their cups. Perfect.

As I entered, I scanned the room. I noticed a shapely, young blond waitress. She must be new, I would have noticed her the last time I was by. Sam looked up from the bar angrily. He didn't want me here, but he wasn't in any position to keep me out. It wasn't like he could tell people I was a vampire. They would be more likely to drag him off to the loony bin than chase me with pitch forks and torches. I haven't seen a good pitch fork/torch pursuit in years. It is strange, the things one misses as the centuries roll by.

I sat in the pretty waitress' section and waited for her approach. She smelled amazing!

"What can I get for you?" she asked.

"Meet me out back on your next break," I said looking steadily into her eyes. She wrinkled her forehead a little, like something was irritating her.

"If you want a drink, order one; otherwise go proposition some girl who has a lot of alcohol in her."

I stared at her for a minute. "I don't need women to be drunk to be with me." Did I? I am Eric, Sherriff or Area 5. I could pick up sober women without glamouring them. The last time I did that was…

" You had better work on your charm a little, then buddy. I"ll be back in a few to see if you want a drink." She flounced away with a swish of her ponytail. Now I wanted her even more. My glamour had never failed before. I'd be ready for her when she came back.

When she walked up this time, she looked at me peculiarly and somehow managed to brush my hand with hers. "Have you decided?"

"Bring me a rum and Coke, " I answered. Then I looked her straight in the eyes. "You will meet me in the employee parking lot in 15 minutes." Again she wrinkled her forehead.

"You are doing that, aren't you? Are you some kind of hypnotist? Did you decide to give up the magic act to use your to talents to seduce women? Stick with bunnies and hats." Again she sauntered away. I glanced at the bar. Sam was suddenly very interested in a bottle of gin. Great, I was being laughed at by a shifter. I put $50 on the table and walked out.

I found a shadowy spot in the parking lot and waited for patrons to pass. I stopped a few to "enquire" about my waitress. I found out this much: her name was Sookie, people thought she might be a little crazy, she lived with her Gran, she didn't date, she read books from the library for fun, she played softball in high school, all of the men (and a few women) admired her rack. Then I met her brother. Jackpot! He said she could read people's minds and everyone thought she was crazy because she had a hard time separating the spoken word from mere thoughts. Hmmm. I had never had a telepath before.

I glamoured a drunk woman, fed, and drove home. I needed to up my game a little.