Chapter 1: Meeting

It didn't take long for Celeste "Cici" Monroe to know where she was. The small town, country bumpkin welcoming sign, and the old couple on the porch sipping on ice cold glasses of sweet tea gave her location completely away. Bon Temp, Louisiana; a small town she couldn't find on a map but was only able to find via GPS. Celeste leaned closer to the windshield and looked around the strip of road she was going down and the small shops and houses that resided on it. People stared and looked at the unfamiliar car. A middle age man with a bad comb over and a mouth of dark and yellow teeth cracked his oval shaped head in her direction and chugged down a beer, a brand Celeste didn't recognize, in four gulps and smiled at her. She cringed in her seat and the grip on her steering wheel tightened as she quickly tried to remove the image from her memory. Celeste looked down at the orange post-it note she had on the dashboard and started looking for the address: 489 Larrysong Drive. Finally finding it, after looking for half an hour and stopping to ask for directions, she pulled into the large parking lot. She turned the key and pulled it out of the ignition and stepped out of her car; a 2011 silver and black Honda Civic. She stood before a mini Hilton Hotel. Except it wasn't a hotel, it was an apartment complex. It resided just out of Bon Temp borders completely isolated and alone, but since it was close to the town it was a part of it to everyone else. The outside walls were crème stucco and countless windows consumed the front. Blinds were drawn and a woman with a small child resting on her hip could be seen from the fifth floor balcony, her red hair blowing in the breeze. Celeste would be staying there until she saved up enough money to buy or rent out a house. She was never one to live her life in an apartment. She locked the car with a click of a button, a high pitched beep erupting from the engine while the lights flashed once, and went inside.

The entrance was decent, more or less. It wasn't extravagant and open like a Hilton Hotel, but it suited the atmosphere and culture of the town, simple but also a tinge of elegance and homey. To the right there was a sitting area with small tables and a few sofas, a large fireplace warmed the room and dark shadows danced across the polished surfaces of the wooden tables. To the left there were small coffee tables with a couch or two in the corner and the elevators and went to the other levels. Celeste went to the front desk.

"Hello Ma'am. How may I help you?" A man most likely in his mid-twenties, with dark brown hair, blue eyes and a facial structure similar to George Clooney, asked with a smile. He was mildly attractive compared to some of the other people she had seen in the town, and was probably as good as it was going to get. His nametag read Charlie, and needless to say, he was interested himself. He had never seen her before, but he was already starting to like what he was seeing. Her long, wavy dark chocolate hair cascaded down her shoulders and fell gently down her back, just barely grazing the small of it, her piercing hazel eyes, curvaceous figure, toned muscles, and modest breasts completely caught him off guard. Charlie couldn't focus on one part of her; at first he would look at her eyes, and then move down milky white skin till they landed at her breasts, until he sharply looked back in her eyes as if correcting himself.

"Hey, I called a few days ago, to rent one of the places here." Celeste said, not really sure of what to do.

"So I assume you're checking in. What is your name?" He turned to the black dell desktop next to him and started patting down the keyboard and clicking on the mouse, his eyes focused as he scanned the screen to get what he wanted.

"Celeste Monroe." She replied. Charlie quickly typed in her name and clicked on the mouse a few times.

"Here you are." He said, finally finding her file on the complex computer. "You're in room 306. Third floor. And since you're new here," He turned and grabbed the apartment key from a cabinet behind him and also collected a few pamphlets as well. He handed her key and a spare one and laid the pamphlets down in front of them. "We have an activity hall in the back, lot of games, movies, books, and a pool and poker table. There is a bar also in the back, completely separate from the kid area. If you want anything to eat or drink you can either go to the bar and order it or do room service. It's open from nine to twelve midnight Monday through Friday and 24 hours on weekends starting Friday night." Celeste nodded as he spoke, showing interest in some of the things he pointed out to her and grimacing at a few that did not sound appealing whatsoever.

"Cool." She collected the items Charlie had given her and tucked them under her arm once they had finished talking for a good ten minutes. "Is there anything else?" She asked. Charlie thought for a moment.

"Actually there is one more thing."

"Yeah? What's that?"

"No vampires allowed. They are strictly forbidden." He said with a stern expression and a pointed finger. Celeste nodded in affirmation and went to the elevators to check out her new space.

* * *

"What is that?" Celeste asked. It had been a little over a month since her arrival and the people and culture of Bon Temp was starting to grow on her slowly but surely. She had heard a whole bunch of talk about vampires and fangbangers, but never really cared much for it. She kept to herself and did whatever she wanted, for the most part anyway. Lucy, Celeste's new found friend, gasped. Her French manicured fingers covered her mouth and her emerald green eyes bulged out of their sockets.

"You don't know what Fangtasia is?" She asked in utter disbelief. Celeste innocently shook her head no. Lucy asked again if she was serious and Celeste seriously said she had no idea what it was. Lucy, seeing Celeste as an untainted child that knows nothing about the world, wrapper her arm over her shoulder the way a grandfather would do his grandson before he told him about his service in the Vietnam War; full of support and experience.

"Well I wouldn't really expect you to know about Fangtasia." Lucy started in a hushed tone. "I'd be kinda scared actually if you did know."

"Why?" Celeste looked a little ruffled the statement. As they walked down the street, minding their own business, the grip on Celeste's shoulder faintly tightened. Lucy thought before she answered the question.

"We don't get a lot of people here Cici, and it's not hard to imagine why." She gestured to a small barber shop across the street; through the windows the store was completely empty except for the hairstylists that were cleaning their combs and scissors and a man in the back with his legs perched on a desk and a newspaper in hand. Celeste nodded once she understood what Lucy meant. "But that doesn't mean there isn't any action." She continued with a smile. "Fangtasia is the only vampire bar, well decent one anyway, in all of Bon Temps. All the vampires go there and so do a few humans. I've been there once or twice."

"Have you ever been bitten?" Celeste asked out of curiosity.

"Nope." Lucy seemed proud of this as she jutted her jaw out and her pointed nose raised to the heavens. "I'm not into that kind of thing. I just go there for the drinks mainly; their bartender can make one hell of a sex on a beach." She said enthusiastically. "Maybe we should go tonight. I've been craving a good drink all day."

"Uh, I don't think so." Celeste said a little hesitantly, finally removing Lucy's arm from her shoulder.

"Why not? Don't you like vampires?"

"Actually I'm kinda neutral about them."

"Oh come on Cici. I need a buddy to go with me." Lucy replaced her arm on Celeste's shoulder. "I'll tell you what. How about you go with me tonight and really see what I'm talking about. And then tomorrow, we can do absolutely anything you want."

"Anything?"

"Anything." Lucy said.

"Even if I wanted to go on a road trip?" Celeste puckered her lips together searching Lucy's face. For a moment her face went blank and then she protested. Celeste reminded her that she said anything and Lucy quickly caved and said yes. Celeste didn't really want to go on a road trip, she just wanted to see what was outside of Bon Temp. They agreed to meet at Lucy's house around midnight.

* * *

Celeste was very hesitant to go inside once she had arrived at Fangtasia. She held dealt with vampires in the past, and it never turned out good. Now that she knew what was really going on, and what she getting herself into, doubts started to fill her mind like bees in a hive. Lucy latched onto her arm and dragged her through the front doors. At first glance, Celeste wasn't sure of what to expect. The walls were painted a crimson red, the bar jet black, the seats alternated red and black leather that would have only suited that environment. Pictures hung from the walls and dim lights illuminated the corners of booths were vampires and humans sat on red velvet cushions. Small tables with red seats dotted the black floor, and most of them were filled. Music filled her ears, a type she didn't recognize, but nonetheless was perfect for the setting. Celeste looked up and saw a female vampire with a leather outfit on dancing by a pole on the bar, one moment she would be moving normal to the human eye, then her moves would turn into blurs as she moved with speed in her hips. However, the one thing that really caught Celeste's eye was the stage in the far left of the room. Velvet curtains covered the walls and there were barely any lights except for a dim over head one that shown down onto the stage. However, as Celeste looked deeper into the light, struggling to catch a glimpse of the face hidden in the shadows, Lucy pulled her to the bar and pushed her down on one of seats.

"We'll have two sexes on the beach, please and thank you." Lucy said with a wicked grin to the bartender.

* * *

Hidden in a cloak of darkness, Eric Northman peered at the bar. As soon as the unfamiliar ladies leather black three inch boot stepped through the threshold, he had his eyes locked on her. He watched her as she sat at the bar, barely sipping on her sex on the beach. From this Eric could deduct that she wasn't much of a drinking woman. Her face was barely turned to her friends and as she smiled he noticed plush lips under a light coat of lip gloss that was slowly beginning to fade. Her neck elongated as she sat properly in her seat, her spine straitening and long hair moving slightly in the sudden movement. Eric adjusted in his seat. His eyes slowly began to move down, as if on the prowl in search of prey. Her muscles twitched under fragile skin as she brought the glass to her lips, faintly drinking the cold, sweet liquid that overwhelmed her senses. He watched her chest rise and fall slowly for a moment, then moved on to travel the unfamiliar territory of the rest of her body.

As Eric watched the rest of her, he took note of the clothes she wore, which accented her already beautifully hidden body. The stranger wore an aqua marine blouse the tied around her neck, left her shoulders bare, tightened against her breasts, and scrunched up at the waist. Slim black jeans fitted her legs and the familiar black boots trekked up her legs, ending just below her knees. Her attire was revealing, almost teasing to Eric, but also formal and well put together. The stranger he watched so intently was not in any way shape or form a fangbanger. Soon, he started to wonder why he hadn't seen her and most importantly, why she had never been in his bed. He gestured for Pam and she diligently came to his side.

"Yes Eric." She said, her head slightly bowing.

"Who is that little treat right there?" Pam looked in the direction his gaze went and was not impressed at the sight her Maker had his eyes on.

"I believe that is the newest arrival to Bon Temps."

"Really?" Eric said with curiosity in his voice. "Bring her over." Pam nodded.

* * *

"I know right." Lucy said. "At first I didn't believe it, but now . . . I'm not to sure." She hid a giggle behind her fingers and looked pass Celeste. "Cici, you are not going to believe this, but that guy has been looking at you all night." Lucy gestured with a finger in the direction he was in. Celeste took a quick glance over her shoulder, brushing her hair to the side. In the car corner of the room, sitting in a booth, she saw a man staring intently at her. She quickly looked away.

"No he hasn't." She lied. Celeste knew that he actually had been staring at her all night, and it made her very uncomfortable. But she also knew that he was a vampire, which made her even doubly uncomfortable. She knew it was a bad idea to go with Lucy to an all vampire bar, and at the moment she started to regret it.

"Oh mi goodness. He's coming over. He is totally coming over." Lucy was nearly bouncing in her seat. Celeste only shook her head no.

"No he isn't. He's not coming over." She said matter-of-factly. Lucy stopped moving around and only sat in her seat on the verge of hyperventilating. Celeste traced her finger around the rim of the glass nonchalantly, blocking the fact that a vampire was standing next to her.

"Hey." He said, his voice was husky and throaty, much like a lumberjacks would be. "What's a pretty little thing like you doing here?" Celeste turned in her seat to face the vampire. Her face was soft and fixed at the same time. He wasn't what she expected; his face was smooth and his eyes sparkled. His hair was light brown, short, and spiked. He had one of those pretty boy faces, that made him almost irresistible, but still, the fact that he was a vampire did not leave her mind for even the briefest second.

"Only having a drink with a friend." She replied, lifting her glass to her lips and finishing off the drink slowly, as if emphasis her point.

"I'm Nathan." He said as she finished her drink.

"Hey Nathan."

"Could I buy you another one?" His ego started to show as he waved to the bartender and asked for another one. A new sex on the beach was presented to her almost immediately. He smirked as Celeste took a small sip of the new drink, seeing that it was only courteous to do so. "What's your name?"

"Amanda." Celeste lied. Lucy made a notion to object but Celeste quickly stared her down. Lucy took the hint and kept her mouth shut.

"Amanda? I knew a girl named Amanda. Her hair was like silk, her body as hard and rugged as the mountains, and her blood; mouthwatering." Suddenly, Celeste felt her body tingle, as if something was crawling all over her and tickling her skin. Nathan leaned in closer and placed a hand on her thigh.

"You're alright Amanda, everything is just fine." He said in a soothing voice. "I would like to have your company for the evening. Would that be alright?" He asked. Celeste felt the sensation increase as Nathan continued. Nathan's lips slowly began to turn up and his eyes were fixed on hers. The hand on her thigh slowly rubbed back and forth. He was trying to get her familiar with him, to become used to his touch. He said he would take her safely home and that she had nothing to worry about. That they were going to have a pleasant evening together and she would enjoy herself very much. However, he was cut off when she leaned in close to him.

"Are you trying to Glamour me?" Celeste asked. Nathan jerked back. At that moment, a woman went to Celeste's side and placed a hand on her shoulder. She told him to leave and he obediently did.

"Please come with me." Pam lifted Celeste up before she could refuse and brought her to the stage hidden in darkness that she had been so curious about earlier. She looked back at the bar to see Lucy sweet talking a man next to her, whom Celeste was happy to find out, was human. However, her attention suddenly turned to the man that she had tried so hard to see in the darkness once she and her companion had arrived. His blonde hair was slicked back and parted one way, his skin deathly pale, caught her off guard. His clouded green eyes pierced her, causing Celeste to feel the same emotions that overwhelmed her earlier; wonder, curiosity . . . fear. The stranger that sat before her was the first to speak.

"I haven't seen you here before." His tone was nonchalant but had a hint of menace to frighten Celeste. She didn't take this fact to kindly.

"Well I wouldn't see why anyone would. I don't usually hang around in places like this."

"Vampire bars." Eric said, completing the implied statement.

"Exactly." Celeste arched an eyebrow and crossed her arms over her chest.

"We don't take kindly to humans coming to are territory if they only wish to insult us." Eric leaned back in his seat and gave her a once-over. There was a moment of silence between the two. It wasn't awkward or strange at all: both tried to figure each other out. Celeste could see that he was different from the other ones. Obviously he held position, but what kind she did not know. He had summoned her which meant that he had power and was respected by many. She quickly tried to connect the dots and eventually came to realize that he was a sheriff. Celeste smirked and relaxed a little bit more, not feeling as challenged anymore. However, this did not leave Eric's watchful gaze. Her arms fell to her side and noticed her shoulders relax. She is warming up to me already, he thought. He leaned forward in his seat, placing his elbows on his knees and clasping his hands together.

"Take a seat." He gestured to the chair next to him. Celeste was hesitant but eventually, and carefully, sat next to him, crossing her legs. "You're new to Bon Temps, so I'll let you go this once." The corner of his mouth curved into a faint smirk, but quickly disappeared. "That vampire over there," he pointed to the one that tried to Glamour Celeste and looked back at her. "He tried to Glamour you, did he not?"

Celeste looked at the vampire from earlier. "He tried to." She said with a smirk, recalling the expression he had once he realized he had, for some unknown reason, failed.

"And you resisted. I only know of one person that can do that." Eric contemplated these bits of information. "What is your name?"

"I'm sorry." Celeste stood up. "I don't tell strangers."

"Vampires." He finished her implied sentence again.

"Exactly." She went back to the bar, grabbed Lucy and both left.

* * *

Eric called Pam back over once the human had left.

"Yes Eric?" She asked. Eric pointed to the door.

"I want you to find anything you can on her. I want you to watch the bar too, I'm going out for a while."

"Don't tell me you're going to follow that human." She replied with an exasperated breath. Eric glanced at her over his shoulder as he stood up. So what if he was going to follow her? He had less than a five minute conversation and he had more questions than answers. He was curious about the new human he had met that reminded him so much of Sookie Stackhouse. Eric pulled on his black leather jacket the hung over the arm rest and followed quickly and quietly behind his new interest.