Sam, Franklin, Sookie and Brownyn

Sookie heard the woman's distress before she heard it. Looking around Merlotte's parking lot she tried to locate the source of the despair. A low moan was coming from behind the Laurel Oak at the edge of Sam's property. The Full Moon was casting enough light that Sookie could see her way without a flashlight as she edged closer to the whimpering.

Sam appeared around the side of the Dumpster, his large wet tongue lolling out of his mouth. Sookie put her finger to her lips to indicate Sam should be as quiet as possible, and he ducked his head in agreement. She pointed to herself then used her fingers to mime 'walking' and pointed to the Oak. Sam put his nose to the ground and began following a scent in the same direction.

As they both edged closer the moaning became louder. If Sookie hadn't felt the woman's fear she would has assumed a pair of lovers were behind the tree.

The wind rustled the leaves and a low breeze blew past Sookie, making her blonde locks fly around her face. Distracted, she pulled an elastic band out her apron pocket and pulled her hair back.

'Come out, come out wherever you are...' Came a man's voice from the shadows. It was deep with a slight English lilt. Sookie startled and realised he must be a Vampire as she could only hear the woman.

A low growl rolled up Sam's body, escaping from between his sharp canines. The air around his body began to vibrate and Sookie heard a thick sucking sound, like someone was wading through a thick, muddy swamp full of rocks and branches. A minute later the Collie was gone, and in its place stood a Cheetah, ears pricked up to the sounds of the night, nose in the air. Sookie realised Sam must be anticipating a chase and had turned into the fastest animal he could think of.

A loud crack brought Sookie away from her thoughts and back to the car-park as Sam edged closer to the tree in his new form. She moved to stand behind him for protection and closed her eyes, concentrating on the woman behind the tree. From what she could tell she was still alive, probably under the Vampires spell so he could eat. Her thoughts were messy, a mixture of fear and vulnerability with an air of emptiness over hanging all other thoughts, the Vampires lazy attempt to clear her mind and open her up to him.

A blur flew by Sookie and her eyes snapped open. Sam had disappeared and she knew the Vampire must have tried to run. She took advantage of the Vamps absence to inspect the woman. She hurried to the other side of the Oak and saw a young woman, early twenties with short hair so light it almost looked silver. She had been dressed in an attractive work ensemble, but now her black pants lay in pieces next to her. Her purple silk panties were in shreds, and only managing to cover her womanhood because they were stuck to her with dried blood. Her shirt, plain white, was pink in patches having soaked up the blood splatters, and the rips indicated a matching purple bra beneath.

Sookie picked up the shreds of pants and began ripping them into long pieces which she then tied around the top of the girls thigh to try and cease the blood flowing from the bite marks on her femoral artery.

As Sookie tried to wipe blood from the girls thigh and chest Sam appeared next to her. He was back in his human form, and as naked as a newborn.

'Here Cher,' Said Sam, moving in and putting one his arms under the girls neck, the other under her waist. He began lifting slowly so as to not injure her further.

'Sam, where are your keys? We need to get her inside!'

'There is a fake rock in the hedge in front of my trailer, there is a key in it, go ahead of me, open the trailer and put the kettle on. Get some towels, and lay them out on my bed. Go.'

Sookie began running forwards, almost tripping on the loose gravel in the car park. When she reached the bush in front of Sam's trailer she began fumbling in the shadows feeling for the fake rock, but not able to find it.

'Arrgghhh!'

Sookie raised her head, the hairs on her back standing up.

'Sam?' She stood slowly, looking around for her boss. 'Sam? Where are you?'

'He's not here right now lovely, but Franklin is.' With these words ringing through ears she felt a hard blow to her head and everything went black.

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