The southern moon rose brightly above the curving road as a lone driver sped along on a black motorcycle, the red taillights following behind like bridal ribbons. Shafts of moonlight shimmered upon the murky waters of the Louisiana swamplands and made the damp earth look almost surreal. A worn down off-ramp and a right turn later found the bike zipping passed the town limits of Bon Temps without a second glance. The little houses flew in and out of focus as the bike raced through the quiet town, the only real sound coming from it's quiet engine. The headlight illuminated a green street sign and the driver took a graceful turn and followed the well-traveled road. Hundreds of large trees lined the aging blacktop and blocked most of the moonbeams from reaching ground. The bike began to slow as it came closer to the flashing neon signs littering the many windows of an apparently very busy bar. Merlotte's bar and grill was the most popular hot spot in the small town of Bon Temps and tonight was no exception. The driver of the bike had to push carefully forward in order to find a safe spot without damaging any other vehicles. Once the sleek motorcycle was successfully parked and turned off, the driver pulled off the matching black helmet and stowed it away in one of the side compartments along with a small pair of leather gloves. As the person began to walk around the side of the building towards the main entrance, a low purr could be heard beneath the now silent bike.
"Malik, I'm going to need a few drinks before I kill myself. Be good and we'll leave in the morning. Now scat!" The woman said before she unzipped the front of her form-fitting bomber jacket and opened the bar door. A large black cat crawled from beneath the bike and watched as his owner disappeared into the lights of the building, annoyance readable in his large, yellow eyes.
As soon as I entered the warmth of the small restaurant every pair of eyes fell upon me. The jukebox kept playing its country ballad and the forks and knives continued to scrape along the plates in search for food but every single man and woman stared at me as I stood in the door awkwardly trying to work up the courage to walk over to the bar. As soon as my need for alcohol outweighed my hatred for attention I made my way over to the long, brightly lit area directly in front of me, my boots clomping loudly with every step. A tall black woman stood at the bar and watched with a cocked hip as I approached. Her distrust was almost as perceptible as the unspoken anger swirling in her core. Great.
"Can I help you?" Her tone was neither asking nor helpful, but a sort of hateful demand. I'll admit I was slightly taken aback at the strong emotions thundering over her.
"Yeah, can I get a southern comfort and diet coke?" I kept my voice light and cheery, ignoring the way her brow furrowed at the undistinguishable accent behind my words.
"Can I see your ID?" The chatter of the bar began to slowly pick up as the people of Bon Temps decided that I was just another drifter. I quickly fished my ID out of the back pocket of my black skinny jeans and presented it to Tara, who studied it thoroughly before handing it back and turning to make the order. I flipped it between my fingers, amazed that the worker was actually looking for an excuse to fight with me. The frayed edges from the ace of hearts tickled my skin as I slipped the playing card up the sleeve of my jacket. Luckily the old card was the exact same shape and size of a regular New York license, so creating the illusion had taken no energy. I glanced around the bar again; only noticing a few leering stares this time. Beheaded and stuffed animal carcasses lined almost every square inch of wall space, making me slightly queasy. None of them were recently deceased, so that saved me from the disturbing ghosts that normally accompanied corpses. A few waitresses zipped back and forth from the kitchen area to their assigned tables, all wearing the same tight white shirt and black shorts. It was obvious they were slightly short staffed and I contemplated it would be like to worked with them... I have always loved waitressing. A little normalcy in life before continuing on my journey. Malik would never allow it though.
I rolled my eyes at the thought of my less than agreeable travel partner when I caught sight of something very strange on the floor. Sliding off of my seat and landing on my knees, I slid my hand meticulously along the wooden flooring. Dust and grime from poor washing smeared across my smooth palm but that isn't what had me confused. There was a strange electric pulsing that was weakly fading through the floorboards and into the earth. It was quite ancient yet only a few days old.
"What the hell are you doing?" Tara yelled as she slammed the drink down on the bar top, sloshing some of the liquid onto the hard wood. My head slammed into the underside of the counter at the sudden increase of volume. Uttering an inaudible stream of curses and rubbing the top of my head as I surfaced from the floor I met Tara's glare with a sheepish grin.
"Sorry I dropped something." I hopped back onto the bar stool and grabbed the drink before it spilled anymore, but Tara continued to stare at her until she harshly wiped up the alcohol she had spilled and turned away. As I sipped my drink I could hardly believe the darkness coming from the woman behind the counter, but I decided asking questions would be unwise. It was none of my business anyway. Maybe she was just a bitch?
To my surprise the drink was actually very well made and didn't take long to finish. I calmly ordered another one when the door to Merlotte's slammed opened with a bang and the bar went silent again. My heart jumped out of my chest and continued to race painfully while I twisted slowly on the barstool, nervous about the dramatic entrance of some unknown threat.
"Woooie! Did anyone else see that beautiful bike out there?" A medium sized blonde man stood in the doorway with a giant smile on his face. "Who's the sum-a-bitch who went and bought a Varadero?" Jesus Christ that scared the life out of me... I let out the breath I had been holding before throwing the man a sly smile. Hey, he was handsome and I was bored. Besides, his signature didn't read anything unnatural, so he was the youngest and safest bet for a nice night in Bon Temps.
"That would be me." I answered confidently, actually reveling the feeling of the entire bar looking at me again. That drink was really good... Jason Stackhouse settled his blue eyes on me and his posture changed instantly as he realized what he was looking at. I'm not trying to say that I was the most beautiful thing in the world, actually far from it because she's a stupid, conceited bitch. But my line of work did keep me in great shape and after I cut my hair a couple years ago I noticed it was much easier to take care of and style. So even if I was travel weary and hadn't showered in a few days, I still looked moderately decent. Jason seemed to think the same thing because he flashed me a handsome smirk and swaggered over to the bar before standing directly in front of me. I did a quick once over and leaned my back against the counter while my smile widened.
"Well hello stranger." He said, his tone alluring and his charm at its highest possible level. "Haven't seen you around these parts lately." Normally I shied away from any and all human interaction and usually hated the sounds of southern drawls, but for some unknown reason I couldn't help but be intrigued by Jason's aura and unbelievably good looks. Call me a sucker but hey, I was on my way to tipsy and feeling a little provocative.
"Probably because I've never been here before. Not in Bon Temps that is."
"Well then allow me to be your official Bon Temps guide. We'll start in Merlotte's bar and grill, the finest eatery in town." He gestured grandly to the people eating and drinking behind him; they had forgotten the most recent interruption and were enjoying themselves once again. "Oh and the name's Jason. Jason Stackhouse." He held out his hand confidently and it was easy to see the calluses and bruises on it. He worked with his hands.
"Roslyn Kale." I flashed him another white smile, a stark contrast from my ink black hair, and took his rough hand in my own small soft ones. Another sharp spark shot through my hand and I had to bite my lip quickly to keep myself from recoiling. Thankfully, Jason was preoccupied by staring at my more womanly features to notice my odd actions.
"Well Roslyn, what brings you to Bon Temps?" He leaned against the bar and rested his head lazily in his hand, his cocky smirk never leaving. I twisted in the seat again to face the now Tara-less bar and began to play with the empty cup sitting in front of me.
"Just passing through. I saw the lights from the road and figured I could use a good drink. I'll be leaving soon though."
"Where you headed?" His face was getting perpetually closer the longer we sat there and I was beginning to rethink my decision to leave tonight. How many guys do I get to meet in my line of work? Well, who don't want to kill and/or eat me? The answer is not many... And none of them ever look like Jason. I mean, what's one more night in Bon Temps?
"Not really sure yet." I replied quietly. "I just know it's no where I've been before." Jason's smile grew as he looked in my dark green eyes with his own baby blues. Good lord this drink was starting to get to me.
"You ain't ever been here before. Maybe you should stay a few days, and check out the scene. See if you like it."
"Sounds tempting." Tara walked back then and cast Jason a glance before glaring at me. What the hell did I do? "But I'm sort of supposed to be doing something important for work, so I'm afraid a little vacation just isn't in the cards right now."
"Oh yeah," Jason was so close that I could feel the sun's heat still radiating off of his skin. But beyond that heat pulsed something quite unexplainable but shockingly familiar and I felt compelled by it. Everything was just so strange. "Well, what is it that you're supposed to be doing?"
"I'm looking for someone... Special." Tara set down another drink in front of me and pretended not to listen while Jason smiled as he leaned against me and put his lips to my ear.
"Well, I might just be someone special." His voice was hushed and darkly seductive and I had to force myself not to blush. So I threw my eyes away from the blonde and looked at the large open walkway behind the end of the bar as scruffy looking man walked into the restaurant from what presumably was the office area. He walked up behind the bar and threw me an unnoticing glance before he began to speak to Tare. I remained frozen in my seat and stared at this stranger as he began to question Tara about the bar tabs. Jason, unnoticing my sudden disinterest, put his hand on my leg and gave it a warm squeeze.
"So, would you wanna grab a table with me? Can't drive across the country on an empty stomach." He asked with a seductive tone. Sam Merlotte, once finished talking to his bartender turned to leave, but a flash of dark green eyes kept him rooted to the spot. He stood completely still as I stared back at him, my face probing but impassable. Tara looked between us anxiously before I quickly turned to Jason and accepted his request with a smile. He led me away from the bar, leaving a confused Tara and a motionless Sam behind us.
"That girl is a fucking weird-o. Do you know her Sam?"
"N-no I don't." He shook his head sharply to rid him self of the trance he had fallen in. "Never seen her before in my life."
Jason had led me to a booth towards the back of the restaurant. I sat facing the rest of the dinner and he sat facing me. Once seated he instantly launched into a breathless tale about the town and its inhabitants so I began to seriously study the area around me. I was shocked as several different shades of energy bloomed into view the harder I concentrated. Bon Temps was a lot more suspicious than I had originally thought.
"What can I get for you two?" A clear voice broke through my resolve and I bit my lip again to keep from snapping at the tall waitress who stood at our table and pulled a pen from behind her horribly dyed red hair. She was studying me carefully with eyes lined with way too much make up. She didn't trust me in the slightest and her aura slowly coiled into a swirl of accusations and fear. The town gossip then...
"Hey Arlene. I'm gonna get the special and another beer." He smiled over at me and I glanced down at my unopened menu.
"Uh, I'll just get a garden salad, unless you have veggie burgers." I ordered with a nervous laugh, brightening Jason's smile but adding to Arlene's look of annoyance.
"Oh and can you have Sookie come over when you get time? I'm sure she'd love to meet Roslyn." Jason asked Arlene as she walked away and he got a little glare in reply.
"Sookie is?"
"My sister. She just loves meeting new people." He finished the rest of his beer and I took the moment of silence to pull off my jacket and set it next to me, revealing a sleeveless turtleneck shirt of dark green. My silver locket fell to its usual spot just above the swell of my chest and I caught Jason giving it an appreciative glance. "So Roslyn, where are ya from?"
"Just about everywhere really. Most recently though is New York." He smiled at her alluringly and did not look away when Arlene brought them their drinks. I gave her a gracious thank you hoping to get on her good side... and got an mmmm-hmmmm in return before the red head walked away. "People here don't really like strangers do they?" Jason chuckled charismatically.
"Well, we've had some weirdness go on during the past couple of weeks. They're just suspicious of new people is all. Stick around and I'm sure they'll learn to love you."
"Yeah, I bet." I took a huge gulp of the iced drink, reveling as the burn of whiskey traveled down my throat. Alcohol was less effective than smoking for me, but much more user friendly than the alternate, so I was stuck with it for now. Stupid government and their rules about banning naturally found herbs.
"So anyway, tell me about yourself Roslyn. I mean if this is our only night together, I want to learn as much as possible." Jason leaned forward and waited for Me to reply so I tilted my head alluringly and mimicked his action.
"If this was our only night together Jason, I'd want to do a lot more than just talking." The line was dropped and though it took a while to register in Jason's head but once it did his smirk widened to a charming smile. I smiled back at him and finished my second drink, slightly amazed in how easy if was going to be to get him alone. But hey, men are men. Once I had him somewhere secluded I could finally figure out that the fuck he was and then decide if staying in Bon Temps would be beneficial. Plus I was getting a free meal and possibly hooking up with a seriously attractive guy; it was a win for all involved.
"Just wait at the bar Bill, I'll seat you and Jessica in a minute." A bubbly voice broke through the air surrounding our table and suddenly a short blonde with a huge smile came skipping over carrying a tray full of food. "Hey Jason, here's your food. And who is this new lady?" I began to smile charmingly as I looked up at Sookie Stackhouse but my action die on my lips as we locked eyes.
"Sook, this is Roslyn Kale. She's a traveling stranger that I'm trying to convince to stick around in Bon Temps for a few days. Roslyn, this is my sister Sookie."
"It's a pleasure to meet you Roslyn. And don't let this charmer fool you, he's looking to get you into bed." Sookie held out a friendly hand and a familiar tugging surfaced at the front of my brain. I was on my feet in an instant, completely ignoring Sookie's welcoming gesture.
"I'm sorry but I need to use the restroom." Careful not to touch either of the Stackhouse siblings I made a beeline for the front door, my only thought was finding Malik and getting the fuck out of here. And that's when I ran directly into two startled vampires.
"Oh I am very sorry Miss. I don't mean to be standing in the middle of the floor and blocking your way. Please accept my apologies." I felt my jaw dropping as I stumbled away from Bill Compton. Behind him stood a curious looking red haired fledgling, no more than a year old; Her eyes were still rimmed with red. Bill took a smiling step forward to make sure that I was alright but I hastily took a giant step backward, my green eyes wild. The vampires eyed me cautiously, trying to calm me with their cool presence, but suddenly Sam was back in the room and I could no longer take the force of the energies around me.
I'll admit, I panicked a little. As soon as the golden light coming from the Stackhouse siblings entered my personal bubble I lost all control and decided it was time for action.
"STOP" The strong command exploded from my lips and the world went silent, unable to ignore my demand. Color seemed to drain from everything in sight except for the five people surrounding me, who each lighted up in a distinctly unique light. They all looked at each other in amazement.
"What the fuck is this?" Jessica thought loudly, her body covered in a light pink. Her eyes flashed in shock when she realized that everyone listen to her mind. None of them could move though, except for me that is. And I was currently struggling to find my oh-so-very important work tool.
"Roslyn, are you doing this?" Jason's voice was a mixture of awe and fear as he looked at his frozen hand covered in a dark plum. It was reaching out to where I stood.
"Who is Roslyn?" Bill, the threat in his voice easy to read, like the vibrant red color pulsing from his skin.
"What are you?" Sookie spoke, her voice simply questioning and her aura a brilliant gold. I pulled a silver badge from my right boot and flashed it to everyone in the circle; the symbol mirrored my intricate locket exactly.
"My name is Roslyn Kale and I am a member of the Supernatural Enforcement Committee. I have been in search of a very powerful man for a long time now and based on the high quantity of supernatural activity in this area I have reason to believe that he is hiding in Bon Temps or the surrounding area."
"What did you do to us?" Sam this time his light brown energy spinning around him calmly.
"Sorry but it was necessary to detain you. I've never really faced so many supernaturals in one place before. Just cooperate with me and I'll let you go when I'm finished with my questioning."
"Like hell we will! Release us immediately."
"Silence vampire!" I snapped, finally stepping into my natural pace. Ahh the joys of interrogation... "You are not yet even 200 years old. You have no right to speak against me."
"What the hell are you?" Sookie again, and this time it wasn't a thought, but an active, vocalized question. I turned and watched in shock as her body began to pulsate the light surrounding her. She was breaking through the spell.
"So you are one, aren't you..." I spoke to herself more than anyone else, filing my thought away for further investigation. I turned to everyone else, ignoring the blonde. She was a little preoccupied in her own amazement at what was happening. "Do any of you know a man by the name of Marius Avett?" My question hung in the silent air and no one spoke or thought a word. "This is a matter of the highest importance. If you have heard anything at all pertaining to a mister Marius Avett please bring it to the front of your mind immediately. Then I can let you all go and I'll be on my way."
"Let us go now!" Sam yelled through his mind, causing me to flinch.
"We don't know him!" Jessica shouted.
"Roslyn, I demand that you let us all go this instant."
"Silence. I don't have time for these games. Now tell me what you know about the strangeness that has been occurring in Bon Temps or I will be forced to strip your minds myself."
"Like hell you will!" Sookie reached out and grabbed onto my wrist while I was distracted and a bright golden light erupted from her touch. It was warm as it began to creep up my arm and as I turned to look in her eyes another light began to form, this time it was silver and shot up her arm.
"What the hell is this?"
"I have no idea!"
Suddenly the door slammed open and we both snapped our heads towards the entrance. The two lights extinguished as a 6 foot 4 blond haired, blue-eyed 2,000-year-old vampire calmly strutted into the room. In his hands he held a black cat by the scruff of its neck; Malik looked thoroughly harassed.
"Eric? What on earth are you doing here?" Bill demanded without being able to see his Sherriff and constant enemy.
"Hello Sookie, good to see you're doing well." Eric released Malik who gracefully landed on his feet and raced towards me with a hiss. I bent down to scoop him into my arms and looked over at the approaching vampire with worry.
"Eric, what in God's name is going on here?" Sookie had her arms folded across her chest in anger and her tone was nothing like the sweet girl I was introduced to. "Is this your doing?" Eric smiled brightly but shook his handsome head.
"I'm afraid not. All blame rests with the little dark haired witch. Isn't that right Roslyn?" His eyes were drinking me in and I couldn't wake up enough to make a run for it. Unexplainably, I felt very safe in the bar but something was definitely wrong about being addressed so familiarly by a man I have never met before. Especially since that man is a very powerful and very dark vampire.
"Eric, who is this woman and how does she have this power over us?" Eric smirked before taking very slow and precise steps forward, only stopping when he cast his shadow over me, a dark grey light beginning to lift from his body. I looked away from him, afraid that he would be able to glamour me if I looked up. After all, he if wasn't affected by my time spell, then he certainly would be able to hold other things over me. Malik began to hiss in my hands and I could hear his silent urging through out contact. He wanted to get out now. But I couldn't move.
"I'd love to explain Bill but I'm afraid I just don't have the time. I have a business to run and apparently several affairs to put in order. You'll all be fine though." He leaned down over me and I soon felt ice-cold fingers cupping my chin, forcing me to look into his amazing blue eyes. Up this close, it was hard to remember the kind of danger I was in, he was so beautiful. "I could feel you as soon as you entered the region. The closer you get to me, the harder it is to block me out, isn't it?" He tilted my face this way and that, inspecting me. I didn't drop his gaze, even when his eyes lingered on my red stained lips. "Ahh, little rosy Roslyn, where have you been all this time?" Malik's hair was standing straight up at the closeness of the undead creature, but I was beyond comprehending anything. This man was in my space, touching me and speaking to me as if I belonged to him. My indignant nature flared to life and I could feel my lips moving with out my consent.
"I'm sorry but do I know you?" Instantly Eric's warmth disappeared and his eyes became calculating and cold. They were the last things I remember before the blackness took over.
"Interesting." And with a movement too fast for human eyes Eric had knocked Roslyn out and plopped her over his shoulder, Malik falling once again to the ground. The others instantly became reanimated and shifted to watch the retreating vampire.
"What is she Eric?" Bill called as the colors began to bloom throughout the restaurant. Eric stopped at the entrance of the bar and threw them all a mischievous glance.
"She's a witch of the highest order. Older than me and far more powerful than anything you've ever encountered." Abruptly the world restarted as if nothing had happened and Eric Northman was gone.