Author's Notes: Eric has discovered someone with new gifts in the Dallas area. Agreeing to work for the Sheriff, Evelyn soon finds out that there is much more to her job than Eric originally let on. Trouble is brewing in Louisiana, and lives are on the line. Eric/OC
I have made a few obvious changes and alterations to the True Blood storyline, as you will soon discover after reading. They are creative liberties and I mean in no way to undermine the incredible world created by both Charlaine Harris and Alan Ball. To ensure that there is no confusion, Eric went to Dallas alone and never created a blood tie with Sookie. On that note, Godric has not killed himself...yet. If you have any questions, please feel free to let me know.
This is my first story ever, so please be kind. Helpful comments are most definitely welcome, as I appreciate you reading my work. Evelyn popped into my mind one day and I couldn't get her out of my mind, and soon Eric made appearances too. She is, what I would imagine to be, a woman with a troubled past that tried to make the best of herself. Her actions, reactions, and personality are what I what think to be the product of her upbringing and dealing with her ability. Read ahead, as I am very honored to share with you the workings of my mind...
It was always busy this time of year, when kids were out of school and parents were free to scout out new prospects for homes. Of course, the weather is always hottest this time of year, so though my income increases, so does my intolerance for the sweltering Texas heat. Oh, I'm Evelyn by the way, Evelyn Blackburn. Anyways, I'm in the leasing business in uptown Dallas. Just another lowly leasing consultant getting paid far less than I deserve. It's a dirty business leasing, but someone has to do it and I swear they don't pay me enough to tromp around in heels all day in 100 degree plus weather.
Yes, tromp, because you see, our golf cart is broken this week and isn't expected back in for another few weeks, so I have to sweat it out day in and day out trying to make money, look and sound good doing it. I learned my first day on the job some year and months ago that trying to impress your clients and climb stairs is a daunting task. But I'm past that now and am a pro at what I do…if only it weren't for the weather, which doesn't even get decently cooler at night.
And now that the vampires have finally come out of the coffin so to speak and many of them are obviously wealthy, I have to spend my Saturday nights waiting around on vampires and then attempting to lease a condo without getting my head chewed off…alone. My wonderful boss Barbie makes me work the night shift because she says that I am "approachable" and that she doesn't think I really "appeal" to what she believes are the vampires taste in women. I know when she said it she was not referring only to their tastes as in appetite, but to their preference in women period. Now my boss is what I suppose many think here in America to be the most perfect woman, a size two with blonde hair and fake breasts and great legs with a name like Barbie to match…go figure. So, she puts it on me to do the grunt work as she is fearful of her own safety at night because she is a self proclaimed beauty.
Me on the other hand, I'm more of around a size 8, about 5 feet 7 inches and in opposition to what Barbie thinks, I do think I'm quite pretty. I like to keep myself well maintained, my nails done, my clothes crisp and clean, my hair trimmed (which nearly reaches my bottom by now), and my makeup done. I'm not an extremely prissy girl, but I enjoy dressing professional and like to wear dresses now and again. Though, in this heat, it's hard to stay presentable without checking your face and hair every 10 minutes.
Especially at night, which has crept up on me quite suddenly as I typed away at my computer desk at the front door. Standing, I ran to the bathroom in my black stilettos, touched up my face, cleaned myself quickly, freshened up, and was running a brush through my golden brown hair when I heard the faint beeping that someone came through the front door. Quickly stowing away my freshening up supplies, I straightened myself (disappointed to not be able to put my hair back up in this heat) and walked to meet my first guest of the night.
No one was there. The lobby was empty and I couldn't hear anyone shuffling about near the kitchen, but was certain that I heard the door beep. "Hello?" Quicker than I could comprehend, a vampire stood two feet away from me, from what direction I could not tell. He was breathtaking, and that was saying something for me because I didn't spare many men a second glance, even my vampire clientele. But he was gorgeous; with shoulder length dirty blond hair, light stubble on his face, and a 6 feet 4 body frame laced with pure muscle. I must have been staring for too long as he cleared his throat to gather my attention. I instantly slapped myself out of my stupor and into my sales persona.
"I'm sorry, I was just a bit startled. My name is Evelyn, what can I do for you this evening?"
I knew not to extend my hand, so to keep my body busy I headed for my desk. The man dressed in dark denim jeans with a black fitted t-shirt that said "Fangtasia" on it sat in the chair in front of my desk and laced his fingers together carefully.
"I am looking for a private condo and saw that you have some available that cater to vampires with state of the art security systems." Sitting behind my desk I looked up on my computer what we had available for him.
"Yes sir, we do currently have a few condos available that would meet your needs. How many bedrooms are you looking for?"
"Two."
Clicking my computer keys I found something for him.
"Alright. We do have a two bedroom condo currently available near the East side of the property that is very private and secluded with biometric locks on all entrances to the home and a steel encased bedroom with a vault lock. Of course, the bedroom is sheet rocked as well and painted in a nice warm tan color. Does this sound like something you might want to take a look at?"
He thought on it for a moment before flashing a beautiful smile, "Yes that would be wonderful."
"Alright then, all I need is your ID and we can go and take a look."
He seemed to hesitate for a moment then handed the ID over. I almost fainted when I looked at his death date. My oh my, he was more than 1,000 years old and was beautiful to boot. And what a charming name, Eric Northman, hmmm….as I wrote down his information I wondered if he happened to be Viking before he died, as he most certainly fit the bill.
Standing, I grabbed the necessary keys and guided him out the door locking it behind me, having a bit of trouble with the key.
"So do they make you work alone each night Evelyn, to cater to vampires interested in condos?"
Getting the key out the door I turned to his watchful gaze, "No, not every night Mr. Northman, just Saturday's."
I began leading the way, my heels clicking the only sound in the night along with the occasionally swishing of my black slacks and the sway of my jewelry on my crème blouse. I began telling him about the area, reciting it like I had many times before. We were still walking and I ran out of things to say, as like I said, no golf cart and the condo in question was in the most secluded area of the property.
I felt his piercing blue gaze on me and noticed him watching me from the corner of my eye, "Mr. Northman, do you have any questions?"
I gazed right back into his eyes, a little stern with my tone as I did not appreciate the staring. Maybe Barbie was correct, and he was staring at me because he thought I was fat and completely unappealing and was so disappointed he would not be able to make a meal out of me.
Apparently, he was not use to the tone I took with him and he 'humphed' unnecessarily.
"Oh, I have many questions I would like to ask you Evelyn, but most would be wildly inappropriate. But I will however, ask why a beautiful young lady like yourself shows vampires condos in the middle of the night, completely alone and unguarded."
I stopped walking and felt anger and fear grip my chest. Anger, because Barbie put me in this stupid situation, and fear, because this beautiful man might be the end of me.
I started to clench my fists, "Look, if you don't want to see the condo, fine, but I will not be intimidated by you."
There, I got it off my chest and I breathed a big sigh of relief. I'd only been showing nights for 2 months now and had only gotten about 10 vampire clients total, half of which never wanted to see the condos and all of which never expressed any interest in me. I was no fangbanger, that was for sure, but I did find the idea of vampirism captivating, as what could be more alluring than eternal life, especially when you looked like a Mr. Eric Northman and could lock in that kind of beauty forever.
He raised an eyebrow at me and smirked in amusement, his eyes taking on a serious look as his gaze pierced mine. I knew what he was doing, many had tried it before, and now I was prepared to laugh in his face.
"Tell me Evelyn, would you mind if I tasted you?"
He was trying to glamour me the bastard, and trying to eat me all at the same time! I cocked an eyebrow at him and crossed my arms over my chest letting out a huge sigh of frustration and then turned on my heel back towards my office mumbling "the nerve….just unbelievable."
Suddenly I felt a cool steel grip around my forearm and was forced to stop, "So it is true then…you really cannot be glamoured by one of us."
I rolled my eyes at him in frustration, "No, I can't be. So, sorry you don't get a midnight snack and just like everyone else has tried, I won't sign a lease over to you for a free condo, so don't even try to glamour me and make me do that crap, cause it's not happening Mr. Northman."
His eyes turned serious and he gripped my other arm, turning me to face him, "What are you? How can you resist me?"
I balked at him, "Look, you are a gorgeous man, I'll give you that, but I'm not some fangbanger who entertains the idea of throwing down with any attractive member of the vampire community."
His grip hardened and I let out a whimper I couldn't help, "You're hurting me, let me go."
He loosened a bit, "I have only met one other in my time that resisted our charms, and she was not completely human. What are you? Do you possess some gift?"
I looked into this gorgeous man's eyes and could tell he would not let me go without an answer or without killing me. No one had pressured me like this before. I caved, I had to; there was no other way.
"Let me go and I will show you, you big brute."
Of course, he didn't have to let me go, but I felt more comfortable making the contact on my own and he released my arms. I slowly reached up to his face and put my hand on his cheek, surprised he hadn't swatted me away. I knew vampires could sense mal intent, and despite his pushiness, I had no desire to harm the man. He was curious and gorgeous and I had no way of knowing that what I was about to show this vampire was going to completely change my world.
His skin was cool even in the horrible heat and I shut my eyes, channeling my energy into our contact. You see, I can read energy and I can send energy, which is most easily compared to how a person sees someone smile and smiles back, creating a positive reaction. Well, I can feel a person's energy, down to a vicious, "I want to kill you energy", to an "I'm lying and just yanking your chain" kind of energy. Not only could I feel it, I could send my own energy into a person to try and influence their own, say if someone were angry I could send them calming thoughts, feelings, energy really, to help them calm down. One of the reasons I was so successful in my job, as coercing people into buying was really easy when you knew what they felt when they walked in the door after you shook their hands.
Mr. Eric Northman's energy was anxious, lustful, excited, hungry, so I sent him calming energy and calm thoughts and feelings. I opened my eyes and he was staring down at me, completely in awe.
"Well don't just stare at me like that Mr. Northman, I'm not a freak or anything."
I was removing my hand, feeling like way too much attention was being drawn to me and surprisingly he gently clasped my hand in one of his larger ones.
"What are you?"
"I'm a human, at least I think I am. But I consider myself an empath. I'm able to both feel and send energy waves. I can tell when someone is lying, when someone has violent tendencies, or when someone is mentally unstable…things like that."
After I said that, he released my hand like it was silver and I saw his fangs start to run down.
"No one in this world has ever been able to read vampires. Do you know what kind of threat you are to our kind?"
Suddenly I was panicking. No, I had never thought of that…Uh Oh.
"What did you do to me?"
"I can influence other's feelings, similar to how you glamour. But people don't forget, like you make them. And I'm very discreet, so no one ever notices."
Gathering my wits about me I left him standing there as I headed back to the office. I did not want to be standing there in the dark with this gorgeous man whose fangs were running down because I basically influenced his feelings. Honestly, that had never happened before and I was a little worried.
I knew he was strong, as he was incredibly old, and my ability would do nothing for me if he snapped my neck in the blink of an eye. I had to go into my condo, which was next to the office if I wanted to survive. It was the only way I would be safe…if I could make it there in one piece.
I was walking as swiftly as possible, but I felt his presence as he sped to my side in an instant.
"There is no need to run Evelyn and no need for you to fear me. I am here, to offer you a job under my services as Sheriff of Area 5 in Louisiana; Shreveport, in particular."
I stopped dead in my tracks on the steps of my condo. He wanted me for a job, yet he just met me…but he HAD mentioned my not being able to be influenced by glamour as if he had heard of me already, and was just confirming his own suspicions.
I ran my nervous hands over the front of my slacks and took in a deep breath, turning to the vampire on my left. I looked up into his gorgeous blue eyes and his beautiful blond hair that set elegantly on his shoulders…and those biceps….okay okay, eyes are traveling get a grip. His face was solemn, his jaw set firmly and it was in that moment that I knew no woman had probably ever said no to this man in her life.
"Alright." And I wasn't about to be the one to break the trend.
"What services do you want of me that I can offer you, Mr. Northman?" I was either really stupid or really desperate, but I couldn't bring myself to say no. I was tired of the monotony in my life as of late and I wanted to use my gift for things other than selling condos for crappy pay.
"Please, call me Eric." I nodded in acquiescence, urging him to answer my question.
"Perhaps we could discuss this in further detail, in your home perhaps, away from prying ears and eyes."
His eyes darted around the area as if to say to me that we were being watched, and again, I stupidly complied with a nod of my head. I had met vampires before, plenty in fact, and I was never truly fearful nor had I ever been entranced by one like Eric before. I had done research on vampires, as I believed that all beings were to be respected and that humans and vampires (and perhaps other creatures that go bump in the night) should all learn to coexist. Yes, vampires were more powerful than humans, smarter, quicker, stronger, and rumor had it their blood could excite a person's desire more effectively than Viagra and there was talk on the wind that it could heal as well. But it was humans, not vampires, that brought forth groundbreaking technology and had created a means for vampires to survive without exhausting human's as their food supply. So, in my own mind, I reasoned, we could not live without one another. And as I invited Eric into the only safe haven I knew I had, I tried very hard to remember all these things and reason with myself that I was just as equal a being as he was, and that my intelligence and my own gift could match his own.
I noticed Eric standing in my small foyer with his hands clasped in front of him and his stance wide as he observed his surroundings, the door closed behind him. He stood so powerfully yet so gracefully it was hard not to notice a man like Eric, but as my wavy hair bounced around my shoulders as I shook my head out of my trance, I remembered why this man was in my house in the first place.
"Please, have a seat in my living room. Can I offer you anything to drink?" As I led him to the comfortable living room decorated with a dark sofa, a large red, tan and black contemporary rug and matching furniture, he looked at me like I had grown another head.
"You have blood here?" He sat himself on my sofa and continued to stare at me.
"Yes, of course. I keep some here in case any of my prospects get thirsty." I need not mention the blood was in my home and not my office so I had an excuse to enter the safety of my own home if I ever felt threatened or uncomfortable around a vampire.
I grabbed a bottle of Red Vine from my refrigerator and heated it up, bringing it quickly back to Eric, who was looking appreciatively at my home. Handing the bottle over to him he raised his eyebrows.
"Thank you, Red Vine is much nicer than True Blood. And I do appreciate your taste in décor, it is quite lovely." I gave him a small smile and sat in the side chair next to the sofa he was on, curling my legs behind me on the chair in habit.
"So, we are away from prying ears and eyes now. What is it you require of me?" Sipping on his blood, Eric focused his eyes on mine, "I require your ability, to help me out the truth in certain individuals. I have had one of my own steal from me quite recently, and was unable to determine this on my own. The one that helped me discover the truth I have no further interest in, and have been looking for someone with talents similar to hers."
I quirked an eyebrow, "And what exactly could she do?"
Eric gave an unnecessary huff that seemed to be laced with resentment, "she is able to read human minds, but that is all. I thought this an extraordinary gift, until I heard about you."
My eyebrows seemed to go even higher, "And how exactly did you hear of me? I do not expose my gift to anyone, I am finishing school to become a CPA and I've been working here laying low. How, may I ask, was I discovered by you, Eric?"
He took another sip of blood and waved his hand as if he was dismissing the question, "News travels quickly when vampires find one that is unaffected by their glamour. She was the same way, so I knew something had to be special about you. And how pleased I am with myself that I was correct."
I shifted in my chair, pulling my long hair back into the clip I held in my pocket so I could busy my hands. It was a habit of mine, to busy my hands while my mind ran a million miles a minute. I caught Eric's eyes as I realized I had just bared my neck. God, I sure am stupid.
"So, you are interested in me working for you because I can read humans AND vampires' energies? So I can tell you when someone is lying to you, is that all?" Eric crossed his arms behind his head and stretched out his legs, "that is part of it, yes. And if you prove trustworthy, I have assignments for you that will be much more complex. Projects, if you will, that will test your abilities and your strength."
I stared at his relaxed form, such long limbs attached to such a strong body saying such scary things and he sat there as if he hadn't a care in the world. Perhaps not, he was immortal after all.
"Alright, and what will you pay me?" He looked me in the eye with a stare that should have been intimidating but only upset me, as if asking for pay was not something he had thought out.
"I finish my master's degree next month and am eligible to sit for the CPA after that. I am among the best and brightest in this entire country, Eric Northman, and have been offered compensation to fit such a degree of intelligence. You say you will test my abilities, fine, my strength, fine, but you test my patience Eric, staring at me as if I should be offered nothing. If my pay with you is not comparable to my current offers, as exciting as the job sounds, I will have to apologize for my hastiness to accept when I have completely forgotten pay negotiations, and I will be forced to turn your offer down."
Eric started to smile and sat straighter up, pulling his hands to his side, "Do not worry, Evelyn, I most certainly have done my homework on you. I do understand you to have a certain gift in business relations and a skill for accounting and detecting fraud. As it is, I have just had to release my accountant from his position for not detecting the whereabouts of the funds my previous partner stole from me, and I would like to inquire into your financial services as well. I own a few businesses, and would like you to oversee their financial operations for me. Though your gifts as an empath are unique, I find that there might not always be a need for them, and would most assuredly compensate you quite well. Much more than anyone else is offering you, that I am most certain, as you would be offering both your intelligence and your gift to me. I would say somewhere in the ballpark of $200,000 a year with benefits of course."
Alright, no need to negotiate that any further. The highest offer I'd had so far was $60,000 and with a $200,000 salary, I would be on top of the world. I nodded with as much of a steely smile as possible, "That will do. When do you suggest I start, and I assume, move to Shreveport?"
"I will give you your month to finish your degree and then I will come here to collect you. Be sure you have your things together and everything you wish to take with you packed up. I will drive you to Shreveport and the movers will take your things to a home I will have prepared for you."
Wow, this vampire sure had all his i's dotted and his t's crossed. Obviously he had counted on me agreeing to work with him. I was almost scared to find out what would have happened if I turned him away.
Well then, everything I could think of was perfect and all in order. Get paid lots of money, work for a gorgeous vampire, finally use both of my talents at once, and get out of Texas. I think I had fulfilled all of my life dreams in one sitting and was feeling quite smug about it.
"It sounds like everything is set, Eric. I will be packed and ready when you return in a month from now and I will most certainly do everything I can to practice and hone my skills." I was starting to get up from my seat and he did as well, though it was so much faster I started to tumble back into my seat from the blur. He had me around the waist with one of his large arms righting me on my feet before I could blink. God, he was so tall and handsome and he made my blood run hot. I was feeling rather excited by his touch and feeling horribly shameful about it at the same time; I was a respectable woman and I NEVER threw myself at anyone, regardless if they could make you drool like a dog.
"Yes, I suggest you do practice your skills. We can't have you letting everyone you touch knowing exactly what you are feeling." He released me and I gaped at him like I fish out of water. What? He reached in his pocket and pulled out a card and sat it on my coffee table. "If you need anything you may contact me at any time. And Evelyn," he was already at the door and I was still floored in the same spot. I caught his eyes and they took on a very serious look, "Do not hesitate to call me if you are in trouble. I will be in town for the next two weeks. Stay safe, my pet." He winked at me and closed the door behind him. I sank back into the chair absorbing everything he had said. I had never, EVER, sent my feelings to anyone without purposely trying to. Either I was losing my touch or there was something very strange going on.