Disclaimer: I only wish I could own them all. Except my Alex character.
This story is slightly AU, and would take place after the events of season 2. I like the books much better, but I'm really an Eric fan (as you'll read)
And ignore the almost happy ending of season two…sometime before the end of Beyond Here Lies Nothing
Summary: She was the answer to my silent prayer.
Shot in the Dark
Sookie POV
Another day, another dollar. Just been a typical Wednesday night at Merlotte's. A sea of drunks debating about the high school football game on Friday, which I will be attending, and even more desperate girls trying so hard to make something meaningful out of a drunk one night stand.
Good luck with that ladies.
My only bright spot in this sad evening is my favorite customer. He also happens to be my boyfriend.
Bill is my safe harbor in this violent quell of thoughts. Sweet. Cool. Nothing in all this mess.
I was lost in the hustle tonight; that's for sure. My guards were so weak from lack of sleep and working. I could hear everything from some girl wondering if her mother thinks she's slept with the whole town…or Hoyt Foytenberry's sweet thoughts of Jessica.
I silently put a bottle of TruBlood down on Bill's table. He grabbed my hand and I let the empty wash over me.
"Sookie. You seem very distracted."
"Sorry. It's just super loud in here tonight," he knew what I meant, " And it's been non-stop noise since five and I didn't sleep. Again."
Even with a swig of blood, he still curled his lip in disgust, "Eric."
It wasn't a question, "Yeah. It was… well I woke up and hopped right in the shower."
He said nothing, just let the anger flow over his face and silently sip his blood.
"Oh Bill. Please don't," I plopped myself down in the booth next to him resting my head on his shoulder, "He has to stop. Right?"
"Eric does not have to do anything. He will continue on until he drives me mad or he drives you to him."
"One of those drives is considerably shorter I take it."
"Yes. Very."
I had to break this tension, "You know I was thinkin'….When JB would chase after me, I would just try to suggest Tara to him. Put her in the way of he and I," he raised an eyebrow, "Maybe that's the answer. Distract him with someone else."
"That would be some feat," he made a sound that could have been considered a sigh, "Sookie, he has called for us again."
I was furious, "Sweet Jesus….when?"
"Tomorrow night."
"Well, them. So much for that plan huh? That isn't a whole lot of time," I leaned against his chest. His cool hands stroked my hair.
"Then we will have to look extremely hard," he chuckled knowing exactly how ridiculous he sounded. He took another drink and actually laughed aloud.
"At least we know what he likes."
"Yes. How…fortunate."
That made me smile a little. "Oh but where to start, we've got such a wide array of choices."
As if God answered my silent prayer, she walked into the bar. Tall, blonde, green blue eyes that could trap a soul, and almost the palest skin I've ever seen. She was wearing a dark tank top, black and green plaid skirt with chains, topped with tall black and red boots. Black nails, dark eye make-up and blood red lips.
Every male eye followed her; every female gave her a death glare. She paid it no attention. She just sat down, in my section of course; alone. And…nothing. She wasn't thinking anything. Not possible for the living.
"Bill! That girl…"
He shifted his eyes towards her, "I saw her. Quite striking."
"She's a blank!" I was like a kid on Christmas day.
He said nothing, just looked at her.
"Perhaps you didn't hear me. I can't hear her."
"I assure you, she's very much alive. But. Convincing."
I grabbed his hand, "Well, come on. She's perfect!"
He wanted to protest but I wouldn't have it. I sat him down in front of her.
She glared at the both of us, " I'm sorry…did I say I needed company?" The words dripped from her lips like poison. Still nothing.
I ignored her obvious attempt to scare us off, "You must be new in town. I'm Sookie Stackhouse and this is Bill Compton, my boyfriend."
She shook my hand but seemed educated enough to offer a nod to Bill, which he returned. Not a single stray thought between them, it was so strange.
"You may fool them, but not me," Bill said rather coolly.
"I wasn't…well, I guess people just assume things with the skin tone and all. I offer my sincerest apologies if I offended you."
"Can I bring you something to drink," I needed to break the tension.
"Sure. Jameson, straight," she slid her ID across the table. Twenty-three and suddenly I hated her a little. I slid it back and marched off to get her drink, still wondering to myself how she could be just a pocket of nothing.
She had to be something more than human. And, seeing how that would probably be the case, just what I needed.
I sat her drink down and watched her knock back the tall shot with ease. She handed me a twenty, "Keep that."
I was almost shocked, "But it's only four fifty."
"It's just money girly. Can't take it with you."
I took her money back to the bar along with the empty glass and settled her bill and pocketed my large tip. When I returned to the table she seemed a little warmer.
"Please, Sookie, join us," she gestured for me to take a seat which I gladly accepted.
Bill spoke up, "I don't believe we caught your name, miss."
"Well, no one asked. How rude of me. I'm Alexandria Light. Alex."
Bill seemed to mull it over, "And where are you from? Certainly not here."
"No sir. I was born in Maine. We lived there until I was about eight. Then my father and I moved to New Orleans."
"Your father's name?"
"Alexander Light."
"Construction and Real Estate," I didn't know if he was trying to sound knowledgeable or smug.
"The one and only. Thank God."
She seemed so well read and well off to boot. How in the heck did she get here, "Then what got ya here to Bon Temps?"
"Long story short, I finished college early and refused to go to law school. Daddy insisted that getting me as far away from the city as possible."
"Why?" I thought it was a fair question.
"To keep me out of trouble. Whatever the fuck that means."
I tried to hide the shock on my face.
"What kind of trouble, if you don't mind me inquiring," even when Bill pryed it was polite.
"You could say it just finds me. I'm….gifted."
Gifted my foot, "Gifted how?"
She raised her eyebrow.
"Look Alex. You don't have to worry. He's…"
"A vampire and you read people's thoughts. He filled me in while you were away."
"Alrighty then. You know what we are….it's only right we know what you are."
She laughed softly and smiled. She stared at Bill's drink. Then both of us watched in complete amazement as she made the bottle slide to her. She then forced the liquid to float in tiny orbs just about the lips of the bottle.
"Like I fucking said, gifted telepath slash empath."
She smoothly floated the blood back into its vessel and then slid it back to Bill. He stared uncomfortably at the bottle in front of him.
"Oh for fucks sake, I can't change the liquid to swamp water. It's the same O negative it was before."
He reluctantly took a drink.
"Well that certainly was a sight," I was truly amazed, "Aren't you afraid someone saw it," Just thinking about her doing it; something straight out of some movie.
"I don't care what people think as long as it's about me. I've spent many years honing my skills and am nearly flawless and extremely powerful."
She could have continued to pat herself on the back all night I fear.
"Nearly flawless?" Bill isn't one to waste anything. If we were really going to introduce her to Eric, we needed to know the depth and range of her talent.
"Yes. Nearly. Now it's not something as obvious as daylight or totally random like silver," she seemed to want to stop there, "But seeing as how you are all in the same place. Basically, if I concentrate too hard I can destroy whatever I'm trying to move slash read. You know, make somebody's head actually explode, just trying to read a big lie. The other little thing is psychic noise."
Bill raised an eyebrow in question to which Alex sighed with frustration.
"For example, some place that has had a shit load of really awful stuff like murder, torture and the like fuck with the balance of emotion and finality of death. When that gets out of whack, it leaves waves that I unfortunately am extremely sensitive to. I get these migraines. I can't move, or even have a clear thought. Sometimes I can hear the screaming in my head so loud it's like it's still real. It's….well, pretty fucking terrible."
"And those are the only weaknesses you have?" Cut to the chase, that's my Bill.
"Well, dangerous boys that my daddy wouldn't approve of but…."
Bill casts a glance at me.
I take my silent cue brilliantly, "So Alex, what do you do for fun?"
"You mean there's something to do in this town beside gossip and watch the grass grow," she gives me a coy grin, "and I'm not exactly a hot commodity so I'm not seeing anyone. So, mainly, I just sit and home and read…..and drink."
"Haven't you made any friends yet?"
"Please, most people are a bit afraid of me. And I prefer it that way."
"Well, I'm not the lease bit afraid."
"No, but you certainly are nervous about something. For someone dating the resident undead, you are really jumpy."
She was right about that. Oh, look at the time, "Shoot! It's after nine. I need to get out of here…"
"Will you be long," Bill asked meaning how much work I needed to get done.
"Oh, not at all. I just have to get my things."
"Good," Alex said, " I need to have a smoke anyways."
Bill stood and helped her up from her seat, "Then we shall wait outside for you."
I watched the two of them head out and then went back to Sam's office to get my things. On the way back I said my good nights, Sam being last. We talked about me working the day shift tomorrow seeing as how I had to be in Shreveport tomorrow night. I would be home by four; plenty of time for me to have a shower and a nap.
I walked outside and noticed how comfortable they were talking to each other.
"Really, I wouldn't want to intrude or impose," she seemed genuine.
I slid my arm inside of Bill's, "Speakin of intruding…what are you talking about girl?"
Bill quickly spoke, "I asked if she would accompany us to Shreveport tomorrow night."
Nice to see he's at least willing to try my idea.
She put her hands up in protest, "Really, sounds fun. But it also sounds like a date."
"Not at all! It's really more business than pleasure. I wouldn't mind at all."
"I insist Miss Light."
She looked us both over as she took a drag from her cigarette, "So, I don't have a choice. Alright, you don't have to twist my arm. I'd love to go."
I was so thrilled that I let my mind wander too far, which Alex caught. Immediately.
"Who's Eric?"
Bill shot me a look that cut straight through my spine, "Sorry. I couldn't stop myself."
She took another drag, waiting for an answer. Obviously tired of holding onto her purse, she unlocked her car, which was the flashiest thing in the parking lot. Gleaming white, with black tinted windows and shiny wheels.
"You have a beautiful car," Bill said.
"Thanks," she said while closing the door, "E class, but it's not even new."
"Well it sure is something," I added.
She leaned against her white horse, "So….Eric?"
Bill shoved his hands in his pockets, "Of course. He owns Fangtasia, a bar in Shreveport."
She laughed and I marveled at the stream of smoke escaping her lips, "Wow punny. Seriously, vampires and your sense of humor."
I thought it was kind of goofy too.
"Eric…Vampire?"
"Yes and very much so. He's over 1,000 years old. And extremely powerful."
Her eyes lit up, "Really?"
"Yes. We think the two of you should really meet."
She laughed and flicked her finished cigarette into the dark, "You just met me and you're setting me up on a blind date?"
Bill tilted his head in question.
I'll field this one, "Yes and no. I do some work for Eric."
"Like in the bar? Baby, I've got money."
"No silly! Eric is also a sheriff," I know it confused the heck out of me too, "he is basically in charge of the vampires in this part of the state."
"Sheriff? So if vamps fuck up he does what exactly, arrests them?"
Bill glared at her, "Far from it. In the hierarchy of my society, he's responsible for all the right and wrong in our world. And he can exact punishment on guilty humans as he pleases. He must also bring justice to those of us not acting according to standards."
A sly grin crept across her face and it reminded me of another blonde I know, "Oh Bill, that last part. Has someone been a bad boy?"
He said nothing.
"That's a yes then." She seemed proud of herself.
I knew she was pushing buttons, "Anyhow, I know I've got my limits but you are just something else. You are way more powerful and I think we could make a good team. He's just gonna love you. I know it!"
She crossed her arms, "Point taken. But love me? Why does that seem like the most crucial? I get the sense that's more important than anything."
After some nervous glances between Bill and myself and a few stray thoughts, she smiled. Again, just like him.
"Oh…he's a little too interested in our girl here. You sir do not appreciate that but are powerless to stop him. So sweetheart here thinks distracting him with me is the solution so you two can live happily ever after."
"Sookie is mine! He cannot have her," Bill expressed anger in such few words.
"Well, all that aside, what makes you even think I would even be interested?" She pushed his buttons just like Eric does.
Bill was tired of the game, I could tell, but I knew what needed to be done.
I tried to picture him as clearly as I could, "Well, for starters he's tall. Blonde, very handsome, extremely charming, rich and…dangerous."
She smiled again, "You're sending a lovely picture, but so what?"
Bill was done, "He can be extremely cruel. He cares nothing for the well being of humans. He's vain and egotistical. He values his well being above all else! He uses all his power to get his true desires. And like Sookie stated, he is extremely dangerous."
"Well, yeah. He's a fucking vampire. No shocker there."
Bill gave me a sideways look, "Alex, your father would not approve at all," that crafty old vampire.
Her face lit up, "Then I have to meet him."
Bill gave a curt nod, "Good. We will be leaving an hour after sunset."
"Right so around eight thirty. We can meet at my place," she offered.
"Where's that," I knew every house in town.
"The big white and red house before you leave town for the parish road."
"Wow you live there? Alone?"
"Well, I've got a maid and my dog but yes. Oh Sookie, why don't you just get ready at my place and Bill can just meet up with us when he won't burst into flames."
"Sounds great, if that's alright with you Bill."
He took my hand in his, "If it pleases you it pleases me."
Alex sniffed as she opened her door, "Now that's a Hallmark moment. If you two love birds will excuse me."
She shut her door and started her chariot. She rolled down the window to reveal her custom leather interior, "It was a pleasure to meet you both. See you tomorrow."
She sped off leaving a huge cloud of dust.
"Alex. Your father will not approve," doing my best Bill impression.
"You wanted her to be interested. It was the only way."
"I know, you sly old vampire."
Bill smiled. God, I loved when he did that.
"You think he'll like her?" He'd better.
"She's beautiful, smart, powerful, and dislikes most human beings."
"And?"
"She's perfect."