Diary of a Non-Believer
The cold darkness shielded us from the sight of anyone who would know me. I didn't know what to expect walking into a vamp bar in Louisiana; yeah I know vamps are dangerous but why should I care? I was on the outs with my parents who wanted me to stay home working in the family garage instead of going to college up north. The parental unit always did voice their disgust with vampires, but they're just total hypocrites. They go out at night at least once a month to god only knows where and when they come back they try to hide pieces of tattered clothing from me. I don't want to even imagine what they're up to. Probably some orgy thing like the ones that cook at Merlotte's in Bon Temps brags about.
Even though I'm stubborn, I wasn't stupid. I brought one of my friends along with me in case things got out of hand. He was on the football team so he's got enough strength to fight for us both. I don't believe some of the rumors that are said about vampires. They can't possibly be that strong; they're dead! I think Natalie from the girls softball team was just yanking my chain.
It was winter so the night was a bit chillier and I clung to my cardigan in contempt. How could I possibly look sexy covered up like this? I was definitely going to ditch it. Randy and I got out of the car and looked contently at each other. I started walking forward, but he pulled me back by the hand.
"Hey Caroline, is this a date?" He looked a combination of hopeful and terrified. We'd been friends for years and he would never admit that he had a crush on me. That was his decision. Besides, friendships always get weird when the guy finally admits the crush. There's way too much pressure and I currently enjoyed the relaxed friendship as it was. "You really want a date with me when you could score with a vampire?"
He tensed at that. I had said something that intrigued him. He was intensely curious about the prospect of vampire sex. God help me if he found the vamp willing. I'd get stuck without a ride home. This wasn't the type of place I'd want to have a sleepover at. We strode towards the door with a neon light hanging above it in red. Fangtasia. Was that supposed to be funny? I felt the wind permeate my sweater and jeans. We got to the front of the line finally and I stopped dead. The first vampire I ever laid my eyes on was gorgeous. She had long shimmering blond hair and pale milky white skin. She looked like a model and dressed like a slut. Outfitted in a sparse black leather corset that propped up her breasts with tight fitting black pants and three inch screw me shoes. She switched her gaze on us and asked for our IDs and the cover charge. Twenty bucks each? Was it some special night? I looked dismally in my wallet at the ten dollar bill I had brought for drinks. I handed the woman my fake ID and she glanced at it suspiciously. "You're 21?" I pretended to look incensed.
"Are you saying I look old?" A bitter note lodged in my throat as I struggled on the fine line between anger and fear.
Randy looked at me nervously. "Hey, I only have one twenty on me. Why don't you go inside and I'll come back with the money to join you?" I didn't want to argue or to stand in line again, so I took the twenty and hugged him goodbye.
As I crossed the threshold the first thing to cross my mind was how under-dressed I was. Here I was standing wide-eyed in my pink knit cardigan and blue jeans, while everyone else was wearing black leather pants and jackets. Girls who wouldn't fit in a size 6 had squeezed themselves into the tightest looking corsets to the point that I thought the buttons would pop off the outfit or the girl would faint. Well how was I supposed to know there was a dress code? I must of looked like such a dork, and I got some stares as I walked up to the bar. The bartender was quite different from the other vamp. He wore a black vest which exposed a lot of skin with some hot looking tattoos and a well defined six pack. He was tall dark and mysterious. Who would believe that any of these perfect creatures could be lethal?
"What will it be?" His words were icy, harsh and devoid of all emotion. I flipped through a mental dictionary of drinks and remembered my Mom's favorite.
"Gin and tonic, please" I said, seductively sweet. This might be fun after all! He poured the drink and passed it to me and our fingers touched lightly on the cool perspiring glass. I looked up and smiled. "So are you like a flair bartender? You know? Can y'all do tricks with the bottles and stuff?" I was genuinely curious and I wanted to sound like I knew a thing or two about bars. He looked at me grimly.
"Why should I need to do tricks to entertain mortals?" Well that was a slap in the face. Nobody messes with my pride and gets away with it! I could feel my eyes narrow into a glare and my heart beat increase.
"Well excuse me if I'm just trying to ask about your job. Just caus' you ain't "mortal" doesn't mean you can't have manners!"
I didn't realize I was shouting and the whole bar was staring at me. The crowd parted towards the back to reveal an older vampire. I could only guess that he was older by the way the rest of the vamps looked at him. I surmised that this was the head honcho. From a visit to the website earlier, I knew his name: Eric Northman. I could see from the contours of his shirt that he was built like Hugh Jackman. He was dressed a little more casually than everyone else in a black shirt and jeans. The overhead lights highlighted his brow and the pale blue eyes deeply set into the sockets. He had . He moved so fast and silently that one second he was at the back of the bar and the next he was standing right in front of me. I gave a little gasp which the crowd sniggered at.
"What seems to be the problem Charles?" He looked at the bartender with a grave disposition. How do you like that? He didn't ask me and I'm the disgruntled customer in this situation. That made me even angrier. I was too upset to keep my mouth shut and I answered before Charles did.
"The problem is a lack of manners in your employees sir. A fact that you seem oblivious to. I think I deserve an apology from Charlie here". My words sprang out of my mouth and a second after I felt fear that I might have gone too far. I snapped back to my anger. I wouldn't back down. This is America and I have a say in customer service.
"I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't harass my staff with trivial questions Miss"
"The last I checked the customer is always right"
"And I have every right to throw you back out on the street. Now if you wouldn't mind sitting down and letting Charles do his job?"
"You're not even going to make him apologize?!" I looked up into his eyes and saw only a blank stare that somehow made me feel calmer and transfixed to them.
"No. Sit down" And without any thought about it I followed the command. My eyes still gazed up into his. He looked away to check on the rest of his patrons. They were all back to their drinks and conversations and the bar was running smoothly again. I felt relaxed and mildly content. Those pale baby blues were still there looking at me curiously when I closed my eyes and sipped slowly on my drink. It wasn't very good, which was a bit of a let down considering the price.
I felt a warm palm on my shoulder and jerked back into reality. Randy stared down at me with concern. "What happened to you Caroline? You look like a deer in the headlights" I smiled vaguely and tried to recall what had happened. Surprisingly very little had happened, but yet that's not how I felt. I had been insulted and subdued like an animal. Somehow the lack of emotions from the staff filled me with hot contempt. My breathing slowed as I contemplated what I had done: I had picked a fight with a potentially lethal predator and escaped unscathed. Eric Northman had saved me from a slow and painful death of exsanguination.
A swirl of emotions coursed through my psyche: anger, gratitude, fear, lust, excitement. Out of the contradictions within me I chose the positive and humbling feeling of graciousness. I determined that I would repay Mr. Northman somehow. He had saved my life. It was only logical that I would lay down my own. Now I had a purpose to fulfill and I now considered what was in my power to do. I didn't want to become a waitress for the vamps. They had a small life expectancy and I was hardly wishing for death. As exciting as it would be to be a mistress for Northman, I had no intention of squandering my precious assets, and it wouldn't help the opinion that my parents had of vampires. I could be a blood donor. I wasn't squeamish and I healed relatively fast. Surely there was something else I could do to appease him.
It occurred to me that I might not have a choice in the matter. I should just be happy that I'm alive and offer my apologies and services. I looked around the bar. He was seated in the back on a chair that greatly resembled a throne. How fitting. I stood with shaky legs, but a firm resolution. The moment I started to walk his eyes moved to meet mine. There was no emotion there, though perhaps his features portrayed a slight curiosity. I moved cautiously, head up, eyes down, averted from his. I stopped feet away from him and stood head down, at a loss as to what to say. He said quietly, "What is it now? I said that if you had any more concerns to go to another bar"
Wow. Those vampires sure were forthcoming in using their manners. "I have no problems. I wanted to thank you" His eyes focused on me and the puzzled look on his face spread noticeably. I continued, "I realize that by stopping the fight between myself and the bartender that you saved my life. I didn't want to seem discourteous. Thank you Mr. Northman. If there's anything I could do to repay you, just name it".
"You wish to repay me?" He seemed deeply pensive for a moment then switched back to his stern countenance. "What services could you possibly provide me with to make amends for my mercy? What are you willing to do Miss...?
"Caroline sir, Caroline Fields. I would be willing to do anything that wouldn't involve losing my virginity". I was astounded by my own frankness.
"So you would be willing to forfeit your life but not your..." he paused, searching for an appropriate word, "Innocence? How very Christian of you". He smirked and my knees started to buckle. He was both terrifying and handsome. "There may in fact be a position here. We are sadly short of waitresses at the moment". My stomach lurched as I thought of the reasons for the "decrease" in hired help. "Give your information to Pam and she will call you if I require your services Miss Fields. Have a nice night".
Holy crap what have I gotten myself into?