The Jazz Age

Disclaimer: I do not own True Blood or take any credit for it

1923: New York

Sookie has never been out of Louisiana before, never in her 24 years had she ever left her home state but here she was arriving at Grand Central station in New York. The train had arrived and it was time to start her new life. Sookie and applied for a job for a hotel and they'd excepted. She was going to be a waitress at one of New York's biggest hotel's (The Plaza). Excitement and fear all boiled in her at once. This was the day that would change her life forever.

She left the train carrying her suitcase and headed down the platform. Her new landlord was due to meet her at the station. Sookie had decided to leave her home forever and start a new life in the North. Her Gran had died and had left her the money to do so but there was something extra ordinary about Sookie- she was a telepath. Everyone in her home town and thought she was a freak and a half-wit. That's why she's decided to leave and start again; in a big city where no one cares.

Soon enough, she'd spotted her landlord holding up a sign saying 'Sookie Stackhouse'. She approached him and shook his hand. He was good looking and roughly in his thirties. The man looked friendly enough and greeted her warmly.

"Sookie Stackhouse I presume" he smiled.

"You presume right" I smiled back, "Are you my new Land Lord?"

"I am indeed" he told her, "My name is Sam Merlotte"

Sam seemed friendly enough and Sookie let out a sigh of relief. Though it was odd that she was having such a hard trying to read his thoughts. She could waves of emotion but that's about it. That suddenly made her nervous all over again. Sam seemed like a nice guy so she decided to give him the benefit of the doubt. Sam buried the sign in his coat pocket and they made their way out of the station. It was bustling with people, from all classes and from all walks of life. The building itself wasn't far away, it was just a basic apartment block that quite high.

Sookie had never seen so many people, the buildings were huge as well! She felt quite small; like a little fish in a big, big ocean. The telepath felt nervous and excited at the same time. It was much better than she imagined it would be. Sam led her into the building itself and she followed him up the stairs. Her Gran had left her quite a bit of money (and she'd sold the house and most of the furniture) so she's managed to buy herself a decent apartment, nothing fancy but it wasn't a dump either. A friend back from New York sold it to her but she never got the chance to look at it. Her furniture would be arriving in a week.

When he opened the apartment door Sookie's heart leapt with joy. It was wonderful, it was spacious, modern and up-to-date. There were various painting on the walls of city scenes that Sookie found soothing. The door opens straight into the spacious living room that has a grey sofa and a big window with burgundy curtains. The kitchen was to the left through an wooden door. It was updated within the last ten years and it had a black and white theme to it. Sookie walked back into the living room and spotted a door which was opposite the kitchen one. She walked through it to find the bedroom with a bathroom attached to that. The bedroom had a bare bed, the walls were burgundy and so was the carpet. The whole apartment smelt strongly of lavender. She walked to the bathroom that had a white bathtub, a white sink and a white loo. The room looked like it's just been cleaned.

Through the whole process, Sam had been studying her intently. When she at last drew her gaze away she thanked him.

"That's no problem Miss Stackhouse" he beamed, "Here are your keys"

He handed her some keys that looked like it'd been through a lot in its short life. Sookie thanked him again and pocketed the keys. All Sookie could think about was looking around and starting her new life.

"I'll be in apartment 7 if you need any help" Sam told her.

"I sure will" I answered.

Sam left her to her own devices. What should she do? Her stomach growled and he knew her answer. Maybe later she'll go somewhere?

...

At that precise moment; Eric was in a meeting. Him and his fellow gangsters were discussing bootlegging opportunities in a private room in: The Black Swan Club that was run by Eric himself. Eric Northman was one of the biggest gangster's the country. He dabbled in everything and has become who of the most powerful men in New York. Eric was considered dangerous, smart and very lethal. Pity and mercy were foreign concepts to him as he ruled his business with an iron fist.

There were four criminals at that meeting who were all making a fortune on breaking every law in the book. Firstly, Eric himself born in Sweden in 1893 and immigrated with he was ten. Northman's father worked on the docks and was killed when Eric was only fifteen but since he was just eleven, he was involved in street gangs. Now it's 19 years later, Eric's crime has grown bigger, both of his parents died in the Influenza outbreak in 1918.

Next to him with Franklin Mott who was English born but he moved out of England in 1914 to escape the call up. He's been in America ever since and has grown his own criminal empire when alcohol was made illegal in 1920. In front of Eric was Russell Edgington who was a born into a rich but corrupt family in Alabama. He's very wealthy and influential in the South. The last member at their table was Godric Gaul, Eric's personal friend since childhood. Godric is two years younger than Eric. He originally came from Sweden as well and moved into the same area in Eric when Godric and his family immigrated in 1907. Eric and Godric were in the same gang when they were younger.

"What are you trying to say?" Russell asked Eric in a strong southern accent.

"You buy liquor from us and we'll by heroin from you" Eric said simply," Mott's got connections over the Atlantic that will sell us what we need"

"For what price?" Edgington questioned.

The discussions went on for hours. Northman, Gaul, Mott and Edgington often worked together and together they made money. The four of them were deep into the bootlegging business as well as other enterprises. This was New York after all; the place of making money.

...

Eric and Godric had heard about a new club called the Cotton Club. The building could barely contain the sound of the jazz music that pounded like a heart beat. As soon as the doors opened for them: the sound increased. The dance floor was packed with people, who were all slaves to the music. A large band was jazzing away at the front. The tables were filled with men talking business, women gossiping, cheating husbands and men reliving their youth. On the stage there were show girls dressed in loud colours and garments that left little to the imagination. Alcohol and cigarettes was the first thing you smelt. Puffs of smoke dominated the room.

The waitress, Arlene with bright red hair spotted them and showed them to a table. It was in the corner and perfect for talking privately. Eric ordered a gin while Godric ordered a whiskey. This new place really had it all.

"What a time to be alive" Eric commented.

"Darn straight" Godric agreed.

The waitress came with their drinks smiling a tight smile. She quickly gave them their drinks.

"The owner says its on the house" she told them, "He says he's sorry that he can't talk but he currently indisposed"

"We completely understand" Godric assured her.

Arlene nodded and left to attend to the new guest that had just entered. Eric caught sight of this new guest. She had golden blond hair and chocolate brown eyes. Her skin was tanned and her face looked a though Michelangelo himself had designed it. This woman was wearing a silver cocktail dress and a mystical blue moonstone necklace. She was young, beautiful and didn't appear to be with a bloke.

"I see you've spotted your prey for this evening" Godric smirked, "I can read you like a book Eric"

"It would appear so" Eric rolled his eyes, "She does look splendid does she not?"

Godric gave her the quick once over; she was ordering a drink at the bar. He was dating a girl called Nora who was Mott's sister but despite this; he still liked to dabble elsewhere occasionally.

"She does" Godric nodded, "Are you up for the chase tonight?"

"I am" Eric grinned, "We're on a high Godric and I think we should celebrate"

They both laughed, clicked their glasses together and drank from their glasses like Kings. Eric's eyes wondered over to the girl again but to his annoyance she was not alone. A man had joined her.

Sookie had a ginger ale which she gently sipped. After having a lonely dinner she decided to experience the local nightlife. The customers were all white while the band and the staff were black. The bartender was an African-American called Lafayette who laughed at the idea of someone like her going to a nightclub. When he'd handed Sookie her drink a man had come to sit next to her and was scanning her with interest.

"My name is Bill" he introduced himself, "Bill Compton"

"Nice to meet Bill Compton" Sookie smiled back, "My name is Sookie Stackhouse"

"Nice to meet your acquaintance"

Bill was a handsome man of about thirty. He had brown hair and stunning eyes. The look he was giving her would make every girl melt and he was aiming that smile at her. There are some people (for some reason) that she just couldn't read but they were rare. This was a rarity right in front of her. He was silent and that thought just made her smile.

"You don't sound like you're from New York" he commented.

"I'm not but then again neither are you" she replied.

"I'm from Louisiana originally" Bill confessed.

"So am I!" Sookie couldn't believe it.

Back and Eric's table; he was still looked miffed that his prey had been taken by another hunter. William Compton was born in 1894 and was born in Louisiana. He moved to New York when he was 17 to make his fortune (displeased with being a farm hand for the rest of his life). Over the next few years he became quite successful as a legitimate merchant. He fought in the Great War and came back with a cynical and pessimistic view of life and people. In 1919 he sold his business and moved back to Louisiana. Bill began working for one of biggest gangsters of the state; Roman Zimojic and his wife; Sophie-Anne Leclerq. So what was he doing back in New York?

"Look who's back" Eric pointed at Bill.

Godric raised his eyebrow a tad and shrugged. Clearly he had no idea either.

"Lets go and say hello" Godric grinned.

Eric and Godric picked up their drinks and made their way across the room. The pair approached them: beauty and the beast- Eric thought to himself. Godric cleared his throat to announce their presence. Bill didn't seem happy to be interrupted and the beauty was looking confused.

"Good Evening" Eric smiled but added sarcastically, "I hope were not interrupting "

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