Storm clouds rolled across the hills. Rain pelted the windshield as the wipers danced a frantic rhythm that would have rivaled Jennifer Beal's flashdance performance. Lightning flashed giving enough light to give the appearance of daytime. Thunder rattled the car. The storms seemed to stalk her as she made her way from Virginia to Louisiana.
Her eyes blinked rapidly several times as she crossed the border into Louisiana as bright sunshine almost blinded her. "Well this is a good sign" She said out loud.
Another two hours passed when she came to the sign Welcome to Bon Temps came into view. "Well I guess I'll find out if you can really come back home or not" she said with a sigh.
Sookie had been fussing the whole week getting things ready for her cousins arrival. She had been driving everyone, including Bill crazy.
"Tara, you better get to Merlotte's before Sam has both our heads. Tell him I'll be along once I get Raven settled. She's driven straight through so I'm sure she's exhausted and will want to sleep once she gets here."
"No way, I'm staying till she gets here too." Tara said stubbornly, crossing her arms in front of her and plopping down on the couch.
"So she's a deejay, singer and author?" Tara said as Sookie got up for what seemed the millionth time to peek out the window.
"Yes, she's both radio and club deejay, singer and author." Sookie said handing Tara a book that had been on the coffee table titled Ashes to Ashes.
Tara took the book and read the inscription of what it was about. "Mortuaries, cemeteries, cremations, oh my" Tara quipped.
"I read it in one day, couldn't put it down and Bill read it in three hours and was impressed.
"Not surprising since he's creepy, he'd like creepy things."
Sookie laughed. "Bill's not creepy and you've been warming up to him lately, admit it."
"I ain't admitting nothing"
Sookie smiled and shook her head at her best friend and started some tea that would relax Raven from her long drive.
Raven smiled as her homestead came into view, she had been renting it since she had left Bon Temps 10 years ago. When the real estate agent office had contacted her and said it was vacant again and did she want to have it rented again she had turned them down.
Her life had been spiraling on the down slope for over a year other than her writing which had taken off like wildflowers.
She had decided the quiet of Bon Temps would do her good and be perfect for the solitude she needed when writing.
She dropped her suitcases in the hall. Her moving van wouldn't be arriving for a few days which would leave her time to clean and decide where everything was to go.
She locked up and then drove over to the other Stackhouse residence. She smiled as she saw Sookie come outside to greet her. She got out and went to the porch.
"Sookie!" Raven said happily and hugged her tightly.
"Raven!" Sookie said returning her hug. "Where are all your bags?" Sookie asked just seeing one small suitcase.
"My place is open now so I'll be officially moving back home, but I was hoping you could let t me stay one night because I need to clean before I can stay there. It is a bit musty, dusty and a sneeze factory at the moment."
"You can stay as long as you like" Sookie said leading her inside.
"Tara!" Raven said smiling as she saw Tara.
"Hiya Raven" Tara said smiling. "Welcome home"
"Thank you, it feels good, but strange too."
"Lots of things have changed" Tara said glancing at Sookie.
"She knows everything Tara. I told her once she said she was thinking about coming home."
"You a fang banger too?"
"Tara!" Sookie said glaring at her best friend.
Raven laughed. "No, I have never been bitten or laid by a vampire. Am not against it, but sadly because of my schedule I haven't been laid period."
"Well if you go and get a good nap maybe you can meet Bill tonight, he is looking forward to meeting you. He read Ashes to Ashes and was impressed."
"Yay! Another fan" Raven said through a yawn.
Tara's phone rang, she looked at the number that was being displayed. "Shit, it's Sam."
"You two get on to work, I need some sleep before I become a more cranky bitch than I normally am." Raven said smiling.
Sookie showed her to the guest room she had made up for her. "There's plenty of food in the fridge and cupboards, so make yourself at home. Merlotte's number is on the fridge" Sookie gave her a peck on the cheek. "If you are still asleep when I get home Bill and I will go back to his place. Get some rest."
After Sookie and Tara left, Raven took a hot bath and then slipped under the covers and fell asleep exhausted from her non stop drive.
Several hours later she woke up hearing a noise coming from downstairs. She reached down to her purse laying next to the bed and slipped out her hand gun. The steps she was hearing were heavier than Sookie's would be. She didn't worry about a robe since she was wearing her writer's do it better t'shirt and a pair of sweatpants. She slipped silently down the stairs having registered all the creaks that she had encountered as she went up them and had been around the guest room and hall. She stood in the doorway leveling the gun at the man standing in the kitchen.
Bill had heard her move the moment she had leaned down to her purse. He smiled as he heard her creeping down the stairs. He was tempted to call out and say he was Bill, but his curiosity about what she would do made him just play it out."
"You better be Bill or I'm going to make a mess of my cousin's clean floor"
Bill smiled and worked his vampire mojo and moved at the speed of light and reached her. "You must be Raven and yes I am Bill. I have been looking forward to meeting you."
Raven hadn't blinked when he moved to her at fast speed. She was familiar with vampires and their juju, the clubs she had worked at allowed vampires, one was an exclusive one for vampires. Raven put her gun on safety and tucked it in her sweats. "Nice to meet you too" Raven said with a smile. "Sorry about that but the last neighborhood I lived in wasn't that nice of one, well it had been, then it went south so had to have a gun for protection."
"When I woke up thought I'd come over and make sure you were alright. Was just about to head over to Merlotte's is almost time for Sookie to get off work. Would you like to ride over with me? I know Lafayette has been in a tither waiting for your return and have you met Sam?"
Raven chuckled. "I love Lafayette, he and Tara are just the best. No, I left before Sam came to Bon Temps, but Sookie has told me all about him. Let me run upstairs and change then I'll be ready to go" Raven said with a smile and hurried back to her room and slipped on a sundress and sandals and slipped her gun back into her purse. She slipped a white jacket on and then went back downstairs.
Bill opened the car door for her. "Sookie did say you were a gentleman" Raven said smiling.
"I try to be" Bill said as he started the car and drove them to Merlottes. As he drove he asked her a lot of questions as did she to him as a get to know each other type thing. By the time they parked they had a good starting knowledge of each other. Bill opened the door for her again and led the way into Merlotte's.
Sookie smiled seeing her and put her finger to her lips as if to silence her and led her to the back. "Lafayette, come here a second" Sookie said. "I need your help with something." Sookie said smiling.
"Anything for you hooker" Lafayette called out.
"Who you calling hooker, hooker?" Raven said giggling.
"I know that voice!" Lafayette said as he came into view and grabbed Raven and picked her up and twirled her around. Raven giggled. "Lafayette, put me down people are staring." Raven said blushing.
"Fuck them, let them stare" Lafayette said smiling and setting her back down. "Damn girl, you looking good."
"Thank you and you are looking so fine as usual."
"Damn skippy I am, 100% hotness, right here. So you here for just a visit or to stay?"
"Staying, got to set up my homestead to make it home, but that will come when the moving van comes. I got one that does it all for you, moves things to where you want it, all you got to do is the dreaded unpacking" Raven made a face. "Then I'll need to find a deejay gig somewhere
"Well only place I know that is hiring is"
Before he could finish Sookie had kicked him hard.
"Ouch bitch, why did you do that for?"
"She don't need to know where to find work yet, she needs to settle in first" Sookie said glaring at him.
"You know I'll find wherever you are trying to steer me away from when I go looking in the yellow pages for clubs." Raven said looking at Sookie. "Plus I worked at an exclusive vampire club called Crosses, so I can handle myself around vampires. I had this necklace of protection or some shit that I had to wear whenever I was within like 50 miles of the club and no one could attack me or bite me unless I invited them to, like you would invite them into your home." Raven said shrugging. "I find you treat vampires like you would want to be treated then you get the same treatment back, it is like our parents, grandparents told us to do with fellow humans growing up. There are good and bad vampires as there are good and bad humans."
Bill smiled listening to her, so much like Sookie, yet so different as well.
"Let me find Sam, he's probably in his office doing the end of the day stuff, he's been wanting to meet you as well." Sookie then went to find Sam.
Raven looked around the bar, there were a few last minute stragglers finishing up their drinks as the waitresses and Tara were cleaning up. Lafayette gave her a peck on the cheek and a smack on the ass and went back to cleaning up the kitchen. Tara watched the last people leave and was getting to the doors when they swung open.
"Damn" Bill said as two men and a woman walked in, the blonde one out in front by a step was obvious to Raven the leader. Raven could also tell by their pallor and sallowness they were vampires, by the looks of the leader, an older vampire.
"We're closed" Tara said folding her arms in front of her glaring at them.
The blonde turned his hand in the direction of the door and twisted and the door locked. "Yes, yes you are closed."
Bill got up and met him halfway across the floor. "What do you want Eric?" Bill said staring eye to eye with him.
"I was told there is a new supernatural in Bon Temps, I wanted to introduce myself properly. And why does it not surprise me she is with you"
"Unusual, you usually have me bring them to you."
"We were in the neighborhood" Pam said as she made her way over to Raven and walked around her.
"Going to throw me some peanuts or better yet cashews because you're making me feel like I'm on display at the zoo"
"Oh, another witty one" Pam said leaning in close to her neck.
"No bitey bitey" Raven said moving away from her but turning toward her to look into her eyes.
"Leave them to me Raven" Bill said, his voice more of a demand than a statement.
"Shit" Sookie said as her and Sam rounded the corner to come back into the main part of the bar.
"Merlotte's is closed, you will have to leave" Sam said walking towards Eric.
"Shall we take this outside" Bill said still staring down Eric.
"Well I was trying to make this a nice friendly visit, but since you insist on making it difficult. Fangtasia, an hour, don't make me have to come after you and this tasty looking morsel" Eric said with a smile as he looked Raven up and down making her feel like he knew what she looked like stark naked.
"We'll be there." Bill said.
Eric nodded. "yes, yes you will be" With that the three of them left.
Raven finally gave a shudder that she had held in from the minute the trio had walked in. "Who in the fuck were they?" She said looking at Bill.
"trouble in every sense of the word. That was Sheriff Eric Northman and his chylde Pam and Chow their latchkey. He is the sheriff for the vampires in this area, though his base of operation is in Shreveport. He makes it his business to know who comes into Bon Temps, usually I just have to give him a report, not present people to him, but there are certain circumstances with you that make him want to have you presented."
"certain circumstances?" Raven said not sure what he meant. "Oh you mean my being a witch?"
"That is one of them."
"and the other?"
"That you are related to me." Sookie said when Bill looked uncomfortable at answering that one.
It took a minute or two for the reasoning for that to sink in. "oh." She said nodding not saying anything else sensing that it was bothering Bill. "Do I need to change into something else or is this fine?"
"There is no time for you to change and what you are wearing is just fine."
"You look beautiful sugar" Lafayette said as he kissed her cheek. "Lunch at your place?" He said looking at Sookie. "So we can catch up?"
"Of course, it was in my plans" she said smiling.
"See you bitches at lunch" Lafayette said leaving.
"Hi, I'm Sam, come by tomorrow at dinner time and I'll buy you dinner" Sam said smiling.
"Nice to meet you Sam and you have a deal, see you tomorrow."
"We need to go or we'll be late" Bill said looking at the time.
"See you tomorrow Tara."
"Be careful" Tara said as she watched them leave.
At Fangtasia, Eric sat back down on his throne and looked out over the crowd and then stretched his hand out to the glass stand next to him and took a folder off it labeled Raven Stackhouse and opened it up. "A little light reading before our guests arrive" He said with a smirk.
"I read it last night, helped me fall asleep, though I have to begrudgingly admit there were somethings that peaked my interest. Though too bad we already have a deejay, though he leaves much to be desired."
"Only good he will do is make a meal" Chow said with a sly smile.
"Hmm interesting, needing a deejay might prove to be very interesting. Make it happen"
"Would you like a taste?" Pam said licking her lips as she looked toward the dj booth."
"No, you two have the spoils, but please not in the dj booth, take him elsewhere in case I have to give a tour of it, no need for blood and guts to be in plain view."
"but it adds to the decor" Pam said with a smirk.
"To us vampires, yes, but to humans, well it might leave them with a bad taste about our establishment and you know how important first impressions are."
Pam chuckled. "Well I think we blew the first impressions clause when we raided Merlotte's"
Eric shook his head. "I don't think so, I think she looked more intrigued than anything, but that was probably the writer in her. By the way did you read the book also?"
"Yes, and I dare say it made me lose some of my beauty sleep to finish it, she has an intriguing imagination I have to admit, makes one wonder where that deep dark stuff might come from."
"Indeed" Eric said looking down at Raven's smiling face. "Indeed"
Pam raised her eyebrow and nodded her head in the direction of the dj booth and they left Eric with his thoughts.
Sookie looked down at her watch again making the calculations in her mind and relaxing a little. They should make it to Fangtasia with about 10 minutes to spare.
Bill had been filling Raven in on the way about Eric and Pam and the Queen and all that had been happening in the past year in Bon Temps. Raven had been trying to let all the information sink in as best she could but it was like a whirlwind. "Damn, I could write a novel just on what you've told me"
Bill smiled. "Well when you lack material you might just want to do that." Soon Bill pulled into the parking lot of Fangtasia and opened the doors for Sookie and Raven. "We will find a table to sit at, then Eric will summon us and we will go to him."
"Do I have to curtsey and kiss his ring?"
Bill chuckled. "No, but be respectful." Bill said looking at Sookie.
"Don't start on me Bill" Sookie said with a smirk.
"Well he let you slide only because he needed your help, other than that you wouldn't have been received very well."
Sookie rolled her eyes. "Act like you want to act, if he didn't already find you intriguing you wouldn't be here now"
"Sookie" Bill said with a strong voice.
"We need to go in or we'll be late" Sookie said starting towards the door.
"Sounds like someone needs a spanking" Raven said smirking.
"Since when is that a punishment" Sookie quipped as they got to the door.
Pam had made her way there waiting for them. "Right on time, bravo Bill" Pam said and led the way to a table. "I'll let him know you are here"
"He can't see us from here?" Raven said looking across the room at Eric.
"Oh, he knew you were here the moment you pulled in, this is just protocol."
"You still got a bit of food on the corner of your mouth" Sookie said handing Pam a napkin.
Pam smiled and took her tongue and licked it off. "And a good dinner it was" she said then made her way to Eric "your guests have arrived"
Eric had sniffed the air as soon as Raven had come into the room. He had inhaled her scent at Merlotte's and registered it. "Let them enjoy the atmosphere for a few minutes, make Bill a bit more nervous, you know I love to see him squirm."
Pam smirked. "She is a delight isn't she, sweet scent, different from Sookie"
"Indeed, not sure if that is the witch in her or not, but she is different."
"and you so like different."
"That I do"
"Though she has the tongue of the Stackhouse's, but then you like that as well."
"That is why I like you too" Eric reminded Pam.
"Yes, my bitter sarcastic wit and charm and good looks"
Eric chuckled. "All that and more my chylde."
Bill drank the complimentary true blood, while Sookie drank a glass of white wine and Raven drank a brandy. Raven looked up at the empty dj booth. "Thought it was canned music."
"Don't even think about it" Sookie said. "You don't need to work here, there are a lot of other clubs that you can work at."
Raven noticed the amount of tips the dancers and bartender was getting. "Damn, good tips"
"Raven" Bill said sternly and was about to say more when Eric gave his "come" hand gesture. "We are being summoned. "Sookie, behave. That goes for you too Raven"
Raven pretended to pout. "Behaving isn't any fun" She said with a smirk.
Sookie grinned. "Don't encourage her Sookie" Bill said shaking his head and he walked them over to Eric. "We are here at your request."
"Thank you for following my instructions Bill." Eric then turned to Sookie." So good to see you again Sookie."
Sookie wanted to say something, but Bill gave her that look and she just smiled. "Always a pleasure to be at Fangtasia"
Eric looked at Sookie and Sookie looked back at him.
"Oh for hell's sake the Sheriff would like an introduction." Pam said irritated.
"Oh, pardon my bad manners" Sookie said with a smirk. "This is my cousin Raven. Raven this is Sheriff Eric Northman and his latchkeys..err associates."
Eric stood and extended his hand to Raven as if to bring her up the few steps to where he was. Raven eyed him and then looked at Bill who nodded. Raven took his hand and walked up to him. "It is a pleasure to meet another Stackhouse, welcome to my jurisdiction Raven Stackhouse."
Raven raised her eyebrow which she usually did when she was trying to figure out something or intrigued by something, it was both this time. "Nice to meet you as well Sheriff Northman" she said remembering her manners. "You have a nice club."
Sookie groaned while Pam smiled like a cat that had eaten a canary.
"Why thank you, but I dare say it is lacking something." Eric said throwing the fishing line into the water with what he knew was the right bait."
"Was there anything you wanted other than to meet Raven?" Bill said seeing where the conversation was going.
"Rude much Bill?" Eric said looking at him with a half smirk, half smile. "It is refreshing getting someone so interesting into my jurisdiction, other than redneck trouble makers. I read your latest book you have a lot of talent."
"First, your club is lacking a dj, I noticed the booth empty and the music is canned, a good way to lose clientele and the dancers are looking like they need to have some of that red bull blood shit that they have out now. Secondly, thank you for your compliment. I watched this marathon of paranormal shit and they were are mortuaries, cemeteries and crematories and that is where I garnered most of my material for Ashes to Ashes. Then I got permission to go to a local mortuary and crematory to see things up close and personal, attended a couple wakes and funerals and went exploring some cemeteries and vaults in them and then sat down and wrote it in three months."
"That's just down right creepy" Sookie said looking at Raven.
"Of course I wasn't insane enough to do it at night, was all during the day so the creepy factor wasn't as high, but yeah, was strange but you have to do the research to make things that much more real for the readers to draw them in and want more."
A song came blaring through the speakers and Raven groaned. "What in the fuck is that shit" she said looking at Eric. "Your dj sick tonight?"
"You could say that" Pam said licking her lips again.
"You had your dj for dinner?" Sookie said looking at her
Pam smiled. "I didn't say that"
"You didn't have to"
"Would you like to see the dj booth" Eric said softly with a smile.
"No, she wouldn't, and if you are done here we are leaving."
"Actually I need to talk to Bill also, so Bill get your woman under control while I show Raven the dj booth."
"Bill"
Bill looked helpless. "Lets just go sit down again" Bill said leading Sookie back to their table. "She's going to take the job. You know that, I know that and no one is doing anything to make her either."
"Dammit" Sookie said glaring after Eric.
Within five minutes of being in the dj booth Raven had set up 8 hours worth of music and got it going, the club seemed to jump alive and everyone was having fun again. "There that should get you through the night with music." She then proceeded to break up the canned stuff. "That shit had to go sorry"
"What are your plans? Are you staying in Bon Temps, or just for a visit?"
"I'm here to stay, moving back bag and baggage. Moving van will be here in two or three days."
"You need a job, we seem to be hiring?" Eric said smiling.
"No, I have one, it seems" Raven said looking at him. "You can take the hook out of my mouth now." She said smirking at him.
Eric said you can read my thoughts in his mind as he looked at Raven.
When I want to was Raven's response.
Eric went to read her mind but she blocked him. I can block other mind readers when I want to as well she said to him with a smile.
"Intriguing" Eric said looking at her with intense eyes. "Guess I will have to be careful what I think around you"
Raven smiled and stood up to where she was right in front of him. "Mhm and I will have to do likewise" Raven said as she moved past him just brushing him and walking down the steps. "Do you require anything else from me tonight?"
Eric smiled. "Just that you are here by sundown tomorrow night for work. Code to get in the door is your birth date, Pam with program it in after we close tonight. You can come to the club whenever you like, there is a recording studio down the hall in back of the dj booth if you would like to do any singing or recording your intro and the like, it won't disturb those that rest here at sunrise."
Pam had left and went to Eric's office to retrieve something. She handed it to Eric.
"Ah my safety necklace. I've worn one before when I worked at another vampire bar."
Eric smiled and watched her get her hair out of the way and he put the necklace on her, his fingers playing across her shoulder blades and neck. "Welcome to the Fangtasia family"
Raven looked down at the necklace it sparkled. It was a ruby surrounded by diamonds. "Wow this is nice, my other one was a cross with one single diamond, well fake diamond in the middle. And thank you."
"Pam will walk you back to your table while I have a talk with Bill"
Raven nodded and followed Pam back to Sookie.
"Office, now" Pam said before she walked towards the door to welcome more people in.
"Bitch" Bill said as he got up. "I will be as quick as I can" He said to Sookie as he kissed her. He then saw the necklace on Raven. "And I will need to talk to you when we get back to Bon Temps."
"Of course Bill" Raven said feeling a bit uncomfortable.
Sookie looked where Bill had been looking. "Dammit Raven, he didn't glamor you did he?"
"No, Sookie he didn't glamor me and I know how to handle myself around vampires. I've been around them since leaving Bon Temps so I know more how to handle them then you probably do, now lets just have another drink and relax. I'm still tired. And you have to admit the music is rocking the joint right now."
Sookie had to admit the music almost made her want to get up and dance. "do you realize they killed the dj they had just so they wouldn't have one when you got here?"
"I'm sorry that had to happen, but when I got the job at Crosses, they fed on the one I replaced in front of me, I've seen a lot of things most will never see and unfortunately am a bit immune to it because of that, not that I don't care, its just not much surprises me anymore." Raven said sadly.
"I'm sorry, I'm just worried about you being around Eric and Pam so much, they are not good people, not at all."
Raven smiled and patted Sookie's hand. "I'll be fine cousin Sookie, I promise, and if there is any problems I will quit, no problem."
Bill came back half an hour later. "We need to go and say goodbye"
"What the hell, we've never had to do that before"
"Sookie if we don't we'll sit here till we do, so just play along so we can leave" Bill said tiredly.
Raven drained the rest of her brandy and stood up and Sookie sighed and stood up as well. Bill led them back to Eric.
"I just wanted to be sure that I said goodnight to you ladies" Eric said smiling.
Sookie shot him a turn to stone glare. "Goodnight" She said tersely.
"Goodnight Sheriff Northman, Pam." Raven said with a smile. "I will see you tomorrow night."
"I look forward to your first night working at Fangtasia, sleep well. Goodnight Bill."
Bill's jaw tightened. "Goodnight...Sheriff Northman."
Sookie looked like she was going to say something but Bill grabbed her arm and led her out with Raven following. Bill drove them to his house. "Will you come in for a bit."
"Why do I feel like I'm about to get a lecture."
"It is because you are" Bill said as he led them into his house and into the sitting room where a fire was aglow.
Raven waited till Bill had sat down and then sat down not knowing if he had a special sitting place or not. "I know neither of you are happy about my going to work at Fangtasia but deejaying is in my blood and I will go nuts if I'm not doing it soon after getting here."
"You have no idea about Eric and Pam and what they are capable of doing."
"I'm a witch, I sense things, I feel things, I can read minds, even of vampires"
"yes, but they can read yours as well."
"But I can block them from reading mine"
"Yes, when you are focused, but if you are afraid, angry, sad, unfocused your guard down, they can sneak in and read you."
"I will report anything funny to you and if I become uncomfy I will quit as I told Sookie."
"It isn't as easy as that" Bill said shaking his head. "Let me see that necklace please"
Raven took the necklace off and handed it to Bill. Bill looked it over and handed it back to her. "Only wear it when you are at Fangtasia, that is the only place it will keep you safe. If a vampire came after you at your house it wouldn't matter if you had it on it wouldn't protect you. The Fangtasia crest is in the middle of the ruby that is the reason why it protects you in there. From what I can tell there isn't any enchantments or anything Eric could have put in it to control you or I would have sensed it, so it is just a seal of protection." Bill handed it back to her.
"I'm putting it back on till I get home and then I'll hang it from my lamp." Raven said with a yawn. "Do you mind if I go back to Sookie's and crash?"
"Not at all" Bill said standing. "Would you like me to walk you over?"
"No, that won't be necessary, but thank you" Raven walked over to Sookie and gave her a hug. "Night Cousin Sookie, see you tomorrow"
"Get some sleep, if I come home I'll be quiet, but I'll probably stay here tonight" Sookie said smiling.
"I'll have the coffee going most likely in the morning, I seem to be an early riser though I think that is about to change again." With that she left and went across the way back to Sookie's and was soon fast asleep.