Chapter 1
Lawndale was a small, dusty southern town like so many others littered across the state of Louisiana. Nothing about the town stood out, the moment you drove past the sun bleached battered 'Thankyou for visiting Lawndale' sign you had already forgotten the sleepy town and it's residents.
An earsplitting smash sounded out into the night as a glass beer bottle hit the back of the sign dead center and an uproarious cheer sounded from the car from which the bottle had come. The blue soft-top Jeep continued up the road a few yards then pulled into a small liquor store. Three young men; blond, raven and red haired, got out and went inside. The three exchanged harmless drunken banter as they cruised the aisles, the occasional cuss word thrown out as they marveled at some of the over priced liquors. The cashier shot a wary look in their direction as he turned up the volume on the small television he was watching. Neither the three boys, nor the cashier saw the large heavy set man in the checkered flannel shirt enter the store.
"It has been two years to the day since Japanese scientists announced they had been successful in creating synthetic human blood. While it has eased the pressure on blood banks and hospitals world wide, a greater unforeseen problem has been alleviated-" a young brunette news reporter started.
"Once fictitious figments from the dark side of the imagination, Vampires, have benefited greatly from this synthetic blood. No longer needing to prey on the blood of the living, this compound, better known in its bottled form 'True Blood' has allowed vampires to come forth, reveal their existence and to 'Come out of the coffin'.
"It has been a long and hard battle for these beings to gain our acceptance, many people have been quick to judge and slow to trust these creatures of the night. Thankfully, a few headways are being made in the Vampire community and last month an official President was elected to be their voice. And what a voice she has, she has already brought about the equal rites movement that has seen her people being given the fundamental liberties that we humans take for granted.
"But is this for the greater good?--"
The cashier looked up once again from the television and set his dark steely gaze upon the three young men. He eyed the drinks that had been placed on the counter; a six pack of 'Bud' and a six pack of 'True Blood'. His upper lip curled into a nasty sneer.
"You're not going to like that," he said in a thick Romanian accent. "I can tell, just by looking at you that you three are definitely not vampires." he chuckled.
"I told you dude, but you wouldn't listen." the blond said to the red haired man.
"Shut up Jamie," he retorted quietly. "Ah, just these two thanks."
"Do you want to know what it's like to be one? I can arrange for that." the cashier breathed as he leaned forward.
He was so close that Jeffy could feel his hot breath wash over him, the pallid skin of the man's face was set alight by the dark rings that cradled his hooded eyes. Jeffy smiled nervously.
"You three boys best be along, this blood substitute may meet our dietary requirements, but there is nothing like the warm throbbing blood that flows freely from the carotid artery after that first bite."
The man's spittle danced across Jeffy's face, his expression remained calm but his eyes were alight with terror, he side glanced Joey and shook his head.
"Sir, we... we were, you know just playing we didn't mean any offense." he stuttered.
The man turned to Joey, swept a greasy lock of raven hair from his face then smiled, shook his head and burst into hysterics.
"Oh my God, I got you three good!" he managed between breaths and slapped the counter. His Romanian accent replaced now with the thick southern twang that dominated the townsfolk. "You should see your faces!!"
The three boys stared in shock at the man and slowly they began to laugh. Nervous tight titters at first gave way to full bellied chortles.
The stocky man that had entered earlier stood behind the three boys. He lifted the brim of his baseball cap slightly and smiled a hollow smile.
"You boys think its fun to impersonate vampires?" he asked in a gruff voice.
Joey turned and scoffed, "Who asked you?"
The man smiled patiently and placed a six pack of 'True Blood' on the counter. "You best be careful, you never know who will hear you and get offended."
The four other men in the shop looked at the man and to the beverages on the table. Jeffy nudged Joey and tugged at his shirt, "C'mon man, lets go." he murmured.
"What's he going to do? Like this guys a vamp." Joey replied.
The man started laughing. Unlike the previous laughter, this was unemotional and hollow; it exuded an air of pure evil. "Actually..." the man started, but before he was able to finish the three young men had fled the store.
The cashier started to chuckle, more as a nervous release to fill the silence that had crept in than at the man. "Nice one man, you got them good, better than me."
"Mmm," he replied as he set down a twenty dollar note on the counter. He picked up the beverages and looked at the man behind the counter, he noted that the cashiers brow had broken out into a light sweat. "By the way, if I ever see you impersonating us again," the cashier jumped as the man hissed and the top two canine teeth shot down in two long points, "I'll come back here and fucking drain you."
The stocky man gathered his six pack and left the store, he heard the sound of the cashier hit the floor, he was passed out cold.