Folded Time Chapter 1 The Meetings
*look at her all prissy… I don't know where Crazy Sookie gets off…*
*Look at the rack on the blonde… God I would love to do her….*
Sookie walked quickly to the corner table to put the plates in front of the college couple with a forced smile. She ignored the thoughts of others as they breezed in and out of her mind as she sailed around Merlotte's. It was a busy Saturday evening and the game was on. The rowdy townsfolk had gathered at the neighborhood watering hole for food and booze and were visiting with one another. Her head was pounding from keeping her shields up to prevent other's thoughts from intruding on her own, but she was on the tail end of a double shift and she was tired, her feet hurt, and her arms and back ached. She stood by the bar a moment gathering her thoughts trying to get ready to walk back into the main part of the restaurant when Sam came over.
"Busy night Cher, I really appreciate you filling in for Holly, seems her son fell off of the monkey bars at school and she had to take him into the ER on short notice" Sam smiled as he addressed his favorite waitress.
"It's no problem Sam; you know I can always use the money." She smiled. As much as she hated double shifts, the money was always good for her and her grandmother. They were going to need to replace the roof in the next year or so and every little bit helped.
"I know I can always count on you… some of the others on the other hand…" Sam let it drift off unsaid. Arlene liked overtime as well as Sookie, but often had issues with childcare. Holly would occasionally work overtime, but she too had child care issues at times. Dawn liked to work during the week on the evening shifts when the tips were better, but always requested or often called in sick on the weekends, especially Friday and Saturday night. Sam frowned, he might have to replace her, she was not very reliable. She had tried to call in tonight after having Friday off, but he threatened her with firing her in order to get her to come to work. He was also not impressed when she would show up for work with vampire bites on her neck or arms. He didn't care where else the vamps bit, but some of the customers were making aspersions to her morality. Same looked over at the pool table. He knew the guys clustered around the table were members of that new church in the area; Fellowship of the Sun. He disliked their attitude to Vampires knowing if Shifters and Weres ever came out, they too would be on their hit list.
Sookie looked at Dawn, she was like her, rushed and looking frazzled. She was sporting fresh bite marks on the right side of her neck. Vampires had been out of the coffin for over two years, and Sookie had yet to see one. Obviously Dawn had no difficulty finding one. Sookie took a deep breath and went to check her tables.
"Oh my god, is that a Vamp?" Arlene exclaimed from the pool table area. Sookie glanced at the entrance, there was a pale gentleman standing in the entryway waiting to be seated. Since she had the only open booth she went over and smiled her crazy Sookie smile she used when she was under stress and motioned for him to follow her. "I have a booth right here sir is there anything I can get you?"
The man sat down and in a deep southern accent said " If you have True blood Type O+ that would be fine"
Sookie shook her head. "Sam bought a case of True blood, but we had no Vampire business and it went bad, seeing how no one ordered it, he never reordered. I am sorry" She was staring at him, he was handsome in a rough sort of way, with deep sideburns. He looked like he had stepped out of a past era.
"Glass of red wine please" The man was looking around and seemed to be ignoring the stares.
"Coming right up" Sookie quickly went to the bar and told Sam his order.
"What does a Vamp want with red wine? They can't drink it" Sam grumbled as he filled the glass.
"I don't know, maybe he just wants to look like he fits in" She scooped up the glass and in moments was settling it on a napkin in front of the man.
"I haven't seen you in here before, are you just passing through?" She smiled at him. He was certainly easy on the eyes. She tried to dip into his head, curious at what a vampire would sound like and stopped cold. He had no thoughts she could read. It was like he was a little void in the maelstrom of thoughts pounding on her from the other customers.
"Actually I just moved here. I inherited the old Compton place, I am Bill Compton. And you are?" he looked into her eyes, she swallowed, he seemed interested in her. None of the local guys were interested in Crazy Sookie. This was a nice change. The fact she couldn't read his mind was only a plus!
"Sookie, Sookie Stackhouse. I guess we're neighbors. I live in the house across the grave yard from your place. When did you move in?" She smiled a genuine smile at him.
"I had myself and my furniture delivered today. Decided to come here and see the neighbors. It's been a long time since I have been in Bon Temps, decades really, it certainly has changed from the late 1800's"
She looked at him with big eyes. "You lived here in the late 1800's that is so cool!" He smiled at her enthusiasm. "My Gran, who I live with, is fascinated by the Civil War era… do you have any experience with that?" she gushed to him
"Why yes I fought in the Civil War for the south." He smniled gently at her. She swallowed nervously
"Your table 4 wants something Sookie" Sam called out to her form the bar.
"Excuse me I need to check my tables" She blurted as she scurried away ashamed she had completely forgot she was working.
Sam watched as the vampire watched Sookie check her tables. He didn't like a vampire was being so attentive to Sookie and she seemed attentive right back. He had a bad feeling about this. He watched a few minutes later as the Rattrays slide form their booth into the vampire's booth. He knew the Rattray's dealt in V. he shrugged to himself and went back to washing glasses. That was one way to get rid of the vamp. He had heard he was living across the graveyard from Sookie and he didn't like it one bit.
This one her is a good'un, he's large probably carries a lot o' blood. Heard him tell ol' crazy Sookie that he was in the Civil War, so we got an age on his blood. Can charge more…* Sookie heard the female Rattray's inner monologue. *Oh God, they were drainers and they were after him!* She rushed from the back room but saw the table was empty. They were gone.
"Gonna take my 15 Sam I am whupped, Dawn will you cover my tables? I just checked them, they are all set" she threw over her should as she went out the door. She walked quietly in the parking lot wondering if they drove off, or where they could be. She saw movement off to the side of the parking lot and slipped over to Jason's truck. She didn't remember seeing him much after the beginning of the evening; he must have gone off with that redhead he had been chatting up. Unusual for him to leave his prize truck at Merlotte's, but she would take what she could get. What she could get was a long two inch chain her brother kept in the back for towing. She grabbed the shorter piece and headed over to the movements on the edge of the parking lot.
Her stomach rolled with what she saw. The vampire was held down by a thin silver chain wound around his neck and wrists. The Rattray's were drawing his blood inot the little tubes that they use at the lab. The vampire looked weak and sick. They must be very fast workers; there was a little pile of tubes alongside. "Oh no you don't!" she stepped up and wrapped the chain around the male Rattray's neck and pulled him over onto his back. She jumped up with a scream. "Now you all just get going… get outta of here!" She swung the chain showing she meant business. The make Rattray tried to pull a knife but she swung the chain hitting his arm and hand and he dropped it. They both ran.
"You ok Mister?" she ran over to the vampire and started to lift off the silver chain but was disgusted to realize it had burned into the flesh of his neck and arms and the skin was sticking to the chain. Then she heard the revving car engine and out of instinct grabbed the vampire under the arms and yelled at him "push with your feet!" as she pulled him further into the trees.
In a rush of noise and a crunch of gravel the car the Rattrays were driving sped pass missing them by inches. She let go of the vampire as she tried to steady her nerves with slow deep breaths.
"I offer you gratitude. They surprised me and next thing I knew they were draining me…" he drifted off looking shaken. "Can you please remove the silver, just pull it, the skin will come with it, but I will heal quickly once its removed. It burns me". He was watching her carefully, like a predator watching its prey and it made her uneasy.
"What on earth were you doing going anywhere with those two?" she scolded to hide her nervousness. She grimaced and then just yanked the chain tearing strips into his skin. He cried out as the chain tore free. She watched fascinated as the wounds immediately started to heal... In a mature of minutes there wasn't a mark on him. "That's handy, you healing like that, do all vampires heal so fast?" she asked. He seemed to be settling down.
"I offer you my gratitude. You may have the blood they withdrew" he looked at her curiously.
"Oh hell no! I don't want that blood. I am not into drugs… especially not V, which is supposed to make you all freaky and crazy!" She shuddered.
"Well then at least keep the chain" he smiled at her. She looked down; she had unconsciously wound it around her neck and wrists, skin and all. She shivered, it made her skin crawl, but she was not going to be unprotected out in the woods with a unknown vampire. "you know there are other places to feed that the chain doesn't cover" he had a leering grin.
"Now don't you talk like that I am a southern lady and I won't stand for no trash talk to me. I just saved your life, be polite!" she snapped at him. He hung his head and avoided her eyes. And mumbled something. "What did you say?" she asked crossly
"I am sorry. I didn't intend to be rude."
Mollified Sookie stood up "Are you going to be ok? I need to get back inside, my break is almost over, and I have about 2 more hours to work." She started to unwind the silver chain.
"If I may, may I meet you at the back of the bar at closing? I would very much like to visit with you. We could talk about my meeting your Gran and discussing the Civil War" He stood up looking a little shaky.
Her instinct was screaming NO! But she so wanted her Gran to be able to talk to a real live (or was that undead?) Civil War soldier she nodded. "I'll be out back at 230am, closing is 2am, but it takes about a half hour to close the restaurant, especially on a Saturday."
He looked at her a slight gleam in his eye and nodded. I will see you then 230am.
She watched him walk away… part of her was excited… but a nother part was telling her… she made a big mistake.
