The Devils Playground

Freedom.

That word held so many meanings to everyone. But to me, it meant escape from life and everything that made that life suck ass big time.

Life sucked, and then you died.

Rather fitting now that the vampires had 'come out of their coffins.' Suck. Hee hee. Got me everytime.

It was a phone call that made everything kick off and drag me back to that crappy place that was Bon Temps.

The day was Friday, the sky over my flat in London, good ol' Britain was dark and overcast, the threat of rain heavy in the air. The view from my high rise flat was magnificent. You could see the whole of Canary Warf, then the rest of London the other side. My flat itself was a total shit hole at the moment.

Art was my passion. It didn't judge when you created it. It didn't hate, it didn't complain about life and its issues. Urgh, it sounded like I was a middle aged woman having a crisis now.

Nah, I was only twenty two. Not a midlife crisis lady... yet.

My red high heels clacked against the wooden floor as I walked across the apartment, tying my long, rather fluffy at the moment, deep auburn hair back into a scruffy bun at the back of my head, yawning as I went.

But then a shrill sound cut through the air, and I turned with a groan to hear my phone go off- someone was calling me. Blooming annoying-!

"Yes?" I said gruffly, trapping the phone between my ear and shoulder as I fussed with the messy bun.

"Diana? Is that you?"

I froze now as that voice crackled in my ear, then said, almost a stutter. "Sookie? That you girl?"

"Yeah it is." she answered, and I noticed she seemed upset more than anything, so I asked in concern. "Are you ok hon?"

"Gran's... dead." she said now, and I almost dropped the phone as the tears springed to my eyes. "Oh my god... are you ok-? How- how did it happen?"

She sighed down the phone now, then said in her Southern drawl that I had almost forgotten. "I need ya to come over for the funeral. Please?"

A silence.

"Dee, I'm asking as ya sister."

I hadn't heard her say that in so long. Since I had finnished High school, then ran off to England as soon as I could. Sookie and I had argued... our worse argument. It really did suck ass. I'd settled down in London and took up art classes, soon selling my artwork and finally making some money.

Life did have its ups and downs... urgh.

"Ok." I said in defeat, knowing that she needed me right now. "I'll book a flight and come over on a plane to New Orleans."

"Thank you." Sookie said, so heartbreakingly that I had to add, rubbing the tears from my eyes. "I miss you."

"I miss you too." she said, then I said swiftly that I would text her the details of when I was over.

Maybe life was going to get better?

Pfft. Or get worse knowing my crappy luck.

The flight was booked for the next morning, and I was munching on a piece of toast as I rushed out the door with a suitcase, locking the door behind me.

"Oh fuc-!" I swore now as I dropped my breakfast into a puddle, where it lay totally ruined.

What a brill start to the day (!)

The taxi arrived now, and I got inside while the driver put the case in the trunk. A yawn escaped me now, then the driver got back in, asking for where I wanted to go.

"The airport please." I smiled, then he looked impressed as we turned from my road. "Somewhere nice?"

"Louisiana."

"Oh nice. Holiday?"

"Nah, funeral."

"Oh. I'm so sorry." he swiftly apologized, and for a start I thought he was going to start apologizing like some crazy madman.

Hehe... madman. Why did I find these things funny? Huh. Childish much.

Oh well.

As I got off at the airport and waited for a moment as my passport got cleared, then I was off towards the airplane, the engines humming as I walked onto the plane.

Oh god. Claustrophobia was setting in now. Big time.

Dear gawd, as my dearest sis said. I hoped I didn't throw up.

Bye bye Britain. Howdy America.

It was the bumpy landing in New Orleans that woke me up, my stomach churning as we landed on the tarmac with a light screech.

"Oh you bloody bastard-" I swore lightly under my breath, eyes clenched shut.

As I got off the plane and towards the terminals, feeling rather rough with jetlag, I saw a bubbly blonde stood waiting, then a big grin on her face as I ran over, the argument we had the last time we met forgotten as I hugged my sister.

"Sook." I chuckled as I hugged her petite form, her high ponytail swishing into my face.

"Dee." she smiled, reminding me of a deer for a moment. Then a glass of sparkling champagne for some reason. God my mind was a strange place at times.

We headed back to her little car now and I got in, sticking my big sunglasses on as I did so. Ah, sun. I have missed you so much you beautiful thing in the sky! I was sounded like an escaped mental patient now.

But hell I was going to think Sookie-kins was one now as we chatted about the years away from each other.

Especially when she told me she was dating a vampire.

Like... WTF? That was a brilliant thought alright. What- the fudge.

"Like, really?" I asked now, curious more than anything- I'd never met another vamp before, but I'd heard about them. I didn't mind them-

Hey, one could wish Damon Salvatore or someone else like that was real huh?

Oh, please be real Klaus... I'd let that batshit crazy sexy guy bite me anytime,

Thank god Sookie couldn't hear my thoughts, or I'd be blushing right then.

"What's his name? Please don't let it be Edward. Dear gawd..."

"No." Sookie chuckled at that. "No. It's Bill."

"Bill." I scoffed. What a crap name. All you needed now was Ben, and you had the Flowerpot Men. I had to ask now-

"Have you done him yet?"

"Dee-!" Sookie scoffed now as the green trees flashed by. Urgh, reminded me too much of Scotland.

Trees, hills and sheep. A Welshmans dream with all those sheep (!)

Oh look, another tree...

"Just asking." I said sweetly, giving her my trademark smirk that she rolled her eyes at.

But now as we passed into Bon Temps, I had to wonder-

Yeah I was home. But would it be better or worse?

Probably worse.

My first attempt at writing a True Blood story at long last. Hope people like it and feel free to leave me a note! Next up soon if people are interested. x Nic