SPOV

I wake with a start.

"Shit!" I exclaim. It was that same freaky dream I've been having for as long as I can remember; only now, it's becoming more vivid and I'm having it more frequently, almost every night for the last couple of weeks now. What the hell could it mean? It was just a bunch of random pictures. The flash of images rush by so quickly I can't recall them all. I remember lightning streaking across the night sky, two sets of glowing eyes, one ocean blue and the other a vivid green. Then there was the ocean of flowing red, viscous blood. I can't shake the idea that the dream images are somehow meaningful, like they are trying to warn, or at least inform me of something important. I just wish I knew what the hell that important thing was.

I'm brought out of my thoughts when I hear the unmistakable sound of my roommate, Amelia, starting morning coffee downstairs. Coffee. That will make me feel better. I grin at the thought.

No more time for freaky dream therapy, I have things to do today. With that thought in mind, I grab my worn but comfortable pink robe and scurry down the stairs of my old farmhouse.

"Morning, Ames. How'd you sleep?"

"Fantastic!" She beams at me, her face flush with excitement. Damn, it is too early for that kind of enthusiasm. "Of course, I always sleep like the dead after my nights with Pam. That woman is totally skilled. Just last night we-,"

"Okay!" I yell, immediately cutting her of mid-sentence. "It is too damn early to hear about your sexcapades with Pam! Besides, you're broadcasting it all too vividly in your head! I didn't even have my shields up yet! Gross!" One of the many disadvantages of being born telepathic, you hear and get clear images of your roommate being ravaged by her girlfriend. Not that I have anything against their relationship, they make a very strange, yet cute couple. I just don't need to know about their bedroom antics, and I certainly don't need to see them. Ugh.

"Whoops, sorry, Sook. But in my defense, you did ask." She has the decency to look somewhat embarrassed. "And you know by now what a loud broadcaster I am." That's an understatement. I've never had to question what Amelia was thinking. This is both a good and a bad thing. It meant I had to shield like a bitch around her, but I learned early on in our friendship that her thoughts always matched her words. So, even if she is blunt, she is a very honest person.

"Yeah, well, I still don't need to hear the dirty details. I haven't even had my damn coffee this morning." I then walk over the coffee maker and pour myself a steaming cup of joe. Ahh, just what the doctor ordered. I sip on the nectar of the gods as I make my way over to join my roommie at the dining room table.

"So, you excited for your interview tonight? Just wait until you meet the boss! He is such a dream boat! Did I mention he was a real life Viking? How freaking cool is that? And he totally looks the part. It's hard not to drool around him." See, way too much enthusiasm for the early morning. I sigh.

"Amelia! I'm not interviewing at Fangtasia to meet a guy! Especially not my boss! That's just… wrong. I need the money, and if what Pam told you is true, I think I may have the experience they're looking for." Amelia's girlfriend, Pam, is a vampire. She works at this trendy vampire bar in Shreveport, where they are in current need of good wait staff. Pam seemed almost giddy when she had told me to come down and interview for the open position. I suppose I should have been a little worried at her excitement, it's rare to see Pam excited about much of anything, but I need work and despite her quirks, I like Pam, I don't think she would steer me wrong.

"Yeah, yeah, I know you're not looking for a man," continues my energetic friend, "but it wouldn't kill you to finally loose that V-Card, Girlfriend. And to do so with a hot, blond, Viking vampire would be a major bonus." She waggles her eyebrows at me.

I roll my eyes at my friends "advice". She's been advising me to lose my virginity ever since I had stupidly told her my little secret one drunken night. Like I would sleep with my boss, that's what got me into my current, jobless predicament in the first place. Well, obviously not actually sleeping with him, but that's what he had made clear was what he wanted from me. Sam Merlotte, my old boss, had "generously" offered me a promotion if I would agree to go on a date with him. It didn't sound so bad, I mean, he was a decent guy, he had always been kind to me, so why not? We had gone out for coffee and pie and I'd really enjoyed his company.

But at the end of the night, he had kissed me rather roughly whilst sneaking his hand up my shirt to grope me; so not cool. I slapped him right across the face and told him to find a new damn waitress. To say he was shocked, would be a major understatement. But I'm a strong, independent, southern woman and no man is going to treat me like some piece of meat! He stormed off my porch that night, telling me I could never come back to work for him no matter how much I begged. Pfft, like I would lower myself to crawl back to the likes of him and his shitty bar. The only reason I'd worked there at all was because I was young and in desperate need of money. But I knew I could find something better, or at least find a boss who would respect their employees.

I'd never imagined myself working in a vampire bar, not that there is anything wrong with vampires. I suppose as a human, I should fear creatures that could bench press a freaking car, but I figure all vampires were human once; we're more alike than we are different. Besides, bills still need to be paid and a girl can't afford to be too picky with the slim job pickings around here. Shreveport isn't too long a drive from my home town of Bon Temps, plus, with the generous pay and health benefits awarded to the Fangtasia staff, it was more than I could hope for.

"Have you decided what you're gonna to wear tonight?" asked Amelia, obviously looking forward to using me as her own personal Barbie doll like she had a bad habit of doing.

"I dunno, what's the dress code in a vampire bar? I'm sure they will be more interested in my resume than my attire anyhow. I'll just find something in my closet."

"Aww, Sook! You're no fun! I was thinking we could dress you up all Gothic-chic!" she says with a grin and a wink.

"Please, black is so not my color," I say with an eye roll.

Amelia snorted. "Then you are going to hate the employee uniforms."

"Great…well, tonight is just the interview. I'll wear whatever I want. And don't even think I'm gonna to let you dress me. I love you, Roommie, but I am not your damn, personal Barbie doll!"

"Yeah, fine. But at least promise you'll let me style your hair? You're trying to make a good impression, after all." She gives me her pouty puppy dog eyes, sticking out her bottom lip in a childish pout.

I snicker. "Fine! I'll let you fix up my hair! But hands off the wardrobe!"

"Deal!" Amelia beams.

This is going to be an interesting night.

EPOV

"Fuck!" I exclaim, hurling my phone across my office, exploding it into tiny pieces. "FUCK! Pam!" I call my child to me.

"You rang, Master," Pam sneers as she slinks into my office and takes in the pieces of iPhone scattered over the floor. "That's the third one this month, Eric. You really should buy stock in Apple; you're certainly helping to keep them in business, it seems."

"Pam, I'm not in the mood for your shit tonight."

"Fine, I can see that, but could you at least try to break something else for a change? It's a pain in the ass replacing all your damn apps every time."

I growl and Pam smirks. Fucking Pam. I love her, but she can really push my buttons.

"So what has your panties in a twist this evening?" Pam asks, ignoring my warning glare.

"My panties are not twisted, Pamela." What a stupid turn of phrase. But my Pam likes to try and keep up on human slang. "I'm having a shitty night and I've been up for only an hour."

"Please, Master, do enlighten me." Pam retorts, sliding down into one of my black office chairs.

"That was the Dallas nest on the phone; Godric's gone missing. I've been unable to reach him though the Maker bond and I just don't know what could have happened to him."

I've been worried about my Maker for a while now. The bond I've shared with him for the last thousand years has been full of distressing emotions as of late. I know my Maker must be depressed, but he hadn't tried to contact me, so I'd kept away, giving him space to work through whatever seemed to be plaguing him.

Then, suddenly, the bond was shut down almost entirely. This worried me greatly, but before I could place a call to Dallas to determine what was happening, Godric's second in command, Isobel, called to inform me that my Maker, the Sheriff of Area 9 in Dallas, had gone missing from their nest. No one knew where he could have gone, all of his belongings seemed to be accounted for, and it was as if he had vanished into thin air.

I sigh unnecessarily. "I'm leaving for Dallas tomorrow night. Call ahead and make flight arrangements with Anubis Air. I will leave you in charge here while I'm gone. If there's any hope of finding Godric alive and well, I have to help."

This news sobers Pam quickly. She may not show it outwardly, but she loves her Grandsire. The thought that he could be in real danger understandably upsets her greatly.

"Of course, Master. Any way I can help bring Godric back to us."

"Thank you, Pamela, I knew I could count on you." I affectionately kiss the top of her head and try to shake off some of my malaise. "So what's on the agenda for this evening? Please have some good news for me, my child."

Pam perks instantly. "Actually, I have an interview set up for you. Remember I told you about Amelia's friend? The hot little blonde? She smells delicious, Master. I think you'll rather enjoy interviewing her for the new waitress position."

I smile indulgently at my child; she always knows how to lift my spirits. "When can I be expecting this delicious smelling blonde?"

"Actually, I left her at the bar when you called me. Should I send her back?"

"Of course, hopefully my night is looking up."

Pam rushes out with a wink and a smirk in my direction. She returns minutes later with the scrumptious morsel. Pam wasn't kidding about her smell. So fucking sweet. My nostrils flare, inhaling the heavenly scent cascading from the beautiful blonde accompanying my child. My night is looking up indeed.

"Eric, this is Miss Sookie Stackhouse from Bon Temps. She was a former waitress at the Shifter's bar there. Amelia told me she was looking for new employment and I thought she'd fit in just perfectly here at our humble establishment." Pam says with overtated enthusiasm. I have to stifle a chuckle at her antics.

Sookie, the blonde goddess, steps forward shyly, looking up at me through her lashes. "Good evening, Mr. Northman. You must be the bar owner. Amelia's told me a lot about you."

"Only good things I hope," I slyly reply, quirking my eyebrow at her and giving her a smoldering grin. Her cheeks redden at this and a low chuckle rumbles from my chest.

"O-of course," she replies.

I'm already intrigued by this shy southern belle. She's dressed like vampire bait; a white floral A-line dress with a sweetheart neckline accentuates her generous bosom and endless curves. What was a girl like this doing in my bar? My nostrils flare once more, taking in her amazing scent. There's something else I'm detecting beneath the scent of her blood, could it be? This gorgeous specimen smells of innocence. How on earth is she still virginal? What is wrong with human men? I smile to myself. It has been a long time indeed since I have had a virgin. The very thought is making my fangs itch and my jeans tighten; damn zippers.

Sookie interrupts my inner musings with a loud gasp as a frightened look falls over her beautiful face.

"There is going to be a police raid! We need to get out now!"

"What? How do you know this?" I fly over to her, grabbing her by the arm and glaring down at her. "Do you have something to do with this?"

"Of course not!" she angrily answers with a frown and a futile attempt to pull from my grasp. "Just trust me! There is a female vampire in the men's room feeding on a human and the police are on their way now!"

I nod to Pam, who vamps out of the office to take care of the unruly vampire and her meal. I hear the police barging in the front door at this point. Fucking hell, it's time to get the hell out of here.

"You're coming with me," I order as I fly with her to the back door of the bar. Once we're standing by my cherry red convertible, I quickly evaluate her. How could she have known what was happening in my bar? And more importantly, can I trust her? Now's not the time or place for this discussion. "Get in," I bark, flinging open the passenger door and ducking her head into my car. I quickly settle her in the seat and vamp over to the driver's side before taking off into the night at top speed.

Sookie looks scared. Her breathing is heavy and her cheeks are a delicious pink. I can hear her heart beating wildly in her chest. She's avoiding looking at me and fear is rolling off her in waves.

"You will explain to me how you knew of the raid and of the vampire feeding in the restroom. Do not lie to me. I will know if you are being deceitful." I give her my best glare, letting her know that I'm not a vampire to be fucked with.

Sookie gulps. Then answers quietly, "I'm a telepath."