Disclaimer: I own only my own creations, but I like to play in the True Blood world.
Chapter 1
2027 Los Angeles
Red Carpet Event
Eric POV
Blinding light. The flash of dozens of cameras going off in my face. Sensory overload for human eyes, blinding to a vampire, due to our enhanced level of visual perception. I try to force my eyes to stay open and smile naturally, knowing I will incur wrath beyond measure if I dare ruin the moment with a blink, scowl or grimace. Neither Pam nor my date would be pleased (and far be it from me to ruin a woman's pleasure). Tonight, I am not the star, I am merely the window dressing or "arm-candy" as the tabloids have often referred to me. I am dressed in my designer tuxedo, a black Calvin Klein design that accentuates my assets to the fullest. You would think being a vampire business mogul, co-founder of one of the most profitable companies in the world, that the crowd would be eager to get a glimpse of me. Though there are some among the crowd tonight who are swooning a bit by my presence, it's not my name that the crowd is screaming.
That name would be the one of my date, the "real" star of the night. Who is none other than actress Olivia Ellis. She is one of this year's biggest box-office draws…at the peak of her career. Many say she will be the next Sandra Bullock or Julia Roberts, a real America's sweetheart type. The kind of woman every man wants and every woman wants to be.
She is the daughter of British born actor Tom Ellis. Her father gets the credit for starting her in the business as a child actor, in addition to providing the DNA that has graced her with gorgeous raven black hair, stunning looks and her notorious 5'11" height. Her beauty has come (mostly) naturally, though I can attest to the enhancements her breasts may have had. She grew up rather awkwardly, teased because she was taller than most of the boys during her teen years, which is why she doesn't take herself or her looks too seriously. It was one of the things that attracted me to her. She is one of the world's most desirable women, and she barely seems to acknowledge it. I seem to be drawn to women that don't value they're own true worth.
Together, we make up one of Hollywood's current "it" couples. Just try and make it past a newsstand, without getting a glimpse of us on one of several magazine covers. Even in a mostly digital age, those rumor rags still have an audience. I don't mind the publicity, that much…especially because it is free. As NuBlood's CEO, and the face of the company, my relationship with Olivia has helped make Eric Northman and NuBlood a household name. With the successful launch of a convenient 8oz can, now available at every McDonald's world-wide, the company's profits are soaring.
It's been years since the Hep V virus ravaged our world. With the help of NuBlood, vampires all over the world were given the chance to survive the deadly disease. Some still refused, the disease sapping their physical and mental health beyond repair. The vampire population suffered countless losses. Though this endeavor has made me a ridiculously wealthy man, few realize that my true motivation was to spare any vampire from the pain of losing their maker, child or sibling; like I was forced to lose Nora. No one should be subjected to that kind of pain and devastation. Her death still haunts me, and not a day goes by that I don't wish I could have found the cure before her un-timely final death.
Pam's motivations were perhaps a bit more self-serving. NuBlood's success has given her a new lease on her un-dead life. It's provided financial stability, to be sure. But it has also allowed Pam to branch out on her own. Her love of fashion finally put to good use as the head of a very successful NY based fashion house. That is where she met her partner and date for the evening, the highly respected designer Emily Fraser.
Emily, a beautiful redhead, a Scottish immigrant with an uncanny eye for fashion. Several of the stars attending tonight's festivities are wearing her original designs. Olivia among them. Emily designed it specifically to accentuate Olivia's long legs and alabaster skin. The dress is a lovely shade of red (my personal favorite), with an off the shoulder embroidered bodice, and a provocative slit the runs nearly the full length of her left thigh. The overall effect nearly glamours the crowd.
As for me, I do find her attractive and enjoy her company. She's intelligent, well read, well-travelled and has a great sense of humor, which gives us some common ground for conversation. The sex is more than adequate...enough to keep me coming back for more. She makes millions of dollars a movie, so at least I can take comfort in the fact that she's not a gold-digger. The only downside to the relationship is my inherent distrust of human ambition. While so many people in Hollywood would seek the company of a vampire to try to get the gift of immortality, she has never brought it up. I find that somewhat disturbing. I have no intention of turning her, I just find it odd that she has never broached the subject. To be where she is in her career, at the top of her game, I know that I would be at least considering the possibilities. But that is a thought for another day.
One of the television reporters has approached our foursome, and is asking about the dress design. Pam and I gladly take a step back and watch as the two women in our lives enjoy this moment of fame. Pam's face is graced with a smile of pure adoration, something unusual for her, but becoming more and more common these days. Through our maker-child bond, I can feel the love she has for her partner, and it makes me smile inwardly. I remember that feeling. How could I forget? But that was a long time ago, and I have moved on (well, at least I've tried).
Pam was there for me when we were getting NuBlood off the ground, and I was trying to run from a life I no longer could stand the thought of. She helped me survive and move forward, when at times I was tempted to wallow. But as she reminded me, a warrior doesn't wallow…and especially not on Her watch! Though it was "tough" Pam always spoke the truth. From her sister, Willa, Pam learned when Sookie met and married a "normal" human man. As great as my happiness was for her, I admit it hurt more than I realized. That was the dream Sookie always had for herself, and I was not going to get in the way. Leaving Louisiana was the best thing I could do…for both of us.
Pam and Emily share homes in LA and NYC, flying back and forth on Pam's own private jet. With the improvements made to UV blocking glass, vampires are now able to travel "out of the coffin" and are no longer forced to go "underground" for day rest. Society as a whole has finally begun to accept and accommodate our "special needs".
In the past 10 years, other supernaturals have made themselves known. In response, world governments have helped to establish a special Supernatural Council. Think of them as the Supernatural Supreme Court. Each faction of non-humans has a representative with a place on the Council. When supes are involved in crimes not involving a human, the cases can be first dealt with by their own means, but the Council is there to govern any escalated or complicated issues. I, myself, have been approached by the Council, and have lent my assistance as a consultant on a few matters. With my help, the Council successfully convinced the majority of the world's nations to finally recognize vampires and other supernaturals as citizens with full rights…the right to own property, the right of marriage, voting, employment and yes, the obligation to pay taxes.
NuBlood, the company, is a perfect example of the forward progression of vampires in society. Not only is it being run as a completely legal and legitimate business, complete with taxes, healthcare and benefits for employees, but it became the first Vampire-owned business to be traded on the stock market. Pam and I were even asked to the floor of the New York Stock Exchange to ring the opening bell…quite an honor.
NuBlood stands as an example, truly, of how humans and vampires can work together for a greater good. We are the standard to which other companies aspire. As I said before, the money that we've made has made it a more than successful venture for Pam and myself. But for me, it has finally given me the FREEDOM I have sought for over a thousand years! No more sucking up to Kings and Queens. No more demands on my time and my money. No more threats to my progeny. Though I do still owe my fealty to the King of California, it is done so as a "gentlemen's agreement" more than as a demand. Apparently, when your dubbed "the savior of the vampire race" you are granted some obligatory immunity from all the vampire bullshit…and I must say, it feels fucking great!
I've always been a vampire that embraces life, and that will never change. Many assume it's because vampires as a whole are so selfish and protective of their immortality. That's not it. For me, I want to experience all that life has to offer so that the countless losses I have endured have not been for nothing. My maker, my sister, even the fulfillment of my family's revenge on Russell…I've been forced to leave them all behind me. A future I had fleetingly allowed myself to consider, one of love and companionship, was never really mine at all it seems. So I pushed on.
I am living in a penthouse apartment on the top of a thirteen-story building in downtown Los Angeles. It has an amazing view of the city, with the ocean on the horizon. My infinity pool goes right to the edge of my outdoor terrace...especially convenient for those nights that I decide to take to the skies. The glass is all bullet proof and UV blocking, which allows me to roam freely through my apartment, even when the sun's rays may still be out shinning. The older I get, the less time I spend asleep in my day rest. Though I will never be able to walk in the sun again, this modern convenience has at least given me a piece back of what was lost. I can look out towards the ocean and watch as the sun sparkles and then sets. Its magnificent. It reminds me of the time I was swimming in a small inland lake, surrounded by trees, with the water dripping down my chest as the sun beat down on me, and I smiled as I looked to the shore and saw the most beautiful…
Pam must have noticed how I had detached for a moment from everything going on around us, as I feel a sharp stab in my ribs from her elbow. It snapped me out of my contemplative state, and earned a bit of a growl from me, but low enough that it would go unnoticed by most. Those thoughts seemed to go through my mind in a flash, as I stood there waiting for the short interview to end. But one thought seemed to stay rooted at the edge of my consciousness…unwilling to be pushed away, despite the abrupt end to my thought process. Stubborn and irritating. Like a worm crawling its way through my brain…over and over, just two words…ten years. That's exactly how long it had been since I'd seen her, the one person I had tried all these years to forget, the reason I left Louisiana…Sookie Stackhouse.
A/N This is my first fanfic ever, please be kind...but also, please review!
Next chapter = Sookie.