###

Next time, maybe check out your future employment place before you say yes.

This was what kept going on in Mabel's head while she surveyed Fangtasia's not-so-subtle interior design.

The lady at the employment center had told her straight up that this was a "vampire joint" and at the time, she had accepted the offer, because humans who worked for vampires were paid double the usual amount and she really needed the money. Esther was starting fresh at a new school after the unfortunate locker incident at her old one. Her little sister had been so angry when two boys stole her lunch case that she set their lockers on fire. Mabel was still paying the parents for the "emotional damage", not to mention Esther's therapy sessions. She had no idea how she was going to make ends meet. These days, the job market was so full, you only had a chance if you tried out for places like Fangtasia.

It's just that…she hadn't expected it to be this obvious.

Everything about it screamed "sex, violence and blood", like a tacky strip club that also harvested your organs. And this was in the daylight.

So much for bringing Esther to work sometime.

Although her sister would have been game. She had just turned thirteen and was currently in her "goth" phase, so she would have loved this place. But Mabel was just going to lie and tell her she got a boring desk job.

It didn't help that she was shown around by a suspicious-looking individual who called himself "Longshadow." He was obviously a vampire, but didn't seem to want to confirm that fact. She ogled a bit at his tattoos, which he did not appreciate.

He served as bartender, but he was also a business partner, which made him a bit cocky.

"During shifts, you come to me if you have problems. If I'm busy, you wait. You don't disturb Pam or Northman. You won't see the latter much anyway. Got that?"

She assumed those were important people or other business partners.

"We get ten percent of your tips, which you won't even notice since people come here to throw money on the floor," he continued with obvious disdain in his voice. Mabel couldn't blame him, but she was pretty sure she would feel that ten percent.

"Under contract," he went on, "waitresses can't sleep with clients, especially vampires, unless a paid agreement is settled between the parties."

Mabel doubled up. "Excuse me?"

"This place might be open to fangbangers, but we regulate the banging…if you know what I mean." He leered at her.

"Thanks, but I have no intention of sleeping with anyone," Mabel replied, more than a little annoyed.

"For now," he muttered with a knowing smirk.

"Pretty sure I'll stick to my guns," she insisted, stepping away from what looked like a dry puddle of blood next to the vending machines.

She almost heaved. There were fresh blood imprints on the pool table.

"Damn it, I told Beverly to clean up. Fucking lazy bitch," he muttered with an ominous gruff. Mabel already felt sorry for whoever Beverly was.

"So, here's your uniform," he said, dumping a red T-shirt and a black leather skirt in her arms.

Mabel sniffed the clothes with some apprehension.

"Any questions?"

She was going to ask about health insurance, when a door behind her flew open and a grim-faced man strutted out in a cloud of tobacco. He was wearing a pair of the most ridiculous-looking cowboy boots and had a toothpick in his mouth, which she, seconds later, realized was actually a small blade. Behind him, two young boys, no older than her sister, were carrying out a grown woman on their shoulders. She looked pretty heavy, but the boys just took it in stride.

Mabel stared.

"Just some good ol' family fun," the weirdo cowboy explained as he held the door open for the boys. "Their Mamma had a bit too much to drink."

She realized he wasn't talking about alcohol.

"New meat, Longshadow?" he asked, eyeing Mabel.

"We'll see how she does."

When the "family" had departed, she turned around and gave Longshadow an appropriately concerned look.

"Customers?"

The vampire grinned. "That's one way of putting it."

She tried to inquire further, but Longshadow only grunted. He was not in a chatty mood. She had to make a mental note of that. Doesn't like curiosity.

"One last thing," he told her just when she was getting ready to leave, "if you piss off a vampire, it's on you. We offer protection, but don't think it's limitless."

Charming, Mabel thought, wondering if it was rude to quit on the spot.

But she still had a little sister to think about.

She grabbed a menu to study at home and promised she would return that night for her first shift.

That's how she ended up working at Fangtasia. And that's how her life unraveled.

###

She arrived early that evening, because no matter her faults, Mabel was always punctual. She wanted to get a better feel of the place and explore it on her own without Longshadow's prying stare. It would be a good idea to figure out all the emergency exits. The place was half-empty, although some tables were already occupied by lugubrious looking fellows and, more and more cars were parking in the driveway. She went to change in an office space behind the bar.

The "uniform" itched and made her feel uncomfortable. It was short on her too. Her bellybutton was exposed and the skirt was riding up her thighs. She figured that was the point. The whole ensemble clashed with her carrot-colored hair, but it would have to do. Luckily, there was no mandatory footwear, and she could wear her comfortable sneakers without anyone noticing.

She checked her phone. A text from Esther about the Chinese food in the fridge no longer being edible. Mabel groaned. She would have to run down to a 24/7 once her shift was over.

Don't worry, sis. Going out to get some food, Esther texted.

Not at this hour you're not. Order some pizza. Pick whatever you want, she messaged back.

Fine, but you're no fun, her sister replied.

Mabel knew she tended to mother her too much, but without an actual mother around it was the next best thing. Maybe she'd make it up to her by taking her to the arcade this weekend. Kids still did that, right?

When she came out of the office, she ran smack into a leather corset. Mabel blinked and stepped back disoriented. She was staring up at a gorgeous woman. Her hair was a silky blonde, held up in an eccentric ponytail, her lips were full and luscious and she could see the tip of her fangs as she opened her mouth to speak.

"New girl, I presume?"

She looked old, although her skin was smooth and beautiful. Mabel nodded her head. "Uh-huh."

"Well, good luck to you," she said without much warmth. "You'll need it. Oh, and next time, find a better spot to undress."

Mabel felt her cheeks growing red. "I thought I could - I don't know the place very well, I'm sorry if I -"

The woman chuckled, licking her lips. "Relax, sweetheart. I'm only teasing."

Mabel felt as if she could see through her clothes. She wondered if the woman had been spying on her. But she looked too important for that.

Before she could say anything else, she was just gone. Disappeared in a whiff of air.

That's when Mabel realized the bar was packed. You couldn't throw a toothpick. It had filled up so quickly, she couldn't believe it. The other waitresses were already carrying laden trays to various tables. Longshadow was standing at the bar. He threw her a look that meant nothing good. Mabel nodded precipitately, and grabbing her pad and pen, she rushed into the glamour and glitz of Fangtasia.

Club music was already blasting out of the speakers, but it was a very strange techno-trance style. It made you want to dance and sleep at the same time.

Unfortunately, it was very loud so she had to bend down to hear people's orders. And you didn't exactly want to expose your throat in front of a vampire. Which many of them were.

The good news was, the customers were pretty impressed with her memory. She had studied the menu religiously and knew most of the drinks by heart, although she still had some problems with some of the French names.

One older gentleman, accompanied by two young women, tried to teach her how to say Crème de Cerise.

"Sorry, I took Spanish in high school," she said, laughing, but her laughter was cut short when, after asking for three glasses, he proceeded to kiss one of the women's neck passionately. She heard his fangs hatching. And then he was feeding on her, right in front of Mabel.

She gasped, unable to stop herself. She had never seen something like it, up close. Oh sure, vampires were everywhere now and you got used to them easily if you kept to your own turf. But if you were like her, you rarely had an opportunity to see them...in action.

What was really strange was that the woman seemed to be really enjoying it. You'd think getting pricked like that would hurt.

Mabel realized she was staring like an idiot. She looked down politely.

The vampire smiled, dabbing a napkin to his lips.

"Oh, let me get you more of those," Mabel offered apologetically.

"No need to be ashamed, my dear. Have you never been bitten?"

"Nope!" she said, a bit too enthusiastically. "I mean, I'm sure it's very nice."

"Nice? It's not a pair of shoes, you know," the woman who had just been bitten remarked.

"Oh, you'd be surprised how excited I get about shoes."

"Not judging by what you're wearing tonight," the woman said, looking down at her sneakers.

"They're actually very stylish," Mabel joked, tapping her soles together. The older gentleman chuckled and she figured that was her cue to stop blabbering and get the drinks.

When she reached the bar, Longshadow - shocker - was not looking pleased.

"You're not to disturb select clientele," he informed her in a clipped tone.

Mabel blinked. "I wasn't disturbing -"

"He's a Chancellor of the Vampire Authority. You don't chit-chat with Chancellors. Got it?"

Mabel had little idea what any of that meant. Presumably, he was someone of high power. Everyone here had a title. But she didn't get a chance to ask him any questions. Longshadow, as always, was taciturn.

She returned to the Chancellor's table with the drinks.

"Don't mind that surly fellow. These lovely ladies and myself quite enjoy your company," the elder gentleman said when she approached them.

Mabel scrunched her eyebrows in confusion. "Pardon?"

It took her a couple of moments to understand. "Oh! You mean my boss. You could hear that?"

"One of the many virtues of being a vampire," he replied with a smirk.

"Well, thank you. I enjoy your company too," she beamed gratefully. Although she made a mental note to watch what she said at all times. Vampires liked to eavesdrop. She was ashamed she hadn't learned more about them. But this new job could be a good opportunity to do just that.

Or...maybe not.

When she turned away from the Chancellor's table and glanced at the teeming crowd, she was shocked to find that several couples were on the dance floor, grinding and touching and sharing blood like it was the commonest thing in the world. She wasn't prudish by any standards, but she had never seen so many bare breasts at once.

Not that she had been sheltered. There had been no Dad or Mom to tell her no, but there had been Esther and she had had to be a good model for her. Which was great because she was sure she'd catch a cold if she removed her top.

Maybe it was just the fact that she was human, but she felt a strange chill in the air. You'd think a bar would be hot since it was packed with so many bodies. But it was quite the opposite. Her skin was covered in goosebumps.

She was about to dash to another table, when she happened to look towards the stage. It had been empty until now.

She saw the gorgeous woman from before, the one in the tight leather corset, walking up to one of the three chairs back-dropped by a red curtain.

A man was sitting in the tallest chair. He was hunched forward, inspecting the crowd with...indifference? Boredom? She couldn't say. His expression, from afar, was unreadable. His shoulder-length blond hair made him look quite dashing, but vampires were pretty good looking by default. There was something different about him, though. She couldn't tell what, but he emanated a very majestic aura. Maybe it was the throne he was currently occupying. She wondered if he was part of the...what was it? Vampire Authority?

Funny, he was looking straight at the Chancellor whose table she had just left. She wondered if they knew each other. And then, before she could turn away, his eyes landed on her.

It only lasted a few moments. His eyes looked onyx black, cold and detached. He didn't give her a second thought. His stare moved on to more interesting characters.

She sighed with relief. He seemed like an intense guy.

"Hello? Can I get a refill here?" a woman shouted to her right. She pointed at her Tru Blood bottle.

"Coming right up ma'am!"

"Hey, who are you calling ma'am? I'm only 97." Mabel blushed. The woman didn't look a day past 35.

"Of course, Miss."

"Well, I'm not that young. Are you gonna offer me your pretty little vein or are you gonna get me some synthetic shit?"

Mabel nodded her head briskly and scurried away to fetch the blood. Esther had once tried Tru Blood. On a dare. She had said it tasted like stale oranges. Of course, she had been grounded for a week.

Her little sister would not believe her ears if Mabel told her what she'd seen tonight. But of course, Esther must never find out about Fangtasia.

This would be her little secret.

A/N: Hi, first timer here :) I've always wanted to write an Eric/OC story, and I finally got the courage to try. Hope you like it!