From the Spider's Web

Disclaimer: This story is based off the works of Charlaine Harris' novels and Alan Ball's TV show, True Blood.

Author's Note: This story is set quite a few years before the Great Revelation, when Sookie is 17 which makes the year about 1999. This fic will focus around Sookie and Eric and if they had met long before the series starts. This won't be a light and fluffy fic, as I do plan for the story to be darker than this first chapter seems. It starts off pretty slow, but I promise to have a lot of Eric and Sookie interaction.

This had to be one of the worst dates I'd been on in my life, and believe me I'd had a lot of bad dates. Okay, maybe not a lot since I didn't go out with guys often due to my quirk, but it seemed that every one that I did go on ended the same; me walking my sorry ass home, alone. Not many guys were interested in me; sure I was nice enough looking but I was seen as odd. Most girls my age already had boyfriends, but not me, I was 17 and still hadn't even had my first kiss, my quirk made it difficult for me to want to get close to many people, especially guys my age, since most of the time they were thinking something filthy. So anyway, here I am, trudging home through the muddy woods at night, freezing my butt off with my brown sandals in my hands not wanting to ruin them. I was still about an hour away from my house, so I knew I wouldn't be home until after midnight, but I planned to stop over in Shreveport so I could call my older brother Jason, to hopefully come pick me up.

The guy I had been with was a guy from my high school, Jared Barkley; he sat behind me in my Physics class, which is where he had asked me out. I was tempted to just turn him down, but he was really handsome; dark brown hair and golden eyes that made me want to melt in my seat, so I accepted and we planned to go out to a restaurant just outside of town, but we didn't make it very far. I really did try my hardest to stay out of his mind, but I was real nervous so I found it tough. We were sitting in his car when his free arm slung over my shoulders, his hand squeezing my shoulder, while his other hand controlled the wheel. I tensed.

Damn her skin is soft, she may be a freak but I bet she'd be a real fire in bed. I'm glad the dress she's wearing shows off those legs of hers, I can't wait to get between those thighs.

"Ugh," I exclaimed, shrinking as far away as I could from his touch disgusted by his thoughts. "Stop the damn car now, I'm getting out."

"What? What's wrong with you?" he exclaimed.

"Stop the damn car. I don't want to spend another second with you". And he did, right on the motorway and as soon as I slammed the door shut behind me, he sped off. Great move, Sookie. My temper could be quite short, though most of the time I was pretty quiet, if someone struck a nerve in me I found it difficult to supress my irritation.

I cuddled my own body as it was cold tonight; the wind was giving me goose bumps and I momentarily wished I'd worn something warmer than this white sundress and cardigan, but it wasn't often that I went out so I wanted to dress up a little. I walked just out of the clearing of the woods right next to the motorway to see the welcome to Shreveport sign. Fastening my sandals back onto my feet I walked down random streets hoping to find a payphone or at least some place that would still be open so I could use their phone. I'd only been to Shreveport a few times with Gran to go to the big shopping mall they have, but I was sure that was shut by this time. After 20 minutes of wandering the streets I felt frustration bubbling inside me, nonetheless I turned into yet another street and my heart suddenly jumped as I saw a fluorescent red light glowing. It was a sign stating 'Fantasia', which hung outside what looked like some sort of bar or club.

As I approached nearer I could hear rumbles of voices and laughter, and could now make out a line of people queuing outside. Many of the women outside were scantily dressed with a lot of the crowd wearing leather and lace. I now felt distinctly underdressed and perhaps a bit unworldly for this place but nevertheless I hurried toward the club and nervously joined the end of the queue. I stuck out like a sore thumb, being obviously too young for a place like this and a few women in front of me laughed to each other about my presence. Large groups of people made it difficult for me to supress my quirk and all these people's thoughts hit me at once. Most of them were thinking about sex, which didn't surprise me but did make me nervous, so I closed my eyes and focused on shutting their thoughts out till I felt the calming silence inside my mind.

I eventually reached the front of the queue and was greeted by a tall very beautiful woman with long ash blonde hair and full lips. She cocked an eyebrow at me and drawled "I'm gonna' have to see some ID," the corner of her mouth slightly upturned as she let her eyes sweep down me. She was a very strange woman; she seemed to have an odd glow about her.

"Oh I'm real sorry but I just really need to use your phone, I was stranded on the side of the road about an hour back and It'll be about a 2 to 3 hour walk back to my house, so I really need to call my brother to pick me up," I pleaded, trying to be as polite as I could. The woman smiled ironically.

"Well how sweet," she emphasised the last word which made me slightly nervous. "Come right in, I'll take you to our phone". She turned and entered into the club, with me trailing behind her. My eyes widened as I took in the interior of the club. It was very dark inside with a smoky atmosphere; there were half-naked dancers, heavy-petting out in the open and raunchy dancing, which was al something I'd never really seen before so I quickly turned my gaze to the floor and tried to keep up with the woman who led me into the back of the club and stopped outside of a door. She tapped her white knuckles on the door a few times before turning the handle and leading me in.

It seemed to be an office, and right behind the desk sat a man; an incredibly handsome man; I don't mean high-school football player handsome but more of a rugged, foreign kind that made my heart jump into my throat. He was slim but obviously muscular as he wore a plain black vest which showed off his muscular arms and strong chest. His hair was a light golden colour and his eyes were a steel blue.

"I found this pretty young thing outside, she wants to use our phone," the woman drawled with a small curious smile on her face. He looked over me and suddenly I felt very vulnerable, his gaze made my very insides clench.

"Oh, how delightful, she certainly is young isn't she?" he spoke with delight in his voice "Just how old are you?" he quirked a curious eyebrow. I straightened up and swallowed hard trying to appear confident.

"I'm 17, sir," I spoke as strongly as I could and I was impressed that my voice didn't quaver. I was very good at masking my real emotions. The man's smile widened and he leaned forward at his desk leaning his chin upon his interlocked hands.

"Well aren't you sweet," he remarked, a twinkle in his eyes as he smirked at me.

"Not especially," I snapped. I knew immediately that I shouldn't have said that, I cursed myself for not being able to hold my tongue. His smile dropped but his eyebrows rose inquiringly.

"Is that so? Well little one, I'd say you are about the sweetest thing I've smelt in a while, wouldn't you say so, Pam?" He smirked regarding the tall blonde woman just behind me. Smelt? That was odd. My heart rate had been quickening gradually since I stepped foot in this club, slowly realising that I really did not belong here – something wasn't right. I backed away ever so slightly. The only good thing about my quirk was being able to tell people's true intentions, though I wasn't sure if I dared to dip into these minds. Nonetheless, I opened my barriers and listened…nothing.

"Please, could I just use your phone, I really need to be getting back, my Gran will be worrying," I said, holding back my desire to leg it out of here as fast as I could. I still couldn't pick anything up from either of them; I'd never encountered a mind I couldn't read before, sure some people's minds were trickier than others but I'd never just heard nothing.

"Yes, but first you must sit, I would like to hear more about you little one, what is your name?" his voice was low and he spoke slowly, each word rolling off his tongue smoothly.

"I'm Sookie, but please it's already very late, I need to…"

"You will sit down and answer my questions, Sookie," his eyes were fixed on me, narrowed as though trying to burn a hole through mine, but I could feel something strange, a pull in my brain.

"What are you doing?" I asked, staring right back at him. He looked at me surprised, and then over to Pam who was stood behind me.

"Curious, look at me, Sookie, right into my eyes," he was near whispering the words, speaking so smoothly and calmly it made my insides flutter. I considered looking away as I was pretty scared by this point, but I was intrigued. I looked into those steely eyes and I could feel that strange pull again somewhere in my mind. "Tell me the colour of your underwear, Sookie," he smirked. I frowned but kept my gaze on him level.

"How dare you ask me something like that, I've been nothing but polite and I expect the same treatment thank you very much," I snapped "Mister…"

"Northman," he supplied with no inclination in his voice, he seemed to still be thinking about whatever had occurred a few seconds ago.

"Mister Northman, I will be leaving now, I'd rather walk home than have someone talk to me like that." I turned swiftly on my heel, walking past Pam who stood there half-amused and half-surprised by my actions, but just as I turned the door knob, he was there. Holy shit. I looked up at him surprised, as his cold hand paused over mine on the handle of the door.

"You won't be going anywhere Miss…"

"Stackhouse," I replied, my heart pounding in fright. Who were these people….what were these people?

"Miss Stackhouse, you are very," he leaned over me, just behind me and I felt a tingle up my spine "interesting, I would like to speak to you some more," he whispered close to my ear. "Pam, we would like some privacy," he commanded sternly but kindly over his shoulder. He pulled me gently away from the door by my upper arm and opened the door for Pam. She smirked at me as she left and he shut the door behind her. I felt frozen, my body stuff with fear, how had he moved so fast?

"I really don't feel comfortable, I want to go home," I said in such a weak voice I was unfamiliar with. I wasn't often very scared, I've always been able to handle myself in bad situations but this alarmed me.

"You will, but first I'd like to know what you are, Miss Stackhouse." He was still very close to me, too close, with his cold hand still gripping my upper arm.

"I'm just a high-school student," I replied, my answer seemed lame even to my ears, but what do you say to a question like that? I wondered if he could sense that I was different. "What are you, Mister Northman?" I countered. I was acting a lot braver than I felt. He laughed and then paced slowly around me.

"You think I am different, Miss Stackhouse?" he asked, amusement present in his voice. I nodded to his question. I was probably being very foolish considering the situation, but I was curious about this man or whatever he was, I could feel that his mind was different somehow. "What is different about me?" he whispered close to my ear again which made me jump slightly. He stopped pacing around me and stood in front of me, staring at me with those cold but intense eyes.

"You glow," I responded keeping my voice level. His eyebrows rose again in shock, but he seemed to understand something I didn't because he walked over to his desk and made a note and slipped it into his draw.

"Use the phone on my desk, you may call whomever you'd like to come get you," he said, looking over at me from his desk, he sat down in his large leather chair and kept his curious gaze upon me as I approached the phone. I dialled my brother's number and thanked God when he finally answered.

"Jason," I said in relief.

"Sook? You seriously calling me at this time? Did something happen?" he asked, his tone a mix of worry and annoyance.

I asked Jason to pick me up from outside the club in Shreveport which, I could tell by his tone he was not too pleased about but still agreed anyway. I hung up the phone and looked over at Mister Northman.

"Thank you very much for letting me use your phone, my brother shouldn't be too long, I'll wait outside," I said trying to dismiss myself from this weird atmosphere.

"You will wait here, I don't think it would be safe for you to wait outside, Miss Stackhouse. I wish to ensure the safety of all my customers." My insides crawled, but I kept my brave face in place; I wouldn't show my fear.

"Technically I am not a customer, but fine," I responded smartly, looking him in the face, trying to emphasise my confidence and that I wouldn't be intimidated. The room fell silent and I took this opportunity to look around the room. My eyes looked over at ancient looking drawings and engravings, which depicted what looked like battles and acts of cruelty, which hung around the walls and then to strange objects that littered about the room. They looked mostly like sculptures; most likely of the same age as the images were, but there was also models of old looking ships and boats. Curiously, there was a group of guitars and a dissembled drum kit in the corner of the room which looked seriously out of place. My inspection was interrupted when suddenly he spoke.

"So, Miss. Stackhouse, you live with your grandmother and brother?" he asked abruptly. I looked over to him, and he was staring back at me with what seemed like keen interest. I shook my head gently.

"Just my gran," I replied shortly. I didn't like the idea of him knowing too much about me and especially about people who I cared about. He made a noise of acknowledgement to my answer.

"Your parents?" he started before I quickly talked over him.

"Are none of your business," I snapped. Northman stood and leaned on his desk facing me, his face had dropped any sense of a smile, and he looked very severe.

"I do not take well to be being spoken to like that, Miss Stackhouse," he said sternly, his eyes still fixated on mine. This time I kept my temper in check, I did not want any trouble from this guy who was obviously intimidating for a reason. I swallowed my pride and kept silent, just staring back at him as he settled once again in his seat. This was proving to be a very odd night indeed; being from such a small town meant I didn't really come across folks I didn't know so I was rarely faced with someone so daunting. "I would like to see you again, Sookie." I didn't like the way he kept using my name, it made my insides feel icy and my nerves twitter inside me.

"That's kind of you to say," I replied, my voice more quiet and gentle than it had been before. I had no intention of being anywhere near this guy or this place again. I could tell something was off with these people, and I didn't like the way both he and Pam had looked at me, I felt like they knew something I didn't.

"Are you not going to answer my request, Miss Stackhouse?" he asked raising one silvery eyebrow.

"I doubt it matters much what I say, one way or another," I retorted sharply before I could stop myself. He laughed to my surprise, and looked upon me with amusement.

"You are smart, little one," he smirked.

Not soon after, Jason had arrived to pick me up and I was relieved. I jumped into his truck as quickly as I could only sparing one glance back; there I saw Northman staring at me with a devious smile etched across his lips, my heart sunk. I had not seen the last of this guy, I could feel it.