Chapter 2: Getting to Know the Northman's Daughter
The next evening I was standing next to the sink, drying up my dishes from supper, when Mags appeared at the doorway to the kitchen.
"Good evening, Sookie," she said cheerfully. "What time do you have to be at work?"
"Evening, Mags," I replied. "Not for another half hour. Did you wash the dishes in my sink last night?"
"I did. I figured while I was talking to Eric about plans that I should busy myself somehow. Did I not put them in the correct place?"
"No, it's not that. It is just that it seems like such a trivial thing that most vampires don't do."
Mags smiled and nodded. "I suppose it is, but I felt like I should do something since you let me into your home. Besides, it is satisfying to do something." I blinked at Mags. Mags smiled and turned to go down the hall. "I am going to change. What would make me not stand out at your work?"
"Uh… jeans and a tee shirt, I guess. But you are going to stand out anyways."
"Because I will be the only one drinking a TrueBlood?"
"Yeah." Mags shrugged and disappeared.
Fifteen minutes later I was in my car heading towards Merlotte's with Mags in the passenger seat. My radio was on due to the fact that I ran a few errands earlier today and picked up a few TrueBloods for Mags. This started Mags to sing along with the songs that played. A few songs played that I wasn't familiar with but Mags seemed to enjoy herself during the ride to work.
I went in thru the employee entrance and Mags went through the front entrance. I quickly put my purse in the drawer in Sam's office and checked myself in the mirror before flagging down Arlene.
"Thank the Lord you're here, Sook," she sighed. Ever the drama queen, I thought as I listened to what the tables were going like as we switched. I snapped up my shields earlier so I didn't hear anything that I didn't want too.
I went out and checked to see how the tables were doing and noticed Mags was sitting at the bar talking with Sam. Sam gave me a smile and motioned for me to come over to the bar.
"Hey ya, Sam!" I greeted him brightly.
"Hey, Sookie. This is for your table," he said as he indicated to the pitcher of beer and three glasses.
"Great. I see you have meet Mags."
"Yeah, when you have a few…"
"When I have a few, Sam." I smiled brightly at him and kept my shields up for the rest of the night.
After close that night Mags went out to run a perimeter and Sam walked me to my car.
"So some strange things are happening in the supe world, Sook," he sighed.
"That's what everyone is telling me."
"Do you think Mags is trustworthy?"
I shrugged. "She seems to be a different sort of vampire. I mean, last night I went to bed and my sink was half full of dishes that needed to be washed. When I woke up this morning they weren't there. Mags had washed them and put them away without me even asking. She even set my coffee pot to brew this morning."
"How do you know it wasn't Eric?"
"Eric? The only way he would do dishes is picking up a phone to dial a maid service. And he has never set my coffee pot up." Sam chuckled and nodded in agreement. "What did you and Mags talk about, anyways?"
"This and that. Plans that her and Eric have set up for you if it gets bad; finances, stock market, drinks, music… a variety of things. She is interesting and nothing like Eric."
"Should she be? I know just because Eric is her father means that she has a bit of him in her but she wasn't raised by him so it shouldn't show that she is like him."
"You're right. She seems almost human. I sometimes forgot that she was a vampire while she was talking to me," admitted Sam.
"I can see that happening," I smiled. "She is defiantly different."
"Well, I best let you go home and rest," sighed Sam.
"Yeah, night, Sam."
"Night, Sookie."
I got into my car and saw Mags dancing across the parking lot. Sam turned towards her and chuckled as he went to his trailer. I unlocked the passenger door and Mags opened it and sat down with a smile as I started my car.
"Ya know what, Sookie?" beamed Mags.
"What, Mags?"
"Sam's a real great guy."
"He is, isn't he," I agreed with her as I drove us home.
"That Arlene is a total bitch, though." I laughed and smiled at Mags. "If you didn't have to work with her, I would suggest cutting all ties that you have with her. She is a very toxic human and will use anyone to her advantage. That's why she hasn't been able to keep any of her ex-husbands."
"Wow, you picked all that up this evening?"
"Yep. So you just be careful and stay in her head so you have a heads up if she is going to betray you."
"Thanks for the advice."
"You're welcome." I pulled up next to Mags' covered car; she told me it was a Road Runner. I didn't speak 'Car and Driver' but I knew that it was an old car and worth more than mine.
"I have the lunch shift tomorrow," I informed Mags as we were going into the house. "I should be back just after sundown. I picked up a few bottles of TrueBlood for you today."
"Thank you, Sookie. If you don't mind me asking, what do you like to eat?"
I stopped in the kitchen and blinked at her.
"What? I can cook. I figured that I could at least make a few meals for you at night so all you would have to do is reheat them. I won't be offended if you don't like it. Some food has a required taste."
"Well, I… uh… I will try just about anything, I guess," I said in a stunned voice. "Where did you learn how to cook?"
"Everywhere I have been has its own unique cuisine. I have learned over time by observing my human staff that cooking is all about taste and smell. I have tried my hand at it and most of the staff that were brave enough to try my cooking have enjoyed it."
"Well, I will try anything that you make at least once," I smiled. "I am off to bed. Good night, Mags."
"Good night, Sookie."
The next night I came home to find Mags busy in the kitchen. She looked up to me from cutting vegetables and smiled. "Dinner will be ready in about forty-five minutes. You can go clean up and rest for a bit till it is done."
I nodded and looked over at the stove where the appetizing aroma was coming from. My mouth watered and I decided that I best go take a shower before my stomach gave away at how hungry I was.
I scurried to my room and quickly took a shower. I brushed out my hair and put on a pair of pajamas and went back out to the kitchen.
"Anything that I can do to help?" I asked Mags as she stood in front of the stove.
"Choose what you want to drink?" I nodded and went to the fridge and pulled out some ice tea and turned as Mags set my place at the table. "I hope that this is okay. I started out with something simple. I figured chicken is a safe food to start with."
"I am sure it will be fine," I smiled. "It smells great."
Mags took my plate and filled it up. She replaced it and I looked at the breaded chicken breast, mashed potatoes and the deep fried green beans. I said a quick silent prayer and dug in.
"Oh my," I groaned with pleasure as I took a bite of the chicken. I closed my eyes and savored the flavor. I could hear Mags getting out Tupperware and putting the rest of the food away. "Mags, this is the best home cooked meal I have had in a very long time."
"I will take that as a complement," she said behind me as I took a bite of my sides. I groaned again and leaned back.
Garlic in the mashed potatoes? I hope Mags wasn't irritated by it.
"Don't worry about the garlic," she spoke up. "I was in Italy for awhile and got used to it in their foods. It doesn't irritate me as it would other vampires. Eric may have a problem with it but he can deal for a few meals."
"I almost forgot what it was like to have garlic in my food. Are you sure about it not being irritating?"
Mags smiled at me as she started the dishes. "Just enjoy your food, Sookie. The garlic is about as bad as freshly grounded pepper to you. After so long of being around it, I got used to it."
I smiled and continued to eat. I was about half way through when my phone rang. Mags beat me to it and motioned for me to continue eating.
"Stackhouse residence."
Silence.
"She is a little preoccupied right at the moment."
Silence.
"Her taste buds are having an orgasm. You will have to wait till she is finished with her supper."
Silence.
"Are you absolutely certain you want to interrupt her bliss? Wouldn't you rather just ride the wave you are feeling and wait till after she is finished?" Mags smirked at me and rolled her eyes at the phone as she handed it to me before returning to the dishes.
"Hi, Eric," I giggled.
"And what has you in such a state of bliss, my lover?" purred Eric on the other end of the phone.
"Mags has just made me this wonderful meal. Did you know that she can cook better than anyone that I know of that is alive?" I gushed.
"I did not know that. So what did Mags make you?"
"Breaded chicken breast with an amazing amount of seasoning, fried green beans and buttered garlic mashed potatoes," I sighed happily and took another bite.
"Did you say garlic?"
"Mm-hm!"
"Well, as long as you are happy," chuckled Eric.
"Is it going to be a problem for you?" I asked instantly concerned.
"Not as much as you would think," assured Eric. "Just don't eat it daily and I should be able to handle what you are eating."
"Okay. How are things going?"
"They go as the go. I am seeing about a few things. It seems to be taking longer than expected."
"I trust you, Eric. I know it will take time to figure stuff out." Mags busied herself by the stove and I raised an eyebrow. "I'm fine with Mags watching over me. Especially when she is this fabulous of a cook."
"I may have to hire her to cook for you when this is over," chuckled Eric. Mags snorted and turned around with a small dish. My mouth dropped as Mags stepped to me and took my empty plate and set down something that I have never seen before.
"You can't afford me, Eric," smiled Mags as she took the phone from me. "It's a personal lava cake, Sookie. Eat it before it cools."
I grabbed my fork and cut a wedge and watched as chocolate oozed out of the center. I took my first bite and closed my eyes. "She is worth every penny you would spend on her, Eric!"
Mags chuckled and continued to talk to Eric as she cleaned up. I just ignored her and focused on the chocolate heaven that was in front of me till it was gone. Mags took my plate and washed up the last dish.
"My lord, Mags!" I breathed. "That was almost as good as sex."
Mags laughed. "Then Eric isn't doing his job to his best ability."
I chuckled and looked around my now clean kitchen. "So now what? I don't have to work till the evening shift tomorrow."
"You are going to pick out a movie to watch while I give you a mani-pedi." Mags disappeared outside and came back with a small case. "Pam will be here in a few minutes so we girls can bond, apparently."
I laughed and went to my living room and picked out my favorite movie. Pam knocked before I could get the movie in the player and Mags was at the door.
"Evening, Pam," she greeted.
"Magdalena," responded Pam as she stepped inside.
"Pam," sighed Mags, "I am your maker's human child; I think we can disregard any formal greetings. Mags is just fine."
Pam raised an eyebrow and rolled her eyes. "I was told that you are a very different vampire. I guess since Eric wants me to get to know you I can play along for now."
"Awe, Pam, it sounds like you don't think that you will enjoy your time with me," pouted Mags.
I laughed as I sat down on the couch. "Pam, I would figure that you would enjoy spending a night away from Fangtasia?"
"Oh I do enjoy that bit very much," admitted Pam as she sat next to me. "I am just uncomfortable being in your house with a vampire I barely know."
Mags came into the room and smiled. "Good. Your instincts are proving you are competent in your survival."
"I will take that as a complement," replied Pam. I rolled my eyes and started the movie. Pam groaned inwardly and Mags sat down on the floor to start my pedicure.
