Disclaimer: I own nothing.
It has been four years since the Vampire Revelation. After the first weeks the subject died down on the news. But you would still find numerous stories on TV and magazines about vampires opening business, vampires buying houses, humans dating vampires and even a new kind of drug dealers who drain blood from the vampires.
"V" was the drug of choice for most teenagers these days; the rumor was it could give you strength and stamina. So, obviously, not all was good. Besides drainers, vampires had to run from religious bigots. Groups and churches were created to denigrate vampire's activities. The most famous initiative was the Fellowship of the Sun. Or as Adele Stackhouse liked to call them: prejudiced idiots carrying Bibles. No member of the undead had visited Bon Temps yet.
Sookie had lost her dear grandmother two years after that unforgettable night. Adele's heart had given out, the 72 year old woman died in her sleep. The girl was still dealing with the loss of her best friend and guide. But, otherwise, life had been peaceful to Sookie.
It's Wednesday night and Sookie is sitting on a bar stool distracting herself filling salt and pepper shakers. For the last three hours it had been up to her to keep the tables attended. Thank goodness, by now, she thought, there was only a small group of frat kids and some girls in.
Her coworkers Down and Arlene had left earlier. It's Sookies last shift before a two weeks' vacation, so she accepted their request to cover a few hours. The women wanted to go to a new club in Shreveport or something. Sookie wasn't really paying attention when they asked. Throughout the day she felt a strange sensation, like something was lurking, waiting to pounce. The accumulated noise in the room from the boys racket would had been enough to give anybody a headache, but in the telepaths case it was necessary to on account all the corrupted ideas circulating in the bar patron's minds. It's like they could also feel something different about tonight. Even now, as she is almost alone in the room, it's arduous to block them.
Dam… look at that girls tits. Wanna put my…
So sexy, so hot… why can't Danny be a sex God like that blond vamp. I should go back without him. No one would know…
Why is that bitch smiling so much… nobody is gonna like you better, crazy Sookie…
Out of the blue, all of the noise, in and out of Sookie's head, stops. She just gives out a long sigh allowing her to get lost in the silence until she feels Sam's mind approaching.
Her bosses mind is usually foggy. But this time she can tell how on edge he is. That is when the girl notices three presences in the room. Voids, to be more precise. She tries to listen to the new comers, but hears nothing. They are silent to her. Sam gets to the top of the hallway that leads to his office as Sookie turns around and faces the new arrivals. Merlotte's had just got its fists vampires. And they were sitting by a table looking at the blond telepath with sinister smiles on their faces.
As she walked towards the table, she was thinking about how to tell them the bar had no True Blood. The meager vampire sitting by the window spoke first.
"Well, aren't you happy that I'm the one to scout our hunting territory, Diane? Taverns like this one always provide blood bags worth a bite". The vampire had a slight smile as if he was commenting a topic during an afternoon tea between friends.
"Yes, Liam. Particularly if they react like the lambs they are". The female vampire sitting opposite to him had a green dress on that looked like it belonged to a disco club from the seventies. She had yet to take her eyes off of Sookie.
"I don't think they have ever encountered one of us before. Have you, human?" The disdain with which the huge bald vampire sitting next to Diane spoke brought goose bumps to Sookie's skin. His fangs were out and if not for the tension the girl was feeling, she would stop to take a better look at them.
He moved his hand towards Sookie's arm. But she had enough room between them to move away from him. Skin contact probably would give her a better chance to read him, however she didn't think it would be a good idea to get too near him. For the past years she had wasted so many hours imagining how it would be to meet a vampire. She couldn't stop herself from getting disappointed. These three were just asking to be perceived negatively.
"No. You're our first". Sookie wanted to say more, like how rude they were being, but Sam beat her to it.
"We don't have True Blood to serve you. I suggest you leave my bar quietly". Sookie could see in her bosses head that he had a gun hidden behind his back.
The waitress looked about the room; the patrons had left while this short discussion happened. People can move much faster than usual when frightened, she guessed.
"Vampires – the bald vampire starts to say – are recognized citizens. You cannot refuse us service. We can go anywhere we please. Not that we ever needed any silly law to grant our wishes. I suggest you stay quiet, dog".
Diane, who is still drilling holes at Sookie, growls out.
"We are not looking for that nasty sludge, dog. We'll just have a drink from your succulent waitress".
Before Sookie could say anything or get away from them, Liam is on Sam pushing him away from the main floor. Diane and the bald one are on Sookie. The giant vampire is pressing her down on the table, while the female has her hand around Sookie's neck.
"Little child, has anyone told you how good you smell? I could sniff you out from the moment I entered the parking lot. Simply delicious". Diane's face is inches from Sookie's; the women eyes are locked on the telepath's. Sookie feels a pressure inside her head, as if there is something trying to invade it.
The pressure of their hands, and whatever it is Diane is trying to do, making the girl snap out of her panic. Sadly, only to act stupidly.
"I'm not on the menu"!
Sookie's remark only makes the grip on her neck and body tighter. Behind Diane, the bald vampire's face is showing a broad grim full of fang. Sookie is trying to trash around, but she barely moves. Her vision starts to go black from the lack of oxygen. Diane's fags are almost piercing her neck, when a gun goes off and Sam shouts.
"You have no business here, fangers. Get the fuck out, or my next round wont' be so out of target".
From across the room Liam's cold voice states:
"You forget your place, dog".
The hands holding Sookie are gone. The vampires leave through the front door in a blur too fast to follow. As a cold sensation starts to reach the telepath's body and her eyes begin to shut, she can't help to wonder what a ridiculous catch line the vampire had used.
She was unconscious for a few minutes. Enough time for Sam to carry her to his trailer. As she is slowly waking up, she listens to his thoughts.
Can't lose her… dam fangers. Can let them do what they want. Shouldn't be here. This town is a lowly mud hole… fuck. Should have shifted. A lion would do… I should have fought them off. I could take them. No. Sookie would see me. She can understand. God, I wanted her to know me, everything. Her skin's so soft… she's so beautiful even scared… what I wouldn't do to have her…
Sookie saw that as her cue to let him know she was awake. No good can come from listening to your bosses mind. However, she could not help asking:
"Sam, what do you mean by shifting into a lion?"
Immediately Sam dropped her hand, but to his credit, he didn't move away.
"You were listening to me? I thought you never did that." Sam's strangely calm voice made Sookie's curiosity turn into apprehension. Siting up she responded his accusation.
"I can't always help. And you know that. But when my boss, and friend, thinks he could defeat vampires by turning into a lion. I have to ask".
Sam wasn't looking at her anymore. Sookie could tell he was having a hard debate him himself, but she would not push him. It wasn't the first time she had learned a little something about someone who would, otherwise, reluctantly discuss it aloud. She probably knows more secrets and sins about the good folks of Bon Temps than the town priest.
"I'm sorry I've hidden this from you for so long". Sam begins to explain in a low quivering voice.
"I… I've had to learn how devastating it can be to tell someone the truth only to see them get hurt. I found out about my… nature… when I was a teenager. It was full moon and I felt this powerful urge to go outside".
Sookie could not tell where Sam's story was leading, but she could relate with his fear. She had seen people hurt because of her ability as well.
"The last thing I remember was waking up naked on my neighbors' backyard. Only on the next time it happened I found out what I was".
Sam was looking strait to Sookie now, no tremor in his voice.
"I'm a shape shifter. I can change my body's form to emulate an animal's appearance. I can effectively turn into a lion or any other animal".
Sookie had a dilemma on her hands.
It is fair to call Sam a dissembler ass. He had hidden his secret from her for five years. She was entitled to be angry.
When she first started to work at his bar she could not hide her telepathy for too long. It was almost impossible not to react to the thoughts around her in the busy bar. He soon realized that there was something different about the girl.
When he confronted her, it hadn't been like all the other times someone had suspect there was something different about Sookie. He had been supportive, much like Sookie's Gran had always been. He knew her struggle to fit in. And now she knows why he was so understandable. But could she forgive him? Well, she would have to, she decided. Otherwise, she would be a hypocrite.
"It's only because I have experienced firsthand how hard it is to be different in a little community like ours that I'm capable to relate with your fear of reveling yourself, Sam. So, even a bit disappointed in you, I'm willing to move on from this. I'm not saying I'm not freaking out… but I think it's actually cool to turn into an animal. Can you turn into a dog?", she asked with humor in her gaze.
"Yeah, that's why the vamps called me one. It's the usual form I take. I can turn into anything from the animal kingdom, as long as I know how they look like". Sam had a small smile on his lips.
"Well, I'll be sure to remember that next time a need a cat to chase after rats that show up at the farm house". Sookie had her own small smile on.
"I'll be glad to help, cher. Thank you. Are you all right? Is your neck hurting?"
Touching her sensitive skin Sookie replied, "It's fine. Don't worry… Now, can we talk about what we are going to do about those vampires?"