Risa pulled Sookie farther out from the parking lot, almost entering the forested area behind Merlotte's.

Glancing around carefully, she released Sookie and then brushed a lock of hair from her face.

Sookie crossed her arms expectantly and raised an eyebrow.

Risa sighed. "Fine. But if you tell anyone about this I will ruin you. I'm not kidding. I've learned my lesson very well that telling people about this ends very badly."

Sookie nodded, lips parting as she stared at Risa.

"I'm a telepath." Risa thought, watching Sookie closely.

"I knew it. I've never met another telepath!" Sookie screeched excitedly.

"HUSH. It's safer if we don't speak aloud." Risa thought, slightly amused by the girl's enthusiasm.

Sookie nodded. "Right. I have so many questions. How long have you been a telepath?"

"All my life."

"Me too! Have you ever met another telepath?"

" Three others."

"Wow! That many? Are there lots of us?" Sookie's eyes lit up.

"I traveled a lot. And no, we're pretty rare. But we find each other all the time."

Sookie frowned. "What do you mean?"

Risa's brow furrowed. "It's hard to explain. It's like…. we're drawn to each other. Subconsciously. I don't know why, but it's this weird connection thing. I've heard of telepaths who can talk to each other across states, even oceans. That's probably why I moved to this shitty little town. Because I was drawn to you. "

Sookie was silent for a few moments. "Can we just not hear other telepaths or-"

Risa shook her head. "No. I could hear you from across the bar. It's like you were broadcasting. You have very little control over your powers."

"You can control it?"

Risa rolled her eyes. "Of course."

"Would you…could you teach me?"

Risa frowned. She really didn't want to risk it, but she remembered what it was like to have no control over your powers.

She sighed. "Yes. But that's enough for now; people are going to get suspicious. If you really want help, wait a couple days and then let me know when and where you want to meet. Do not breathe a word of this to anyone. I don't care if you think you can trust them with your life. It's too dangerous.

Sookie nodded. "All right." They looked at each other for a few more seconds and then headed back to the bar, both lost in their thoughts.

Risa was still questioning her decision on trusting the perky blonde. With a sigh she re-entered the bar, spotting the purse she'd left near Sam. He was talking to a brunette who was drinking a rum and coke, looking somewhat forlorn.

She heaved herself up back into her stool, grabbing the glass that had been freshly refilled. Risa shot Sam a grateful look, who winked at her charmingly, and then returned to his conversation.

She was just finishing her glass when she felt a disturbance. She swung around and could spot him immediately. Sitting alone at a table was a vampire.

Risa narrowed her eyes at him and watched, as Sookie approached him, looking unbelievably happy. The vampire felt old to her but not as old as some. Swallowing the remnants of her glass, she slid it back to Sam and jumped up.

He shot her a quick look as he saw she was heading out. "You going back to your ratty apartment so soon? Is Merlotte's that bad?"

Risa smiled briefly, her eyes flitting to the vampire. "No I just have a bit of a headache. I'll call an exterminator when I get home and arm myself with a frying pan."

Sam nodded and his gaze returned to Sookie and the vampire, but as she passed him he grabbed her arm. "Hey, if you ever need to talk or just want to get away, my trailer's right near here."

Risa stared at him for several seconds, expressionless. She could tell Sam was a naturally friendly guy, but she really didn't know if this was appropriate. She'd gotten involved with her bosses too many times. Hell, she was that girl who always screwed the boss.

Her eyes crinkled slightly and she gave a shrug, pursing her lips. "Maybe."

Sam grinned at this and waved to her as she left. At the door she paused deciding to give the Sookie girl advice she'd never been lucky enough to get. "Be careful around that vampire. All vampires."

Sookie looked up from around her table a confused expression on her face. Risa met her eyes briefly and gave a half-smile, before pushing open the door and disappearing.

The next day Risa had to work, so she got up at 7 and washed her hair in the tiny excuse for a shower in her apartment.

When she stepped out she wound her pale blonde curls into a towel staring into the mirror. She really stuck out in good ol' Louisiana. She had pale white skin and huge blue eyes, and only barely reached 5'1, but she had such a petite frame that she looked even smaller.

Many people had referred to her as a porcelain doll, which annoyed the crap out of her. She'd never had it easy, and she was hardly breakable. Well at least in a figurative sense, because realistically she was quite breakable.

She used her attractiveness to her advantage and had not been short on partners. Well once she'd finally gotten control of her power. Getting physical with someone while you can hear his thoughts was no picnic. She was no shy teenager, unsure of what she wanted from a relationship.

Risa dabbed her cheeks with a smidge of blush and then grabbed a hair tie from the sink. She unwrapped her towel and deftly pulled her hair back into a ponytail, too uncaring to try to do something interesting.

Then with a second glance at the mirror she dressed in her uniform swiftly. After she'd shoved down a quick bagel she grabbed her keys, eager to be rid of her apartment.

Work went by uneventfully, until Dawn told her ,eyes wide with excitement, that someone named Maudette Pickens had been murdered.

"That's right, murdered! They're saying it might be vampires.

Risa raised an eyebrow speculating. "Was she drained?"

Dawn frowned. "What?"

Risa smiled briefly. "Drained. Sucked of all her blood? Vampires wouldn't kill someone without drinking all of their blood. Unless they had the virus."

Dawn's brow furrowed, obviously taken aback by Risa's knowledge. "Oh. I'm not really sure. You sure do know a lot about vampires."

Risa nodded but didn't offer any more information.

Dawn studied her for a few seconds and then said, whispering conspiratorially. "I don't think it was vampires either. I've, I've been with a vampire. He was really …amazing."

Risa chuckled. "I'm sure he was. You have to be careful though. Not all vampires are safe. They work differently than us. They don't have the same values."

Dawn brushed her words away with her hand and said, "Yes, I know but this guy he was different."

"Who was he anyways? That one in town?" Risa asked curiously.

Dawn rolled her eyes. "No. Not my type. I met him down at that bar down in Shreveport."

"What bar?" Risa said.

Dawn's eyes widened. "You ain't never heard of it? Oh my god. It's called Fangtasia. We should go together! I've been itching to go again."

Risa shook her head, amused at Dawn's excitement. "No thanks, I've had enough of vampires to last a lifetime."

Dawn pouted and said sullenly, "I thought I'd finally found someone to go with. Arlene's a vampire racist and Sookie, well she's Sookie. That girl will never learn how to have a good time. "

Risa felt bad for declining the invitation but she had too many bad memories and it was too big of a risk. "You go without me and you can come back and tell me all about it."
Dawn didn't seem sated but she nodded anyway and then glanced at her watch. "I'd better get back to work. Sam'll probably yell at me."

Risa nodded and watched her depart, her happiness sorely depleted. Risa spent the rest of the day busily waiting tables. She met a new bartender, a sassy woman named Tara who Risa wasn't sure if she liked or not.

Sookie arrived later, looking rested and cheerful. Later Risa found out that Sookie's brother had been arrested for Maudette's murder. Sookie looked overwhelmed and Risa could tell she was having a hell of a time trying to control her telepathy especially with the added stress. She was about to draw her aside and give her a couple pointers when that vampire entered and sat down.

Sookie seemed completely infatuated and Risa watched as she slowly made her way across the bar to sit with him.

She remembered the allure of vampire's when she'd had little control over her powers. The silence after so many years of unending noise was the most pleasurable thing Risa had ever felt.

Even now vampires still had their draw. It was nice not to have to focus even a small amount, to cease to think about that side of her at all. But she'd learned the benefits weren't worth the cost. And she imagined that Sookie would soon be learning that too.