Chapter 2

Lafayette POV

Ah Shit. I really did not want to stop by Fangtasia tonight, but when tall, blond and dead(ly) called, I had to go. I knew I should have never taken this damn car. But it was a fine ride, and when he showed up at my house one night with it, all I could think of was how H.O.T. I would look driving it. One glance in the rearview mirror told me I was right!

So in I go to the "bar with the bite", just hoping that I won't walk out with one, to see the man who I dreaded more than most. When Eric Northman found out that I was using V, I nearly died. Seriously died. But, then somehow the motherf**cker had a change of heart. I almost wish he didn't. Cause now, he's got me pushing the shit. So now my price for living, was pushing vampire blood for the one man who almost ended my life cause I was takin it. Ironic huh? God I just wanted to get out of here and get my thing on with Jesus and the girls at Potion. Although Northman was probably the hottest man I'd ever laid eyes on, he scared me half to death. But Jesus… not only was he fine, he was good to me. At least so far.

"Uh, Evenin' Pam." I managed to get out as I walked to the door. There were a ton of people waiting to get in, and it looked like Pam was the gatekeeper. "He's busy, but he's expecting you. Get a drink at the bar and wait until you're called" she replied with a sneer. I don't trust her one bit. She's another one that scares the crap outta me. Beautiful, but deadly.

After twenty minutes of waiting, I realize that I'm gonna be awhile. So I call over to Tara and let her and Sook know that I'm gonna be late. They want to meet me here, and ask where I'm at, but I won't tell 'em. That's all I need is for them to know what I'm mixed up in. Lord, I'd never hear the end of it! That, and quite frankly, I don't want them to get mixed up in it either. As I'm hangin up, Pam is over to tell me that the Sheriff is ready to see me now. Lucky me.

"Lafayette. How nice of you to come by." Eric announces from behind his desk. As if I had any choice in the matter I'm thinkin, but I'm smart enough never to say it. "Ah, sure Eric. Here'sall themoneyfrom whatI'vesoldlastweek. I've still got more supply. Iknowyouwantittomovefast,andI'stryin" He cuts me off before I can go on.

"My dear, you're talking a million miles an hour. If I didn't know any better, I'd think that you didn't want to visit with me tonight." And with that tall, dark and dead(ly) puts his long-ass legs up on his desk and leans back in his chair. He's a smart man. He knows I'm gay, and that even though he doesn't swing my way, this would distract me. "Now I'm not interested in hearing that you are trying Lafayette. I'm interested to hear that you're selling. And I don't care if you are happy about being here or not, when I call, you come." Yes sir I think to myself…

"Oh no Eric, it's not that I don't want visit, it's just that I was due someplace a little while ago that's all." I manage to stammer as a reply. "Well, I don't care about your other plans. I care that you haven't sold it all yet." He replies as he takes a look at the large stack of cash that I've just handed him. I can't figure out why he's got me selling blood. If he's got enough cash to own this club, and hand me that fine sports car and then just go get himself another one, he sure ain't having me do this shit for the cash. Awh, hell, truth is, I don't care why he has me doin it, I just want to stop.

"I suppose this will do for now Lafayette," he says sitting upright in his chair. "And I can see you are anxious to leave my presence tonight. I'll take it easy on you today. Know that I expect the rest sold by Monday." Monday? Damn, it's Thursday night. I seriously got some work to do. Good thing I have some in a cooler in the car. I'm sure that there are some people at Potion who will buy. I wish I didn't have to do it around the girls, or Jesus. I don't want him knowin that about me yet…

"Thank you Eric. I'll be back Monday." I say as I'm heading for the door. Thank God I'm getting outta this joint. It gives me the creeps. Especially as I walk past the door to the basement. I don't have any good memories from that place.

I push through the throngs that are in this place. Man, what a sea of desperate. Wouldn't catch me in here for fun. As I'm walkin out the front door, I'm shocked. I see Tara and Sookie walkin up. "Bitches, whatchya doin here? How'd you know I was here? Let's go!" I'm giving them the bum's rush back to Tara's car, and praying to God that Sook ain't readin my mind.

"Lafayette, whatchya doing hanging out in a place like this for? I heard someone in the background when you were on the phone mention this place, so I thought we'd head over. No fun waiting in line at Potion without you." Tara looked like she had some attitude. If she only knew, I thought. And then thought of Sookie, who just might know. Sookie just looked at me and this place questioningly, and then wrapped her arm back around me and walked to the car. All I could do was keep thinking "My country Tis of thee, sweet land of liberty… of thee I sing.." and pray she wasn't snoopin in my head. I've got to get them out of here.

Eric POV

Another night among the masses. While I like my little slice of Louisiana, sometimes its residents really drive me crazy. I look across the club at the masses of black, over made up women, and men all in search of a walk on the wild side and find I just can't stand it tonight. After using my blackberry to answer some emails, I notice the time and realize I've got a call to make. As I head off my throne to my office, I kick a fangbanger in the head who thought it would be a good idea to grab my leg. I can see Pam smirk from across the bar and send someone over to tend to the man who is now curled up on the floor by one of the booths.

As I reach my office the phone is already ringing. I know who it will be, and I'm not looking forward to this call at all. "Well, hello your magesty. I was just coming to call you." I really wonder sometimes how Sophie Ann came to be queen. She was turned as a child, and after hundreds of years still behaves as one in my opinion. "Eric, my favorite Sheriff. How is business?" I know what she means. She cares not for Fangtasia. I owe her the same amount of tithe regardless of how well my club does. She wants to know how the sale of V is going. She's forcing me to sell blood for her. I don't know where she's getting it from, or if it's hers, all I know is that I will NOT give her any of mine. But she's desperate. She has pissed away almost all of her money. Between that, and the fact that New Orleans is still recovering from Katrina, she's not bringing in as much as she used to. Silly girl owes a lot of money to the IRS and thinks that selling V is the way to get it.

"Sophie Ann, I have a meeting in a little while to determine just that. Forecasts show that we will be on target, and I have no doubt you will be pleased." We can't just come out and speak about it unless we are together. Who knows who may be listening in on either end.

After we get off of the phone, I am busied with a few new vampires who would like to live in my area. While I am known as ruthless, I am also known as a fair and just sheriff. After the last new vamp leaves my office, I let Pam know I'm ready to see Lafayette. It was pure luck on his part that as I had him downstairs torturing him for using V, that Sophie Ann came by and let me know I was to sell for her. There was no better person for the job as far as I was concerned. While he was amusing, I have little tolerance for humans, and even a lower tolerance for excuses. I will be very disappointed if he tries to give me any tonight.

"Lafayette. How nice of you to come by." I say as he enters my office. I can smell his fear. Good. He should fear me. He's fidgeting. Humans just can't seem to sit still. But he seems more on edge than normal. I wonder why? "Ah, sure Eric. Here'sall themoneyfrom whatI'vesoldlastweek. I've still got more supply. Iknowyouwantittomovefast,andI'stryin" I cut him off, because I just can't stand to listen to him rattle on any longer.

"My dear, you're talking a million miles an hour. If I didn't know any better, I'd think that you didn't want to visit with me tonight." I know he prefers men, so I decide to give a stretch and put my legs up on my desk. I know I look good. As I lean back in my chair, I catch him looking me up and down and I know I've distracted him enough to the point that I can have a conversation with him now. "Oh no Eric, it's not that I don't want visit, it's just that I was due someplace a little while ago that's all." I don't care that he's had to wait. That's his problem. He says still admiring my body. I'm used to it.

"Well, I don't care about your other plans. I care that you haven't sold it all yet." I flip through the stack of bills that he's handed me and realize that there is probably about $15,000 or so there. Not too bad for less than a week. "I suppose this will do for now Lafayette," I sit upright in the chair. "And I can see you are anxious to leave my presence tonight. I'll take it easy on you today. Know that I expect the rest sold by Monday." I'm most curious to find out why he is so anxious. Has he told anyone what I am doing? I cannot risk being discovered as the one forcing him to do this. I was bored tonight. Now, I will follow him, and see if I can find out what has him so anxious.

"Thank you Eric. I'll be back Monday." He says as he races for the door. I give him a few moments for him to start making his way for his car and then I follow. As I stand next to the door, I see him greet two women, who I have never seen in the bar before. The little blond girl catches my eye. She's totally different from the fangbangers and tourists who usually come to the bar. Was she on her way in? Perhaps I can follow Lafayette another night.

I hear Lafayette say to them, "Bitches, whatchya doin here? How'd you know I was here? Let's go!" Okay, so they were coming here to meet him. Was he stupid enough to have people meet him here and see him with me? "Lafayette, whatchya doing hanging out in a place like this for? I heard someone in the background when you were on the phone mention this place, so I thought we'd head over. No fun waiting in line at Potion without you." The one in the purple says. So they were going to Potion. He didn't tell them to meet him here. At least the human had some intelligence. I watched the Blonde look up at Lafayette, and then look back at the bar. Was she looking at me? She quickly turned her head back around and walked off with her arm around Lafayette. Interesting. Tonight might prove to be an interesting night after all. The girls got into their car and Lafayette got into his. They were heading to Potion. And now, so was I.